of which there is a copy at Lambeth, is more correctly printed, exhibits a somewhat different text, and more frequently agrees with the subsequent editions. This last circumstance induced the editor to suspect at first, that the latter edition is more recent than the former. But farther consideration has in some degree weakened this suspicions. He now regrets, that he did not either give the readings of both copies, or of the Lambeth copy alone. The Homily "against Disobedience and wilful Rebellion" does not occur in any edition of the Homilies printed before 1571. But there exists a separate edition of it, printed in quarto by Jugge and Cawood, which is probably somewhat earlier than the edition of the entire second book printed in that year. Copies of that separate edition are preserved at Lambeth and in the British Museum. They consist of ten signatures of four leaves each, and there is no appearance of a title-page in either of them. The copy at Lambeth has been collated for this edition, and the various readings of it are marked A. as being the first edition of the homily which it contains. B. is the edition of 1623, already distinguished among the editions of the first book by the letter D. In exhibiting the various readings extracted from the several editions above mentioned, the modern system of orthography has commonly been followed. In a few particular cases only, for reasons which will be obvious in each case to a reader of sagacity, the ancient spelling of the various readings has been preserved. To have preserved it throughout, would have exceedingly aggravated the labour of the editor and the printer, without conferring any corresponding benefit on the reader. With the exception of orthographical variations, hardly any difference of reading has been deemed too inconsiderable P. 376, 24. [362, 13.] "In that he healed men with his only word." This Is the true reading, in which the Lambeth copy agrees with the great majority of the editions. But the copy in the library of Exeter college reads with his holy word. If holy was the original reading, only is certainly a very ingenious alteration. Whereas, if only was the original reading, holy is an error of the press exceedingly likely to be committed. to be noticed. The variations of among and amongst, Jesu and Jesus, toward and towards, with many others of as little importance, might perhaps have been entirely omitted without inconvenience. But the bulk of the volume is very little increased by the admission of such variations, and there are many readers, to whom it is more satisfactory to be permitted to exercise their own judgment in weighing the importance of various readings, than to be compelled to acquiesce in the decision of an editor. An edition of the Homilies in folio with various readings was published in the year 1816, by a society in London called "The Prayer Book and Homily Society." The various readings of this edition are collected from not fewer than ten different editions, several of which, however, are entirely destitute of authority. The editor has not published the whole of his collation, but has merely selected such readings as appeared to him to be important. The text of the present edition was formed for the most part on the principle of adhering to the last recension published by public authority, that is to say, to the edition of 1623, which probably was not only reprinted, as stated in the title-page, but also revised by authority of the crown, the alterations of the text being by far too numerous and important to have been made by the printer, or by an editor employed by him. As no later recension has ever been made by public authority, the edition of 1623 has some claim to be considered as the standard text of the Homilies, and to be compared with the Bible of 1611, and the Book of Common Prayer of 1662. Except in a very small number of instances, the present editor has so far deferred to the authority of the edition of 1623, as to admit no reading, which is not found either in that edition, or one of those which preceded it. The text One of the most remarkable of these instances is as follows. P. 16, 21. [8, 20.] "Let us be glad to receive this precious gift of our heavenly father." There seems to be no doubt that to receive is the true reading. All the early editions, however, including that of 1623, read to revive. The editor has not found to receive in any edition prior to 1673. [The reading revive is probably the true one (see 2 Tim. 1. 6.), and accordingly has been restored.] of the Homilies is now purged of a great number of unauthorized and erroneous readings, which had gradually crept into it between the publication of the edition of 1623 and the present time. To adhere strictly to the edition of 1623, without frequent reference to former editions, would have been impracticable, on account of the numerous errors of every sort, by which that edition is defiled. Many of those errors are undoubtedly derived from the copy which the printer used'; but it is also certain that many of them are to be attributed to his own negligencek. The alterations intentionally introduced into the text of this edition, are for the most part injudicious and unnecessary, and sometimes injurious to the sense. Upon the whole, the early editions of queen Elizabeth's recension exhibit a much better text of the Homilies, than the edition of 1623. In the present edition, the Homily against Rebellion has been printed with very few deviations from its original form. In a future edition, it may perhaps be thought advisable to restore the text of queen Elizabeth throughout the whole volume, with the exception of some particular expressions. That text is not only better in itself than that of king James the first, but it also seems to be sanctioned by the thirty-fifth Article of Religion, as far at least as regards the second book. It would not be difficult to ascertain the edition, from which that of 1623 was copied. The latest preceding edition which the present editor has seen, was printed in quarto by Edward Allde, in the year 1595. If no edition appeared between 1595 and 1623, it is somewhat remarkable that a period of twenty-eight years should elapse without an edition of the Homilies, which were so frequently reprinted both before 1595 and after 1623. P. 58, 8. [49, 35.] "by the negligence of them that chiefly ought to have [preferred God's commandments, and to have] preserved the pure and heavenly doctrine left by Christ." P. 69, 32. [61, 22.] "That by true Christian charity, God ought to be loved [above all things, and all men ought to be loved], good and evil, friend and foe." P. 424, 6. [409, 42.] "That which is born [of the flesh, saith Christ, is flesh, and that which is born] of the spirit is spirit." In these three passages, the words inclosed in brackets are omitted in the edition of 1623. The first and second omissions are made in some of the preceding editions. In the following passage those copies only of the edition of 1623 in which the first pages have been reprinted, omit the words inclosed in brackets: P. 11, 12. [3, 12.] "it is called the best part, which Mary did choose, for it hath in it everlasting [comfort. The words of holy scripture be called words of everlasting] life: for they be God's instrument, ordained for the same purpose." Fortunately, however, the variations in the different editions of the Homilies, numerous as they are, are almost universally verbal or grammatical. It is very remarkable, that one of the symbolical books of the church of England, which has passed through the hands of so many editors, and has been altered in almost every edition, should have received so few alterations of any importance as to doctrine'. One of the principal uses of a collation of the various editions, is the conviction which it produces, that the Homilies have not been tampered with by any sect or party among us, for the purpose of making them express sentiments different from those of the original compilers. The necessity of supplying the public demand for a new edition with as little delay as possible, has prevented the present editor from paying proper attention to the marginal references, which have long been observed to stand in need of a thorough revision". A future editor will also do well in either regulating on some fixed principle the use of the Italic character in the body of the work, or in abolishing it altogether. It only remains to offer the respectful thanks of the Delegates of the Clarendon Press to the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, as well as to several societies in this university, for the material assistance derived from the liberal communication of rare editions preserved in their respective libraries. The addition of the words wrought in faith in the following passage can hardly be considered as an alteration of that nature. P. 62, 29. [54, 18.] "And travailing continually during your life thus in the keeping the commandments of God, (wherein standeth the pure, principal and right honour of God, and which, wrought in faith, God hath ordained to be the right trade and path-way unto heaven,) you shall not fail, &c." The words wrought in faith do not appear in the first edition, but were added three months afterwards in an edition by Whitchurch, which is dated on the fifth of November in the year 1547. The addition can only be con sidered as proceeding from abundant caution, as it is conformable to the common language of the Homilies on the subject of good works. m Gentleman's Magazine, October 1806, p. 921. "In fact, the references want a thorough revision; but there are circumstances which render this no easy work." These words are extracted from a letter understood to have been written by the late Bishop of London, Dr. John Randolph, then Bishop of Oxford, and Regius Professor of Divinity. In the scripture references of this edition, 1840, the errors have been corrected, and further particulars added in brackets. CERTAIN SERMONS OR HOMILIES APPOINTED BY THE KING'S MAJESTY TO BE DECLARED AND READ BY ALL PARSONS, VICARS AND CURATES, EVERY SUNDAY • In Grafton's edition of 1549 the following words are added to the original title: Newly imprinted, and by the king's highness authority divided. In Whitchurch's edition of the same year, the addition is as follows: Newly imprinted in parts, according as is mentioned in the book of common prayer. Is the edition of 1562 the whole title is thus changed: Certain Sermons appointed by the queen's majesty, to be declared and read by all parsons, vicars, and curates, every sunday and holiday in their churches: and by her grace's advice perused and overseen, for the better understanding of the simple people. Newly imprinted in parts, according as is mentioned in the book of common prayers. |
