Rev A Brandram - No 72
Jamaica, 14th July 1838
My Dear Friend,
Your letter of the first June came into my hands a few days ago, and was very acceptable, as all your letters are. Before I touch upon the subjects you bring before me, I would state, that I here enclose you a Bill on the Treasurers of the Wesleyan Missionary Society for Thirty Eight Pounds. I received this from Mr. Baudry a few days ago, and the sum is, I understand, to be placed to account of contributions from the Bible Society there, the sales of the Scriptures not being distinguished from other sources.
And now let us turn to Canada, to which with a right about you have turned me; and a right about not a wrong about I trust it will be, in respect to all concerned, you, me, and Canada. I go with all readiness, as you could wish; and chiefly, because the directions of Providence in it is so manifest as not to leave me for a moment to doubt. How a Torrid Zonian will stand the polar regions, I know not, and leave that to the event.
It is curious, if not something more, that your letter of the 26th with the Canada Resolution was brought by the earliest packet we have had for a long time: it came several days before being due. But it was more singular still that I was able to answer you by the return of the same packet. Living as I am 20 miles from Kingston, I could not have done this in the usual stay of the packet here. But it was detained for two days to take home the Apprentice Abolition Bill. This however after all it did not do: but it took home my letter.
When your letter above noticed came I was all busy getting up a statement in the style of a letter from the Bishop of Carthagena, explaining and justifying the object and operations of the Bible Society, as publishing God's word, that only, and that wholly, for a statement of this sort is, I think, absolutely required from us before God and before men. We profess to act as faithful servants of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the line of publishing to all the world the Holy Scriptures. But in the very front of this declaration there seems a manifest flaw, nay a falsehood. In the eyes of many we do not publish the Bible faithfully: we are seen as withholding a part of this sacred book, whilst we declare that we give the whole: we are seen as mutilating parts we do give, and as altogether unfixed ourselves as to what is the Bible from the variety found in the English versions of the Scriptures. Now this matter ought, in my humble judgment, to be cleared up, and honestly and fully set before all concerned. This is to be done, by showing that we do in fact publish the entire Bible unaltered, and in all its and entireness and purity, as it was held and esteemed in the church from the earliest notices on the subject by ecclesiastical writers, and by their successors down and down till we come to the Council of Trent exclusive. Let us show to the Catholic world, that we publish the whole sacred canon of Revelation and Inspiration, as it was held, and as it was published by St. Jerome, and by Cardinal Ximenez. And here on this subject, let us take our stand. Catholics who are anxious to know the subject as it really is, will be led by our statement to look into this matter; and in looking into it they will see that we are right; and this perception may not only give them confidence in us as publishers of the Bible, but may at the same time unhinge all their Catholicity, and bring them round to what is right. ―In the second place our statement should show the nature and natural effects of making various copies and reprints of any work or book; and say plainly that from hence have arisen Various Readings of the Bible, and that alike with the Catholic and Protestant Bible: and further, that in all translations of any book into another language, there must needs be a variety of expression and sometimes of sense in different versions; and that this is found so, and equally in Catholic and Protestant versions. Lastly, we should show, that, in the case of the Spanish Bible for instance, we print the version of Scio verbatim et literatim, in all that was considered Canonical Scriptures in the Ancient Church. ―Such a statement on our part, I again repeat, is justly and absolutely due from us in the sight of God and man. ―We should, of course, not go one jot beyond this. We have nothing to do with the question whether the Bible should be read with or without notes; nor with any doctrine or precept in the Scriptures, nor with any subject whatever between Catholics and Protestants. But we are bound to show that we are faithful publishers of God's word. ―Excuse me for giving my sentiments so fully and so strongly upon this subject: it is to me both a Bible Society subject, and a personal one. Consider the matter directly and fully, and see what you are called of God, to do in it: and may God himself direct you.
Well, when your letter came I was engaged in the subject and business above noticed; and I intended to print my letter, as my own, when I had it ready, for the use of Mr. Watts in New Granada; and for my own use in Mexico and Guatemala. Your letter stopped me as you spoke in it of withdrawing Mr. Watts from the field he is in, and turned me away from the field I was looking to. The subject however, though taken out of my hands, as I may say, by occurring circumstances, is not lessened thereby as a subject of consideration and action by the Society.
And now again let us turn to Canada. I am at a loss to comprehend the state of things and matters there regarding Mr. Smart. They are mysterious to me, and I shall be glad of your furnishing me with all needful information on the point before I enter on my labours there, as I suppose such information will be required, to enable me to act right. ―It would be a favour to me also, and an advantage could you give me a few hints and notices about persons connected with the societies in that quarter, beyond what you may suppose I already know.
In regard to arrangements and movements in that large field, when the Lord shall bring me thither, it appears to me at present from contemplating the country according to the knowledge I now have of it, the best way will be to go first to Montreal from New York, and to operate there and westward in Upper Canada during the winter; and then in the summer following, to go to Quebec and other parts of Lower Canada, and thence to Nova Scotia, and parts in that direction. That is all I can see you at present; but when I reach Montreal I shall get information about things that will enable me to speak more to the purpose.
In regard to my letters, it will be better not to forward any to me to Jamaica after you receive this. In the best arrangement for all letters for me whilst in the Canadas will be to send them by the New York American Packet ships, to the American Bible Society House, New York; and none by the Halifax packet, or in any other way. When you send your first letters for me to the American Bible Society House, please accompany them with a note, begging them to take charge of them till I come. I may reach New York in all September, or I hope by the middle of October.
You bring Cuba before me, and I bring it before you. I have had another and a final communication from our Governor here on the subject, in stating to me the information he had from the Havannah. The confiscation of the Bibles cannot it seems be reversed. What would you say, if this hermetical sealing, were broken up soon and completely, in Cuba, as the Lord did the sealing up of Samaria, mentioned in the 7th chapter of 2nd Kings? I am laying a plan for that.
In Spain there is still war I see according to your accounts, and it should seem that latterly it is waged against you. I am glad to hear that the prison doors were opened to our colleague, and so remarkable as you state. Please say what was the false accusation lead to Mr. Borrow. ―The Archbishop of Toledo, you may depend upon it, will prove a broken reed; and if you do not take care, it will run into your hand. You have my views this matter fully in my letter of the 15th of May, about Mr. Watts and our friends the Bishops there, and of all the Catholics everywhere.
[You take notice in your last of the Black Latin Scholar, and are interested, as I supposed you would, with the circumstances: but you have only perceived the one half of the thing, for I said there were Two. But you are more out in the Grossmond case, and have misperceived my wording altogether. You talk of lads at Grossmond. I have said that, "the people after labouring all day came to the Chapel in good numbers men and women." I have said nothing about lads; and I may now say, to make it further away from what you suppose, that the half of them might be well on as old as yourself, and some of them much older. Please read the paragraph again, and be set right; and I know you have (what few have) the noble honesty to confess an error when you see it, and I shall soon see you acknowledge this. Why I thought you would have rejoiced in the Grossmond affair, but what an affair you have made of it!]
I thank you for the notice you give me a map and book in a present from the Committee and yourself. I shall peruse them with many kind feelings towards the parties sending them. I am truly glad to see a Bible Society map published. I have often thought of such a thing, and felt the want of it in public meetings. And I recollect publicly noticing it at the Anniversary of the Westminster Bible Society held in Argyle Rooms in 1825 or 26, where you and I were together with our worthy president Lord Bexley in the chair. I hope the Society will give this map all encouragement, and will modernise it from year to year, or at proper periods, so as to represent the Travels and Triumphs of the Bible over the earth; and I hope the world will rapidly take the colour of the Bible, for I suppose it is coloured to show where the Bible has come, and where it prevails.
I see, and with very great delight, that the East Indies is greatly opening upon you. Do listen to every petition and every suggestion from that most populous land, and meet every demand from it to the fullest extent, even though you should have nothing left for your work elsewhere. Were you reduced to necessities by this means, you would see how money would flow into you whenever your wants were made known.
I am sorry to learn that your Bible Anniversary Meeting passed off less favourably than you could have wished. But there must be comings and goings in these matters. I think you say other anniversaries were less interesting in a similar way. I like your reflections on the same. ―[And now, as affecting this case, perhaps you will allow me to refer to a subject, I once referred to before, I believe in 1828, that is 10 years ago. It is in regard to our thanksgivings so much to men at our public meetings. I wish to see the Bible society lead in a form here, for verily that is in need of it. Look at your report for last year. That are six resolutions and it, and four of them, two thirds, are thanking ones. The only natural and excusable one is that concerning the Auxiliaries, though that also could well enough be omitted without loss. And the last one is both full some and ridiculous to a person present. Nobody esteems my Lord Bexley more than I do; but I would not compliment Gabriel so, and nor would Gabriel sit to hear it. Pray excuse and forgive my folly and rudeness; but a fool sometimes may give a good hint to wise people.]
Believe me, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
You see the brackets, and you may leave them out, or leave them in just as you please. I write frankly, knowing to whom I write.