In  1764  Anthony  Purver,  of  the  Society  of  Friends,  published  A  New  and
Literal  Translation  of  all  the  Books  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  A  few
sentences  from  his  Introduction  throw  an  interesting  light  on  the  literary
feeling  of  his  time.  '  It  is  well  known  that  those  called  the  living  Languages
do  alter,  especially  ours,  who  are  such  a  changeable  People.  Hence  it  is
necessary  that  new  Translations  should  be  made  from  one  Time  or  Cen-
tury to  another,  accommodated  to  the  present  Use  of  speaking  or  writing.'
After  pointing  out  that  this  had  been  done  for  the  classics,  he  continued
— *  Why  should  the  Scripttu^  meet  with  less  regard  ?  Is  it  to  be  thereby
more  exposed  to  Ridicule  and  Contempt  in  our  Libertine  Age  ?  But  there
are  some  who  seem  possessed  with  a  notion,  or  bigotry,  that  the  last  Transla-
tion in  King  James's  Reign  must  not  be  altered  ;  though  several  new  ones  had
been  made  before,  when  the  Oldness  of  the  Languages,  as  they  were  not  long


54  THE   REVISED    VERSION  l>ct.  u.
