Shibboleth, or, Observations of severall errors in the last translations of the English & French Bibles together with many other received opinions in the Protestant churches, which being weighed in the ballance are found too light / written by John Despagne ... ; and translated into English by Robert Codrington ...

Of those who on the first day of the year do make a scruple to wish a good year to any one and of a pas∣sage which is in the French Bible.

THere are some even of those who are learned and Orthodox Divines who reject this salutation when it is given them. But for what cause? Is it forbidden to wish long life to our Neighbour? Certainly when the Apostle Eph. 6. 3. exhor∣teth children to observe the Com∣mandement to which the promise is annexed to make them live a long time, he desireth that this promise may be made effectuall to them. If he doth wish them long life, that is many years. If it be lawfull to wish unto a Neighbour many years, where∣fore not one year? And again can we wish him many years, without wi∣shing him one year which is compre∣hended in many years?

Well any one object, that the fa∣vours of GOD ought not to be restrai∣ned to a year? Why, this would be to restrain them yet more, when we do wish good morrow to our Neigh∣bour, And yet no man condemns this salutation, for in wishing that the morning may prove happy, we do not pray that his happiness may ex∣pire with the Day.

That which gives distast is that this salutation is given in a Day which is presupposed to be the first Day of the year, when it is uncertain not onely on what Day, but also in what sea∣son the first year of the world began. But this very incertitude in which GOD hath pleased that we should be, doth shew that the knowledge of this Day is not necessary for us, and that it is indifferent to begin the account of the Days of the year, with such a Day which should be made choice of and received in use. If we should stay untill we know in what Day of the year the world began, we should de∣prive

our selves of many helps which are necessary for the measuring of time, and the affairs which are ruled by time; And if it be lawfull in what∣soever year it be to wish a good day to a Neighbour, wherefore shall this wish be unlawfull on the day in which we do begin to count the days of the year.

It will be objected that this Day is sullyed with superstition, but there is not a Day in the year which is not so soyled. Ought we therefore all the year to refrain from acts of civi∣lity or charity? If on such a Day su∣perstition is more present to us, or more offensive, the more ought we to correct that bad ayr by actions of a sweet savour, not intermitting that which ought to be practised every day.

On this Subject I have made use of a passage which is in the French Bible 1 Sam. 25, 6. David did send this salutation to Nabal who did sheere his Sheep. And so mayst thou

make the year to come in the same season, &c. But these words are not formally in the Originall text, no more are they to be found in the English translation, nor in many o∣ther translation. Instead of all these words the Hebrew hath but one, viz. To living, And this word being not accompanied with any Noun Sub∣stantive, divers senses are given to it, but that which our French Bible doth give unto it is more forced and more far drawn.