MACKNIGHT, JAMES, D.D., was born 17th Sept. 1721, at Irvine, in Ayrshire, where his father was parish minister. At the age of 14 he entered the University of Glasgow, and, having completed the usual course of study there, he went to Leyden, for the purpose of extending his theological acquire ments. On his return to Scotland he was licensed to preach, and, after filling some subordinate offices, he became minister of the parish of Maybole in 1753. In 1769 he was translated to that of Jed burgh ; and in 1772 he became one of the ministers of Edinburgfi. He died 13th Jan. 1800. Whilst at Maybole he published his Harmony of the Four Gospels, with a Paraphrase and Notes, 2 vols. 4to, Lond. 1756, of which a second edition appeared in 1763, and many have since followed. In 1763 ap peared also his work on The Truth of the Gospel History, 4to, Lond.—a work in which he seeks, by various lines of argument, to vindicate the claims of the gospel narrative. These works were well
received, and brought the author the distinction of the honorary degree of D.D. from the University of Edinburgh. But his principal work is his Anew Literal Translation from the Original Greek of all the Apostolical Epistles, .with a Commentary and Notes, etc., 4 vols. 4to, Lond. ; 6 vols. Svo, 1806. This, which was the result of thirty years' labour, soon obtained and long kept a high reputa tion. Of late years it has perhaps sunk into un merited neglect ; for there is much in it well deserv ing the attention of the Biblical student. Its greatest defects are traceable to two causes—the author's imperfect knowledge of the original languages of the Bible, and his want of fixed hermeneutical prin ciples. In tracing out, however, the connection of a passage, especially of an argumentative kind, he often shows great ability.—W. L. A.