New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-31

Of its celebratt0 presses. The enterprise was aided
BY the libeiality Of English merchants residing on
the Continent, but falling uDder the suspicion OF
the municipal authorities, Tyndale WA obliged -
fee from the city and TO take refuge at Worms.
In 1926, The frs. copies Of his New-Testament ap-
peared in England 1t was at once subjected to all
the terrors of ecclesiastical prescription. The
reading of it wac prohibited by severe penal stat
utts. Its importation was f,[bidien BY law; it
was burnt at public boufires; grea. Church author
tiles presided over its destruction, as at solemn
religious festival But these measures were all in
vain. Within the space Of three years fifth edl-
ton was circulating in England, and from that
time, for long period, it increased st the rate Of
at lesst two editions annually
In 1857, folio edition of the entire Bible, con.
tanning bis trsn.stions already published, aud
completed from bis manuscripts or from other sour
ces, wss brought ont in Germany, and soon found
its way into England. This was called Matthew'S
Bible, from the assumed name, under which it was
published "FOr the New Testament Of Tyndae
peculiar honor was reserved. II furnished not ony
the basis but in great part the substance of all that
followed. To a command Of Greek learning sur
passed by lone of bis age, Tyndale added those
higher Qualities of translator of the Scriptures
so eninently possessed by his great predecessor,
mind of large grasp and earnest force, illuminated
by O heart which knew but the single sublime aim
to ascertain the revealed will OF God and make is
WORLDLY known to man. mind so qualified for
the task could not but express itself with noble
freedom, simple majesty, in harmony with the
inspired utterances of truth. The successors OF
Tyndae recognized in his translation that impress
Of the master spirit, and while they corrected t'
errors without scrupe, by the increasing light OF
sacred scholarship they transferred the body OF it,
III changed, into their own versions Like gem
repe atedly new cut and polished, it hasbeen handed
down from generation to generation, the most pre-
cious heirloom of the English race; and we, at
this day, read in large portions OF our common
vertioD, the very words with which Tyndale clothed
the Scriptures for the men of his own age, in those
times of conflict and of blood"
Prior TO the last named edition Of the whole Bible
by TyId was the version of Miles COverdae,
which was CONNIE need several years after the pub
LEGATION of Tyndale's New.Testsment, and sppears
TO have been prompted by the fear that he would be
prevented by persecution from completing the work
which be bad begun. This work was of q cOmpar-
atively inferior character and never passed into
general circulation. A revision Of Ma tthew's Bible
was published in the reign of Henry VIII. BY Rich
ard Taverner, which passed through several edi-
tions but room disappeared from the list of popular
versions. In 1910, an edition Of TyDdae's Bible
was published under the supervision of Archbishop
Cranmtr, which gives q critical comparison of the
translation with the Greek and Hebrew text, aud
forms an important work in the series Of Engli.h
versions.
During the reign of Mary, large number OF
Protestant exiies from England had established
themselves at Geneva, in Switzerland. Among
them were many eminent scholars and preachers,
who naturally felt an interest in perfecting the
work Of Bible Translation. Under the leadership of
Calvin and Bsza, sacred learning had been more
successfully cultivated in Geneva than in any other
city Of ChristendOm. translation of the
Scriptures was proposed possibly at the suggestion
Of Calvin himself; the task was committed to
William Nottingham, the brother-ip.law of the
great Reformer; aud the enterprise at once aroused
Testament was first translated, and was published
in 1857. Every page was proof Of the advance
ment of sacred learning since the preparation Of
the former versions. The translation was made
directly from the Greek aided by comparison with
versions in other languages, and with the origins
text, revised by manuscripts which had been col
lectfd by the scholars of Geneva. 1t was accom-
panied by an introduction from the pen of Calvin.
Upon the completion of the New Testament, the
translator aided by learned associates, turned his
attention to the Hebrew Scriptures. They labored
day and night till their work was completed, and in
1860 the first edition Of the complete Genevsn
version appeared in England. This translation, as
compared with ndales, is more literal and exact.
though destitute Of it's glow and junction. Its
pbraseoloey is equally ineligible with that of the
common yersion-often, indeed, more sO-and
might shed light on some of the difficult passages In
that work. Brief explanatory notes were added BY
the ranslatOrs, together with selection Of various
readings They alsO introduced the novelty of
dividing the text into verses feature which, until
that time, was unknown in English Bibles, bat |
which has since retained its place in the record,
if it were the result of divine inspiration. Ono |
single thing, probably" says our author, "has
done more toward multiplying sects in the Christian
body, and substituting dry, dogmatic theology in
place of the living sap Of revealed truth, than this
mischievous device for which there is but one poor
plea-the advantage of easy reference"
The Geneva Bible, although dscounteDanced by
the ruling ecclesiastical powers, soon suppansed
the earlier versions, and established itself beyond