New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-31
NEW PUBLICATIONS..
THE ENGLISH BIBLE.

The popular English version of the Holy Scrip
lures was the gradual product of the Protestant
Reformation. So far back as the conflict Of Wick
Life with the authority Of the Church. the restora-
ton of the Bible to the common people was regarded
as the GROWING point Of religious REIMBURSEMENT.
In the year 1884 With the assistance Of the ripest
scholars among his followers, he completed the
TRANSLATION Of the Old and New Te.taments, thus
establishing the basis for the universal knowledge
Of the Scriptures in the English tongue. His YER
sion was made from the Latin Vulgate Of jerome,
which at that time was the only representative OF
the original which existed in England. No copies
of tie Hebrew and Greek Scriptures were then 10
be found in Western Europe. Not an English
scholar was acquainted with tho original languages.
But with ali te inherent imperfecti"ns, Wicklifie's
version remaned the only English Bible for SaA.
dred and thirty years. Its influence on the ns-
tiOna mind can scarcely be estimated ut too high
rate. 1t was the first considerable book ever
written in the Eoglish language, As spoken BY the
great body Of the people. Since the conquest, the
noble Saxon # primitive growth had been die.
placed BY the Latin as the language OF books, aud
by Norman French as that of polite Life. Wcklife
was the first to adopt it from the lips of his coun'
try men, and to consecrate it as the medium OF re-
ligious inst uction His Bible restored the word.
Of divine wisdom to the common people Of England
in dialect which was both familiar to their ear
and precious 10 their hesrt No book before the
invention Of printing had ever been 30 widely cir
culated 1t was intrusted to the disciples of
Wicklfe, who, fired with an ardent missionary
zeal, had pushed their way INFO every part of En-
glard, were acquainted with all classes Of its
population, ard as fast portions of the transla-
ton were completed, bore the inestinable treasure
Tito the homes of the people. Many touching
scene might be imagined, of rustic groups by the
wsysde, 10 the cLurchyard, or around the peat hre
at evening listening for the first time to the words
of the Bible in their mother tongue. Then,
how would the beautifully written manuscript be
passed round, from hand to hand, to be admired
and wondered at; and not seldom to be wet with
tears from the eyes that behed for the first time,
in Epglish characters, the name OF Jesus Nor
would the miss Onary BE- suffered to depart before
COPY of at least some portion, had been obtained.
If no professional eopyist was TO be found, hands
all unused to the labor of the pen would scrawl
painfully rude transcript of Psalm, of the Ten
Commandments, few chapters OF the Gospels, or
of Pauls epstles, to remain as lamp of heavenly
light when the living preacher had departed"
The type and character of all subsequent English
translations of the Bible which have found favor
with the people, were furnished by the primitive
version of Wicklife. They all ofshoots from
this parent stock. From the time Of his decease,
which took place shortly after the completion OF
his Bible the popular Interest in the Scriptures in
crease space. The study of Greek and Hebrew
as introduced into the public SEATS of learning.
Among the greatest profcients in classical litera-
,uIe Was William Tyndale student at the Uni
versity of Oxford, who at early period Of his
career conceived the purpose of n new translation
of the Scriptures In 1902, he was ordained
priest. and six years after became friar in the
at Greenwich. II was not long before
he ayowed reformatcry opinions, and, withdraw
ing from his religious order accepted the Office OF
private tutor and chaplsin in noblemans family.
But in this situation he found DO means for the
of his favorlte desigD. He SUI
fered great opposition from the rustic clergy, by
whom be was suuou0dcd, and ascribing the treat
ment which he received 10 their Ignorance and
stupidity, resolved to Try bis fortune among the
more enlightened dignitaIies of the metropolis.
He fixed lis eyes on Tunstal, Bishop OF London,
whom Erasmus, in his Annotations on the New Tesla
ment, had proclaimed paragon OF learning and hb-
eralty AZ the man under whose countehaDce be was
70 execute in safety and quiet and with all such aids
re- he might need, the benefcent task Of giving the
Bible 70 England. 81 thought" says he, If might
come into this man service, were happy For even
in the Bishop of Londons House, intended to have
done it,
Bidding farewell to bis pleasant home in Little Sod
bury Manor, Tyndae now turned his steps toward
London, provided with ettcr from his patron to Sir
his disappointment must be given in his own words:
"And TO-" he says, ~ gat me to London, and
through the acquaintance of my MASTER came to SIR
Harry GuildfoId, the Kings Grace's Comptroller and
brought him Ill oIaon of Isocrstes which had tram,
lated out Of Greek into English to speak unto my Lord
O. London for me. This be also did, as he showed me-
and wied ne TO write an epstls to my lord and 10 20
10 him myself, which also did, and delivered my
epistle 10 a servant of his own, William Hebil
t6wayte a man OF mine old acquaintance. Bu. God
which knoweth that which is within hypocrites saw
that beguied, and that that counsel was not the
next way to my purpose. Ana therefore he gat me
me- his house was full, he had than he coud
well find, and advised me to seek in London, where
be said could not lack a service"
The historical novels, might 60 far without finding
richer materials for character painting than are fur
nsbed by this little narrative. The gueess country
scholar b- head teenDg with classical and sacred
lore and bis heart buLpg with great thought of benz
efoepce to bis countrywth his letter fron the conn
Try baIonet and bis Grafton of Isocraes for Credentials
and the proud, worldly church dgnitay whose friend
ship and protection lie came 10 solicit would make an
,xausite contrast. To the Bishop Of London. the moor
unknown clerk is very different pesonsge from the
celebrated Erasmus the protege Of pope. and prnce
and Tyndale is shown out If the stately EPISCOPAL nal
ace with TIE kind advice TO seek ha fortune
Truly" thus muses. the disappointed scholar Ill wss