The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-03-18
.+. WASHINGTON D, G., THURSDAY, MARCH 49, 1858.

contains: l. The GOSPEL BY ST.. MATTHEW, in
all its separate and precedent purity and beau.
ty: 2. The INDEX to this Gospel, chapter by
chapter: 3. Horne and Tregelles INrRoDucrIoN
to this Gospel: and 4. Nelson's Map of Jerslsa
lem, and two colored pictures, representing Je.
rasslem from the Northwest, and, The Mount
Of Otipes. In like manner, Nos. Too, Three
-Four, and Flee, contain MARX, LUXE, JOHN,
and ACrs, each with its four parts in the same
order-Text, Index, Introduction, and Plates.
These Nos. are bound in flexible cloth, gold
chasers, post free, at so cts. q No. or $3.50 for
the set The other Nos win follow as soon as
practicable.
Nor is this all that has been done. During
the years which have elapsed since this an
nouncement, of The BIBLE IN SEPARATE Vol
UMEs," was first made, general advance in
this direction has been obvious in both Europe
and America. The great London house of
bagster Sons seized upon my plan, with
out the slightest acknowledgment, and, having
capital, soon produced "7he Paragraph Bible,
ts Separate Vots.mes,n and have 1t now on sa!e.
contrary to my copyright, in our own cities !
They have made, however, rather clumsy and
unsightly affair of it-strangely for them, as
the most of their works are so handsome. The
American Bible Society, also, has published the
book of Psalms by itself, the New Testament
in Four Volumes, &c. The American Bible
Union proceeds in the same way, in submitting
specimens of its New Version to scholars and
the people. Private publishers, moreover, have
issued and are still issuing separate Scriptural
books-especially the more popular ones, as
job, the Psalms, Isaiah, &c.-with all kinds of
literary, artistic, and mechanical attractions.
And yet, so stupid does society become, when
long shut up in little circles of present space
and time, that, notwithstanding the history of
the origin and perpetuation of the Bible in
separate books, notwithstanding its modern
missionary publication in parcels all over the
world, and Notwithstanding its daily appearance
before our own eyes asOne Book made up of
SixtySix Books; still, when this plan was first
proposed, it was met, in certain quarters, by
the most foolish suspicious, superstitions, and
prejudices imaginable. An intelligent printer
seemed ready to doubt the projectors sanity. A
prince among publishers gravely concluded
I" The time has not yet come for this" And,
in the parlor, where volume, almost foot
thick and nearly as heavy as block of marble,
lay unused, except when opened to show the
children the pictures, by which the Divine
Word was broken into ten or twenty thousand
dishonored fragments; the tender conscience
of the mother was alarmed, lest, if the unity OF
Revelation might be impaired.
Now, how many wise speeches are made in
favor of the plan! and how many practical ope.
rations border along its counsel After all, how.
ever, its real capabilities are not half understood
| and what has so far been done is as nothing
compared with what will be accomplished. The
riches of the universe will be made tributary to
the truth of the Bible.
Here it would be in place to notice some Of
the principles alluded to, as involved to some
extent in these publications, and as affecting
current controversies. The authority of the
Bible i its Originals, Versions, Accessories
&C.: the obligations, powers, rights, duties, and
responsibilities, of Translators and Publishers
the constitutional restrictions of Bible Societies
the perfect liberty of individual publishers: the
history of publication, by the State, by the
Church, by the voluntary Societies, and by the
Trade: Evils, Advantages, Proprieties, Neces
sites, &c.: such topics need attention. But
though | have fallen far short of my intent,
must forbeer. Looking, not on my own things
only, but, also, on the things of others, it re
mains for you to say whether shall go on OF
stop.
Fer the present, close by stating, with great
pleasure, that my "PERIoDIcAL New TESLA
MENT," Notwithstanding hard times, has done
and is doing well. There lie yet no great ysssl
for it, such as some publishers often proclaim
but orders are steadily multiplying, and there
is reason to hope that it will become a house
hold treasure, from Canada to Texas, and from
Florida to California and Oregon.
| Yours, as ever, L. 81. STOCKTON.