Arkansas true Democrat., 1858-01-19
For the True Democrat. Rih1o RaxyscsNn

| ture of J. w. M, which professes to give a short history of the English Bible, and some remarks upon the new translation, we'll calcu- lated to deceive those who are unacauanted wlth the facts. The writer seemed to be anx- lous 10 present the English Bible in it's most laVoraoie nght, and the new translation in its worst possible light; to do which, he has made history testify to what it does not-so misap. piled the views of learned men, and facts con. nected with the new translation as to make them mean the very opposite of what they really do mean. He seems either too incorrect in his history of facts. lr too much preiudiced to pre- sent them fairly and correctly; either of which supposition would dsqualify him for the re- sponsible position of enlightening the readers of the true Democrat upon this important subject
 We are told that if the blind lead the blind they will both tall into the ditch together- nat there IS blindness here from some cause, l VIII only ask the reader to go with me whilst | touch the portrait attempted to be drawn with the pencings of history.
 do not wish to detract the weiobt of a feather from the English Bible. believing as I do. that 1t is the best that could have been made nnder the circumstances. In the language of another. love 1t much with all its imperfectons; but would love It moro If these could be removed care not how much we may reverence it on account or It's sublime teachings and awful re- | veatlons; yet we should not consider it too sa- creu to eHamlnet the Circumstances which brought iorth. Accepting then, the writer's historical sNetc" onlii ne comes to the translation of the English Bible, propose briefly to present the facts connected with its history. The different translatlons of the English Bible which had been published up to King James, time had caused large party to spring up called Puri- tans' the friends of correct version of the scriptures and opposed to the dominant party "no hao already combined the temporal and sPirltuai power, and used both for years to crush tne ne, opposing party. Each party had its own Dlole, the Purltans used Tvndal's version and 'iie "ehevan version-the dominant or preate party used the Bishops Bible Numbers of the former party had suffered every variety of torture, and even martyrdom itself, at the hands of the latter, rather than give up their bibles or renounce their faith. King James seeing the hostility of parties, and in order that they might be concilitated and his power more firmly estab- lished, consented to have the scriptures revised, and accordingly appointed 54 revsors, only | fortv-seven of whom acted. He then gave them | fourteen rules to guide them and the plan of the revision-( MT. J. w. M. gave us only seven.) l The translators were divided into three compa- | nes-one was statiored at OXtord-one al Cam- bridge and the other at Westminster. The histo- rian tells us that the Cambridge scholars could not agree on account of the restrictions in the Kings Sd and 4th rule, very important fact, as it | led to important changes in the plan of vsion- this the writer passes over altogether because it did not suit his case. Upon the Kings being in formed of this disagreement he added new feature to the plan and appointed aspeclal board of three or Tour of the most ancient and grave dvnes to he assigned by the Vice Chancellor, upon conference with the rest of the heads, as overseerS of the translation and especially were they to see that the Sd and 4th rule should be observed The translation then went on thus -the members of each company took the same portion which each revised by himself, then all met together and made up a copy on which they could agree. This copy was then submit ted to all the other companies for criticism; if these were approved by the original revisors they were adopted; if not they went into the l hands of the final revisors The work being | completed thus, was divided into three parts, one for each place, ard passed into the hands of committee of twelve six of whom were se- | ected by the translators of their own number, two from each company-the other SIX were selected by the King from amongst the Bishops and other ecclesastics not before employed ln the revision The work having been revised by the twelve thus selected, went into the hands of Bishop Bilson and Bishop Smith, who hay ing revised it thoroughly and preiixed argu- ments to the several books, turned 1t over to the Bishop of London to give it the finishing tonch How Bishops Bilson and Smith were selected are not positively informed, but it is thought bv many that they were selected by the King. Why these facts have been omitted bv Mr. J. w. M, will leave the reader to de- termine for himself
 Let us now give passing notice of the prn- | cipal actors in this revision.
 The King every tyro in history knows-but | the Bishop of London needs a more special mo- l tice Who then was this bishop? Richald Ban croft the arch enemy of English translations, the leading spirit in the celebrated Hampton Court Conference.-The individual who first op- posed Dr. Reynolds when he made the move | for the translationS. and continued to oppose 1t until King James had determined to have it, H. was the enemy of the Puritan party, and ceased not to persecute them even unto death- he owed his position to his zeal in prosecuting them. A writer of eminence has said that, at one time he drew up three hundred ministers and suspended. deprived, communicated, inn prisoned or exled the whole" He was King James chosen church-man and is said to have selected the translators He was publicly
 
 the revision in fourteeen places, and Bishop Smith said that he was potent in revision that there was no resisting him." Bishop Bi- son stood next to Bancroft in his opposition and zeal against the Puritans, and was one of the leading men of the prelate party in the Hamp- ton Court Conference. Bishop Smith wrote the preface and dedication by the Kings request or appointment, in both of which he shows his hatred and opposition to the Puritans.
 Little Is known of the forty revisors, l they have left no monuments of their learning and scholarship unless Mir. J. w. M has been able to find that which historians and biogra- l phers have sought after diligently but have been unable to ind Hear what MT. M'Cleur who was writing work in their defence has said-after searching in the public libraries for twenty years with the expectation of finding evidences of | their learning and scholarship says, "they are almost in horleless oblivion, although some thing could be found of all but two" With these facts before us it is difficult to imagine how MT. J. w. M. can tell the people of Arkan- sas 'that it would be difficult to conceive of circumstances more suspicious for correct translation, whether we regard the individuals employed, the arrangements made or the time when it was done"
 We have considered the circumstances, the plan and the individuals employed and we ask the historian what of the times? He savs tour common version was the last great effort Of tte tnant period of Biblical science ID Enqlaaad With the second quarter of the seventeenth 1 century there dawned new era of sacred learn ing. The constellation of christian scholars which then rose England, illuminated all christendom and the epoch thus commenced reaches down to, and embraces our own day. All over Europe was witnessed simultaneous advance, both in the materials of biblical science and in the genius and ardor of the minds de- voted toi From the middle of the nineteenth century we look back on the accumulated re- suits of more than two hundred wears of the most profound and brilliant scholarship the world has known; and not one ray of this has yet been allowed to shine through our English Bible" Thus we see that the historian makes King James time the infant period of biblical science, the middle of the seventeenth century