Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-01-10
The English Bible.


acter of the kingdom. That the Bible
should thus influence a great nation is
one of the strongest proofs of its divine
origin and authority, for no other book
ever accomplished such change. Inc
earliest attempt to translate the scriptures
into English was made by the venerable
Bede, who died debating the last verse of
the 10Th chapter of John. Alfred the
Great translated some portions, and was
engaged in one of the Psalms at his death !;
then came Wickliffe, who completed the
whole. But only a few volumes could
be circulated, as it was obliged TO be copied
by hand still even these were sufficient
to shake the religious world to its founda-
tions. But in the time # Henry the
Eighth the printing press was ready, and
the quarrel o that monarch with the
Church of Rome accelerated the introduc-
ton of the Bible in the vernacular tongue.
Providence sent the instrument in the
person of William Tyndale, who gave his
whole existence to the work, braved he
fury OF his enemies, and sealed bis mis-
sion WITH martyrdom. He was b orn on
the borders of Wales where the doctrines
of Wickllffe had taken firm hold on
peoples minds. He imbibed these doc
trines in early life, and on entering Mag
dalen College. o x f or d, was so persistent
in bringing them out, raising questions
and Offering obi e ctions to the Ro-
man Catholic theology of that day, that
he was expelled from the college in order
10 get rid of his troublesome presence,
which seriously interfered with the in
fuence of the faculty in directing the re-
ligious opinions of the students. Cam
bridge, however, opened her doors to him,
gave him degree, and sent him out into
the world with collegiate donors.
After leaving college Tyndae entered
the family of Sir John Welsh, in the west
of England, as Chaplain. Here he con,
tinued to discuss the new doctrines Of
Wickliffe and Luther (who was very I'M
popular in England at that time) with the
ecclesiastical dignitaries who were in the
habit of visiting Sir John, and who got
very angry with him. They informed
Sir John that they did not relish Master
Tyndae's sour sauce but Tyndale's pat
ron was deaf to their remonstrances, and
his entertainments appealing strongly to
"feshly appetites" they continued to eat
his dinners and quarrel with Tyndae.-
Fierce battles were fought, during one
of which Tyndale fairly lost his temper
and declared that the day was coming
when every plowboy in Gloucbstershire
should read the bible in his own language,
and he would do it. He was impeached
as a hereto, but defended himself so ably
that his prosecutors were compelled to
drop the matter. Their annoyance was
so great, however, that Tyndae voIuntar-
ty left Sir John Welsh, and retiring to
private life in six months completed the
translation Of the New Testament. No
body in England dared print it, and Tyn-
dale proceeded to the Continent, where
the reformerS aided him with money and
an edition was printed Antwerp. Eff.
teen hundred copies were sent to England
and privately circulated. This was the
first blow at the stronghold of superstition,
and the priests eagerly sought out the
copies and destroyed them-a step which
only excited mems curiosity. Meantime
Tyndale, who remained abroad, set to
work and translated the Pentateucb. or
the sensation created by Tyndale's trans
lation and the efforts made to suppress it,
the following account is given by the Dub
lin University Magazine:
"By stealth, and as it were insidiously,
the Gospel was spread about, strange rag
ged figures were seen at sunset to wander
out from the alleys and lanes of London,
with bundles of these books under their
arms. Mysteriously and unexpectedly
men found themselves possessed of them
wives read them in secret trepdation, and
told their husbands of its marvellous beau
ty-friend whispered to friend the OBJ
scure spot where the truth was to be found
men were surprised in the act of de-
youTing its pages, when they thrust it in
their bosOms as though it were guilty
thing. Still the books crept about; the
agitation of mems minds was too great to
pass unnoticed, when Tonstal, Bishop of
London, at length resolved on taking de-
clsive step. He crossed over to Antwerp
himself and privately negotiated with an
English merchant for the purchase o n
every copy of Tyndale'S Testament be
could procure. A bright idea occurred
to the mind of Tyndsle. Th e Dutch
booksellers, no better than some of their
modern brethren, had been issuing spuri.
Gus editions of t b work, without the
translator's sanction, and pocketing the
profits. Tyndale was perfectly aware of
this; so, when he heard of the emissary
being sent over to buy up his Testaments,
he speedily collected every copy be could
find of the spurious issue, made a very
profitable bargain with Bishop Tonstal,
who returned to London in triumph and
caused the ominous Testaments to be burnt
In Cheapside by the common hangman
whilst Tyndale, with the money he had |
received, brought out new revised, and |
more numerous edition. About this time |
terrible disaster befell him. AS he was |
removing to Hamburg by sea, he was ship
wrecked, lost all his books, the translation |
Of the Pentateuch and his little store of |
money"