The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-07-04
For The Jefersonian.
The Bible and its TranSlatiOnS.

the Translation of the Bible. 1t is, as
an eminent writer observed, ''THE GREAT
LEVER FOR ELEvATING THE MORAL
WORLD" aud has so far extended its all
amazing power, that very little can be
now said, about its wonderful innu-
ence, that has not been made public be-
FORE
To enrmerate all the works that have
been written on the Bible, would be al
most impossible; but it may be estimated,
that one third of all that has ever been
written, was exclusively and pointcdly
Biblical
1t was wonderful" says the old his
torian, John Stype, +" to see with what
JOY this book of God was received, not
only amoung the learned sort, but gener-
ally among all the people; aud with what
grcediness Gods word was read, and
what resort to places where the reading
of it was"
John Wicklif, the Morning Star Of
the Reformation, and honorcd of God to
be the first herald of the Gospel to Euro
pcan Nations, y was born in the little vii
lage of Wicklif, near Richmond, in the
northern part of Yorkshire, about the
year 1924. His character was marked
by benevoence, picty, and ardent zeal, to
which was added, great severity and aus
terity of manners, such as beftted the
first champion of religious. liberty Most
of his writings exist in manuscript, in the
public libraries in England and ireland
and some in the Imperial Library of vi
/ Al
ton of the Scriptures, and to him belongs
the high honor of having given to the
English nation, the first translation of the
entire Scripture in their mother tongue
which he made, not from the original Ian
guage however, but from the Latin Eul
gate. The following are his reasons for
this great undertaking
Oh Lord God sithiu* at the beginning
OF faith, so many men translated into Lat
in, and to great profit of Latin men: let
one simple creature of God, translate in
to English for profit of Englishmen. For,
if worldly clerks look well their chroui-
cles and books, they shoulder find that
Bede translated the Bible, and expounded
much in Saxon that was English, either, /
common language of this land in this
time. And not only Bede, but King Al
fred that founded Oxeuford, translated in
his last days the beginning of the PSalter
into Saxon, and would more if he had
lived longer. Also Frenchman Bemerst
and Britons, hans the Bible and other
books of devotion and exposition, transla-
ted into their mother language Why
shoulder not Englishmen have the same
IN their mother language? | cannot wit
No, but for falsepess and negligence of
clerks,1 either for,** our people is not
worthy to have so great grace and Gift of
God, in pain of their old sins
Wicklif completed his great work of
translation in 1880, and the following is
a fair specimen of it The original spell
ing is preserved in this extract from
Wlcklifs Bible as a curiosity
MATTHEW, CHAP. V.
And Jhesus seynge the people went up
into an hill: and whanne he was sett his
dlsciplis camen to him. And he opeuyde
hls mouthe and taughte hem; and seide,
Blessid be pore men in spirit: for the
Kingdom of hevenes is herun.ftt Blessid
ben mylde men: for thei schulcn-
weide the erthe Blessid be thei that
mournen; for thci schal be comfortid.-
Blessld be thei that hungreu and thirsten
rlghtwisenesse tt for thei sehal be full
filled. Blessid ben merciful men: for
thei schal gete mercy. Blessid ben thei
that ben of clene herte: for thei schaen
Sc God. Blessid ben pesble men: for
thei schulen be clepid goddis children.-
Blessid ben thei that suffren persecucisun
Tor rIghtwisnesse: for the Kingdom of
hevenes is hern. Ye schul be blessid
whanne men schul curse you, and schul
pursue you; and schul seye al yvel agens
you liyuge for me. Joie ye, and be glade
for your meede is plenteous in heveues
tor SO thei han pursued also prophets
that wcren bifore you. Ye ben salt of
the erthe, that if the salt vanishe awey
wherynne schal it be saltedy To nothing
1t - worth over, no but it be cast out,
and be deioulid of men, Ye ben light of
the world, citee set on an hill may not
be hid. Ne men teendith not lanterne
and puttith it undir bushel; but on
candilstlck that it give light to allie that
ben in the hous So, schyne your light
bifore men, that thei see your code works,
and glorife your fadir that is in hcveues.
Nyle CHE deme that | cam to undo the
lave but to fulhlle. Forsothe | sey to
you till hevene aud erthe passe, oou lettre,
or oon title, schal not passe fro the Lave
til allie thingis be don. Therefore he
that breklth oon of these leeste maunde-
mentls, aud tichith thus men, schal be
clepid the I.eest in the rewme of heyenes;
but ne hath doth, and techith schal be
ciepld greet in the kyndom of hevenes.
Wicklif died December 30th, 1891, of
a stroke of the palsy, continuing to the
very end of his life, to labor in the cause,
to which he had devoted himself from
childhood. Thirty years after the Coun-
Gil of Constance decreed, that, his remains
should be disnterred and scattered. The