The Leavenworth weekly times., 1877-11-01

ton have gone cut of general u=e or 4 new
shade oi meaning has been attached 20 them
Travel and Research in Bible lands have
thrown new light upon Bible manners and
customs, and yet 1t is 4 question whether il
Is better to prepare new translation or
simply amend the one which has 50 long
and so well served the English race.
III now remains to speak of the influence
which the English Bible has exer,ed and the
treatment II ought 10 receive. Without
hoping 10 do justice ~ this part oi our sub
ject We observe
First: That the English Bible has done
much towards giving unity and permanence
to the English language. During the three
centuries Immediately preceding the issue of
King James version the English Language
was IN formative state. Ii was passing
rapidly from Anglo->axon into what was
called the Old English; thence into Middle
English, and finally into our Modern Eng
iish. During the latter part OF this period
under the reign of good Queen Elizabeth
both religion and learning were ioster,d.
The elements OF the English language were
sifted, combined and carefully pruned. \
galaxy OF learned men appeared in the
world OF literature, who by their writings
did much to give dignity and character to
the English language. Among these were
Shakspere, johnson, Raleigh, Sidney and
Edmund Spencer. At the close of this age
came King James Bible. Ii was writtenin
the improved English of that day. The
translators gave preference to the short
Saxon elements, and gave 10 the world
specimen of English literature, which in
simplicity and elegance has never been sur
passed. The English speaking race was
then in its infancy, and the elements COM
posing ii imperfectly assimilated, but this
English Bible passing into the castles of
the Barons, and into the cottages OF the
peasantry, interviewer as it was with their
strong religious convictions became the
common coin OF current speech. In COM
mon Use, in the family, the school and the
church, and looked up To as a pattern OF
morals, 1t soon became a pattern OF langu-
age also. Children learned To think and
talk in Bible language. Here the rich and
the poor, the cultured and the rude tiller
oi the soil, met on common ground. And
is result in the great English speaking
race there is hardly such thing as didiect
so common in France and other countries.
The English Bible permeating all classes,
has unified them, not only in language, but
in spirit also. That other books have assis,
ted in this work, We will not deny, but
their influence has nevertheless. been com
paratively insignificant. For one copy Of
Shakspere sent from the press now many
hundreds of Bib are given to the world,
which enter far more deeply in moulding
influence into the lives and characters OF
those who read them. And why is it that
lrr paartv al, l.
language has scarcely changed ex-
cept TO add the technical terms
necessary to give expression to the progress
of science and art? IL 1t not due to the
conservative influence OF the English Bible
more than to any other cause? Is it not
because the words and phrases rendered ia
miliar to the great bod y OF the English
speaking race, by daily Bible study can
scarcely become absolute? Surely We are
not claiming too much when We assert that
the English Bible, more than all other
causes, has given unity and permanency 10
the English language.
Second: The English Bible il the source
whence came the common law of England
and our system of Republican government
In the Mosaical code we have "A system Of
laws which is Justly admired by all enlight-
ened jurists. They are far superior 10 the
laws of Solon or LycurglIs ana were written
many centuries before these men lived. The
wisdom of all subsequent ages has not been
able to impeach the purity and justnea-- of
these laws. Now the English Bible, con-
tanning this code Of laws has been. in some
Of its versions, leading factor in moulding
the character of the English government
from the beginning Of its existence The
English ideas Of right and wrong were
Drawn from the Word of God. Venerable |
Hede and King Alfred did not labor ip vain, |
The blood Of Tyndale and Rogers was not
shed in vain. When John Knox came from |
Geneva and thundered the grand old doc
Irines OF inspiration 20 loudly that all Scot
land heard, and Bloody Mary trembled ON
her throne, and when Cramweil, with his |
nyincible Psalm-singers crushed the power
Df Charles ]. there were impressions made
IN the English.speaking race as permanent
is the race itself.
The Bible ideas of right and wrong were
into English law, and the un-
written law OF that land: and our own land |
is simply the development of the germinal |
laws found in the English Bible.
III it be claimed that the common law of |
England came with the Celtso or with the Ro-
mans. Saxons. Mortimer or Normans then
we ask wby do we not find the same cor
rec, conceptions of law and iu,tic, in IN.
countries whence these elements come
Or ii it be claimed that they are the natur-
al product of human wisIom then we a.k
Wby do we not find the purity and eouiry
taught in these laws respected eyervwberc2
We think that the conclusion is ineyitable |
that the whole English speaking race is in
debted for her uneaualei system Of laws IN
the English Bible.
In like manner il can be shown. as il has
becn shown bv abler mems than our. thar
we are indebted for onr system of EennbIi- |
ran government. and England for her moJ;-
led monarchy 10 the INSTITUTION of a similar
,mono the Herbrsw race and .X-
sting untiI they clamored for :, king ,ba,
,bev m;gLt he Iike the n,,;on. ro,,d ,hnn,
Ihem
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