Mexico weekly ledger., 1881-06-23

notable events of this remarkable age. |
The sale of the new version has ex-
ceeded that of all the most popular
literary periodicals.. We have been
accustomed to frequent mention of
immense Bible distribution by our
Bible societies but, compared even
to what has been done by them, the
recent importations, reprints and de-
liveries of New Testaments are al
most fabulous.
II the new version shall be the
means of rekindling interest in the
Gospel, it will prove an immense
blessing. Formerly, almost the en-
tire population of this country was
familiar with the Scriptures. Then
the Bible was the text book of family
education, and every Protestant
father or mother felt that duty de-
manded that every child should be
made familiar with the stories, the
commandments and the parallels of
the word of God. Especially was the
United States the Bible reading coun-
try OF the world. Its language was
affected by its style, and its policies
and legislation by its teachings and
precepts. But with the introduction
of foreign populations, the percent
age of Bible readers in this country
lessened, until the greater parts of
of communities became content to
leave investigation of the Scriptures
to preachers and professors. 1t is
to be hoped, therefore, that the re-
cent demand for it will be the fore.
runner of increased interest in it.
In this connection, toe, it is worthy
of notice that the late distribution of
it was not the work of paid colpor-
teurs forcing the Bible upon indifer-
ent and often unwilling populations,
but the result of spontaneous interest,
for the qualification of which, each
one participating in it was willing to
part with his money. To many of
those who bought 1t, it came as q
fresh book Of whose contents they
were entirely Ignorant. Many such will
read it for information and instruc-
ton, without previous prejudice for
or against it. A new kind of atten-
ton to the word of God has sprung
up, and a generation or two must pass
before the result of such widespread
distribution Of the teachings of Christ
and His Apostles can be ascertained.
King James Bible was the work of
the members of a single church, en-
barrassed by m%onarchial restrictions,
for which at the present time there is
nc necessity, either real or imagin.
airy. 1t also contains words that are
obsolete and many terms of foreign
origin, about whose meaning there
has been and still is incessant wran-
gle. In the English portion of the
committee to whom the new version
voc Entrusted, the largest membership
had of course to be assigned to It's
established church; but in the Ameri-
can branch of it, all denominations
had their fair and proportionate rep
resentation, unhampered with un-
reasonable Oh arbitrary rules, and
without the least desire openly mani
tested to impart to any portion of the
work accomplished a sectarian bias.
All the texts bearing upon doctrines
were allowed to remain untouched
and this, in u opinion, is the
greatest objection that can be made
to what has been done.
If "baptizing,' for instance, means
either dipping, plunging, or miners
ing, or sprinkling, or bathing, or
washing, why should not Its exact
significance be determined and rem
dered into plain English? If the
word ''election'' does not express
what was intended, something ought
to be substituted for it. And then,
there are a host Of other terms of
foreign origin, ''abillty," ''bishop,"
"church," ''corruption,' "decree,"
''faith," ''glory," Justify" SHE'LL"
perseverance, "''predestinate," ''re-
generate" ''repent,' righteous"
''sanctify," ''soul," "spirit'' and
''tempt," &C., that have little place
in common p~arlance in their biblical
senses, and have had the misfortune
to have been put to innumerable and
contradictory uses, and, concerning
whose proper meaning and applica-
ton, there is widespread conflict of
opinion. If all the words of foreign
origin contained in English Bibles,
and found no where else than in OBJ
solete literature, we're eliminated from
Webster's dictionary, its volume
might be reduced one-half. The last
thing, therefore, wanted is a scholarly
rendition Of the word of God. Neither
our language or literature needs any
thing Of that sort. They r i'm
proved enough and have scope enough
to express all that has been enunci-
ated through inspiration. It will be
sufficient for practicable purposes, if
people can be made to understand
exactly what has been said by the
Almighty.
The new version is in the right di-
rection, but does not 60 far enough.
The avidity manifested for it, and
the immense sums expended for its
speedy acquisition, will encourage