The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-06-24
The First English Bible.

How vast the impression produced by
the version which thus burst into use,
not ON language but on life in the
whole sphere of moral social, spiritual,
even political experience, who shall de-
clareP To the England of his time,
confused darkened, with dim outlook
on this world or the next, the Lutter-
worth Rector brought the superlative
educational force. He opened before
it. through the Bible, long avenues of
history. He made it familiar with
the most enchanting and quickening
sketches of personal character ever pen
ciled He carried it to distant lands
and peoples further than crusaders
had gone with Richard; further than
Alfred's messengers had wandered. 1t
saw again the Getty of Palms in sud
den ruin, and heard the echoes of GYM
bal and shawn from the earliest temple.
The grandest poetry became its possess
sion; the sovereign law on which the
blaze of Sinai Shone, or which olowed
with serener light of Divinity on the
Mount of Beatitudes. Inspired minds
came out of, the past-MoSes, David.
Isaiah, John, the man of Idumea the
man OF Tarsus-to teach by this YER
sion the long-deSiring English mind.
1t gave peasants the privilege of those
who had heard Eliiah's voice; of those
who had seen the heaven opened by the
River of Ghebar; of those who had
gathered before the temples made
with hands, which crowned the Acrop-
oils. They looked into the faces of apos-
ties and martyrs, of seers and kings,
A ~.
morning of time. They stood face to
face amid these pages with One higher
than all, and the Kingliest life ever
lived on the earth became near and SUI
preme to the souls which had known
no temper in rank save that of disdain,
no touch of power which did not OPP
press. Not only again, in lurid column,
the pillar of fire marshalled Gods hosts;
not only again were waters divided and
fountains made to gush from the rocks
angelic songs were heard once more
above the darkened earthly hills.
Again, as afOretime, the Lord of glory
walked as brother from Nazareth and
from Bethany, strewing miracles in his
path, yet leading the timid to the
mount which burned with peaceful
splendor, showing the penitent His
cross, walking with mourners to the
tomb. From the paradise of the past
to the paradise above, the vast vision
stretched and gates of pearl were
brightly opened above the near and
murky skies. The thoughts of men
were carried up on the thoughts of God,
now first articulate to them. The low
ly English roof was lifted to take in
heights beyond the skies. Creation,
providence, redemption appeared, har-
monious with eternal wisdom; light
shot forward on the history of the
world, brighter light on the vast and
immortal experience of the soul,
the bands of darkness broke apart and
the universe was explained!
OF course this influence was not felt
by many minds; perhaps not in its full
ness by any. But it was henceforth at
home in England; at home to stay. 1t
contributed force of expansion and up
lift to every soul on which its quicken
ing blessings fell. 1t became an instru-
ment of popular liberty, as well as a
means of elevation and grace of person.
al souls. There was the English Re-
Nuisance. Leighton and Owen and
Jeremy Taylor became possible after
ward; Bacon and Hooker, Shakespeare
and Milton, Dryden and Wordsworth,
and Robert Burns. Celestial forces
mingled thenceforth, more vitality, wide
ly' with human thought; and the indie
structible, holy influence, though often
interrupted, never ceased, till it came to
its final inevitable fruition in The per-
feet liberty OF the Scriptures in England.
DR.. Il. s Storrs.