The morning call., 1891-04-20
BOOK OF BOOKS.
DR.. Leech on the Bibles His.
tory and Pre.eminence.
The Converted Brahmin Tells of Indian Mis-
sionary Work-A Lecture on Chris
tian Faithfulness.

The Rev. S. Y. Leeeh, pastor Of the How
ard-street Methodist Episcopal Church.
preached a sermon to young men last even
ing from the text, Romans iii:2: Unto
them were committed the oracles Of God"
around the Bible" said DIR. Leech, ''has
crystaIlized the most colossal argumenta-
ton, the richest rhetoric, the sublimest
poetry, the noblest eloquence and the most
impershable creations of painting and
sculpture. Ii has been said that the sanity
CrysoStom, in the fourth century, gave the
title Bible" Us The Book y to the writ
ingS recognized by Christians as containing
the doctrines of revealed religion. For con-
venience of reference Cardinal Hugo, 600
years ago. divided the manuscript copies in
to chapters. Later on, Rabbi Mordecai
Nathan subdiyided the chapters into
verses"
After dwelling on the authoritative char
acter Of the Bible, as compared with classics
in other branches of literature, DR.. Leech
took up the question of verbal inspiration.
The superstition Of verbal Inspiration
said the preacher, had no existence prior
10 the seventeenth century. But the divine
spirit guided the penmen in their compost
tions. No Christian scholar denies that in
this authorized translation there are words
of questionable right to their positions. In
making manuscript copies transcribeTs &C.
casiunully interpolated word or phrase OF
marginal eXegesis. But these no more mar
its perfection than the spots on the sun de-
crease its brlilancy."
THERE Is But ONE BOOK"
Dr. Leech then considered the importance
of the Bible rs compared with other books,
and quoted Walter SCOTS dying declaration,
There is but one book" - IL is the soil
- Ito GaclaraH a. Of Informal
ton as 10 our creation, the circumstances
connected with our original moral corrup-
ton, our relation TO God through Christ and
the nature Of the future life"
DR.. Leech then considered the inSufhciency
Of pagan religions Only occasionally"
he said, summing UP their shortcomings,
"sOme giant-minded philosopher like Socra-
les would stand out intellectually superior
10 his surroundings and speculatlvely lake
hold on biblical ideas with an infants grip.
The preacher next considered Ithe trans
formation which the Bible had worked In
national, domestic and personal character
and life, in abolishing slavery and in I'M
proving the position OF women and chill
dTen. In every nation where the Bible has
not been read woman 10 the beast OF burden
or the incarcerated slave OF passion" said
the preacher. s. IL is only in Bible countries
that women crowd into the higher pro-
LESSONS, bear off the hOnors of universities,
and are uueenly authors in literature and
=
QuenCe eaptivateS cities. What it has done
1OT the nation, the home aud tile individual
il can do for The world"
IFS LITERARY EXCELLENCE.
The Bible, too, is a book Of superlative
literary excellence, and no volume can boast
such history. From the Platonic school
of CELSIUS, Periphery aud Hlerocles down to
Renan and Strauss it has been assaulted for
eighteen centuries, but Its foundations still
stand as they were laid by Moses, the
prophets, the evangellStS and the apostles.
The Bible exists to-day translated into
more than 200 dialects and languages and
accessible to three-tourths OF the human
population.
1.-The new versions of both testaments are
worthy OF our admiration, as well as this
lUug-hOnOred and less critical edition. Re
jectcd words and phrases were not priceless
gems sunk by divine hand into this eabi-
net Of jewels, and now torn from their holy
settings by men Of learning. This old YER
sion is but an early translation from He
brew and Greek manuscripts, made by
linEual scholars to improve the earlier YER
slons.
The large company of European and
American scholars who presented US with
our revised versions represent the most
learned theologans Of the world. For more
than 4 decade they patiently compared,
word for word, our familiar version with
the FIVE oldest-knOwn manuscripts of the
sacred books. They felt the need of more
accurate translation, made by the light of
the torches Of unQueStloned scholarship
and the present status Of the English Ian
guage.
THE REVISED VERSION.
They desired TO put the Bible into clear
and good English, as nearly as possible, as
il was ins! pred by the holy Ghost. Not
now, but in the decade beyond our deceaSe
tie testimony Of scholarship shall be mora
generally appreciated. Men will ask which
versions the better express the will of God.
And when the Christian Church becomes
convinced that the latest translatons defend
the lime-honoTed orthodox faith with better
aut 0ri!y and quite as heToically as any
others they will gradually find permanent
welcome in cur pulpits and our homes"
DR.. Leech concluded his impressive ser
mon by urging the thorough study Of the
Bible, and the incorporation of its spirit
into tine practice of life.