The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-11-29
How THE BIBLE CAME TO us.
LECTURE FOURTH, THE HISTORY or
THE ENGLISH BIBLE.
BY Rev, Albert r. Bond.


The ruins Of the famous Abbey
OF Whitby, covered with the dust
of centuries and watchful in their
loneliness Of the toilers Of the
North Sea, recall an ancient in
cident of interest. Dispirited by
lack of ability and mortified by
apparent failure, the cowherd of
the Abbey retired from the feast
at which impromptu poetry was
sung by each guest, and sought
relief from his worry in the COM
pany of cattle of the stable. In
his troubled sleep there appears
to him he whose advent was pro-
claimed in the angelic choral
"Glory to God in the highest
And on earth peace toward men Of
his good pleasure.
"Sing, Caedmon," he said,
"sing some song to me.
~ cannot sing" was the sor-
rowful reply, "for this cause is
it that came hither. ("
Yet" said his visitor, ''yet
shalt thou sing to me. ("
"What shall | sing?''
"The beginning of created
things, .
The vision passed but the pow
er remained. The more fortunate
ol his brethren would read the
Bible to him and Caedmon would
render the story into verse. His
new gift was entirely devoted 10
the service of the Bible, for he
never sang Of other themes. The
names Of the rhymers Of the feast
have passed away, but 1900 years
Of literary growth bring only
honor to this early Saxon bard
This was among the first efforts
at making the Bible current it
popular speech.
Wi h Caedmon the venerable
Bede, whose Ecclesiastical His.
tory" yet remains a source d
knowledge of ancient England
takes his place OF honor. III,
lived in A. d. 673- 735. He trans,
lated portions Of the Scriptures
finishing his dictation Of John on
ly few moments prior to hi
2 death. But these efforts at trans
, lation were early and incomplete
J We may notice in order;
G I. THE BIBLE OF JOHN WYCLIFFE.
: A brief glance may be given t,
the England of Wycliffe's time
The reigns of Edward III. an,
!, Richard III. saw the popular up
rising against tho power OF tn
king and lords. The aspiration
Of the serfs was for liberty. Tn
I. inaurrection Of Wat Tyler had tn
g cry, reputed to have been fur
nisned by Wycliffe,
= "When Adam delyed and Eve span
Who was then the gentleman?"
q The condition Of the church wa
r dep.orable. The priests and Of
= ficials sought only their own eas
h and luxury, regarding not tn
need for preaching the gospel
the people. The political corruT
7. ton found its equal in religiol
u degeneration. The beneficei
work Of the mendicant friars ha
!. given place to ease and indiffel
q ence, Tor these beggars had grow
r. rich and lazy, careless of the poo
of the people and forgetful Of the
original purpose. The Bible WI
~ in Latin, unread even by Il
clergy and unknown to the pc,
le Pile. The times were propitiol
J for reformations, when mob
~ messenger Of truth might ari
~ with influence and daring. Fan
" inc had devastated the land AZ
=, The peoples best blood had be-
- drained by cruel wars. Surel,
many thought, the time wou
speedily come for the Judge
40 "To terminate the evil
To diadem the right"
To such an England Wyclii
m addressed himself.
John Wycliffe was born in 13
near Richmond in Yorkshire al
received his education at Oxfor
10 He afterwards became rector
Lutterworth and lecturer at o
II. ford. He began translating I
Bible with the Apocalypse
1855. and by 1880 had complet
= the New Testament. lie orga
sr, lied a body Of preachers kno,
q. as. Poor Priests" and sent ths
n forth with Gods work in the Il
y glish to call clergy and laily
harmonic their lives with
ne teachings. His translation V
M made from fho I ATTN NuIUafa a