The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-28

out division OF chapters, verses, or words
Tradition traces the writing of this man
uscript in the fourth century, but it is
now generally assumed to date from the
fifth.
striking specimen of the universally
have found the lasting expression of type
is fac smile of Eliots Indian Bible. It
is in the Natik dialect and the original
was published in Cambridgs, Mass, be-
tween 1861 and 1868. This was the first
Bible printed in America.
There is seen fac smile Of the ''Leices-
ter Codex'' of the New Testament. the
original being preserved In the archives
of Leicester, England. 1t is usually as
cribed to the eleventh century, although it
is the opinion of Prof ]. Rendel Harris
that the manuscript is OF Italian origin
and of the fourteenth or even the fifteenth
century.
There is copy of "The Gothic and
Anglo-Saxon Gospels, with the Versions of
Wycliffe and Tyndale, London, 1866" The
Gothic version was made in the fourth cen
fury by Bishop Ulfilas (born 3lS A. D., died
Ssl). 1t is said to have been a complete
version. with the exception OF the Book of
Kings. 1t was probably transcribed about
36o A. D. Only fragments are preserved
IN the "Codex Argenteus,'' or Silver
Book; in the library of the University of
upsala, Sweden. The Anglo-Saxon version
was begun by King Alfred, who translated
the Psalms in the ninth century. John
Wycline (born 1920 either translated the
whole Bible into English from the Latin,
or collected previous translations The
nrst English version extant was made by
an unknown person about 1880. two copies
being preserved, one at the Bodleian Lii
brary, the other at Christ Church College,
Oxford. Wycliffe's Bible was suppressed
when published.
A Greek and Latin New Testament of
Erasmus. Edto princeps. printed by FIRE.
bonius, in Basic, 1916, is precious speci-
men. The edition of the Greek New Tes-
lament by Erasmus was the first ever pub
lished, and became, with few modifica-
tions, the received text
Among other notable copies Of the sacred
book may be noted Thomas Jefferson's
Bible. with numerous marginal notes in
the great statesman's own handwriting; a
fac smile Of Cromwells Soldiers Bible,
POCKET edition. 1t will be recalled by vet
Grams of the civil war that fac smiles OF
this edition were sold to the Northern
troops The smallest Bible ever printed is
here to be seen, and the ponderous tome
used in Jewish synagogues, together with
many other rare editions, which will at
once delight the student and instruct the
many.
The significance of this collection at the
National Museum will appeal to all AZ it
bears sufficient testimony to the antiquity
of the popular Bible. That sublime work
which has inspired genius and comforted
afiiiction, imbued the crestions of the
Christian artist with the majesty of
heaven, and taught the same lessons to
the heart of the simple peasant, is here
seen to have performed its divine mission
in all its fullness from the very dawn of
Christianity. How many monuments of
genius, to say nothing of those countless
bright inscriptions from the pen of the
recording angel, testify today the death
less influence of the immortal book. All
Christian art is indebted to these inspired
pages. The Gothic cathedrais of the Mid
die Ages. the paintings OF Leonardo,
Raphael, Michael Angelo. and Titan
during the Renaissance, the sublime
strains of Handel, Bach. Haydn, and
Rossini. when the divine Cecilia's strains
awoke in the human soul, all find in the
sacred scriptures the Inspiration of their
noblest creations and the spirit Of their
most exalted rhapsodies. The poet seeks
therein for his noblest theme and the sage
for subjects of most profound reflection;
the sculptor embodies in the, marble figure
of the great leader Of Israel the fearful
expression Of law fmmutable and justice
everlasting, and the chronfcier seeks in
Exodus the keynote to the history Of all
nations and peoples. ~" ~
The king consults its pages to guide
him in the rightful government of State.
and the peasant in the proper conduct of
a household; the warrior for the stern ex-
allied might of soul that unsheathes the
patriots sword,sa and the woman to drink
of the tender resignation and sweet COM
passion OF the Redeemer Nowhere in all
literature does humanity find its foibles
and weaknesses SO faithfully portrayed;
nowhere else is it confronted with its d. |
vine origin and end. |