The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-06-28
A Strong Book.

In 1.-THE English Bible: A Survey Of Its
External History" recently published by
Rev. p. B. Wells, of this city, the author has
given a comprehensive and scholarly manner
the history Of the translations OF the Bible
from the earliest times TO the present. The
sources for the recovery OF the original text of
Scripture are treated at some length, and a
full survey taken Of the leading Manuscrspts
OF the Old and New Testsments.
In the section or the Versions OF the Bible
In English, both the Catholic and the Protest
ant English Bible are ably treated at length :.
and in our judgment, with absolute fairness.
Altogether, this is the %clearest, most COM.
prehensive n most scholarly presentation
OF this subject that we have seen. Those who
desire q thorough knowledge Of the history
of their Bible will find it to their interest 10
carefully examine thisv volume as 1t bears evi.
dence of years Of most critical research.
The subject is treated under five heads -
Part I. The New Testament.
Part II. The Old Testament.
Part III. The Latin Vulgate.
Part ". The Catholic English Bible.
Part v. The Protestant English Bible.
The volume Is enriched with over two hun
dred %footnotes, a full photography and appen-
dix, and diagrams and tabular statements.
W are not surprised 10 know that this
work is meeting with a most favorable recep-
ton. >"
In the last issue of the Southern Christian
Advocate we find the following appreciative
tor, DR.. Jas. H. Carlisle. Of Wofford College.
81 artanburg, s. c.
"When You take up the Bible to read your
pose you ask a few questions like these !:
How has this wonderful volume come to me ?
Not q page Of II was first written IN the Ian
.guage which I read. Through what different
How old ia the earliest known copy now In
existence? There may be some earnest read.
ers, who use their Testament with reverent
care, and are built up in Christian belief and
living by the sacred pages, WHO nave never
great deal was written twenty-five years ago
about The Revised Version" q dear old wo.
man in Scotland said, ST our common En-
glish Bible was good enough for st. Paul, 1t Is
good enough for me-"
The spade ia bringing to light wonderful
treasures In the Eastern lands. valuable
manuscripts have been unrolled. which tell
of events that happened far back In earlier
times. Suppose an old parchment Is dug up,
which our experts, after patient examination,
pronounce an autograph copy OF one Of Paurs
Episties, written by his faithful secretary,
with q few words at the close, in another
hand, believed TO be by the pen of Paul him
self! How rapidly would exact copies OF this
manuscript be multiplied and scattered over
the reading world. 1t Is not probable that a
surprise like this is in store for the literary
world. There nay not be in existence, on the
earth, or under the earth, an autograph page
of either Testament. But the history Of the
Bible In It's copies, versions. and trapslations,
is full Of interest and profit. The volume be-
fore us will open a new and wide field to the
readers. 1t may be suited rather for frequent
reference than for continuous reading. The
author says he makes no claim to original.
.ty he has merely tried to place In condensed
form the results Of the research OF many
scholars from many lands" We think he
has been successful. He has evidently had
access to some Of the largest libraries in our
country, and has made good use OF the valu-
able books before him. The time and
thought given to this work. by the busy pas
tor. must have been profitable TO him, and we
hope many appreciaLive readers will uRe the
helps he offers them. These readers may
more surely know the certainty OF those
things, wherein they have been instructed