The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-03-14

1nis year IT'S 'Ter.Centenary- Is ceIe.
brated. 1t is a grand book. 1t has
done grand work. The fact that It
Is not perfect must not condemn a
work POSSESSED of so many glorious
qualities. II was the result of seven
years labor on the part of forty-seven
persons learned in the languages and APP
pointed by King James Of England for
Its preparation. They labOred to some
disadvantage by reason Of the COM
mand given them to follow an earlier
Translation styled. The Bishops Bible.
and to alter 1t as little as the original
would allow. They were also instruct
ed that If the Tyndale. Coverdale, Mat.
thew, Cranmer or Whltchurch transla-
tions and the Geneva Editors agreed
better with the text, theirs should be
accepted as instead of the Bishops.
The translation was. perhaps, the best
that could be made at the time
Published by kingly authority, 1t IL
now -venerated by English and Amer
lean PrOtestants as though II had come
direct from the finger Of God. This is
thAoNahts We hiC " WOtDhiP oOA
and to reverence His Word and to
search as carefully as possible to have
the precious Ointment provided by the
spirit of the Truth free from all dead
tlies-free from all human additions
and mistranslations and supersitions
Of the Dark Ages"
The basis for our Common Version
was the Latin vulgate. which was dill
gently revised and compared with the
Greek MSS. OF the time. But there
were few Greek MSS. known at that
time. whereas ut the present time there
are over 100. Three Of these are quite
ancient.
(lI The SInaitic MS. found in Con-
vent on Mt. Sinai so recently as 1860.
This Is acknowledged to be the Oldest
Greek MS. known In the world. Its
date Is estimated to be about the year
B3l A. ID. This MS. is now in the pos
session of the Russian government at
st. Petersburg.
e, The Vatican MS, 1909, is credited
with being next in age. 1t was found
amongst old MSS. In the Vatican Ii
brary and Is still there and catalogued.
The date of its writing Is estimated to
be about the year $50 A. ID.
(3l The third of these oldest known
Greek MSS. of the New Testament is
found in Alexandria in Egypt 1t is
now In the British Museum, where
any visitor can behold 1t in a glass
case. 1t is supposed to have been writ
ten about A. ID. 450. The readings Of
all three of these Greek MSS. can be
secured and the variations between
their readings and our Common YER
sion ure so simply arranged as to leave
no excuse for ignorance on the part OF
Bible students. Our Common YER
sion with nOtations of these MSS. can
be obtained through any bookseller.
A Responsible and Sacred Trust.
Prof Tischendorf. writing respecting
these ancient Greek MSS. says
"To treat such ancient authorities
with neglect would be either unwar-
rantable arrogance or culpable negii-
gence. Indeed. 1t would be misun-
derstanding OF Providence IL, after all
these documents had been preserved
through all the dangers OF fourteen or
fifteen centuries and delivered safe
receive them with thankfulness as
most valuable Instruments for the
elucidation of Truth"
Tho Tsuth In the Love Of II.
The Lord speaks Of some who re-
ceive not the Truth In the love of 1t,
and tells that they ultimately will be
ensnared by the Adversary. Evident
ly honesty is one OF the most
precious elements In the Divine sight.
1t Is not sufficient that we should be
Christians in name merely and with
form and ceremony. 1t would not be
sufficient in the Lords sight that we
should worship sect or party or even
the Bible. 1t Is the Divine Truth that
we must reverence next to the Divine
person.
II IL not sufficient to have Bibles
on our center tables merely, nor suf-
ficient to carry them under our arms.
/ We must "eat' the Word of God-that
is to say. we must, as spiritual chill
dren of God. feed upon His message.
And this truly implies careful dis
elimination to discern between Gods
inspired Revelation and all human ad-
ditions and admixtures. There is.
therefore, difference between rever-
encing and loving the Word of God
and reverencing and loving particu.
lar translation. errors and all.
"Thy Word Is Truth"
Our Masters prayer for all of His
true disciples. or footstep followers
was and still is. 'Sanctify them
through Thy Truth; Thy Word is
Truth" Whoever would have the
sanctifylng influence of the Divine
Word should so far as possible rid
himself of every unsanctlfying udmix
ture of human tradition and interpola
ton The true sanctitication or set
ting apart OF the heart to know and
to do the Lords will could not be con
tent to accept with the sanctifyinl
Truth defillng errors. chaff and non
sense.