The Story of the Manuscripts [Of the New Testament]. - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1881. Excerpt: ... INTBODUCTIOK. A REVISED BIBLE. The readers of the English Bible during two hundred and seventy years have found it a sufficient guide to holy living, a light of such brilliancy as to show them that far-off heavenly land, to which the journey through these earthly years is but the approach. But after burning almost three centuries, shall not the lamp be trimmed? May it not cast even a brighter gleam upon the pathway of men in the future? If the present generation has gained access to any resources, or won any skill, beyond those possessed by the early translators, who brought the kindled flame to us, it is surely a duty to use them for the better enlightenment of the people in the coming time. Many English and Anglo-Saxon translations from the Scriptures preceded that known as "the authorized," or "King James's Version." Even in the very earliest times of Christianity in Britain, portions of the Sacred Writings were rendered from the Latin then in common use, and given to the people through the homilies of priests, or the chantings of poets. These were often no more than rough paraphrases, accompanied by notes and comments; but they were of the greatest value in giving familiarity with Biblical truth. The earliest of these was the paraphrase in verse by Caedmon of Whitby, a monk of the seventh century. In King Alfred's Beda, an account is given of the belief, that Caedmon was specially inspired to sing the great themes of the Creation and Fall of Man, the History of Israel, the Incarnation and Passion of Jesus, the Doom of Hell, and the Bliss of Heaven. While he slept in a stable a vision was granted him, the story goes, and he began to sing "the verse and the word, that he never had heard." Aldhelm and Cuthlac made versions of the Psalms about the beginni...