the rest printed with the words stating such license in the title page: that they were submitted for the king's perusal, who consulted the bishops on the subject that they told him there were many errors in them; but that he, influenced and persuaded by the queen, and finding, even by the bishops' confessions, that there were no heresies maintained in them, gave orders that injunctions should be made, commanding them to be set up in the churches: that in the mean while, and before these injunctions were publicly issued, queen Anne fell under the king's displeasure that the Bible having thus lost its chief supporter, those around the king ventured to represent the danger of issuing a translation that was full of errors that the king, easily swayed by his humour, and having no one to uphold his original intention, allowed the injunctions to be altered: that thus Coverdale's translation was suffered to fall to the ground, being neither prohibited nor sanctioned: and that the remainder were issued from the press with the substitution of queen Jane, instead of queen Anne, both because it might have prejudiced the sale, the mention of the king's "dearest iust wyfe, " and most vertuous Pryncesse, Quene Anne," and because that queen Jane might thereby be induced to interest herself in its support. Having thus examined into how far Coverdale's Bible was authorized by the king's sanction, let us now proceed to say a few words about its publication. All those who are engaged in tracing the rise and progress of the reformed religion in England, must look back to this period with considerable interest. The first grand step towards leading men into the right path, was at length, owing to the perseverance, the learning, and the zeal of Coverdale, accomplished. The word of God could now be perused by those desirous of instruction, in a language they could understand. It was no longer confined to the learned and the studious few; but the most ignorant and uninstructed could now derive from it those rules of conduct for their guidance in the path of right, for which they were before obliged to resort to men only less ignorant than bigoted and superstitious; to men, whose interest it was to prevent them from the exercise of a free or rational judgment; to men, who inculcated less a real practice of religion, than an absurd devotion to its forms. It is impossible to say, if Coverdale had not published this Bible, how long a time would have elapsed before some one else would have undertaken it. Although we may not doubt, but that few were as well qualified as him for the task; yet it is not to be supposed that in the then state of men's minds, many years could have elapsed, without some one undertaking so important and necessary a work for the furtherance of true religion and devotion. Coverdale's merit is however not the less on this account, and we owe him indeed a deep debt of gratitude, and may fairly assert, that to him we are mainly indebted for the many editions, which subsequently were published, and for which the king's approbation and license were at last obtained. As to the merit to which this translation, as a pure and faithful one, is entitled, it is not the intention of the present writer to enter into any discussion; and indeed it would scarcely be called for, after the expressed opinions of so many learned scholars on the subject. Mr. Whittaker has shown, in a most complete and satisfactory manner, that the Hebrew text is by Coverdale, most faithfully and ably translated, and the sense most consonant to the original always adopted. A late eminent divine," who, whatever peculiar views he may have entertained on certain subjects, is universally allowed to be a man of much learning and judgment, scruples not to affirm, that this translation is one of more merit, and is more according to the original, (such as Coverdale had it,) than the present authorized version, which is commonly read in the churches.' As a specimen of this translation, we here insert the ten commandments: EXODUS, CHAP. XX. Deut. 5. a. And the LORDE spake all these wordes, and sayde: I am the LORDE thy God, which haue brought the out of the londe of Egipte from yo house of bondage, Exo. 14. c. * Deu. 4. c. and 27. b. *Naŭ. 1. a. Exo. 34. a. Deu. 7. b. Thou shalt haue none other Goddes in my sight.* Thou shalt make the no grauen ymage ner eny symilitude, nether of it that is aboue in heauen, ner of it that is beneth vpon earth, ner of it that is in the water vnder the earth. Worshipe them not, and serue them not: for I the LORDE thy God am a* gelouse God, vysitinge y' synne of the fathers vpon the children, vnto y° thirde and fourth Hist. and Crit. Enq. p. 51-58. Dr. Geddes, in his answers to queries, &c. ? See Note H. Leui. 19. c. Eccli. 23. b. *Le. 24. b. Exo. 23. b. 34. c. 35. a. Eze. 20. b. Gene. 2. a. Matt. 15. a. * Ro. 7. b. and 13. b. generacion, of them that hate me: And do mercye vpō many thousandes, that loue me, and kepe my commaunde mentes. Thou shalt not take the name of y° LORDE thy God in vayne.* For the LORDE shal not holde him vngiltie, that taketh his name in vayne. Remembre the Sabbath daie, that thou sanctifie it. Sixe dayes shalt thou laboure and do all thy worke: But vpon the seventh daye is the Sabbath of the LORDE thy God: thou shalt do no maner worke in it, nether thou, ner thy sonne, ner thy doughter, ner thy seruaunt, ner thy mayde, ner thy catell, ner thy straunger that is within thy gates. For in sixe dayes the LORDE made heauen and earth, and the see, and all that ther in is, and rested vpon the seuenth daye: therfore the LORDE blessed the seuenth daye, & halowed it. Honoure thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest lyue longe in the londe, which the LORDE thy God shal geue the. Thou shalt not kyll. Thou shalt not breake wedlocke. Thou shalt not steale. Thou shalt beare no false wytnesse agaynst thy neghboure. Thou shalt not* lust after t' neghbours house. Thou shalt not lust after thy neghbours wife, ner his seruaūt, ner his mayde, ner his oxe, ner his Asse, ner all that thy neghboure hath. CHAPTER VI. MATTHEW's BIBLE - LETTERS ΤΟ THE CLERGY MUCH COVERDALE PUBLISHED. GRAFTON'S LORD CROMWELL CONCERNING IT. OFFENDED AT THIS EDITION, ON ACCOUNT OF THE PROLOGUE AND PREFATORY PIECES ATTACHED TO IT. SUPERINTENDS THE PRINTING OF ANOTHER BIBLE AT PARIS. HIS LETTERS TO LORD CROMWELL. THE WHOLE IMPRESSION OF THE BIBLE IS SUDDENLY SEIZED ON, AND COVERDALE HIMSELF NARROWLY ESCAPES THE INQUISITION. THIS BIBLE PROCEEDED AFRESH WITH, AND PUBLISHED IN 1539. IN 1537, another Bible was printed, of a larger and different type than that of Coverdale's, and on larger paper." It is commonly called Matthew's Bible, because in the title page it is stated to be translated by Thomas Matthew; but it is now pretty generally understood that this was a fictitious name, and merely designed to obviate any prejudice that might have been conceived against it, had it been mentioned who were the real translators of it. Mr. Lewis says, that this translation was taken as far as a Copies Brit. Mus.-Lambeth.-Bodleian.-St. Paul's.-Christ Church-Baliol Coll.-All Souls Coll.-Earl of Bridgewater.—Earl of Pembroke.-Bapt. Mus. Bristol.-Mr. Tutet.-Mr. Offor.-Mr. Bagster. |