study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第34节
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do in history？ Well； whatever the reason； books have played a large part in
the movements of men； specially of modern men。
They have markedly influenced the opinion of men about the past。 It is
commonly said that Hume's History of England； defective as it is； has yet
〃by its method revolutionized the writing of history；〃 and that is true。
Nearer our own time； Carlyle's Life of Cromwell reversed the judgment of
history on Cromwell； gave all readers of history a new conception of him
and his times and of the movement of which he was the life。 After the
Restoration none were so poor as to do Cromwell reverence until Carlyle's
BOOK gave him anew to the world。
There are instances squarely in our own time by which their mighty
influence may be tested。 They are of books of almost ephemeral value
save for the student of history。 As literature they will be quickly forgotten；
but as FORCES they must be reckoned with。 There is Uncle Tom's Cabin。
It would be absurd to say that it brought the American Civil War； or freed
the negroes； or saved the Union。 It did none of those great things。 Yet it is
not at all absurd to name it among the potent powers in all three。 It is not
to our purpose whether it is true or not as a statement of the whole fact。
Doubtless it was not true of the general and common circumstances of
Southern slavery； but everything in it was possible； and even frequent
enough so that it could not be questioned。 It pretended no more。 But its
influence was simply tremendous。 In book form it became available in
1852； and within three years； 1855； it was common property of English…
speaking people。 No other book ever produced so extraordinary an effect
so quickly in the public mind。＇1＇ It held up slavery to judgment。 It
crystallized the thoughts of common people。 The work of those strenuous
years in the '60's could not have been done without the result of that book。
It made history。 Come nearer our own day。 We could not be long in
London without feeling the concern of the better people for conditions in
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the East End。 A new social impulse has seized them。 To be sure； it lacks
much yet of success； but more has been done than most people realize。
The new movement； the awakening of that social sense； traces back to the
book of Gen。 William Booth； In Darkest England （1890）。 It has helped to
change the life of a large part of London。
＇1＇ Rhodes； History of the United States； vol。 i； pp。 185…303。
On this side； the new concern for city conditions dates from the book
of a newspaper reporter； Jacob A。 Riis； How the Other Half Lives。 It thrust
the Other Half into such prominence that it has never been possible to
forget it。 Marked advance in all American cities； in legislation and life；
goes straight back to it。 Name one other book still in the field of social
service； even so unpleasant； so terrible； so obnoxious a book as Upton
Sinclair's The Jungle。 It started and sustained movements which have
unsettled business and political life ever since it appeared。 It made some
conditions vivid； unescapable。
Do not misunderstand the argument。 No man can tell what will be said
in the histories a century from now about these lesser books。 We can never
go beyond guesses as to the whole cause of any chain of events。＇1＇ As
time passes； incidental elements in the causes gradually sink out of sight
and a few great forces take the whole horizon。 Whatever the histories a
century from now say about the relative place of such books as we have
named； it is certain that they have influenced the movements mightily。 The
literary histories will say nothing at all about them。 They are not great
literature； but they were born of a passion of the times and voiced and
aroused it anew。
＇1＇ MacPhail； Essays on Puritanism； p。 278。
When； therefore； it is urged that the English Bible has influenced
history； it is not making an undue claim for it。 When it is further urged that
of all books in English literature it has been most influential； it has most
made history； it has most determined great movements； the argument only
claims for it the highest place among books。
And it would not be surprising if it should have such influence。 It is
the one great piece of English literature which is universal property。 Since
the day it was published it has been kept available for everybody。 No other
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book has ever had its chance。 English…speaking people have always been
essentially religious。 They have always had a profound regard for the
terms； the institutions； the purposes of religion。 Partly that has been
maintained by the Bible； but the Bible in its turn has been maintained by it。
So it has come about that English…speaking people； though they have
many books； are essentially people of one Book。 Wherever they are； the
Bible is。 Queen Victoria has it near by when the messenger from the
Orient appears； and lays her hand upon it to say that this is the foundation
of the prosperity of England。 But the poor housewife in the cottage； with
only a crust for food； stays her soul with it。 The Puritan creeps into hiding
with the Book； while his brother sails away to the new land with the Book。
The settler may have his Shakespeare； he will surely have his Bible。 As the
long wagon…train creeps across the plain to seek the Western shore； there
may be no other book in all the train； but the Bible will be there。 Find any
settlement of men who speak the English tongue； wherever they make
their home； and the Bible is among them。 When did any book have such a
chance to influence men？ It is the one undisturbed heritage of all who
speak the English tongue。 It binds the daughter and the mother country
together； and gathers into the same bond the scattered remnants of the
English…speaking race the world around。 Its language is the one speech
they all understand。 Strange it would be if it had not a profound influence
upon history！
Another fact that has helped to give the Bible its great influence is the
power of the preaching it has inspired。 The periods of greatest preaching
have always been the periods of freest access to the Bible。 No one can
overlook the immense power of the sermons of history。 There have been
poor； inept； banal expositors； doubtless； but even they turned men's minds
to the Bible。 Reading the Bible makes men thinkers； and so makes
preachers inevitably。 Witness the Scotch。 James was raised in Scotland and
believed in the power of preaching。 At one time he wanted to settle
endowments for the maintenance of preaching under government control。
But Archbishop Whitgift convinced him that much preaching was 〃an
innovation and dangerous；〃 since it is quite impossible to control a man's
mouth once it is given a public chance。 Under Charles I。 the sermon was
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mighty in the service of the Puritans until it was suppressed or restricted。
Then men became lecturers and expounded the Bible or taught religious
truth in public or private。 Rich men engaged private chaplains since public
meetings could not be held。 Somehow they taught the Bible still。
Archbishop Laud forbade both。 Yet the leaven worked the more for its
restriction。 At least one good cook I know says that if you want your
dough to rise and the yeast to work； you must cover it。 Laud did not want
it to rise； but he made the mistake of covering it。
There has never been a book which has provoked such incessant
preaching and discussion as has the Bible。 The believers in the Koran
teach it as it is； word for word。 Believers in the Bible have never stopped
with that。 They have always trie
