study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第6节
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especially when it is passed down by tradition。 Those were not the days of
newspapers。 They were instead the days of great meetings； more important
still of small family gatherings； where the memory of the older men was
called into use； and where boys and girls drank in eagerly the traditions of
their own country as expressed in the great events of their history。
Newspapers never can fully take the place of those gatherings； for they do
not bring men together to feel the thrill of the story that is told。 It must be
remembered that the entire population of England at that time was only
about three millions。 And that old spirit of independence was strongly at
work in the middle…class villages and among the merchants； and they were
a ruling and dominant class。 That was second； that in those ten years there
asserted itself the age…long unwillingness of the English people to be ruled
from without。
The third fact which must be taken into account to explain this
remarkable change of front of the public English life is Henry VIII。
himself。 There is much about him that no country would willingly claim。
He was the most habitual bridegroom in English history； he had an almost
confirmed habit of beheading his wives or otherwise ridding himself of
them。 Yet many traits made him a typical outstanding Englishman。 He had
the characteristic spirit of independence； the resentment of foreign control；
satisfaction with his own land； the feeling that of course it is the best land。
There are no people in the world so well satisfied with their own country
as the people of England or the British Isles。 They are critical of many
things in their own government until they begin to compare it with other
countries； they must make their changes on their own lines。 The pamphlet
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of Henry VIII。； which won him the title of Defender of the Faith； praised
the pope； and； though Sir Thomas More urged him to change his
expressions lest he should live to regret them； he would not change them。
But that was while the pope was serving his wishes and what he felt was
England's good。
There arose presently the question； or the several questions； about his
marriage。 It sheds no glory on Henry VIII。 that they arose as they did； but
his treatment of them must not be mistaken。 He was concerned to have his
marriage to Anne Boleyn confirmed； and there are some who think he was
honest in believing it ought to be confirmed； though we need not believe
that。 What happened was that for the first time Henry VIII。 found that as
sovereign of England he must take commands from a foreign power； a
power exercising temporal sovereignty exactly as he did； but adding to it a
claim to spiritual power； a claim to determine his conduct for him and to
absolve his people from loyalty to him if he was not obedient。 It arose
over the question of his divorce； but it might have arisen over anything
else。 It was limitation on his sovereignty in England。 And he let it be seen
that all questions that pertain to England were to be settled in England； and
not in another land。 He would rather have a matter settled wrong in
England than settled right elsewhere。 That is how he claimed to be head of
the English Church。 The people back of him had always held to the belief
that they were governed from within； though they were linked to religion
from without。 He executed their theory。 That assertion of English
sovereignty came during the eventful years of which we are speaking。
Here； then； are our great facts。 First； thoughtful opinion wanted the
Bible made available； and at a convention of bishops and university men
the King was requested to secure the issuance of a proper translation。
Secondly； the people wanted it； the more because it would gratify their
English instinct of independent judgment in matters of religion。 Thirdly；
the King granted it without yielding his personal religious position； in
assertion of his human sovereignty within his own realm。
So England awoke one morning in 1537 to discover that it had a
translation of the Bible two of them actually； open to its use； the very thing
that had been forbidden yesterday！ And that； one year after Tindale had
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been burned in loyal France for issuing an English translation！ Two
versions were now authorized and made available。 What were they？ That
of Miles Coverdale； which had been issued secretly two years before； and
that known as the 〃Matthew〃 Bible； though the name has no significance；
issued within a year。 Details are not to our purpose。 Neither was an
independent work； but was made largely from the Latin and the German；
and much influenced by Tindale。 Coverdale was a Yorkshire man like
Wiclif； feminine in his mental cast as Tindale was masculine。 Coverdale
made his translation because he loved books； Tindale because he felt
driven to it。 But now the way was clear； and other editions appeared。 It is
natural to name one or two of the more notable ones。
There appeared what is known as the Great Bible in 1539。 It was only
another version made by Coverdale on the basis of the Matthew version；
but corrected by more accurate knowledge。 There is an interesting
romance of its publication。 The presses of England were not adequate for
the great work planned； it was to be a marvel of typography。 So the
consent of King Francis was gained to have it printed in France； and
Coverdale was sent as a special ambassador to oversee it。 He was in dread
of the Inquisition； which was in vogue at the time； and sent off his printed
sheets to England as rapidly as possible。 Suddenly one day the order of
confiscation came from the Inquisitor…General。 Only Coverdale's official
position as representing the King saved his own life。 As for the printed
sheets on which so much depended； they seemed doomed。 But in the nick
of time a dealer appeared at the printing…house and purchased four great
vats full of waste paper which he shipped to Englandwhen it was found
that the waste paper was those printed sheets。 The presses and the printers
were all loyal to England； and the edition was finally completed。 The
Great Bible was issued to meet a decree that each church should make
available in some convenient place the largest possible copy of the whole
Bible； where all the parishioners could have access to it and read it at their
will。 The version gets its name solely from the size of the volume。 That
decree dates 1538； twelve years after Tindale's books were burned； and
two years after he was burned！ The installation of these great books
caused tremendous excitementcrowds gathered everywhere。 Bishop
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Bonner caused six copies of the great volume to be located wisely
throughout St。 Paul's。 He found it difficult to make people leave them
during the sermons。 He was so often interrupted by voices reading to a
group； and by the discussions that ensued； that he threatened to have them
taken out during the service if people would not be quiet。 The Great Bible
appeared in seven editions in two years； and continued in recognized
power for thirty years。 Much of the present English prayer…book is taken
from it。
But this liberty was so sudden that the people naturally abused it。
Henry became vexed because the sacred words 〃were disputed； rimed；
sung； and jangled in every ale…house。〃 There had grown up a series of wild
ballads and ribald songs in contempt of 〃the old faith；〃 while it was not
really the old faith which was in dispute； but only foreign control of
English faith。 They had mistaken Henry's
