"The Reformation," says Burke, one of the greatest periods of human improvement, was a time of trouble and confusion. The vast structure of superstition and tyranny,-which had been for ages in rearing, and which was combined with the interest of the great and the many; which was moulded into the laws, the manners, the civil institutions of nations; and blended with the frame and policy of states;-could not be brought to the ground without a struggle, nor could it fall without a violent concussion of itself and all about it."

1797, being the day set apart for |ing the Popish and Satanic influence a general thanksgiving for naval thrown into or attached to the oppovictories obtained in the present site scale. war; and the latter on Wednesday, March 7, 1798, being the day appointed for a general fast. Ipswich. 8vo. "A Farewell Testimony," containing the substance of two discourses preached in the parish church of Debenham, Oct. 13, 1822, after a public notice given on the preceding Lord's day, to take leave of the people and secede from the Established Church; and since formed into one continued address, with large additions. Woodbridge, 1823. 8vo. "Hymns and Spiritual Songs," with metrical versions from the Psalms, designed to teach the Christian doctrine according to the analogy of Scripture, by combining knowledge and practice, or the duties with the principles of the Gospel; contaiuing 420 original compositions.Woodbridge, 1824. 12mo. Second edition. "A Glance at the Stage by the Light of Truth." Ipswich, 1827. 12mo. "A Scriptural Guide to the Knowledge of the Gospel, in the form of a Catechism." Woodbridge, 1828. 12mo. Eighteenth edition.

With divine permission, Memoirs of the lamented deceased will be presented to the public, including extracts from his unpublished Sermons, Letters, &c.

E. & E. C.

HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE.

The principles of Luther, which produced the Reformation in Germany, had spread themselves to this country; and about the year 1520, at each of the universities, students were found who had embraced and propagated them. At Oxford were Tindal, Frith, Taverner, and others; and at Cambridge, Bilney, Barnes, Latimer, and Cranmer.

In consequence of a severe persecution raised against them at Oxford, by Cardinal Wolsey, Tindal and Frith, about the year 1524, fled to the Continent, and finally settled at Antwerp. At this place, in little more than ten years, Tindal, without worldly patronage, and opposed by the fierce despotism, the papistical prejudices, and fiery passions of Henry VIII., achieved, by translating the Scriptures, the Reformation.

"The British Isles lay sunk in popish night, God said, Let Tindal be, and all was light."

THE Emblematical Engraving prefixed to this Number, points to the reign of Henry VIII. when the translating, printing, and publishing the Bible brought about the Reformation in England. It repreThe New Testament was printed sents even-handed Justice, as hold-in 1526. The chief part of this ing the scales of truth, and the Bible impression was bought up from alone, as outweighing all human de- some merchants at Antwerp, by cretals and decrees, notwithstand- Tonstal, bishop of London, and

was burnt in the same year." * In called Genesis," the "chapters of the preface to his work, entitled Moses called Deuteronomos," and The Parable of the wicked Mam-" David's Psalter in English."mon, dated May 8, 1527, Tindal says, "In burning the New Testament, they dyd none other thing than I looked for."

These are doubtless the parts of the Old Testament referred to in the proclamation.*

The bishop of London, at this The book of Genesis was print- time, was Stokesly, who, having ed at the end of the year 1530. It collected many of Tindal's works, has on the last leaf, " Emprinted with great pomp, attended the at Malborow in the land of Hesse, burning of them at St. Paul's Cross by me Hans Luft, the yere of our in the year, 1531. The translatLord M.CCCCC.xxx. the xvii dayes or's brother, John Tindal, and of Januarii." Bound up with Ge- Thomas Patmore, merchants of nesis are the other four books of London, having been convicted as Moses, without dates. They ap- importers of Tyndal's Scriptures, pear to have been printed sepa- were compelled to ride in the prorately, and probably at subsequent cession with their heads to the periods. Genesis and Numeri horses' tails, having the proscribed are printed in the Dutch black let-books tied about their necks, which ter; Exodus, Levitici, and Deute- they were forced to throw into the ronomie are printed in the Roman fire. Some idea may be formed of letters. It is not improbable but the wealth of these gentlemen, and that all the books of the Old Tes- of the numbers of books they had tament were printed in a similar been guilty of importing from Anway. Speaking of the whole twerp, from the pecuniary fine imBible, Fox says, "The greatest posed in addition to their other doer thereof was indeed William punishment, which amounted to Tindal, who, with the help of 18,8407. Os. 10d. Myles Coverdale, had translated all the books thereof, except only the Apocrypha and certain notes thereof."+

The popish bishops, with Warham, archbishop of Canterbury at their head, obtained a decree from the king, dated May 25, 1531, decreeing that all the books, containing various heresies, "with the translation also of Scripture corrupted by William Tindal, as well in the Old Testament as the New, should utterly be expelled." In the list of proscribed heretical works, are the " chapters of Moses

A copy of this first edition, formerly belonging to the Rev. Andrew Gifford of London, is in the Baptist Museum at Bristol. + There are two copies of the Pentateuch

in the British Museum.

Fox's Martyr. vol. ii. 434.

Collier's Eccles. Hist. vol. ii. p. 50.

In the year 1534, the second, and a corrected edition of the New Testament, was printed "by Martin Emperowre, the yere of our Lord MDXXXIV."

Tyndale was next employed in bringing out the second edition of the whole Bible in folio. That he had accomplished the translation of the Old Testament as well as the New, is evident from the initial letters of his name, in large capitals, W. T. being affixed at the close of the prophet Malachi, in what is called Matthews's Bible, finished at Antwerp in 1537. This is of a large folio size, and very handsomely printed.

Strype, speaking of this version, says, "Before all this second edition was printed, Tyndale was

*Fox's Martyr. vol. ii. 237.

taken and put to death for his religion, in Flanders, in the year 1536, and his name thus growing into ignominy, as one burnt for a heretic, they thought it might prejudice the book if he should be named the translator thereof; and so they used a feigned name, calling it Thomas Matthews's Bible, though Tyndale before his death had finished all but the Apocrypha, which was finished by Rogers, who added also some marginal notes."

Another version of the Scriptures is known by the name of Coverdale's Bible.

" Prynted in the yeare of our Lord M.D.XXXV. and fynished the fourth day of October.'

By comparing Coverdale's Bible with Tyndale's Pentateuch of 1530, and with Matthews's edition of 1537, it is most evident that both Matthews's and Coverdale's were printed from the same copy; most likely from one of Tyndale's which had been previously printed: they are substantially the same translation. It is possible that Coverdale, who says in his preface that he had undertaken it with reluctance, because he knew himself to be infeIt is most likely the following rior to others of "ripe wit," &c. statement of Tyndale, in a letter who had been hindered in their written from Antwerp to John work, was enabled by the assistFrith, who was then in the Tower ance of Lord Thomas Cromwell to of London, dated January, 1533, proceed with greater dispatch refers to the commencement of this" than those which began it afore," folio Bible: the first edition of and by whose "ministracions" the Tyndale's having been printed in reader would have it sent "in a 12mo. "George Joy, at Candle-better shape." The variations bemas, being at Barrow, printed two tween Coverdale's and Matthews's leaves of Genesis in a great form, editions are but trifling, and, geneand sent one copy to the king and rally speaking, only verbal; but in another to the new queen [Anne most instances these versions are Boleyn], with a letter to N. [pro-literally the same: as at the close bably Lord Thomas Cromwell] to of the Book of Job they both thus deliver them; and to purchase li- give the names of Job's three daughcence that he might so go through ters:-"The first he called Daye, the whole Bible. Out of this has the second Povertie, the thyrde Allsprung the noise of the new Bible; plenteousness.' At the close of and out of that is the great seeking the 150th psalm, Coverdale's has for English books at all the print-"Hallelujah," and Matthews's ers and bookbinders in Antwerp," Praise the Everlasting." and for an English priest that When this volume of Coverdale should print." Now, Coverdale was presented to the king, he handwas just such a person; and as ed it to Gardiner, the popish bihe considered the king's divorce shop of Winchester, who after some lawful, (which Tyndale did not) time returned it to his majesty, addressing Anne Boleyn as the saying it contained many errors. king's "dearest just wyfe, and "Has it," asked the monarch, moost vertuous Pryncesse Quene" any heresies in it?" On its being Anne," he was doubtless employed replied, "It had no heresies," then to bring out a new Bible. This said Henry, "In God's name let it version was printed in 1535, and go abroad among the people." is said in the title-page to have been translated out of the "Latin and Douche," and in the last leaf,

Many reasons might be given why Henry approved of Coverdale's version. He had in his de

It has been already stated, that Rogers, after the death of Tindal, had added the apocryphal books and some notes, with a flattering dedication to the king. To prevent, however, the suspicion of Tindal, or even Rogers, having translated this Bible, it was called Thomas Matthews's. An edition of 500 copies being finished at Antwerp, and brought to England, the archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Thomas Cromwell procured the consent of the king that it should be set up and read in the parish churches!

dication called the king the head The second edition of Tindal's of the church, &c. &c. He says, Bible, called Matthews's, in the "For that the Scripture declareth year 1537 obtained a still higher most abundantly, that the office, instance of royal favour, as it had authorities, and power given of printed in large red letters, at the God unto kings, is in earth above bottom of the title page, "Set all other powers that as ther is forth by the king's majesty's linothing above God, so is ther no cence." man above the king in his realme ; but that he only under God is the chief head of all the congregation and church of the same.' Again, "He thought it his dutie and to belong to his allegiance, when he had translated this Bible, not only to dedicate this translation to his highness, but wholly to commit it unto him, to the intent that if any thing therein be translated amisse, (for in many things we fayle, even when we think to be sure,) it might stand in his grace's hands to correct it, to amend it, to improve it, yea, and clean to reject it, if his godly wisdom should This edition was printed at the think it necessary"! This version charge of two English merchants, too, contained several apocryphal Richard Grafton and Edward Whitbooks (which Tyndale's first edi-church; the initial letters of their tion did not,) and that of the pro- names, in large capitals, appear, phet Baruch was placed next to R. G. at the top, and E. W. at the that of Jeremiah, among the cano- bottom of the page, at the beginnical books.† ning of the prophetical books.*

In his reply to Sir Thomas More, Tindal assigns the following reason why he had rendered the word ecclesia, congregation, instead of church. "Because the word church was by the popish clergy appropriated to themselves, whereas of right it was common to all the whole congregation of them that believe in Christ." Coverdale always uses the term congregation in the text; as in Acts xx. 24, 28. "He sent for the elders of the congregation ;' ;" "" Over which the Holy Ghost has made you bysshopps, to feed the congregation which he hath purchased with his own blood." Tyndale has the term elders in one text, and overseers in the other: he never uses the term bishop.

In the account given by Fox of the early editions of the English Bible, and which is the only statement that can be depended upon, this version of Coverdale is not even mentioned; and yet it has been common with all the recent writers on the subject

The crooked policy by which the king's approbation of Matthews's Bible was obtained, did not answer the proposed end; as the very next year, 1538, it was suppressed by a royal decree, "because," says Fox, "it contained some of Tyndale's prologues, and chiefly about the Supper of the Lord, and marriage of

to say, the first translation of the English Bible was Coverdale's, in 1535. If it were said it was the first printed Bible which had the royal patronage, it would be correct.

In a New Testament printed by Fraunces Regnault in Paris, 1538, "translated and eorrected by Myles Coverdale," they are called "cityzens of London. To a letter sent by Grafton to Lord Cromwell, in 1537, he signs himself "Richard Grafton, Grocer."

the priests, and the mass, which | tion," says Lewis, " Matthews's there was said not to be found in [i.e.Tindal's] Bible was revised, and it." This proclamation enacted certain alterations and corrections that no person in England should made in the translation."* print or publish the Bible for five years, without leave being first obtained from the vicegerent.

Next to the title-page is the Prologue, of which it is said, "A prologue or preface made by the The king, notwithstanding, in mooste reverend father in God this same year, wrote to Francis, Thomas, archbyshop of Canterthe king of France, and obtained bury, metropolytan and prymate permission for a subject of his to of Englande." The two first ediget the Bible in English printed in tions of the Bible of the larger voParis, on account of the superior lume, (so called because of its paper and workmen to be found in being much larger than Cranmer's, his dominions. When this impres- or any previous edition,) had also sion, consisting of 2,500 copies, the prologue of the archbishop. It was nearly finished, the whole was is a singular fact, that there are no seized by order of the Inquisition, apocryphal books either appended and burnt in a place resembling to, or interspersed in one of these Smithfield. Coverdale, the cor- editions.† Another edition, printrector of the press, and other Eng-ed in 1541, is without the prologue lishmen connected with the work, of Cranmer,‡ and is said in the titlefled; but afterwards the workmen, page to have been " oversene and with the types, presses, &c. were perused at the commandment of brought to London, when Grafton the kynge's hyghnes, by the ryght and Whitchurch commenced print- reverende fathers in God, Cuthers themselves, which till then they bert, bysshop of Duresme, and had not intended to be. Nicolas, bysshopp of Rochester." All these editions use the terms elders, congregation, repentance, &c. as are found in Tindal's. Even the last which was oversene and corrected by popish bishops, has the following reading: Acts xiii. "And when they had ordayned them elders by elleccyon in every congregacyon," &c.; and Acts xx. 28. To rule the congregacyon of God which he had purchased with hys own blood." They imitate Tyndale too, in saying, Mark iii. 2. “ Repent ye, for the kingdom," &c.; and Luke xv. 8. "Over one sinner that repent

In the years 1539* and 1540, there were printed in London, by these eminent printers, Cranmer's Bible, and three separate editions, distinct from each other, of the Bible of the larger volume. The description given of that last mentioned by Fox, applies to all of them : The chiefest corrector was Myles Coverdale, who, taking the translation of Tyndale, conferred the same with the Hebrew, and amended many things."

The edition called Cranmer's Bible, on account of the preface to it, which was written by the archbishop, was fynished in Apryll anno 1539." "In this edi

66

* There was another edition printed in London this year, by John Byddell, in Fletestreet. This was called Taverner's Bible, which professed to be nothing more than a recognition of Tyndale's.

* History of Trans. p. 128.

66

+ There is a copy of this in Sion College Library, A. ix. 3.

At least that is the case as to a copy in Sion College Library. Lewis mentions a copy of this edition which has it, notwithstanding it was corrected by the popish bishops Tonstal and Heath.