第7章

EvangelinesawthemoonpassForthfromthefoldsofthecloud，andonestarfollowedherfootsteps，AsoutofAbraham"stentyoungIshmaelWanderedwithHagar。"

Thereisagreatdealofthatsortofthinginhiswriting。HehasdoneformanywhathedidforLowelloneday。Discouragedinsettlingtheformofaneweditionofhisownpoems，LowelltookupavolumeofLongfellowjusttoseethetype，andpresentlyfoundthathehadbeenreadingtwohours。HewroteLongfellowhecouldunderstandhispopularity，saying:

"Yousangmeoutofallmyworries。"Thatisagreatthingtodo，andLongfellowlearnedfromtheScripturehowtodothatinthe"PsalmofLife"andallhisotherpoems。

WeneedonlyawordaboutLowellhimself。

Hewasthesonofaminister，andsoknewtheBiblefromhisinfancy。HebelongedtotheBrahmancastehimself，butagooddealoftheruggednessoftheOldTestamentgotintohiswriting。Itisin"TheVisionofSirLaunfal。"

Itisinhispleaforinternationalcopyrightwherethefamiliarlinesoccur:

"Invainwecalloldnotionsfudge，Andbendourconsciencetoourdealing，TheTenCommandmentswillnotbudge，Andstealingwillcontinuestealing。"

ThereishintofitinhisquizzicallinesabouthimselfintheFableforCritics。Hesaysthatheisindangerofrattlingaway"UntilheisasoldasMethusalem，AttheheadofthemarchtothelastNewJerusalem。"

Whittierneedsnowordsofours。Hishymnsarepartofourreligiousequipment。"Snowbound"

andalltherestofthebeautiful，quiet，Quaker-likewritingofthisbelovedpoetareamongournationalassets。WejoininhissorrowashewritesthedoomofWebsterandhisfame，andwedonotwonderthathechoseforittheScripturaltitle"Ichabod。"

Whateveristobesaidaboutanindividualhereorthere，itistruethatgreatAmericanliteratureshowstheinfluenceoftheBible。LikeeverythingelseinAmerica，ithasbeenfoundedonareligiouspurpose。WritersinalllineshavebeentrainedintheBible。Iftheyfeelanyreligiousinfluenceatall，itistheBibleinfluence。

ThishasbeenalongjourneyfromShakespearetoWhittier，anditleavesuntouchedthegreatfieldofpresent-daywriters。Lettheunstarrednameswaittheirtime。AmongthemaremanywhocansayintheirwaywhatHallCainehassaidofhimself:"IthinkIknowmyBibleasfewliterarymenknowit。Thereisnobookintheworldlikeit，andthefinestnovelseverwrittenfallfarshortininterestofanyoneofthestoriesittells。WhateverstrongsituationsIhaveinmybooksarenotofmycreation，butaretakenfromtheBible。TheDeemsterisastoryoftheProdigalSon。TheBondmanisthestoryofEsauandJacob。TheScapegoatisthestoryofEliandhissons，butwithSamuelasalittlegirl；andTheManxmanisthestoryofDavidandUriah。"Takeupanyofthenovelsoftheday，eventhepoorerones，butnotablythebetterones，andseehowuniformlytheyshowtheScripturalinfluenceinmaterial，inidea，andinspirit。Whattheliteratureofthefuturewillbenoonecansay。Thismuchisassureasanyfactinliteraryhistory，thattheEnglishBibleispartoftheveryfiberofgreatliteraturefromthedayitfirstappearedinourtonguetothishour。

LECTUREV

THEKINGJAMESVERSION——ITSINFLUENCEON

ENGLISHANDAMERICANHISTORY

THEKingJamesversionoftheBibleisonlyabook。Whatcanabookdoinhistory?

Well，whateverthereason，bookshaveplayedalargepartinthemovementsofmen，speciallyofmodernmen。

Theyhavemarkedlyinfluencedtheopinionofmenaboutthepast。ItiscommonlysaidthatHume"sHistoryofEngland，defectiveasitis，hasyet"byitsmethodrevolutionizedthewritingofhistory，"andthatistrue。Nearerourowntime，Carlyle"sLifeofCromwellreversedthejudgmentofhistoryonCromwell，gaveallreadersofhistoryanewconceptionofhimandhistimesandofthemovementofwhichhewasthelife。AftertheRestorationnoneweresopoorastodoCromwellreverenceuntilCarlyle"sBOOKgavehimanewtotheworld。

Thereareinstancessquarelyinourowntimebywhichtheirmightyinfluencemaybetested。

Theyareofbooksofalmostephemeralvaluesaveforthestudentofhistory。Asliteraturetheywillbequicklyforgotten；butasFORCES

theymustbereckonedwith。ThereisUncleTom"sCabin。ItwouldbeabsurdtosaythatitbroughttheAmericanCivilWar，orfreedthenegroes，orsavedtheUnion。Itdidnoneofthosegreatthings。Yetitisnotatallabsurdtonameitamongthepotentpowersinallthree。Itisnottoourpurposewhetheritistrueornotasastatementofthewholefact。

DoubtlessitwasnottrueofthegeneralandcommoncircumstancesofSouthernslavery；buteverythinginitwaspossible，andevenfrequentenoughsothatitcouldnotbequestioned。Itpretendednomore。Butitsinfluencewassimplytremendous。Inbookformitbecameavailablein1852，andwithinthreeyears，1855，itwascommonpropertyofEnglish-speakingpeople。

Nootherbookeverproducedsoextraordinaryaneffectsoquicklyinthepublicmind。[1]

Itheldupslaverytojudgment。Itcrystallizedthethoughtsofcommonpeople。Theworkofthosestrenuousyearsinthe"60"scouldnothavebeendonewithouttheresultofthatbook。Itmadehistory。Comenearerourownday。WecouldnotbelonginLondonwithoutfeelingtheconcernofthebetterpeopleforconditionsintheEastEnd。Anewsocialimpulsehasseizedthem。Tobesure，itlacksmuchyetofsuccess；butmorehasbeendonethanmostpeoplerealize。Thenewmovement，theawakeningofthatsocialsense，tracesbacktothebookofGen。WilliamBooth，InDarkestEngland(1890)。IthashelpedtochangethelifeofalargepartofLondon。

[1]Rhodes，HistoryoftheUnitedStates，vol。i，pp。185-303。

Onthisside，thenewconcernforcityconditionsdatesfromthebookofanewspaperreporter，JacobA。Riis，HowtheOtherHalfLives。

ItthrusttheOtherHalfintosuchprominencethatithasneverbeenpossibletoforgetit。

MarkedadvanceinallAmericancities，inlegislationandlife，goesstraightbacktoit。Nameoneotherbookstillinthefieldofsocialservice，evensounpleasant，soterrible，soobnoxiousabookasUptonSinclair"sTheJungle。Itstartedandsustainedmovementswhichhaveunsettledbusinessandpoliticallifeeversinceitappeared。

Itmadesomeconditionsvivid，unescapable。

Donotmisunderstandtheargument。Nomancantellwhatwillbesaidinthehistoriesacenturyfromnowabouttheselesserbooks。

Wecannevergobeyondguessesastothewholecauseofanychainofevents。[1]Astimepasses，incidentalelementsinthecausesgraduallysinkoutofsightandafewgreatforcestakethewholehorizon。Whateverthehistoriesacenturyfromnowsayabouttherelativeplaceofsuchbooksaswehavenamed，itiscertainthattheyhaveinfluencedthemovementsmightily。

Theliteraryhistorieswillsaynothingatallaboutthem。Theyarenotgreatliterature，buttheywerebornofapassionofthetimesandvoicedandarouseditanew。

[1]MacPhail，EssaysonPuritanism，p。278。

When，therefore，itisurgedthattheEnglishBiblehasinfluencedhistory，itisnotmakinganundueclaimforit。WhenitisfurtherurgedthatofallbooksinEnglishliteratureithasbeenmostinfluential，ithasmostmadehistory，ithasmostdeterminedgreatmovements，theargumentonlyclaimsforitthehighestplaceamongbooks。

Anditwouldnotbesurprisingifitshouldhavesuchinfluence。ItistheonegreatpieceofEnglishliteraturewhichisuniversalproperty。

Sincethedayitwaspublishedithasbeenkeptavailableforeverybody。Nootherbookhaseverhaditschance。English-speakingpeoplehavealwaysbeenessentiallyreligious。Theyhavealwayshadaprofoundregardfortheterms，theinstitutions，thepurposesofreligion。PartlythathasbeenmaintainedbytheBible；buttheBibleinitsturnhasbeenmaintainedbyit。SoithascomeaboutthatEnglish-speakingpeople，thoughtheyhavemanybooks，areessentiallypeopleofoneBook。Wherevertheyare，theBibleis。QueenVictoriahasitnearbywhenthemessengerfromtheOrientappears，andlaysherhanduponittosaythatthisisthefoundationoftheprosperityofEngland。Butthepoorhousewifeinthecottage，withonlyacrustforfood，stayshersoulwithit。ThePuritancreepsintohidingwiththeBook，whilehisbrothersailsawaytothenewlandwiththeBook。ThesettlermayhavehisShakespeare；hewillsurelyhavehisBible。Asthelongwagon-traincreepsacrosstheplaintoseektheWesternshore，theremaybenootherbookinallthetrain；buttheBiblewillbethere。FindanysettlementofmenwhospeaktheEnglishtongue，wherevertheymaketheirhome，andtheBibleisamongthem。Whendidanybookhavesuchachancetoinfluencemen?ItistheoneundisturbedheritageofallwhospeaktheEnglishtongue。Itbindsthedaughterandthemothercountrytogether，andgathersintothesamebondthescatteredremnantsoftheEnglish-speakingracetheworldaround。Itslanguageistheonespeechtheyallunderstand。Strangeitwouldbeifithadnotaprofoundinfluenceuponhistory!

AnotherfactthathashelpedtogivetheBibleitsgreatinfluenceisthepowerofthepreachingithasinspired。TheperiodsofgreatestpreachinghavealwaysbeentheperiodsoffreestaccesstotheBible。Noonecanoverlooktheimmensepowerofthesermonsofhistory。Therehavebeenpoor，inept，banalexpositors，doubtless；

buteventheyturnedmen"smindstotheBible。

ReadingtheBiblemakesmenthinkers，andsomakespreachersinevitably。WitnesstheScotch。

JameswasraisedinScotlandandbelievedinthepowerofpreaching。Atonetimehewantedtosettleendowmentsforthemaintenanceofpreachingundergovernmentcontrol。ButArchbishopWhitgiftconvincedhimthatmuchpreachingwas"aninnovationanddangerous，"sinceitisquiteimpossibletocontrolaman"smouthonceitisgivenapublicchance。UnderCharlesI。thesermonwasmightyintheserviceofthePuritansuntilitwassuppressedorrestricted。

ThenmenbecamelecturersandexpoundedtheBibleortaughtreligioustruthinpublicorprivate。

Richmenengagedprivatechaplainssincepublicmeetingscouldnotbeheld。SomehowtheytaughttheBiblestill。ArchbishopLaudforbadeboth。Yettheleavenworkedthemoreforitsrestriction。AtleastonegoodcookI

knowsaysthatifyouwantyourdoughtoriseandtheyeasttowork，youmustcoverit。Lauddidnotwantittorise，buthemadethemistakeofcoveringit。

TherehasneverbeenabookwhichhasprovokedsuchincessantpreachinganddiscussionashastheBible。ThebelieversintheKoranteachitasitis，wordforword。BelieversintheBiblehaveneverstoppedwiththat。Theyhavealwaystriedtocometogetherandhearitexpounded。SuchgatheringsandsuchconstantpressureoftheBookongroupsofhearerswouldinevitablygivetheBiblegreatinfluence。WhenitisrememberedthatinAmericaalonethereareeachweekapproximatelyfourhundredthousandgatheringsofpeoplewhichhavefortheiravowedpurposeinstructionorinspirationinreligion，andthattheinstructionandinspirationareprofessedlyandopenlydrawnfromtheBible，thatmorethanthreehundredthousandsermonsarepreachedeveryweekfromitandpassagesofitreadinallthegatherings，itappearsthattheBiblehadandstillhassuchachancetoinfluencelifeasnootherbookhashad。PresidentSchurmantracesalargepartofourownstrongerAmericanlifetotheeducativepowerofourSundays。Butcentralintheeducationofthosedaysisnow，andhasbeenfromthefirstofournationalhistory，theEnglishBible。

TheinfluenceoftheBiblecomesalsofromthefactthatitmakesitschiefappealtothedeeperelementsinlife。"Humanhistoryinitsrealcharacterisnotanaccountofkingsandofwars；itistheunfoldingofthemoral，thepolitical，theartistic，thesocial，andthespiritualprogressofthehumanfamily。Thetimewillyetcomewhenthenamesofdynastiesandofbattlesshallnotformthetitlesofitschapters。

ThetruthsrevealedintheBiblehavebeenthetouchstonewhichhastriedmen"sspirits。"[1]

[1]H。B。Smith，FaithandPhilosophy，p。54。

Thosewordsgototheheartofthefact。TheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonEnglish-

speakinghistoryforthelastthreehundredyearsisonlytheinfluenceofitsfundamentaltruths。Ithasmovedwithtremendousimpactonthewillsofmen。Ithasmadethegreathumanidealsclearanddefinite；ithasmadethembeautifulandattractive；butthathasnotbeenenough。Ithasreachedalsothespringsofaction。Ithasgivenmenasenseofneedandalsoasenseofstrength，asenseofoutrageandasenseofpowertocorrectthewrong。Thereithasdifferedfrommostbooks。FrederickRobertsonsaidthathereadonlybookswithironinthem，and，asheread，theiratomsofironenteredtheblood，anditranmoreredforthem。

ThereisironinthisBook，andithasenteredthebloodofthehumanrace。Whereithasenteredmostfreely，theredhasdeepened；andnowherehasitdeepenedmorethaninourEnglish-speakingraces。TheironofourbloodisfromthisKingJamesversion。

BismarckexplainedthevictoriesoftheGermansovertheFrenchbythefactthatfromchildhoodtheGermanshadbeentrainedinthesenseofduty，astheFrenchhadnotbeentrained，andassoldiershadlearnedtofeelthatnothingcouldescapetheEyewhicheverwatchedtheircourse。Theylearnedthat，Bismarcksaid，fromthereligionwhichtheyhadbeentaught。Thereisnomistakingthepowerofreligioninrousingandsharpeningthesenseofduty。WebsterspokefortheEnglish-speakingraces，andfoundhisphrasesintheBible，whenhesaidthatthissense"pursuesusever。ItisomnipresentliketheDeity。Ifwetaketoourselvesthewingsofthemorninganddwellintheuttermostpartsofthesea，dutyperformedordutyviolatedisstillwithusforourhappinessorourmisery。

Ifwesaythedarknessshallcoverus，inthedarknessasinthelightourobligationsareyetwithus。Wecannotescapefromtheirpowerorflyfromtheirpresence。"Itisreligionwhichmakesthatsenseofdutykeen；and，whateverreligionhasdoneamongEnglish-speakingraces，theEnglishBiblehasdone，forithasbeenthetext-bookandthefinalauthorityofthoseracesinthemovingthingsoftheirfaith。

ItwouldbeeasiestinmakingtheargumenttosingleouthereandtherethestrikingeventsinwhichtheBiblehasfiguredandletthemstandforthewhole。Therearemanysuchevents，andtheyareattractive。

WecanimagineourselvesstandingontheshoreatDoverin1660，fiftyyearsaftertheversionwasissued，waitingwiththecrowdtoseethebanishedKingreturn。Thecivilwarisover，theprotectorateunderCromwellispast。CharlesII。，thick-lipped，sensuous，"seemingtobelongrathertosouthernEuropethantoPuritanEngland，"

isabouttolandfromFrance，whencethepeople，weariedwithPuritanexcesses，havecalledhimback。Thereisagreatcrowd，buttheydonotcheerwildly。Thereissomethingseriousonhand。TheymeantowelcometheKing；butitisoncondition。TheirfirstactiswhentheMayorofDoverplacesinhishandsacopyoftheEnglishBible，whichtheKingdeclareshelovesaboveallthingsintheworld。Itprovesonlyasorryjest；buttheEnglishpeoplethinkitismeantfortruth，andtheygototheirhomesrejoicing。Theyrejoicedtoosoon，forthisisthatutterlyfaithlesskingforwhomhiswittycourtierproposedanepitaph:

"Hereliesoursovereignlord，theking，Whosewordnomanrelieson；

Whoneversaidafoolishthing，Andneverdidawiseone。"[1]

[1]White，inhisHistoryofEngland，saysthatCharlesrepliedthattheexplanationwaseasy:Hisdiscourseswerehisown，hisactionswerehisministry"s!

Asatothertimes，theKingwasonlytalkingwithnomeaning；butthepeopledidnotknowhimyet。TheyhadmadetheirBiblethegreattestoftheirliberties:willakingstandbythatorwillhenot?Ifhewillnot，lethimrememberCharlestheFirst!AndfromthatdaynoEnglishking，noAmericanleader，haseversuccessfullyrestrictedEnglish-speakingpeoplefromfreeaccesstotheirgreatBook。Ithasbecomeabanneroftheirliberties。ThechildwaswiserthanheknewwhenhewasaskedwhatlessonwemaylearnfromCharlesI。，andrepliedthatwemaylearnthatamanshouldnotlosehisheadintimesofexcitement。Charleslosthisheadlongbeforehelaiditontheblock。

BesidesthesceneatDover，wemaywatchthatgreatemigrationoftheScotch-IrishfromUlster，beginningin1689，seventyyearsafterthePuritanexodusandeightyyearsaftertheversionwasissued，whichpeopledthebackwoodsofAmericawithachoice，strongpopulation。

Theywereonlyfollowingtherighttoworshipfreely，therighttotheirBiblewithoutchainsonitslidsoronthelipsofitspreachers。TheyweremakingnoprotestagainstRomanismnoragainstAnglicanisminthemselves。Theyonlyclaimedtherighttoworshipastheywould。

UnderWilliamandMary，afterJamesII。hadfledtoFrance，tolerationbecamethelawinEngland；butwhenIrelandwasreconqueredbyWilliam"sgenerals，theactoftolerationwasnotextendedtoit。Baptists，Presbyterians，allexceptthesmallAnglicanChurch，wereputunderthebanandforbiddentoworship。ButtheBiblehadmadesubmissionimpossible，andtherecameaboutthatgreatexodustothenewlandwhichhassoblessedit。

Thereareothersignaleventswhichmightbeobserved。Butallthewhiletherewouldbedangerofmagnifyingtheimportanceofeventswhichseemtoprovethepoint。Theviewneedstobeamoregeneraloneinstead。Theperiodisnotlong——threehundredyearsatthemost——

thoughithasabackgroundofallEnglishhistory。

WehavealreadyseenhowfromthefirsttherehavebeendeterminedeffortstomaketheBiblecommontothepeople；yet，ofcourse，theinfluenceofourversioncanappearonlyinthesethreehundredyearssinceitwasissued。ThatshortperiodhasnotonlybeeninterestingalmosttothepointofexcitementinEnglishlife，butitcoversvirtuallyallAmericanlife。Take，therefore，thebroaderviewoftheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonhistory，apartfromthesestrikingevents。

Itistobeassumedatoncethatmuchofitsinfluenceisindirect。Indeed，itschiefinfluencemustbethroughmenwhoprovetobeleadersandthroughthatpublicsentimentwithoutwhichleadersarepowerless。Ifleaderslivebyitandstandorfallbyitsteaching，thentheirworkisitswork。Iftheyfindapublicsentimentissuingfromitwhichgivesthempower，asentimentwhichcrystallizesaroundthemwhentheyappear，becauseitisofkindredspiritwiththemselves，thenthepowerofthatsentimentisthepoweroftheBible。TheinfluenceofPilgrim"sProgressorTheSaint"sRestistheinfluenceofBunyanandBaxter；butbackofthemistheBible。Inlanguage，inidea，inspirit，theywereonlymakingtheBibleacommonBooktotheirreaders。

TheirvalueforlifeandhistoryistheBible"svalueforlifeandhistory。

Thepowerofgreatsoulsisfrequentlyandeasilyunderestimated。Scientificstudyhastendedtothatbymagnifyingvisibleconditionsandbytryingtocalculatetheforceoflawswhichareinplainsight。Buckle"stheoryofcivilizationhasinfluencedourtimesgreatly。

Itexplainsnationalcharacterastheoutcomeofnaturalconditions，andlayssuchstressoncircumstancesasleftitpossibleforBuckletodeclarethathistoryandbiographyareindifferentspheres。Itisstilltrue，however，thatmosthistoryturnsonbiography。Greatsoulshavebeenthechieffactorsingreatmovements。

Whetherthemovementcouldhaveoccurredwithoutthemwillneverbepossibletodecide，ifitshouldbedisputed。Inachemicallaboratorytheessentialfactorsofanyphenomenoncanbedeterminedbytheprocessofelimination。

Alltheelementswhichprecededitexceptonecanbeintroduced；iftheresultisthesameasinitspresence，manifestlyitisnotessential。

Sotheexperimentcangoonuntiltheresultbecomesdifferent，whenitisevidentthatthelastomittedelementisanessentialone。Butnosuchprocessispossibleingreathistoricalmovements。

Theonlycourseopentousistoconsidercarefullytheelementswhichdoappear。

Takethreegreatmovementswhichareeasiesttofollowinthesethreecenturies。WhetherthespiritualindependenceofEnglandwouldhavebeensecuredwithouttheQuakersmaybedebated；

butthisfactcanhardlybedebated:

certainlyitwasnotsosecured；whetherornottheQuakerscouldhavebeenwithoutGeorgeFox，certainlytheydidnotoccurwithouthim。

Takethesecond:whetherornotsomeothermovementcouldhavedonewhatPuritanismdidishardlyaquestionforhistory；PuritanismactuallydidtheworkforEnglandandAmericawhichgaveboththeirstrongestqualities。ThereisnotestingtheperiodtoseewhetherPuritanismcouldbeleftout。Thereitstandsasapowerfulfactor，andnoanalysisofthehistorycanpossiblyomitit。Orthethird:itisnotaquestionforahistorianwhetherEnglishhistorycouldhavebeenthesamewithoutMethodismandwhetherMethodismcouldhavebeenatallwithouttheWesleys；certainlynothingtookitsplace，nordidanyoneelsestandattheheadofthemovement。

Herearethesethreegreatmovements，nottoseekothers。Allofthemhavehadtremendousinfluenceinthereligiousandpoliticalhistoryofboththenationswheretheyhavemovedmostfreely。EachofthemisadirectandundisputedresultoftheinfluenceoftheBible。

MuchhasalreadybeensaidofthePuritansinEngland，andtherewillbeoccasiontoseewhatwastheirinfluenceinAmerica。ButthinkforamomentoftheQuakers。JamesFreemanClarkcallsthemtheEnglishmystics；certainlytheyweremorethanthat。[1]GeorgeFoxhadlittlelearningbuttheBible；thatheknewwell。

HefirstcametohimselfoutinthefieldsalonewiththeBible。Hewasnotstirredtotheoriginofthemovementnortohisgreatestactivitybyexperienceshehadinpublicplaces。HecametothosepublicplacesprofoundlyaffectedbyhisfamiliaritywiththeEnglishBible。Hecameatatimewhenhisprotestwasneeded，aprotestagainstformalism，againstmereoutwardconformity。

Athousandyearsbefore，MohammedanismhadreallysavedtheChristianfaithbyitsprotest，violentandmerciless，againstitserrors，challengingittopurityinfaithandlife。

NowFoxandtheQuakerssavedchurchlifebyprotestagainstchurchlife。TheBiblewasstillthelaw，butnottheBiblewhichyoureadforme，butthatwhichyoureadforyouandIforme，eachofusguidedbyaninnerlight。TheQuakermovementwasadistinctprotestagainstchurchformalismintheinterestsoffreedomoftheBible。

[1]DavidGregg，TheQuakersinAmerica。

ThatQuakerinfluencewasfarstrongerinAmericathaniteverprovedtobeinEngland。

GeorgeFoxhimselfvisitedthecoloniesandextendeditsinfluence。Threegreateffectsareeasilytraceable。TheverypresenceoftheQuakersintheNewEnglandcolonies，notablyinMassachusetts，andthepersecutionswhichtheyendured，didmoretopurifythePuritansthananyotheroneinfluence。OneisonlyloyaltothePuritancharacterandteachingindeclaringthatinthemannerofthePuritanstowardtheQuakerstheywerewrong；theywerewrongbecausetheywereuntruetotheirownbelief，untruetotheirownBibles，andwhenthemorethoughtfulamongthemfoundthattheyweretakingtheattitudetowardtheQuakerswhichtheyhadresentedtowardthemselves，rememberingthattheQuakersweredrawingtheirteachingfromthesameBibleasthemselves，theywerenaturallychecked。And，whiletheQuakersinNewEnglandsufferedgreatly，theirsufferingprovedthepurificationofthePuritans。

ItaccentedandsoitremovedthenarrownessofPuritanpractice。Further，theQuakermovementgavetoAmericanhistoryWilliamPennandthewholeconstitutionofPennsylvania。ItwastherethatastatefirstlivedbytheprinciplewhichWilliamPennpronounced:"Anygovernmentisfreewherethepeopleareapartytothelawsenacted。"SoitcameaboutthatIndependenceHallisonQuakersoil。TheDeclarationofIndependenceappearedthere，andnotonPuritansoil。ItmaybetherewasmorefreedomofthoughtinPennsylvania。Itmaybeexplainedonpurelygeographicalground，Philadelphiabeingthemostconvenientcenterforthecolonies。ButitremainssignificantthatnotonCavaliersoilinVirginia，notonDutchsoilinNewYork，notonPuritansoilinBoston，butonQuakersoilinPhiladelphiathemovementfornationalindependencecrystallizedaroundageneralprinciplethat"anygovernmentisfreewherethepeopleareapartytothelawsenacted，"butthatnogovernmentisfreewhosepeoplehavenotavoice。ThatisnotminimizingthepowerofPuritanism，norforgettingFanueilHallandtheTeaParty。Itonlyaccentswhatshouldbefamiliar:thatPuritanismdrewintoitselfmoreofthefightingelementofScripture，whiletheQuakermovementdrewintoitselfmoreoftheuniting，pacifyingelementofScripture。ThethirdeffectoftheQuakermovementisJohnGreenleafWhittier，withhisgentlebutneverweakdemandthatnationalfreedomshouldnotmeanindependenceofotherpeoplealone，buttheindependenceofallpeoplewithinthenation。SothatwhiletheQuakerspirithelpedthecoloniestobreakloosefromforeigncontrolandbecomeanation，ithelpedthenationinturntobreakloosefrominternalshackles。Thenationstoodfreewithinitselfaswellasfreefromothers。YettheQuakermovement——andthisistheargument——isitselftheresultoftheEnglishBible，andtheQuakerinfluenceistheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonhistory。

ThereisnotneedforextendedwordaboutthegreatWesleyanmovementinthemidstofthisperiod，whichhassoprofoundlyaffectedbothEnglishandAmericanhistory。Ithasnotworkedoutintosuchvisiblepoliticalforms。

Butanymovementthatmakesforlargerspirituallifemakesforthestrengtheningoftheentirelifeofthenation。ThemerefiguresoftheearlyWesleyanmovementarealmostappalling。Herewasaman，JohnWesley，anOxfordscholar，whospentnearlyfiftyyearstravelingupanddownandbackandforththroughEnglandonhorseback，coveringmorethantwohundredandfiftythousandmiles，preachingeverywheremorethanfortythousandtimes，writing，translating，editingtwohundredworks。Whendeathendedhisbusylifetherewereinhisnewlyformedbrotherhoodonehundredandthirty-fivethousandmembers，withfivehundredandfiftyitinerantswhowerefollowinghisexamplewithincessantpreachingandBibleexposition。ItwastheoldWiclif-Lollardmovementoveragain。

AndherewastheotherWesley，Charles，teachingEnglandtosingagain，teachingtheoldtruthsoftheBibleinrhymetomanywhocouldnotread，sothattheybecamefamiliar，writingonhorseback，instage-coaches，everywhere，writingwithonepassion，tohelpEnglandbacktotheBibleanditstruth。Suchactivitycouldnotleavethenationunmoved；allitsreligiouslifefeltit，anditspoliticallifefromserftokingwasdeeplyaffectedbyit。ItisacommonsayingthattheWesleyanmovementsavedEnglishlibertyfromEuropeanentanglement。YettheWesleyanmovementissuedfromtheBibleandledEnglandbacktotheBible。

Butapartfromthesewidemovementsandthegreatsoulswholedthem，thereistimeforthoughtofonetypicalcharacteroneachsideoftheseawhodidnotsomuchmakeamovementasheprovedthepointaroundwhichagreatfluidideacrystallizedintostrength。AcrosstheseathecharactershallbethatmanwhomCarlylegavebacktousoutofobloquyandmisunderstanding，OliverCromwell。Choosinghim，wepassothernameswhichcrowdintomemory，namesofmenwhohaveservedtheneedofEnglandwell-Wilberforce，JohnHoward，Shaftesbury，Gladstone——whodrewtheirstrengthfromthisBook。YetwechooseCromwellnowforargument。Onthissideitmustbethatbestknown，mostbeloved，mosttypicalofallAmericans，AbrahamLincoln。

AnEnglishhistorianhassaidthatthemostinfluential，themostunescapableyearsinEnglishhistoryarethoseoftheProtectorate。Thatisastrongsaying。Theywerebriefyears。

Thereweremanyfactorsinthem。OliverCromwellwasonlyone，buthewaschiefofall。HewasnotchiefinthecouncilswhichresultedinthebeheadingofCharlesI。onthat30thofJanuary，1649，thoughhetookpartinthem。

Increasinglyinthemovementswhichledtothateventandwhichfollowedithewasgrowingintoprominence。AfterMarstonMoor，PrinceRupertnamedhimIronsides，andhisregimentofpickedmen，pickedfortheirspirit，wentalwaysintobattlesingingpsalms，"andwereneverbeaten。"AsherodeouttothefieldatNaseby(1645)heknewhefacedthefloweroftheloyalistarmy，whilewithhimwereonlyuntrainedmen；yethesmiled，ashesaidafterward，inthe"assurancethatGodwould，bythingsthatarenot，bringtonaughtthingsthatare。"Thenheadds，"Goddidit。"Neverdidheraisehisflagbutintheinterestsofthelibertyofthepeople，andbackofeverymovementofhisarmytherewashisconfidenceintheBible，whichwashismainstay。Theyofferedhimthethrone；hewouldnothaveit。HedissolvedtheParliamentwhichhaddraggedonuntilthepatienceofthepeoplewasexhausted。

Hecalledanothertoservetheirneed。TheeveningbeforeitmethespentinmeditationontheOnehundredandthirdPsalm。TheeveningbeforethesecondParliamentofhisProtectoratehebroodedontheEighty-fifthPsalm，andopenedtheParliamentnextdaywithanexpositionofit。ThemanwassaturatedwithScripture。

Yes，thetimeswererude。ItwasanOldTestamentage，andinrightOldTestamentspiritdidCromwellwork。Anditseemedthathisworkfailed。Therewasnoonetosucceedhim，andsoonafterhisdeathcametheRestorationandthereturnofCharlesII。，ofwhichwehavealreadyspoken，inwhichoccurredthathintoftherealsentimentoftheEnglishpeoplewhichawisemanhadbetterhavetaken。

Yet，recallwhatactuallyhappened。MisunderstandingthespiritoftheEnglishpeople，whichCromwellhadhelpedtoform，butwhichinturnhadmadeCromwellpossible，theservilecourtiersofthefalsekingunearthedtheProtector"sbody，threeyearsburied，hangeditonagallowsinTyburnforaday，beheadedit，andthrewthetrunkintoapit。HisheadtheymockinglysetonapinnacleoftheParliamentHall，whenceforsomeweeksitlookedoverthecitywhichhehadserved。Then，duringagreatstorm，itcameclatteringdown，onlyapoordriedskull，anddisappearednooneknowswhere。

ButwhenyoustandoppositethegreatParliamentbuildingsinLondonto-day，themostbeautifulbuildingsfortheirpurposeintheworld，thebuildingswherethelibertiesoftheEnglishexpressthemselvesyearafteryear，whoseistheonestatuethatfindsplacewithintheinclosure，nearthespotwherethatpoorskullcamerattlingdown?NotCharlesII——youshalllookinvainforhim。NotGeorgeMonk，whobroughtbacktheKing——youshallnotfindhimthere。

TheonestatuewhichEnglandhascaredtoplantbesideitsParliamentbuildingsisthatofOliverCromwell，itsLordProtector。Therehestands，warningkingsintheinterestsofliberty。JohnMorleymakesnoidealofhim。Hethinksheratherclosedthemedievalperiodthanopenedthemodernperiod；buthewillnothaveCromwellcomparedtoFredericktheGreat，whospokewithasneerofmankind。Cromwell"belongedtotherarerandnoblertypeofgoverningmen，whoseethegoldenside，whocountfaith，piety，hopeamongthecounselsofpracticalwisdom，andwhoforpoliticalpowermusteverseekamoralbase。"Thatisarareandnobletypeofmen，whethertheygovernornot。Butnomanofthattypegovernswithoutredbloodinhisveins；andtheironthatmadethisman"sbloodrunredcamefromtheEnglishBible。

ItisafarcryfromOliverCromwelltoAbrahamLincoln——farinyears，farindeeds，farinmethods，butnotfarinspirit。Greatmenarekindred，generationsover。WepassfromtheOldTestamentintotheNewwhenwepassfromCromwelltoLincoln；butwestillfeelthespiritofliberty。FromthedaysofthePuritans，theQuakersandtheDutch，historyhadbeenpreparingforthistime。BenjaminFranklinhaddonehisgreatworkforhumanliberty；hehadsummeduphishopeforthenationinhismemorableaddressin1787，whenhestoodeighty-

oneyearsold，beforetheconventionassembledtoframeaconstitutionforthenewgovernment。HeremindedthemthatatthebeginningofthecontestwiththeBritishtheyhadhaddailyprayersinthatroominPhiladelphiafortheDivineprotection，andsaid:"Ihavelivedforalongtime，andthelongerIlivethemoreconvincingproofIseeofthistruth，thatGodgovernsintheaffairsofmen。AndifasparrowcannotfalltothegroundwithoutHisnotice，isitprobablethatanempirecanrisewithoutHisaid?Wehavebeenassured，Sir，inthesacredwritings，that"ExcepttheLordbuildthehouse，theylaborinvainthatbuildit。"Ifirmlybelievethis，andIalsobelievethatwithoutHisconcurringaidweshallproceedinthispoliticalbuildingnobetterthanthebuildersofBabel。Ithereforebegleavetomovethat，henceforth，prayersimploringtheassistanceofHeavenanditsblessingonourdeliberationbeheldinthisassemblyeverymorningbeforeweproceedtobusiness，andthatoneormoreoftheclergyofthiscityberequestedtoofficiateinthatservice。"

GeorgeWashingtonsoundedafamiliarnoteinhisfarewelladdress:"Ofallthedispositionsandhabitswhichleadtopoliticalprosperity，religionandmoralityareindispensablesupports。

Avolumecouldnottracealltheirconnectionwithprivateandpublicfelicity。Letuswithcautionindulgethesuppositionthatmoralitycanbemaintainedwithoutreligion。Whatevermaybeconcededtotheinfluenceofrefinededucationonmindsofpeculiarstructure，reasonandexperiencebothforbidustoexpectthatnationalmoralitycanprevailinexclusionofreligiousprinciples。"ThomasJefferson，ofwhomitissometimessaidthathewasindifferenttoreligion，hadyetdonehisgreatworkunderinspiration，whichhehimselfacknowledgesinhisinauguraladdress，whenhespeaksofthenationas"enlightenedbyabenignreligion，professedindeed，andpractisedinvariousforms，yetalloftheminculcatinghonesty，truth，temperance，gratitude，andtheloveofman；acknowledgingandadoringanoverrulingProvidence，whichbyallitsdispensationprovesthatitresultsinthehappinessofmanhereandhisgreaterhappinesshereafter。"GreaterthanJeffersonhadappearedJohnMarshall，greatestofourChiefJustices，likeinspirittothatJohnMarshallHarlan，whosedeathmarkedtheyearwhichhasjustclosed，ofwhomhiscolleaguessaidthathewenttohisresteachnightwithonehandontheBibleandtheotherontheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，adescriptionwhichcouldalmostbetransferredtohisgreatpredecessorinthatcourt。Moreover，whenLincolncame，JosephStory，thegreatestteacheroflawwhichourcountryhadproduced，hadonlyjustdiedfromhisplaceontheSupremeBench，InhisPhiBetaKappaaddressatHarvard(1826)，inabrilliantandmasterfulanalysisof"TheCharacteristicsoftheAge，"hehadpaidtributeaftertributetothepowerofreligionandtheBible。

HehaddeclaredhisbeliefthatthereligionoftheBiblehad"establisheditselfintheheartsofmenbyallwhichgeniuscouldbringtoillumineoreloquencetograceitssublimetruths。"OfthesameperiodwithLincolnwasalsoWebster，whowascalledthe"concordanceoftheHouse。"

ManyofhisstatelyperiodsandgreatideascamefromtheBible。Indeed，thereisnooratoryofourhistory，whichhassurvivedthewasteoftheyears，whichdoesnotfeelandshowthepoweroftheScriptures。TheEnglishBiblehasgivenourfinesteloquenceitsideas，itsideals，itsillustrations，itsphrases。

Thelineisunbroken。Anditleadstothistallfigure，crownedwithanoblehead，hisfacethesaddestinAmericanhistory，whoknewGethsemaneinallitspaths。TheheartoftheAmericanpeoplehasalwaysbeentouchedbyhisearlyyearsofabjectpoverty。Buttherewerecompensations。Hehadfewbooks，andtheyenteredhisbloodandfiber。Inhisearliestformativeyearsthereweresixbookswhichhereadandre-read。NicolayandHaynametheBiblefirstinthelist，withPilgrim"sProgressasthefourth。

Mr。Morsecallsitasmalllibrary，butnourishing，andsaysthatLincolnabsorbedintohisownnatureallthestrongjuiceofthebooks。[1]HowmuchhedrewfromthepagesoftheHolyBookletanyreaderofhisspeechessay。Quotation，reference，illustrationcrowdeachother。Thephrasesarefamiliar。ThemanisfulloftheBook。AndwhatthemandoesispartoftheworkoftheBook。

[1]AmericanStatesmanSeries，AbrahamLincoln，i，12，13。

OneofhisbiographerssaysthatthereisnothinginthelifeorworkofLincolnwhichcannotbeexplainedwithoutreferencetoanysupernaturalinfluenceorpower。Thatdependsonwhatismeantbysupernatural。Therewerenomiracles，noastoundingvisionsnorexperiences。

ButthereranintoLincoln"slifefromhisyoungmanhoodonwardthissteadyandstrongcurrentofideasandidealsfromtheBible。InhissecondinauguraladdresshewordedthethoughtthatwasthedeepesthorroroftheCivilWar——

thatonbothsidesofthestrifemenwerereadingthesameBible，prayingtothesameGod，andinvokingHisaidagainsteachother!InthatverybriefinauguralMr。LincolnquotesinfullthreeBibleverses，andmakesreferencetotwoothers，andthewholeaddresslastedbarelyfourminutes。

Therecouldbenomistakingthesolemnimportanceofthefacttowhichhereferredintheinaugural，thepresenceontheothersideofmenwhoheldtheirBibleshighinregard。"Stonewall"

Jacksonwasdevoutbeyondmostmen。

ThetwobooksalwaysathishandwerehisBibleandtheManualoftheRulesofWar。

RobertE。Leewasacultured，Christiangentleman，asweremanyotherswithhim，whilethroughouttheSouthweremultitudeswholovedandreverencedtheBibleasfullyascouldanyintheNorth。Aswelookbackoverhalfacentury，thiscomesoutplainly:thatsofarastheAmericancivilwarwasastrifeaboutunionpureandsimple，havingonenationortwohereinourpartofthecontinent，itwasmatterofjudgment，notofreligion。Theregrewaroundthatquestioncertainothersofnationalhonorandobligation，whichwerenotsoclearthenasnow。

ButmenonoppositesidesofthequestionmightreadthesameBiblewithoutfindingauthoritativewordaboutit。Insofar，however，asthewarhadatitsheartthematterofhumanslavery，itwaspossibleformentodifferonlywhenonesidereadtheletteroftheBiblewhiletheotherreaditsmanifestspirit。Writtenintimeswhenslaverywascountedmatterofcourse，itsletterdealtwithslaveryasafact。Itcouldbereadasthoughitapprovedslavery。Butlongbeforethisdaymenhadfounditstruespirit。Englandhadabolishedslavery(1808)undertheinsistencethatitwasforeigntoallrightunderstandingofGod"sWord。Lincolnknewitsletterwell；hecaredforitsspiritmore，andhefoundhisstrengthnotinthefamiliarsayingthatGodwasonhisside，butinthemoreforcefulonethathebelievedhimselftobeonGod"sside。

Sohebecameapointaroundwhichthegreatfluidideacrystallizedintostrength——apointmadeandsustainedbytheinfluenceoftheBible，whichheknewonlyintheKingJamesversion。

Wehavespokenofsomewidemovementsandofmenaroundwhomtheycrystallized，findinginthemtheinfluenceoftheBible。ItwillbewelltonotetwooutstandingtraitsoftheBiblewhichinEnglishoranyothertonguewouldinevitablytendtostrongandfavorableinfluenceonthehistoryofmen。Thosetwotraitsare，first，itsessentialdemocracy，and，secondly，itspersistentmoralappeal。

HeremustberecalledthatcenturybeforetheKingJamesversion，whenbyslowfiltrationthefundamentalideasoftheBiblewereenteringEnglishlife。SurelyitisbeyondwordsthattheBiblemadePuritanism，thoughitwasinstrongswingwhenJamescametothethrone。

NowJohnRichardGreeniswellwithinthefactwhenhesaysthat"Puritanismmayfairlyclaimtobethefirstpoliticalsystemwhichrecognizedthegrandeurofthepeopleasawhole。"[1]It，wasthemagnifyingofthepeopleasawholeoveragainstsomepeopleashavingpeculiarrightswhichmarkedPuritanism，andwhichisdemocracy。

Shakespeareknewnothingofit，andhadnoinfluenceonthemovementforlargerdemocracy。

AfterwehavesaidourstrongwordofShakespeare"spowerfulinfluenceuponliteratureityetmustbesaidthatitisdifficulttolayfingerononesinglehistoricalmovementexcepttheliteraryonewhichShakespeareevenremotelyinfluenced。TheBible，meanwhile，wasabsolutelycreatingthismovement。Underitsinfluence"themeanestpeasantfelthimselfennobledasthechildofGod，theproudestnoblerecognizedaspiritualequalitywiththemeanestsaint。"ThatwastheinevitableresultofafreshreadingoftheBibleineveryhome。ItassuredeachmanthatheisasonofGod，equalinthatsonshipwithallothermen。Itassuredhimnomanhasrighttolorditoverothers，asthoughhisrelationtoGodwerepeculiar。