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all that they knew of it from the Bible。 From that day； in spite of much
change in thought of it； English… speaking people have never been wilful
abusers of the Sabbath。 But the condition in that day was very different。
Most of the games were on the day set apart as the Sabbath。 There were
bull…baiting； bear…baiting； and football on Sunday。 Calvin himself； though
not in England； bowled on Sunday； and poor Knox attended festivities
then； saying grimly that what little is right on week…days is not wrong on
Sundays。 After the service on Sunday morning the people thronged to the
village green； where ale flowed freely and games were played until the
evening dance was called。 It was a work…day。 Elizabeth issued a special
injunction that people work after service on Sundays and holidays if they
wished to do so。 Employers were sustained in their demand for Sunday
work。
There are always people in every time who count that the ideal
Sabbath。 The Puritans found it when they appeared。 The English
Reformation found it when it came。 And the Bible found it when at last it
came out of obscurity and laid hold on national conditions。 Whatever is to
be said of other races； every period of English…speaking history assures us
that our moral power increases or weakens with the rise or fall of Sabbath
reverence。 The Puritans saw that。 They saw； as many other thoughtful
people saw； that the steady； repeated observance of the Sabbath gave
certain national influences a chance to work； reminded the nation of
certain great underlying and undying principles； in short； brought God into
human thought。 The Sunday of pleasure or work could never accomplish
that。 Both as religionists and as patriots； as lovers of God and lovers of
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men； they opposed the pleasure…Sunday and held for the Sabbath。
But that comes around again to the saying that the persistent moral
appeal of the Bible gives it inevitable influence on history。 It centers
thought on moral issues。 It challenges men to moral combats。
Such a force persistently working in men's minds is irresistible。 It
cannot be opposed； it can only fail by being neglected。 And this is the
force which has been steadily at work everywhere in English…speaking
history since the King James version came to be。
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LECTURE VI
THE BIBLE IN THE LIFE OF TO…DAY
THIS lecture must differ at two points from those which have
preceded it。 In the first place； the other lectures have dealt entirely with
facts。 This must deal also with judgments。 In the earlier lectures we have
avoided any consideration of what ought to have been and have centered
our interest on what actually did occur。 We especially avoided any
argument based on a theory of the literary characteristics or literary
influence of the Bible； but sought first to find the facts and then to
discover what explained them。 It might be very difficult to determine what
is the actual place of the Bible in the life of to…day。 Perhaps it would be
impossible to give a broad； fair judgment。 It is quite certain that the people
of James's day did not realize the place it was taking。 It is equally certain
that many of those whom it most influenced were entirely unconscious of
the fact。 It is only when we look back upon the scene that we discover the
influence that was moving them。 But； while it is difficult to say what the
place of the Bible actually is in our own times； the place it ought to have is
easier to point out。 That will involve a study of the conditions of our times；
which suggest the need for its influence。 While we must consider the facts；
therefore； we will be compelled to pass some judgments also； and therein
this lecture must differ from the others。
The second fact of difference is that while the earlier lectures have
dealt with the King James version； this must deal rather with the Bible。
For the King James version is not the Bible。 There are many versions；
there is but one Bible。 Whatever the translators put into the various
tongues； the Bible itself remains the same。 There are values in the new
versions； but they are simply the old value of the Bible itself。 It is a
familiar maxim that the newest version is the oldest Bible。 We are not
making the Bible up to date when we make a new version； we are only
getting back to its date。 A revision in our day is the effort to take out of the
original writings what men of King James's day may have put in； and give
them so much the better chance。 There is no revised Bible； there is only a
revised version。 Readers sometimes feel disturbed at what they consider
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the changes made in the Bible。 The fact is； the revision which deserves the
name is lessening the changes in the Bible； it is giving us the Bible as it
actually was and taking from us elements which were not part of it。 One
can sympathize with the eloquent Dr。 Storrs； who declared； in an address
in 1879； that he was against any new version because of the history of the
King James version； describing it as a great oak with roots running deep
and branches spreading wide。 He declared we were not ready to give it up
for any modern tulip…tree。 There is something in that； though such figures
are not always good argument。 Yet the value to any book of a worthy
translation is beyond calculation。 The outstanding literary illustration of
that fact is familiar。 The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam lay in Persian
literature and in different English translations long before Fitzgerald made
it a household classic for literary people。 The translator made the book for
us in more marked way than the original writer did。 In somewhat the same
way the King James version gave to the English…speaking people the Bible；
and no other version has taken its place。
Yet that