a meaning stored up in it which no word taken from the Latin has been able to gather. The doctrine of the Apostle is made, by the change, far more distinct and emphatic. Had "love" always stood in this chapter where "charity" stood, no antagonism between the theology of Paul and of John could plausibly have been affirmed to exist.

The famous text in 1 John v, 7, is cut out. The words are found in none of the oldest manuscripts or versions, except in the Dublin manuscript, which is a copy of the Latin Vulgate, and in two others still more modern. The passage was not originally in the Latin Vulgate. It was at first written as a commentary on the text preceding it; and in the eighth century it was introduced into the body of the epistle. It is very properly omitted, as there is really no evidence in its favor.

Another change of much importance is the distinction which is now clearly made between the words which were rendered "Hell" -namely, "Gehenna," which signifies, uniformly, the place of punishment in the future life, and "Hades," which is the equivalent of the "Sheol" of the Old Testament, the abode of the dead, without reference to their condition as happy or otherwise. The confusion of these terms is one of the most marked and mischievous blemishes of the authorized version. It is the gates of "Hades"-of the under-world which swallows up all the livingwhich shall not prevail against the church (Matt. xvi, 18).

These are some of the principal expurgations and changes in the new version; and while at first they may create somewhat of a shock to general readers, they must soon meet with nearly universal approval. Other numerous and interesting changes of more or less importance will present themselves to students. These can be found by the careful comparative reading with the old to which the new version will be subjected by Christians everywhere.

CHAPTER IV.

CHAPTERS, VERSES AND PARAGRAPHS.

The first thing that strikes the eye when we open the new book, is the recasting of its matter into paragraphs, without reference to the old division of chapters and verses, which, though of necessity retained, is kept from breaking up the proper sequence of the epistle or narrative. This is a great gain. The division of the word of God into chapters and verses is not of considerable antiquity. The first version divided into chapters only was the Vulgate, and the work is attributed by some to Cardinal Hugo, and by others to Archbishop Langton, in the thirteenth century. The New Testament was divided into chapters and verses by Robert Stephens, who completed it about the year 1551 during a journey from Paris to Lyons. Any alteration in this division considerably disturbs our ideas of the position of passages in the Bible, and throws into confusion the infinite number of references to the sacred text contained in almost countless volumes in all departments of literature; yet we can but welcome such alteration; so exceedingly imperfect is the division as has existed. We will give a few illustrations of this from an eminent writer on the subject: "The subject of 2 Kings vii, begins at 2 Kings vi, 24. The description of the humiliation and glory of Christ (the subject of Isa. liii) begins at Isa. lii, 13; and the previous verses of fiftytwo belong to fifty-one. Jer. iii, 6, begins a distinct prophecy, which is continued to the end of Jer. vi. The first verse of Col. iv, belongs to chap. iii. Connect in the same way Gen. ii, 1-3 and chap. 1; Rom. xv, 1-13 and chap. xiv; 1 Cor. xi, 1 and chap. x; 2 Cor. iv and chaps. v, vi and vii. The latter part of Matt. ix belongs to chap. x. John viii, 1, belongs to chap. vii; and

the last two verses of Acts iv, belong to chap. v. No longer is the remark (John ii, 23) that many believed because they saw miracles, cut off from the illustration afforded by the case of Nicodemus which follows (John iii, seq.); and the partition is taken down which separated the twelfth of Hebrews from the foregoing chapter which has presented to view the cloud of witnesses' by whom (xii, 1) we are said to be surrounded in the Christian

race.

The number of marginal notes, also, at once arrests attention. This feature we count to be a signal merit. We want to know what the authors of the New Testament really said; and if there is a doubt on this point, we want to know that fact, also, and between what words, or collocations of words, the choice lies. The advantage of a smooth page is nothing if it is obtained at the cost of accurate information. Many of the marginal notes relate to the Greek text. It is best that all the essential facts respecting the Bible should be communicated to its readers. If the effect is to modify somewhat their theories about the Scriptures, the real power of the Bible will not be diminished, and in the long run there will be a gain to practical religion. Vague suspicions are dispelled. Somnolence is broken up. A new spur is given to investigation and reflection.

To obviate all these the present version is given in paragraphs, so as to give the connection; at the same time the old division into chapters and verses is indicated by figures at the head and on the margin of the pages.

The manner of showing the quotations from the poetical books of the Old Testament will also be one of the marked changes to the eye. In fact, it may be said that nearly all the changes made are far more noticeable to the eye than to the ear. So that it is evident that the changes are more apparent than real-are very conservative in substance. The new book will look different from the old, but will sound very much the same.

CHAPTER V.

GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED.

It had been stated at the outset of this great undertaking, that it was not intended to furnish a new version, but a conservative revision of the old. The Venerable Dr. Trench, Archbishop of Dublin, in his work on the need of revision, published in 1858, uttered this language:

"It is clear that the question, Are we, or are we not to have a new translation of the Scripture? or, rather, since few would propose this who do not wish to lift anchor, and loosen from its moorings the whole religious life of the English people, shall we, or shall we not have a new revision of the Authorized Version? is one which is presenting itself more and more familiarly to the minds of men." "Of the arguments against a revision none will deny the weight. Indeed, there are times when the whole matter presents itself as so full of difficulty and doubtful hazard, that one could be well content to resign all gains that would accrue from this revision, and only ask that things might remain as they are; but this, I am persuaded, is impossible. However we may be disposed to let the question alone, it will not let us alone. It has been too effectually stirred, ever again to go to sleep; and the difficulties with which it is surrounded, be they few or many, will have at no distant day to be encountered. The time will come when the perils of remaining where we are will be so manifestly greater than the perils of action, that action will become inevitable. There will be danger in both courses, for that saying of the Latin moralist is a profoundly true one, Nunquam periculum sine periculo vincitur;' but the lesser danger will have to be chosen."

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GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE WORK.

These difficulties, as the work shows, have been fearlessly and judiciously undertaken and nobly overcome. The grand old translation given to the world by King James has been read during two hundred and fifty years, interweaving its individual verses and phraseology into the language and into the hearts of all Englishspeaking peoples. It binds us to the past and speaks to us with the same tender and sublime words it addressed to our forefathers. These sacred associations will not be disturbed by this Revision. The grand old book remains in its glory, while the blemishes which disfigured it are conscientiously removed.

This has been the result of centuries of investigation and toil. As the lava of Vesuvius covered for centuries the columns and temples of Pompeii, and years of labor have removed the rubbish and restored to the light the ancient city, so the accumulations of ages that hid or marred God's truth have been removed, and it stands before us, if not perfect, as it came from the hands of its inspired writers, so nearly so that we can rejoice that we hold in our hand the unadulterated word of God.