DR TALMAGE ON THE NEW VERSION.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3230, 5 November 1881, Page 4

DR TALMAGE ON THE NEW VERSION.

"He began the attack," says the New York Tribune, " by stopping abruptly in the Lord's Prayer, after the petition ' deliver us from the evil one,' and observing, without the formality of an ' amen,' ' I shall have to stop there, for the new version has struck out the ' doxology.' When he took up the Bible for the morning lesson he said—' I will read from the fifth chapter of John.' Then he turned over the leaves, and etopped as if disappointed and astonished, and continued—' No, the revision has done away with that.' Then he turned to another chapter and began to read, but stopped again, saying—' No, that has perished, too.' He did the same with a third selection, and finally said —' We shall have to take to the Old Testament. The Old Testament Company has not reported, and will not for two years. I will read from the 19th Psalm.' In his sermon Dr Talmage began by reading the story from 2nd Samuel to the smiting of Uzziah for touching the ark, and proceeded to denounce the new version as a desecration, profanation, a mutilation, and a religious outrage ! ' I pronounce the revision,' said Dr Talmage, ' a literary ■botch. It will never be adopted in this country if the fearless criticism of the people speaks out its mind. I reject this revision because it is a mechanical failure; because the verses and headings have been abandoned. Here is a paragraph a column and a half-long, in the middle of which are buried the blessed words Jesus wept, instead of standing out in solitude with all their grandeur, pathos, tenderness and omnipotent meaning. I reject the new version because of its amazing triviality. You remember Christ's sermon where He speaks of putting new wine into old bottles. The new version substitutes the word skins as if they could not explain-bottles as well as ekine. (Laughter.) " Show me a penny," said Christ. The revisers say, " Show me a denarius." (Laughter.) The old translation was to much for the delicacy of our American part of the New Testament Company where it says " for he was naked" The American Committee chose that it should read, " had on his under garment only." (Laughter.) These discoverers of 10,000 mistakes, and the 130,000 different, readings, have actually got hold of the music of the angels over Bethelem. If those angels had known that tney were within hearing of the New Testament company, they would not have sung so loud. Instead of the translation which says, "On earth, peace, good.will toward men," it is to read, "On earth, peace among men, in whom He is well pleased." The rhythm gone, tho wide sweep of meaning gone, the Christmas Carol choked till it is black in the face. " Hands off the Word of God; remember the fate of Uzziah," Mr Talmage shouted again. He said that if the revision should be received, a Methodist revision, and so on, "until possibly," he said, 'I shall issue a revision.' "