"word for word,"-a mode rarely adopted in translating any other book from a foreign into a native language. This mode, as applied to the Bible, grew naturally out of the conception of that book as verbally inspired, which conception being no longer held among the most intelligent people of the world, it follows that the literal mode of translation should henceforth be also discarded. As now translated in our common editions of the New Testament, it is simply impossible for any reader not familiar with the text to apprehend the meaning of, or derive any real instruction from, a large portion of the Christian Scriptures, especially from the letters to the Romans, Corinthians, and Hebrews. Having been long and painfully aware of this fact, both from experience, observation, and numerous testimonies even of many unusually intelligent students of the Bible, the compiler of this volume has been led to adopt the principle that, here as elsewhere, that is the best translation which renders the evident meaning of an author into the simplest language and the most lucid phrase. Especially in translating the "Letters" of the New Testament, the text of all of which is so imperfect and obscure, the unceasing object of the translator should be to studiously and devoutly apprehend the designed thought of the author; and that thought, by paraphrase, or by any use whatever of words and phrases, to communicate most readily and forcibly to the mind of the reader or hearer. This has been the one object of the translator of the following Selections; how successfully it has been accomplished must be left to the judg ment of those into whose hands this book may fall. A remark may be added with reference to the rendering of a few words, which may be designated as main words in all the letters written by Paul. (1) By the word translated circumcision, Paul evidently meant ordinances, including under that term all the sacramental rites of the Jews, which centred in, and were necessarily connected with, the fundamental and initiatory rite of circumcision. (2) By the word translated works, Paul evidently meant ceremonial observances, formalistic piety, or the ritualism of the Mosaic law. (3) By the word translated faith, Paul probably meant confident trust in the mercy and help of God; faith in Jesus being confident trust in the revelations of Divine mercy and helpfulness which it was the mission of Jesus to reveal and teach. (4) By the word translated blood, as applied to Jesus, Paul probably meant life completely consecrated, or the unreserved offering of one's self for the good of others. (5) By the word translated resurrection, Paul, as all the other New Testament authors, evidently meant (what the word generically means) spiritual survival, or a rising up of the spirit from the realms and power of physical death. Bearing in mind these simple explanations, the reader will doubtless find hundreds of passages luminous and helpful, which in the common translation are utterly incomprehensible. For instance, instead of reading, "Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing, but a new creature," read, "Neither conformity to ordinances nor non-conformity availeth any thing, but a new creature." Instead of reading, “A man is not justified by the works of the law," read, “A man is not justified by the ceremonial observances of the law," or "by the ritualism of the law," or "by formalistic piety." Instead of reading, “A man is justified by faith," read, "A man is justified by confident trust in the mercy and help of God"; or, instead of "Children of God by faith in Christ Jesus," read, "Children of God by the confident trust in his mercy and help which Christ Jesus taught and inspired." Instead of, "Redemption through his blood," read, "Redemption through his unreserved offering of himself for our good"; or, instead of, "Without shedding of blood there is no remission," read, "Without the life completely consecrated there is no remission." Reading thus, by making use of synonymous words or equivaient expressions, these Scripture passages, and such as these, become not only comprehensible, but also deep in significance and wide in application. PREFACE TO SELECTIONS FROM THE ANCIENT PERSIAN, EGYPTIAN, HINDU, BUDDHIST, CHINESE, GRECIAN, ROMAN, AND ARABIAN SCRIPTURES. Not because there is in these ancient scriptures any new truth, or truth better spoken than that contained in the Bible of the Christians, are these Selections added, but simply as confirmations, giving emphasis and strength to those teachings with which we are already familiar. Moreover, they are here added as a perpetual witness that, not to us only, but to all mankind, of every age and nation, hath God spoken. "By inspiration of God ALL Scriptures are given"; and in the Sacred Books of all Religions, he who devoutly reads may find much that is "profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect and thoroughly furnished unto all good works." As the Christian Bible is a book of fragments, so are all the other ancient scriptures books of fragments. The Selections here given are fragments of fragments; sentences or parts of sentences picked up and thrown together, without much regard to connection, something as the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, in the Old Testament, and the four Gospels in the New Testament, were evidently collected without much regard to the order of thoughts or events contained in them. As they are designed for purposes of devout thought and meditation; and, as such, should be read by single verses, not by pages or Selections, the fragmentary form, as most suggestive and therefore most desirable, has here been retained. No attempt has been made to give the names of authors; the nationality, or what may be called the school of thought, such as Persian, Egyptian, Hindu, etc., has been deemed sufficient. Of the truth contained in them, as of all truth wherever found, the author is God; and it matters but little by what name may be called the human instrument through whom He has chosen to reveal it. Better, perhaps, that the name be entirely forgotten, in order that truth may be "all in all." SPECIAL NOTE FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT SELECTIONS:-ADDED TO THE NEW EDITION. Throughout the Four Gospels and the Acts, Jesus is commonly spoken of simply as the Teacher, the Master, or (occasionally) as the Messiah. In all writings which follow he is most frequently spoken of as the Christ (the Anointed or Chosen One) or as Jesus the Christ. Unfortunately all received versions translate by omitting" the," which is an entire perversion of the original meaning. In this version the error has (by an oversight) been retained. But the reader is exhorted to bear constantly in mind that the correct rendering always is, not "Christ" but "the Christ," and not "Jesus Christ" but "Jesus the Christ." The definite article "the" is of fundamental importance in this connection, and the present translator's oversight as to its omission is almost unpardonable. THE AUTHOR. CONTENTS. PAGE. I 2 I. A theory of creation, probably suggested to Moses by the teachings of the learned Egyptians among whom he was educated, and by him transcribed into the lan- His loyalty and love to his father and brethren after many years of separation. V. Moses' vision of the burning bush The commandments given by Moses VI. Relapse of the Israelites into idolatry. I. Hannah's song of thanksgiving for the birth of Samuel ¶ Samuel's vision and early piety II. David's loyalty to Saul; and rendering good for evil His song of lamentation over the death of Saul and Jonathan II. Legend of Elijah, fed by the ravens and by the unfailing meal and oil of the poor III. Visions of Elijah, in which his cowardice and faithlessness are reproved |