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，InDarkestEngland1890。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。"AsherodeouttothefieldatNaseby1645heknewhefacedthefloweroftheloyalistarmy，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，InhisPhiBetaKappaaddressatHarvard1826，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。Englandhadabolishedslavery1808undertheinsistencethatitwasforeigntoallrightunderstandingofGod'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。