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Untitled Article
the Rev , W . Turner ' s Abstract of the Bible . Objections are felt by many to the plan itself . The writer of this article participates in them . It is a great mistake , we think , to rewrite the Bible . Omissions must be made in reading it , and to very little children we would not give it at all , or in the smallest portions . Neither can we see any objection to speaking of or retailing its narratives in the simplest tone of familiar conversation . Who , indeed , would forbid the mother to tell of Joseph or Moses to the child that prattles
on her knee ? Out of the very fulness of our hearts we speak of the good of old , of God ' s dealings with his people , of the love of our Father in
heaven , of the gift of his son Jesus Christ . Our manner may be injudicious , our words not perfectly well-chosen ;—enough , if the child feels that the subject is part of ourselves , that our memories and hearts are laden with the precious details , and that they live within us as warnings and examples * But , for the book itself from which all these stores of blessing are derived * we think it ought to be left alone and untouched . Let it rest , just as it is ,
ready to meet the desires of the awakened heart , the wants of the growing intellect—ready at every stage of our progress to speak in language exactly adapted to our requirements . It is bad enough to see the Bible made a school-book , but it is far worse to see it cut down , and altered , and interpolated with our own dull morality . We say nothing of inspiration ; let it
suffice that this venerable book possesses a charm which we vainly seek for elsewhere , that it contains what God has communicated expressly to man for his guidance through this world ; and we find a sufficient and powerful reason against putting it prematurely into the minds of children in a dress of our own * They that
by due steps aspire To lay their Just hands on that golden key That opes the palace of eternity , ' will never , we should think , be anxious to anticipate a child's deductions from the narratives of Holy Writ , or to spoil its perception of their beauty by making his own version familiar to them as a reading book .
Teachers may probably often complain to Mr , Wood of the want of books . It is a very common , but surely a most unnecessary outcry . Moreover , we dislike a regular compilation from Scripture which attempts to solve our difficulties and anticipate our conclusions ; which , in direct contradiction to the spirit of the Scripture , draws a moral out of every event , and annexes a lecture to every narrative ; which supplies an imaginary want by
spoiling a source of pure delight , and gives nothing comparable to the charms it may take away . Such , in sincerity , is the view we take of all attempts to make new Bibles for the young . That Mr . Wood has performed his part with ability , we cheerfully affirm j that he has laboured from a conscientious wish to do good , we cannot have the smallest doubt . We respect ^ h is efforts for that Christian purpose , and sincerely wish we could have said more in approbation of his present attempt .
Untitled Article
Books for Children . 683
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Oct. 2, 1831, page 683, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2602/page/31/
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