Page:The Holy Bible, containing the Old & New Testament & the Apocrypha.djvu/17

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FOREWORD BY THE RIGHT REV. THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON

Why should not the Bible be printed as well as the best of other books? That is the question answered by the present splendid edition. The Bible is the most glorious of books and reigns supreme. It claims then the most perfect type and the most careful printing which can be accorded to it. This seems to me to have been given it in this edition. It is possible, too, that some who might not read the Bible, issued in a cheap edition, may read it when it comes in the form of the best literature the world can find. We are never afraid of the Bible "coming to its own." It is quite true that we believe it needs explanation, and a knowledge of history, and instruction in the context of each book, and are grateful that a teaching Church was sent forth to carry the Bible in its hand, to teach from it and explain it to the world, but, if people will not have the Church, at least they can have the Bible, and the Bible will lead them on to learn more about the origin of that of which it speaks.

Whence come those striking accounts of the origin of the world? Who wrote those soul-piercing psalms? Who were the prophets? Were there any prophecies of the mighty Incarnation