study of the king james bible(钦印〈圣经〉研究)-第41章
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that he knew well。 He first came to himself out in the fields alone with the
Bible。 He was not stirred to the origin of the movement nor to his greatest
activity by experiences he had in public places。 He came to those public
places profoundly affected by his familiarity with the English Bible。 He
came at a time when his protest was needed； a protest against formalism；
against mere outward conformity。 A thousand years before；
Mohammedanism had really saved the Christian faith by its protest；
violent and merciless； against its errors； challenging it to purity in faith
and life。 Now Fox and the Quakers saved church life by protest against
church life。 The Bible was still the law； but not the Bible which you read
for me； but that which you read for you and I for me； each of us guided by
an inner light。 The Quaker movement was a distinct protest against church
formalism in the interests of freedom of the Bible。
＇1＇ David Gregg； The Quakers in America。
That Quaker influence was far stronger in America than it ever
proved to be in England。 George Fox himself visited the colonies and
extended its influence。 Three great effects are easily traceable。 The very
presence of the Quakers in the New England colonies； notably in
Massachusetts； and the persecutions which they endured； did more to
purify the Puritans than any other one influence。 One is only loyal to the
Puritan character and teaching in declaring that in the manner of the
Puritans toward the Quakers they were wrong； they were wrong because
they were untrue to their own belief； untrue to their own Bibles； and when
the more thoughtful among them found that they were taking the attitude
toward the Quakers which they had resented toward themselves；
remembering that the Quakers were drawing their teaching from the same
Bible as themselves； they were naturally checked。 And； while the Quakers
in New England suffered greatly； their suffering proved the purification of
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the Puritans。 It accented and so it removed the narrowness of Puritan
practice。 Further； the Quaker movement gave to American history William
Penn and the whole constitution of Pennsylvania。 It was there that a state
first lived by the principle which William Penn pronounced： 〃Any
government is free where the people are a party to the laws enacted。〃 So it
came about that Independence Hall is on Quaker soil。 The Declaration of
Independence appeared there； and not on Puritan soil。 It may be there was
more freedom of thought in Pennsylvania。 It may be explained on purely
geographical ground； Philadelphia being the most convenient center for
the colonies。 But it remains significant that not on Cavalier soil in Virginia；
not on Dutch soil in New York； not on Puritan soil in Boston； but on
Quaker soil in Philadelphia the movement for national independence
crystallized around a general principle that 〃any government is free where
the people are a party to the laws enacted；〃 but that no government is free
whose people have not a voice。 That is not minimizing the power of
Puritanism； nor forgetting Fanueil Hall and the Tea Party。 It only accents
what should be familiar： that Puritanism drew into itself more of the
fighting element of Scripture； while the Quaker movement drew into itself
more of the uniting； pacifying element of Scripture。 The third effect of the
Quaker movement is John Greenleaf Whittier； with his gentle but never
weak demand that national freedom should not mean independence of
other people alone； but the independence of all people within the nation。
So that while the Quaker spirit helped the colonies to break loose from
foreign control and become a nation； it helped the nation in turn to break
loose from internal shackles。 The nation stood free within itself as well as
free from others。 Yet the Quaker movementand this is the argumentis
itself the result of the English Bible； and the Quaker influence is the
influence of the English Bible on history。 There is not need for extended
word about the great Wesleyan movement in the midst of this period；
which has so profoundly affected both English and American history。 It
has not worked out into such visible political forms。 But any movement
that makes for larger spiritual life makes for the strengthening of the entire
life of the nation。 The mere figures of the early Wesleyan movement are
almost appalling。 Here was a man； John Wesley； an Oxford scholar； who
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spent nearly fifty years traveling up and down and back and forth through
England on horseback； covering more than two hundred and fifty thousand
miles； preaching everywhere more than forty thousand times； writing；
translating； editing two hundred works。 When death ended his busy life
there were in his newly formed brotherhood one hundred and thirty…five
thousand members； with five hundred and fifty itinerants who were
following his example with incessant preaching and Bible exposition。 It
was the old Wiclif…Lollard movement over again。 And here was the other
Wesley； Charles； teaching England to sing again； teaching the old truths of
the Bible in rhyme to many who could not read； so that they became
familiar； writing on horseback； in stage…coaches； everywhere； writing with
one passion； to help England back to the Bible and its truth。 Such activity
could not leave the nation unmoved； all its religious life felt it； and its
political life from serf to king was deeply affected by it。 It is a common
saying that the Wesleyan movement saved English liberty from European
entanglement。 Yet the Wesleyan movement issued from the Bible and led
England back to the Bible。
But apart from these wide movements and the great souls who led
them； there is time for thought of one typical character on each side of the
sea who did not so much make a movement as he proved the point around
which a great fluid idea crystallized into strength。 Across the sea the
character shall be that man whom Carlyle gave back to us out of obloquy
and misunderstanding； Oliver Cromwell。 Choosing him； we pass other
names which crowd into memory； names of men who have served the
need of England well…Wilberforce； John Howard； Shaftesbury； Gladstone
who drew their strength from this Book。 Yet we choose Cromwell now for
argument。 On this side it must be that best known； most beloved； most
typical of all Americans； Abraham Lincoln。
An English historian has said that the most influential； the most
unescapable years in English history are those of the Protectorate。 That is
a strong saying。 They were brief years。 There were many factors in them。
Oliver Cromwell was only one； but he was chief of all。 He was not chief in
the councils which resulted in the beheading of Charles I。 on that 30th of
January； 1649； though he took part in
