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s accurate； and that its language blends dignity and popularity so that it lowers the speech of none。 They are all conspicuous traits of our familiar version of the Bible； and in them in part lies its power with the generations of these three centuries that have followed its appearance。
LECTURE III
THE KING JAMES VERSION AS ENGLISH LITERATURE
LET it be plainly said at the very first that when we speak of the literary phases of the Bible we are not discussing the book in its historic meaning。 It was never meant as literature in our usual sense of the word。 Nothing could have been further from the thought of the men who wrote it； whoever they were and whenever they wrote； than that they were making a world literature。 They had the characteristics of men who do make great literature they had clear vision and a great passion for truth； they loved their fellows mightily； and they were far more concerned to be understood than to speak。 These are traits that go to make great writers。 But it was never in their minds that they were making a world literature。 The Bible is a book of religious significance from first to last。 If it utterly broke down by the tests of literature； it might be as great a book as it needs to be。 It is a subordinate fact that by the tests of literature it proves also to be great。 Prof。 Gardiner； of Harvard； whose book called The Bible as English Literature makes other such works almost unnecessary； frankly bases his judgment on the result of critical study of the Bible； but he serves fair warning that he takes inspiration for granted； and thinks it 〃obvious that no literary criticism of the Bible could hope for success which was not reverent in tone。 A critic who should approach it superciliously or arrogantly would miss all that has given the Book its power as literature and its lasting and universal appeal。〃＇1＇ Farther over in his book he goes on to say that when we search for the causes of the feelings which made the marvelous style of the Bible a necessity； explanation can make but a short step； for 〃we are in a realm where the only ultimate explanation is the fact of inspiration； and that is only another way of saying that we are in the presence of forces above and beyond our present human understanding。〃＇2＇
＇1＇ Preface； p。 vii。
＇2＇ Page 124。
However； we may fairly make distinction between the Bible as an original work and the Bible as a work of English literature。 For the Bible as an original work is not so much a book as a series of books； the work of many men working separately over a period of at least fifteen hundred years； and these men unconscious for the most part of any purpose of agreement。 This series of books is made one book in the original by the unity of its general purpose and the agreement of its parts。 The Bible in English is； however； not a series of books； but properly one book； the work of six small groups of men working in conscious unity through a short period of years。 And while there is variation in style； while there are inequalities in result； yet it stands as a single piece of English literature。 It has a literary style of its own； even though it feels powerfully the Hebrew influence throughout。 And while it would not be a condemnation of the Bible if it were not great literature in English or elsewhere； it is still part of its power that by literary standards alone it measures large。
It is so that men of letters have rated it since it came into existence。 〃It holds a place of pre…eminence in the republic of letters。〃 When John Richard Green comes to deal with it； he says： 〃As a mere literary monument the English version of the Bible remains the noblest language of the English tongue； while its perpetual use made of it from the instant of its appearance the standard of our language。〃＇1＇ And in Macaulay's essay on Dryden； while he is deploring the deterioration of English style； he yet says that in the period when the English language was imperiled there appeared 〃the English Bible； a book which if everything else in our language should perish would alone suffice to show the extent of its beauty and power。〃
＇1＇ Short History of the English People； Book vii； chap。 i。
The mere fact that the English Bible contains a religion does not affect its standing as literature。 Homer and Virgil are Greek and Roman classics； yet each of them contains a definite religion。 You can build up the religious faith of the Greeks and Romans out of their great literature。 So you can build up the religious faith of the Hebrews and the early Christians from the Old and New Testaments。 〃For fifteen centuries a Hebrew Book； the Bible； contained almost the whole literature and learning of a whole nation；〃 while it was also the book of their religion。
As literature； however； apart from its religious connection； it is subject to any of the criteria of literature。 In so far it is the fair subject of criticism。 It must stand or fall when it enters the realm of literature by the standards of other books。 Indeed； many questions regarding its dates； the authorship of unassigned portions； the meaning of its disputed passages may be answered most fairly by literary tests。 That is always liable to abuse； but literary tests are always liable to that。 There have been enough blunders made in the knowledge of us all to require us to go carefully in such a matter。 The Waverley Novels were published anonymously； and； while some suspected Scott at once； others were entirely clear that on the ground of literary style his authorship was entirely impossible！ Let a magazine publish an anonymous serial； and readers everywhere are quick to recognize the writer from his literary style and his general ideas； but each group 〃recognizes〃 a different writer。 Arguments based chiefly on style overlook the large personal equation in all writing。 The same writer has more than one natural style。 It is not until he becomes in a certain sense affectedgrows proud of his peculiaritiesthat he settles down to one form。 And it is quite impossible to assign a book to any narrow historical period on the ground of its style alone。 But though large emphasis could be laid upon the literary merits of the Bible to the obscuring of its other more important merits； it is yet true that from the literary point of view the Bible stands as an English classic； indeed； as the outstanding English classic。 To acknowledge ignorance of it is to confess one's self ignorant of our greatest literary possession。
A moment ago it was said that as a piece of literature the Bible must accept the standards of other literary books。 For all present purposes we can define great literature as worthy written expression of great ideas。 If we may take the word 〃written〃 for granted； the rough definition becomes this： that great literature is the worthy expression of great ideas。 Works which claim to be great in literature may fail of greatness in either half of that test。 Petty； local； unimportant ideas may be well clothed； or great ideas may be unworthily expressed； in either case the literature is poor。 It is not until great ideas are wedded to worthy expression that literature becomes great。 Failure at one end or the other will explain the failure of most of the work that seeks to be accounted literature。 The literary value of a book cannot be determined by its style alone。 It is possible to say nothing gracefully； even with dignity； symmetry； rhythm； but it is not possible to make literature without ideas。 Abiding literature demands large ideas worthily expressed。 Now； of course； 〃large〃 and 〃small〃 are not words that are usually applied to the measurement of ideas； but we can make them seem appropriate here。 Let us mean that an idea is large or small according to its breadth of interest to the race and its length of interest to the race。 If there is an idea which is of value to all the members of the human race to…day； and which does not lose its value as the generations come and go； that is the largest possible idea within human thought。 Transient literature may do without those large ideas。 A gifted young reporter may describe a dog fight or a presidential nominating convention in such terms as lift his article out of carelessness and hasty newspaper writing into the realm of real literature； but it cannot become abiding literature。 It has not a large enough idea to keep it alive。 And to any one who loves worthy expression there is a sense of degradation in the use of fine literary powers for the description of purely transient local events。 It is always regrettable when men with literary skill are available for the description of a ball game； or are exploited as worthy writers about a prize…fight。 If a man has power to express ideas well； he ought to use that power for the expression of great ideas。
Many of us have seen a dozen books hailed as classic novels sure to live； each of them the great American novel at last； the author to be compared with Dickens and Thackeray and George Eliot。 And the books have gone the way of all the earth。 With some； the trouble is a weak； involved； or otherwise poor style。 With most the trouble is lack of real ideas。 Charles Dickens； to be sure； does deal with boarding…schools in England； with conditions wh