70. An Obstacle to Sectarian

The denominations retaining the authorized translation would secure the whole benefit of its celebrity, its authority, and its mighty hold upon the affection and reverence of the Anglo Saxon race.

For nearly two hundred and fifty years this translation has been in common use. During that time, it has had free course and circulation among successive generations speaking the English tongue. It was made ready in good season to cross the Atlantic with the first English colonists of America. During that time the reigning dynasty of England has changed once and again, America has become the greatest of republics, science has been even more often and fully revolutionized than politics, the arts of life have almost created society anew by marvellous inventions and discoveries, popular intelligence has brightened from its dawnings into the broad light of day, philosophy has restlessly traversed a thousand circles of inquiry and speculation, and theology has been rushing backward and forward through successive alternations, like a ship beating into port against wind and tide, and losing on one tack, what may have been gained on the other.