Part 3 (2/2)

Lastly, the Bible is the revelation of a future state. Things begun here will be completed there. As such, it gives man a hope on which to build a belief, and a belief on which to found a hope.

We must believe, For still we hope That, in a world of larger scope, What here is faithfully begun Will be completed, not undone.

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Thus, we may, perhaps, find in these five familiar names, brief headings for leisure thoughts. In them, we see the _Scriptures_, or many books, gathered together into one book called _The Book_. In this book, we see the _Word of G.o.d_ delivered to men by men, and these men _inspired_ by G.o.d to be the living _media_ of the _Revelation_ of G.o.d to man.

Our next selected book will be the Church of England Prayer Book.

[1] Art. XX.

[2] The Council of Toulouse, 1229, and the Council of Trent, 1545-63.

[3] St. Luke x. 26,

[4] The first division of the Bible into _chapters_ is attributed either to Cardinal Hugo, for convenience in compiling his Concordance of the Vulgate (about 1240), or to Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury (about 1228), to facilitate quotation. _Verses_ were introduced into the New Testament by Robert Stephens, 1551. It is said that he did the work on a journey from Paris to Lyons.

[5] Heb. i. 1, 2.

[6] St. John v. 39.

[7] St. John i. 14.

[8] Acts VII.

[9] The University Presses offer 1 1s. for every such hitherto undiscovered inaccuracy brought to their notice.

[10] This is the Church's description of Inspiration in the Nicene Creed: ”Who spake by the Prophets”.

[11] Gal. i. 15, 16.

[12] 2 Cor. iv. 6.

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CHAPTER III.

THE CHURCH'S BOOKS.

(2) THE PRAYER BOOK.

We now come to the second of the Church's books selected for discussion--the Prayer Book.

The English Prayer Book is the local presentment of the Church's Liturgies for the English people.

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