Part Two
Myles Coverdale. The Remains of Bishop Coverdale, Parker Society series, ed. Rev. George Pearson (Cambridge: The University Press, 1846).
This free and downloadable book in pdf.file format is available at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=QVgYAAAAYAAJ&pg=PR12&dq=miles+coverdale+parker+society&lr=&as_brr=1
As usual, the frontispiece in the Parker Society series: “For the publication of the works of the fathers and early writers of the Reformed English Church.” “Reformed” is the recurrent word in all Parker Society volumes of these English Reformers.
Myles (sometimes spelled Miles) Coverdale’s early background is obscure. It is believed he was born c. 1488 in a district called “Coverdale” in North Riding, Yorkshire. He is roughly a contemporary of Martin Luther.
1500-1514
He entered an Augustinian Monastery at Cambridge under the celebrate Dr. Robert Barnes, who was the Prior. Here is where he imbibed the principles of the Reformation, including associations with Bilney, Stafford and Latimer.
1515-1531
He was admitted to orders[1] by John Bishop of Chalcedon at Norwich in 1514.[2] He took the degree of Bachelor of Canon Law at Cambridge, 1531. Upon Tanner’s authority, he was admitted to the D.D. at Tubingen.
When He is next noticed amongst other Reformers in the northern parts of Essex. Several parishes favourable to the Reformation are noted: Birdbrook, Steeple-Bumpstead and Stoke-Clare. Apparently portions of the New Testament had been in circulation in manuscript form long before the publication of Tyndale’s New Testament. Richard Foxe, parish clerk of Steeple-Bumstead, had become a zealous proponent of biblical Reformation.
In 1526, Dr. Barnes was arrested in the Convocation House and brought before Cardinal Wolsey “for preaching heretical doctrines,” Coverdale accompanies and gives support to Barnes.
Also, for nearly two centuries, Wycliffe’s version had circulated. Tyndale’s New Testament had been published in two editions by 1525 at Worms, Germany. By 1530, he had finished the first five books of Moses.
Coverdale does not appear to have been associated with Tyndale during this period. We did read that Coverdale denied the necessity of auricular confession. He also spoke against in now way should anyone honour or worship images. Coverdale is not heard of after 1528 for seven years.
It was believed that he was abroad on the Continent.
1535-1537
He reappears in 1535. 4 October 1535, he published his translation of the whole Bible. Where is was published is uncertain. One strong view is that Froschover, a learned bookseller in Zurich and publisher of other Reformers, published Coverdale’s translation.[3] It is likely that sanction had never been given by King Henry VIII.
In 1537, two other editions of Coverdale’s Bible were published by James Nycolson, a bookseller in Southwark. In the same year, a Bible appeared bearing the name of Thomas Mathewe, but John Rogers was the editor and fellow labourer with Tyndale. This volume, to the end of Chronicles is Tyndale’s. Everything after Chronicles to the end of the Apocrypha is Coverdale’s. The whole of the New Testament is Tyndale’s.
The entire project, the entire Bible, appears to have been put forward by Grafton, a printer. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer was most thankful and, due to his connection to the King, obtained “the royal sanction” and to have been “set forth with the king’s most gracious licence.”
1538-1539
In 1538, Coverdale and Grafton are in Paris at Lord Cromwell’s direction to carry through another edition through a press there. Coverdale and Grafton wrote Cromwell seeking to put annotations to the Bible. We are told that this business was “interrupted by an order from the Inquisition.”[4] That means Roman repression and suppression of the light and lamp of God's Word--as usual. Fortunately, Coverdale recovered the impression and print-types and was able to return to London where it was published in 1539. Cranmer presented this version to the King.
We will pick this thread up with the Bible version that emerged in 1540, under Cranmer’s patronage.
We close with the "Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent:"
“Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that by patience, and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everylasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.”[5]
Our closing hymn is “How Firm a Foundation.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJzMHjziKfo&feature=related
How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you
He hath said,You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?
In every condition, in sickness, in health;
In poverty’s vale, or abounding in wealth;
At home and abroad, on the land, on the sea,
As thy days may demand, shall thy strength ever be.
Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed,
For I am thy God and will still give thee aid;
I’ll strengthen and help thee, and cause thee to stand
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.
When through the deep waters I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee, thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee thy deepest distress.
When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,
My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.
Even down to old age all My people shall prove
My sovereign, eternal, unchangeable love;
And when hoary hairs shall their temples adorn,
Like lambs they shall still in My bosom be borne.
The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,
I will not, I will not desert to its foes;
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake.
Part Two hereat endeth. Page 18.
FootnotesL
[1] Tanner, Bibliotheca Britanno-Hibernica as quoted by the editor in our present volume. Myles Coverdale. The Remains of Bishop Coverdale, Parker Society series, ed. Rev. George Pearson (Cambridge: The University Press, 1846).
[2] Cathedral of Norwich. See official site at: http://www.cathedral.org.uk/
[3] Remains of Miles Coverdale, op.cit, 25.
[4] Remains of Miles Coverdale, op.cit, 17.
[5] 1662 Book of Common Prayer (London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, 1968), 91.
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