Page:The Emphasised Bible - Vol 1.djvu/9



this purports to be an "Emphasised" Bible is naturally the first thing to be noticed. But as it seems desirable to devote an entire chapter to the subject of Emphasis, further discussion of this prominent characteristic may be conveniently deferred until it falls to be considered in due course. In the meantime there are other features which have grown up around this, which it will be of advantage to set forth in order.

1. The size of the page. It is with design that this has been made large; mainly for the purpose of bringing into one view connected portions, the constituent parts of which can be so much more easily grasped and remembered when readily seen in their relation to each other and to the whole, than when extended over several smaller pages. The familiar fifteenth chapter of the Gospel by Luke affords an excellent example; the whole chapter being here brought within two columns, in which its historical introduction and the three parables of which it is composed are at once taken in by the eye.

2. The varying indentations of the lines. These have been employed to serve several important purposes.

a. They mark the transition from Narrative to Speech. The first chapter of Genesis comes out into beautiful relief by this means. After a few introductory words, the arrangement of the lines seems like a commentary on the text "He spake, and it was done." "He spake"—and the words of the speech are distinguished by being set in; "and it was done "—the record of the fact is given as narrative, shown by the nearer approach of the lines to the left-hand margin. The effect is solemnly dramatic. Sometimes the deeper questions of criticism are thus brought to the surface, and the humblest reader is moved to consider whether, for example, the Speeches of Moses recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy were afterwards edited. It is tolerably plain they were; and the perception of the fact would appear to favour