Scott'sboyhoodwasspentinscenesthatremindedhimofthepowertheScripturehad。
Hewasdrilledfromhischildhoodintheknowledgeofitswordsandphrases，andwhilehiswritingasawholeshowsmoreoftheOldTestamentinfluencethanoftheNew，eveninhisstyleheisstronglyunderBibleinfluence。
[1]Morley，LifeofGladstone，vol。iii，p。424。
TheprefacetoGuyManneringtellsusitisbuiltaroundanoldstoryofafatherputtingaladtotestunderguidanceofanancientastrologer，shuttinghimupinabarrenroomtobetemptedbytheEvilOne，leavinghimonlyonesafeguard，aBible，lyingonthetableinthemiddleoftheroom。InhisintroductiontoTheHeartofMidlothian，Scottmakesoneofthetwomenthrownintothewaterbytheoverturnedcoachremindtheotherthatthey"cannotcomplain，likeCowley，thatGideon'sfleeceremainsdrywhileallaroundismoist；thisisthereverseofthemiracle。"AlittlelateraspeakerdescribesnovelsastheDelilahsthatseducewiseandgoodmenfrommoreseriousreading。InthedramaticscenewhenJeanieDeansfacesthewretchedGeorgeStaunton，whohassoshamedthehousehold，sheexclaims:
"Osir，didtheScripturenevercomeintoyourmind，'Vengeanceismine，andIwillrepayit?'""Scripture!"hesneers，"whyIhadnotopenedaBibleforfiveyears。""Wae'sme，sir，"saidJeanie——"andaminister'sson，too!"
AnthonyFoster，inKenilworth，looksdownonpoorAmy'sbodyinthevaultintowhichshehasfallen，inresponsetowhatshethoughtwasLeicester'swhistle，andexclaimstoVarney:
"Oh，iftherebejudgmentinheaven，thouhastdeservedit，andwillmeetit!Thouhastdestroyedherbymeansofherbestaffections——itistheseethingofthekidinthemother'smilk!"
Andwhen，nextmorning，Varneywasfounddeadofthesecretpoisonandwithasneeringsarcasmonhisghastlyface，Scottdismisseshimwiththephrase:"Thewickedman，saiththeScripture，hathnobondsinhisdeath。"
HischaractersusefreelythefamiliarBibleeventsandphrases。IntheFortunesofNigel，astoryoftheveryperiodwhenourKingJamesversionwasproduced，HildebroddeclaresthatifhehadhiswayCaptainPeppercullshouldhangashighasHamaneverdid。InKenilworth，whenLeicestergivesVarneyhissignet-
ring，hesays，significantly:"Whatthoudost，doquickly。"Ofcourse，Isaac，theJewinIvanhoe，exclaimsfrequentlyinOldTestamentterms。
Hewishesthewheelsofthechariotsofhisenemiesmaybetakenoff，likethoseofthehostofPharoah，thattheymaydriveheavily。HeexpectsthePalmer'slancetobeaspowerfulastherodofMoses，andsoon。
ScottwaswritingoftheperiodwhenmenstayedthemselveswithScripture，andhismenareallsureofGodandSatanandangelsandjudgmentandalleternalthings。Hisson-in-
lawvouchesfortheoldstorythatwhenSirWalterwasonhisdeath-bedheaskedLockharttoreadhimsomethingfromtheBook，andwhenLockhartasked，"Whatbook?"Scottreplied:
"Whydoyouask?Thereisbutonebook，theBible。"
AllthisisscantjusticetotheGeorgiangroup；
butitmaygiveahintofwhattheBiblemeantevenatthatperiod，theperiodwhenitsgriponmenwasmostlaxinallthelaterEnglishhistory。
ItisintheVictorianage1840-1900thatthefieldismostbewildering。Itistrue，asFrederickHarrisonsays，that"thisVictorianagehasnoShakespeareorMilton，noBaconorHume，noFieldingorScott——nosuprememasterinpoetry，philosophy，orromancewhoseworkisincorporatedwiththethoughtoftheworld，whoisdestinedtoformanepoch，toendureforcenturies。"[1]Thegeniusoftheperiodismorescientificthanliterary，yetwewouldbehelplessifwehadnotalreadyeliminatedfromourdiscussioneverythingbuttheworksandwritersofpureliterature。Theoutputofbookshasbeensotremendousthatitwouldbeimpossibletoanalyzetheinfluenceswhichhavemadethem。
ThereareinthisVictorianperiodatleasttwelvegreatEnglishwriterswhomustbeknown，whoseworkaffectsthecurrentofEnglishliterature。
Manyothernameswouldneedmentioninanyfullhistoryoranyminutestudy；butitisnotharshjudgmenttosaythatthemaincurrentofliteraturewouldbethesamewithoutthem。
Afewoftheselessernameswillcometomind，andinthecallingofthemonerealizestheinfluence，evenonthem，oftheEnglishBible。
AnthonyTrollopewrotesixtyvolumes，thetitlesofmostofwhicharenowpopularlyunknown。
HetoldGeorgeEliotthatitwasnotbrainsthatexplainedhiswritingsomuch，butratherwaxwhichheputintheseatofhischair，whichheldhimdowntohisdailystintofwork。Hecouldboast，anditwasworththeboasting，thathehadneverwrittenalinewhichapurewomancouldnotreadwithoutablush。HiswholeFramleyParsonageseriesaboundsinBiblereferencesandallusions。SoCharlotteBronteisinEnglishliterature，andJaneEyredoesprovewhatshewasmeanttoprove，thatacommonplacepersoncanbemadetheheroineofanovel；
butonallCharlotteBronte'sworkisthemarkoftherectoryinwhichshegrewup。SoThomasGreyhaslefthis"Elegy"andhis"HymntoAdversity，"andsomeotherwritingwhichmostofushaveforgottenorneverknew。ThenthereareMariaEdgeworthandJaneAusten。WemayevenrememberthatMacaulaythoughtJaneAustencouldbecomparedwithShakespeare，as，ofcourse，shecanbe，sinceanyonecanbe；butneitherofthesegoodwomenhasstronglyaffectedtheliterarycurrent。Manyotherscouldbenamed，butEnglishliteraturewouldbesubstantiallythesamewithoutthem；
and，thoughallmightshowBiblicalinfluence，theywouldnotillustratewhatwearetryingtodiscover。Sowecome，withoutapologytotheunnamed，tothetwelve，withoutwhomEnglishliteraturewouldbedifferent。Thisisthelistintheorderofthealphabet:MatthewArnold，RobertBrowningMrs。Browningbeinggroupedasonewithhim，Carlyle，Dickens，GeorgeEliot，CharlesKingsley，Macaulay，Ruskin，RobertLouisStevenson，Swinburne，Tennyson，andThackeray。
[1]EarlyVictorianLiterature，p。9
Itisdangeroustomakesuchalist；butitcanbedefended。Literaryhistorywouldnotbethesamewithoutanyoneofthem，unlesspossiblySwinburne，whoseclaimtoplaceisratherbyhisworkascriticthanascreator。
Norisanynameomittedwhoseintroductionwouldchangeliteraryhistory。
BenjaminJowettthoughtArnoldtooflippantonreligiousthingstobearealprophet。Atanyrate，thismuchistrue，thatthebooksinwhichArnolddealtwiththefundamentalsofreligionarehisprofoundestwork。Inhispoetrythebestpieceofthewholeishis"RugbyChapel。"
HisReligionandDogmahehimselfcallsan"essaytowardabetterapprehensionoftheBible。"
AllthroughheurgesitastheoneBookwhichneedsrecovery。"AllthatthechurchescansayabouttheimportanceoftheBibleanditsreligionweconcurin。"ThebookthroughoutisanefforttojustifyhisownfaithintermsoftheBible。Theeffortissometimesamusing，becauseittakessuchalogicalandverbalagilitytogofromonetotheother；butheisalwaysatit。HeisafraidinhissoulthatEnglandwillswingawayfromtheBible。HefearsitmaycomeaboutthroughneglectoftheBibleononehand，orthroughwrongteachingaboutitontheother。Notinhisideasalone，butmarkedlyinhisstyle，ArnoldhasfelttheBiblicalinfluence。
HecameatatimewhentherewasstrongtemptationtofallintocumbrousGermanwaysofspeech。AgainstthatArnoldsetasimplephraseology，andheheldouttheEnglishBibleconstantlyasamodelbywhichthemenofEnglandoughttolearntowrite。HenevergainedthesimplicityoftheoldHebrewsentence，andsometimeshissecondaryclausesfollowoneanothersorapidlythatareaderisconfused；
buthiswordsasawholearesimpleanddirect。
ThereisnoneedofmuchwordonthespelloftheBibleoverRobertBrowningandMrs。
Browning。Itisnotoftenthattwosinging-
birdsmate；butthesetwosanginakeypitchedforthembytheScriptureasmuchasbyanyoneinfluence。ManyoftheirgreatestpoemshavedefiniteBiblicalthemes。InthemandinothersBiblicalallusionsareutterlybewilderingtomenwhodonotknowtheBiblewell。Forfiveyears1841-1846Browning'spoemsappearedunderthetitleBellsandPomegranates。Scoresofpeoplewonderedthen，andwonderstill，what"PippaPasses"and"ABlotintheScutcheon"
andtheothershavetodowithsuchatitle。
Theyhaveneverthought，asBrowningdid，oftheborderofthebeautifulrobeofthehighpriestdescribedintheBookofExodus。ThefinestpoemofitslengthintheEnglishlanguageisBrowning's"Saul"；butitisonlythestoryofDaviddrivingtheevilspiritfromSaul，sweepingontotheverycomingofChrist。"TheDeathintheDesert"isthedeathofJohn，thebeloveddisciple。"Karshish，theArabPhysician"tellsinhisownwayoftheraisingofLazarus。Thetextof"CalibanuponSetebos"is，"ThouthoughtestthatIwasaltogethersuchanoneasthyself。"
Thetextof"Cleon"is，"Ascertainofyourownpoetshavesaid。"In"FifineattheFair"theCureexpoundstheexperienceofJacobandhisstone-pillowwithbetterinsightthansomebetter-
knownexpositorsshow。In"PippaPasses，"
whenBluphocks，theEnglishvagabond，isintroduced，Browningseemstojustifyhisappearancebythesinglefoot-note:"HemakethHissuntoriseontheevilandonthegood，andsendethrainonthejustandontheunjust"；andMr。
BluphocksshowshimselfamusinglyfamiliarwithBiblefactsandphrases。Mr。Sludge，"theMedium，"thinkstheBiblesaysthestarsare"setforsignswhenweshouldshearsheep，sowcorn，prunetrees，"anddescribestheskepticinthemagiccircleofspiritual"investigators"asthe"guestwithoutthewedding-garb，thedoubtingThomas。"SomeonehastakenthetroubletocountfivehundredBiblicalphrasesorallusionsin"TheRingandtheBook。"Mrs。Browning's"'DramaofExile"isthewoman'ssideofthefallofAdamandEve。Ruskinthoughther"AuroraLeigh"thegreatestpoemthecenturyhadproducedatthattime。ItaboundsinScripturalallusions。Browningcamebyallthisnaturally。RaisedintheChurchbyafatherwho"delightedtosurroundhimwithbooks，notablyoldandrareBibles，"andamotherCarlylecalled"atruetypeofaScottishgentlewoman，"
withalltheskillintheBiblethatthatimplies，heneverlosthissenseofthemajestyofthemovementofScriptureideasandphrases。
WeneedspendlittletimeindiscussingtheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonThomasCarlyle。
HedoesnotoftenusetheScriptureforhismaintheme；butheisconstantlymakingBiblicalallusions。OnarailwayjourneywhenIwasrereadingCarlyle'sHistoricalSketches，I
foundadirectBiblicalreferenceforeveryfivepages，andalmostnumberlessallusionsbeside。
The"EverlastingYea，"ofwhichhesaysmuch，hegets，asyouatoncerecognize，fromtheScripture。His"HeroesandHeroWorship"
isbasedonanideaofheroismwhichhelearnedfromtheBible。HeisanOldTestamentprophetofpresenttimes；and，whilehedegeneratedintoascoldbeforehewasthroughwithit，heyetspokewiththethunderousvoiceofatrueprophet，andmuchofthetimeinthelanguageoftheprophets。SomeonesaidoncethattheonlyrealreverenceCarlyleeverhadwasforthepersonofChrist。Certainlythereisnonoteofsneer，butoftheprofoundestregardfortheteaching，theideasandthehistoryoftheScripture。
ThenameofCharlesDickenssuggestsadifferentatmosphere。HeisaNewTestamentprophet。WhereCarlylehascaughtthespiritofruggedpowerintheOldTestament，DickenshascaughtthesenseofkindlyloveintheNewTestament。Dickens'sloveforthechild，thefactthathecoulddrawchildrenashecoulddrawnooneelseandmakethemlovable，suggeststhevaluetohimofthosefrequentreferenceswhichhemakestoChristsettingachildinthemidstofthedisciples。Itisnotable，too，howoftenDickensusesthegreatScripturephrasesforhismostdramaticclimaxes。TherearenotinliteraturemanyfinerusesofScripturethanthesceneinBleakHouse，wherethepoorwaifJoeisdying，andwhilehisfriendteacheshimtheLord'sPrayerheseesthelightcoming。AChristmasseasonwithoutDickens'sChristmasCarolwouldbeincomplete；butthereagainistheScriptureideapressedforward。
GeorgeEliotsurely，ifanywriter，wasunderthespelloftheScripture。Oneofhercriticscallsherthehistorianofconscience。Allofherheroesandheroinesknowthelashofthelaw。
SheknowsverylittleabouttheNewTestament，onewouldjudge；buttheonethingaboutwhichshehasnodoubtiscertainlythereignofmorallaw。Ifamanwillnotyieldtoitspower，itwillbreakhim。Thereisnosuchthingasbreakingthemorallaw；thereisnothingbutbeingbrokenbyit。HercharactersarealwaysquotingtheBible。Theypreachagreatdeal。ShetellsthatsheherselfwroteDinahMorris'ssermononthegreenwithtearsinhereyes。Shemeantitall。Whileherownreligiousfaithwasclouded，herfinestcharactersarenevercloudedintheirreligiousfaith，andshegroundstheirfaithquiteinvariablyontheirearlytrainingintheScripture。
ItisaninterestingfactthatGeorgeEliothasnoprincipalstorywhichhasnotinitachurch，andapriestorapreacher，withallthattheyinvolve。
CharlesKingsleyisgroupedhardlyfairlyinthislist，becausehewashimselfapreacher，andnaturallyallhisworkwouldfeelthepoweroftheBook，whichhechieflystudied。ProfessorMassonsaysthat"thereisnotoneofhisnovelswhichhasnotthepowerofChristianityforitstheme。"NovoicewasraisedmoreeffectivelyforthebeginningofthenewsocialerainEnglandthanhis。AltonLockeandYeastareepoch-
makingbooksinthelifeofthecommonpeopleofEngland。EvenHypatia，whichissupposedtohavebeenwrittentorepresententirelypagansurroundings，isfullofBiblephrasesandideas。
LordMacaulayhadbeenheldupformanyadayasoneofthemastersofstyle。Suchgreatwritingisnottobetracedtoanyoneinfluence。
ItcouldnothavebeeneasytowriteasMacaulaywrote。ThackeraymayhaveexaggeratedinsayingthatMacaulayreadtwentybookstowriteasentence，andtraveledahundredmilestomakeadescription；butallhiswritingshowsthepoweroftakinginfinitepains。Itbecomesthemoreimportant，therefore，thatMacaulayheldtheBibleinsuchestimateashedid。"IncallinguponLadyHollandoneday，LordMacaulaywasledtobringtheattentionofhisfairhostesstothefactthattheuseoftheword'talent'tomeangiftsorpowersofthemind，aswhenwespeakofmenoftalent，camefromtheuseofthewordinChrist'sparableofthetalents。InalettertohissisterHannahhedescribestheincident，andsaysthatLadyHollandwasevidentlyignorantoftheparable。'I
didnottellher，'headds，'thoughImighthavedoneso，thatapersonwhoprofessestobeacriticinthedelicaciesoftheEnglishlanguageoughttohavetheBibleathisfingers'ends。'"
ThatMacaulaypractisedhisownpreachingyouwouldquicklyfindbyreferringtohisessays。
TakethreesentencesfromtheEssayonMilton:
"Theprinciplesoflibertywerethescoffofeverygrowingcourtier，andtheAnathemaMaranathaofeveryfawningdean。IneveryhighplaceworshipwaspaidtoCharlesandJames，BelialandMoloch，andEnglandpropitiatedtheseobsceneandcruelidolswiththebloodofherbestandbrightestchildren。Crimesucceededtocrime，anddisgracetodisgrace，untiltherace，accursedofGodandman，wasasecondtimedrivenforthtowanderonthefaceoftheearthandtobeaby-wordandashakingoftheheadtothenations。"InthreesentencesherearesixallusionstoScripture。Inthatsameessay，intheparagraphsonthePuritans，theallusionsareamultitude。Theyarenotevenquoted。
Theyaretakenforgranted。InhisEssayonMachiavelli，thoughthesubjectdoesnotsuggestit，hefallsintoScripturalphrasesoverandover。Listentothis，"AtimewasathandwhenallthesevenvialsoftheApocalypseweretobepouredforthandshakenoutoverthosepleasantcountries"；orthis，"AllthecursespronouncedofoldagainstTyreseemedtohavefallenonVenice。Hermerchantsalreadystoodafarofflamentingfortheirgreatcity"；orthis，"Intheenergeticlanguageoftheprophet，Machiavelliwasmadforthesightofhiseyeswhichhesaw。"
AndifMacaulayisbafflingintheabundanceofmaterial，surelyJohnRuskinisworse。Carlyle'sEnglishstyleranintoexcessofroughness；
Macaulay'sranintoexcessofbalanceanddelicacy。
JohnRuskin'scontinuedtobethesmoothest，easieststyleinourEnglishliterature。HealsowasaHebraicspirit，butofthegentlertype。
Mr。ChapmancallshimtheElishatoCarlyle's，Elijah，acapitalcomparison。[1]Ruskinisoneofthefewwriterswhohavetolduswhatformedtheirstyle。InthefirstchapterofPraeteritahepaystributetohismother。HehimselfchosetoreadWalterScottandPope'sHomer；buthesays:"MymotherforcedmebysteadydailytoiltolearnlongchaptersoftheBiblebyheart，aswellastoreadit，everysyllablealoud，hardnamesandall，fromGenesistotheApocalypseaboutonceayear；andtothatdiscipline——
patient，accurate，andresolute——IowenotonlyaknowledgeoftheBookwhichIfindoccasionallyserviceable，butmuchofmygeneralpoweroftakingpainsandthebestpartofmytasteinliterature。"HethinksreadingScottmighthaveledtoothernovelsofapoorersort。
ReadingPopemighthaveledtoJohnson'sorGibbon'sEnglish；but"itwasimpossibletowriteentirelysuperficialandformalEnglish"
whileheknew"byheartthethirty-
secondofDeuteronomy，thefifteenthofI
Corinthians，theOnehundredandnineteenthPsalm，ortheSermonontheMount。"InthesecondchapterofPraeteritaheisevenmoreexplicit。"IhavenextwithdeepergratitudetochroniclewhatIowedtomymotherfortheresolutepersistentlessonswhichsoexercisedmeintheScripture，astomakeeverywordofthemfamiliarinmyearashabitualmusic，yetinthatfamiliarityreverencedastranscendingallthoughtandorderingallconduct。"Hetellshowhismotherdrilledhim。AssoonashecouldreadshebeganacourseofBibleworkwithhim。
TheyreadalternateversesfromtheGenesistotheRevelation，namesandall。DailyhehadtocommitversesoftheScripture。HehatedtheOnehundredandnineteenthPsalmmost；buthelivedtocherishitmost。InhisoldBiblehefoundthelistoftwenty-sixchapterstaughtbyhismother。
[1]EnglishLiteratureinAccountwithReligion。
NotonlywasRuskinwelltrainedintheBible，buthewasagreatteacherofit。InhisprefacetotheCrownofWildOlivesheanswershiscriticsbysayinghehasusedtheBookforsomefortyyears。"Myendeavorhasbeenuniformlytomakemenreaditmoredeeplythantheydo；
trustit，notintheirownfavoriteversesonly，butinthesumofitall；treatitnotasafetishoratalismanwhichtheyaretobesavedbydailyrepetitionof，butasaCaptain'sorder，tobeheldandobeyedattheirperil。"IntheintroductiontotheSevenLampsofArchitectureheurgesthatweareinnodangeroftoomuchuseoftheBible。
"Weuseitmostreverentlywhenmosthabitually。"
ManyofRuskin'smoststrikingtitlescomestraightoutoftheScripture。CrownofWildOlives，SevenLamps，UntothisLast——allthesearesuggestedbytheBible。
ItisalmostsuperfluoustospeakofRobertLouisStevenson。JohnKelmanhaswrittenawholebookonthereligionofStevenson，anditisavailableforallreaders。HewasraisedbyCummy，hisnurse，whoselibrarywaschieflytheBible，theshortercatechism，andtheLifeofRobertMurrayMcCheyne。Hesaidthatthefifty-eighthchapterofIsaiahwashisspecialchapter，becauseitsorepudiatedcantanddemandedaself-denyingbeneficence。HelovedBunyan'sPilgrim'sProgress；but"theBiblemoststoodhiminhand。"Everygreatstoryoressayshowsitsinfluence。Hewasnotcriticalwithit；hedidnotunderstandit；hedidnotinterpretitfairly；buthefeltit。HisDr。JekyllandMr。HydeisonlyhiswayofputtingintomodernspeechPaul'solddistinctionbetweenthetwomenwhoabideineachofus。TheytoldhimheoughtnottoworkinSamoa，andherepliedthathecouldnototherwisebetruetothegreatBookbywhichheandallmenwhomeanttodogreatworkmustlive。OvertheshoulderofourbelovedRobertLouisStevensonyoucanseethegreatcharactersofScripturepressinghimforwardtohisbestwork。
NotsomuchcanbesaidofSwinburne。Therewasastronginfusionofacidinhisnature，whichnoinfluenceentirelydestroyed。Heisapttoliveasaliterarycriticandessayist，thoughhesupposedhimselfchieflyapoet。HisownthoughtofpoetrycanbeseeninhisprotestinbehalfofMeredith。Whenhehadbeenaccusedofwritingonasubjectonwhichhehadnoconvictiontoexpress"ModernLove"，Swinburnedeniedthatpoetsoughttopreachanyway。
"Therearepulpitsenoughforallpreachersofprose，andthebusinessofversewritingishardlytoexpressconvictions。"YetitisimpossibletoforgetMiltonandhispurposeto"assertEternalProvidence，andjustifythewaysofGodtomen。"Naturally，mostpoetsdopreachandpreachwell。Wordsworthdeclaredbewantedtobeconsideredateacherornothing。
Mrs。Browningthoughtthatpoetsweretheonlytruth-tellerslefttoGod。ButSwinburnecouldnothelpalittlepreachingatanyrate。His"MasqueonQueenBersaba"isanoldmiracleplayofDavidandNathan。His"ChristmasAntiphones"arehardlyChristian，thoughtheyareabundantintheirallusionstoScripture。
ThefirstisaprayerforpeaceandrestinthecomingofthenewdayofthebirthofChrist。
ThesecondisaprotestthatneitherGodnormanhasbefriendedmanasheshould，andthethirdisanassurancethatmenwilldoformanevenifGodwillnot。Now，thatisnotChristian，buttheBiblephrasesareallthroughit。
SowhenhewriteshispoembemoaningPoland，heneedsmustheadit"Rizpah。"AtthesametimeitmustbesaidthatSwinburneshowslessoftheinfluenceoftheBibleinhisstyleandinhisspiritthananyotherofourgreatEnglishwriters。
WecomebackagainintotheatmosphereofstrongBibleinfluencewhenwenameAlfredTennyson。WhenByrondied，andthewordcametohisfather'srectoryatSomersby，youngAlfredTennysonfeltthatthesunhadfallenfromtheheavens。Hewentoutaloneinthefieldsandcarvedinthesandstone，asthoughitwereamonument:"Byronisdead。"Thatwasintheearlystageofhispoeticallife。AtfirstCarlylecouldnotabideTennyson。Hecountedhimonlyanechoofthepast，withnosenseforthefuture；butwhenhereadTennyson's"TheRevenge，"heexclaimed，"Eh，he'sgotthegripo'it"；andwhenRichardMoncktonMilnesexcusedhimselffornotgettingTennysonapensionbysayinghisconstituentshadnouseforpoetryanyway，Carlylesaid，"RichardMilnes，inthedayofjudgmentwhenyouareaskedwhyyoudidnotgetthatpension，youmaylaytheblameonyourconstituents，butitwillbeyouwhowillbedamned!"Dr。HenryvanDykestudiedTennysontobesteffectatjustthispoint。Inhischapteron"TheBibleinTennyson"aremanysuchsayingsasthese:"ItissafetosaythatthereisnootherbookwhichhashadsogreataninfluenceupontheliteratureoftheworldastheBible。Weheartheechoesofitsspeecheverywhere，andthemusicofitsfamiliarphraseshauntsallthefieldandgroveofourfineliterature。AtleastonecauseofhispopularityisthatthereissomuchBibleinTennyson。WecannothelpseeingthatthepoetowesalargedebttotheChristianScriptures，notonlyfortheirformativeinfluenceonhismindandforthepurelyliterarymaterialinthewayofillustrationsandallusionswhichtheyhavegivenhim，butalsoforthecreationofamoralatmosphere，amediumofthoughtandfeelinginwhichhecanspeakfreelyandwithanassuranceofsympathytoaverywidecircleofreaders。"
IneednotstoptoindicatethegreatpoemsinwhichTennysonhassooftenusedScripture。
Themindrunsquicklytothelittlemaidin"Guinevere，"whosesong，"Late，Late，soLate，"
isonlyaparaphraseoftheparableofthefoolishvirgins。"InMemoriam"cameintotheskepticaleraofEngland，withitsnewchallengetofaith，andstoppedthedriftofyoungmentowardmaterialism。Recallthefineusehemakes，intheheartofit，oftheresurrectionofLazarus，andotherBiblicalscenes。Dr。vanDyke's"fourhundreddirectreferencestotheBible"donotexhaustthepoems。NoonecangetTennyson'sstylewithouttheEnglishBible，andnoonecanreadTennysonintelligentlywithoutafairlyaccurateknowledgeoftheBible。
InthisVictoriangroupthelastnameisThackeray's。HeisanotherwhosemothertrainedhimintheEnglishBible。ThetitleofVanityFairisfromPilgrim'sProgress，butthemottoisfromtheScripture；andhewrotehismotherregardingthebook:"WhatIwantistomakeasetofpeoplelivingwithoutGodintheworldonlythatisacantphrase。"Itiscertainhismotherdidnotcountitacantphrase，forhelearneditfromtheScripture。ThesubtitleofhisAdventuresofPhilipsaysheistoshowwhorobbedhim，whohelpedhim，andwhopassedhimby。ThackeraygotthoseexpressionsfromtheBible。SomewhereveryearlyinanyofhisworksherevealstheinfluenceofhischildhoodandmanhoodknowledgeoftheEnglishBible。
AllthisabouttheVictoriangroupismeanttobeveryfamiliartoanywhoarefreshfromthereadingofliterature。Theyaregreatnames，andtheyhavedifferencesaswideasthepoles；buttheyhavethisincommon，thattheyhavedrunklightlyordeeplyfromthesamefountain；theyhavedrawnfromitideas，allusions，literarystyle。Eachofthemhasweakenedashehasgottenfartherfromit，andloyaltytoithasstrengthenedanyoneofthem。
TurnnowtotheAmericangroupofwriters。
IfweexcepttheologicalwriterswithJonathanEdwards，HoraceBushnell，HenryWardBeecher，andtheirlike，andpoliticalwriterswithJefferson，Webster，andtheirlike，thelistneednotbealongone。Onlyonewriterinournarrowersenseofliteraturemustbenamedintheearlierday——BenjaminFranklin。IntheperiodbeforetheCivilWarmustbenamedEdgarAllanPoedied1849andWashingtonIrvingdied1859。
TheCivilWargroupisthelargeone，anditsnamesarethoseofthelatergroupaswell。Letthembealphabetical，forconvenience:WilliamCullenBryant，poetandcritic；GeorgeWilliamCurtis，essayistandeditor；Emerson，ournoblestnameinthesphereofpureessayliterature；
Hawthorne，thenovelistofconscience，asSocrateswasitsphilosopher；OliverWendellHolmes，whose"twochiefhatredswereorthodoxyinreligionandheterodoxyinmedicine"；
JamesRussellLowell，essayistandpoet，apttolivebyhisessaysratherthanbyhispoetry；
Longfellow，whose"PsalmofLife"and"Hiawatha"
havelivedthroughasmuchparodyandridiculeasanytwobitsofliteratureextant，andhavelivedbecausetheyarepredestinedtolive；Thoreau，whoseWaldenmayshow，asLowellsaid，howmuchcanbedoneonlittlecapital，butwhichhastherealliterarytangtoit；
andWhittier，whosepoetryissungtheworldaround。
ThatmakesonlytwelvenamesfromFranklintoWhittier。Otherscouldbeincluded；buttheyarenotsogreatasthese。Nooneofthesecouldbetakenoutofourliteraturewithoutaffectingitand，insomedegreeatleast，changingthecurrentofit。ThisisnottoforgetBretHartenorSamuelL。Clemens。Buteachisdependentforhissurvivalonatasteforacertainkindofhumor，notdelicatelikeIrving'sandHolmes's，butstrongandsuddenandabitsharp。Ifweshouldforgetthe"LuckofRoaringCamp，""TruthfulJames，"andthe"HeathenChinee，"wewouldalsoforgetBretHarte。WearenotapttoforgetTomSawyer，norperhapsTheInnocentsAbroad，butweareforgettingmuchelseofMarkTwain。Whitmanisnotnamed。
Hisclaimsarefamiliar，butinspiteofhisadmirersheseemssochargedwithasensuousegotismthatheisnotapttobeaformativeinfluenceinliteraryhistory。Itisstillinteresting，however，torememberhowfrequentlyherevealshisreadingofScripture。
Fortunately，allthesewritersaresonear，andtheirworkissofamiliar，thatdetailsregardingthemarenotneeded。Twoorthreegeneralwordscanbesaid。Inthefirstplace，observethehighmoraltoneofallthesefirst-gradewriters，and，indeed，oftheotherswhomaybespokenofasinsecondrank。Thereisnotameretriciousorhumiliatingbookinthewholecollection。ThereisnotonebookwhichhaslivedinAmericanliteraturewhichhasthetoneofFielding'sTomJones。WhetheritisthatthePuritanstraincontinuesinusornot，itistruethattheAmericanliterarypublichasnottakenhappilytostoriesthatwouldbringablushinpublicreading。ProfessorRichardson，ofDartmouth，givessomecluetothereasonofthat。
Hesaysthat"since1870or1880inAmericatherehasbeenamarkedincreaseofstrengthoftheisticandspiritualbeliefandargumentamongscientificmen，studentsofphilosophy，religious'radicals，'andothers。"HeaddsthatwhilemuchcontemporaryAmericanliteratureandthoughtisoutsidetheacceptedorthodoxlines，yet"itisnothostiletoChristianity；totheprinciplesofitsFounderitisforthemostpartsincerelyattached。Ontheotherhand，materialismhasscarcelyanyholduponit。"
Thenfollowsaverynotablesentencewhichissustainedbythefacts:"NotanAmericanbookofthefirstclasshaseverbeenwrittenbyanatheistordenierofimmortality。"ThatsentenceneednotoffendanadmirerofWaltWhitman，forhe"acceptsboththeismandthedoctrineofthefuturelife。"AmericanthoughthasremainedloyaltothegreatTrinity，God，Freedom，andImmortality。Soitcomesaboutthatwhilethereareanumberofthesewriterswhocouldbeputunderthebanofthestronglyorthodoxinreligion，everyoneofthemshowstheeffectofearlytraininginreligionandintheScripture。[1]
[1]ThisisfullyworkedoutinProfessorRichardson'sAmericanLiterature，withampleillustrationandargument。
AnotherthingtobesaidisthatAmericahasauniquehistoryamonggreatnationsinthatithasneverbeenaffectedbyanygreatreligiousinfluenceexceptthatwhichhasissuedfromtheScriptures。NoreligionhaseverbeeninfluentialinAmericaexceptChristianity。FormanyyearstherehavebeensporadicandspasmodiceffortstoextendtheinfluenceofBuddhismorotherIndiancults。Theyhaveneverbeensuccessful，becausetheAmericanspiritispractical，andnotmeditative。Wearenotanintrospectivepeople。Wedonotlookwithinourselvesforourreligion。WhatevermoralandreligiousinfluenceourliteratureshowsgetsbackfirstorlasttoourScriptures。ThepointofviewofnaturethatistakenbyourwriterslikeBryantandThoreauisthatoftheNineteenthPsalm。
Moreover，wehavebeenstronglyundertheEnglishinfluence。Irvinginsistedthatweoughttobe，thatwewereayoungnation，thatweoughtfranklytofollowtheleadershipofmoreexperiencedwriters。Longfellowthoughtwehadgonetoofarthatway，andthatourpoets，atleast，oughttobemoreindependent，oughttowriteinthespiritofAmericaandnotoftraditionalpoetry。Whetherweoughttohaveyieldedtoitornot，itistruethatEnglishinfluencehastoldverystronglyuponus，andthewriterswhohaveinfluencedourwritersmosthavebeenthosewhomwehavenamedasbeingthemselvesundertheBibleinfluence。
Weneednotgointodetailaboutthesewriters，thoughtheyaremostattractive。BryantdidforuswhatWordsworthdidforEngland。Hemadenatureseemvocal。"Thanatopsis"isnotaChristianpoeminthenarrowsenseoftheword，andyetitcouldhardlyhavebeenwrittenexceptunderChristianinfluence。Hisowngenial，beautifulcharacterwasitselfatributetoChristiancivilization，andhislife，ascriticandessayist，hasleftanimpressionwhichweshallnotsoonlose。ProfessorRichardsonthinksthatthethreeproblematicalcharactersinAmericanliteratureareEmerson，Hawthorne，andPoe。TheshrewdestestimateofPoethathaseverbeengivenusisinLowell'sFableforCritics:
"TherecomesPoewithhisravenlikeBarnabyRudge，Three-fifthsofhimgenius，andtwo-fifthssheerfudge，Whohaswrittensomethingsquitethebestoftheirkind，Buttheheartsomehowseemsallsqueezedoutbythemind。"
Thatsaysitexactly。Poeknewmanyhorriblesituations，buthedidnotknowthewayout；
andofallourAmericanwriterslayingclaimtoplaceinthefirstclassPoeshowsleastinfluenceoftheBible，andapparentlyneedsitmost。
IrvingwasthefirstAmericanwriterwhostoodhighenoughtobeseenacrossthewater。
Thackeray'smostbeautifulessayisonIrvingandMacaulay，whodiedjustonemonthapart。InithedescribesIrvingasthebestintermediarybetweenthenations，tellingusAmericansthattheEnglisharestillhuman，andassuringtheEnglishthatAmericansarealreadyhuman。
IrvingwastrainedearlyandthoroughlyintheBible。Allhislifehewasanold-fashionedEpiscopalianwithnoconcernfornewreligiousideasandwithnoroughedgesanywhere。
CharlesDudleyWarner，speakingofIrving'smoralquality，says:"Icannotbringmyselftoexcludeitfromaliteraryestimate，eveninthefaceofthecurrentgospelofartforart'ssake。"[1]
LikeScott，he"recognizedtheabidingvalueinliteratureofintegrity，sincerity，purity，charity，faith。Thesearebeneficences，andIrving'sliterature，walkarounditandmeasureitbywhatevercriticalinstrumentsyouwill，isabeneficentliterature。"
[1]AmericanMenofLettersSeries，WashingtonIrving，p。302。
ThenthereisEmerson，asonofthemanseandonceaministerhimself。Hewas，therefore，perfectlyfamiliarwiththeEnglishBible。Hedidnotacceptitinallitsreligiousteaching。
Indeed，wehaveneverhadamoremarkedindividualistinourAmericanpubliclifethanEmerson。Ateverypointhewassimplyhimself。
Thereisverylittlequotationinhiswriting，verylittlevisibleinfluenceofanyoneelse。
HewasnotafollowerofCarlyle，thoughhewashisfriend。Ifthereisanyprecedentfortheconstructionofhissentences，andevenofhisessays，itistobefoundintheHebrewprophets。
Assomeoneputsit，"heutteredsayings。"Inmanyofhisessaysthereisnoparticularreasonwhytheparagraphsshouldrunone，two，three，andnotthree，two，one，ortwo，one，three，orinanyotherorder。ButMr。Emersonwasjusthimself。Itisyettruethat"hisvaluefortheworldatlargeliesinthefactthatafterallheisincurablyreligious。"Itistruethathecouldnotseeanyimportanceinforms，orinordinarydeclarationsoffaith。"Hewouldfightnobattleforprelacy，norfortheWestminsterconfession，norfortheTrinity，butasagainstatheism，pessimism，andmaterialism，hewasanallyofChristianity。"TheinfluenceoftheBibleonEmersonismoremarkedinhisspiritthaninanythingelse。Onceinawhile，asinthatfamiliaraddressatConcord1873，yourunacrossScripturephrases:"Shallnottheywhoreceivethelargeststreamsspreadabroadthehealingwaters?"ThatfigureappearsinliteratureonlyintheBible，andthereareotherslikeitinhiswritings。
AsforLongfellow，heisshotthroughwithScripture。NomanwhodidnotknowScriptureinmorethanapassingwaycouldhavewrittensuchasentenceasthis:"Therearetimeswhenthegrasshopperisaburden，andthirstywiththeheatoflaborthespiritlongsforthewatersofShiloah，thatgosoftly。"TherearetwostrikinglybeautifulexpressionsfromScripture。Takeanotherfamiliarsayinginthesameessaywhenhesaystheprospectforpoetryisbrightening，sincebutashorttimeagonotapoet"movedthewingoropenedthemouthorpeeped。"Hedidnotrunacrossthatingeneralcurrentwriting。
HegotthatdirectlyfromtheBible。InhispoemsisanamazingamountofreferencetotheBible。Onewouldexpectmuchinthe"CourtshipofMilesStandish，"forthatisastoryofthePuritans，andtheyspoke，naturally，intermsoftheBible；yet，ofcourse，theycouldnotdoitinLongfellow'spoem，ifLongfellowdidnotknowthelanguageoftheBibleverywell。
Onemightnotexpecttofinditsomuchin"Evangeline，"butitistherefrombeginningtoend。In"Acadia，"thecockcrowed"Withtheself-sameVoicethatinagesofoldhadstartledthepenitentPeter。"
And，"WildwiththewindsofSeptember，Wrestledthetreesoftheforest，asJacobofoldwiththeangel。"