Miles Coverdale was an English reformer remembered for his contributions to the translation of the English Bible. In 1535, he published the Coverdale Bible, the first, complete English Bible of the Reformation era. He also produced the Great Bible in 1539.
Coverdale excelled in his translation of the Psalms. He crafted his verses with an eye for them to be sung in the churches, and his psalms have been recited and sung in English-speaking churches ever since!
In the preface of his Bible, Coverdale writes to the readers to exhort them to read and live in obedience to the Scriptures. In one section, Coverdale shifts from his long, complex sentences, and breaks into a poetic, also psalm-like section, in praise of God’s word.
I believe we are seeing the heart of a man who loved God’s word enough to risk his life for it, expressing that love in a psalm of praise.
…the scripture of God teacheth us every thing sufficiently,
both what we ought to do, and what we ought to leave undone;
whom we are bound to obey, and whom we should not obey;
therefore (I say) it causeth all prosperity, and setteth every thing in frame;
and where it is taught and known,
it lighteneth all darknesses,
comforteth all sorry hearts,
leaveth no poor man unhelped,
suffereth nothing amiss unamended,
letteth no prince be disobeyed,
permitteth no heresy to be preached;
but reformeth all things,
amendeth that is amiss, and
setteth every thing in order.
And why? because it is given by the inspiration of God,
therefore is it ever bringing profit and fruit,
by teaching,
by improving,
by amending and reforming all them that will receive it,
to make them perfect and meet unto all good works.
Finally, for more quotes from Miles Coverdale, check out this blog post with 20 quotes about Christ and the Scriptures. Here is another blog post with 22 quotes about worship. And read a book review here of a new biography of Miles Coverdale.
Coverdale’s work is still on many lips today, but these words of encouragement from his Preface have been forgotten. Yet even if his words are forgotten, his praise is real and vibrant, reverberating in the heart of every person who has been transformed by the word of Christ and the power of the Spirit!
Let us join Coverdale in praising the Lord for the wonderful gift of His Word! May we love it, teach it, sing it, and translate it, all for the glory of the triune God!