REMARKS UPON THE BIBLE,

CONNECTED WITH

THE SERIES OF MEDALS.

1830. My artists in die engraving had, during the two years of 1827 and 1828, been employed in sinking or engraving thirty-two large size medal dies, each three inches in diameter, containing a condensed history of most of the sciences, as already noticed; during which period I observed that they had perfected the difficult art of sinking words, sentences, and letters and figures—an art never before properly attained, and attended with success solely by the positive necessity of the thirty-two dies being covered with lengthened tables and calculations, essential to the explanation of the work; for it is well known that medals rarely contain more letters and numerical figures than what are put in the legend and the exergue.

The study of these sciences, or philosophical truths, led my mind to deductions both moral and religious, and awakened in me those devotional feelings which combine pious sentiments with enlightened views. Science affords the means to interpret and unfold the works of Nature, to illustrate the wisdom and glory of the Creator, and to inspire us with the most exalted sentiments. The diffusion of general science attaches the mind to thoughts divine, and to the principles which lead to

salvation, which is ultimately drawn from the Bible 1830. itself, because the most important intention of the Bible is to make men "wise unto salvation.”

Miles Coverdale, in the year 1535, first printed a complete translation of the Holy Scriptures in the English language, and dedicated his work to Henry the Eighth. This was a happy present to Great Britain, for it strengthened people in their faith on the blessed promises of the Gospel: it inspired them with zeal in the fulfilment of their relative duties, with integrity in their dealings, and with a spirit of kindness to all mankind.

It appeared to me, in 1827, that I might, through God's assistance, become a humble instrument to effect a unique and novel medallic work to further and promote the glory of God, by impressing the Word of God upon gold, silver, and other indestructible metals, with emblematical and symbolical designs, and with a short condensed explanation on the reverses of the medals, and thereby be the first author of a MEDALLIC Bible.

In this feeling my heart rejoiced: my soul was willing, but my flesh was weak, and I prayed unto the Lord to give me grace and strength of mind to accomplish so arduous an undertaking, in the following morning prayer.

"Almighty God, the giver of all good things, without whose help all labour is ineffectual, and without whose grace wisdom is folly, grant, I beseech Thee, that, in this undertaking, Thy Holy Spirit may not be withheld from me, but that I may promote Thy glory, and the salvation of myself and others. Grant this, O Lord, for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our blessed Saviour and Redeemer. Amen."

1830.

I

I first applied myself in reading over the sacred volume of the Bible, the authority of which is received by inspiration from God, and universally admitted. found, after taking down copious notes, that I should be unable, by the most condensed arrangements, to produce a tolerably continuous, or even contracted, development under a less number than sixty of the largest size medals, each being three inches in diameter; the obverses of which to contain the historical devices, and the reverses filled with lettered explanation; and it was also essential for my purpose that the historical pieces should be obtained from the pictures of the Ancient Masters. I did not despair in accomplishing this apparent difficulty in obtaining copies for my artists to work from, because I held at this period the appointment of eight consulships from foreign governments, which gave me facility to procure copies of such pictures from the Continent which I might not conveniently find in England.

I experienced much difficulty to satisfy myself, to determine and bring my mind for the adoption of an allegorical subject to constitute the obverse side of the first medal of the series. Cosmogony, or knowledge of the original formation of the earth, and the materials of which it was composed, appeared to me to be beyond the reach of human sagacity. I searched into the opinions of Pythagoras, Plato, Aristotle, Newton, and Hutton, and I own it an assumption in me to state that I could not concur with the ideas of these learned men, that the earth was originally a chaos, and I do affirm and hereby declare that I cannot comprehend their logic on this important point.