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1274 NOTES TO VOLUME II.
his own eyes, indeed, he did not, but in the eyes of all others he
did. Asked, impelled, and entreated by them, he could not help
expending the talent entrusted to him for the good of the Church.
"Augustine again said, that ’he risked and ventured to translate.’
With Schmidt there was no risk and no venture, but with him there
was confidence. He had the ability to do the work. Unto whom
soever much is given, of him shall be much required ; and to whom
men have committed much, of him they will ask the more,’ Luke xii, 48.
This work could be demanded of him, because the Lord had
fitted him out with the necessary ability. While engaged in this
work, the fear of the Lord was constantly before his eyes."
In another place the Theological Faculty of Strasburg says, "If
any one but considers who the translator was, he will be almost
compelled to esteem his translation. His profound knowledge ofthe
languages, which was indispensable for his work, has been adverted
to above. How accurately did he examine, and with what a pre
cise judgment did he decide the meaning and also the force of each
word, each expression, and of the whole context! The public dis
putations which he held, the tracts he wrote, and the commentaries
which he edited are a proof of this. The version of Scripture which
he there exhibited is terse and plain, and the real meaning of the
text is there exposed to our gaze. From the specimens which he
published, we are justified in concluding as to the character
of the entire codex of the Bible. The talents and gifts with
which Jesus Christ fits out his ministers for the use of the
Church are many and various ; our translator, however, excelled in
the gift of translation and interpretation. Still, in acknowledging
the gifts which the Lord bestowed on his servant, we acknowledge
and celebrate the Lord who gave them. To this natural gift was
added in his case an indefatigable perseverance. His whole life was
devoted to meditation. Almost entirely sequestered from the delights
and the intercourse of the world, he gave himself up to sacred
meditation. Add to this, benevolent reader, the age of the man.
This translation is the work of a man far advanced in age ; for
he was just approaching his eightieth year. Let us therefore
venerate the judgment of a venerable man, which had been exercised
during many years, and which had become refined and clarified by
such exercise. An old wine is presented to us here, and not a
racy new wine. But had the failing of old age a share in this work?
Not at all. This translation has been meditated upon for forty
years. So long was he perfecting and polishing it; and at last he
published it, and yielded up his spirit over this his last offspring:
for he died as it appeared. Let us acknowledge the Divine Provi
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