Rev A Brandram No.27
London 19th May 1849
My Dear Friend,
Just returned from Foreign Lands to my Dear Native Country, and for the fourth time, in perfect safety, my first duty is to give thanks allowed unto God for his gracious preservations of me in my late journeyings, as in my former movements, and also to call on all those who have aided me with their prayers to do the same.
I returned with joy, and with sorrow: – with joy, to see you all again, and many other dear friends, and to partake of the spiritual blessings so abundantly enjoyed among us, and of which the country I have left is so destitute: with sorrow, that so little has been done to enlighten that dark land through means of your heavenly Book, and sorrowing too under a bereavement, in which you have all kindly condoled with me, and for which anew I return you my very sincere thanks.
In reviewing our two years' operations in Spain, whilst we cannot but grieve at our failures to do what we wished, yet I do not know that we have cause to regret the efforts that have been made. In the first place, it was clearly a duty to use every means to get the Scriptures into that country, and a way was traced for this purpose by our friends in Gibraltar which it would have been wrong to neglect. In the next place, the little that has been done is perhaps fully worth all the means and labour bestowed. It is with God the same to work through lesser means as well as with what is greater, and let us pray that he would greatly fructify the seeds sown in that country on the present occasion, and that he would answer all the prayers that have been offered up in it and for it.
By the efforts made the real state of Spain has been ascertained as to the difficulties in the way of operating on it in the concerns in which we are engaged, and friends and coadjutors have been found who will aid us in making openings, and befriend us effectively whenever the door shall be fully opened, which I trust in God it will be before long.
Various circumstances induce those who know the state of matters in Spain to hope that the day is not far distant when the Scriptures may be freely printed in that country. The friends of the Bible there are hastening on that time as they can, by means of their prayers, and by such other measures as are within their reach: and others to, who care not about the Bible, are actively aiding in the same work from general principles connected with a Free Press. Let us not forget to contribute our portion in aid of this desired period and object. Let us continue our remembrances of Spain, and our prayers, and our hopes: also let us ever keep on the alert to see and to seize the first openings that may present themselves for renewed operations on that land. Were the present legal restrictions removed as affecting our work, Spain, I consider, as I have previously written to you, would present a fine field for our work. I doubt not but many would readily receive the Scriptures, and would read them with the deepest attention.
Lately a glimmering of light has appeared in respect to the printing the Scriptures in Spain, even at the present time. It consists in a loop-hole left in a law lately enacted. I have verbally stated what this loop-hole is, and it will of course be subject of consideration with you whether you should forthwith avail yourselves of it, or wait for fuller light and liberty.
One of the things required for Spain, in regard to Bible work is a translation of the Sacred Volume from the original tongues. Your present inquiries from I brought before us the pleasing circumstance that two native Spaniards are now actively engaged in such a work, and their men well fitted for the same. There is little doubt but you will give them all the encouragement you possibly can consistently with the rules of your institution. I have a communication to make to the Society on the need of such a translation, grounded on letters from these gentlemen, one already received, and the other daily expected.
Whilst this new version of the Scriptures from the originals is being executed, and considering that some years must necessarily elapse before it can be finished, it is a matter worthy of being considered, whether it would not be desirable to reprint the Protestant version made from the originals by Cipriano de Valera, with so much revision only as is required to change the antiquated words for others in present use. This subject was laid before the Society in a letter from Madrid, and referred for consideration till my return.
In Evangelical Christendom for the present month there is an article indicating the formation of a little evangelical Christian church in Madrid,[1] where the Holy Scriptures are regularly and formally read, and where prayers are constantly offered, as for other objects of Christian desire, so also especially for the opening of Spain to the free printing circulation and use of the word of God. Each member of that little body is an instrument at your service for circulating the Scriptures, and for recommending their use, as soon as you can supply them with copies; and I may add, that a friend of one of these has made urgent requests for a Protestant version instead of our Romanist one.
In the house of one of the members of this little church, there is a young woman to whom I spoke of the Holy Scriptures and the salvation they contain during my visits to the party with whom she lives. I procured for her New Testament, which she constantly reads, and of whose contents she made many inquiries. About a month before I left Madrid she felt ill, and grew worse. On the day I left that city, after paying a visit, perhaps the last one, to the abode of the departed, I visited the abode of this departing individual. I urged anew on her all I had brought under her attention, and then knelt down and prayed with her and for her. I left her, as I trust, imbued with repentance, and confiding in the Blood of Jesus, and believe she is now in heaven, or near it. If my anticipation is just, and the hoped happy result has taken place in any degree through your Books and Spanish mission, your labour has not been in vain. I could also mention other cases of hope. May God turn them into reality.
I will not extend my observations. In conclusion I beg you all, and earnestly, ever to remember poor Spain, until it be no longer poor, but rich in the abundance in it of the Holy Scriptures. I still hope and believe that our eyes and our ears will, and ere long, be so gratified. May God hasten the time.
* In closing this mission at its natural termination of two years according to previous arrangement, I thank you, My Dear Friend, and thank all the Committee, for the kindly manner in which you have all viewed my poor labours, and for your sympathy with me in my sorrow. May God produce from all our sorrows, and from all our labours, joy eternal for ourselves and for many others. Should I come into your remembrance when you are in your retirement with God, pray that he would direct me how I may in the wisest, best, and most effectual manner, occupy in his service, the years or the days that may yet remain to me in this earthly state. Believe me, My Dear Friend, that I feel affectionately towards you, and to all the Committee.
James Thomson
* Read here what is contained in the next half sheet.
* According to the directions of the Committee on leaving Spain, I visited Portugal, passing from Madrid to Cadiz to Lisbon. In this city I communicated freely and fully with Mr. Roughton and Mr. Mello regarding the edition of the Portuguese Bible being printed there. I found it was all through the press, except about a couple of sheets. On mentioning to them the numerous errata that had been found in this edition great grief was expressed, and particularly to learn the necessity of suppressing the whole on account of these errata. Want of knowledge and experience in the correction of proofs seems to have been the chief cause of these errors. Means were taken to have the whole cancelled, and forthwith carried into effect.
Inquiries were next made as to the admission of books generally printed in the Portuguese language out of the country, and as to the Bible in particular. Affirmative answers were received to both these inquiries. The duties charge on the same on entering I ascertained to be about 4½d per lb. In consideration of this high duty it would be well to print the Bible in this language on the thinnest paper consistent with sufficient strength.
In Lisbon I saw Dr. Gomez, the Agent or Missionary of the Foreign Aid Society. He has regular meetings every Sunday of considerable numbers of Portuguese all Romanists. He stated to me that there were as many as 4,000 of this class in Lisbon, all disposed to leave Romanism and embrace Protestantism, and among this number are several Priests. I had a very interesting meeting with a number of these people at his house, including two Priests, and from full communications with them I could perceive the truth of the statement made to me by Dr. Gomez. All these appreciate the Scriptures, and would both read them themselves, and use measures for their general circulation. But they are without copies, and it seems very desirable that they should be furnished as early as possible with a good supply of Testaments, of which I understand there is a tolerable supply in the depository, and also it is desirable that the whole Bible should be early printed. Portugal, I conceive, is fully open to the entrance and general circulation of the Scriptures.
[1] See “Spain”, Evangelical Christendom, vol. III (April): 141-143. (BM)