Better a thousand times in my judgement to leave things as they are, than to risk having the stamp of authority set upon such an unfortunate production as that which appeared on the 17th May, 1881, and which claims at this instant to represent the combined learning of the Church, the chief Sects, and the Socinian[11] body.
Now if the meaning of those who desire to see the commonly received text of the New Testament made absolutely faultless, were something of this kind:--That they are impatient for the collation of the copies which have become known to us within the last two centuries, and which amount already in all to upwards of three thousand: that they are bent on procuring that the ancient Versions shall be re-edited;--and would hail with delight the announcement that a band of scholars had combined to index every place of Scripture quoted by any of the Fathers:--if this were meant, we should all be entirely at one; especially if we could further gather from the programme that a fixed intention was cherished of abiding by the result of such an appeal to ancient evidence.

But unfortunately something entirely different is in contemplation.
Now I am bent on calling attention to certain features of the problem which have very generally escaped attention.

It does not seem to be understood that the Scriptures of the New Testament stand on an entirely different footing from every other ancient writing which can be named.

A few plain remarks ought to bring this fact, for a fact it is, home to every thoughtful person.

And the result will be that men will approach the subject with more caution,--with doubts and misgivings,--with a fixed determination to be on their guard against any form of plausible influence.