Conjectural Criticism was evidently practised largely: and almost with as little felicity as when Bentley held the pen.

Lastly, there can be no question that there was a certain school of Critics who considered themselves competent to improve the style of the Holy Ghost throughout.

[And before the members of the Church had gained a familiar acquaintance with the words of the New Testament, blunders continually crept into the text of more or less heinous importance.] All this, which was chiefly done during the second and third centuries, introduces an element of difficulty in the handling of ancient evidence which can never be safely neglected: and will make a thoughtful man suspicious of every various reading which comes in his way, especially if it is attended with but slender attestation.

[It has been already shewn in the companion volume] that the names of the Codexes chiefly vitiated in this sort prove to be B[Symbol: Aleph]CDL; of the Versions,--the two Coptic, the Curetonian, and certain specimens of the Old Latin; of the Fathers,--Origen, Clement of Alexandria, and to some extent Eusebius.
Add to all that goes before the peculiar subject-matter of the New Testament Scriptures, and it will become abundantly plain why they should have been liable to a series of assaults which make it reasonable that they should now at last be approached by ourselves as no other ancient writings are, or can be.

The nature of God,--His Being and Attributes:--the history of Man's Redemption:--the soul's eternal destiny:--the mysteries of the unseen world:--concerning these and every other similar high doctrinal subject, the sacred writings alone speak with a voice of absolute authority.