Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1844 Excerpt:...in such cases the more ancient copies afford great aid. (12.) In cases of great difficulty the most ancient MSS. are especially to be relied on; in cases in which probabilities alone can be arrived at, such probabilities should be stated; this may apply-to insertion, omission, or the balance of authority between two conflicting readings. I may here again remark that I believe it to be the privilege and duty of a Christian editor to pray that he may be enabled to collect the evidence which is needful, and to form a right judgment on evidence so collected. It is true that this will not make him infallible; but just as in every matter of daily life it is our place to pray for Divine guidance that we may act as disciples of Christ, and just as every Christian must acknowledge that this has been often vouchsafed to him, so surely we may seek in this matter to be guided aright in judgment on evidence, both as to the principles and their application in particular instances. Whatever approximation to truth may be made in the statement of results or probabilities may be thus thankfully ascribed to Him who can bestow the needful diligence, application, and vigilance. Thus it will be seen that the text of the Revelation as here given is substantially that of the most ancient MSS.; the authority of which has been followed, except in cases in which there was a palpable reason to the contrary. 3. On these principles the text was formed, and to this there is subjoined in the inner margin those readings of the " Received Text," from which those here given differ; and also readings which are supported by probable authorities, though inferior in my judgment to those adopted in the text, these are marked: cases in which the omission of certain words is very probable...