in that direction, may in a long
series of years become masters of much of this learning, and receive
the benefit of it. A few are masters of it, but how few! But how are
the people to obtain it? When are they to find the time to obtain it?
Where are they to find the means? The clergy are the instructors of the
people on sacred subjects. Biblical learning is a part of their
profession. They study it by day and by night, from youth to old age;
but how are the great mass of clergymen even, amidst their parish cares
and homiletical labors, and with their limited means and restricted
libraries, to obtain much of this knowledge? Some of it they may
obtain, but much of it they will not, and cannot.

The only way in which the vast stores of Biblical learning accumulated
during the last two hundred and forty-seven years, by the labors of
seven and a half generations toiling in succession, each generation
beginning where that which preceded it left off, and each adding
something to the stock which it received, can become available for the
general benefit of the people, is by an improved text and translation
of the Bible, into which, as far as possible, they shall all be
brought, and to the perfection of which they shall contribute. This is
the task which has been undertaken in the present work, and with what
degree of success, the public will judge. The text which has been
followed in this translation, is that of Tischendorf, published at
Leipsic in 1850. It is not only a great improvement on the received
text, but on the critical texts that are in general use in this
country. Tischendorf follows Griesbach, Lachman and others, and
availing himself of their labors, together with his own accurate
collations of manuscripts extending to nearly all the most ancient
manuscripts in the world, and following in the steps of Lachman by
editing solely from ancient authority, has brought the text of the New
Testament to a degree of perfection not anticipated or even hoped for
in past ages. It is a high recommendation of this translation, and will
command for it an additional respect from all competent judges, that it
follows this highly improved text. Readers will be able by this to see
what is the Bible and what is not. It is not claimed for the text of
Tischendorf that it is perfect; no text can be; but it is claimed for
it, that it retains no known interpolation in the sacred books, and
omits nothing known to belong to them. Future lab