by the number of "various readings," amounting to
many thousands, which textual criticism has brought to light.
The greater the number of manuscripts collated, the greater will
be the number of these readings; while, at the same time, we are
continually making a nearer approach to the purity of the
primitive text. As a general rule these variations relate to
trifling particulars; as, for example, whether the conjunction
_and_ shall be inserted or omitted; whether _but_ or _for_ is
the true reading; whether this or that order of words giving the
same sense shall have the preference, etc. A few of the
variations are of a more important character. Thus, in John
1:18, some manuscripts and fathers instead of _only begotten
Son_, read _only begotten God_. But even here we may decide
either way without changing or obscuring the great truths of the
gospel narratives; for these are not dependent on particular
words or phrases, but pervade and vivify the New Testament, as
the vital blood does the body. The same may be said of certain
passages which, on purely critical grounds--that is, the
authority of ancient manuscripts--some have thought doubtful;
as, for example, John 5:4, and the narrative recorded in the
beginning of the eighth chapter of the same gospel. The
insertion or omission of the passages concerning which any
reasonable doubts can be entertained on critical grounds, will
not affect in the least the great truths of the gospel
narratives.

4. But it may be asked, Was the text from which the Old Latin version
was made, and with which, as we have seen, the oldest manuscripts have a
close agreement, substantially the same as that which proceeded from the
inspired authors? Here we must discard all groundless suppositions, and
adhere strictly to the known facts in the premises.

The first fact to be noticed is the public reading of the gospels in the
Christian churches, a custom which prevailed from the earliest times.
Justin Martyr, writing before the middle of the second century, says of
the memoirs written by the apostles or their followers and called
gospels (which have been shown to be our canonical gospels, chap. 2:7)
that either these or the writings of the Jewish prophets were read in
the Christian churches on the first day of every week. This is a fact of
the highest importance; for it shows that the witnesses and gua