Essay on the Right Estimation of Manuscript Evidence in the
Text of the New Testament. By Thomas Rawson Birks, M.A. (Macmillan.)—Professor Birks applies a destructive criticism with more or less force to the efforts of Biblical scholars to form a text of the New Testament. Among other thingt, he argues against the predominant authority which some critics are disposed to assign to the most ancient codices. But the point which he does not touch, but which we conceive to be an essential preliminary to the dis- cussion, is the position of the "Textus Reeeptns." That has got the right of possession. But who, that knows its history, is content to acknowledge that right F And yet the practical effect of Professor Birks' argument will be to establish it. Let us by all means give
due weight to every kind of evidence, and refuse a blind subservience to the " Codex Sinaitiens," because it happens to be of the fourth century, but let us start with the axiom that the " Textus Receptus " stands for nothing. We may arrive ultimately at the conclusion that it is actually the best text, though that seems extravagantly improbable, but meanwhile let its entire want of authority be granted.
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