But, after all, we are asked, of what character are these blemishes. Do they, do any of them, affect points of Christian doctrine? Now let it be observed, my brethren, that this question is in itself a fallacious one. For what is Christian doctrine? Is it a hard dry tabular statement of dogmas, to be proved by a certain number of texts? or is it the conviction of the great truths expressed by those dogmas carried into the hearts and lives of men? If it be the former, then might we, according to the objector’s argument, dispense with nine-tenths of Scripture altogether. If the latter, then we can spare nothing which may make it clearer or more forcible, better apprehended or more warmly felt. I am persuaded that no one can estimate the benefit which may be done to the souls of men by casting light on any one saying of our Blessed Lord,—by making evident a sentence before obscure in the writings of prophets or apostles. And that this may be now done, done in very important instances, done with easy consent and effectually, I am also persuaded. The great principles of biblical translation have in our time engaged many able men both here and on the Continent; and to most of the passages in which our version has gone astray, our chosen revisers would come with their minds firmly made up, and ready at once to apply the remedy. With regard to some other blemishes which I ventured to mention, its application would be easier still. Few would fail to note, or be desirous to retain, an obsolete word; and in the case of expressions of the other kind, the only desire would be, while removing the offence, to leave unimpaired God’s testimony against sin, or whatever might be the solemn sense of the passage. As regards the last class of blemishes mentioned, those few which may be due to doctrinal or ecclesiastical bias, the task might seem likely to be a hard one. But I should be unwilling hastily to think this. In many such instances, the question, as it would be raised among our modern scholars, would never enter the region of opinion at all. It would be simply one of faithful and consistent rendering, to which the occurrence of the word elsewhere would furnish an easy and safe guide. I trust it may be said of the Church in our land, that the longer she lasts, the more she becomes aware of the futility of forcing into the sacred text any foregone conclusions: the more she sees the importance of keeping pure from all later alloy the water which men are to draw from the wells of salvation. We have thus advanced in our very hasty and incomplete sketch of this subject, to the last branch of enquiry which we proposed: by whom, and how, this review of the Church’s stewardship may be carried out.