This dissection of the mass of corruption, or as perhaps it may be better termed, this classification made by Dean Burgon of the numerous causes which are found to have been at work from time to time, appears to me to be most interesting to the inquirer into the hidden history of the Text of the Gospels, because by revealing the influences which have been at work it sheds light upon the entire controversy, and often enables the student to see clearly how and why certain passages around which dispute has gathered are really corrupt. Indeed, the vast and mysterious ogre called corruption assumes shape and form under the acute penetration and the deft handling of the Dean, whose great knowledge of the subject and orderly treatment of puzzling details is still more commended by his interesting style of writing. As far as has been possible, I have let him in the sequel, except for such clerical corrections as were required from time to time and have been much fewer than his facile pen would have made, speak entirely for himself. FOOTNOTES: [1] It must be always borne in mind, that it is not enough for the purpose of the other side to shew that the Traditional Text was in a minority as regards attestation. They must prove that it was nowhere in the earliest ages, if they are to establish their position that it was made in the third and fourth centuries. Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels, p. 95. [2] 'A hydra in her direful shape, With fifty darkling throats agape.'-- Altered from Conington's version, Aen. vi. 576. [3] 'How oft soe'er the truth she tell, What's false and wrong she loves too well.'-- Altered from Conington, Aen. iv. 188. [4] Strabo, xvi, enumerates amongst its inhabitants Egyptians, Arabians, and Phoenicians. [5] Studia Biblica, i. 50-55. Dr. Neubauer, On the Dialects spoken in Palestine in the time of Christ. [6] Isaac Williams, On the Study of the Gospels, 341-352. [7] My devoted Syrian friend, Miss Helanie Baroody, told me during her stay in England that a village is pointed out as having been traversed by our Lord on His way from Caesarea Philippi to Mount Hermon. [8] It is hardly improbable that these two eminent Christians were some of those whom St Paul found at Antioch when St. Barnabas brought him there, and thus came to know intimately as fellow-workers ([Greek: episemoi en tois apostolois, oi kai pro emou gegonasin en Christo]). Most of the names in Rom. xvi are either Greek or Hebrew. [9] 'Jam pridem Syrus in Tiberim defluxit Orontes Et _linguam_ et mores ... vexit.' --Juv. Sat. iii. 62-3. CHAPTER I. GENERAL CORRUPTION. Sec. 1.