Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1885, by FUNK & WAGNALLS,

In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington, D. C.

PREFACE.

THE design of this book is expressed in the title. It is intended to furnish a convenient manual to those readers of the Revised Old Testament who wish to inform themselves of its origin and aim, and of the principles upon which it has been made.

It was no part of the author's purpose to defend or advocate the work of the revisers. Even if such a thing were required, he is not the person to undertake it. But it is not required. A revision of the English Bible for popular use must stand or fall by its own merits, and no efforts, whether of friends or foes, can prevent this result. If the book is worthy —that is, if it accomplish the object for which it was undertaken, no amount of opposition can overthrow it. However learned or skilful or acute its assailants may be, they will only beat the air. The Christian public will slowly but surely find out the truth, and act accordingly. They will accept and adopt that form of the Bible which best answers the purposes for which the Bible was given. If, on the other hand, the work is a failure, if it is no advance upon its predecessor, if its gains in one direction are outweighed by shortcomings in another, it will pass into