1913 380 We need intense grace not only to be ecclesiastically right and sound in doctrine, which is possible with worldliness; but we need also to remember that word — "whoso is minded to be the friend of the world, is constituted the enemy of God," and we so forget the undying love of Him who died for us, and for us lives again. If all goes, there is one object worth living for, and one ambition worth having — to be pleasing to Him: this abides. Is not what St. Peter says a rest — "That God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever"? And then the only one who ought to be glorified, so links up our blessing with His glory. W.N.T.
"A New Saying of Christ"
1913 288 Such is the heading of an article which appeared in the "Times" a few days ago giving an account of an Egyptian MS. of the Gospels in Greek which, discovered some six years ago, has now found its resting place in Washington.
From the facsimile given of a few verses at the close of Mark's Gospel, does it not seem somewhat singular to speak of it as dating "from the fourth or the fifth century," or even as one "which probably belongs to the fifth or sixth century."
No doubt there is a tendency to over-estimate the age and value of any new find; and when there is no settled belief in the inspired word of God as the complete revelation of His mind and will, we need not be surprised at the craving of the unbelieving mind, like the Athenians of old, for some "new thing."
From the appearance of the MS. itself there would seem no just reason whatever to rank it (as attempted) with the three principal Codices of Europe the Alexandrian, Vatican and Sinaitic. Nor does the (mistaken) rendering of the interpolated verse (between 14 and 15 of Mark 16) afford any sound confidence as to its text.