To the Forum:
Burgon's theory of the seven notes of truth (emphasis mine):
CHAPTER III.THE SEVEN NOTES OF TRUTH.§ 1.
Antiquity :—the more ancient,
probably the better testimony—
but not the sole arbiter.
§ 2.
Number :—much fallacy in 'witnesses are to be weighed not counted'—used to champion the very few against the very many—number necessarily a powerful,
but not the sole note of truth—Heb. iv. a.
§ 3.
Variety :—a great help to Number—various countries—various ages—no collusion—St. Matt. x. 8.
§ 4.
Weight, or
Respectability :—witnesses must be (1) respectable—(2) MSS. must not be transcripts of one another—(3) Patristic evidence must not be copied—(4) MSS. from one archetype—between one and two copies—(5) any collusion impairs weight—(6) a Version outweighs any single MS.—(7) also a Father—
weight of single MSS. to be determined by peculiar characteristics.
§ 5.
Continuity :—value of Unbroken Tradition—weakening effects of smaller chasms—
fatal consequence of the admitted chasm of fifteen centuries.§ 6.
Context :—(a) Context of meaning—i Cor. xiii. 5—(4) Context of readings—St. Matt. xvii. 2i—xi. 3-3 and St. Luke vii. 19—consistency in immediate context . pp. 40-67
§ 7.
Internal Evidence.The Traditional Text of the Holy Gospels Vindicated and Established By John William Burgon
[
books.google.com]
*Note: I added
§ 7.
Internal Evidence as it is missing from the TOC on page xvi , but it is presented on pg. 65. [
books.google.com]
Of intresting note to me is Burgon's last paragraph on pg. 67
Burgon quote:
I desire to point out concerning the foregoing seven Notes of Truth in Textual Evidence that the student can never afford entirely to lose sight of any of them. The reason is because although no doubt it is conceivable that any one of the seven might possibly in itself suffice to establish almost any reading which can be named, practically this is never the case. And why? Because we never meet with any one of these Tests in the fullest possible measure. No Test ever attains to perfection, or indeed can attain. An approximation to the Test is all that can be expected, or even desired. And sometimes we are obliged to put up with a very slight approximation indeed. Their strength resides in their co-operation.Truthtesty