View Attributions and the Full Transcript Abraham Lincoln steadfastly believed that the Constitution should be interpreted in a mannerthat is faithful to its purposes. Today, the legacy of Lincoln stands as an inspiring exampleagainst the pernicious sophistries of those who seek to undermine what John Wycliffedescribed in the Preface to his translation of the Latin Vulgate into Middle English. He wrote:“The Bible is for government of, by and for the people.” Lincoln later expressed the hope,shared by all people of authentic good will, that such an evolved form of government “shall notperish from the earth.”