No doubt the fact does tell, so far as it goes, in that direction, but it is easy to attach too much weight to it.
The phenomenon of repeated variation may be even said to be a common one in some writers.

Dr.Westcott [Endnote 172:2] has adduced examples from Chrysostom, and they would be as easy to find in Epiphanius or Clement of Alexandria, where we can have no doubt that the canonical Gospels are being quoted.

A slight and natural turn of expression such as this easily fixes itself in the memory.

The author also insists that the passage in the Gospel quoted in the Clementines ended with the word [Green: nomou]; but I think it may be left to any impartial person to say whether the addition in the Epistle of Peter does not naturally point to a termination such as is found in the first canonical Gospel.

Our critic seems unable to free himself from the standpoint (which he represents ably enough) of the modern Englishman, or else is little familiar with the fantastic trains and connections of reasoning which are characteristic of the Clementines.
Turning from these objections and comparing the Clementine quotation first with the text of St.Matthew and then with that of St.Luke, we cannot but be struck with its very close resemblance to the former and with the wide divergence of the latter.