185)].
Worst of all, it will sometimes of necessity happen that such an omission took place at an exceedingly remote period; (for there have been careless scribes in every age:) and in consequence the error is pretty sure to have propagated itself widely.

It is observed to exist (suppose) in several of the known copies; and if,--as very often is the case,--it is discoverable in two or more of the 'old uncials,' all hope of its easy extirpation is at an end.

Instead of being loyally recognized as a blunder,--which it clearly is,--it is forthwith charged upon the Apostle or Evangelist as the case may be.

In other words, it is taken for granted that the clause in dispute can have had no place in the sacred autograph.

It is henceforth treated as an unauthorized accretion to the text.