n examination of what has been
urged in proof that the former alternative is the correct one. Our
opponents maintain that these verses did not form part of the original
autograph of the Evangelist. But it is a known rule in the Law of Evidence
that _the burthen of proof lies on the party who asserts the affirmative
of the issue_.(23) We have therefore to ascertain in the present instance
what the supposed proof is exactly worth; remembering always that in this
subject-matter a _high degree of probability_ is the only kind of proof
which is attainable. When, for example, it is contended that the famous
words in S. John's first Epistle (1 S. John v. 7, 8,) are not to be
regarded as genuine, the fact that they are away from almost every known
Codex is accepted as a proof that they were also away from the autograph
of the Evangelist. On far less weighty evidence, in fact, we are at all
times prepared to yield the hearty assent of our understanding in this
department of sacred science.

And yet, it will be found that evidence of overwhelming weight, if not of
an entirely different kind, is required in the present instance: as I
proceed to explain.

1. When it is contended that our LORD's reply to the young ruler (S. Matt.
xix. 17) _was not_ {~GREEK CAPITAL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH OXIA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER MU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER LAMDA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER THETA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}; {~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER DELTA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH VARIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER THETA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON WITH VARIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~}, {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH PSILI~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER MU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ETA WITH VARIA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH PERISPOMENI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~}, {~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON WITH DASIA~}
{~GREEK CAPITAL LETTER THETA~}{~GREE