ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH VARIA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER MU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH VARIA~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER MU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER LAMDA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER THETA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ETA~},) or the Doxology in S. Matth. vi. 13,--is
spurious, all that is pretended is that certain words are an unauthorized
addition to the inspired text; and that by simply omitting them we are so
far restoring the Gospel to its original integrity.--The same is to be said
concerning _every other charge of interpolation which can be named_. If
the celebrated "pericopa de adultera," for instance, be indeed not
genuine, we have but to leave out those twelve verses of S. John's Gospel,
and to read chap. vii. 52 in close sequence with chap. viii. 12; and we
are assured that we are put in possession of the text as it came from the
hands of its inspired Author. Nor, (it must be admitted), is any
difficulty whatever occasioned thereby; for there is no reason assignable
why the two last-named verses should _not_ cohere; (there is no internal
improbability, I mean, in the supposition;) neither does there exist any
_a priori_ reason why a considerable portion of narrative should be looked
for in that particular part of the Gospel.

3. But the case is altogether different, as all must see, when it is
proposed to get rid of the twelve verses which for 1700 years and upwards
have formed the conclusion of S. Mark's Gospel; no alternative conclusion
being proposed to our acceptance. For let it be only observed what this
proposal practically amounts to and means.

(_a._) And first, it does _not_ mean that S. Mark himself, with design,
brought his Gospel to a close at the words {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER PHI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER BETA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER UPSILON WITH PERISPOMENI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER TAU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMICRON~} {~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER RHO~}. _That_
supposition woul