(Note, that these two Western fabrications effectually dispose of one another.) It should be added that Athanasius[560] lends his countenance to all the three readings.
But now, let me ask,--Will any one be disposed, after a careful survey of the premisses, to accept the verdict of Tischendorf, Tregelles and the rest, who are for bringing the Church back to the maimed text of which I began by giving the history and explaining the origin?
Let it be noted that the one question is,--shall [Greek: ho Kyrios] be retained in the second clause, or not?
But there it stood within thirty years of the death of St.John: and there it stands, at the end of eighteen centuries in every extant copy (including AKLP) except nine.

It has been excellently witnessed to all down the ages,--viz.

By Origen, Hippolytus, Athanasius, Basil, Chrysostom, Cyril, Theodotus, Eutherius, Theodore Mops., Damascene and others.

On what principle would you now reject it ?...

With critics who assume that a reading found in [Symbol: Aleph]BCDEFG must needs be genuine,--it is vain to argue.