Only too obvious is the remark that the very subject-matter of the chief transaction recorded in these twelve verses, would be sufficient in and by itself to preclude the suspicion that these twelve verses are a spurious addition to the genuine Gospel.

And then we note how entirely in St.John's manner is the little explanatory clause in ver.

6,--'This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him[583].' We are struck besides by the prominence given in verses 6 and 8 to the act of writing,--allusions to which, are met with in every work of the last Evangelist[584].

It does not of course escape us how utterly beyond the reach of a Western interpolator would have been the insertion of the article so faithfully retained to this hour before [Greek: lithon] in ver.7.On completing our survey, as to the assertions that the _pericope de adultera_ 'has no right to a place in the text of the four Gospels,'-- is 'clearly a Western interpolation, though not Western of the earliest type[585],' (whatever _that_ may mean), and so forth,--we can but suspect that the authors very imperfectly realize the difficulty of the problem with which they have to deal.

Dr.Hort finally assures us that 'no accompanying marks would prevent' this portion of Scripture 'from fatally interrupting the course of St.John's Gospel if retained in the text': and when they relegate it accordingly to a blank page at the end of the Gospels within 'double brackets,' in order 'to shew its inferior authority';--we can but read and wonder at the want of perception, not to speak of the coolness, which they display.