259 I referred to Bunsen, Bleek, Boehringer,
Cureton, Ewald, Lipsius, Milman, Ritschl, and Weiss, and Dr. Lightfoot
proceeds to analyse my statements as follows: and I at once put his
explanation and my text in parallel columns, italicising parts of both
to call more immediate attention to the point:

THE TRUTH. | DR. LIGHTFOOT'S STATEMENT.
|
_Many of the ablest critics have | "These references, it will be
pronounced them to be the only | observed, are given to illustrate
authentic Epistles of Ignatius, | _more immediately_, though perhaps
whilst others_ who do not admit | not solely, the statement that
that even these are genuine letters | writers '_who do not admit that
emanating from Ignatius, _still | even these_ (the Curetonian
prefer them_ to the version of | Epistles) _are genuine letters
seven Greek Epistles, _and consider | emanating from Ignatius, still
them the most ancient form of the | prefer them_ to the version of
letters_ which we possess. | seven Greek Epistles, and consider
| them the most ancient form of the
| letters which we possess.'" [62:2]

It must be evident to anyone who reads the context [62:3] that in this
sentence I am stating opinions expressed in favour of the Curetonian
Epistles, and that the note, which is naturally put at the end of that
sentence, must be intended to represent this favourable opinion, whether
of those who absolutely maintain the authenticity or merely the relative
priority. Dr. Lightfoot quietly suppresses, in his comments, the main
statement of the text which the note illustrates, and then "throws
light" upon the point by the following remarks:--

THE TRUTH. | DR. LIGHTFOOT'S STATEMENT.
|
_Cureton, Bunsen, Boehringer, Ewald, | "The reader, therefore, will
Milman, Ritschl_, and _Weiss_ | hardly be prepared to hear that
maintain both the priority and | not one of these nine writers
genuineness of the Syriac Epistles. | condemns the Ignatian letters
_Bleek_ will not commit himself to a | as spurious. Bleek alone leaves
distinct recognition of the letters | leaves the matter in some
in any form. Of the Vossian | uncertainty while inclining to
Epistles, he says: "Aber auch die | Bunsen's view; the