Thus, if it be observed in the case of a Codex (_a_) that entire sentences or significant clauses are habitually omitted:--( _b_) that again and again in the course of the same page the phraseology of the Evangelist has upon clear evidence been seriously tampered with: and (_c_) that interpolations here and there occur which will not admit of loyal interpretation:--we cannot but learn to regard with habitual distrust the Codex in which all these notes are found combined.

It is as when a witness, whom we suspected of nothing worse than a bad memory or a random tongue or a lively imagination, has been at last convicted of deliberate suppression of parts of his evidence, misrepresentation of facts,--in fact, deliberate falsehood.
7.

But now suppose the case of a MS.

in which words or clauses are clearly omitted with design; where expressions are withheld which are confessedly harsh or critically difficult,--whole sentences or parts of them which have a known controversial bearing;--Suppose further that the same MS.

abounds in worthless paraphrase, and contains apocryphal additions throughout:--What are we to think of our guide then?
There can be but one opinion on the subject.