But it is high time to point out, that irregularities which fall under these last heads are only tolerable within narrow limits, and always require careful watching; for they may easily become excessive or even betray an animus; and in either case they pass at once into quite a different category. From cases of excusable oscitancy they degenerate, either into instances of inexcusable licentiousness, or else into cases of downright fraud. 6. 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. From habitually trusting, we shall entertain inveterate distrust. We have ascertained his character. We thought he was a faithful witness, but we now find from experience of his transgressions that we have fallen into bad company. His witness may be false no less than true: confidence is at an end. Sec. 4.