on."

This entire subject is of so much importance that I must needs yet awhile
crave the reader's patience and attention.

CHAPTER VII.

MANUSCRIPT TESTIMONY SHEWN TO BE OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOUR OF THESE
VERSES.--PART II.

The other chief peculiarity of Codices B and {~HEBREW LETTER ALEF~} (viz. the omission
of the words {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~} {~GREEK CAPITAL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER PHI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA WITH YPOGEGRAMMENI~} from Ephes. i. 1) considered.--Antiquity
unfavourable to the omission of those words (p. 93).--The Moderns
infelicitous in their attempts to account for their omission (p.
100).--Marcion probably the author of this corruption of the Text
of Scripture (p. 106).--Other peculiarities of Codex {~HEBREW LETTER ALEF~} disposed of
(p. 109).

The subject which exclusively occupied our attention throughout the
foregoing chapter admits of apt and powerful illustration. Its vast
importance will be a sufficient apology for the particular disquisition
which follows, and might have been spared, but for the plain challenge of
the famous Critic to be named immediately.

"There are two remarkable readings," (says Tischendorf, addressing English
readers on this subject in 1868,) "which are very instructive towards
determining the age of the manuscripts [{~HEBREW LETTER ALEF~} and B], and _their authority_."
He proceeds to adduce,--

1. The absence from both, of the last Twelve Verses of S. Mark's
Gospel,--concerning which, the reader probably thinks that by this time he
has heard enough. Next,--

2. He appeals to their omission of the words {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~} {~GREEK CAPITAL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER PHI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH OXIA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER SIGMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER OMEGA WITH YPOGEGRAMMENI~} from the first verse
of S. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians,--_another peculiarity, in which
Codd._ {~HEBREW LETTER ALEF~} _and B stand quite alone among MSS._

I. Here is an extraordinary note of sympathy between two copies of the New
Testament indeed. Altogether unique is it: and that it powerfully
corroborates the general opinion of their high antiquity, no one will
deny. But how about "their _authority_"? Does t