the suffrages of men of learning and inquiry, in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries (and who showed themselves ready to take any advantage in their power), the unquestioned authenticity of these books; and that they and we, were and are in possession of the

same accounts.

Q. Did not Porphyry support himself by some objection of this kind ?

A. Yes; and this makes the argument still stronger. He attacks the prophecy of Daniel on the ground of spuriousness, as written after the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, but no such suspicion is found in him with regard to the New Testament.

SECTION 10.

Q. State the tenth proposition?

A. Formal catalogues of authentic Scriptures were published, in all which our present sacred histories were included.

Q. Why does this species of evidence come later than the rest?

A. Because it is not natural that a catalogue of Christian books should be put forth, till writings, claiming titles which did not belong to them, should appear to render this necessary; but when it does, it is extremely satisfactory.

Q. Mention some of these catalogues?

A. Origen, 230, enumerates books of Scripture, including the Gospels and Acts, but none besides our

own books. Athanasius delivered a formal catalogue. with our Scriptures and no others; Cyril published a catalogue with all our books, except Revelation, and 20 years after, the council of Laodicea delivered an authoritative catalogue of canonical Scriptures the same as Cyril's.

Q. Were they not more frequent after this. period?

A. Yes; within 30 years after, from Epiphanius, Gregory Nazianzen, Philaster, bishop of Brescia; Amphilochius, bishop of Iconium, which have no book besides ours.

Q. Whose catalogues followed these?

A. Jerome's, the same as ours, with a doubt concerning Hebrews; his contemporary, St. Augustine's, omitting no book which we acknowledge; and Rufens' presbyter of Aquileia, whose list, like theirs, is perfect and unmixed.

SECTION 11.

Q. Recite the eleventh proposition?

A. These propositions cannot be predicated of any of those books which are commonly called Apocryphal Books of the New Testament.

Q. Is this proposition so necessary, since the ob jection taken from Apocryphal writings does not appear much relied on by scholars?

A. As many, hearing that various Gospels existed in ancient times, under the names of the Apostles,

may have considered our present selection arbitrary, rather than well-founded, it may be useful to state the truth of the case.

Q. Is there not proof that no such Gospel is quoted within 300 years after Christ by any known writer, without marks of censure and rejection?

A. There is; and the only book which may seem to form an exception is that which was circulated as the Gospel to the Hebrews, the Gospel of the Nazarenes or Ebionites; by some ascribed to Matthew. This is quoted once only by Clem Alex., and by Origen twice, with marks of discredit.

Q. What is Lardner's well-founded assertion on this subject?

A. That in the remaining works of Irenæus, Clem. Alex. and Tertullian, who all lived within A. D. 200, there are more and larger quotations from the small volume of the New Testament, than from all the works of Cicero, by all writers, for several ages.

Q. What notice is there of Christian writings, which though not forgeries, are denominated Apocryphal ?

A. Two only are noticed in the first three centu ries without express condemnation. The preaching of Peter, quoted repeatedly by Clem. Alex. 196, and the Revelation of Peter, twice cited in an extant work ascribed to the same author.

Q. Does not the proposition, then, after every exception, separate our Scriptures by a wide interval from all other writings on the subject ?

A. I conceive it does, but we may add; 1st, That there is no evidence that any spurious or Apocryphal books existed in the first century of Christ, in which all our histories are proved to have been extant; there are no quotations from such in the Apostolic fathers, whose writings reach from about, A. D. 70 to 108. Q. Proceed with the other reasons?

A. 2nd, These Apocryphal writings were not read in the churches of Christians; 3rd, Were not admitted into their volume; 4th, Do not appear in their catalogues; 5th, Were not noticed by their adversaries; 6th, Were not alleged by different parties, as of authority in their controversies; 7th, Were not the subjects amongst them of commentaries, versions, collections, expositions; Finally, beside the silence of three centuries, or evidence within that time of their rejection, they were, with a consent nearly universal, reprobated by Christian writers of succeeding ages.

Q. Although these books do not appear to have been of any credit and notoriety, how do you account for the appearance of many in the 3rd and 4th cen

turies?

A. At this distance of time it is difficult to do so; perhaps they were in general composed with a design of profit.

Q. Is it not probable that these books were more obscure than we imagine?

A. Yes; since the Gospel of the Egyptians, as notorious as any, except the Gospel to the Hebrews,

was never seen by Clemens Alex. a man of universal reading. A Gospel of St. Peter, another of the most ancient books of this kind, was very scarce, as was the Gospel to the Hebrews.

Q. What is observable of these writings?

A. That they all proceed upon the same fundamental history as our Scriptures. What these books give are not contradictions, but unauthorized additions.

Q. Did not the Sibylline oracles impose upon some learned Christians?

A. Yes; but when we consider the circumstances that facilitated the imposture, we shall cease to wonder at its success. It was at the time, understood that such a writing existed, and upon this hint a forgery was made, favourable to the already established persuasion of Christians.

CHAPTER X.

Q. What is the substance of this Chapter ? A. A recapitulation of the preceding arguments. Q. How do the arguments in favour of the two propositions, which stated, "that the lives of the founder and his followers were passed in danger and sufferings, and that they were thus passed in attestation of our Scriptures," now stand?

A. Thus; 1st, No fact is more certain than that