book of the Acts of the apostles expressly by that title. There is no need to be more particular, since it may be taken for granted, that this deacon's canon of scripture was the same with his bishop's.

2. Of Shews.' An epistle of an unknown author: he seems to have been a bishop. He calls the scriptures of the New Testament sacred writings, divine scriptures,' and 'heavenly scriptures; and says, That a good Christian ought to employ himself in diligent reading the scriptures.'

3. Of Discipline, and the Benefit of Chastity.' The writer was a bishop: he has cited the words of divers books of the New Testament: he shews great respect for them, and recommends to his people the study of the scriptures.

4. The third piece, sometimes ascribed to Cyprian, is entitled Of the Praise of Martyr'dom.' Though it is not Cyprian's, it is ancient, as are the other two already rehearsed. Here are cited passages of divers books of the New Testament, particularly of the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and several of St. Paul's epistles. It deserves to be considered likewise, whether he has not references to the epistle to the Hebrews, and the book of the Revelation.

5. Against the Novatian Heretic,' another tract of an unknown writer. He abounds with quotations of scripture: he has cited texts of all the gospels, except St. Mark's; and likewise divers of St. Paul's epistles, and the first epistle of St. John, the epistle of St. Jude, and the Revelation. In a short compass he has given many proofs of a high respect for the books of the New Testament, and the doctrine contained therein.

6. Of the Baptism of Heretics.' The work of a bishop, contemporary with Cyprian, and of a different opinion from him: who has largely quoted the gospels, the Acts of the apostles expressly, and divers of the epistles of the New Testament, and passed a sharp censure upon the book called the Preaching of Peter,' or Paul,' or both of them.

6

.

7. A Computation of Easter.' Unquestionably ancient, though the name of the writer is not known; and it is valuable for the testimonies which it contains to some facts, as well as to the books of the New Testament. The writer expressly says, there are four gospels,' or, as another copy has it, evangelists, and twelve apostles; and that the gospel is one, divided into • four parts.' He has a remarkable quotation of the book of the Acts, shewing, that it was esteemed divine scripture, and was well known. He also quotes the Revelation, and says, We are built upon the words of the apostles.'

tus. says,

Ch. XLVI. Cornelius and Lucius, bishops of Rome.

Cornelius wrote several letters, of which there is an account in Eusebius and Jerom: of which likewise we have taken notice in this and the following chapter concerning his rival NovaIt ought to be observed, that in a letter of Cornelius to Fabius bishop of Antioch, he There were in the church of Rome seven deacons, and seven sub-deacons.:' which affords reason to think, that the church of Rome now received the book of the Acts; and that in this case they shewed a respect to the number of deacons first chosen in the church of Jerusalem. See Acts vi.

Ch. XLVII. Novatus presbyter of Rome, rival of Cornelius, and author of a sect called after his name. In a letter of the clergy of Rome, written during the vacancy of the see after the death of Fabian, allowed to have been drawn up by Novatus, are these expressions: • Otherwise the apostle had not so commended us, saying, That your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." Rom. i. 8. In the remaining works of this author there are many quotations of the books of the New Testament, and marks of a peculiar respect for the scriptures; but it is probable, that the epistle to the Hebrews was not received by him as St. Paul's.

In this chapter is likewise an account of divers men of note and eminence among the Novatians; and it is shewn, that this people had all along the same canon with the catholic Christians, in the several countries where they lived.

Ch. XLVIII. Dionysius bishop of Rome succeeded Xystus, or Sixtus the Second, who suffered martyrdom under the emperors Valerian and Gallienus. He is spoken of by Eusebius, as a learned and admirable man: he wrote several letters upon occasion of Sabellianism, and other controversies. From his remaining fragments we perceive the concurrence of this bishop of Rome with other Christians of that time, in acknowledging the divine scriptures,' and the

divine oracles,' to be the rule of faith, by which all doctrines were to be tried: he likewise, as well as others, teaches us where those oracles are to be found, namely, in the Old and New Testament;' which contain all the scriptures that were esteemed, in the strictest sense, sacred and divine.

6

Ch. XLIX. Commodian, a Latin, probably an African, a learned man, once a Heathen, afterwards a zealous Christian, though a layman only, has left us a book entitled, Instructions,' in a style between verse and prose; wherein are quoted many books of the New Testament. He refers all men to the law, that is the scriptures, in order to their understanding religion. It is pleasing to observe this high respect for scripture running through the writings of all early Christians in general.

Ch. L. Malchion, some time, as it seems, a Heathen, who taught rhetoric at Antioch, afterwards presbyter of the church in that city under Paul of Samosata. There are in this chapter divers remarks, to which the reader is referred: I do not think it needful to transcribe them here.

Ch. LI. Anatolius and three others, bishops of Laodicea in Syria. A. D. 270.

Anatolius, a native of Alexandria, bishop of Laodicea, was a man of uncommon learning, and in great repute with the people of Alexandria, so long as he lived there having great skill in philosophy and the Greek literature, and being a complete master of arithmetic, geometry, logic and rhetoric. He published a work concerning Easter, and also the Principles of Arithmetic in ten books, and likewise other works, monuments of his diligence in studying the divine scriptures, and of his understanding therein, as we are assured by Eusebius.

The history of the other three bishops of Laodicea, in this chapter, is of use to represent the state of Christianity at that time.

Ch. LII. Theognostus, a learned Alexandrian, remarkable, as for other things deserving notice, so particularly for affording us an early testimony to the epistle to the Hebrews.

A. D. 282.

Ch. LIII. Theonas was bishop of Alexandria about nineteen years. After Dionysius, of whom before, was Maximus, next Theonas, about 282, who was succeeded by Peter, of whom hereafter. In a letter ascribed to Theonas are mentioned the gospel and apostle,' as divine oracles. The writer also recommends the daily reading the sacred scriptures, as the best means of improving the mind in every virtue.

Ch. LIV.Pierius,' says Jerom, presbyter of the church of Alexandria, taught the people with great reputation in the time of the emperors Carus and Dioclesian, when Theonas was bishop of that church. Such was the elegance of his discourses and treatises, that he was called the younger Origen. And Eusebius says, he was celebrated for his strict course of life, and philosophical learning. He was likewise admired for his diligence in the study of the scriptures, and his expositions of them, and his public discourses to the people. None of his works remain but from what has been just now seen by us, we can conclude, that in his time be adorned the Christian profession by his piety, learning, and public labours. His canon of scripture may be supposed to have been the same as Origen's, or very little different.

Ch. LV. Dorotheus,' says Eusebius, presbyter of the church of Antioch, a learned man, whom we knew, he was very studious in the sacred scriptures, and acquainted himself so far ⚫ with Hebrew, as to be able to read the ancient scriptures in their own language with understanding: he was a man of a liberal mind, [or of high birth,] and was not unskilled in Greck literature.' Which shews, that Christianity did not discourage useful knowledge; though we have here, and often elsewhere, occasion to observe, that the scriptures were their principal study. In this chapter is added an account of a late fabulous author, called Dorotheus, whose work is entitled A Synopsis of the life and death of the Prophets, and also of the Apostles and Disciples of Jesus Christ.'

6

6

Ch. LVI. Victorinus bishop of Pettaw upon the Drave, in Germany, had the honour to die a martyr for Christ in the persecution of Dioclesian, and, as is supposed, in the year 303. He wrote,' as Jerom says, Commentaries upon Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Ecclesiastes, the Canticles, and the Revelation of John, against all heresies, and many other works: at last he was crowned with martyrdom.' In his remaining works and fragments are expressly quoted the four evangelists, with the beginnings of their several gospels: he likewise quotes expressly the Acts of the apostles: he speaks of the seven churches to

which Paul wrote, the Romans, the Corinthians, the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Philippians, the Colossians, the Thessalonians. Afterwards, as he says, Paul wrote to particular persons undoubtedly meaning, Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. So that he received thirteen epistles of the apostle Paul. Whether also that to the Hebrews is doubtful; though there are in him some expressions, in which he may be thought to refer, or allude to that epistle: he has quoted the first epistle of Peter: he supposed that John had his revelation in Patmos, where he had been condemned to the mines by the emperor Domitian; and that his gospel was written still later. • Afterwards,' says he, he wrote his gospel. When Valentinus, and Cerinthus, and ⚫ Ebion, and others of the school of Satan, were spread over the world, many from the neigh'bouring provinces came to him, and earnestly entreated him to put down his testimony in 'writing.' These are the books of the New Testament, of which we perceive express notice in him. There might be other books received by him, though not expressly mentioned in his few remaining works: unquestionably he received all those scriptures, which were generally received by Christians in all times, and over all the world.

In this chapter are also extracts from a poem in five books against Marcion, sometimes ascribed to Victorinus, though probably not his, usually joined with Tertullian's works. This writer distinctly mentions the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John: he expressly quotes several of St. Paul's epistles, and refers to others among them, to the Hebrews several times: he likewise frequently quotes the Revelation as written by John, the disciple and apostle of Christ.

Ch. LVII. Methodius,' says Jerom, bishop of Olympus in Lycia, a man of a neat and 'correct style, composed a work against Porphyry in several books... He also wrote Commentaries upon Genesis, and the Canticles, and many other works... He obtained the crown of • martyrdom at the end of the last persecution,' meaning Dioclesian's.

His testimony to the books of the New Testament is to this purpose: He expressly says, ⚫ there have been four gospels delivered to us.' He refers to the Acts. He has quoted or alluded to many of St. Paul's epistles, particularly that to the Hebrews. In his remaining works there is little notice taken of the catholic epistles; though, unquestionably, he received the first of Peter, and the first of John: the Revelation is often quoted by him.

There are in him clear proofs, that the scriptures of the New Testament, generally received by Christians, were well known, much used, and highly esteemed, being books of authority, and appealed to in all points of dispute and controversy. I have not observed in this Greek writer of the third century, any quotations of Christian apocryphal writings; nor do his works afford any the least ground to suppose, that there were any writings of ancient Christian authors, hat were esteemed sacred and of authority, beside those which are now generally received as such by us, namely, the writings of apostles and evangelists.

Ch. LVIII. Lucian presbyter of Antioch, as Eusebius writes, celebrated for his piety and his knowledge of the scriptures, was carried from Antioch to Nicomedia, where the emperor [Maximin] then was; and, having made an apology before the governor for the doctrine professed by him, was sent to prison, and there put to death.' He and Hesychius, probably of Egypt, published an edition of the Greek version of the Old Testament, called that of the Seventy, and likewise an edition of the New Testament: but their editions seem not to have been much esteemed.

Ch. LIX. Pamphilus presbyter in the church of Cæsarea, admirer of Origen, and friend of Eusebius, afterwards bishop of that church, had the honour of martyrdom, in the persecution begun by Dioclesian. He was put in prison in 307, and accomplished his testimony in 309, ' a man, who' as his friend, our ecclesiastical historian, says, throughout his whole life • excelled in every virtue; but was especially eminent and remarkable for an unfeigned zeal for • the holy scriptures, and for unwearied application in whatever he undertook.'.......' If he saw in straits he gave bountifully, as he was able: he not only lent out copies of the sacred • scriptures to be read, but he cheerfully gave them to be kept; and that not only to men, but to women likewise, whom he found disposed to read; for which reason he took care to have by him many copies of the scriptures, that when there should be occasion he might furnish those who were willing to make use of them.' His canon of scripture may be supposed to be the same with that of Origen and Eusebius. Pamphilus erected a library at Cæsarea, which he furnished at great expense with manuscript copies of the scriptures, and of the works of Origen

any

VOL. III.

and other ecclesiastical writers: of which library great care was afterwards taken oy the bishop of Cæsarea; by which means it was kept up and subsisted in good order for a great while.

Besides Pamphilus, the history of some others is related in this chapter, who were remark. able for their affection for the revealed will and word of God. The second person, and next after Pamphilus, was Valens a deacon of Ælia [that is, Jerusalem,] an old man,' says Eusebius,of grey hairs, and venerable aspect, exceedingly well skilled in the divine scriptures; and they were so fixed in his memory, that there was no discernible difference between his reading and reciting them by heart, though it were whole pages together.' That person suffered with Pamphilus.

Afterwards, among divers other martyrs in 310, was John, who had lost his sight, who,' as Eusebius goes on, in strength of memory surpassed all men of our time......He had whole books of the divine scriptures, not written in tables of stone, nor on parchments and papers, which are devoured by moths and time, but on the living tables of his heart, even his pure and enlightened mind; insomuch that whenever he pleased, he brought out, as from a treasury of knowledge, sometimes the books of Moses, at other times those of the prophets, or some sacred history, sometimes the gospels, sometimes the epistles of the apostles. I must own,' says the historian, that I was much surprised the first time I saw him: he was in the midst of a large ⚫ congregation, reciting a portion of scripture: whilst I only heard his voice, I thought he was reading, as is common in our assemblies; but when I came near and saw this person, who had no other light but that of the mind, instructing like a prophet those whose bodily eyes were 'clear and perfect, I could not forbear to praise and glorify God.'

Ch. LX. Phileas, bishop of Thmuis in Egypt, was a man of a noble family, and great estate. There is in Eusebius a part of a letter of his, quoting divers books of the New Testament, and shewing great regard for the scriptures. He and Philoromus, who had been the emperor's receiver general, were beheaded at Alexandria, in the same persecution, in the year 311, or 312, by order of the emperor Maximin.

Ch. LXI. In the year of Christ 300 Peter succeeded Theonas at Alexandria. Eusebius says, 'he obtained great honour during his episcopate, which he held twelve years: he governed the church three years before the persecution...In the ninth year of the persecution he was beheaded, and obtained the crown of martyrdom.' In another place the same historian says, About the same time Peter also, an ornament of the episcopal character, both for the holiness of his life, and his laborious application in studying and explaining the scriptures,...was on a sudden apprehended and beheaded.' I forbear to transcribe any thing here from his writings. Ch. LXII. A work ascribed to Archelaus bishop of Mesopotamia, containing an account of a conference with Mani, and his principles; which work probably was composed near the beginning of the fourth century. Herein are quoted the gospels, the Acts of the apostles, and divers of St. Paul's epistles; and there are references to the epistle to the Hebrews.

Ch. LXIII. Here is a history of Mani and his followers, who is supposed first to have appeared as author of a sect near the end of the third century, and a large though not complete account of their principles and worship, and their doctrine concerning the scriptures: in which last, exactness has been aimed at. These people always rejected the Old Testament: they received the New Testament, and had a great deal of respect for it. They seem to have received all the books of the New Testament, generally received by other Christians at that time, excepting the book of the Acts, which may have been rejected by some, but not by all of them. See Vol. ii. p. 216. They said, that the books of the New Testament had been corrupted and interpolated; but they never produced any copies different from those in the hands of the Catholics. They likewise made use of apocryphal books; but it does not appear that they forged any books; they only made use of such apocryphal books as they found written before by some others of like sentiments with themselves.

Here also is an account of the Paulicians in the seventh century, a branch of the same sect. They likewise rejected the Old Testament, and used only the gospels and the apostles. In particular they are said to have received the four gospels, and the fourteen epistles of Paul, and the epistle of James, and the three epistles of John, and the epistle of Jude, and the Acts of the apostles, without making any alteration in them; but they admitted not the two epistles of the chief of the apostles. What was their sentiment concerning the Revelation we cannot say. One thing more should be observed of this people: they greatly respected the scriptures of the

New Testament, and approved that all the laity, and even women, should read, study and understand them.

In the inquiries that have been made concerning the scriptures received by the Manichees, and the respect they had for them, there are many observations concerning the genuineness and authority of the books of the New Testament, and concerning the apocryphal books made use of by the Manichees, and by some other sects of a more early original.

Moreover in this chapter is an account of two learned catholic bishops, who wrote against the Manichees: one of which is Serapion bishop of Thmuis in Egypt about the year 347. He quotes the gospels, the Acts, divers of St. Paul's epistles, particularly that to the Hebrews. See vol. ii. p. 146.

The other is Titus bishop of Bostra, about 362. He frequently quotes the gospels and the epistles of St. Paul, particularly that to the Hebrews: he likewise quotes the Acts of the apostles: he has little or nothing out of the catholic epistles, or the Apocalypse. See Vol. ii. p. 146, 147. Some remarkable quotations of the Acts made by him may be seen Vol. ii. p. 214.

We have been likewise induced to give here an account of Hierax, about 302, a native of Egypt, falsely supposed to have been a Manichee. Though he had some errors, he received the Old and New Testament. He was in divers respects a very extraordinary person: he had the scriptures of the Old and New Testament by heart, and wrote Commentaries upon several parts of them. He received the epistle to the Hebrews as Paul's. See Vol. ii. p. 154, 155.

Ch. LXIV. Arnobius, once a heathen, who in the time of Dioclesian taught rhetoric_at Sicca in Africa with great reputation; and when converted composed a work in seven books, Against the Gentiles, or an Apology for the Christian Religion. As Arnobius's work is very curious, the extracts out of him cannot but afford entertainment to intelligent readers. He seems not to have judged it proper to quote the books of the New Testament in an argument with Gentiles: nevertheless he has enumerated our Saviour's miracles in such a manner, as shews him to have been well acquainted with our gospels, and to have had a great regard for them. He seems likewise to refer to the Acts of the apostles, and some of St. Paul's epistles.

At the end of this chapter is also an account of another Arnobius, who about the year 460 wrote a Commentary upon the book of Psalms. He quotes the commonly received books of the New Testament, particularly the Acts of the apostles, and also the epistle to the Hebrews, the epistle of James, and the Revelation; and he recommends the frequent reading of the scriptures.

Ch. LXV. Lactantius, the most learned Latin of his time, and as polite and elegant a writer as any among the Christians, and therefore sometimes called the Christian Cicero,' expressly quotes St. John's gospel, and the book of the Revelation; and has allusions to many other books of the New Testament. He plainly had a collection of scriptures, consisting of the Old and the New Testament, which he esteemed sacred and divine, and of the highest authority. If he had not purposely restrained himself from quoting the Christian scriptures in his arguments with heathens, his testimony would have been much more full and particular. For, notwithstanding the reservedness which he imposed upon himself in that respect, there are many allusions and references to them; which seems to shew, that the Christians of that time were so habituated to the language of scripture, that it was not easy for them to avoid the use of it, whenever they discoursed upon things of a religious nature. There are in him likewise quotations of the Sibyl line books, and some other writings; but it is evident that he was far from esteeming them of canonical authority. Besides, there are in this chapter extracted many passages of Lactantius upon divers subjects; which must be allowed to be an ornament to this work.

Ch. LXVI. Of burning the scriptures, and of traitors in the time of Dioclesian's persecution. Eusebius assures us, that in the Imperial edict in 303, it was expressly ordered, not only that the Christian churches should be demolished, but likewise, that their scriptures should be burned. This was one of the affecting scenes of that persecution, that he had seen the sacred and divine scriptures burned in market places. Notice is taken of the same thing by other writers. A farther account of it may be seen in that chapter.

Ch. LXVII. The Donatists, a large body of men, who, about the year 312, separated from the catholics in Africa, under pretence that Cæcilian bishop of Carthage had been ordained by bishops who in the time of the persecution had betrayed the scriptures and other sacred things