have collected in his intercourfe with many confiderable teachers of Chriftianity. However, we difcover from the fragments, that he was very well acquainted with the Scriptures of the New Teftament. For he quotes them often, although not by name; and his manner of writing is invariably in that peculiarity of ftyle belonging to these books d.

4. Melito, Bishop of Sardis, has rendered himself remarkable in ecclefiaftical history, particularly by his examination of the Sacred Books of the Old Teftament. He composed various writings, of which we fcarcely know more than the titles, as they are given to us in Eusebius'. His books,

◄ See Lardner's Credibility.

• He travelled into Palestine, on purpose to obtain information on the true Canon of the Old Testament. Eufebius has preserved his catalogue, H. E. Lib. IV. cap. xxvi. p. 190, 191.

f Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IV. сар. xxvi. p. 188, 189.

On

On the Conduct of Chriftians; Of the Prophets; Of the Church; On the Lord's Day; Of Obedience to the Gofpel (Tegi Taxons wisews); On the Conception and Birth of Chrift (περι κλίσεως και γενέσεως Χριςου): On the Revelation of St. John; and On the Incarnation of God (περι ἐνσωματου Θεου); contained probably more particular information concerning the apoftolical writings. From the few fragments of his works we can produce him only as an evidence for the high antiquity of the Revelation of St. John; yet even this is of dubious import, as we have no information concerning the contents of his treatise on this fubject".

5. Of

The epistle of Melito to a person of the name of Onefimus, who was the cause of his journey into Paleftine, begins thus, (Eufebius 1. cit. p. 191). As you have often, from your love towards the divine doctrine, required of me that I should collect from the Law and the Prophets those paffages which concern the Redeemer and our common faith; and as you were

defirous

5. Of the terrible perfecutions which the Chriftians in Gaul fuffered in the time of the Emperour Marcus Antoninus, we find a very affecting relation in the epiftle which the communities at Vienne and Lyons, in France, fent on this account to the Chriftians in Afia. Eufebius has preferved a great part of it in his Ecclefiaftical History". The fufferings of the Chriftians, the patience, cheerfulness, and steadfast behaviour of the martyrs, are described by fentiments and expreffions which are taken from the Scriptures of the New Testament." Then was the faying of the Lord fulfilled, The time will come when whofoever killeth you

defirous of knowing accurately the old fcriptures, their number, and the order in which they were composed,

I have therefore inquired after the books of the Old Testament,' &c.-This paffage appears to prove, that at that time exifted alfo a fecond collection of facred books, under the name of the New Teftament.-See Lardner, l. cit. p. 148.

h Lib. V. cap. i-iv. p. 198. fq.

will

will think that he doth God fervice." John xvi. 2.-"They (viz. the martyrs) prayed for their executioners, as did the holy Stephen, Lord, lay not this fin to their charge." Acts vii. 50.

"They endeavoured to follow the example of Chrift, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal to God." Phil. ii. 6.-" He (a martyr of the name of Vettius Epagathus) was a true difciple of Christ, following the Lamb whitherfoever it goes." Rev. xiv. 4.-When we reflect that this epiftle was written by a community in which Irenæus (who has depofed fuch ample evidence for the Scriptures of the New Teftament, p. 109.) was at that time a Presbyter, we may without hesitation use these paffages as proofs of the antiquity of the Gospel of St. John, of the Acts of the Apostles by St. Luke, of the Epif tles to the Romans and Philippians, and of the Revelation of St. John; although

6

although these books are not quoted by name.

6. Miltiades, one of the Apologists for Christianity, was, according to the information of Eufebius', well skilled in the Divine Scriptures and Christian theology. He had given convincing proofs of his erudition in a book which he wrote against the Montanists with this title, wept του μη δειν προφήτην εν ensare daλev, That it does not become prophets to speak in ecftacy;' and in his works against the Jews and Gentiles." He has alfo left us, fays Eufebius," as well in his writings against the Gentiles, as in those against the Jews, monuments of his zeal for the divine books."- Without doubt, therefore, he had copiously used the

i Hift. Ecclef. Lib. V. cap. xvii. p. 232, 233. k See Eufebius, 1. cit.-In the first work he had undoubtedly made mention of the first Epistle to the Corinthians. Compare the remark of Valefius in loc. cit.

authorities