writers gave, nor on what books of the Bible they had employed their labours'.

CHAP.

We can make no ufe of the fpurious writings of this century for our prefent purpose.-1. The Acts of Paul and of Thecla attribute indeed many of the same sentiments to the Apostle St. Paul, as exist in the books of our New Teftament. But it is uncertain whether this be the fame work which is mentioned by the Ecclefiaftical Fathers. (Lardner's Credibility, vol. ii. p. 310).-2. The Sibylline Oracles were forged in all probability about the second century. They alfo relate (in prophecy, as they pretend) almost every fingle event of the evangelical history. But they do not mention either exprefsly, or by name, any of the writings of the New Teftament. Lardner, 1. cit. p. 313. feq.-3. The Teftaments of the Twelve Patriarchs speak often in the language of the New Testament. But it is most uncertain, whether this writing be of that early antiquity which many scholars imagine. Origen quotes a work under this title. But how can it be proved that the work, which we ftill poffefs, is the very fame? Lardner, 1. cit. p. 324. feq.-4. The Recognitions of Clement, (fee Cotelerii Patres Apoftol. vol. i. p. 483. feq.) which contain Difputations of the Apostle St. Peter with Simon Magus, and mention other difcourfes, and a variety of miracles by the fame Apoftle ;-5. The Clementine Homilies, which are almoft of the very fame

tenour,

CHAP. III.

Witnesses in the Third Century,

SECT. I.

Evidences of Witnesses in the Third Century.

BEFORE I introduce the complete catalogues, which Origen and Eufebius have left us, of those writings which the Chriftians of the first century held as genuine works of the Evangelifts and Apoftles, and venerated as divine

tenour, and in all probability are the ground-work from which, after many additions and improvements, arofe the work mentioned above, in No. 4. (Cotelerius, 1. cit. p. 603. feq.);-And, 6. The Clementine Epitome, a compilation out of the Recognitions and Homilies, (Cotelerius, 1. cit. p. 755. feq.)——: these three works, to which the venerable name of Clement has been forged, contain merely fimilar expreffions and fentiments, but not a fingle quotation, either exprefsly, or by name, from the books of our New Testament. Extracts from the above mentioned writings may be feen in Lardner, 1. cit. p. 342. feq.

books, I will curforily mention some other witneffes who lived in the beginning of the third century, but whose writings have not defcended to us.

1. Caius Romanus.

CAIUS, who was a Prefbyter of the church of Rome, and a most learned man, quotes in his Dialogue with Proculus, a follower of Montanus, all the Epiftles which we have at prefent under the name of St. Paul, as genuine works of this Apoftle, except the Epif tle to the Hebrews, which he has omitted to enumerate among the reft. -We find this information in an extract which Eufebius has preserved from this work which no longer exists ".

2. Hippolytus Portuenfis,

From the fragments which we ftill poffefs of the works of Hippolytus

W

Portuentis,

" Hift. Ecclef. Lib. VI. ch. xx. p. 285.

Joh. Albert Fabricius has collected thefe frag

ments,

Portuenfis, we are led to believe that he was a learned man; and the concifenefs, folidity, and force with which he wrote, clearly prove that he far excelled all the writers of his time. In fupport of this I fhall quote a single paffage, which, if not an adequate teftimony for the authenticity of our four Gofpels, will at least demonstrate the truth of the hiftory related in them. Hippolytus is proving that Jefus was both perfect man, and perfect God. "His humanity," fays he, "may be easily perceived, by the circumftances of his feeling hunger and fatigue and thirst; by his fearfully fleeing, and anxiously praying; by his fleeping on a pillow; his imploring for the removal of the cup of forrow; his

ments, and published them together with the other works attributed to him, at Hamburg, 1716, 2 vol. folio.

* It has been preserved by Theodoret. See Fabricii Hippolyt. vol. i. p.268.

fweating from fear of death, and his being strengthened by an angel; by his being betrayed by Judas, mocked by Caiaphas and Herod, fcourged by Pilate, infulted by the foldiers, and crucified by the Jews; his commending with a loud voice his fpirit to the Father; his bending his head and giving up the ghost; having his fide pierced by a spear, being laid, wrapped up in fine linen, in the grave, and raised up on the third day by the Father. His divinity may be eafily difcovered, fince he was worshipped by angels, vifited by shepherds, expected by Simeon; he received the teftimony of Anna, was vifited by the Magi, and announced by a ftar; he changed water into wine at the marriage feaft, calmed the ftormy fea, walked upon the water, gave fight to one born blind, raised Lazarus to life, who had been dead four days, and performed many other miracles, forgiving fins, and imparting miraculous