In this work he teftifies exprefsly, that St. Paul had written an Epiftle to the Philippians, in which he ftrengthened their faith, hope, and love towards God, Chrift and their neighbour. "Paul," fays he, "not only preached in perfon to you the true doctine, but alfo when abfent wrote epiftles to you, by the study of which you will be able to edify yourselves in the faith which has been delivered to you." And in another place he expreffes his aftonishment at the covetoufnefs of Valens, one of their prefbyters. "But," he adds, "I have never obferved, nor ever heard the fame of you, among whom Paul preached. On the contrary, he

p. 190-191. Both may be seen in the Edit. of Frey, p. 143-161.-The teftimonies of the above-mentioned authors, and the paffages cited by them, place the au▾ thenticity of this epiftle beyond all doubt.-If the fragments, which are called Refponfiones, (in Coteler. 1. cit. p. 205. 6. and in Frey, p. 162-164) were the genuine production of Polycarp, they might be confidered as an evident teftimouy for the authenticity of the four Gospels.

• §. iii, p. 146. 47.

P §. ix. p. 150. makes

makes mention of you in the beginning of his Epiftle, and boafts of you in all communities."-He cites alfo exprefsly, although not by name, a paffage from St. Paul's first Epistle to the Corinthians, vi. 2. An nefcimus quia fancti mundum judicabunt? ficut Paulus docet'.-In like manner he appeals to the command which stands in the Holy Scriptures, "Ee ye angry in fuch a manner that ye do not fin; and let not the fun go down upon your wrath." Confido, vos bene exercitatos effe in Sacris litteris.--Ut his fcripturis dictum eft, Irafcimini et nolite peccare; et fol non occidat fuper

See Philipp. i. 3-5. In the former of these two paffages the Plural number stands in the Greek, òçέγραψεν επιτολας. But it is by no means uncommon to use this word in the plural number, although only a fingle epiftle is meant. Comp. Cotelerii not. in loc.Lardner supposes that Polycarp in this place intended not only the Epistle to the Philippians, but also both the Epiftles of St. Paul to the Theffalonians. Credibility, vol. ii. p. 91. 2. * §. xi. p, 159.

' §. xii. P. 159. iracundiam

iracundiam veftram. Now fince the paffage, as here quoted, does not exift in any part of the Old Teftament, but is found exclufively in the Epiftle of St. Paul to the Ephefians, iv. 26, this fentence may therefore be confidered as an evidence, that the Epistle to the Ephefians was already esteemed at that time as a divine Scripture.

This epiftle of Polycarp is throughout moral, and contains a variety of ethical maxims, delivered almost in the fame words which we find in the Scriptures of our New Teftament.-"Remember" fays het," what the Lord taught, Judge not, that ye be not judged; forgive, and ye fhall be forgiven; be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; with the fame measure that ye mete, it fhall be measured to you again." Further, "Bleffed are the poor, and they that are perfecuted for righteoufnefs fake, for theirs is the

W

kingdom of God." Paffages of fimilar import are found in St. Matthew, v. 3. 7. 10. vii. 1, 2. St. Luke, vi. 20. 37, 38.-"We muft all ftand before the judgment feat of Chrift, in order that every one may give an account of himfelf"." This alfo is found in the fame words, Rom. xiv. 10. 12.-He warns them againft covetoufnefs with the very fame arguments and expreffions as are found in 1 Tim. vi. 7. 10. "The love of money is the root of all evil. Let us therefore well confider, that as we brought nothing into the world, fo can we carry with us nothing out."In this work of Polycarp we meet befides with many fentiments in exactly the fame drefs in which they exift in the firft Epiftle of St. Peter;. which has alfo been remarked by Eufebius*. That I may not be too

prolix, I will mention only the paffages below. From thefe paffages alone, we cannot indeed conclude, that he has taken them from the undermentioned books of the New Testament"; but when joined with the numerous and clear evidences which will be produced in the following pages, they greatly corroborate the proof of the Authenticity of the New Teftament.

SECT. III.

Teftimonies from Works of the first Century, which are now loft.

TO these evidences of the apoftolical fathers, we are enabled to add

καρπος εν τη δηλωθείση προς Φιλιππησίους αυτού γραφῇ φερομένη εις δεύρο, κέχρηται τισι μαρτυρίοις απο της Πετρου προτερας επιςολης.

Compare §. i. p. 144. with 1 Pet. i. 8.—§. ii. p. 145. with 1 Pet, i. 21.—§. ii. latter part, with Pet. iii. 9.-And, §. v. p. 149. with 1 Pet. ii. 11.

See above, p. 38.

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yet