they held the same doctrine and worship. At Corinth, where he sojourned, he had much conversation with Primus the Bishop; and he testifies that the Church of Corinth had persisted in the true and sound doctrine. In general, Hegesippus bears witness that in his time there was no episcopal see "in the succession from the Apostles," nor any city in which they did not preserve faithfully the teaching of the Apostles. St. Jerome thus describes him: "Hegesippus vicinus Apostolicorum temporum omnes a Passione Domini usque ad suam cetatem Ecclesiasticorum actuum texens Historias, multaque alia ad utilitatem legentium pertinentia hinc inde congregans, quinque libros scripsit sermone simpliciori, ut quorum vitam sectabatur, dicendi quoque exprimeret caracterem.”—(See also Euseb. lib. ii. c. 23.) There is therefore the cotemporary testimony of Hegesippus to the Bishops in the Apostolic succession throughout the century after the Apostles, confirmed and approved by Eusebius, Jerome, Epiphanius, &c.

VICTOR Succeeded Eleutherius, and governed twelve years. ZEPHIRINUS succeeded him, A. D. 198.

This Apostolic succession is confirmed by the cotemporary testimony of St. Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons, reverenced in the Church as a great defender of the Catholic faith against the heretics,-a disciple of St. Polycarp,-born A.D. 120, suffered martyrdom A.D. 202. He argues thus against the heretics, "There is one and the same Apostolic tradition preserved pure and inviolate in all Churches. The tradition of the Apostles, so manifested in the whole world, can be seen by all who wish to see the truth in every Church. We can enumerate those who were instituted Bishops in the Churches by the Apostles, and their successors, even to us, who never taught any such doctrine; and if the Apostles had known any secret mysteries, which they taught the perfect secretly from other Christians, they would most especially have delivered them to those persons to whom they committed the Churches themselves."* (Lib. iii. cap. 3, n. 2.)

SUCCESSION OF BISHOPS IN ALEXANDRIA FROM ST, MARK.

"The Church in Alexandria was founded by ST. MARK: he preached the Gospel in Egypt, and founded several populous Churches in Alexandria," (Euseb. Hist. ii. c. 16), which was counted the second city of the world after Rome,

It is very observable how the holy Martyr in this precious passhows the vanity of the Romish tradition, and the truth of the Apostolic tradition. He condemns the heretical notion that the

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and was the first for commerce. St. Mark died A.D. 62; and ARIANUS was chosen Bishop of Alexandria in his place, and governed the Churches in Egypt twenty-two years. (Euseb. Chron. ann. 63.)-ABILIUS succeeded Anianus A.D. 85, and ruled the Church thirteen years. (Euseb. Chron. ann. 85; Hist. iii. c. 14.)--CERDON succeeded him, A.D. 97, and ruled eleven years.-PRIMUS was his successor, A.D. 107, and ruled ten years. (Euseb. Chron. 107; Hist. iv. c. 1.)-JUSTUS succeeded him, A.D. 118, and ruled eleven years.-EUMENES next held the see, and was succeeded by MARK THE 2ND, to whom CELADION succeeded A.D. 180; and was followed by AGRIPPINUS. (Euseb. Chron. ann. 143, &c.)

SUCCESSION OF BISHOPS IN ANTIOCH FROM ST. PETER.

"EVODIUS was the first Bishop appointed in Antioch, died A.D. 69, having governed the Church twenty-six years.-ST. IGNATIUS, disciple of the Apostles, succeeded him, and held the see forty years." (Euseb. Chron. ann. 69, and Hist. iii. c. 22. Origen, Hom. 6 in Luc. Hieron. Script. Cat.)-HERON Succeeded him, A.D. 107, and ruled the Church twenty years.-CORNELIUS was successor of Heron.-EROS succeeded him, "the fifth from the Apostles." -THEOPHILUS, A.D. 169, was the "sixth from the Apostles," ruled the Church thirteen years. (Euseb. Hist. lib. iv. c. 20, and Chron. ann. 167.)-7th. MAXIMINUS.-8th. SERAPIO.

Apostles committed to the Church any secret tradition not known to the whole body of Bishops, and taught in the primitive Church; and he shows that they committed to their Episcopal successors a form of faith, or doctrine and worship, which was the sacred rule of faith in the Apostolic Churches in his time. "Traditionem Apostolicam unam et eandem, puram et illibatam in omnibus Ecclesiis conservatam fuisse. Traditionem itaque Apostolorum in omni mundo manifestatam, in omni Ecclesia adest respicere omnibus, qui vera velint videre. Habemus annumerare eos, qui ab Apostolis instituti sunt Episcopi in Ecclesiis, et successores eorum usque ad nos, qui nihil tale docuerunt, neque cognoverunt, quale ab his deliratur. Etenim si recondita mysteria scissent Apostoli, quæ seorsim et latenter ab reliquis perfectos docebant, his vel maxime traderent ea, quibus étiam ipsas Ecclesias committebant, &c.”—Irenæus, lib. iii. c. 2.

FINIS.

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