CHAP. XXV.

a

HERMIAS.

HERMIAS has left us a short, but elegant discourse, called, A Derision, or Banter, of the Gentile Philosophers. In the inscription of this work he has the title of Philosopher; but who he was, and when he lived, is unknown. Some have thought him to be a writer of the fourth or fifth century: Cave supposes that he wrote in the second century; whose arguments appear to me sufficient to render his opinion probable. The work itself scems to show, as that learned author observes, that Gentilism still prevailed: and Du Pind agrees with him, that it was written before the fall of paganism. Tillemont likewise thinks the argument of his book gives ground to suppose, it was written in the first ages of the church. I have therefore placed him here in the last year of the second century.

C

e

I have not observed, in this discourse, any reference to the books of the New Testament, except a quotation at the very beginning of it, to this purpose: The blessed apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthians in Laconic Greece, did not speak beside the purpose, when he said: "The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God,"' 1 Cor. iii. 19.

Έρμια φιλοσοφε διασυρμος των εξω φιλοσόφων.

b Vid. Cave, Hist. Lit. P. i. p. 50. P. ii. p. 35, 36. Fabric. Bib. Gr. Tom. v. p. 96. Ex toto opusculi contextu constare videtur, vigente adhuc gentilismo scriptum fuisse. Hist. Lit. P. ii. p. 36.

Il n'y a pas de doute, qu'il est ancien, et qu'il vivoit avant que la religion payenne fût détruite. Bibl. Eccl. Tom. i.

Tout ce que nous en pouvons dire, c'est que son sujet donne lieu de croire, qu'il écrivoit dans les premiers siècles de l'Eglise, où l'on s'occupoit à détruire le paganisme. Mem. Ecc. T. iii. p. i. en Hermogene.

· Παυλος ὁ μακαριος αποςολος, τοις την Ελλαδα την Λακωνικήν παροικεσι Κορινθίοις γραφων, ω αγαπητοι, απεφήνατο λεγων· Ἡ σοφία τε κόσμε τότε μωρια παρα τω Θεω, εκ ασκόπως ειπων. p. 175. B. Paris.

CHAP. XXVI.

SERAPION.

WE have already seen the testimony of two bishops of the church of Antioch, Ignatius and Theophilus; under which last we observed the succession of the bishops of that church from the time of the apostles. Theophilus was succeeded by Maximin, about the year 181; and he by Serapion, the eighth in that succession, who was bishop from about the year 190 to 211, or somewhat later. I may therefore well place him here, at the year 200.

a

Eusebius says, Serapion wrote many pieces: but he had not seen any of them, beside a letter to Caracus and Ponticus, concerning the Montanists; another to Domninus, who in the time of the persecution [probably that of Severus] forsook the faith of Christ, and turued Jew; and some other epistles. There is also,' says Eusebius, an‘ ⚫ other book of his concerning the gospel, entitled, according 'to Peter, wherein he confutes the falsities of that Gospel; 'which book he composed for the sake of some in the parish of Rhossus, [in Cilicia,] who by means of that writing were led into heterodox opinions. It cannot be improper to 'transcribe some short passages, in which he declares his 'sentiment of that book. "We,d brethren, receive Peter, and the other apostles, as Christ: but, as skilful meu, we reject those writings which are falsely ascribed to them; 'well knowing, that we have received no such. When I was with you, I supposed you had all held the right faith and, not having read the Gospel offered to me under the name of Peter, I said, if that be the only thing ' that causeth a difference among you, let it be read. But now having understood, by what has been told me, that ⚫ their minds are secretly filled with some heresy, I will do

Vid. Eus. H. E. 1. iv. cap. 24. 1. v. cap. 19.

b Vid. Cave, Hist. Lit. p. 52. Du Pin, Bibl. Tillemont, Mem. Ecc. T. ii. Les Montanistes, Art. iv. et T. iii. Serapion. c H. E. 1. vi. c. 12.

d Ημεις γαρ, αδελφοι, και Πετρον και τις αλλες αποτολες αποδεχόμεθα, ὡς Χρισον τα δε ονοματι αυτων ψευδεπίγραφα, ὡς εμπειροι παραιτώμεθα· γινώσκοντες, ότι τα τοιαύτα ου παρελαβομεν. Εγω γαρ, γενόμενος παρ' ύμιν, ύπενουν τις παντας ορθῇ πιςει προσφέρεσθαι. Και μη διελθων το υπ' αυτων προφερόμενον ονοματι Πετρε ευαγγέλιον, ειπον. Ότι ει τετο επι μόνον το δοκεν παρέχειν μικροψυχαν, αναγινωσκεσθω. κ. λ. Ibid.

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'my endeavour to come to you again: therefore, brethren, 'you may expect me shortly. And we, brethren, have found what was the heresy of Marcianus, and that he ⚫ contradicted himself, not understanding what he said: as you may perceive from what is here written to you. For we have obtained the sight of that Gospel from others that 'make use of it; that is, from the successors of those who 'were the authors of that opinion, whom we call Docetæ (for the chief sentiments of it belong to that sect). Having therefore obtained it of them to read it over, we have found that the main part of the book is agreeable to the 'right doctrine of our Saviour. Nevertheless there are 'some other things added, which we have noted down, and 'sent to you."

f

999

He

Jerom, in his book of Illustrious Men, says: Serapion was ordained bishop of Antioch in the eleventh year of 'Commodus,' or the year of our Lord 191. His catalogue of Serapion's works is agreeable to that in Eusebius. says, particularly, That he wrote a book concerning the 'Gospel, that goes under the name of Peter, which he sent to the church of Rhossus in Cilicia, which had been led into heresy by reading of it.'

The fragment of this book deserves some remarks.

1. We see the great respect paid by christians to the writings of the apostles. Serapion assures us, the church received the apostles as Christ; that is, their writings, as the very words and doctrine spoken and preached by Christ himself.

2. We see his method of judging of the genuineness and authority of any books of scripture: those which had been delivered with an authentic tradition, as the apostles, he received others he rejected.

3. The book called the Gospel of Peter was no part of canonical scripture, nor any writing of Peter: it had not been delivered as such.

4. We learn the obscurity of this book, called the Gospel of Peter. Here is a bishop of the large and celebrated church of Antioch, about the end of the second century, who had never read it, or seen it: and who, as far as we are able to judge, was not unworthy of his high office. He

• They denied that Jesus Christ had a true human body.

f Χρησαμενοι παρ' αυτων διελθειν και εύρειν μεν τα πλείονα τε ορθες λογο το Σωτηρος τινα δε προσδιεςαλμενα, ά και ὑπεταξαμεν ύμιν. Ibid. Cap. 41. 1 Et alium de evangelio, quod sub nomine Petri fertur, librum ad Rhossensem Cilicia ecclesiam, quæ in hæresim ejus lectione diverterat. Ibid.

seems to have been a learned man, and a vigilant pastor. He wrote divers treatises and epistles. This book concerning the Gospel of Peter, which he composed for the benefit of the christians at Rhossus, is a good proof of his ability and diligence. Nothing could be more to the purpose, to demonstrate the obscurity and insignificance of the book called, the Gospel of Peter, than this letter or treatise of Serapion. It is plain, it was in no repute with the catholic christians: nor could Serapion find a copy of it among them. In order to procure a sight of it, he was obliged to send to some of those called Docetæ, and borrow it of them.

5. It may at first appear somewhat strange, that he should consent to the use of this writing: but really there is nothing at all strange or improper in it. Serapion supposed the people of Rhossus had all held the right faith: and not having read the book complained of by some, he took it for granted, it was a pious orthodox book, which christians might read with edification. Being also a lover of peace, and unwilling to deliver unnecessary precepts, he consented to their use of it. However, he prudently took an opportunity to procure and examine this writing and having perceived there were in it some false and absurd notions, mixed with those which are true and right, he was at the pains of collecting the several errors of it in a distinct treatise, which he immediately sent away to Rhossus: and promises them a second visit upon this occasion, if needful. Thus acted this christian bishop of Antioch.

k

Grabe, and Beausobre, suppose this Gospel of Peter to have been a composition of Leucius, the famous forger of apocryphal pieces.

'Evangelium Petri fuisse reor figmentum Leucii hæretici, seculo ii. plura ejusmodi cudentis, eaque nominibus apostolorum supponentis. Grabe, Spic.

T. i. p. 58.

* Hist. de Manich. T. i. p. 349, 350, 358, 375, et 458.

CHAP. XXVII.

TERTULLIAN.

I. His history, works, time, and character. II. His testimony to the scriptures of the N. T. particularly the four gospels. III. The integrity of St. Luke's gospel. IV. Upon what grounds he receives the gospels of St. Mark and St. Luke. V. More passages concerning the four gospels. VI. Of the Acts of the Apostles. VII. St. Paul's epistles. VIII. The meaning of authentic letters. IX. Of the epistle to the Hebrews. X. He received thirteen epistles of St. Paul. XI. Of the Catholic epistles. XII. The Revelation. XIII. A summary of the books received by him. XIV. The integrity of the Scriptures. XV. Their authority. XVI. General titles and divisions. XVII. The order of the books of the N. T. XVIII. Of chapters. XIX. A Latin translation in his time. XX. The Scriptures of the N. T. open to all men. XXI. Whether he cites apocryphal books. XXII. A book forged in the name of St. Paul. XXIII. The conclusion.

I. QUINTUS SEPTIMIUS FLORENS TERTULLIANUS,' or Tertullian, generally reckoned the most ancient Latin father now remaining, was born at Carthage, the capital city of Africa, not long after the middle of the second century. His father was a proconsular centurion, that is, a military officer under the proconsul of Africa, which is not reckoned to have been a post of any great consideration. Tertullian was well acquainted with the Roman laws; but it does not appear that he went to the bar, or any other way practised the law as a profession. He had besides read the Greek and Roman poets, historians, orators, philosophers, and other heathen writers of all sorts, as his works show abundantly. His skill in Greek was so considerable, that he wrote several books in that language. • Vid. Tertull. Apol. cap. 9. p. 10. A. et Hieron. in Chron. et De Vir. Ill. cap. 53. b Sed et huic materia propter suaviludios nostros Græco quoque stilo satisfecimus. De Coronâ, c. 6. ad fin. p. 123. D. Sed de isto plenius jam nobis, in Græco digestum est. De Baptismo, cap. 15. p. 262. D. At ego, si quid utriusque linguæ præscripsi. Adv. Praxeam, cap. 3. p. 636. A Paris. 1634.