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120 Credibility of the Gospel History.
M ere a part of liis canon. He likewise received the book of
ti.e Revelation : we saw a passage in him which may be supposed
to refer to it. Besides, we know it was received by
St. Cyprian of Africa, w ith w hom the church of Rome held
a friendly correspondence. It was also received by the
anonymous writer'' against the Novatian heretic, supposed
contemporary with Novatus. This book is much quoted in
that piece ; which is an argument that it was a book of authority
with those against whom he wrote. We perceive
farther, from the writings of Novatus, that he did not receive
the epistle to the Hebrews as a part of sacred scripture, for
he never quotes it ; though there are in it many texts, which
he would certainly have reckoned to be to his purpose, if the
epistle had been of authority with him. ' As for the disputed
catholic epistles, that of James, the second epistle of St.
Peter, the second and third of St. .John, and that of St. Jude,
we have no clear evidences what Avas his opinion of them.
He had a great regard for the scriptures of the Old and New
Testament commonly received. We have seen in him many
undeniable proofs of that peculiar respect which was shown
the scriptures by all christians in general, as esteeming them
books of authority, by which all disputes and controversies
were to be decided. Finally, it ought to be observed, that
there is not in this learned writer of the third century any,
the least, notice taken of spurious apocryphal christian
writings.
VHI. It remains only that we observe the sentiments of
the Novatians concerning sacred scripture. Having- before
carried down their history a good way below the time of
their founder and first leader, it may be thought requisite
to make a distinct article of their testimony :
will suffice.
but a short one
1. For, as we meet not with many complaints against them
relating to this matter, it may be concluded that they had
all a'ono- the same canon with the catholic christians of the
several countries where they lived.
2. Philaster'' expressly says that the Novatians agreed
v/ith the catholic church in receiving- the scriptures of the
Old and New Testament; which is not contradicted by
Epiphanius, Theodoret, or Augustine, who also have written
professedly of heretics and their opinions. Socrates, giving*
an account of the difference between the catholics and Nova-
" See before, p. G.5.
'' Novatiani surrexerunt post persecutionem postremam e Novate quodam,
qiii, sicut ecclesia catholica, credebant antea, vetus Testaraentum et novum
accipientes. Philastr. Haer. 82.