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194 Credibility of the Gospel History.
9, In^ one place of the Banquet are mentioned these following-
heretics all together: Sabellius,Artenias,antl theEbioniteSjMarcion,
Valentiniis. and the lielcesaites. What he says
of them may be taken into consideration at some other time.
I shall put down no more passag-es of this sort from our
author, but proceed to what remains.
V. I am now to observe this writer's testimony to the
books of the New Testament.
Methodius says expressly, ' There" have been four gospels
delivered to us :' 1 need not therefore put down particular
quotations of each gospel : indeed he has not mentioned the
writers by name : however no one can make any doubt or
question but ho meaned our gospels, and ascribed them to
the same evangelists that we, and all christians in general,
have always done.
VI. He speaks of the baptism of Paul by Ananias, and
particularly refers to the history of it^ in the Acts.
VII. It cannot be needful that I should transcribe particular
passages of all the epistles of St. Paul cited by this
author. It may suffice to observe, that he has quoted or
alluded to these following- epistles of that apostle ; the epistle
to the Romans, the first and second to the Corinthians, the
epistles to the Galatians, the Ephesians, the Philippians, the
Colossians, the first to the Thessalonians, and the first to
Timothy : words of most of these are cited more than once,
either as the apostle's or as Paul's. I have observed no clear
references to the second to the Thessalonians, the second to
Timothy, or to Titus, or Philemon, in those extracts or treatises
which I make use of as unquestionably genuine : never-
theless it cannot be doubted but he received all these epistles;
as Origen and other christians did about his time.
VIII. He seems to have several passages out of the epistle
to the Hebrews. He says ' '^
; We restrain evil thoughts,
" lest any root of bitterness springing- up should trouble
^ Conv. p. 113. D.
* ha TUTO Kai tvayyeXia rianapa Tra^aliCorai, TtTQaKiQ tvayyiKurafievs
T8 OcH TTjv av9po)TroTr]Ta, Kai iradayioyijuavTog reaaapai vofioig, k- X. Conv.
Dec. Virg. p. 131. B. Corabef. Auct. Nov. P. i.
^ EvayytKi'Cofin'n kqi avaKaivi^ovroq avrov Avavis ry /SaTTTtff/iart, KaGwg
fv rate Tlnattmv r) i