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The Mankhees. Sect. VI. 409
understanding' this notion of theirs. Nevertheless, divers
passages of ancient authors should be observed by us, that
>ve may the more distinctly perceive how far they carried
this principle.
1. Some might comphiin if I did not largely transcribe so
ancient a writer in this controversy as Titus of Bosira, wijo,
1 think, has used the strongest expressions of any of their
adversaries in speaking of this matter. They are such as
these
:
' Mani, and his followers,' he says, ' for"" supporting- their
* doctrines, quote some texts of scripture, and wrest them
' from their right meaning.'
The" Old Testament, even the law and the prophets, he
ascribes to what he calls the evil principle. ' The gospels,
' and other parts of the New Testament,' he says, ' are from
* the good principle ; but are not uncorrupt : for many
' thingsof Hyle, or the bad principle, are mixed with them.
' For which reason we are to make a distinction, and are to
' follow, and make use of those parts only which belong to
' what is called the good principle.' He adds, ' that' Mani
' pretends to correct the holy scriptures, and, acting here
' the assumed character of the Paraclete, he takes away a
' large part of the New Testament, and leaves in it a i\iw
' things only, so spoiling- all its harmony.'
Titus says farther: ' Because" they honour the name of
' Christ, they pretend to honour also the gospels. But if
' they did really honour the gospels, they would neither
' take away from them, nor add to them.——Whereas they
* have added to the gospels what they pleased, and have
' taken away from them what they thought fit: still calling-
^ 'PTjatiQ -wag toiv ayiwv yprt^wv iK^ia^oiitvoq trpoQrriv avm ipivSoXoyiav.
Tit. I. 3. p. 135. f.
* Ttjjv fs ypa(ptov rag jitv TraXaiorepag avaTiOrjm ry Trpog avm Xtyojuvij
KnKia, vojiov rt Kai TrpofijTai;' to. It ivayyi\ia, Kai ra \onra rrjg Kaivijg SiaOrj-
Ktjc fiaQr^jiara, izapa (iiv m ayaOn, wg ourai, dtdoaOai, (piiffiv' nSt ravra fii)v 6
Tijg fiXacrcptintag ivpenjg SwrxvpiZtTai di oXh KaOapevav, r«, wg 0j;(T«v, tvavTis
9in' tiwTTapxi'v ^e kcu THTOig uxjTvip Kara Tii'a jui^if, TroXXa rrj _ viz uvth kuXh-
(iivi]g iiXjjg' Kcii xpijrai ravru mpuXovra [lova KaO' iavra, KaTciXimiv a ry th
ayaOa fiepui. lb. p. 136.
' OvTb) Tfjv ayi(i)v ypa(p