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Lactantius. a. D. 306. 547
in verses broug^ht to Rome from Erythree, by order of the
senate.
i). The Preaching- of Peter is but once quoted by Lactantius
; it is in this niaruier :
' After*' his resurrection, Christ
opened to his disciphs all things which should come to pass,
Avhich things Peter and Paul preached at Rome. And for
the better remembrance, that preaching has been written,
and remains to this time. In which, besides many other
wonderful things, they say it would come to pass, that in a
siiort time God would send a king, w ho would conquer the
Jews, overthrow their cities, and bring upon them many
drendful afflictions, and calamities.'
Upon this book I have already had occasion to make
divers remarks, in** the chapter of Clement of Alexandria,
and in the article of^ the Anonymous Author of the treatise
Of Rebaptizing, joined with St. Cyprian's works, to which
the reader is referred.
Upon this passage of Lactantius we may now make the
following remarks :
(1.) It is probable, that this book contained some account
of the preaching both of St. Peter and St. Paul.
(2.) It is likely, that Lactantius did not know who was
the author of it.
(3.) There is no reason to conclude from this passage,
that the preaching here spoken of, was esteemed by Lactantius,
or other christians at that time, a book of authority, or
a part of sacred scripture.
VIII. Nothing remains, but that we briefly sum up this
writer's testimony to the scriptures.
We have seen in Lactr.ntius references to the gospels, the
Acts of the Apostles, and some of the epistles, and to the
book of the Revelation, which he expressly quotes as sacred
scripture, and written by John. We have likewise observed
plain proof of his having a collection of scriptures, consisting
of the Old and New Testament ; w hich he esteemed sacred
and divine, and of the highest authority. If Lactantius had
not purposely restraiiied himself from quoting christian
scriptures in his arguments with heathens, his testimony
would have been much more full and particular. For, not-
" Sed et futiira aperuit illis omnia, quae Petrus et Paulus Romae praedicaveruiit.
Et ea praedicafio in inemoriam scripta permansit : in qua cum multa
alia mira, turn etiam hoc futurum esse dixerunt, ut post breve tempus immit-
teret Deus regem, qui expugnaret Judaeos, et civitates eorum solo adaequaret,
ipsos autera fame sitique obsideret.— I. iv. c. 21. p. 422, 423.
* Vol. ii. p. 252—255. " Vol. iii. p. 70, 71.
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