sobriety towards ourselves, and righteousness towards others. If he that reads this, shall reap any delight and satisfaction by it, or be in any way induced to imitate these primitive duties, I shall think my labour well bestowed: and may God give a blessing to it, for Jesus Christ's sake.-Amen.

b 2

Ancient Authorities

ON WHICH THE FOLLOWING ARGUMENT IS FOUNDED.

IT may be of use to those not conversant in these studies, to be informed that the early writers of the church of Christ have generally been styled THE FATHERS, from the value attached to the authenticity of their works, and from the veneration due to their characters.

First Century.

A. D. 65.

CLEMENT, BISHOP OF ROME.

"Clement's first epistle to the Corinthians was so highly esteemed in the primitive church, that we are told that it was wont to be read in its assemblies."-Archbishop Wake.

Second Century.

A. D. 101.

IGNATIUS.

"His epistles are the true indices of the piety and divine temper of his mind. Polycarp says, They contain instructions and exhortations to faith and patience, and whatever is necessary to build up in the religion of our Lord and Saviour."-Cave.

A. D. 108.

POLYCARP, BISHOP OF SMYRNA.

• It

"Irenæus speaking of his epistle to the Philippians, says, 'It is a most perfect and absolute epistle, whence they that are careful of their salvation, may learn the character of his faith, and the truth which he preached." is a pious and truly christian epistle, furnished with short and useful precepts and rules of life, and penned with the modesty and simplicity of the apostolic times, valued by the ancients next to the writings of the holy canon.". Cave.

A. D. 140.

JUSTIN MARTYR,

"One of the most learned and most early writers of the eastern church, not long after the apostles."-Eusebius.

"In the deliberate exercise of his best judgement, he embraced christianity, regardless of his interest and reputation in the world. His understanding and his heart were equally convinced and touched; and the remainder of his life corresponded with the beginning."-Collinson.*

A. D. 167.

IRENEUS, BISHOP OF LYONS,

"A disciple of Polycarp, by whom he was sent to preach the gospel among the Gauls, and whose labours were singularly useful to the church. He turned his pen against its internal and domestic enemies, by attacking the monstrous errors which were adopted by many of the primitive christians."-Mosheim.

A. D. 170.

"ATHENAGORAS

"deserves a place among the estimable writers of this age. He was a philosopher of no mean reputation, and

his Apology for the Christians,' as well as his Treatise upon the Resurrection,' afford striking proofs of his learning and genius."-Mosheim.

* See “ A Key to the writings of the principal Fathers of the church, who flourished during the three first centuries, preached at the Bampton Lectures, Oxford, 1813.-By the Rev. John Collinson, M. A., Rector of Gateshead."

A. D. 192.

CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA.

"To commend this excellent man, after the great things spoken of him by the ancients, were to hold a candle to the sun."-Cave. "Clement had embraced the eclectic philosophy, and his great object is to make all kinds of learning and knowledge subservient to the purposes of righteousness, and the establishment of christian faith."-Collinson.

A. D. 192.

TERTULLIAN.

"This author was the first of the Fathers who wrote in Latin, in a style harsh and abrupt indeed, but keen and sententious, and which sometimes has an impassioned eloquence."-Collinson. "His works were designed to explain and defend the truth, and to nourish pious affections in the breasts of christians. He was by birth a Carthagenian, who, having first embraced the profession of the law, became afterwards a proselyte of the church, and concluded by adopting the heretical visions of Montanus."- - Mosheim. "His errors and unsound opinions are frequently noticed by S. Augustine and the ancients." -Cave. "That which he borrowed from this sect, for it appears certain that he never embraced the whole of their erroneous and enthusiastic views, does not seem to have exercised any material influence on his theory of scriptural interpretation."-Conybeare. Bamp. Lect