posed to them as apostolical, to determine according to evidence." Again: Edward Robinson, Professor extraordinary of sacred literature, in the Theological Seminary, Andover, says, in his translation of Calmet, "that among the Apocryphal New Testament writings, are no less than twentyfour Gospels, ten books of Acts, six Epistles, and nine Apocalypses.' In confirmation of the above quotations, I will make another from Mosheim, the great historian of modern times, who says: "For not long after Christ's ascension into heaven, several histories of his life and doctrines, full of pious frauds and fabulous wonders, were composed, by persons whose intentions, perhaps, were not bad, but whose writings discovered the greatest superstition and ignorance. Nor was this all-productions appeared which were imposed upon the world by fraudulent men, as the writings of the holy Apostles. These Apocryphal and spurious writings must have produced a sad confusion, and rendered both the history and the doctrine of Christ uncertain, had not the rulers of the church used all possible care and diligence in separating the books truly apostolical from all that spurious trash, and conveying them down to posterity in one volume." Now these were all afloat in the Christian community, and they were received by many individuals and churches. and when there was a Council called, each one took his favorite document with him, and introduced it to the Council, where the merits of each one was discussed, and then put to vote, like the Nebraska Bill in Congress. They had a variety of Councils within the first six hundred years of the Christian era, and what one Council would sanction and stamp divinity or holiness upon—a second Council would tear the sanctum sanctorum of some of the books, that the first Council had sealed. And as a confirmation thereof, I will report two cases; the first taken from the apostolical canons of the primitive church, that stamped divinity on those books it considered canonical, which is as follows, to wit: Of the Old Testament, the five books of Moses; one of Jesus, son of Nane; one of the Judges; one of Ruth; four of the Kings; two of Paraliromena; two of Esdras; one of Esther; one of Job; one hundred and fifty Psalms; three of Solomon, viz: The Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Canticles; sixteen of the Prophets; (besides, let it be remembered that Novices be taught the wisdom of the most learned Syrach.) Of the New Testament, the four Gospels, of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; fourteen Epistles of Paul; two of Peter; three of John; one of Jude; two Epistles of Clement, and the Acts of the Apostles. Now this was the first council that stands upon record in the Christian church, that decided upon what books of Scripture were canonical. And after being tossed back and forward in different councils, which for brevity's sake, I will pass by-and report the decision of the last council that decided upon the canon, which Luther multilated. I will give it in full, to wit: "That nothing be read in Churches in the name of divine writings, beside the canonical Scripture, viz: Genesis, &c. As 59 Canon of Laodicea, (adding) Tobius, Judith, two books of Esdras; two of Maccabees; (making) five books of Solomon; (so reckoning Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus for two of them,) of the New Testament, Matthew, &c.; Apocalypse of John. Let this be notified to our fellow Priest Boniface, or to other Bishops of those parts, for the confirmation of this canon; for we have received from our Fathers, that they are to be read in churches." This last decision is taken from the canons of the Synod of Africa. Although this council was not considered of the universal church, yet they were incorporated into it, as I will show by an extract from the preface of the African code, to wit: "This collection is the code of the African church, which was always in greatest repute in all churches, next after the code of the universal church. This code was of very great authority in the old English churches, for many of the Excerptions of Egbert were transcribed from it. And though the code of the universal church ends with the canons of Chalcedon, yet these African canons are inserted into the ancient code, both of the Eastern and of the Western churches." Therefore, it may be considered as a decision of a council of the church universal. The above extracts are taken from a writer of one of the high dignitaries of the Church of England; the title of his book is the "Clergyman's Vade Mecum." Again: You will perceive that they have added several books to the Old Testament, and have rejected two books or Epistles out of the New Testament, and they have added one new book to it, the Apocalypse of John, that had been generally rejected heretofore, although there were nine afloat in circulation. And this is the Canon that Luther attacked and multilated, after it had been received by the church for upwards of a thousand years. If the Protestant world will allow Luther to go to heaven, after committing such a sacrilegious act, as attacking the holy Canon of Scriptures, tearing the seals of seven of the holy books and throwing them out of the sacred Canon, after they had been received by the church for up wards of a thousand years, surely they will not send me to hell for rejecting a few words out of their Canon! Far be it from me to treat anything sacred or holy with contempt, for I want to give every thing its just due. I am also aware that the Apostle calls the Scriptures holy, and he also calls men holy; therefore it is evident be spoke in the specific and not in the generic term. For it is also evident he did not mean that all men were holy, but only those that were good. It is also evident that he did not mean that all Scriptures or writings were holy, any more than all men were holy; but he meant that all writings of inspired men were holy. But it will not follow from these premises, that all the Jews' writings were holy, any more than that they were all holy themselves. Therefore, with these remarks, I will dismiss the subject, and bid you a final farewell. WM. M'GIRR. THE END. CONTENTS. LETTER I. LETTER II. LETTER III. LETTER IV. LETTER V. LETTER VI. |