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a_o historical_a account_n and_o defence_n of_o the_o canon_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n in_o answer_n to_o amyntor_n the_o weaker-sighted_n ever_o look_v too_o nigh_o but_o their_o dispute_n the_o sacred_a page_n make_v good_a as_o doubt_a tenor_n which_o long_a plead_n try_v authentic_a grow_v by_o be_v much_o withstand_v by_o sir_n william_n davenant_n in_o gondib._n london_n print_v by_o j._n derby_n for_o andrew_n bell_n at_o the_o cross-keys_n and_o bible_n in_o cornhill_n m.dcc_o a_o historical_a account_n and_o defence_n of_o the_o canon_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n sir_n at_o the_o suggestion_n of_o a_o learned_a friend_n i_o be_o about_o to_o answer_v to_o a_o book_n amyntor_n dedicate_v to_o very_o formidable_a patron_n for_o in_o his_o title_n page_n the_o author_n make_v this_o address_n dî_fw-la quibus_fw-la imperium_fw-la animarum_fw-la est_fw-la vmbraeque_fw-la silentes_fw-la et_fw-la chaos_n &_o phlegeton_n loca_fw-la nocte_fw-la tacentia_fw-la latè_fw-la sit_fw-la mihi_fw-la fas_fw-la audita_fw-la loqui_fw-la sit_fw-la numine_fw-la vestro_fw-la pandere_fw-la res_fw-la altâ_fw-la terrâ_fw-la &_o caligine_fw-la mersis_fw-la we_o may_v english_a it_o thus_o you_o god_n and_o ghost_n of_o hell_n to_o human_a sight_n not_o yet_o reveal_v and_o thou_o whole_a realm_n of_o night_n protect_v i_o that_o i_o safe_o may_v relate_v the_o black_a secret_n of_o our_o church_n and_o state_n there_o will_v not_o want_v those_o who_o will_v say_v hereupon_o from_o pray_v to_o the_o holy_a virgin_n and_o the_o saint_n amyntor_n be_v improve_v into_o invoke_v the_o devil_n and_o his_o angel_n they_o will_v say_v he_o be_v the_o first_o that_o ever_o public_o put_v himself_o under_o such_o a_o protection_n that_o however_o a_o book_n direct_v against_o the_o sacred_a canon_n will_v not_o easy_o find_v other_o patron_n so_o that_o this_o extravagance_n of_o the_o author_n be_v as_o much_o the_o effect_n of_o necessity_n as_o of_o inclination_n in_o short_a i_o 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can_v be_v true_o say_v for_o divers_a of_o they_o but_o otherwhile_o he_o speak_v to_o this_o effect_n that_o they_o be_v the_o forgery_n partly_o of_o zealous_a bigot_n who_o be_v solicitous_a to_o provide_v these_o crutch_n for_o lame_a christianity_n and_o partly_o of_o some_o heathen_n that_o be_v tickle_v with_o the_o pleasure_n of_o impose_v on_o the_o know_v simplicity_n and_o credulity_n of_o the_o first_o christian_n who_o be_v wont_a to_o swallow_v any_o book_n as_o divine_a revelation_n if_o it_o have_v but_o a_o great_a many_o miracle_n sprinkle_v with_o a_o few_o good_a moral_n he_o have_v dispose_v these_o book_n under_o the_o follow_a title_n and_o distinction_n i._o book_n report_v to_o be_v write_v by_o christ_n himself_o or_o that_o particular_o concern_v he_o his_o letter_n in_o answer_n to_o that_o of_o abgarus_n king_n of_o edessa_n a_o letter_n to_o peter_n and_o paul_n his_o parable_n and_o sermon_n a_o hymn_n which_o he_o secret_o teach_v to_o his_o apostle_n 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voyage_n and_o performance_n a_o epistle_n of_o peter_n to_o clement_n iv_o by_o st._n andrew_n his_o gospel_n and_o acts._n v._o by_o st._n james_n a_o liturgy_n and_o gospel_n his_o book_n concern_v the_o death_n of_o the_o virgin_n mary_n but_o there_o be_v reason_n he_o say_v to_o believe_v john_n be_v author_n of_o it_o not_o james_n vi_o by_o st._n john_n his_o act_n liturgy_n itinerary_n and_o tradition_n another_o gospel_n different_a from_o we_o his_o book_n of_o the_o death_n of_o the_o virgin_n mary_n mention_v twice_o already_o vii_o by_o st._n philip._n the_o gospel_n of_o philip_n the_o act_n of_o philip._n viii_o by_o st._n bartholomew_n a_o gospel_n ix_o by_o st._n thomas_n a_o gospel_n act_n revelation_n and_o itinerary_n as_o also_o a_o book_n of_o the_o infancy_n of_o christ_n x._o by_o st._n matthew_n a_o liturgy_n there_o be_v also_o another_o by_o mark._n xi_o by_o st._n thaddaeus_n a_o gospel_n xii_o by_o st._n mathias_n a_o gospel_n and_o tradition_n xiii_o by_o 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apostle_n creed_n the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o apostle_n there_o be_v beside_o doctrine_n attribute_v to_o every_o one_o of_o the_o apostle_n single_o and_o also_o to_o their_o companion_n and_o immediate_a successor_n the_o doctrine_n of_o the_o twelve_o apostle_n compose_v by_o they_o with_o the_o assistance_n of_o st._n paul_n the_o canon_n and_o constitution_n of_o the_o apostle_n the_o act_n of_o the_o apostle_n write_v by_o themselves_o the_o gospel_n of_o perfection_n the_o precept_n of_o peter_n and_o paul_n the_o itinerary_n of_o all_o the_o apostle_n as_o well_o as_o of_o every_o one_o of_o they_o single_o be_v former_o extant_a xvi_o write_n of_o the_o companion_n and_o disciple_n of_o the_o apostle_n the_o epistle_n of_o clemens_n romanus_n to_o the_o corinthian_n his_o recognition_n decretal_n and_o other_o piece_n bear_v his_o name_n the_o epistle_n of_o ignatius_n a_o epistle_n of_o polycarp_n to_o the_o philippian_n with_o his_o other_o write_n the_o act_n of_o the_o martyrdom_n of_o ignatius_n and_o of_o polycarp_n the_o pastor_n of_o hermas_n a_o epistle_n of_o barnabas_n the_o work_n of_o dionysin_n areopagita_n a_o epistle_n of_o marcellus_n disciple_n of_o peter_n to_o nereus_n and_o achilleus_n his_o treatise_n of_o the_o conflict_n of_o peter_n and_o simon_n magus_n the_o life_n of_o st._n john_n by_o prochorus_n the_o petition_n of_o veronica_n to_o herod_n on_o behalf_n of_o christ_n the_o passion_n of_o timothy_n by_o polycrates_n the_o passion_n of_o peter_n and_o paul_n in_o two_o book_n by_o linus_n two_o epistle_n of_o martial_a of_o limosin_n his_o life_n by_o aurelianus_n the_o gospel_n of_o nicodemus_n the_o history_n of_o the_o apostolical_a conflict_n by_o abdias_n the_o passion_n of_o st._n andrew_n by_o the_o presbyter_n of_o achaia_n the_o epistle_n of_o evodius_n entitle_v the_o light_n the_o altercation_n of_o jason_n and_o papiscus_n the_o act_n of_o titus_n compose_v by_o zena_n companion_n
easy_a to_o guess_v the_o reason_n he_o be_v a_o heathen_a and_o they_o be_v christian_n but_o we_o see_v however_o by_o all_o this_o that_o the_o mere_a force_n or_o edacity_n of_o time_n bear_v away_o or_o devour_v the_o most_o excellent_a instance_n of_o human_a industry_n and_o wit_n that_o we_o ought_v not_o to_o marvel_v if_o we_o have_v not_o still_o all_o or_o even_o have_v not_o the_o principal_a labour_n of_o the_o apostle_n and_o apostolical_a man_n if_o amyntor_n catalogue_n of_o book_n some_o of_o they_o once_o reverence_v by_o the_o church_n and_o now_o lose_v be_v much_o large_a than_o it_o be_v it_o will_v by_o no_o mean_n prove_v they_o be_v all_o trivial_a spurious_a or_o erroneous_a book_n it_o will_v be_v no_o imputation_n on_o christianity_n as_o abound_v only_o with_o fable_n and_o imposture_n there_o be_v we_o have_v see_v no_o part_n of_o learning_n though_o never_o so_o useful_a and_o necessary_a or_o so_o curious_a and_o divert_v but_o have_v suffer_v extreme_o by_o the_o loss_n of_o some_o excellent_a book_n and_o author_n nay_o of_o most_o such_o author_n and_o book_n i_o believe_v also_o the_o unquestionable_a orthodoxy_n the_o yield_a certainty_n or_o genuinness_n and_o apparent_a sufficiency_n of_o the_o present_a scripture-canon_n be_v great_a occation_n that_o the_o book_n in_o the_o catalogue_n fall_v gradual_o into_o disuse_a and_o be_v afterward_o lose_v as_o to_o the_o sufficiency_n of_o the_o book_n of_o the_o canon_n i_o mean_v of_o all_o they_o take_v together_o it_o be_v self-evident_a for_o they_o contain_v a_o repeat_v abrogation_n of_o the_o mosaic_a law_n so_o far_o as_o it_o be_v ritual_a and_o judicial_a a_o complete_a system_fw-la of_o moral_n the_o history_n of_o the_o parentage_n conception_n birth_n miracle_n doctrine_n death_n resurrection_n and_o ascension_n of_o our_o saviour_n the_o descent_n of_o the_o holy_a spirit_n on_o the_o apostle_n their_o divine_a inspiration_n and_o miraculous_a power_n their_o epistle_n to_o private_a person_n to_o church_n and_o nation_n in_o which_o they_o often_o profess_o repeat_v the_o substance_n of_o the_o christian_a religion_n as_o well_o in_o what_o respect_v faith_n as_o manner_n in_o short_a a_o man_n can_v read_v these_o book_n without_o most_o plain_o perceive_v that_o they_o be_v such_o a_o account_n of_o the_o religion_n they_o teach_v as_o need_v no_o supplement_n their_o genuinness_n and_o orthodoxy_n or_o that_o they_o be_v the_o very_a book_n of_o the_o author_n who_o name_n they_o bear_v and_o be_v true_a representation_n of_o the_o doctrine_n of_o christianity_n as_o deliver_v to_o the_o church_n by_o the_o first_o miraculous_a preacher_n this_o be_v infer_v with_o absolute_a certainty_n from_o their_o reception_n by_o all_o those_o church_n as_o such_o and_o that_o these_o rather_o than_o the_o book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n though_o divers_a of_o they_o also_o be_v high_o value_v have_v be_v preserve_v if_o it_o be_v urge_v that_o suppose_v as_o this_o answer_n do_v the_o book_n in_o the_o catalogue_n most_o of_o they_o or_o some_o of_o they_o be_v orthodox_n and_o genuine_a and_o own_a to_o be_v such_o by_o the_o church_n it_o be_v much_o they_o shall_v be_v lose_v and_o only_o the_o book_n of_o the_o present_a canon_n preserve_v which_o have_v be_v preserve_v it_o seem_v for_o no_o other_o reason_n but_o what_o be_v common_a also_o to_o the_o book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n namely_o because_o they_o be_v undoubted_o orthodox_n and_o certain_o genuine_a i_o answer_v that_o the_o book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n that_o be_v lose_v or_o reject_v be_v not_o so_o certain_o cenuin_v to_o all_o the_o church_n as_o those_o that_o be_v preserve_v and_o make_v part_n of_o the_o canon_n and_o as_o to_o the_o orthodoxy_n though_o that_o as_o to_o many_o of_o they_o be_v not_o question_v yet_o the_o book_n not_o be_v so_o certain_a as_o to_o their_o genuinness_n in_o all_o part_n of_o the_o christian_a world_n and_o therefore_o not_o allow_v as_o unexceptionable_a evidence_n in_o the_o numerous_a controversy_n that_o arise_v in_o the_o catholic_a church_n and_o the_o un-suspected_n book_n be_v abundant_o sufficient_a to_o serve_v the_o end_n of_o religion_n in_o respect_n both_o of_o controversy_n and_o institution_n in_o manner_n the_o former_a hereupon_o almost_o unavoidable_o begin_v to_o be_v neglect_v and_o in_o time_n be_v lose_v and_o only_o the_o latter_a be_v keep_v we_o have_v now_o the_o advantage_n of_o print_v and_o of_o a_o ready_a communication_n by_o the_o increase_n of_o trade_n and_o improvement_n of_o navigation_n between_o nation_n and_o nation_n the_o ancient_n want_v these_o help_n therefore_o with_o they_o a_o book_n concern_v the_o christian_a religion_n if_o it_o be_v not_o publish_v in_o judea_n or_o at_o rome_n or_o in_o some_o part_n of_o greece_n or_o some_o considerable_a city_n of_o asia_n it_o may_v not_o come_v to_o be_v know_v of_o a_o long_a time_n not_o vulgar_o and_o general_o know_v in_o the_o church_n till_o the_o evidence_n that_o it_o be_v genuine_a be_v all_o whole_o lose_v or_o become_v of_o but_o little_a authority_n the_o book_n of_o our_o present_a canon_n be_v immediate_o communicate_v by_o the_o church_n or_o person_n to_o who_o they_o be_v write_v unto_o all_o the_o famous_a church_n like_a industry_n be_v not_o use_v on_o behalf_n of_o the_o book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n therefore_o these_o last_o be_v read_v only_o or_o chief_o in_o the_o place_n of_o their_o publication_n and_o in_o the_o church_n to_o which_o they_o be_v address_v and_o thus_o be_v long_o unknown_a to_o the_o church_n and_o illustrious_a writer_n of_o other_o place_n though_o many_o of_o they_o be_v approve_v as_o to_o their_o doctrine_n and_o usefulness_n on_o which_o account_n they_o be_v often_o quote_v by_o those_o two_o the_o most_o learned_a of_o the_o antenicen_n father_n clemens_n of_o alexandria_n and_o origen_n yet_o they_o do_v not_o obtain_v to_o be_v adopt_v into_o the_o scripture-canon_n as_o not_o so_o certain_o the_o work_n of_o apostle_n and_o apostolical_a man_n as_o those_o that_o be_v receive_v for_o such_o every_o where_o and_o from_o the_o beginning_n far_o it_o may_v be_v divers_a book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n title_v with_o the_o name_n of_o a_o apostle_n or_o synergist_n of_o the_o apostle_n be_v reject_v and_o in_o process_n of_o time_n lose_v for_o that_o very_a reason_n it_o be_v suppose_v that_o the_o book_n have_v to_o it_o a_o name_n of_o one_o of_o the_o apostle_n or_o some_o apostolical_a person_n therefore_o the_o author_n claim_v to_o be_v that_o person_n or_o that_o apostle_n it_o may_v appear_v however_o by_o some_o thing_n in_o the_o book_n itself_o or_o by_o some_o circumstance_n common_o know_v that_o the_o author_n be_v not_o the_o apostle_n or_o other_o person_n vulgar_o think_v to_o be_v design_v in_o the_o title_n and_o hereupon_o the_o book_n be_v consider_v as_o a_o forgery_n and_o imposture_n and_o as_o write_v probable_o with_o some_o dishonest_a intention_n and_o aim_n but_o as_o now_o so_o then_o and_o then_o much_o more_o than_o now_o abundance_n of_o people_n have_v the_o same_o name_n with_o the_o apostle_n and_o other_o first_o preacher_n it_o may_v be_v most_o christian_n take_v those_o name_n either_o at_o their_o conversion_n or_o baptism_n a_o book_n therefore_o suppose_v a_o gospel_n epistle_n act_n may_v real_o be_v the_o work_n of_o the_o author_n in_o the_o title-page_n or_o elsewhere_o in_o the_o book_n and_o yet_o in_o short_a time_n be_v reject_v neglect_a and_o final_o lose_v as_o a_o imposture_n and_o forgery_n on_o that_o false_a supposition_n that_o the_o author_n affect_v to_o seem_v the_o person_n that_o he_o be_v not_o and_o that_o in_o truth_n he_o never_o pretend_v to_o be_v this_o very_a thing_n have_v certain_o happen_v in_o divers_a work_n of_o the_o father_n as_o well_o those_o of_o the_o four_o and_o five_o age_n and_o late_a as_o those_o of_o the_o second_o and_o three_o and_o it_o may_v happen_v i_o say_v in_o divers_a write_n of_o the_o catalogue_n that_o we_o be_v consider_v i_o take_v these_o to_o be_v some_o of_o the_o cause_n that_o so_o many_o book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n be_v lose_v time_n the_o sufficiency_n of_o the_o book_n preserve_v and_o that_o some_o of_o they_o come_v not_o to_o general_a knowledge_n till_o the_o evidence_n that_o they_o be_v genuine_a be_v not_o so_o certain_a these_o be_v such_o reason_n and_o occasion_n of_o it_o that_o we_o can_v much_o wonder_v at_o the_o misfortune_n of_o this_o invaluable_a damage_n and_o after_o this_o it_o be_v but_o little_a to_o the_o credit_n of_o their_o judgement_n and_o less_o of_o their_o moral_n that_o some_o affect_v to_o guess_v at_o the_o cause_n of_o this_o mishap_n in_o a_o sort_n that_o reflect_v on_o the_o christian_a religion_n as_o
be_v gospel_n be_v but_o a_o abridgement_n of_o the_o gospel_n by_o matthew_n that_o st._n luke_n in_o the_o first_o verse_n of_o his_o gospel_n commend_v the_o gospel_n of_o matthew_n and_o mark_n that_o st._n john_n approve_v the_o gospel_n of_o these_o three_o former_a evangelist_n and_o write_v his_o gospel_n only_o by_o way_n of_o supplement_n to_o they_o that_o st._n peter_n commend_v the_o epistle_n of_o paul_n and_o signify_v at_o the_o same_o time_n that_o they_o be_v common_o read_v and_o a_o bad_a use_v make_v of_o they_o by_o some_o that_o the_o catholic_n epistle_n by_o james_n peter_n judas_n and_o john_n the_o epistle_n to_o the_o hebrew_n and_o the_o revelation_n be_v write_v either_o to_o whole_a nation_n or_o to_o all_o christian_n be_v certain_o publish_v as_o soon_o as_o write_v 2._o at_o least_o the_o clergy_n and_o churches_n be_v unacquainted_a with_o the_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n till_o 130_o year_n after_o christ_n i_o have_v show_v they_o be_v quote_v by_o all_o the_o extant_a writer_n of_o those_o time_n by_o barnabas_n herinas_n ignatius_n polycarp_n clemens_n romanus_n and_o by_o some_o not_o extant_a as_o papias_n of_o hierapolis_n in_o the_o year_n 110._o far_o that_o the_o four_o gospel_n the_o act_n revelation_n catholic_n epistle_n and_o epistle_n to_o the_o hebrew_n be_v write_v for_o general_a information_n or_o to_o whole_a church_n or_o nation_n they_o be_v write_v to_o be_v publish_v and_o publish_v as_o soon_o as_o write_v and_o that_o it_o be_v a_o very_a precarious_a and_o withal_o a_o unreasonable_a supposition_n that_o the_o clergy_n and_o churches_n be_v ignorant_a of_o the_o publish_v book_n of_o their_o religion_n that_o the_o contrary_n in_o truth_n be_v evident_a for_o as_o early_o as_o justin_n martyr_n time_n the_o church_n entertain_v a_o reader_n beside_o the_o deacon_n presbyter_n and_o bishop_n who_o read_v the_o old_a and_o new_a testament_n to_o the_o assembly_n 3._o it_o be_v impossible_a when_o the_o book_n of_o the_o canon_n first_o appear_v to_o distinguish_v they_o from_o spurious_a gospel_n act_n epistle_n and_o revelation_n which_o be_v also_o entitle_v to_o the_o apostle_n i_o have_v reply_v there_o be_v nothing_o more_o obvious_a or_o easy_a to_o the_o then_o church_n than_o to_o distinguish_v they_o with_o absolute_a certainty_n by_o their_o agreement_n or_o disagreement_n with_o the_o doctrine_n and_o history_n of_o our_o saviour_n which_o those_o church_n have_v but_o just_a before_o receive_v by_o word_n of_o mouth_n from_o the_o apostle_n and_o other_o first_o miraculous_a preacher_n 4._o different_a copy_n be_v show_v of_o all_o the_o canonical_a book_n from_o the_o very_a first_o the_o nazarene_o and_o ebionits_n have_v a_o gospel_n of_o st._n matthew_n different_z from_o we_o the_o marcionits_n of_o st._n luke_n and_o of_o the_o epistle_n of_o paul_n i_o have_v answer_v martion_n be_v so_o ingenuous_a as_o to_o retract_v his_o vitiate_a copy_n of_o st._n paul_n epistle_n and_o of_o st._n luke_n gospel_n the_o copy_n of_o matthew_n use_v by_o the_o nazarene_o be_v say_v the_o ancient_n πληÏÎςατον_fw-gr most_o perfect_a the_o ebionite_n copy_n be_v probable_o st._n matthew'_v first_o or_o hebrew_n edition_n of_o his_o gospel_n do_v indeed_o want_v the_o two_o first_o chapter_n and_o in_o time_n they_o have_v add_v some_o traditional_a memoir_n from_o the_o witness_n of_o some_o disciple_n that_o have_v see_v the_o fact_n and_o know_v the_o person_n it_o be_v to_o be_v wish_v we_o have_v still_o this_o copy_n 5._o the_o book_n of_o the_o canon_n be_v impute_v by_o some_o very_a considerable_a sect_n of_o christian_n not_o to_o the_o apostle_n who_o name_n they_o bear_v but_o either_o to_o heretic_n or_o to_o a_o set_v of_o half-jew_n and_o half-christians_a who_o have_v write_v they_o only_o from_o hearsay_n and_o fly_a report_n i_o have_v evince_v that_o only_o the_o gospel_n of_o john_n be_v ever_o mislay_v and_o that_o the_o alogian_o soon_o see_v their_o error_n in_o the_o case_n not_o only_o receive_v that_o gospel_n but_o receive_v it_o also_o with_o all_o other_o sect_n and_o church_n as_o st._n john_n '_o s._n that_o the_o manichee_n the_o other_o considerable_a sect_n of_o christian_n intend_v in_o the_o objection_n own_v our_o four_o gospel_n the_o epistle_n of_o paul_n all_o the_o catholic_n epistle_n and_o all_o other_o book_n of_o our_o canon_n in_o short_a that_o amyntor_n certain_o and_o inadvertent_o enough_o mistake_v the_o meaning_n of_o the_o author_n faustus_n the_o manichee_n who_o he_o allege_v 6._o the_o philosopher_n celsus_n complain_v that_o the_o christian_n have_v alter_v their_o gospel_n three_o or_o four_o or_o more_o time_n celsus_n i_o have_v say_v mean_v this_o of_o the_o copy_n of_o martion_n and_o of_o valentinus_n and_o lucanus_n which_o never_o be_v use_v in_o the_o church_n but_o at_o their_o first_o appearance_n be_v detect_v and_o reject_v by_o all_o church_n of_o the_o book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n he_o say_v 1._o many_o of_o they_o have_v rather_o be_v suppress_v by_o the_o strong_a side_n in_o the_o church_n than_o lose_v and_o that_o probable_o they_o be_v the_o genuine_a work_n of_o the_o apostle_n i_o have_v grant_v divers_a of_o they_o may_v be_v the_o real_a work_n of_o those_o who_o name_n they_o bear_v and_o that_o our_o loss_n of_o they_o be_v to_o be_v regret_v but_o the_o whole_a body_n of_o learning_n have_v suffer_v extreme_o by_o the_o loss_n of_o some_o of_o the_o best_a book_n in_o every_o science_n and_o art_n notwithstanding_o the_o reason_n allege_v by_o the_o ancient_n against_o many_o of_o they_o be_v sufficient_a to_o convince_v we_o that_o there_o be_v just_a cause_n to_o slight_v and_o even_o to_o suppress_v they_o 2._o the_o epistle_n of_o barnabas_n ignatius_n polycarp_n clemens_n romanus_n and_o the_o pastor_n of_o hermas_n be_v esteem_v by_o the_o ancient_n to_o be_v a_o good_a scripture_n as_o any_o part_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n they_o be_v receive_v by_o the_o sound_a of_o the_o ancient_n who_o at_o the_o same_o time_n reject_v divers_a book_n of_o our_o present_a canon_n namely_o the_o revelation_n the_o epistle_n to_o the_o hebrew_n the_o epistle_n of_o judas_n the_o second_o of_o peter_n and_o the_o second_o and_o three_o of_o john_n but_o i_o have_v produce_v unquestionable_a testimony_n of_o the_o ancient_n that_o these_o lesser_a piece_n of_o the_o canon_n be_v always_o receive_v by_o the_o generality_n of_o church_n and_o christian_n and_o that_o when_o they_o be_v own_v in_o the_o council_n of_o laodicea_n it_o be_v on_o very_o good_a ground_n on_o the_o same_o reason_n which_o convince_v they_o of_o the_o genuinness_n of_o the_o other_o book_n of_o the_o new_a testament_n as_o to_o barnabas_n ignatius_n polycarp_n hermas_n and_o clemens_n romanus_n they_o be_v consider_v indeed_o as_o pious_a and_o well-minded_a composition_n but_o be_v read_v no_o otherwise_o but_o as_o we_o now_o read_v in_o our_o church_n the_o apocryphal_a book_n of_o the_o old_a testament_n which_o for_o all_o that_o we_o direct_o deny_v to_o be_v divine_a scripture_n and_o many_o think_v they_o not_o very_o edify_v or_o profitable_a especial_o some_o of_o they_o 3._o the_o principal_a ante-nicen_a father_n quote_v divers_a gospel_n epistle_n and_o act_n of_o the_o catalogue_n as_o scripture_n and_o canonical_a and_o this_o be_v all_o that_o can_v be_v say_v for_o the_o book_n of_o the_o canon_n and_o more_o than_o can_v be_v true_o say_v for_o some_o of_o they_o i_o have_v allege_v the_o very_a word_n of_o those_o father_n it_o appear_v they_o never_o cite_v the_o book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n as_o divine_a scripture_n and_o in_o recite_v the_o book_n of_o the_o true_a scripture-canon_n and_o of_o the_o apostle_n they_o always_o omit_v all_o the_o gospel_n and_o other_o book_n of_o the_o catalogue_n i_o grant_v however_o that_o the_o mere_a term_n scripture_n and_o canonical_a be_v at_o first_o 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