Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ... in the same volume occur passages from Ambrose, bishop of Milan, who was contemporary with Eucherius. It might then be thought needless to dwell on an anonymous production of so late a date, for the purpose of investigating the age and authenticity of the Apostolical Records. But it is not desirable that weight shonld be attached to evidence which is weak and worthless for determining such an issue. The Canon of Muratori is cited in proof that the New Testament existed, almost as we have it now, in the latter part of the second century. Few critics hesitate to admit this without a doubt. But the Canon of Muratori is insufficient, if standing alone, to prove even this: for there are certain points in it to be remarked, which seem to indicate that it furnishes no evidence at all on the subject, beyond the fact that our New Testament existed in the eighth century, and possibly earlier up to the fourth century of our era, or even higher still. In the first place the fragment is written in Latin, and we have no other Christian writings remaining from the middle or end of the second century, in any other language than the Greek. But there are two words in the fragment which are of the utmost importance: the author speaks of St Paul's setting out to Spain, "profectionem Fauli ab urbe ad Spaniam proficiscentis." The expression "ab urbe says DrTregelles indicates the Roman character of the document;" and this, whilst it brings down the age of the writer to a later date, renders his testimony less valuable for all the transactions of the earliest period of Christianity. Another objection to the use of this fragment may fairly be made from the tendency of the writer to record improbable legends such as that which will hereafter be related in...