ken in their Names. Thus, to omit the general Addreffes and Language, ever in the Name of the Body of the Apoftles, let us Obferve how the fingle Apostles are

기

herein mention'd: Of Matthew in the first L. I. c.24. Book the expreffion is, at 28 Mar Dajor qué P. 234 τελώντων όντα πρότερον σον έπαιχμύθη, And L.II. c.39. again in the fecond, 8 & 20 MATDay O εις τη δώδεκα ἐν τῇδε τῇ διδασκαλία λα0.46.p.254 λúrtær úμr. In the fame Book, of Peter; καθώς ὁ κύριθ, ἀπεφήνατο, ἐμὲ πέτρες ερωτή

p. 248

с

LIV. 0.7, adulQ år. And elsewhere; a our o p. 296 μάγα ἐμοὶ πέτρῳ καὶ ἰωάννη γρήματα προστα L. V. c. 7. reynor, X. T. λ. And again; in somal P. 309 ἰχθύΘ, κατῆρα δι ̓ ἐμὲ πέτρα τοῖς ἀπατᾶσι κανε 6.141.317 τον Σποςείλας and again ; ἐμὲ πέτρες ἐπαγγελ L. VII. c. 2μs's Cave. And again; ed λαμπε 1. 1. 366 δ ὁ κύρια ἐμοὶ πέτρῳ ὅπὶ τ θαλάσσης, όλι II. p.

τόπισε, εἰς τί ἐδίςασας ; Accordingly we find

с

the fame way of Peter's fpeaking not only moft frequently in that Branch of the Sixth L.VI. c. 7, Book which feems to be fomewhat pecu8,9.1.334 liarly his own, but in the Catalogue of the Apoftolical Bishops of the feventh Book L.VII. c. alfo twice: d ' que wings & 4.138 κλήμης 5 με το λίνω θάνατον, ὑπ ̓ ἐμε πέτρε δεύτερο κεχειροτόνη). Το fay nothing of LVIII. thofe Conftitutions in the Eighth Book, 414, 415 which belong peculiarly to him and Paul in all the MSS. Thus alfo of John: Ι... 14 ανατὰς ἐγώ, εἰς ἐκ τῆς δώδεκα, φιλέμενα πλείον 4.316 TYS MAY La Cr. And in the Catalogue

383, 384

c.

33, 34. P.

of

of the Apoftolical Bishops twice; warns

π ̓

ἐμὲ ἰωάννη. — φιλαδελφείας δημήτριος L. VII. → c, Thus, laftly, of Thomas; qum à 46. p. 384 ὀγδόη, ἐν ᾗ δυσαις και ἐμὲ θωμᾶν ὅτι τῇ ἀνα• L.V. c.19. sa nepopor. And the other way ofp. 324 fpeaking of any Apoftle in the Third Perfon is exceeding rare; excepting the Cafe of Paul, who was not with the reft, when the generality of thefe Conftitutions were written, as we fhall hereafter obferve. So that here is at the leaft as folemn a Claim of Authority from Chrift truly Apoftolical, as in any of the Books of the New Teftament. These Conftitutions therefore will well deferve to be confidered by every Chriftian with that caution and awful regard to their contents which the Autho rity of the Apoftles of Chrift, nay of Chrift himself, and of God his Father, fo vifibly appearing therein does demand from us And indeed I muft own, as to my felf, that I cannot read them without the fame regard that I pay to any Book of the Bible Since I have fully fatisfy'd my felf that they are Genuine, Sacred, and Apoftolical and the Original Repofitory of thofe facred Laws of Chrift, by which he will govern his Church in that her glorious and happy State, which I look upon as now approaching: I muft alfo profefs that I dare no more difbelieve the Doctrines, nor difobey the Duties therein deliver'd and enjoin'd, than

I dare do the like as to the known Do&trines and Duties plainly contain'd in the uncontested Books of the New Teftament, And if the external evidence for the original Authority of this Book be now at all weaker than that of feveral of those of the New Teftament; (for I take the internal to be rather ftronger than those of the generality of the known Books, and the external fuperior to that of fome of them ;) 'tis only because its fecret nature, and private manner of conveyance, efpecially after the long neglect of the Antichriftian State, has made the like degree of evidence at this distance plainly impoffible. Yet do I venture to affirm that no Book now extant, of the like remote Antiquity with this, which has one tenth, I might fay one bundredth part of the evidence which this has, is deny'd, nay hardly doubted to be genuine by any of the impartial Learned in thefe Days. Now, in order to the more regular clearing this whole matter, I intend to proceed in the following method.

I. I fhall premife fuch Lemmata, or Preparatory Obfervations and Propofitions, as will afford us no fmall light in our following Enquiries.

II. I fhall examin these Conftitutions throughout; and fee what Internal Evidence in general they will afford us themfelves, that they are really Genuine and Apoftolical.

felves,

III. I fhall examin the fame Conftitutions throughout as to that part of their Internal Evidence which concerns Chronology in particular, and the Notes and Characters of time therein contained; and shall fhew how exactly they every where agree with one another, and with the Age and Circumftances of the Apoftles and their Companions therein concern'd.

IV. I shall somewhat largely examin into the known Books of Scripture, and the other, ancient Monuments of Chriftianity; and fhew the abundant external Evidence, or Teftimonies, Citations, and Allufions they do afford us in this cafe, for our farther Satisfaction.

2

V. I shall enquire into the feveral Corruptions or Interpolations which in later Ages have crept into these Books, and now appear in our present Copies; and fhall fhew that they almost all have been owing to the Orthodox, and principally to the Orthodox Church of Rome; and shall also fhew how, upon good Authority, they may generally be corrected at this day.

VI. Í fhall draw feveral Corollaries or Inferences from the whole, in order to dif cover the vaft Advantages of these Sacred and Original Records of Chriftianity; both for the putting an end to our present Controverfies; and for the guiding us to that truly Divine Worship, Government, Difci

pline, and Practice which obtain'd in the firft and pureft Ages of the Gofpel.

And, May the God of all Grace, from whom comes every good and perfect Gift, Enlighten all our Minds, and Incline all our Wills, fincerely to Know and Obey, what he has been pleas'd to Reveal to, and Command his Church: Through his well Beloved Son, Chrift Jesus. Amen.

I.

CHAP. I.

LEMMATA;

Or, Preparatory Obfervations.

TH

by

HE main original Laws of Chrift, which the Chriftian Church as fuch was fettled, and at firft Govern'd, generally fild διδασκαλία καθολική, and διαταγά or Maragus Samsóλor, were deliver❜d Perfonally by our Saviour to the Eleven Apoftles, after his Refurrection and firft Afcénfion, during the Forty Days of his continuance with them; and that in the famous Place of their conftant Chriftian Aflemblies, in that part of Jerufalem which was Built on Mount Sion, whence the Chriftian Law was to proceed, according to the Antient Prophecies. And the fame delivery of this

Law