Ἰδαϊςαῖς, καὶ αἱρεσιώτος αθέοις, or fuch Infidels, Judaizers, and Atheiftical Hereticks, as the earliest Times, even before the Deftruction of ferufalem were expofed to. (4) In the fame Book we have a moft noble and diftinct Character of the time, when the Conftitutions on this Book were first deliver'd or collected, in that exact and particular Catalogue of the facred Books which were then appointed to be Read in the Christian Affemblies; which I take to be of mighty Confequence, as containing the compleat Canon of Scripture, as it ftood when this Conftitution was deliver'd or written; which therefore I fhall fet down intirely. Μέσος δὲ ὁ ἀναγνώςης c. 57. p. ἐφ ὑψηλό τινΘ. εςως, ἀναγινωσκέτω τα Μωσέως, 161. 262. καὶ Ἰησῶ τῇ Ναυή, τα προ κριθώ, και η βασι λειών, αποκλειπομένων, καὶ τὰ τῆς ἐπανόδε πρὸς τέτοις τα τῷ Ἰώβ, και το Σολομῶν, καὶ του της εκκαίδεκα προφητες ανά δύο γενομένων αναγνωσμάτων ἕτερός τις τες το Δαβίδ ψαλλέτω ὕμνος, καὶ ὁ λαὸς τα ακρος για ὑποψαλλέτω, μα τόσο αἱ πράξεις αἱ ἡμέτεραι αναγινωσκέπασαν, καὶ ἐπιςολαί Παύλε το συνεργᾶ ἡμῶν, ἃς ἐπέςειλε τας ἐκκλησίας, καθ ̓ ὑφήγησιν τῇ ἁγίω πνεύματος, καὶ με' ταῦτα διάκονα ἢ πρεσβύτερος ἀναγινω σκέτω τα ευαγγέλια, ὁ ἐγὼ ΜατθαῖὉ Ἰωάννης παρεδώκαμῳ ὑμῖν, καὶ ἃ οἱ συνεργοὶ Παύλε παρει ληφότες κατέλειψαν ὑμῖν Λενας καὶ Μάρκος. From which eminent Paffage we may note, that as the Conftitutions of Chrift were deliver'd to the Churches from two quite different

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Effay on the Cap. III. Originals, from the Eleven and from Paul; who diftinctly receiv'd them from our Saviour; fo was the very Hiftory of our Saviour while he was on Earth deliver'd to the Churches in much the fame way, both by Two of the Twelve, and by Two of the Companions of Paul. We must also note that no other Epiftles of the New Teftament are here appointed for the publick Affemblies but thofe of Paul; as if no more were then Written, or at least were then commonly receiv'd and known in the Chriftian Church; which is a inoft diftinct Character of Chronology, and alone belongs to A. D. 64. or near the very Year of the famous Second Council of Jerufalem. About which time therefore in all probability this Apoftolick Constitution was made. And feeing the Number of the Epiftles of Paul is not here fet down, we are to fuppofe them fuch as were then published, I meant those to the Corinthians, the firft to Timothy, with those to the Romans, Galatians, Ephefians, Coloffians to Philemon, and to the Hebrews only. I mean all thefe but upon the fuppofition that the Epiftles to fingle Perfons, Timothy and Philemon, are here included; which yet I am not certain of, because of the Words before us, καὶ ὅλης λαὶ Παύλε ὡς ἀπέσειλε τους ἐκκλησίαις, thofe Epiflles which he fent to the Churches, as if the private ones to particular Perfons were not yet Read in the publick

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Cap. III. Apoftolical Conftitutions. 205

Affemblies. But I lay no great weight on this Diftinction; only propofe it to farther Confideration. The Third and Fourth Books are short, and about fuch Subjects, the care of the Widows, and Orphans, and Baptifm, with the inforcement of Domeftical Duties, that there appears fmall Occafion for any Notes of Time at all, unless these Words in the Third Book, ἔτε γὰρ οἱ ἱερεῖς τοιαύτης, L. 11. σ. 8. ἑκεπασμὸν δέξοντα ποτε, imply the then con- 2. 281. tinuance of the Jewish Worship, as being before the Destruction of Jerufalem. Nor do I observe any other of that Nature therein. I proceed therefore to the next.

III. The Fifth Book has as late Characters as any we have hitherto met with, tho' not later than the Destruction of Jerufalem, befides others of more general Antiquity. For (1) In the recommendation of due Honour to be paid the Martyrs, Stephen, and James the Bishop of Jerufalem are niention'd, as already Dead, and already Honour'd by Chriftians on that Account. Feed priesv L.V. c. 8. λέγομῳ ὑμῖν, ὅπως ἐν πάσῃ τιμῇ ὦσι παρ' ὑμῖν. p. 309 310 ὡς καὶ παρ' ἡμῖν τετίμωται ὁ μακάρια. ἸάκωβΘ, ὁ Ἐπίσκοπα, καὶ ὁ ἅγιΘ. ἡμῶν συνδιάκονΘ. Σripar. Now fince this James was put to death not very long before the Destruction of Jerufalem, this Conftitution feems to belong to A. D. 68. or 69. unless the Word ionomos be interpolation. (2) The Books here mention'd to be Read on the Night be

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fore Eafter feem to imply its date to be still earlier, before the Writing of the Epistles of Paul: For when the Apostles give Direction for the Reading the facred Books that Night, they thus briefly reckon them up. Avay119 β.333 νώσκοντες τὸν νόμον, τις προφήτας, τις ψαλμός, καὶ ἀναγνόντες τὸ ἐυαγέλιον ἐν φόβῳ καὶ τρόμῳ.

c. As if fcarce any part of the New Teftament was then Extant but the Gospels, which Character would place this Conftitution no later than A. D. 63. But then, fince this is no very particular Enumeration of the facred Books, and fince the Gofpels are peculiarly fit for that particular occafion, as they are accordingly principally Read by us ftill in the fame Paffion Week, I cannot lay any great ftrefs on this Character for fuch Antiquity But think this Direction may well enough belong to the beforemention'd Time, a little before the deftruction of Ferufalem. (3) The Original Rule for Eafter belonging to this Book, and ftill preferv'd from his uncorrupt Copy by Epiphanius, is a plain mark of Genuine Antiquity; as fuppofing the Jewish Church of Jerufalem then in being, and the Mother Church of Chriftians; which yet was forely Perfecuted by Vefpafian, and Domitian, and utterly deftroy'd by Adrian. Hear the Words themHeref. 70. felves out of Epiphanius. Ὁρίζεσι γὰρ ἐν τῇ 51011; αυτῇ διατάξει οἱ ἀπόςολοι, ὅτι ὑμεῖς μὲ ψηφίζητε 1.822.823. ἀλλὰ ποιεῖτε ὅταν οἱ ἀδελφοὶ ὑμῶν, οἱ ἐκ περι

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P. 45.

τομῆς, μετ' αυτῶν ἅμα ποιεῖτε. - Κάν τε πλατηθῶσι μηδὲν ὑμῖν μελέτω. Where alfo Epiphanius juftly contends that this Conftitution was made for the fake of Peace and Uniformity; and with defign that the rest of the Chriftian Church fhould follow the Church of Jerufalem, while it was under its firft Fifteen Bishops of the Circumcifion; which we know from Hegefippus and Eufebius was Eufeb. Hift. only till the Time of Adrian. This reafo- Eccl. L. IV. ning was first made ufe of by Bishop Pearfon, 117 118. c. 5. 6. p. and more fully fince by Dr. Grabe, and 'tis PearfVind. a moft plain Indication that this Conftitu- gnat Pt.1. 6.4. P. 283 tion belongs to the firft Times of the Gospel, Grabe Spiwhile the Chriftian Church of the Circum- cil. Tom. 1. cifion was not only in being, but esteem'd the Mother Church of Chriftians also that ; is before, at leaft not very long after the Destruction of Jerufalem. And this very time is the more confirmed by the Circumftances here, and in the Eighth Apoftolical Canon compar'd together. For bere the Churches of the Gentiles are oblig'd to follow the Computation of their Brethren of the Circumcifion, both as to Month and Day, tho' it fhould be Erroneous; but there they are enjoin'd not to follow the Jewish Computation, I mean when it erred fo much as to put the Paffover before the Vernal Equinox. As if while the Chriftian Jewish Church was in a Flourishing Condition, and the known Mother Church of Chriftians, as it was till

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