veral of those antient Afcetick Rules, which VIII. The Second Book of Apocryphal Efdras, both in the Latin and Arabick Copies, feems to be a Prophefy belonging to early times, during the Babylonian Captivity; but is perhaps a real Hiftory, as to many Parts of it, written foon after Hermas's Paftor; and the Apocalypfe of John; and giving Light to many important Affairs of the Chriftian Religion, in the first Times of the Gofpel. And if we had the genuine Copy, as it was originally written, might perhaps prove to be a facred Book of our Religion. That the prefent Book, as it ftands in our Common Bibles, from the Latin Copy, cannot be a real prophetick Book, written by the true Efdras, there are the ftrongest Arguments to evince; as my Learned Friend has a particular Differtation to fhew. Yet that the Book is no idle Sham or Imposture, feems plain from the Noblenefs of its prophetick Stile, from the plain Citations of it, as of a prophetick Book, by Iren. L. Irenaus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian; and principally by a Series of prophetick Predictions applicable to half a Century after the Book is quoted by Irènaus, if not to times much later. This is alfo farther attefted to by the Arabick Copy, which I have now first published, which confirms the Genuine C. P. Clem.Alex. Tertull. 2 Efd. 12. 19. &t. nefs 1 it nefs of that Series of Prophefy, and at the fame time prevents moft of the Objections which the Common Copy is lyable to. And that the fame Common Copy is not at all perfect and uncorrupt in other Cafes alfo, appears from the Arabick Verfion; which as it wants the Two firft and Two laft Chapters of the Book, without any fign of defect in the Manufcript it felf, fo does very often differ in Paffages of great confequence from our vulgar reading; and fo inclines us to fufpect that we want the Original it felf, or fome more antient Verfions, e'er we can pretend this Book is wholly pure and uncorrupt among us. Which if we had, 'tis very likely that it might prove, like Hermas and the Apocalypfe, a facred Book of Chriftianity, written after the Eighty fifth Canon, and fo the more eafily loft or difregarded by the later Ages of the Church. The Author feems one well vers'd in the prophetick Scriptures, both of the Old and New Teftament, particularly in Hermas's Shepherd, and in the Apocalypfe of John; to the Contents of both which Books he makes frequent References; as he does fome to other Books of the New Teftament; but not to any later Authors whomfoever. He alfo lays his main Scene at Babylon, in the 30th Year after the Ruin of 3. 1. 29. the City, which being in a kind of Prophefy, 9. 43: 45. may well belong to Rome, and to the thir 10.45, 45. C. 14. ibid. tieth Year after the Deftruction of Jerufalem by Titus. So that it feems not improbable to me, that it was written by a Converted Jew A. D.99 or 100. tho' it has been hitherto fuppos'd by all to belong to Efrah of the Old Teftament, and to the Babylonian Captivity. Nay indeed, the Authors Account concerning his writing over again the whole Law of Mofes, if not all the Books of the Old Teftament alfo, appears to me to have quite another meaning; and to have been all along mifunderstood, and fo mifapply'd to purposes, for which I believe it was not originally intended. It will however well deferve anew the Examination of the Learned; and whether it be really a facred and prophetick Book, of Divine Infpiration; or only an Imitation of fuch an one by a notable Impoftor, at the end of the first Century, it will however afford us no fmall Light to the Apoftolical Conftitutions, and to several very important Circumftances relating to them. A famous Paffage wherein to our prefent purpose,' I fhall hereafter take the liberty to propofe to the Reader for his confideration. IX. The Apostles, with their Companions, and the Kinsmen of our Lord, while they were any Number of them alive, met feveral times together in Council, and that generally at Ferufalem, for the Ordination of Bishops, for the Compofure of Differen ces ces in Opinion, for the declaring the true Chriftian Doctrine,and for the fetting down the Laws and Conftitutions they had heard from Chrift, to be tranfmitted to all Pofterity. This is an Obfervation of great confequence; because the Apoftolical Conftitutions before us do pretend to be the publick Acts of fuch Councils; and I fuppofe of all fuch Councils that met in the Apoftolick Age. And that these Councils were held, we learn as well from the Conftitutions themselves,and from their Extract the Doctrine of the Apofiles; as from Luke, and Eufebius; with other occafional Intimations in Antiquity, The Teftimonies of the Conftitutions, and of the Doctrine of the Apoftles are not fo proper for this place. So I defer to produce them till hereafter. But the Teftimony of Luke, and that of Eufebius cannot but be fit for our Confideration here. Luke then, as well as these Constitutions, affures us that about A. D. 48. upon occafion of fome of the Judaizing Chriftians preaching up the ne ceffity of Circuncifion, and of the Obfervance of the Ceremonial Laws of Mofes, even by the Gentile Converts themselves, noun Act. 15. 6. οἱ Σπόςολοι καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι ἰδῶν τε το λόγο Comin 7878. And accordingly we have the Acts of LVI. 12 this firft Council of Jerufalem, fomewhat 34,342 more briefly in the Acts of the Apoftles; and fomewhat more fully in these Conftitur tions. Thus alfo we learn from these Con stitutions; Conftitut. 343. 349. Con Tom. 4. col. 978. ftitutions; and from Varadatus's Teftimony L.VIot.14. in the Fifth Century; that there was a Se-18. p. cond famous and general Council of the Apoftles at Jerufalem, about the beginning of Gil. Lab. A. D. 64. for the ordering the Affairs of the Christian Church; or for the fetting down. &ap.Grain Writing by Clement, probably as their be ubi prins Amanuenfis, the Catholick Doctrine, or the main original Laws and Conftitutions of the Gofpel, which the Eleven Apostles had perfonally received from our Saviours Mouth, after his Refurrection. This they did accordingly, and fent them to the feveral Churches by Clement, Barnabas, Timothy, and Mark. Thus alfo we learn from the Preface of the Doctrine of the Apostles, that Gent. 1. n. there was a third more general Council of the 4. infrà Apostles at Jerufalem, about A. D. 67. where not only James the Bishop the Brother of our Lord, but Paul the Apostle of the Gentiles alfo was prefent: At which Council, as we there learn, the foremention'd Catholick Doctrine of the former Five Books and an half of the Conftitutions was confirm'd, and the Canons and Conftitutions alfo contain'd in the Two laft Books were drawn up and compleated; and this Doctrine of the Apostles was alfo written, or extracted, and fent to the feveral Churches Conflitut. by Clement, for the general Inftruction of L.VI. 18.the Chriftian World. Thus alfo we learn not only from the Conftitutions, but from See C. 4• 349-360 Eufe |