access to books, are unbounded, he has been compelled to forego the perusal of any modern works which may have preceded him on the various subjects that have fallen under discussion, and to devote himself entirely to the writings of the fathers themselves, in preparing it. He is conscious that his book may have suffered considerably on this account; but, nevertheless, it appeared perfectly evident that nothing could compensate for want of acquaintance with the authors whose opinions he proposed to examine. It But to the works of one modern divine he is glad of this opportunity of expressing his deep obligations. is scarcely necessary to name the treatises of the Bishop of Lincoln upon Justin Martyr and Tertullian. These, he hopes, that he has generally applied to the purpose for which the right reverend author intended them: he has endeavoured, by their help, to extend his acquaintance with the fathers of whom they treat, rather than to save his own labour. In one instance, however, he has departed from this rule, and he regrets that, through inadvertency, it has not been acknowledged in the proper place. It is in the fifth chapter of the present work, upon Angels: the idea of embodying the opinions of an author upon angels and demons is altogether the learned prelate's it is merely extended there to a synopsis of the doctrine of the fathers of the two first centuries upon these subjects. The rough note of the remarks upon the cessation of miracles in the second chapter, was written before the author had the advantage of seeing these admirable treatises, and it gave him the utmost pleasure to find his conjecture confirmed by so high an authority. He merely mentions this, because, as it is a question of evidence, every separate and independent examination of the same facts which leads to the same conclusion, is of some importance in it. Archbishop Wake's translation of the apostolical fathers is generally adopted in the present work, though it is sometimes departed from. He has only further to observe, that it has been throughout his earnest endeavour to state the opinions of these early writers fairly and accurately. Should he prove to have failed (and he well knows that this is far from improbable) he will have at any rate the consolatory reflection, that it has not been for lack either of honesty of purpose, or of the most zealous and devoted attention he was capable of giving to the subject. Capable of proof from the absurdities of Idolatry, Supernatural communications more frequent in the early ages of the Gradually withdrawn from thence to the times of the New Testament, Divine purpose accomplished in such a revelation of the divine will, and such a state of human society, as should obviate the necessity PAGE. Apostolical fathers not inspired, and, therefore, in that respect simi- Advantages of the apostolical fathers as the cotemporaries of our Lord and his apostles, Asserted by Clement of Alexandria in support of the double doctrine, ibid. No doctrine of the early fathers to be received, which is not to be Opinions on the inspiration of the Septuagint, of Irenæus, Tertullian, ibid. The opinions of the second century on inspiration valueless as an inde- ibid. |