THE APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT, BEING ALL The Gospels, Epistles, AND OTHER PIECES NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED IN THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES TO JESUS CHRIST, HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR COMPANIONS, AND NOT INCLUDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS. TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES AND NOW London: PRINTED FOR WILLIAM HONE, LUDGATE HILL. AFTER the writings contained in the New Testament were selected from the numerous Gospels and Epistles then in existence, what became of the Books that were rejected by the compilers? This question naturally occurs on every investigation as to the period when, and the persons by whom, the New Testament was formed. It has been supposed by many that the volume was compiled by the first council of Nice, which, according to Jortin, originated thus: 3 *. was Alexander, bishop of Alexandria, and Arius, who was a presbyter in his diocese, disputed together about the nature of Christ; and the bishop being displeased at the notions of Arius, and finding that they were adopted by other persons, very angry. He commanded Arius to come over to his sentiments, and to quit his own: as if a man could change his opinions as easily as he can change his coat! He then called a council of war, consisting of near a hundred bishops, and deposed, * Rem. on Eccl. Hist. vol. ii, p. 177. |