the authority of inspired books; or to claim the right to add other books to those handed down from the Apostles. The church is founded on the Apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone; but the Sacred Scriptures are no how dependent for their authority on any set of men who lived since they were written.

4. We may remark, in the last place, the benignant providence of God towards his church, in causing these precious books to be written, and in watching over their preservation, in the midst of dangers and persecutions; so that, notwithstanding the malignant designs of the enemies of the church, they have all come down to us unmutilated, in the original tongue in which they were penned by the Apostles.

Our liveliest gratitude is due to the great Head of the church for this divine treasure, from which we are permitted freely to draw whatever is needful for our instruction and consolation. And it is our duty to prize this precious gift of divine Revelation above all price. On the Law of the Lord, we should meditate day and night. It is a perfect rule; it shines with a clear light; it exercises a salutary influence on the heart; it warns us when we are in danger; reclaims us when we go astray; and comforts us when in affliction. The word of the Lord is "more to be desired than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey, and

the honey-comb." They who are destitute of this inestimable volume call for our tenderest compassion, and our exertions in circulating the Bible should never be remitted, until all are supplied with this divine treasure; but they who possess this Sacred Volume, and yet neglect to study it, are still more to be pitied, for they are perishing in the midst of plenty. In the midst of light, they walk in darkness. God has sent to them the word of life, but they have lightly esteemed the rich gift of his love. O that their eyes were opened, that they might behold wondrous things in the Law of the Lord!

* Ps. xix. 10.

SECTION III.

ORDER OF THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT-TIME OF THE GOSPELS BEING WRITTEN-NOTICE OF THE EVAN

GELISTS.

THE order of the books of the New Testament is not uniform in the Manuscripts now extant, nor as they are mentioned by the Fathers. EUSEBIUS arranges them thus: The four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles of Paul, the First Epistle of John, and the Revelation of John. "These,"

says he, "were received (except the last-mentioned) by all Christians." Then he mentions those which were not unanimously received; as, the Epistle of James, the Epistle of Jude, the Second of Peter, and the Second and Third of John.

IRENEUS, who lived long before Eusebius, has not given a regular catalogue of the books of the New Testament, but he seems to have followed the same order.

But ATHANASIUS, in his Festal Epistle, has given the following order: The four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Seven Catholic Epistles, the fourteen Epistles of Paul, and the Revelation. The ancient and celebrated Alexandrian Manu

script follows the same order; as also does CYRIL of Jerusalem, but he does not mention Revelation.

The arrangement in the catalogue of the Council of Laodicea, is exactly the same as that of Cyril; the book of Revelation being left out.

JOHN DAMASCENE, and LEONTIUS, follow the same order.

The order of the Syrian catalogues, as given by EBEDJESU, is—The Four Gospels, The Acts of the Apostles, The Three Catholic Epistles, (their Canon at first contained no more,) and The Fourteen Epistles of Paul.

RUFIN's order is-The Gospels, The Acts, Paul's Epistles, The Catholic Epistles, and the Revelation.

The Council of Carthage has the same.

GREGORY NAZIANZEN the same; only Revelation is omitted.

AMPHILOCHIUS the same, and the book of Revelation mentioned as doubtful.

NICEPHORUS of Constantinople, the same, and Revelation omitted.

This, therefore, appears to have been the order in which the books of the New Testament succeeded each other in most ancient copies; and is the one now in general use.

But EPIPHANIUS has an order different from any of these, as follows-The Four Gospels, Paul's

Epistles, The Acts of the Apostles, The Seven Catholic Epistles, and the Revelation.

JEROME follows the same order; and also Eu

THALIUS.

AUGUSTINE varies in his arrangement of the sacred books. In one place, he puts the Acts last, except Revelation; and in another, he places it after Revelation. He also varies in his arrangement of the Epistles of Paul, and of the Catholic Epistles.

The order of INNOCENT THE FIRST, bishop of Rome, is-The Four Gospels, Paul's Epistles, The Catholic Epistles, The Acts, and Revelation.

ISIDORE OF SEVILLE has, in his writings, given several catalogues, in all of which he pursues the order last mentioned. The same writer informs us, that the books of the New Testament were usually included in two divisions, or volumes; the first containing the Gospels; the second, The Acts and the Epistles; the book of Revelation being omitted.

CHRYSOSTOM follows an order which appears to be peculiar: he places first, The Fourteen Epistles of Paul; next, The Four Gospels; then, The Acts; and in the last place, The Catholic Epistles.

GELASIUS places Revelation before The Catholic Epistles.

The Apostolical Canon, as it is called, contains the following catalogue:-The Four Gospels, Four