The Epistle to DIOGNETUS. and a teacher of the Gen- [So the author speaks of

XV. Speaking of the state of things after the coming of

* Και διδασκαλος εθνών.

* Αγαθοποιέντες, ὡς κακοι κολαζονται. 497. C.

" Ος τας αμαρτίας
Λεγων αυτός, τας ἡμετερας ἁμαρτιας ανεδέξατο.
Δικαιος ύπερ αδίκων.
Αυτός τον ιδιον υἱον απέδοτο

λυτρον ὑπερ ἡμων, τον αγιον ύπερ ανόμων, τον ακακὸν ὑπερ των κακών, τον δικαιον ύπερ των αδικω”. 500. Β.

Christ, he has this passage, in which he seems to speak of the volume of the gospels, and of the epistles of the apostles.

The fear of the law is sung, and the grace of the prophets is known, and the faith of the gospels is established, and the tradition of the apostles is kept, and the grace of the church rejoiceth exceedingly.'

XVI. The passages alleged from this epistle relate to the gospels of St. Matthew and St. John, the epistle to the Romans, the first and second to the Corinthians, the epistle to the Philippians, the first and second to Timothy, and the first epistle of St. Peter, and first of St. John. And in most of them the allusion is plain. Words of the first epistle to the Corinthians are expressly cited as the apostle's, meaning Paul. The author seems likewise to speak of a code or collection of gospels and apostolical epistles, which he joins together with the law and the prophets.

CHAP. XII.

DIONYSIUS OF CORINTH.

DIONYSIUS, bishop of Corinth, flourished, according to Cave, about the year 170. Eusebius in his Chronicle, at the eleventh year of Marcus Antoninus, (which is the year 171 of our Lord,) says, Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, a 'sacred man, was then in reputation.' He wrote seven letters, called by Eusebius Catholic, or general, they being sent to divers churches, and another to a christian woman. These epistles are mentioned by Eusebius in the following order: one to the Lacedemonians: another to the Athenians: the third to the faithful of Nicomedia, which was the capital city of Bithynia: the fourth to the church at Gortyna, and the rest of the churches of Crete: the fifth to the church in Amastris, together with the churches throughout Pontus: the sixth to the Gnossians, likewise in Crete: the seventh to the Romans, inscribed to Soter then bishop. And

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* Ειτα φοβος νομε αδεται, και προφητων χαρις γινωσκεται, και ευαγγελιων πιτις ίδρυται, και αποτόλων παράδοσις φυλάσσεται, και εκκλησίας χάρις σκιρτα. p. 502. A. a Hist. Lit. b Διονύσιος επισκοπος Κορινθο ἱερος ανηρ εγνωρίζετο. επιτολαις. Η. Ε. 1. 4. c. 23. p. 143. C.

• Καθολικαις προς τας εκκλησίας a Eod. cap.

'beside these,' says Eusebius, there is extant another sent to Chrysophora, a most faithful sister.' Of these epistles nothing remains, except some fragments in Eusebius.

f

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St. Jerom's account of Dionysius contains an enumeration of these letters. And he says, he was a man of great eloquence and industry: and that he flourished under M. Antoninus and Commodus.' He has been called a martyr by some, but withouts any foundation in antiquity.

I shall now put down a few particulars, suitable to our present design, out of the fragments of these epistles preserved by Eusebius.

The letter to the Athenians,' says Eusebius, 'ish exhor'tatory to the faith, and a conversation according to the gospel:' meaning by gospel the doctrine and precepts of the christian religion, or the books of the New Testament, in whole or in part. However, it must be owned these are properly the words of Eusebius.

In this epistle he relates moreover,' says Eusebius, 'that Dionysius the Areopagite, who was converted to the 'faith by the apostle Paul, according to the account given in the Acts of the Apostles, was appointed the first bishop ' of the church of the Athenians.'

How far Dionysius had referred for this to the book of the Acts of the Apostles is doubtful, and cannot be determined from Eusebius. But every one will upon this occasion regret the loss of these epistles.

In the epistle to the Nicomedians, hek opposeth the heresy of Marcion, and strenuously asserts and defends the rule of truth.'

It is highly probable, he here maintained the genuineness and authority of divers books of the New Testament against Marcion, whom rejected some, and mutilated and curtailed others.

In the epistle to the church of Amastris, Eusebius" says, he has inserted expositions of the divine scriptures.' We cannot be positive indeed: but there is no reason to forbid our supposing, here were expositions of the scriptures of the New, as well as of the Old Testament.

* Ibid. et 1. 2. cap. 25. p. 68. A.

f De Vir. Ill. cap. 27.

8 Vid. Tillemont, Mem. E. T. ii. Denys de Corinthe, ad fin. h Διεγερτική πίσεως και της κατα το ευαγγελιον πολιτείας. 1. iv. c. 23. p. 143. D. i P. 144. A. * Εν ἡ Μαρκιωνος αίρεσιν πολέμων, τω της αληθειας παριςαται κανονι. p. 144. Α.

Vid. Vales. in loc.

Tertullian, adv. Marcion.

παρατεθειται. ib. B.

VOL. II.

m Vid. Irenæ. 1. 1. cap. 27, [al. 28.] et

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Farther,' says Eusebius, the same person, speaking of his own epistles, as having been corrupted, expresseth himself in this manner: I have written epistles," says he," at the desire of the brethren. But the apostles of the devil have filled them with darnel, taking out some things, and adding others: for whom there is a woe re'served. It is not to be wondered, therefore, if some have attempted to corrupt the scriptures of the Lord, [or the 'Dominic scriptures,] since they have attempted the same thing in writings not comparable to them.""

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When he says, there is a woe reserved' for those persons, Le Clerc says, he seems to allude to Isa. v. 20, or to Rev. xxii. 18, 19; but of this we cannot be certain.

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By scriptures of the Lord' he seems to mean the scriptures of the New Testament in general, as containing the doctrine and precepts of the Lord Jesus. There were some who endeavoured to corrupt them. He intends, it is likely, in particular, the followers of Marcion. However, the Catholic christians were upon their guard. These heretics, therefore, only attempted this; and it was a vain attempt, without any considerable success. The alterations they made were detected by the vigilance of the sounder part of christians; who, by the numerous copies of most of the books of the New Testament, in the apostolic churches, in almost every part of the world, could without much difficulty discover the frauds attempted to be practised on their sacred writings.

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There is another remarkable fragment of this writer in Eusebius, which may deserve to be placed here. Eusebius is speaking of Nero's persecution, and the martyrdoms of St. Peter and St. Paul: And,' says he, 'that they both 'suffered martyrdom about the same time, Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, assures us in his epistle to the Romans, writing in this manner: So also you, by this your so ⚫ suitable admonition, have joined together the plantation of the Romans and the Corinthians, which was made by Peter and Paul. For they both coming to our city of Corinth planted and taught us. And in like manner 'going together to Italy, they taught there, and suffered 'martyrdom about the same time."

• Ετι δε ὁ αυτός και περί των ιδίων επιτολων ὡς ῥᾳδιεργηθείσων, ταύτα φησιν' επιτολας γαρ αδελφων αξιωσάντων με γράψαι, εγραψα και ταυτας oi T8 διαβολες αποτολοι ζιζανίων γεγεμικαν· ὁ μεν εξαιρέντες, ἃ δὲ προτίθεντες οἷς ΤΟ και κειται ο θαυματον αρα, ει και των κυριακών ῥᾳδιεργήσαι τινες επέβληνται γραφων, όποτε και ταις 8 τοιαύταις επιβεβληκασι. p. 145. C.

P Vid. Hist. E. p. 735. Note 3.

Eus. H. E. 1. 2. c. 25. p. 68. A.

This is all I have to offer at present' from this writer. But from the little that remains of him it may be justly concluded, that his epistles would be of great use to us, if they were now extant; especially considering the traces of eminent virtue that appear in almost every part of his short fragments. He shows a peaceable disposition, in recommending peace and unity to the Lacedemonians. He shows his goodness and candour, in his precept to the Amastrians, that all who recover from any fall, whether of vice or heretical opinion, should be kindly received:' and his judgment and good sense, as well as true virtue, in his admonition to Pinytus, bishop of the Gnossians: not to impose on the brethren the heavy yoke of continence as necessary, but to consider the infirmity of the most.' In a word, it is the character which Eusebius gives him, that 'he was useful to all by his divine labours, and not only to the church particularly under his care.' Dionysius was an excellent man.

CHAP. XIII.

TATIAN.

TATIAN flourished, according to Cave, about the year 172. In his Oration against the Gentiles, generally reckoned his only remaining work, he has informed us of several things concerning himself. That he was born in Assyria, was originally a heathen, and was converted to christianity by reading the books of the Old Testament, and by reflecting on the corruptions and absurdities of Gentilism; and that he had been a considerable traveller, and seen the world; and afterwards came to Rome, where he farther improved himself in arts and sciences. The Oration itself shows him to be a man of reading, and well acquainted with the Greck learning; which character is also universally allowed him by ancient writers. He mentions Justin Martyr with great respect: and by many

See hereafter, Ch. XXVIII. Numb. V. VI. See likewise Ch. II. p. 33. Hist. Lit. Vid. et Tillemont, Mem. Ec. T. 2. Part 3. Les Encratites. Basnage, Ann. 172. sect. 3, 4, &c. Du Pin, Bibl. Fabric. Bibl. Gr. T. vi. p. 81, &c. b P. 174. B. C. c P. 165. B.

d P. 170. B. C.

⚫

P. 157. D. 158. A.