collated with an antient manuscript of it in the Lambeth library; and from thence amended in more places-than could well have been imagined. And that very version itself has been farther improved from a multitude of new fragments of the original Greek, never before observed; and for the most part taken out of the late magnificent edition of the works of St. Athanasius; though that piece be none of his, but the work of the younger Athanasius, patriarch of the same church, who lived about the 7th century.[See Tom. ii. p. 251. doctrin. ad Antioch Ducem.]Both these advantages I do likewise owe to the same learned person (Dr. Grabe) I before mentioned, who not only purposely collated the one for me, but readily communicated to me the extracts he had made for his own use out of the other. Having said thus much concerning the several pieces themselves here set forth, and the translation of them, I shall not trouble the reader with any long account of my own introductory discourse; in which I have added some things and corrected others. I hope as it now stands, it may be of some use to those who have not any better opportunities of being acquainted with these matters, and convince them of the just regard that is due to the discourses which follow it, upon this double account, both that they were (for the most part) truly written by those whose names they bear; and that those writers lived so near the Apostolical times, that it cannot be doubted, but that they do indeed represent to us the doctrine, government and discipline of the church as they received it from the Apostles; the Apostles from Christ, and that blessed Spirit, who directed them both in what they taught, and in what they ordained. What that doctrine, government and discipline is, I have particularly shewn in the 11th chapter of my discourse. I shall only observe here, that is it so exactly agreeable to the present doctrine, government and discipline of the church of England by law established; that no one who allows of the one, can reasonably make any exceptions against the other. So that we must either say, that the immediate successors of the Apostles had departed from the institution of those holy men from whom they received their instruction in the Gospel of Christ, and by whom they were converted to the faith of it: or if that be too unreasonable to be supposed of such excellent persons, who not only lived in some of the highest stations of the Christian Church, but the most of them suffered martyrdom for the sake of it: we must then conclude what is indeed the truth, that the church of England, whereof we are members, is both in its doctrine, government, discipline and worship, truly Apostolical; and in all respects comes the nearest up to the primitive pattern of any Christian Church at this day in the world. A CATALOGUE OF THE SEVERAL PIECES CONTAINED IN THIS BOOK, AND THE ORDER OF THEM. A discourse concerning the treatises here collected, and the authors of them. PART I. The first Epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians. The genuine Epistles of St. Ignatius. A relation of the martyrdom of St. Ignatius, writ ten by those who were present at his sufferings. The Epistle of the Church of Smyrna, concerning the martyrdom of St. Polycarp. PART II. The Catholick Epistle of St. Barnabas. The Shepherd of Hermas, in three books. The remains of St. Clement's second Epistle to the Corinthians. An index to both parts. : A DISCOURSE CONCERNING THE SEVERAL TREATISES CONTAINED IN THE FOLLOWING COLLECTION, AND THE AUTHORS OF THEM. 0000000 THE INTRODUCTION. 1. HAD I designed the following collection either for the benefit or perusal of the learned world, I should have needed to say but very little by way of introduction to it: the editors of the several treatises here put together, having already observed so much upon each of them, that it would I believe be difficult to discover, I am sure would be very needless to trouble the reader with any more. 2. But as it would be ridiculous for me to pretend to have designed a translation for those who are able with much more profit and satisfaction to go to the originals; so, being now to address myself to those especially who want that ability, I suppose it may not be amiss before I lead them to the discourses themselves, to give them some account both of the authors of the several pieces I have here collected; and of the tracts themselves; and of that collection that is now the first time made of them in our own tongue.Though as to the first of these, I shall say the less, by reason of that excellent account that has been already given of the most of them by our pious and learned Dr. Cave: whose lives of the Apostles and Primitive Fathers, with his other admirable discourse of Primitive Christianity, I could heartily wish were in the hands of all the more judicious part of our English readers. |