econd
Gospel--obviously St Mark--which runs thus: 'At which however he
was present, and so he set them down.'

'The Third Book of the Gospel' is designated 'according to Luke.'
The writer relates that this Luke was a physician, who after the
Ascension of Christ became a follower of St Paul, and that he
compiled the Gospel in his own name. 'Yet,' he adds, 'neither did
_he_ (nec ipse) see the Lord in the flesh, and he too set down
incidents as he was able to ascertain them [189:1]. So he began his
narrative from the birth of John.' Then he continues--

'The Fourth Gospel is (the work) of John, one of the (personal)
disciples [189:2] (of Christ). Being exhorted by his
fellow-disciples and bishops, he said, "Fast with me to-day for
three days, and let us relate to one another what shall have been
revealed to each." The same night it was revealed to Andrew, one of
the Apostles, that John should write down everything in his own
name, and all should certify (ut recognoscentibus cunctis Johannes
suo nomine cuncta describeret). And therefore, although various
elements (principia) are taught in the several books of the
Gospels, yet it makes no difference to the faith of the believer,
since all things in all of them are declared by one Supreme Spirit,
concerning the nativity, the passion, the resurrection, His
intercourse with His disciples, and His two advents, the first in
despised lowliness, which is already past, the second with the
magnificence of kingly power, which is yet to come. What wonder
then, if John so boldly puts forward each statement in his Epistle
([Greek: tais epistolais]) [189:3] also saying of himself, "What we
have seen with our eyes and heard with our ears, and our hands have
handled, these things we have written unto you?" For so he avows
himself to be not only an eye-witness and a hearer, but also a
recorder, of all the wonderful things of the Lord in order.'

After speaking of the Acts and Epistles of St Paul, this anonymous
writer arrives at the Catholic Epistles; and here he mentions _two_
Epistles of St John as received in the Church.

I shall have something to say presently about the coincidences with
Papias in this passage. For the moment I wish to call attention to the
account which the writer gives of the origin of St John's Gospel