rtments of criticism, where,
from the nature of the case, no test can be applied. In the land of the
unverifiable there are no efficient critical police. When a writer
expatiates amidst conjectural quotations from conjectural apocryphal
Gospels, he is beyond the reach of refutation. But in the present case,
as it so happens, verification is possible, at least to a limited
extent; and it is important to avail ourselves of the opportunity.

In the first place then, Eusebius himself tells us what method he
intends to pursue respecting the Canon of Scripture. After enumerating
the writings bearing the name of St Peter, as follows;--(l) The First
Epistle, which is received by all, and was quoted by the ancients as
beyond dispute; (2) The Second Epistle, which tradition had not stamped
in the same way as Canonical ([Greek: endiathekon], 'included in the
Testament'), but which nevertheless, appearing useful to many, had been
studied ([Greek: espoudasthe]) with the other Scriptures; (3) The Acts,
Gospel, Preaching, and Apocalypse of Peter, which four works he rejects
as altogether unauthenticated and discredited--he continues [37:1]:--

'But, as my history proceeds, I will take care ([Greek: prourgou
poiesomai]), along with the successions (of the bishops), to
indicate what Church writers (who flourished) from time to time
have made use of any of the disputed books ([Greek:
antilegomenon]), and what has been said by them concerning the
Canonical ([Greek: endiathekon]) and acknowledged Scriptures, and
anything that (they have said) concerning those which do not belong
to this class. Well, then, the books bearing the name of Peter, of
which I recognise ([Greek: egnon]) one Epistle only as genuine and
acknowledged among the elders of former days ([Greek: palai]), are
those just enumerated ([Greek: tosauta]). But the fourteen Epistles
of Paul are obvious and manifest ([Greek: prodeloi kai sapheis]).
Yet it is not right to be ignorant of the fact that some persons
have rejected the Epistle to the Hebrews, saying that it was
disputed by the Church of the Romans as not being Paul's. And I
will set before (my readers) on the proper occasions ([Greek: kata
kairon]) what has been said concerning this (Epistle) also by those
who lived before our time ([Greek: tois pro hemon]).'

He then mentions the Acts of Paul, which he 'had not received as handed