speak of the writings of this Apostle also; and as St
John's Gospel completes the tetrad of Evangelical narratives, he inserts
at this point his account of the Four Gospels. This account concludes as
follows [39:1]:--

'Thus much ([Greek: tauta]) we ourselves (have to say) concerning
these (the Four Gospels); but we will endeavour more particularly
([Greek: oikeioteron]) on the proper occasions ([Greek: kata
kairon]) by quoting the ancient writers to set forth what has been
said by anyone else ([Greek: tois allois]) also concerning them.
Now, of the writings of John, the first (former, [Greek: protera])
of his Epistles also is acknowledged as beyond question alike among
our contemporaries ([Greek: tois nun]) and among the ancients,
while the remaining two are disputed. But respecting the Apocalypse
opinions are drawn in opposite directions, even to the present day,
among most men ([Greek: tois pollois]). Howbeit it also shall
receive its judgment ([Greek: epikrisin]) at a proper season from
the testimonies of the ancients.'

After this follows the well-known passage in which he sums up the
results at which he has arrived respecting the Canon. With this passage,
important as it is in itself, I need not trouble my readers.

Here again it will be seen that the same distinction as before is
observed. Of the Gospels the historian will only record anecdotes
concerning them. On the other hand, in the case of the Apocalypse mere
references and quotations will be mentioned because they afford
important data for arriving at a decision concerning its Canonical
authority.

Hitherto we have discovered no foundation for the superstructure which
our author builds on the silence of Eusebius. But the real question,
after all, is not what this historian professes to do, but what he
actually does. The original prospectus is of small moment compared with
the actual balance-sheet, and in this case time has spared us the means
of instituting an audit to a limited extent. With Papias and Hegesippus
and Dionysius of Corinth, any one is free to indulge in sweeping
assertions with little fear of conviction; for we know nothing, or next
to nothing, of these writers, except what Eusebius himself has told us.
But Eusebius has also dealt with other ancient writings in relation to
the Canon, as, for instance, those of Clement of Rome, of Ignatius, of
Polycarp, of Irenaeus, and other