Timothy;' [45:1] but the passage relating to the
Canon contains no hint that Irenaeus recognised the existence of any one
of St Paul's Epistles; and from first to last there is no mention of the
Acts. The language of Eusebius here is highly characteristic as
illustrating his purpose and method. He commences the chapter by
referring back to his original design, as follows [45:2]:--

'Since, at the commencement of our treatise, we have made a
promise, saying that we should adduce at the proper opportunities
the utterances of the ancient elders and writers of the Church, in
which they have handed down in writing the traditions that reached
them concerning the Canonical ([Greek: endiathekon]) writings, and
Irenaeus was one of these, let me now adduce his notices also, and
first those relating to the sacred Gospels, as follows.'

He then quotes a short passage from the third book, giving the
circumstances under which the Four Gospels were written. Then follow two
quotations from the well-known passage in the fifth book, in which
Irenaeus mentions the date and authorship of the Apocalypse, and refers
to the number of the beast. Eusebius then proceeds:--

'This is the account given by the above-named writer respecting the
Apocalypse also. And he has made mention too of the First Epistle
of John, adducing very many testimonies out of it; and likewise
also of the First (former) Epistle of Peter. And he not only knows,
but even receives the writing of the 'Shepherd,' saying, 'Well then
spake the writing' [or 'scripture,' [Greek: he graphe]] 'which says,
"First of all believe that God is One, even He that created all
things;"' and so forth.'

This is all the information respecting the Canon of the New Testament
which he adduces from the great work of Irenaeus. In a much later
passage [46:1], however, he has occasion to name other works of this
Father no longer extant; and of one of these he remarks that in it 'he
mentions the Epistle to the Hebrews, and the so-called Wisdom of
Solomon, adducing certain passages from them.'

From these examples, combined with his own prefatory statements, we feel
justified in laying down the following canons as ruling the procedure of
Eusebius:--

(1) His main object was to give such information as might assist in
forming correct views respecting the Canon of Scripture.

(2) This being so, he was indifferent to any qu