as Jerome testifies, was a man of prudence and learning, both in the Divine Scriptures and secular literature, and had left many commentaries upon the Holy Scriptures then extant.  Passing by these without further remark, we come to one of the most voluminous of ancient Christian writers, Clement of Alexandria (Lardner, vol. ii. p. 469.).  Clement followed Irenaeus at the distance of only sixteen years, and therefore may be said to maintain the series of testimony in an uninterrupted continuation.

In certain of Clement’s works, now lost, but of which various parts are recited by Eusebius, there is given a distinct account of the order in which the four Gospels were written.  The Gospels which contain the genealogies were (he says) written first; Mark’s next, at the instance of Peter’s followers; and John’s the last; and this account he tells us that he had received from presbyters of more ancient times.  This testimony proves the following points; that these Gospels were the histories of Christ then publicly received and relied upon; and that the dates, occasions, and circumstances, of their publication were at that time subjects of attention and inquiry amongst Christians.  In the works of Clement which remain, the four Gospels are repeatedly quoted by the names of their authors, and the Acts of the Apostles is expressly ascribed to Luke.  In one place, after mentioning a particular circumstance, he adds these remarkable words:  “We have not this passage in the four Gospels delivered to us, but in that according to the Egyptians;” which puts a marked distinction between the four Gospels and all other histories, or pretended histories, of Christ.  In another part of his works, the perfect confidence with which he received the Gospels is signified by him in these words:  “That this is true appears from hence, that it is written in the Gospel according to Saint Luke;” and again, “I need not use many words, but only to allege the evangelic voice of the Lord.”  His quotations are numerous.  The sayings of Christ, of which he alleges many, are all taken from our Gospels; the single exception to this observation appearing to be a loose quotation of a passage in Saint Matthew’s Gospel.*

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* “Ask great things and the small shall be added unto you.”  Clement rather chose to expound the words of Matthew (chap. vi. 33), than literally to cite them; and this is most undeniably proved by another place in the same Clement, where he both produces the text and these words am an exposition:—­“Seek ye first the kingdom of heaven and its righteousness, for these are the great things; but the small things, and things relating to this life, shall be added unto you.”  Jones’s New and Full Method, vol. i. p. 553. _________