THE name of New Testament is sometimes given to that collec tion of sacred writings, in which the New Testament, strictly so called, is described. What the New Testament, strictly so called, really is, we have explained in our notes on Matthew xxvi. 28. This collection may be divided into two parts, one of which contains the writings of the Evangelists and Apostles, whilst the other consists singly of the Apocalypse of Jesus Christ. The former exhibits firstly, the history of our Lord from His coming in the flesh, to His ascension into heaven ; secondly, the external and internal history of the Church, as constituted by the apostles after the ascension. In the latter, a revelation, which stands entirely alone, teaches us the future history of Christ, the Church, and the whole world, even to the consum mation of all things. In brief, there are the Evangelists, the Acts and Epistles of the Apostles, and the Apocalypse. The connection and relation which exist between these various writings, afford a satisfactory proof of their perfection. We have shown in our Ordo Temporum, at about what time each of them was written.
THE Evangelists contain the rudiments of the New Testament. — (See John xvi. 12. J) Concerning their authority,2 see Ephes. iv. 11 ; and 1 Peter i. 12. They are four in number — two of them, namely John and Matthew, were themselves apostles, and took part, therefore, in the things which they relate : the other two, Mark and Luke, afford, in their own persons, an example of faith, having derived their sure and accurate knowledge of the Gospel from others. Mark, however, presupposes the exist ence of Matthew, and, as it were, supplies his omissions ; Luke does the same for both of them ; John for all three. Matthew, an apostle wrote first,3 and thus established an authority for both Mark and Luke. John, also an apostle, wrote last,4 and con-
1 The Evangelists, from the earliest days of Christianity, were reckoned to be four ; very many pseudo-evangelists, whose writings were not in con sonance with the pure faith, having been rejected. Those, who choose to apply the four cardinal rivers of Paradise, and many such-like fourfold types, especially that one which has the sanction of hoar antiquity, viz., the Lion, Ox [or calf], Man, and Flying Eagle [the Cherubim, Rev. iv. 7], as typical of the fourfold Gospel, are entitled to have the credit of the sug gestion, whatever amount of credit is due. If you desire an exact definition of an EVANGELIST, my definition would be a holy man of GOD, who publicly, and with an irrefragable testimony, sets forth to men a history of Jesus Christ, either by word of mouth or in writing. — Harm. Ev., Ed. ii., p. 34, etc.
2 " In ivhich they are inferior to the Apostles and Prophets, but superior to Pastors and Teachers." — Harm., p. 35.
3 " A fact, which is evident from this, that the title viykpav, expressed by Luke once, ch. iii. 1, but never by tlie rest, is, in the history of the passion, continually assigned by Matthew to Pilate." — Harm., p. 37.
4 " And yet, as is plain from his ch. v. 2, John did not defer writing till so late as after the destruction of Jerusalem." — Harm., p. 38.