First third important wit ness to the Canon at the junction of the centuries is the so-called 'Muratorian Frag ment,' discovered (1740) by the 'father of Italian history,' Ludovico Antonio Muratori (1672-1750), in an 8th century compound of theologic tracts and five early creeds. It con tains 85 lines of barbardus Latin, possibly a translation from Greek, cataloguing the Chris tian Scriptures. The date of the originaFseenis to lie somewhere between 195. and 205 (pc* sibly 210). The first line is "at which (or some) he was nevertheless present and 'so put down" (quibus tamen interfuit of ita posuit). The reference is seemingly to Mark, the first part of the list being lost, which doubtless noted both Matthew and Mark, as the second line reads, 'third book of Gospel according to Luke,' and the origin of the various books is described: four Gospels, Acts (assigned to Luke), thirteen Epistles of Paul (ta seem Churches,— for there were just seven Revelation,— two repeated and four personal), two of John, one of Jude, two Apocalypses (John's and Peter's), and "Wisdom written by friends of Solomon in his honor" (like a jubilee-volume presented to a university pro fessor.). 'Epistles to Laodiceans and to Alex andrians, feigned in the name of Paul, for the heresy of Marcion' are rejected, 'for gall fits not to be mixed with honey" ('fel cunt melte" as we might say, sand with candy); the Epistles 'To Hebrews,' of Peter, and of James are not mentioned, and "the Shepherd . L
it is indeed meet to read but not publicly in the church to the people, neither aniid the prophets, complete in number,. nor amid the apostles, to the ages' end." The Psalm-book of Marcion, along with Basilides and. other .Gnostics, is wholly rejected. Here then again is a region dernark.ed in the main like that of Irennus, and of Tertullian, but with sonte•IlerY notable divergencies. The list does not lay claim to authority but doubtless represents the general Roman opinion and usage of its' time. Into further details we have no space to enter; but a rapid glance will show how the bordee warfare was maintained for yet hundreds of years.
Third The learned and liberal Clemens Alexandnnais conceived of the New Testament Scriptures (all save James, 2 Peter 3 John) more generously • than either the Bishop or the African. He recognized Her brews, 2 John, and Jude, and in line with them the Apocalypse of Peter, the Epistles of Barna bas and Clement of Rome, both cited i as apostles, and the Shepherd, quoted as divine. Clearly a case of the personal equation,