17. The Acts of Paul and Thecla are Apocryphal. 22. The Book called the Lots of the Apostles is Apocryphal. NOTE F. CORRESPONDENCE OF CHRIST AND ABGARUS. A copy of a Letter written by King Abgarus to Jesus, and sent to him by Ananias, his footman, to Jerusalem. ABGARUS, King of Edessa, to Jesus the good Saviour, who appears at Jerusalem, greeting. I have been informed concerning you and your cures, which are performed without the use of medicines and herbs. For it is reported that you cause the blind to see, the lame to walk, do both cleanse lepers, and cast out unclean spirits and devils, and restore them to health who have been long diseased, and raisest up the dead; all which, when I heard, I was persuaded of one of these two, viz. either that you are God himself descended from heaven, who do these things, or a Son of God. On this account, therefore, I have written to you, earnestly to desire you would take the trouble of a journey hither, and cure a disease which I am under; for I hear the Jews ridicule you, and intend you mischief. My city is indeed small, but neat, and large enough for us both. The Answer of Jesus, by Ananias the footman, to Abgarus the king. Abgarus, you are happy, forasmuch as you have believed on me, whom you have not seen. For it is written concerning me, that those who have seen me should not believe on me, that they who have not seen might believe and live. As to that part of your letter which relates to my giving you a visit, I must inform you, that I must fulfil all the ends of my mission in this country, and after that be received up again to him who sent But after my ascension, I will send one of my disciples who will cure you, and all that are with you. me. NOTE G. PAUL'S EPISTLES TO THE LAODICEANS. The Epistle of St Paul to the Laodiceans. 1. Paul an Apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, to the brethren which are at Laodicea. 2. Grace be to you, and peace from God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. I thank Christ in every prayer of mine, that ye continue and persevere in good works, looking for that which is promised in the day of judg ment. 4. Let not the vain speeches of any trouble you, who pervert the truth, that they may draw you aside from the truth of the Gospel which I have preached. 5. And now may God grant, that my converts may attain to a perfect knowledge of the truth of the Gospel, be beneficent, and doing good works, which accompany salvation. 6. And now my bonds, which I suffer in Christ, are manifest, in which I rejoice and am glad. 7. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation for ever, which shall be through your prayer, and the supply of the Holy Spirit.. 8. Whether I live or die; (for) to me to live shall be a life to Christ, to die will be joy. 9. And our Lord will grant us his mercy, that ye may have the same love, and be like-minded. 10. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have heard of the coming of the Lord, so think and act in fear, and it shall be to you life eternal. 11. For it is God who worketh in you. 12. And do all things without sin. 13. And what is best, my beloved, rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, and avoid all filthy lucre. 14. Let all your requests be made known to God, and be steady in the doctrine of Christ. 15, And whatsoever things are sound, and true, and of good report, and chaste, and just, and lovely, these do. 16. Those things which ye have heard, and received, think on these things, and peace shall be with you. 17. And all the saints salute you. 18. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. 19. Cause this Epistle to be read to the Colossians, and the Epistle of the Colossians to be read among you. NOTE H. ST PAUL'S EPISTLES TO SENECA, WITH SENECA'S TO Paul. Annæus Seneca to Paul, Greeting. EPISTLE I. I SUPPOSE, Paul, that you have been informed of that conversation which passed yesterday between me and my Lucilius, concerning hypocrisy and other subjects; for there were some of your disciples in company with us; for when we were retired into the Sallustian gardens, through which they were also passing, and would have gone another way, by our persuasion they joined company with us. I desire you to believe, that we much wish for your conversation: we were much delighted with your book of many Epistles, which you have wrote to some cities and chief towns of provinces, and which contains wonderful instructions for moral conduct; such sentiments as I suppose you were not the author of, but only the instrument of conveying, though sometimes both the author and the instrument; for such is the sublimeness of those doctrines and their grandeur, that I suppose the age of a man is scarce sufficient to be instructed and perfected in the knowledge of them. I wish your welfare, my brother. Farewell. Paul to Seneca, Greeting. EPISTLE I. I received your letter yesterday with pleasure, to which I would immediately have wrote an answer had the young man been at home whom I intended to have sent to you: for you know when, and by whom, at what seasons, and to whom, I must deliver every thing which I send. I desire, therefore, you would not charge me with negligence, if I wait for a proper person. I reckon myself very happy in having the judgment of so valuable a person, that you are delighted with my Epistles: for you would not be esteemed a censor, a philosopher, or be the tutor of so great a prince, and a master of every thing, if you were not sincere. I wish you lasting prosperity. Annæus Seneca to Paul, Greeting. EPISTLE II. I have completed some volumes, and divided them into proper parts. I am determined to read them to Cæsar, and if any favourable opportunity happens, you also shall be present, when they are read; but if that cannot be, I will appoint and give you notice of a day, when we will together read over the performance. I have determined, if I could with safety, first to have your opinion of it before I published it to Cæsar, that you might be convinced of my affection to you. Farewell, dearest Paul. Paul to Seneca, Greeting. EPISTLE II. As soon, As often as I read your letters, I imagine you present with me; nor indeed do I think any other than that you are always with us. therefore, as you begin to come, we shall presently see each other. I wish you all prosperity. Annæus Seneca to Paul, Greeting. EPISTLE III. We are very much concerned at your too long absence from us. What is it, or what affairs are they, which obstruct your coming? If you fear the anger of Cæsar, because you have abandoned your former religion, and made proselytes also of others, you have this to plead, that your acting thus proceeded not from inconstancy, but judgment. Farewell. Paul to Seneca and Lucilius, Greeting. EPISTLE III. Concerning those things about which ye wrote to me, it is not proper for me to mention any thing in writing with a pen and ink: the one of which leaves marks, and the other evidently declares things. Especially since I know that there are near you, as well as me, those who will understand my meaning. Deference is to be paid to all men, and so much the more, as they are more likely to take occasions of quarrelling; and if we show a submissive temper, we shall overcome effectually in all points, if so be they are such who are capable of seeing and acknowledging themselves to have been in the wrong. Farewell. Annæus Seneca to Paul, Greeting. EPISTLE IV. I profess myself extremely pleased with the reading your letters to the Galatians, Corinthians, and people of Achaia. For the Holy Ghost has in them, by you, delivered those sentiments which are very lofty, sublime, deserving of all respect, and beyond your own invention. I could wish, therefore, that when you are writing things so extraordinary, there might not be wanting an elegancy of speech agreeable to their majesty. And I must own, my brother, that I may not at once dishonestly conceal any thing from you, and be unfaithful to my own conscience, that the Emperor is extremely pleased with the sentiments of your Epistles; for when he heard the beginning of them read, he declared, that he was surprised to find such notions in a person who had not had a regular education." To which I replied, "that the Gods sometimes made use of mean (innocent) persons to speak by, and gave him an instance of this in a mean countryman, named Vatienus, who, when he was in the country of Reate, had two men to appear to him, called Castor and Pollux, and received a revelation from the Gods. Farewell. Paul to Seneca, Greeting. EPISTLE IV. Although I know the Emperor is both an admirer and favourer of our religion, yet give me leave to advise you against your suffering any injury [by showing favour to us.] I think indeed you ventured upon a very dangerous attempt, when you would declare [to the Emperor] that which is so very contrary to his religion, and way of worship; seeing he is a worshipper of the Heathen Gods. I know not what you particularly had in view when you told him of this; but I suppose you did it out of a too great respect for me. But I desire that for the future you would not do so; for you had need be careful, lest by showing your affection to me, you should offend your master: his anger indeed will do us no harm, if he continue a heathen; nor will his not being angry be of any service to us; and if the Empress act worthy of her character, she will not be angry, but if she acts as a woman, she will be affronted. Farewell. Annæus Seneca to Paul, Greeting. EPISTLE V. I know that my letter, wherein I acquainted you that I had read to the Emperor your Epistles, does not so much affect you as the nature of the things [contained in them], which do so powerfully divert men's minds from their former manners and practices, that I have always been surprised, and have been fully convinced of it by many arguments heretofore: let us therefore begin afresh; and if any thing heretofore has been impru dently acted, do you forgive. I have sent you a book de copia verborum. Farewell, dearest Paul. Paul to Seneca, Greeting. EPISTLE V. As often as I write to you, and place my name before yours, I do a thing both disagreeable to myself, and contrary to our religion; for I ought, as I have often declared, to become all things to all men, and to have that regard to your quality which the Roman law has honoured all senators with, viz. to put my name last in the [inscription of the] Epistle, that I may not at length, with uneasiness and shame, be obliged to do that which it was always my inclination to do. Farewell, most respected master. Dated the fifth of the calends of July, in the fourth Consulship of Nero and Messala. Annæus Seneca to Paul, Greeting. EPISTLE VI. All happiness to you, my dearest Paul. If a person so great, and every way agreeable as you are, become not only a common, but most intimate friend to me, how happy will be the case of Seneca! You, therefore, who are so eminent, and so far exalted above all, even the greatest, do not think yourself unfit to be first named in the inscription of an Epistle; lest I should suspect you intend not so much to try me as to banter me; for you know yourself to be a Roman citizen. And I could wish to be in that circumstance or station which you are, and that you were in the same that I am. Farewell, dearest Paul. Dated the tenth of the calends of April, in the Consulship of Aprianus and Capito. Annæus Seneca to Paul, Greeting. EPISTLE VII. All happiness to you, my dearest Paul. Do you not suppose I am extremely concerned and grieved, that your innocence should bring you into |