Chapter 32

THE APOCALYPSE--1. Meaning of the Word "Apocalypse"--Abundance of External Testimonies to this Book--2. Internal Arguments considered--Use of the Apostle's Name, Devotional Views, Spirit of the Writer, Style and Diction--Here must be taken into Account the Difference between this Book and John's other Writings in Subject-Matter, in the Mode of Divine Revelation, in the Writer's Mental State and Circumstances; also its Poetic Diction--General Results--3. Date of the Apocalypse and Place of Writing--4. Different Schemes of Interpretation--The Generic--The Historic--5. Symbolic Import of the Numbers in this Book--The number Seven, Half of Seven, Six; The Number Four, a Third and Fourth Part; the Number Twelve; the Number Ten--6. Office of the Apocalypse in the System of Revelation

APPENDIX TO PART III.

WRITINGS OF THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS, WITH SOME NOTICES OF THE APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS--1. The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers distinguished from the Proper New Testament Apocrypha--Some Remarks on the Character of these Writings

I. _Writings of Clement of Rome_--2. His Epistle to the Romans--Its Genuineness Character, and Age--3. Its Occasion, with a Notice of its Contents--4. The so-called Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians--Its Genuineness not admitted--Vague and General Character of its Contents--5. Notice of some Other Writings falsely ascribed to Clement--Recognitions of Clement, and the Clementines, with their Plan and Contents; Constitutions of Clement, and their Contents; Apostolic Canons

II. _Epistles of Ignatius_--6. Notices of Ignatius--The Seven Genuine Epistles that bear his Name--Unsatisfactory State of the Text--Syriac and Armenian Versions--Enumeration of these Epistles--Their Character--Strong Ecclesiastical Spirit that pervades them--His Letter to the Romans--The Undue Desire of Martyrdom which it manifests--His Letter to Polycarp--7. Spurious Epistles ascribed to Ignatius, and their Character

III. _Epistle of Polycarp_--8. Notices of Polycarp--His Epistle to the Philippians--Its Character and Contents--Time and Occasion of its Composition

IV. _Writings of Barnabas and Hermas_--9. Their Doubtful Authority--10. The So-called Epistle of Barnabas--Tischendorf's Discovery of the Original Greek Text--The Author and Date of the Work--Notice of its Contents--Its Fanciful Method of Interpretation--11. The Shepherd of Hernias--Outward Form of the Work--Its Internal Character--Its Author and Age

V. _The Apostle's Creed_--12. In what Sense it belongs to the Apostolic Fathers--Apostolic Character of its Contents

VI. _Apocryphal Gospels and Acts--13._ Their Number--Their Worthless Character in Contrast with that of the Canonical Gospels and Acts

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