Chapter 24

THE ECCLESIASTICAL WRITERS.

The amount of their extant writings, 364 The Epistle of Polycarp, 365 Justin Martyr, his history and his works, ib. The Epistle to Diognetus, 367 Tatian, Athenagoras, Theophilus, and Hermas, ib. The Epistle of Barnabas and the Shepherd of Hermas, ib. Papias and Hegesippus, ib. Irenaeus and his Works, 368 Tertullian, his character and writings, 370 Clement of Alexandria, 373 Hippolytus, 374 Minucius Felix, 375 Origen--his early history and remarkable career--his great learning-- his speculative spirit--his treatise against Celsus and his "Hexapla"--his theological peculiarities, ib. Cyprian--his training, character, and writings, 381 Gregory Thaumaturgus, 383 The value of the Fathers as ecclesiastical authorities, 384 Their erroneous and absurd expositions, 385 The excellency of Scripture, 387