CHAPTER II.

_THE SYNOPTIC GOSPELS._

The argument from the silence of early writers--Limits of the inquiry--Quotations from unknown sources and tradition--The summary of what the author of "Supernatural Religion" alleges his investigation produces--His plausibility, special pleading, and boldness of assertion--His line across history--Verbal testimony in the first two generations--Inscription over the cross--Clement of Rome--Verbatim quotations--Tischendorf and early translations of the New Testament into Latin and Syriac--Pretensions on behalf of the Synoptics--Rénan's views of the Gospels--Uniform plenary and verbal inspiration-- Perversion of Scripture--Epistle of Barnabas--The ninth chapter of Matthew dissected and the miraculous eliminated--Tischendorf's opinion ridiculed--Quoting unfairly--The Pauline and Petrine contention--The Second Epistle of Peter--The Pastor of Hermas 41