36. Then of the New Testament there are the
four Gospels only, for the rest have false titles Gr. ψευδεπίγραφα. For an account of the many Apocryphal Gospels, see the article
by Lipsius in the “Dictionary of Christian
Biography,” Smith and Wace, and the English translations in
Clark’s Ante-Nicene Library.
and are mischievous. The Manichæans also wrote a Gospel
according to Thomas, which being tinctured with the fragrance of the
evangelic title corrupts the souls of the simple sort. Receive
also the Acts of the Twelve Apostles; and in addition to these the
seven Catholic
Epistles of James, Peter, John, and Jude; and as a seal upon them all,
and the last work of the disciples, the fourteen Epistles of
Paul Cyril includes in
this list all the books which we receive, except the Apocalypse.
See Bishop Westcott’s Article “Canon,” in the
Dictionary of the Bible, and Origen’s Catalogue in Euseb.
Hist. vi. 25 (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, vol.
i.).. But let all the rest be put aside in a
secondary rank. And whatever books are not read in Churches,
these read not even by thyself, as thou hast heard me say. Thus
much of these subjects.