CHAPTER II.

THE TESTIMONY OF POLYCARP TO THE IGNATIAN EPISTLES EXAMINED.


The Bishop of Durham affirms, in a passage already quoted, that
"no Christian writings of the second century, and very few
writings of antiquity, whether Christian or pagan, are so
_well authenticated_" as the Epistles attributed to Ignatius.
This assuredly is an astounding announcement, made deliberately
by a distinguished author, whose attention, for nearly thirty years,
has been directed to the subject. The letter of Polycarp to the
Philippians is a writing of the second century, and it is by far
the most important witness in support of the Ignatian letters; but
we must infer, from the words just quoted, that it is not "so well
authenticated" as they are. It is difficult to understand by what
process of logic his Lordship has arrived at this conclusion. In
an ordinary court of law, the witness who deposes to character is
expected to stand on at least as high a moral platform in public
estimation as the individual in whose favour he bears testimony;
but if the letter of Polycarp is not "so well authenticated" as
these Ignatian letters, how can it be brought forward to establish
their reputation? Nor is this the only perplexing circumstance
connected with this discussion. There was a time when, according
to his own statement in the present work, Dr. Lightfoot "accepted