who lived on the borders of the apostolic age; but these Ignatian
Epistles betray indications of a very different original, for they
reveal a spirit of which no enlightened Christian can approve, and
promulgate principles which would sanction the boldest assumptions
of ecclesiastical despotism. In a work published by me many years
ago, I have pointed out the marks of their imposture; and I have
since seen no cause to change my views. Regarding all these
letters as forgeries from beginning to end, I have endeavoured, in
the following pages, to expose the fallacy of the arguments by
which Dr. Lightfoot has attempted their vindication.

ASSEMBLY COLLEGE, BELFAST,
July 1886.





CONTENTS.


CHAPTER I.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS.

The critical spirit stimulated by the Reformation--The Ignatian
Epistles as regarded by Calvin, Ussher, Vossius, Daille, Pearson,
Wake, and Cureton--Dr. Lightfoot as a scholar and a commentator--
The valuable information supplied in his recent work--His estimate
of the parties who have pronounced judgment on the question of the