NOTICES IN THE FATHERS. 141 



"Irenseus not only knew but approves the writing of 

 the Shepherd, saying, ' Well then spake the Scripture say- 

 ing first of all things believe that The God is One, He 

 having created and arranged the Universe, and the rest.' " 



V. 



CLEMENS ALEXANDRINUS (born circa 150), (Stromata, Lib. 

 i., ch. 21, Lib. vi, ch. 4, p. 379. Oxford Edition). He 

 mentions Hermes of Thebes and Esculapius of Mem- 

 phis, " e vate Deus." Ibid., Lib. vi., ch. iv., p. 737. 



CLEMENS gives a long description of the various works 

 attributed to this Egyptian Hermes, Forty-two in number. 

 Four of Astrology, others of Astronomy, Geology, and 

 Hieroglyphics, and thirty-six containing all Egyptian 

 philosophy at great length, including Hymns to God, reli- 

 gious ceremonies, and sacerdotal discipline. As no par- 

 ticular reference is there made to any of the treatises in 

 this volume, it is unnecessary to go into further details 

 concerning those mentioned by Clemens. 



VI. 



EIRMIANUS LACTANTIUS (died A.D. 325). Edition of Le 

 Brun and Dufresnoy, Paris, 1747. Divine Institutes, 

 i. ch. vi. 



AFTER recounting shortly the history of the legendary 

 Hermes (whom he uncritically confounds with our Author), 

 he subsequently quotes our Hermes, and proceeds thus : 



" Hermes " (or the fifth Mercury), " although he was 

 a man, yet he was of great antiquity, and most fully 

 imbued with every kind of learning, so that the knowledge 

 of many subjects and arts acquired for him the name of 

 Trismegistus. He wrote books, and those in great num- 



