AND HISTORICAL RESEARCH UPON THE NEW TESTAMENT. 157 



laboriously circulated, amid untold dangers, as they were by 

 such as Quadratus (in whom we see one of a multitude of 

 devoted messengers), if there had been the slightest doubt of 

 their authorship and authority. 



But archaeology shows us these writings coming down, not 

 only with this general stream of blood-sealed testimony, but in 

 a distinct and direct current in it. 



Another document, the Muratorian Fragment, discovered by 

 Muratori in 1740, containing a list of the Xew Testament books, 

 has in its proper place the Gospel of John. This is in 

 keeping with the abundant evidence we have already examined 

 of the existence and universal acceptance of the Fourth Gospel 

 as a part of Holy Scripture. 



II. The New Testament in rrs Environment; 

 OR the Setting of the Jewel. 



We will now turn to a class of ai chseological discoveries more 

 closely linked with history than the documents we have been 

 considering. It is true that in the case of some of the docu- 

 ments, archaeology and history unite in bearing witness. 

 Tatian, Aristides, Justin, and Hippolytus are historical person- 

 ages, so that their testimony is that of witnesses that are 

 known, speaking at a definite period. Thus, the Diatessarony 

 the Paliiivpsest, the Apology, and the llefutcdion are writings of 

 periods that are known, and their testimony is dated. But the 

 dates of the New Testament writings are indicated by other 

 discoveries. 



(1) Geographical. — For lack of space the geography of the 

 Holy Land can only be referred to, with the remark that the 

 progress of archaeological research has tended constantly to 

 make clearer the fact that the writers of the New Testament 

 were intimately acquainted with its localities, its political 

 divisions and peculiarities of soil, climate and productions. 

 The more it is searched and scientifically examined, the fuller 

 grows the evidence that this is the setting — the only possible 

 setting in all the world for this record of the mission of Him 

 who was born in Bethlehem, was reared in Nazareth, was 

 crucified at Jerusalem and ascended from Olivet. History and 

 archaeology combine in confirming the Gospels, which show 

 Him to us in that Holy Land (as said the dying king), Over 

 whose acres walked those blessed feet, which fourteen hundred 

 years ago were nailed, for our advantage, on the bitter cross." 



Without any attempt at classification, we may well look at 

 some of the occurrences recorded in the Gospels and the Acts, 



