Ten is possibly only a symbol of diversity, as in the case of the ten horns of the beast (chaps. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3); though some take a literal view of it.

6.  Dark as are many parts of the Apocalypse and difficult of interpretation, the book as a whole is radiant with the promise to God’s people of a final and complete victory in their conflict with the kingdom of Satan.  Though long delayed, as we mortals reckon time, it shall come at last with a splendor above the brightness of the sun, and the earth be lighted from pole to pole with its glory.  “Amen.  Even so, come, Lord Jesus”!

APPENDIX TO PART III.

WRITINGS OF THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS, WITH SOME NOTICES OF THE APOCRYPHAL NEW TESTAMENT WRITINGS.

1.  A wide distinction should be made between the writings of the apostolic fathers which are acknowledged to be genuine, or the genuineness of which may be maintained on more or less probable grounds, and the large mass of spurious works afterwards palmed upon the Christian world as the productions of apostles or their contemporaries.  The latter constitute properly the New Testament Apocrypha, though the term is sometimes applied in a loose way to both classes of writings.  The writings of the apostolic fathers, though possessing no divine authority, are valuable as showing the state of the Christian churches at the time when they were composed in respect to both doctrine and discipline, as well as the various errors and divisions by which they were troubled.  Their testimonies to the genuineness of the New Testament have been already considered.  Chap. 2, No. 10.  Some of the apocryphal works also, worthless as they are for instruction in the doctrines and duties of Christianity, throw much light on the religious spirit, tendencies, and heretical sects of the times to which they belong.  Others of these writings are unutterably absurd and puerile, worthy of notice only as showing the type of the puerilities current in the age of their composition.

I. WRITINGS OF CLEMENT.

2.  Appended to the Alexandrine manuscript (Chap. 26, No. 5) is an epistle of Clement of Rome to the Corinthians, followed by part of a so-called second epistle to the same church.  The first of these epistles is acknowledged to be genuine.  It was known to the ancient fathers as the work of Clement of Rome, and highly commended by them.  Their quotations from it agree with the contents of the epistle as we now have it, nor does it exhibit any marks of a later age; for the author’s reference to the well-known fable of the phoenix as a type of the resurrection (chap. 25), constitutes no real difficulty.  It may prove that he was credulous, but not that he belonged to a later than the apostolic age.  The ancients represent this Clement to have been identical with Clement bishop of Rome.  Whether he