Clement of Alexandria, the date of whose birth or death is uncertain, flourished long before the end of the second century, for he became head of the catechetical school of Alexandria about the year 190.

Tertullian was born about 150, was converted to Christianity about 185, was admitted to the priesthood in 192, and adopted the opinions of Montanus about the end of the century.

I shall first of all give the testimony of these three writers to the universal reception of the Four Gospels by the Church, and consider to what time previous to their own day their testimony upon such a subject must, of necessity, reach.

First of all, Irenaeus, in a well-known passage, asserts that—­

    “It is not possible that the Gospels can be either more or fewer in
    number than they are.”

He then refers to the four zones of the earth, and the four principal winds, and remarks that, in accordance with this,

    “He Who was manifest to men has given us the Gospel under four
    aspects, but bound together by one Spirit.”

Then he refers to the four living creatures of the vision in the Revelation, and proceeds,—­

“And, therefore, the Gospels are in accord with these things, among which Christ is seated.  For that according to John relates His original effectual and glorious generation from the Father, thus declaring, ‘In the beginning was the word,’ &c....  But that according to Luke, taking up His priestly character, commences with Zacharias the priest offering sacrifice to God.  For now was made ready the fatted calf, about to be immolated for the finding again of the younger son.  Matthew again relates His generation as a man, saying, ’The Book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham;’ and also, ’The birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.’  This, then, is the Gospel of His humanity, for which reason it is, too, that the character of an humble and meek man is kept up through the whole Gospel.  Mark, on the other hand, commences with a reference to the prophetical spirit coming down from on high to men, saying, ’The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as it is written in Esaias the prophet,’ pointing to the winged aspect of the Gospel:  and on this account he made a compendious and cursory narrative, for such is the prophetical character.” (Iren., Bk. iii. ch. xi.)

Clement of Alexandria, speaking of a saying ascribed to our Lord, writes:—­

    “In the first place, then, in the four Gospels handed down amongst
    us, we have not this saying; but in that which is according to the
    Egyptians.” (Miscellanies, iii. ch. xiii.)

Tertullian writes thus:—­