SECT. II.

The Writers that live nearest to the Age ofthe Revelations, and that speak of theAuthor of that Book , ascribe it to Johnthe Apostle and Evangelist.

I N Disputes about ancient Facts , the Reasonof Things requires us to decide for that Sideof the Question, which is confirmed by the oldestTradition. They who lived nearest in Time tothe Fact enquired after, are justly presumed togive the truest Information about it: So that ifthe Writers nearest to the Age of the Apocalypse ,give it to John the Evangelist, and to none else,his Title to it is sufficiently established, as far ashuman Testimony can do it. The Writers whosucceed this first Set of Evidences, may be allowedto oppose this Conclusion as Critich, but are ofsmall Account as Hstoriam: Because they con-tradict Persons of as good Credit as themselves,and naturally better qualified to know the Truthof this Matter. But all the Catholick Writers,for more than one Century after the Revelationsappeared in the World, who fay any Thing of theAuthor of that Book , give it to St. John the Apo-stle and Evangelist: And others within the samePeriod, who are not express as to the Author , re-ceive the Book as Authentick Scripture. E. G.i. Papias , Anno no.

This very ancient Bishop, who had seen andconversed with many Apostolical Men, and who

flourished