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tion of the most material Witnesses, they have (

laboured to shew, that a Fact founded upon such ,

Evidence, is by no means credible. Before there-fore we proceed to their particular Allegations, itwill be expedient to explain that Faff, and to de-termine in what Respects the Ancients are called .in to bear Testimony for it.

The grand Question then is, whether St. John jthe Apostle was Author of the Revelations , which - tgoes under his Name. And the Proof of the as- . <firmative Side in this Question, depends in good j,Measure on another Faff, viz. The Opinion ofthe Times next following the Publication of thatWork concerning this Matter. If they unani-mousty ascribe it to the Writer aforesaid, he hasundoubtedly the best Title to it. j< |

Now the only Way to know the Opinion ofthe Primitive Times, is to consult the Writers ofthose Ages, and what they universally deliver inany Cafe, ought to be esteemed such. The im--- .. jmediate Fact therefore, in Attestation of which jwe at present require the Testimonies of the An-cients is, not that John the Apostle was the Au-thor of the Revelations , but that the Age next to jthe first Appearance of that Book in the World jwith one Consent ascribes it to him. But. no Sother Qualifications are requisite in Witnesses to a IFact of this kind, besides those of common Sense ■ j ,and common Honesty. For ordinary Discernment -would hinder the early Fathers from being de- . :ceived in the Opinion of their own Times, con-? .cerning a Book universally known and spoken of:

And they must have no Remains of Probity, ifthey were capable of agreeing to deceive Posters? .

Pd