PREFACE TO SIXTH EDITION. More than thirty years ago, the author of this work, noticing the titles to the four gospels: "The gospel according to Matthew," "The gospel according to Mark," etc.,-that they do not purport to be written by the persons whose names are connected with them-said to himself, "I wonder who wrote these books, and if it is possible to ascertain." He finally concluded to make an effort to find out the authorship. Beyond that he had no definite object in view. As a starting point, he first read, with great care, Professor Stowe's "History of the Bible." Professor Stowe claims a hundred witnesses for the four gospels. Looking over the list, it was seen at once that of all these not more than a dozen had lived in the first century. It was manifest that the testimony of all the later writers must rest upon those in the first century, as those only could have any direct knowledge of the facts. The author, going into the Library of Congress, at Washington, called for the works of those writers, the number being now still more reduced, several of those remaining having been in the second century. Taking a piece of card board, he placed it on the page and moved it down slowly, so as to detect the first PREFACE TO SIXTH EDITION. More than thirty years ago, the author of this work, noticing the titles to the four gospels: "The gospel according to Matthew," "The gospel according to Mark," etc., that they do not purport to be written by the persons whose names are connected with them--said to himself, "I wonder who wrote these books, and if it is possible to ascertain." He finally concluded to make an effort to find out the authorship. Beyond that he had no definite object in view. As a starting point, he first read, with great care, Professor Stowe's "History of the Bible." Professor Stowe claims a hundred witnesses for the four gospels. Looking over the list, it was seen at once that of all these not more than a dozen had lived in the first century. It was manifest that the testimony of all the later writers must rest upon those in the first century, as those only could have any direct knowledge of the facts. The author, going into the Library of Congress, at Washington, called for the works of those writers, the number being now still more reduced, several of those remaining having been in the second century. Taking a piece of card board, he placed it on the page and moved it down slowly, so as to detect the first mention of any of the gospels. To his surprise, there was not a single witness in the first century. He then took up the writers of the second century, and subjecting them to the same process, found that the first to name any of the four gospels was Theophilus of Antioch, who, in the year 180, referred to the Gospel of John. During subsequent researches the fact developed that it had been conceded by various writers, that this was the first express mention of any of the four gospels. It was at this point that the History of the Christian Religion to the Year Two Hundred was determined upon; and the subsequent investigations were prosecuted in the same spirit, with the simple purpose of ascertaining the truth. The book has been before the public more than a quarter of a century. It has stood the test of the closest scrutiny and the sharpest criticism, and is now accepted as authority by the general public, and considered a standard, historical work. A valuable addition has been made to the Appendix in the article entitled "Jesus Christ as a Historical Personage," which has been re-written at greater length for the Sixth Edition. This article is important because of the determined effort of some writers to eliminate Jesus Christ from history. Every effort has been made to have the mechanical execution of the work as near perfect as possible, and it is now, with renewed confidence, submitted to an appreciative public. |