Sect. V. world, which we inhabit. Suppofing, that

They kept
Eafter,&c.

the conflagration and diffolution of our earth
would happen on a Lord's day, and not know-
ing which, they ever paffed that day in fast-
ing and
prayer, that the Lord, when he
came, might find them in the exercise of
humiliation and repentance.

V. The Manicheans, or however those of Africa, kept Eafter, as we learn from (d) Auguftin: who only blames them, that they did not keep it with fufficient folemnity.

Beaufobre fuppofes, that (e) there is no good reafon to doubt of their keeping the feaft of Pentecoft.

In the (f) month of March, and therefore ufually about the time of Eafter, they celebrated the anniversarie of the martyrdom of Mani, which was called Bema, or the Mafter's Chair.

VI. Their

(d) Cum faepe a vobis quaererem illo tempore quo vos audiebam, quae caufa effet, quod Pafcha Domini plerumque nulla, interdum a paucis tepidiffima feftivitate frequentaretur,

cum veftrum Bema, id eft, diem quo Manichaeus occifus eft, quinque gradibus inftructo tribunali, et pretiofis linteis adornato, magnis honoribus profequamini? Contr. Ep. Manicb. c. 8. n. 9.

(e) See T. 2. p. 711. n. xi.

(f) Illo enim menfe (Martio) Bema veftrum cum magna feltivitate celebratis. Contr. Fauft. 1. 18. c. 5. Vid. not. (d)

Sect. V.

Their Dif

VI. Their ecclefiaftical conftitution we faw (g) formerly, in the paffage of Auguftin con- cipline. cerning their Elect and Auditors.

It is likely, they had also some ecclefiaftical discipline, and that cenfures of their church were pronounced upon bad livers. This is fuppofed in a storie told by Auguftin of an indecence committed by fome of the Elect, whilst he was of that fect. He fays, that (b) he and others were offended, and expected, that the men should have been excommunicated, or at left sharply reproved. But, as it seems, little notice was taken of the matter. The excuse they made was, that their affemblies were then prohibited by the laws, and therefore fome inconvenience might happen, if their principal men were disobliged.

(g) See before, p. 86. 87.

(b) vidimus ergo in quadrivio Carthaginis,

unum,

He

non

fed plures quam tres Electos fimul poft tranfeuntes nescio quas feminas tam petulanti geftu adhinnire. Nos autem graviter commoti, graviter etiam quefti fumus. Quis tandem hoc vindicandum, non dicam feperatione ab ecclesia, fed pro magnitudine flagitii vehementi faltem objurgatione arbitratus eft? Et haec erat omnis excufatio impunitatis illorum, quod eo tempore quo conventicula eorum lege prohiberentur, ne quid laefi proderent, metuebatur. De Mor. Manich. c. 19. n. 68. 69.

(i) Quae

Seat. V. He argues with them, as (i) if an Elect would be degraded for eating the smallest bit of flesh.

(i) Quae ergo ratio eft, vel potius amentia, de numero Electorum hominem pellere, qui forte carnem valetudinis cauffa, nulla cupiditate gustaverit - ? Ita fit ut in Electis veftris effe non poffit, qui proditus fuerit, non concupifcendo, fed medendo partem aliquam coenaffe gallinae. De Mor. Manich. cap. 16. n. 51,

SECT.

SECT. VI.

The Manichean Doctrine concerning
the Scriptures.

I. A Summarie Account of their Scheme.
II. They rejected the Old Teftament.
III. Their Notion of John Baptift.
IV. What Books of the New Teftament
they received. 1. They received the New
Teftament in general, or the Gospels, and
the Epiftles of St. Paul. 2. What they
fayd of St. Matthew's Gofpel. 3. Whe-
ther they received the Acts of the Apof-
tles? 4. They received St. Paul's Epif-
tles:
5. Particularly that to the He-
brews. 6. Of their receiving an Epiftle
to the Laodiceans. 7. Whether they re-
ceived the Catholic Epiftles? 8. And
the Revelation? 9. Probably, they re-
ceived all the canonical Scriptures of the
New Teftament. V. Proofs of their
Refpect for the Scriptures of the New
Teftament. VI. Of their Pretenfe, that
X

VOL. VI.

the

305

Sect. VI.

the Books of the New Testament had been corrupted and interpolated. 1. Paf Jages of ancient Catholic Authors concerning that Matter. 2. Paffages of Fauftus concerning the fame. VII. Remarks upon the Paffages of Fauftus. VIII. The Manicheans vindicated from the charges of forging, and interpolating Scripture. 1. They did not forge a Letter afcribed to Chrift. 2. That they did not interpolate the Books of the New Teftament. IX. Of the apocryphal Books, used by them. 1. Auguftin's Definition of fuch Books. 2. Proofs of their ufing apocryphal Scriptures, and what. 3. An Account of Leucius, a great Writer of apocryphal Books. 1.) His Works. 2.) His Opinions. 3.) His Time. 4. Remarks upon the Works of Leucius, and the apocryphal Books, ufed by the Manicheans.

W at

E are now come to the principal point, and perhaps as difficult as any, to shew, what books of Scripture the Manicheans received, and what regard they had for them.

I. Auguftin's