For even the most holy prophets lived
according to Jesus Christ. . . . Wherefore if they who were
brought up in these ancient laws came nevertheless to the
newness of hope; no longer observing Sabbaths, but keeping the
Lord's Day, in which also our life is sprung up by him, and
through his death, _whom yet some deny_. By which _mystery_
we have been brought to believe, and therefore wait that
we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only
master. . . . . These things, my beloved, I write unto you,
not that I know of any among you _that be under this error_;
but as one of the least among you, I am desirous to forewarn
you that ye fall not into the snares of vain doctrine."

After reading this we can say with the writer of Timothy,[513:4]
"Without controversy, great is the MYSTERY of godliness."

Beside those who denied that Christ Jesus had ever been manifest _in the
flesh_, there were others who denied that _he_ had been
crucified.[513:5] This is seen from the words of Justin Martyr, in his
_Apology_ for the Christian Religion, written A. D. 141, where he says:

"As to the _objection_ to _our_ Jesus's being crucified, I
say, suffering was common to all the Sons of Jove."[513:6]

This is as much as to say: "_You_ Pagans claim that _your_ incarnate
gods and _Saviours_ suffered and died, then why should not _we_ claim
the same for _our_ Saviour?"

The _Koran_, referring to the _Jews_, says:

"They have not believed in Jesus, and have spoken against Mary
a grievous calumny, and have said: 'Verily we have slain
Christ Jesus, the son of Mary' (the apostle of God). _Yet they
slew him not, neither crucified him, but he was represented by
one in his likeness. And verily they who disagreed concerning
him were in a doubt as to this matter, and had no sure
knowledge thereof, but followed only an uncertain
opinion._"[514:1]

This passage alone, from the Mohammedan Bible, is sufficient to show, if
other evidence were wanting, that the early Christians "disagreed
concerning him," and that "they had no sure knowledge thereof, but
followed only an uncertain opinion."

In the books which are _now_ called _Apocryphal_, but which _were_ the
most quoted, and of equal authority with the others, and which were
_voted not_ the word of God--for obvious reasons--and were therefore
cast out of the canon, we find many allusio