offence. The apostle Paul does the same (2 Tim. 3:8, 9); and
Jude himself in another passage (verse 9).

20. The _design_ of the epistle Jude himself gives in explicit terms
(verses 3, 4). It is to guard believers against the seductions of false
teachers, corrupt in practice as well as doctrine; whose selfishness,
sensuality, and avarice; whose vain-glorious, abusive, and schismatic
spirit, he describes in vivid language, denouncing upon them at the same
time the awful judgment of God. The apostolic portraiture has not yet
become antiquated in the history of Christ's church.

CHAPTER XXXII.

THE APOCALYPSE.

1. The word _Apocalypse_ (Greek _Apokalupsis_) signifies _Revelation_,
the title given to the book in our English version as well from its
opening word as from its contents. Of all the writings of the New
Testament that are classed by Eusebius among the disputed books
(_Antilegomena_, chap. 5. 6), the apostolic authorship of this is
sustained by the greatest amount of _external_ evidence; so much so that
Eusebius acknowledges it as doubtful whether it should be classed among
the _acknowledged_ or the _disputed_ books.

It was known to Papias, to Melito bishop of Sardis, and to
Theophilus of Antioch; is quoted as a part of Scripture by the
churches of Vienne and Lyons in the last quarter of the second
century; and is expressly ascribed to the apostle John by Justin
Martyr, Irenaeus, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, the
Muratorian canon, Hippolytus, Origen, Jerome, etc. The
testimonies may be seen in Davidson's Introduction to the New
Test., in Alford, and in the other works already frequently
referred to. Eusebius, after giving a list of the _acknowledged_
books, adds: "After these should be placed, if it be thought
proper, the Revelation of John, concerning which we shall give
the opinions at the proper time." Then, at the end of a list of
the _disputed_ and _rejected_ books he adds: "And moreover, as I
said, the Revelation of John, if it be thought proper, which
some, as I said, reject, but others reckon among the
acknowledged books" (Hist. Eccl., 3. 25); and again, after
mentioning with approbation the account of those who said that
there were at Ephesus two who bore the name of John (John the
_apostle_, and the so-called _presbyter_ John), he adds: "For it
is probable that the second, if any one be not willin