erence is that
between light and darkness, between truth and fiction. We have
in the _writings_ of the New Testament the genuine apostolic
tradition, at first oral, but put into a written form during the
lifetime of the apostles. These traditions are the "gold,
silver, precious stones" of divine truth. All other traditions
are the "wood, hay, stubble" of human origin. In settling the
question respecting the _genuineness_ of the New Testament
writings, we proceed as in the case of any other writings. We
avail ourselves of all the evidence within our reach, external
and internal. We take the testimony of Irenaeus and Tertullian,
and also of Marcion and Valentinus; though none of them were
inspired, and the two latter were heretical. But when we have
once determined what books were written by apostles or apostolic
men, these contain for us the only authoritative _tradition_, as
defined by the apostle: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and
hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word
or our epistle." 2 Thess. 2:15.

8. In comparing the synoptic gospels with each other and with the fourth
gospel, we must ever bear in mind that no one of them professes to give
a complete history of our Lord's life, or to arrange all the incidents
which he relates in the exact order of time. Under the guidance of the
divine Spirit each one pursues his own course, independently of the
others, here inserting what one or more of the rest have omitted, or
omitting what one or more of them have inserted; and here, again,
bringing in incidents without regard to their exact chronological order,
with some general preface like the following: "at that time," Matt.
12:1; "and he began again," Mark 4:1; "and it came to pass as he was
alone praying," Luke 9:18; "and it came to pass as they went in the
way," Luke 9:57; etc. Thus the wisdom of God has given us, not all the
particulars of our Lord's history, but such a selection from both the
incidents of his public life and his public and private teachings as
best embodies the great facts of the gospel, and the doctrines and
duties connected with them. In the four canonical gospels the church
has, not all of our Lord's history and teachings, but all that the Holy
Ghost judged needful for her establishment and edification to the end of
time.

Of our Lord's history before his baptism we have only his
genealogy in a