
Comprising the Gospels & Epistles now extant, that in the first four centuries were more or less accredited to the apostles and their coadjutors, but were finally excluded from the New Testament canon.
Partial Contents:
Gospel of the birth of Mary
Epistles of Jesus Christ & Abgarus, King of Edessa
Gospel of Nicodemus
Epistle of Paul apostle to the Laodiceans
Epistles of Paul the apostle to Seneca
Acts of Paul & Thecla
Clement to the Corinthians
Epistles of Ignatius; Epistle of Polycarp
First, Second & Third book of Hermas.
Excerpt:
Pages: 95-96
Nicodemus
Chapter XVI.
And while Satan and the price of hell were discoursing thus to each other, on a sudden there was a voice as of thunder and the rushing of winds saying, lift up your gates, O ye princes; and be ye lift up, O everlasting gates, and the King of Glory shall come in.
2 When the prince of hell heard this, he said to Satan, Depart from me, and begone out of my habitations: if thou art a powerful warrior, fight with the King of Glory. But what hast thou to do with him?
3 And he cast him forth from his habitations.
4 And the prince said to his impious officers, Shut the brass gates of cruelty, and make them fast with iron bars, and fight courageously, lest we be taken captives.
5 But when all the company of the saints heard this, they spake with a loud voice of anger to the prince of hell,
6 Open they gates, that the King of Glory may come in.
7 And the divine prophet David, cried out, saying, Did not I, when on earth, truly prophesy and say, O that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men !
8 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. He hath taken them because of their iniquity, and because of their unrighteousness they are afflicted.
9 After this, another prophet, namely, holy Issaiah, spake in like manner to all the saints, Did not I rightly prophesy to you, when I was alive on earth ?
10 The dead men shall live, and they shall rise again who are in their graves, and they shall rejoice who are in earth; for the dew which is from the Lord, shall bring deliverance to them.
11 And I said in another place, O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting?
12 When all the saints heard these things spoken by Isaiah, they said to the prince of hell, Open now thy gates, and take away thin iron bars, for thou wilt now be bound, and have no power.
End Excerpt
8x10.5, Softbound, 338 pages