Note 5 — Chapter IX · THE MEMOIRS OF THE YEAR ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY.

A fragment of this writing was discovered by the Italian scholar Muratori, and from him is called the Muratori Canon. It is written in Latin, but is supposed to have been first written in Greek. The first part of the writing is wanting, so that it begins with Luke, which it calls the “Third book of the Gospel according to Luke.” It was found in the Ambrosian Library, at Milan, in a manuscript containing extracts from writings of Ambrose, Chrysostom, and others. It professes to give a list of the writings that are recognized in the Christian Church. Judge Waite (p. 412) assigns A.D. 190 as its date. Prof. Curtiss says of it: “The most eminent New Testament scholars in America, England and Germany, with a few exceptions, hold that it was written in the last quarter of the second century (the most setting the date at about 170-180 A.D.) Some of them are: Prof. Ezra Abbot, of Harvard College; Drs. E. A. Abbott, Canon Wescott, W. A. Sanday, Credner, Weiseler, Bleek, Reuss, Hilgenfeld, and many others” (Inter-Ocean, February 12, 1881). The Fragment contains internal evidence of the time when it was written. In reference to the “Pastor” it says: This “did Hermas write, very recently, in our times, in the city of Rome, while his brother Bishop Pius sat in the chair in the church of Rome.” Now Pius was Bishop from A.D. 142 to 157. Waite’s History, p. 232.