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II . The N. T. Canon.— The history of the collection and authoritative determination of the N. T. canon may be divided into three periods. 1. Down to a.d. 170. — Paul claimed for his Epistles ''a public use and an authoritative power." 1 Thess 5:27; 2 Thess 3:6; Col 4:16; 1 Tim 4:6. John solemnly warns against any additions to or deductions from the book of Revelation. Rev 22:18-19. Peter significantly puts Paul's Epistles side by side with "the other Scriptures." 2 Pet 3:16. Nothing is more striking than the great difference in contents and expression between the N. T. and the Christian writings of the following centuries. This difference is a subsidiary but convincing proof of the inspiration of the former. We see in the Apostolic Fathers (a.d. 70-120) evidence of acquaintance with at least the majority of our present N. T. The period from a.d. 120-170 has been termed the age of the apologists. These efforts to defend the Christian faith led to a new use of the facts of Christ's life, and it then became manifest how greatly superior the four Gospels were to all other accounts; and accordingly, they were separated and assigned to a place of honor and absolute authority. At the close of the period was composed the Muratorian canon in the West, while about the same time appeared the Syriac translation of the N. T. called the Peshito, and the first Latin versions called Itala. From a.d. 170 to A.D. 303.— As the result of the investigations in the patristic writings of this period, Westcott declares that the four Gospels, the Acts, 1 Peter, 1 John, 13 Epistles of Paul, and the Apocalypse (the Revelation) were accepted by the Church, and, with the exception of the Apocalypse, have never been questioned since until modern times. Speaking generally, we may say that of the so-called "disputed" books of the N.T. the Apocalypse was universally received by all the Christian writers, while the Epistle to the Hebrews found acceptance in the Oriental, but not in the Occidental, Church. Judging from the writings, "the Epistles of James and Jude and the second and third of John were little used, and the second of Peter was barely known." From a.d. 302 to A.D. 307.— At the close of this period the third Council of Carthage, a.d. 397, took place, memorable as that by which the present canon of the N.T., with its 27 books, was ratified. Since that time it has remained unchanged. Luther revived doubts concerning some of the 7 books which Eusebius calls "disputed," especially the Epistle of James (which he could not harmonize with Paul's doctrine of justification by faith); but these were private opinions, and were not adopted by the Lutheran Church. All the Protestant Churches agree with the Greek and the Roman Churches as regards the extent of the canon of the N. T. And this little book contains the chief wisdom of the world, and will continue to guide mankind in the way of salvation to the end of time.

II . The principal attributes of God are ascribed to Christ; as, eternity, John 1:1; John 8:58; Rev 23:13; superhuman knowledge, Matt 9:4; John 16:30; John 21:17; omnipotence, Phil 3:21; Col 2:9-10; omnipresence. Matt 18:20; Matt 28:20; John 3:13; and unchangeableness. Heb 13:8.