Page:A General Survey of the History of the Canon of the New Testament (7th edition, 1896).djvu/90

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The history of Clement of Rome is invested with a mythic dignity, which is without example in the ante-Nicene Church. The events of his life have become so strangely involved in consequence of the religious romances which bear his name, that they must remain in inextricable confusion; and even apart from this, there can be little doubt that traditions which belong to very different men were soon united to confirm the dignity of the successor of St Peter. There is however no reason to question the belief that he was an immediate disciple of the Apostles, and overseer of the Church of Rome ; but beyond this all is doubtful. It is uncertain whether he was of Jewish or heathen descent : he is called at one