Page:Apocryphal Gospels and Other Documents Relating to the History of Christ.djvu/57

Rh of events not fully recorded in the Gospels, and mainly introductory to them. When he wrote, men in the church had begun to love the marvellous, and were partial to traditions. It is curious, however, that the author mentions only one or two of the infant miracles of Jesus, which afterwards became so popular.

The manuscript copies abound in various readings of an extraordinary character, showing that the scribes took whatever liberties they chose with the text. It was originally written in Greek, and probably by a Jewish convert to Christianity. Dr. Tischendorf's edition, which is here followed, is from a MS. of the tenth or eleventh century, collated with many other MSS. and editions.

I am not at all sure that the author had any doctrinal or ecclesiastical motive in writing the book. The prodigies he relates in connection with Mary, may indicate that in his time special attention and honour had begun to be paid her; but there is nothing to indicate that extravagant personal worship which gradually came to be rendered to her. Whatever the writer says in honour of Mary and her parents, is designed to add lustre to Jesus, by showing how wonderfully God provided for His holy incarnation and advent, and watched over His infancy.