Page:Lives of the apostles of Jesus Christ (1836).djvu/389



All the testimony which antiquity affords on this point, is simply this:—Eusebius (Hist. Ecc. V. 10,) says, in giving the life of Pantaenus of Alexandria, (who lived about A. D. 180,) that this enterprising Christian philosopher penetrated, in his researches and travels, as far as to the inhabitants of India. It has been shown by Tillemont, Asseman and Michaelis, that this term, in this connection, means Arabia Felix, one part of whose inhabitants were called Indians, by the Hebrews, the Syrians and the early ecclesiastical historians. Eusebius relates that Pantaenus there found the gospel of Matthew, in Hebrew, and that the tradition among these people was, that Bartholomew, one of the twelve apostles, had formerly preached there, and left this gospel among them. This tradition being only a hundred years old when Pantaenus heard it, ranks among those of rather respectable character.

The tradition certainly appears authentic, and is a very interesting and valuable fragment of early Christian history, giving a trace of the progress of the gospel, which otherwise would never have been recognized,—besides the satisfaction of such a reasonable story about an apostle of whom the inspired narrative records so little, although he is represented in such an interesting light, by the account of his introduction to Jesus. Here he learned the meaning of the solemn prophecy with which Jesus crowned that noble profession of faith. Here he saw, no doubt, yet greater tokens of the power of Christ, than in the deep knowledge of hidden things then displayed. And here, resting at last from his labors, he departed to the full view of the glories there foretold,—to "see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."