Section 156
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 125 makes mention of these as the only works written by him, in the following terms : " These things are attested by Papias, who was John's hearer and the associate of Polycarp, an ancient writer, who mentions them in the fourth book of his works. For he has written a work in five books." So far IrenaBus. But Papias himself, in the preface to his discourses, by no means asserts that he was a hearer and an eye-witness of the holy apostles, but informs us that he received the doctrines of faith from their inti mate friends, which he states in the following words : " But I shall not regret to subjoin to my interpretations, also for your benefit, whatsoever I have at any time accurately ascertained and treasured up in my memory, as I have received it from the elders, and have recorded it in order to give additional confirma tion to the truth, by my testimony. For I have never, like many, delighted to hear those that tell many things, but those that teach the truth, neither those that record foreign precepts, but those that are given from the Lord, to our faith, and that came from the truth itself. But if I met with any one who had been a <. follower="" of="" the="" elders="" any="" where="" i="" made="" it="" a="" point="" to="" inquire="" what="" were="" declarations="" elders.="" was="" said="" by="" andrew="" peter="" or="" philip.="" thomas="" james="" john="" mat="" thew="" other="" disciples="" our="" lord.="" aristion="" and="" presbyter="" lord="" for="" do="" not="" think="" that="" derived="" so="" much="" benefit="" from="" books="" as="" living="" voice="" those="" are="" still="" surviving.="" is="" also="" proper="" observe="" name="" twice="" mentioned.="" former="" which="" he="" mentions="" with="" matthew="" apostles="" evidently="" meaning="" evan="" gelist.="" but="" in="" separate="" his="" discourse="" ranks="" rest="" included="" number="" apos="" tles="" placing="" before="" him.="" distinguishes="" him="" plainly="" presbyter.="" here="" proved="" statement="" true="" who="" assert="" there="" two="" same="" asia="" there.="" were_also="" twq__tombs="" ephesus="" ajid_jhai_both_are="" called="" even="" this="" day="" particularly="" necessary="" observe.="" probable="" thej="" second="" if="" be="" allowed="" first="" saw="" revela-1=""/>