P R E F A C E.

...to the Truth as soon as it clashes with their Prejudices, and the maxims of their Party. The more evident it is, the more it irritates them. They become angry with those who reveal it, and believe that, to overturn a new Hypothesis In this context, a "hypothesis" refers to a new historical interpretation or critical theory regarding the origins of a text.—however well established it may be—it is enough to cry out that there is an unbearable audacity and presumption in contesting today these Acts Referring specifically to the Acts of Archelaus, a document purportedly recording a 3rd-century debate between a Christian bishop and the prophet Mani. The author is arguing that these "Acts" are actually a later fictional construction., which the Church has recognized as authentic for fifteen hundred years: which have had the general approval of all that was most holy and most enlightened in Christian Antiquity The period of the early Church, roughly from the 1st through the 5th centuries AD., and which no modern Critic has doubted until now.

Regarding People of this character, I declare to them that it is not for them that I write: And, although there is no hope of persuading them, I am willing to answer them in advance that there is neither audacity nor presumption in examining the Witnesses and their testimonies before giving them credence: That a forged document original: "Piéce supposée" cannot become legitimate simply by growing old: That a Lie is not Truth simply for having been believed: That the approval of the Ancients cannot make authentic those Acts in which there are manifest Proofs that they are not: That any approval which is not the result of a mature Examination can have no weight: That the Criticism of the Ancients was generally quite superficial, as one sees by the false Pieces and fabulous Stories they accepted: That the Moderns, who have read the Acts of Archelaus Archelaus was the legendary Bishop of Caschar (in Mesopotamia) who allegedly defeated Mani in a public dispute. with attention, have indeed felt that they contain very suspicious Facts, as we [shall see]...