PREFACE.

Our Lord, in this answer to Abgar, made no revelation of Himself which He did not make to those disciples who were in attendance on Him. He informed Abgar that He was going to His father; but this communication He repeatedly made to His followers. See John xiv. 12, 28; xvi. 10; etc.

Again, in the discourse of Addai to the assembled Edessenes, and in his farewell address, there are passages which we find in the Gospels; but this circumstance cannot be cited as evidence against the genuineness of the work. Though these passages are found in the Gospels, it does not follow that they are quotations, or that the Gospels were written at the time these discourses were delivered. They consist of striking sayings of our Lord, which from the time they passed His lips would be sure to become current among His followers, and would be frequently cited. They might have existed, and most probably did exist, traditionally among the first Christians, and became well known to them, and would be certain to be highly appreciated. The passages to which I particularly refer are:—p. 10, “The gate of life is strait,” Matt. vii. 13, 14; p. 19, “Behold now is the son of man glorified,” John xiii. 31; p. 27, “Behold your house is left desolate,” Matt. xxiii. 38; p. 41, “Their angels behold the face of the invisible Father;” compare Matt. xviii. 10; p. 43, “He is gone to prepare for His worshippers blessed mansions;” compare John xiv. 2. In p. 9, Addai