One gospel only was authentic, the secret or Hebrew _Gospel of Matthew_, which was used by the Nazareans, and at a later date by Saint Justin and the Ebionites. It contained the esoterism of the One-Religion, and Saint Jerome, who found this gospel in the library of Caesarea about the end of the fourth century, says that he "received permission to translate it from the Nazareans of Beroea." These considerations prove that interested and narrow-minded writers selected from the mass of existing traditions whatever seemed to them of a nature to support their spiritual views as well as their material interests, and that they constructed therefrom not only what has come down to us as the four canonical gospels, but also the whole edifice of Christian dogma. Consequently, we need not be surprised to find in the _New Testament_ only unimportant fragments dealing with reincarnation; but even these are not to be despised, for they prove that the doctrine was, to a certain extent at all events, known and accepted in Palestine. _Reincarnation in the Gospels._ _Saint Mark_, Chapter 6. v. 14. And King Herod heard of him; and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead.... v. 15. Others said, That it is Elias; and others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. v. 16. But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John whom I beheaded; he is risen from the dead. _Saint Matthew_, Chapter 14. v. 1. At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus. v. 2. And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead.... _Saint Luke_, Chapter 9. v. 7. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was perplexed because it was said of some that John was risen from the dead. v. 8. And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. v. 9. But Herod said, John have I beheaded; but who is this of whom I hear such things? The account here given proves that the people as well as Herod believed in reincarnation, and that it applied, at all events, "to the prophets" and to those like them. _Saint Matthew_, Chapter 16. v. 13. When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I, the Son of man, am? v. 14. And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. The same account is given in _Saint Luke_, chapter 9, verses 18, 19. _Saint Matthew_, Chapter 17. v. 12. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. v. 13. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. He continued in _Saint Matthew_, Chapter 11. v. 7. Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?