The first _use_ of the four Gospels of which there is any history, is in statements of facts found to be recorded in them, and in quotations of teachings of Christ, corresponding with them. The first _description_ of them after Papias, is that of “Memoirs” of Christ, “drawn up” by Apostles and companions of Apostles. The first mention of them _by the names of the writers_, ascribes their authorship to the men whose names they now bear. There is no history or tradition of a time when the first Gospel was ascribed to any but Matthew, or the second to any but Mark, or the fourth to any but John[5], or the third, with Acts, to any but Luke. The standing objection that none of them is mentioned _by name_ till the time of Theophilus, and Irenæus, and the writer of the Muratori Canon, is not of the slightest consequence as opposing evidence. For, if these Gospels were not mentioned by name, neither were any[6] others; and surely we are not expected to believe that there were _no originals_, from which the many quotations, from Clement of Rome, in the year 97, down, were taken. This objection proves too much. For it proves, if it proves anything, that there were _no_ Gospels or writings to answer to the quotations, which, under the circumstances, is a palpable absurdity. Besides, it is not true in respect to the First and Second Gospels, for Papias, certainly as early as the middle of the second century, and probably before the year 140, gave the _names_ of Matthew and Mark respectively, as their authors, the latter being “the interpreter of Peter.”