one great Monophysite library, that of the Convent of S. Mary Deipara in the Nitrian desert. The mere fact that it did not contain a ms. of the Diatessaron is enough to shew that its collection of the earlier Syriac writings is quite inadequate. Nevertheless, enough remains to give us some idea of the temper of the first two centuries of Syriac Christianity in its very varied forms. It will be convenient to give here a list of the works which supply the materials for our investigation. They may be grouped under six heads, as follows:
1. The Old Testament in Syriac, commonly called the Pĕshiṭtā.
2. The Evangeliôn da-Mĕpharrĕshê or Old Syriac Version of the Gospels, and the closely allied Diatessaron of Tatian.
3. The Doctrine of Addai and the early Martyrologies (Acts of Sharbêl, Barsamyâ, etc.).
4. The Book of the Laws of Countries, commonly known as 'Bardesanes De Fato,' but really composed by Bardaisan's disciple Philip.
