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Although Priscillian had written voluminously, it was thought that all his writings had disappeared, so diligently had they been destroyed. In 1886 Georg Schepss discovered in the library of the University of Wurzburg eleven of Priscillian's works, which he describes as being "contained in a precious Uncial M. S. - see glossary . . . which until now had remained unknown. "* It is written in very old Latin and is one of the oldest Latin MSS - see glossary . known to exist. It consists of eleven tracts (some parts are missing) of which the first four contain details of the trial, and the remaining seven his teaching. The reading of these, Priscillian's own writings, shows that the account handed down of him was wholly untrue, that he was a man of saintly character, sound in doctrine, and an energetic reformer, and that those associated with him were companies of men and women who were true and devoted followers of Christ. Not content with murdering these people, exiling them, confiscating their goods, the Church authorities have persistently calumniated - see glossary their memory.
The style of Priscillian's writing is vivid and telling, he constantly quotes Scripture %% in support of what he advances and shows an intimate acquaintance with the whole of the Old and New Testaments. He maintained, however, the right of the Christian to read other literature, and this was made the occasion of accusing him of wishing to include the Apocrypha in the Canon of Scripture, which he did not do.
He defends himself and his friends for their habit of holding Bible readings in which laymen were active and women took part, also for their objection to taking the Lord's Supper - see glossary with frivolous and worldly minded persons.
{* Priscillian ein Neuaufgefundener Lat. schrifts teller des 4 Jahrhunderts. Vortrag gehalten am 18 Mai, 1886, in der Philologisch-Historischen Gesellschaft zu Wurzburg von Dr. Georg schepss K. Studienlehrer am Humanist. Gymnasium Mit einem Blatt in Originalgrosse Faksimiledruck des Manuscriptes, Wurzburg. A. Stuher 's Verlagbuchhandlung, 1886.}
{%% The quotations are from a translation earlier than that of Jerome (the Vulgate - see glossary ).}
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