[Footnote 88: See the Koran, c. 3, v. 53, and c. 4, v. 156,
of Maracci's edition. Deus est praestantissimus dolose
agentium (an odd praise) ... nec crucifixerunt eum, sed
objecta est eis similitudo; an expression that may suit with
the system of the Docetes; but the commentators believe
(Maracci, tom. ii. p. 113 - 115, 173. Sale, p. 42, 43, 79)
that another man, a friend or an enemy, was crucified in the
likeness of Jesus; a fable which they had read in the Gospel
of St. Barnabus, and which had been started as early as the
time of Irenaeus, by some Ebionite heretics, (Beausobre,
Hist. du Manicheisme, tom. ii. p. 25, Mosheim. de Reb.
Christ. p. 353.)]