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THE HISTORY OP

THK

CHURCH OF CHRIST.

VOLUME THE FIRST:

COMTAININO

THE THREE FIRST CENTURIES,

IT THI LATI

Rev. JOSEPH MILNER, a.m.

EDITION THE FOURTH,

MBVISID AND CORRECTED BY THE

REPo ISAAC MILNER, D.D. F.R.S.

DEAN OF CABLISLE»
A>fD PBStlDBMT or QUEEn's COLLEGE, CAMBRIOOS

Eon^ont

Printed &y Lukt Hansord 4* Sont,
TOR T, CADELL AND W. DAVIES, IN THE STRAND.

1812.

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f 3i ]

INTRODUCTION,

BY THE AUTHOR,

IN my Proposals for printing this History of t|;ie
Church of Christ I promised " an Ecclesiastical
HistcMy on a new Plan.** The Reader therefore m ill
naturally expect some distinct account of a Plan,
which, in.a subject so generally known, lays claim to
novelty, in order that he may judge for himself
whether it appears sufficiently mteresting to engage
his perusal of the Work itself.

It b certain, that from our Saviour's time to the
present, there have ever been persons whose dispo-^
sitions and lives have been formed by the rules of the
New Testament; men, who have been real, not
merely nominal Christians ; who believed the doc-
trines of the Gospel, loved tl^em because of their
divine excellency, jand suffered gladly the loss op

ALL THING3, THAT THEY BIIGHT WIN ChRIST, ,

AND BE FOUND IN HIM*. It is the history of thcse
men which I propose to write. It is of no consc-
<}uence with respect to my plan, nor of much im-
portance, I believe, in its own nature, to what
EXTERNAL Church they belonged. I intend not to
epter with any nicety into an account of their rites
and ceremonies, or forms of Church government,
much less into their secular history. Even reli-
gious coNTROVERSifg shall be omitted; except
those, which seem to bear a relation to the essence
of Christ's religion, and of which the l^tpry of liis

• f hilipp. iii. 8, 9.

VOJ^ h A ?

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IV INTflOmJCTlON-

real Church requires some account. Let not the
Reader expect, that the actions of great men — ;
great in a secular view I mean — will be exliibited
to his notice. Nothing, but what appears to me to
belong to Christ's kingdom, shall be admitted : ge-
nuine pietjz: is tha paly things wlHci> Ji intend to
celebrate. - .

It must have struck ^ careful observer, that such
a history is as yet a great desideratum. Malice
has been fed, even to satiety, by the large displays
of ECCLESIASTICAL WICKEDNESS. The wildest *nd
«he most visionary heretics have filled, the historic
page; and their follies, both in principle and practice^
have been deemed worthy of a particular enume-
rktk>n. The internal dissensions of Churches hav^
been niinutely described. The intricacies and in-
frigues of Popery, and indeed of every other secular
system, which pretends to wear a religious garb, havQ
been develp|>ed with a studious particularity : The
eonnexion between the Church and the State has
aflbrded very ample materials of what is commonly
eaUed Church History ; and learning and philosophy
have been much more respected than godliness and;
virtue.

No doubt, some more ancient voluminous Church
Historians, as well as Mosheim in his Compendium,
have given us much useful information ; and if onQ
might look on them as civil historians altogether,
there would not be much room for blame. Further,
if they had incorporated into their secular narratives
an account of tlie progress of godliness itself, I
should not have dared to reprehend them as Ecclesi-
astical Historians : But they e'/idcntly give a much
larger proportion to the history of wickedness, than
to that of piety in general. Hence the evils, which
have been practised in Christian countries, seem even
greater than they really were ; and, the disagreeable
inference, which tlic reading of Mosheim produced in
my own mnjd, is probably no Jugular case, viz, —
5

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IJQ^ rea) reU^on Rppears aearcdy. to bam had any
&uBtm^^ In&hl nmlice ha3 triumphed, though
^ery ufirefi^soojably^ 4» aeoonot of tbeee things ; th0
vieqa of Ctifki^n^ so caUed, have certainty ben
exaggi^nted on Cbe whole ; and Deists and Sceptics
|)avp t^keq adi^aRtagp, partly from such eis^aratioa
and paTtly from the poverty of our infonnatioa con^
cerning Mahois^etans ibod ragaoe, torepr^^ent tHyrm
as 0iore viituoua thau •Cbriatiafis.

What aecxMiot can be giv^en of this iinba|yptty
p^dal view of Cbwdi history P-^Geouioe godliacas
IS iond of i^crecy : Humiltty is of its essef)ce : She
feeksnot^ pram of men, buttiie praise of God;
and hides even the ^ood sbo daas from the world
mofe studiously than wickedaeet cooeeak its evils e
tier sincerest votaries have, hkewise, been chieiy
private persons, such as have seldom moved in the
public and noisy spheres of life. The most cele^
hrated historians; who hitherto have appeared, seem
not to have Imd so much relish for goditness, as to be
mduced to taice any pains to draw her out of her
paodest obscurity *. The prevalence of wickedness

• Fox's Book of Martyrs is, howf wr, one striking excep-
lioB to this remark. The Magdeburgeosian Ceiituriators,
fvbom I did not me«t wUh, till I IhuI linUbed this VoJume,
^re likewise, in part, exeo^pted from the charge of writing
Ecclesiastical history in the secular manner, which I Lave re-^
^ebended. Yet while they omit, or very lamely recount,
•ocne most iinportant Christian facts, they relate with tediocm
exactness many uninteresting piirticulars. They seem, bow«*
ever, to have been men of real piety, industry, and learningt
and may be of much use to me in subsequent parts of the
^btory, shovld I continue it.

The volume of Mr. Newton is well known* and its merit
has been acknowledged by men of piety and judgment. I
once thought of beginning only where he ended. But as
there is an unity of manner and style which belongs to every
author who plans and executes for himself; and, as in some
points 1 ' really found myseK to diier in sentiment from thm
very respectable writer, I altered my opinion, contented in
this place to acknowledge, that, so far as 1 can recollect, the
perusal of bis instruciive volume of Ecclesiastical History:
6ni suggested to me the idea of this work*

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m INTRODUCTION.

in all ages has heightened the difficulty*. From
these causes the scarcity of materials, for what pro*
fperly deserves the name of Church hbtory, is much
greater than any person, who has not examined the
subject, can even conceive. 1 have all along, however,
to the best of my ability and opportunity, consulted
•origiaal records, and have never contented myself
with copying the sentiments of modem hbtorians.

I ho\ye I shall be allowed to call the plan, I pro-
pose, a proper one* Certainly, the terms '^ Church,
and Christian," do in their most natural and
PRIMARY SENSE respcct ouly GOOD men. The
Divine Founcterof our religion has promised, that

THE gates of hell SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST

IT. Such a succession of pious men in all ages must
therefore, have existed ; and it will be no contemp*
iible use of such a history as this, if it prove, that,
in every age, there have been real followers of
Christ. Other uses cannot fail to offer themselves.
To see and trace the goodness of God taking care
of his Church in every age by his Providence and
Grace, will be, to the devout mind, a refreshment
of the most grateful nature. The honour of Chris-
tianity will bet supported ; the value of its essential
doctrines will be ascertained ; and we shall have fre»
quent occasion to state what the Gospel is, and what
it is not. Hence the triumphs of the Sceptic will
appear to be unfounded in truth ; when it shall be
evident on the whole, — that Christ's relidon has ever
existed, and brought fortii its proper fruits, to which
no other system can make any just pretension ; and
finally, — that the evils of which Christians, so called^'
have been guilty, arose not from the Gospel itset^
but from the hypocrisy of those who assupaod that
worthy Name, to which neither their faith ndr their
practice gave them any right. ' - *'

• 4 history of iLe pprversions and abuses of religion is not.
properly a bjslory of the Church ; as al>surd were it to sup-
pose an history of the highwaymen that have infested tl)!^
pountry to be a history of England^

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iNTBOtoucnojT. vn

These, and other obvious advantaji^s of such a
history, have determined me to attempt it I feel
oppressed with the greatness of the subject : Never-
theless, with God's help, I mean to proceed. Ik

HAGNIS VOLUISSE SAT EST.

I have two things further to premise: 1st, To
assure the Reader that I shall think it my indispen-
sable duty to give him real facts ; and, if I be rather
more copious in reflections tlian the severe laws of
hbtory sdlow, he will do well to observe, that the
&shionable misrepresentations of ancient story re*
quire considerable attention^

And, 2dly, I &irly warn the Reader not to expect
from me any indulgence in the modemtaste of Scep«
ticbm. I shall not affect to doubt the credibility of
ancient respectable historians. And, as it is hardly
possible to atoid altogether the infection of the age
in which one lives, I seem to myself sufficiently se-
cured, by the torrent of prevailing opinions, from the
other extreme of superstitious l^lief. Both ought
to be avdded : but that, which supports itself by the
appearance of extraordinary sense, by the authority
of great names, and by the love of applause, must
of course be the more ensnaring. The pre.sent age,
HI: matters of relig^m, xP&y justly be called the age
of self-sufficiency : We condemn the tincients by
wholesale, and without giving them a hearing : we
suspect their historical accounts, without discrimi-
nation : malevolence and profancness are both en-
courage by such conduct : we fancy ourselves so
i^yLiGUTKNED, as to he without any parallels in
discernment : we are amazed, that our ancestors
should so long have been deluded by absurdities ;
and, we are very little aware how mucli some future
age will pity or blame us, for follies, of which we
imagine ourselves perfectly clear.

J. M.

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[ ▼«» ]

[Note to the Edittoo of igio.j

THE Editor* takes this opportunity of most
gratefully acknowledging the liberal patronage of
the University of Cambridge, in having printed at
their own expence four Volumes of Mr. M/s Ecclc*
siastical History. Their kindness and consideration
in this matter makes an indelible impression on his
mind : and, if any thing could increase his affec-
tionate attachment to that learned Body, after so
Jong and active a residence among tliem, it would be
this honourable token of respect to the memory of
his deceased Brother, who himself, many years a^o^
as a Student in the same Seminary I, received dis-
tinguished marks of approbation.

• The Rev. Isaac Milner, d.d. Dean of Carlisle, and Pre-
ddent of Queen's College, Cambridge^.

t Mr. M. took his degree of B.A. in the year 1766; and
obtaiaedy as a prize, one of the Chancellors gold medals.
The Candidates were uneomtnofily nomeroas and able*

Jf.B.— Two bbndsome gold medals are given annually by
the Chancellor of the University of Cambrtdge, to tvch Ba-^
«helurs of Arts as excel in classical learning.

CONTENTS.

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CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

CENTURY I.

A SUMMARY VIBW OF THE CHURCH, fiO FAR AS It;*
MAY BB COLLECTED FROM THE SCRIPTURE.

Chap. I. Jerusalem - , . - - • - P^^ ^

Chap. II. Judea and Galilee - • ' " P« 3$

Chap. III. Samaria - - - - - ?• S9

Chap. IV. Ethiopia - \ - - - - p. 41

Chap. V. Casarea - - - - - p. 44
Chap. VI. Autioch and some other Asiatic Churches p. 4S

Chap. VII. Galatia p. 56

Chap. VIII. PAiViRpi p. 61

Chap. IX. Thessahnica - - - - p. 65
Chap. X. Btrea and Athens - - " - P-7^

Chap. XL Corinth - - - - - P- 73

Chap. XII. Rome - p. 78

Chap. XIII. Colosse p. 8 J

Chap. XIV. The Seven Churches of Asia - - p. 84

Chap. XV. The Remainder qf the first Century, p. 97
▼OL. 1. b

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CONTEHTS.

CENTURY IL

Chap. T. The History of Christians during the Reign of
Trajan - - - - • - -p-M5

Chap. H. The Tlistory of Christians during the Reigns
of J drian and Antoninus Pius - - - p. 174

Ch KV. III. J uUin Martyr • • •» - P* 187

Chap. IV. The Emperor Mareus Antoninus and his Per-'
sccution of the Christiata « «• 1^ " ?• 2oa

Chap. V. The Martyrdom of Poly carp • ^ p, 209

Chap. VI. The Martyrs of Lyons ^nd Vienne - p. 323

Chap. VII. The State of Christians under the Reigns of

' CommoiuSy Pertinux, and Julian, — The Story of Pr*-

regMmts • • • -• • --p, 241

Chap. VIII. Some Account of Christian Authors wIjlo
fiawi^td in this Century - - - - p. $49

*C«*AiP. VX.'The Ht resits aftdControrerries of "this -Century
reziewed ; end aji Idea of the SUxte and Progress ^f
Christianity during the course ofit" - • p. 255

CENTURY JII,

Chat. T. Irenaus - * • - - "p. 269

^wkv.W.'Tertullian - - ^ ' - . P- ^7^

Chat. III. Panttmus - - - - • T- ^"^

Chap. IV. Clemens Alexandrinus - • - p. 289

Chat. V. The State of the Church during the Reigns df
Secerus and Curacalla - - - - .p- 3p4

Chap. VI. Slate of Christianity during the Reigm of
Mncrinus, HeliogabaluSy Alexander, Maximinus Pa-
pienus, Gordian, and Philip - -• w -. -p. 310

^^h^^^lh The Conversion of -Cyprian ^ • p- 3^

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CONTENTS. xi

Chap. VIIF. The Beginnings of the Persecution of De-
dm. — The Government y Cyprian till his Retirement,

P- 334

Ch A^. IX. The History of Cyprian^ and of the Western
Churchy during his Retirement of two Years - p. 339

Chap. X. Cyprian's Settlement of his Church after his
Return^ and the History of the Western Church till the
Persecution under Callus - - - - P» 373

Chap. Xf. The Effects of the Persecution ofDeciusin the
Eastern Church - .... p. 388

Chap. XII. Th€ History of the Church during the Reign
ffGalluS" - - - - - - p. 412

Chap. XIII. The pacific Part of Valerian's Reign, p. 427

Chap. XIV. The last Acts and Martyrdom of Cyprian,

P-445
Chap. XV. Cyprian compared zoith Origen - p. 455

Chap. XVI. Other Particulars of Falerian*s Persecution,

p. 470

Chap. XVII. From the Reign of Gallienus to the End
of the Century ------ p. 480

Chap. XVIII. Some Account of Gregory Thaumaturgus,
TAeognostus,andDionysiusofRome - - p. 502

Chap. XIX. The further Extension of the Gospel in this
Century ^- - - - - - - p. 510

Chap. XX. A short View of the external State of the
Church in the Third Century - - - p. 511

Chap. XXI. Testimonies to the Church of Christ from
its Enemies ------ p. 525

Chap. XXII. Connexion between the Doctrine and Prac^
iice of Primitive Christians - - - p. 543

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CENTURY

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■K»

CENTURY I.

A SUMMARY VIEW OF THE CHURCH,

SO FAB AS IT MAY BE COLLECTED FROM

THE SCRIPTURE.

CHAP. I.
JERUSALEM.

Til AT " repentance and remission of sins should chap.
be preached in the name of Jesus Christ, begin- , J'_
ning at Jerusalem*/' is a passage of Scripture, which
Ht once points out what the Christian, religion is, and
where we may look for its befiiniung. \V^e are to
describe the rise of a dispensation the most glorious
to God, and the most beneficent to man. Christi-
anity found mankind in an universal state of sin and
misery. In Judea alone something of the worship
of the true God existed. The forms of the Mosaic
economy subsisted, but were greatly obscured and
corrupted with Pharisaic traditions and Saddupeaa
profaneness. The ancient people of God had defiled
themselves with heathen profligacy: and, though
there wanted not a multitude of teachers among
them, yet, when He, who knew what w as in man,
saw the spiritual condition of tliis people, "he was
moved v^ ith compassion toward them, because tiiey
£unted, and were as sheep without a sliepherd/*
Certainly they were in possession of a degree at lea.t
• Luke, xxiv. 47.
VOL. I. B

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VIEW OF THE CHURCH,

of merri informfttton, tiiough that was extremely 4e^
fective, and, in many points of view, fundamentally
erroneous. But, of that knowledge which relates to
repentance and remission of sins, they were totally
destitute. Notwithstanding the light of the Old
Testament, the provision of sacrifices, the declaration
of so many prophecies concerning thfe Messiah, and
the examples of so many holy men, who, in that dark
and preparatory dispensation, had learned to fear
God, and to believe in his promises of grace, it does
not appear that the body of the Jewish nation were,
in their religious stated materially belter than the rest
of tlie worid. That men needed such a change of
disposition as in Scripture is expressed by the term
fjLiTKifoix^ that they must become new creatures,
and receive the forgiveness of sins by fiaith in the
sacrifice of the Lamb cf God, were ideas unknown
in Judea : — if indeed we except the dim light which
visited the soiils of Zacharias, of Simeon, of Anna,
ahd of a few other devout person^, who looked for
tedemptibn in Jerusalem.

Such ^Bs the dismal night, in trhich the Sun of
Righteousness made his appearance in the world.
Scarce irt any age had ignorance and wickedness a
more general prevalence. The history by Josephu^
evinces dris. This author dwells chiefly indeed on
public and "political affairs ; yet he throws a sufficient
li^^t on the manners of the times, and shows, that
the extreme impiety and profligacy of the Herodian
^inces, wene but too faithfuHy transcribed into the
Kves of their subjects. There "had been periods Of
Jewish story more favourable to godliness : for in*
stance the age of Joshua, of Davm, of Ezra, and of
Nehemiah. For some persons there ever were who,
at least, implicitly rented bn the God of Israel, an^
trusted in the Redeemer that was to come. But tfie
darkest season was chosen for the exhibition of the
Light of Life by him, " who hath put the times and
seasons in his own power."

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AS COLLECTED FBOM SCRIPTURE.

To know oar own dq>ravi^ aod helplessness, and,
by fidth m ChrUit, to know " experimentally" the
suitable and the ^Sicacious cure, is doubtless the
genuine secret of tn^ piety. But wherever wicked-
ness and pn^JBineness have spread very generally^
the knowledge of these doctrines is usually lost
Amidsta thousand disputes even on religious subjects,
tiiese are erased out of men s creed, — the very doc-
trines— which alone can be the means of treeing
them from vice and folly. It was their ignorance of
these things, which moved the Son <^ God to lament
the uninfiMrmed condition of the Jews in this day.
To dwell on the history of Christ himself is foreign
to my design. Indeed a few soub were converted
during his abode on earth: but the five hundred
brethren, who saw him all at one time after his resur*
rection, seem to have made the sum total of hb dis<*>
dples. And it may further be bbsarved, that aU
these, and the eleven sincere Aposties themselves^
were possessed wi& notions of a tempc»ral kingdom,
the rock on which their countrymen fatally split in
their expositions of the Scriptures relating to the ex«
pected Messiah ; cmd that they had iK>t yet learned,
with any clearness and steadiness of apprehension,
to set their afiections on things above.

And now was the critical moment, when it pleased ^}^^ «^'
God to erect the first Christian church at Jerusalem. ^'^wZ
This was the first of those effusions of the Spirit
of God, which firom age to age have visited the eaith,
since ^ coming of Christ, and prevented it from
bong Quite overrun with ignorance and sin. It is an
unspeakable advantage, that we have the sacred nar-
rative to unfold this to our understandings. The
want of such an advantage will appear too fully in
the history of the succe^Ung effusions*" of tbe

* In the terai eiiision there is not here included the idea of
the miraculous or extraordinary operations of tbe Spirit of God,
but only of such operations as he vouchsafes in every age to his
church. The plan of this history hgs Uttle connection with the
former* It is, however, to be remembered, that a remarkable

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Divine Spirit. Our duty however is^ not to com-
plain, but to be thankful. If we carefully attend
to this first instance, it will serve as a specimen, by
which to try other rehgious phenomena : and whether
they lead to genuine piety or not, may generally be
judged from their agreement or disagreement with
this.

Let us then observe the circumstances in which this
effusion of the Holy Spirit was vouchsafed. As re-
pentance and remission of sins were leading doctrines
of Christ's religion, the most ample room had been
made for them by the completion of his redemption.
He had offered himself a sacrifice for tlie sins of men,
" was risen " from the dead " for our justification/*
and in the sight of his disciples was just ascended
up to lieaven. That the Gospel, the good news for
penitent sinners, the good news of reconciliation
with God, should Jjegin at Jerusalem, the scene
of so much wickedness perpetrated, and of so much
grace abused, was itself no mean argument of the
riches of Divine Goodness, and was an illustrious ex*
emplification of tlie grand purpose of the Gospel,-^
to justify the ungodly, and to quicken the dead. By
the order of their Divine Master, the Apostles re-
mained at Jerusalem, waiting for the promised Holy
Spirit, " which tliey had heard of him*," and abode
in mutual cliarity, and in the fervent exercise of
prayer and supplication. What the Holy Spirit was
to do for them, they seemed little to understand : if
one may conjecture from their last question to tlieir
Master, " Wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom
to Israel? " It is natural to apprehend, that tiicy were
feasting their imaginations with the delightlul f>i'o-
spect of a splendid kingdom, attended with all the
circumstances of external pomp and grandeur.

display of the Divine Grace, at some particular season, is always
intended fey the expressions effusion of the Spirit of God, or
EFFUSION of the Divine or Holy Spirit.
• Acts, i. 4.

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OF JERUSALEM. 5

Principalities and lordships were, in their fancy, soon cent.

to be assumed in the room of fisliermen's nets and , 1

boats, and they pleased tliemselves with the notion
of their Master's external dominion in ihe world.
Not that they were without a genuine taste for some-
tiling infinitely better. At any rate, they afford us
an useful lesson ;— " they continued in prayer arid
supplication." In every age, they who do so, shall
doubtless understand, in God's due time, what the
kingdom of heaven means, and find by happy expe-
rience that kingdom established in their own souls,
even *' righteousness, and peace, and joy in the
Holy Ghost"

During this interesting crisis, we do not find them Matthias
employed in -any other business thun this of prayer, [" ^^ "p|^^^
except in filling up the apostolical college of twelve, ot juda*
by tlie substitution of Matthias in the room of the ^'*^*""'-
unhappy Judas, who, for the love of a little gain of
this world, had unfitted himself for the riches of the
next, and rendered himself unworthy to partake o£
the marvellous scene now about to be exhibited.
Behold then the twelve Apostles, Peter, James,
John, Andrew, Phiii|), Thomas, liartholomew, Mat-
thew, James the, son of Alpheus, Simon Zelot.s,
Judas the brother of James, and Matthias, expect-
ing and longing for the unspeakable blessings of true
Christianity ! ,

The Pentecost, one of the Jewish festivals, was
the era of the Divine Visitation. The Apostles were
all in harmony assembled together; when lo ! sud
denly there came a soimd from heaven as of a rusli I
ing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they
were sitting. Their Master, in his conference with
Nicodemus*, had compared the operations of the .
Holy Spirit to the wind, and tlic sound trom heaven
on this occasion was a just emblem of the power of
the Djvine Influence now commencing. And ther^
appeared " unto them cloven tongues like as of tire,
* John, ifi*

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HISTORY OF THE CHUaCH

and it sat upon each of them* :" Another embkm
no less just^ which the church of England uses iu
her hymn to the Holy Ghost in the ordinaticm-
oflSce,

" Thy blessed unction from above,
" Is comfort, life, and fire of love."
In .truth they now found they were ^* baptized with
the Holy Spirit and with fire f." And the effects in
purifying their hearts,in enlightening their understand-
ings, and in furnishing them with gifts, and zeal, and
bmdness, hitherto unknown, were very soon exhibited.
They were all filled with the " Holy Ghost, and be-
gan to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave
them utterance." Of the many miraculous gifts now
imparted, this of tongues, at once so useful for the
propagation of the Gospel, and so strikkig an attes-
tation of its truth, first displayed itself to 3ie amaze-
ment of a number of Jews, out of every nation under
heaven, who heard these Galileans speak each in his
own language. There is reason to believe, that, as
many of them were devout men, they had been pre-
pared by Divine Grace for the effectual reception of
the Gospel, and that a considerable part of the first
converts were of their body.

While many were expressing their admiration at
this strange event, others, whom we may suppose to
have been chiefly the native Jews, who understood
not these several languages, derided the Apostles as
intoxicated with wine: and now the zeal of Peter was
stirred up to preach both to those who admired, and
Peter's ^ those who scomcd. He begged them to have so
ducourse. much caudour, as not itishly to suppose them to be
men overcome with liquor, which the very time of the
day rendered improbable, the third hour of the day,
answering to our nine in the morning, when it seems
no Jew was ever known to be in that situation. And
as his audience professed a regard for the sacred

* Acts, iL t Matt. iii. 1 1.

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CJF JUHUSAtEW.

oracles, he pointed out to them a remarkable prophecy
in the second chapter of Joel, then fulfilling, namely,
the promise of an effusion of the Spirit upon all flesh,
attended with dreadful punishments on those who
should despise it : — ^yet that whoever, in the deep
sense of his sinfulness and misery, should call on the
name of the Lord, should he saved. He then shows
tfaem how God had fulfilled his own purposes in the
death of Jesus, at the very time when they bad b|Ben
executing the dictates of their own malice. He pro-
ceeds to testify also of his resurrection, according to
the testimony of David, in Psal. xvi. and ex. in both
which Psalms it was evident, that not David himself,
but Christ was the subject of the prophecy. Ijle
openly declares that he himsdf and his brethren were
witnesses of the resurrection of their Master, that
He was exalted to heaven, and had received of the
Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, which He had
now shed forth on the Apostles, and concerning which
Ibey now had the plain demonstration of their senses.
The conclusion which ho draws from this chain of
argument, supported by the mutual strength of facts
and prophecies, was this, — that the despised person,
whom they had thought unworthy to live, and had
exposed to the most painfiil and ignominious death,
tras owned by the God of their Fathers to be t\n
Lord and Messiah, who was the expectation of the
Jews, and through whom alone salvation was ofl'er-
ed to sinful men.

The design of the whole sermon was evidently to
produce convictian of sin in the hearers ; and it pleased
God to crown it with success. Multitudes were pricked
in their hearts : they found themselves guilty of mur-
dering the Christ of God : and so povverfuUy werd
they struck with a sense of their extreme un worthiness,
that they found themselves also destitute of all re«
sources in themselves. They cry to Peter and to tho
rest, " Menand brethren, what shall we do?" Similar
indeed is the he^nuing of all trg^ r^pent^nnge, when

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8 HISTORY OF THE CHCRCH

CHAP, men find themselves really lost, helpless, and willing

^ J- ^ to be led in any way which God shall please, because

they have no ability in themselves, and "there is no

health in Ihein*." Peter said unto them, *^ Repent

^ and be baptized every one of you in the name

of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye

' shall receive the gilt of the Holy Ghost. For the.

prciuise is unto you, and to your children, e^nd to all

that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our

God shall call."

Thus tlie doctrine of re[>entance and remission of
en7e!"nnd sins, iu the namc of Jesus, began at Jerusalem.
of/^''^'* The people were called upon to "loath themselves
for their past iniquities," and to give themselves up
to God for an intire renovation of soul^ and the
Grace of God in Christ was offered to every one
of them. The Apostle exhorted them all to receive
this grace, by believing on Jesus for the remission
of sins, with a submission to his ordinance of bap-
tism as an emblem of washing away their sins; and
he assured them, that God would receive them into
his favour in this way : that however guilty they were,
all their sins should be pardoned, as if they had
never been committed ; and the Holy Ghost should
be poured on them also : for the promise of it was
very general; — to them, to their children, to the
most distant lands, wherever God should call men
to reconciliation by Jesus Christ Thus did St.
Peter convince his hearers of sin, and instruct them
in the way of salvation.

They, whose hearts God had smitten with a sense
of guilt, were consoled by the grace of forgiveness ;
and " with many other words did he testify and ex-
hort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward
generation. — 'Ihen they that gladly received his
. word, were baptized ; and the same day there were
added to them about three tliousaiid souls."

In this manner did the convictions imdconsolationa
f The Church of England Confesjiou^

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OF JERUSALEM. §

oT the Holy Ghost attend the first preaching of cent.
St Peter. And this gi-eat multitude appear to have ,_ J- ^^
been fully converted to Christianity: For they con-
tinued " stedfestly in the Apostles' doctrine and
feilowship,and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."

Here we see the regular appearance of the first ^;^
Christian church. These men were not Christians cburciT
in name only; they understood and believed the
apostolical doctrine concerning repentance and re-
mission of sins in the name of Jesus Christ : they con-
tinued united to the pastors whom God had made
instruments of their conversion : they received con-
stantly the ordinance of the Lord's supper, in which
they enjoyed real communion with their Saviour;
and prayer was their daily employment and delight.
Their holy boldness towards God, and their joyful
sensation of forgiveness, were tempered with a godly
fear. Every soul was possessed w^th this consistent
mixture of holy joy and fear. 1 hey had felt the pangs
of guilt : they had seen what a price was paid for
their redemption : they ** rejoiced with trembling,** *
as men jost escaped from the pit of destruction; and
the same spirit which cried, Abba, Father *, in their
hearts, taught them to reverence His justice and His
holiness, to fear Him, and to dread sin above all
other evils. And though it does not appear to have
been any injimction of the Apostles, that they should
live together in a community of goods* and though
experience soon taught the first Christians, that the
general establishnjcntandconti^iuanceofsucha usage
was iiBpractica()le, yet, doubtless, this practice for
llie present was a rare and convincing instance of
njutual charity, and proved how soon the operations
of Divine Grace had loosened their minds from the
love of this ^^orl(i. They " sold their goods and pos-
sessions, and parted them to all men, as every man
had need." In this happy fi'ame of mind they sf)ent
much of their time in the temple, and in discharging -
^ Gulatiane, iv. 6,

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XO HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Ihe mutual offices of social kindness: even their
bodily food was received with a gladness before un-
known. The Grace of God gave a pleasant tincture
to every object with which they conversed ; and
while they extolled it with their hearts and lips, Ibey,
as yet, found favour with all the people. The natural
enmity of the heart against the Gospel of Christ did
n<^ at first show itseli, and the purity of their livet
eould not but recommend them to the esteem ^
others. ^' The Lord added to the Church daily such
as should be saved." Thus plainly St. Luke inti-
mates WH0S£ grace it was that effected all this, and
that his hand, in the Divine Effusion here described,
ought ever to be acknowledged.

A miracle wrought soon after by Peter and John
on a lame man, a well-known beggar above forty
years old, gave a farther attestation to th^r divine
authority. Peter was hence led to preach* to the
admiring multitude, the same doctrine of repentance
and remission, and exalted the Lord Jesus, as the
Holy One, and the Just, and the Prince of Life, to
whom they had wickedly preferred even a murderer,
Barabbas. He disclaims all merit in himself or in
his colleagues in the miracle : he shows that God
bad glorified his Son Jesus; and that it was through
faith in his name, that the act had been performed.
He charitably alleges their ignorance; as the only
possible alleviation of their guilt; and which indeed
alone prevented it from being unpardonable. He
exhorts them to repentance and conversion, and lays
open to their view the prospect not of a temporal,
but of a spiritual kingdom ; in the hope of which
they were to rejoice, and patientiy b^ the afflic-
tions of this present life : he warns them at tlie same
time of the threats denounced by Moses against tlie
despisers of the Messiah, through whom alone sal-
vation was offered to all nations, though the first in-
vitation was addressed to the Jews.

• Acts, iii.

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or JERUSALEM. II

The Church was now increased to five thousand ;
and the sigaal for persecution was raised by the ma- _ _
gistrates of Jerusalem, many of whom were Saddu- u^i^^eTe
cees, enemies to the doctrine of a resurrection^ and, th€Cirai»k.
in truth> to every thing that bad any tendency to raise
men's minds above the world. The two Apostles
were imprisoned that evening, but their examination
was deferred till the next day. The high priest, imd the
persons of greatest authority, looked on this matter
as an occasion of suflBcient consequence to require
the callmg of a solemn court Peter to their inters
rogatories frankly answers, that the miracle had been
** wrought in the name of Jesus, wliom ye crucified,
whom God raised from the dead." He boldly re»
bukes them for their contempt of Him, who is the
only Savioor : For '^ there is none other name under
heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved."

The wisdom and boldness of two unlettered fishery-
men, who had been companions of Jesus, struck the
court with astonishment. But finding no present
o[^rtunity of gratifying their malice, on account of
the splendor of the miracle, they dismissed them
vith a strict charge to be silent in futore concerning
the name pf Jesus, though the Apostles ingenu^
ously confessed their inability to comply with such
an order, because, ^' they must obey God rather than
man."

* The Aposties returned to iheir company, and
reporting the threats of the magistrates, they all,
with united supplication, intreated the Lord to grant
them boldness to persevere, notwithstanding the
menaces of His and their enemies. They were filled
with the Holy Ghost, and enabled to proceed with
calm intrepidity.

The most perfect unanimity as yet prevailed

among the Christians ; and they not only professed

to have all things common, but also practised the

rule accordingly with the gieatcst cheerfulness.

* Aeu,iv.

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12 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP. Di\ine Grace was lan^ely diffused among them*
^* Tlie poor lacked nothing : the richer brethren con-»
verted their possessions into money, and left the dis-
tribution ot the whole to the discretion of the Apostles*
And, in tliis liberality, Barnabas of Cyprus, a Le-
vite, \^ho had lands of his own, most probably in
his native country, was eminently distinguished.

It appeared very manifest, that the Apostles en-
joyed much more of the power of Christ's religion
than they had ever done while their Master was with
them on earth. Such was tlie etFectofthe effusion
of the Spirit. We hear no more of their dreams con-
cerning a temporal kingdom. The courage of Peter
in confronting the magistrates, forms a perfect con-
trast to his timidity in denying his Master. Wherever
the same repentance, faith, hope, charity, heavenly-'
mindednes3 appear, there is ttue Christianity;
and there also the enmity of the world will be ex-
cited. Of this something has already discovered
itselt^ and more is now calling for our attention, as
well as something much more grievous, — the detec-»
lion of hypocrisy in certain professors.

The case of Judas had already prepared the
Church to expect the appearance of tares among
the w heat ; and our Lord's parable alluded to, had
assured them of it. Yet when such things occur,
good men are often too much surprised, and the
wicked unreasonably triumph. There was one
Ananias among the disciples, whose conscience had
so far been imi)rcssed, as to respect that doctrine and
fellowship to \\ hich he had joined himself, but v\ hose
heart was never divorced from the love of the world.
A regard for his reputation induced him to sell his
possessions with tl)c rest: but the fear of poverty,
and the want of faitli in God, disposed him to reserve
part of tlie price, while he brought the other to the
Apostles. Peter upbraided him with his being under
the hiHuencc of Satan, *' in lying to the Holy (ihost ;"
showed him tliat the guilt of his hypocrisy was

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OF JERUSALEiT. I3

aggravated by this consideration, that the action was cent.
committed not against man, but against God ; and , ^' j
that nothing could be said to extenuate his baseness,
because he was under no necessity of selling his pro*
perty at all, or of laying it at the Apostles' ifeetj after
he had sold it Immediately the unhappy man fell
down dead : and, about tliree hours after, his wife
Sapphira was made a similar monument of Divine
Justice, as she had been partaker of her husband's
guilt-
Such a proof of the discernment of spirits, and
of the power of punishing hypocrisy, resting in the
governors of the Church, tilled all, who heaid these
tilings, with awe* The Lord had now shown his holi-
ness, as well as his grace ; aiid the love of the world,
the standing heresy, whicli infects his Church in all
ag^, was a second time punished by a signal inter-
position of heavm. Multitudes of both sexes were
added to tlie Church, chiefly of the cotnmon people.
Of the rest indeed, though some could not but
entertain favourable sentiments of Christianity, yet,
among thq rich and great, none durst hazard his
character so far as to espouse it *.

The Sadducees appear at this time to have had the Pcrsecntiou
* chief sway in the Jewish state. These formed a Apo^stios.
licentious, worldly-minded sect, and in their opinions,
they weretlie most corrupt of all those which at that
time were maintained in Judea. Tiie high priest and
his party were of this sect, and were filled with indig-
nation, to see the progress of the Gospel. Their
first step was to imprison the Apostles, who, by
night, through tiie ministry of an angel, wer^ set
free, and ordered to preach in tiie temple. Tlje
next Dooming a full Sanhedrim was convened, and
the Apostles were ordered to be brought into couil.
An angel had opened the prison doors; and the
court was astonished to find that the prisoners had
«caped out of prison : they wore, however, informed,
• Acts, V.

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14 HISTORT OF THE CIltJRCH

tbat they were preaching in die temple. The favour-
able regard of the common people obliged the San^
bedrim to use some address in conducting theif
prisoners in a gentle manner before the court The
high priest upbraids them with their disobedience to
the former inj unction of silence, to whom they returned
their former answer, that "they ought to obey God
rather than men." They bore witness to the resurrec-
tion of Christ, and declared, that " God bad exalted
him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour^
to give repentance to Israel, and forgivenes* of sins,'*
and that the " Holy Ghost, whom God bestows oft
those who obey him, witnessed" the same thing.
With such plainness did these first Christians lay
open the real nature of the Gospel, and exhibit it as
something extremely different from a mere system of
morals, tiiough it included ail good morality in its
nature. The testimony of Jesus, the forgiveness of
sins through his blood, and the operations of the
Holy Ghost, as they were doubtless the peculiar
characteristics of Christianity, so they were those
things which most offended the Jewish rulers, and
have been indeed the chief object of the enmity of
unconverted m^ in all ages.

The spirit of persecution vras proceeding to exer-
cise itself in violent counsels. There was however one
Gamaliel among them, a Pharisee, of a sect not in-
deed inimical to the doctrine of a resurrection, and
by no means so heterodox in general as the Sad-
ducees, though on the whole agreeing with them in
the hatred of Christianity. This man was judicious,
learned, and respectable, and possessed much worldly
prucience. Beyond this no evidetiee appears. Pro-
vidence mside an important use of him, at this thne,
to prolong twelve nwst valuable lives, who were de-
signed to spread the Gospel through the world ; and
by their inspired writings (not one of which was yet
puUished) to speak to us at this day. Gamaliel, by
some authentic historical precedents, instructed the

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DF Junes ALEltf. 15

lA^inbers of the court, that persons, who rose up tQ
propa^te new sects, if not sent of God, were soofl
4^imihUated« He wished thein to exercise forbear*-
ance and moderation toward the Apostles, wfiose
influence would soon come to nothing, if it wem
merely human ; if divine, to attempt its destruction
would be equally foolish and impious. This sag6
advice wad followed, and the Apostles were dis*
mbsed, but not without stripes, and a severe charga
given them, no more to preach in the name of Jesus.
They ceased not however to ^* teach and preach
Jesus Christ, and rejoiced tliat they were counted
worthy to suffer shame for his name,"*
H The Church was now much enlarged, consisting
{)artly of native, partly of foi'eign Jews, who used
"the Greek language, called on that account Helle-
nistB, or Grecians. These supposed, that in the daily
ittpply of the poor, the Apostles had not ministered
equal relief to their widows, -as to those of the
Hebrews. Men who know any thing of the vi ork
of God, in the visitation of his Holy Spirit, and have
any acquaintance with the fulness of employ, which
Christian ministers have in great and populous cities,
k) instructing, warning, consoling, and directing awak-
ened and seriouB minds, will not wonder, if, througli
inadvertence, §ome temporary neglects might have
taken place* The Apostles, however, with great
ttiildiiess and wisdom, soon regulated this alTair.
They infomaed the disciples, that the ministry of the
Word of God nmst be attended to in the first place,
and must not be neglected for the sake of providing
ibr the poOr. They therefore advised the disciple*
to look out tor seven holy and wise men, to whom
this business fehould be committed. " Bat we," say
they, *^ tiill give ourselves continually to prayer, and
CD the ministry of the word *." O that those who call
tbemselves their successors, were always diposed
la like manner!— The whole multitude consented vo'^cl*!

* Acts, ti.

ClKiicfi oi

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l6 HISTORY OFrrHE CHURCH

with pleasure. Seven deacons were amicably elect*
ed, Steplien, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon,
Parmenas, and Nicholas, every one of whom has a
Grecian name, and therefore may have been an Hel-
lenist ; and in this easy way the first appearances
of contention were blasted in the Cluirch, and seven
coadjutors were appointed to the Apostles, some of
whom, at least, were. of signal servj'^e, not only in
temporal, but also in spiritual things. So happy is
it to be under the conduct of the lloly Spirit, and
so amiably did the Love of Christ then rule in the
hearts of his people. Even many of the priests now
obeyed the Gospel, and Jerusalem saw continuallv
large accessions made to the Church. ^ P

Of these deacons Stephen was at first the most
distinguished. A synagogue of Hellenist Jews held:
a contest with hi/n, the result of which filled them
with such vexation, that they suborned men to accuse
him of blasphemy against Moses, and against God,
By this artifice, Stephen was brought before tlie San-
hedrim, where God threw a lustre over his counte-
nance, w hich even his enemies could not but observe.
In his defence he boldly rebuked the Jews, and
showed that their conduct was but too faitliful a copy
of that of their fathers, who had treated Moses and
the prophets with contempt, and had murdered a.
number of those, who had prophesied of the conjing
of the Just One — of whom they Ixad now been the
betrayers and murderers, while they vainly gloried in
the magnificence of their temple, and put external
services in the room of genuine piety.
Martyrdom Thus did Stephen aim at thesame point w ith Peter,
of Stephen, jq convincc hCs audience of sin in the first place, and
to leave them no hope in their own righteousness.
Seldom has the contrast between the spi^Jl of the .
world and the Spirit of GodappeaiXid more striking.
^' They were cut to the heart, and gnashed upon
him with their teeth." But he, '' full of ilie lloly
Ghost, looked up stedfastly to heaven, and saw the

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OF JERUSALEM. 1 7

glory of God, and Jesus standing at the ri^t hand cent.
of God,** and what he saw, he openly confessed. , J-
Their patience was exhausted, and they stoned him ^
to death, while he was calling upon his Divine
Master, and saying, " Lord Jesus, receive my spirit'*
Thus /inn and constant was his faith : and his charity
was no less conspicuous. For, he kneeled down,
and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, laynot this sin
to their charge;" thus showing how entirely void of
all malice were those vehement rebukes, which he
bad uttered against their wickedness, and which
men of pusillanimous prudence are in all ages dis«
posed to condemn. And when he had said this, he
£fell asleep* ; — the usual beautiful phrase of tlie New
Testament, to express the death of saints, and at
tiie same time to intimate their expectation of the
resurrection.

The eloquence of a Cicero would be mere feeble-
ness on this occasion. All pnuse isbelow the ex-
cellency of that spirit, which shone in this first of
martyrs. Let it stand as an example of the genuine
temper of martyrdom, of real faith in Christ, and
of real charity to men ; — and let heroes of the world
hide their heads in confusion.

Pontius Pilate having been disgraced, Judea
seems at this time to have been without a procu-
rator; and Vitellius, the' governor of Syria, was a
man of great moderation toward the Jews. In these
circumstances the mildness of the Roman govern*
ment was eventually the occasion of a severe perse-
cution to the Church. 1 he Jewish magistrates, who
a little before had not the power of lite. and death,
and could not murder the Lord of Life without the
intervention of their Roman masters, were now left
to theiriMlves, at least in religious concerns, and
Stephen ^as their first Christian victim. lip was
buried with great lamentation by the Church, and a
considerable number suffered soon after^
• Acts, vii.

VOL. I. C

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l8 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

A young man called Saul, an Hellenist*, of Tar-*
sus, a person of an active ambitious spirit, who had
been educated at Jerusalem, under Gamaliel, and
outstripped all his equals in Judaical learning,
distinguished himself in this persecution. He took
care of the clothes of the witnesses who were em-
ployed in stoning Stephenf , and made havock of
the church, entering into " every house, and haling
men and women, he committed them to prison ; and
when they were put to death, he gave his voice
against them." In truth, the disciples seemed now
to be left to the rage of men disposed to show them
no mercy ; and a superficial observer might have
supposed, that the fete of Theudas and Judas, men--,
tioned by Gamaliel, was about to attend the Chris- "
lians. Men had not yet learned that the " blood
• of the martyrs was the seed of the Church." The
religious woi|hip of the disciples must, doubtless,
have suffered a grievous interruption. Indeed none
of them found it safe to remain at Jerusalem. The
Apostles alone thought good to stand their ground,
and, by the watchful care of their God, they were pre-
served. The Christians, dispersed throughout Judea
and Samaria, preached the word wherever they
went. And thus tliis persecution was the first occa-
sion of the diffusion of the Gospel through various
regions, and what was meant to annihilate it, was
overruled to extend it exceedingly. But we shall
confine ourselves in this section to the Church of
Jerusalem.
ConYcmon Saul, who was all attention to the work of |)erse-
p«u^"*' ^ cution, was vexed to hear, that a number of the
Christians had escaped to Damascus, an antiei^
36. ^^^y ^^ Syria ; and he procured a commission from
the high priest to bring them bound to Jerusalem.
It was a considerable journey, but religious glory

• That \Sy one bom and bredn Jew in some coimtiy where
the Greek language was spoken,
t Acts, viii.

A* D

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OF JERUSAI^EM.

\ras his idoL When he was near to Damascus^ a
sudden light from heaven, exceeding even that of
the sun^y arriested the daring zealot, and struck him
to the ground. At the same time a voice called to
him, saying, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
And he said, Who art thou. Lord ? And the Lord
said, " I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest : It is
hard for thee to kick against the pricks." In this
marvellous manner did the Son of God make known
his truth, his majesty, and his power, to this enter-
prismg persecutor, and evince to all ages, what he
can do to the " praise of the glory of his grace,"
The will of Saul was broken, and made submissive
to God for the first time, " Lord, what wilt thou
have me to do/' was his cry ; and whenever this is
uttered from the heart, it wUl not fail to bring down
the divine blessing. He was directed to go into
Damascus, where he remained three days without
sight and without food, yet constantly employed in
prayer for divine grace and mercy. Thus the neces-
sity of the conviction of sin was preached to him
Hith circumstances more extraordinary than those,
which took place upoix the preaching to the three
thousand first converts ; but the spiritual instruction
conveyed was precisely the same. The work of con-
verting grace may vary very much in non-essential
circumstances, — its nature never varies. The grace
of forgiveness by Jesus Christ would have been no
welcome news to tim Pharisee, had he still remained
in the confidence of his own righteousness ; but now
it was as life from the dead. After three days, by
the particular direction of a vision from the Lord
Jesus, Ananias, a disciple of Damascus, was sent
to him with the tidings of peace. He had heard of ^
the active malice of oaul, but was encouraged to gp
by a positive declaration that Saul was. a chosen
vessel. Ananias opened his commission by inform-
ing Saul, that the Lord Jesus, had sent him, to the
• Acts, ix.

C 2

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

end that be might receive his sight, and be filled
with the Holy Ghost Both these eflfects immedi*
atcly took place. Ananias exhorted him to delay
no longer, but to '' wash away his sins, calling on
the name of the Lord *." He was baptized, and
soon refreshed both in mind and body : and from
that time the whole vehemence of his natural cha-
racter, and the whole powder of his intellectual fa*
culties, which were doubtless of the first magnitude
among men, were sanctified to the service of Jesus
Christ ; and to his death, he was engaged in a course
of labours in the Church with unparalleled success.
For this is he, who is commonly known by the name
of St. Paul, and " his memorial is blessed for ever.'*
He was particularly commissioned to preach to the
Gentiles, and of all tlie Apostles he seems to have
entered with the greatest penetration into the na-
ture of Christianity. Salvation by grace through
faith was his darling theme, a doctrine diametrically
opposite to the self-righteous scheme in which he had
been wont to glory. His countrymen, the Jews,
were particularly fierce in opposing this grand article
of the Gospel, and were stung to the quick when at-
tacked by their once favourite champion. No doubt
he had been sincere in his rehgion formerly; yet, is
he far from exculpating himself on this account.
On the contrary, he magnifies the grace of the Lord
Jesus, as extended to him, a blasphemer, a perse-
cutor, injurious, and the chief of sinnersf, in whom
the long-suffering of the Lord had been exhibited,
** for a pattern to them, who shall hereafter believe
on him to life everlasting:" — that mankind may
know, tliat God accepts sinners on Christ's account
alone, and through taith in his blood ; and that
. nothing can be more contnuy to the wbde design of
the Gospel, than to seek salvation by our own works
of any kind. He seems ever after to have lamented
deeply the miserable state of his countrymen, who
• Acts, xxii. i6 t 1 Tiro. i.

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OF JERUSALEM. ^1

^'had a zeal for God, biit not acooirding to know* cent.
ledge*." He pitied tlieir self-righteous notions : he
knew by his own experience bow deceitful tho^e
notions were to those, who were under the power of
tbein : and, while he rejoiced on account of that
grace whidi had redeemed himself from hell, he
commiserated those, who were fast advancing thither
in fearless pr^umption. In the third chapter of the
Philippians, he gives us a very particular view of
fabnaetf. To trust in any thing for salvation, except
Christ alone, is with him ^' to have confidence in the
flesh." No man appeared once to have had more
jost pret^isions to such confidence than himself.
His regular circumcision on the eighth day, Hebrew
descent, Pharisaic strictness, zealous Judaism, and
blameless morals, seined to exalt him above the
common level of his countrymen : but he declares
that be '^ reckoned all these things as dung, that he
might win Christ ;" and in him alone he desires to be
found, without his own righteousness to trust in ; and
be maintains the settled determination of his soul in
-this article of justification. Were it not for the per-
verse blindness of £sdlen nature, one might be asto-
nished to find many, persons of leammg and good
sei^e, after reading this account of the Apostle by
himself, still endeavouring to represent him as mix- .
ing grace and works in the subject of justification,
and describing him as only excluding ceremonial
works from the office of justifying a sinner; But to
proceed :

Having preached Christ for three years abroad,
be went up to Jerusalem. / Here he attempted to
join himself to the Church, but the remembrance
of what he had been, and the very imperfect account
whid) they had of what he then was, prevented the
Christiansirom receiving him, till Barnabas brought
him to the Apostles (two of them only, Peter and
James f the Lord's brother) and informed them of
• Rom. X. '»al. i. i8, 19.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

his genuine conversion. This cleared up all doubts;
and he was now engaged in the work of the ministry
at Jerusalem, and would gladly have remained there,
but the Lord, by a vision, assured him, that the
Jews would not receive his testimony ; and that the
great scene of his labours was to be among the
Gentiles.

In fact, some address was needful in his brethren
to save his life from the rage of the Jews, and he
was conducted to his native city of Tarsus. By this
time, however, the fury of persecution subsided :
the Lord gave rest to his Church : and the dbciples
both at Jerusalem and elsewhere, walked in the very
best manner, in which they can walk on this side
heaven, " in the fear of the Lord, and in the com-r
fort of the Holy Ghost" Where these go together,
excesses of all sorts are prevented : and inward joy
and outward obedience conspire to demonstrate,
that there Christ reigns indeed.

Yet so slow are men to receive new divine truths,
especially those which militate against old preju-
dices, that the Christians of Jerusalem cmitended
with Peter on account of his intercourse with the
Gentiles of Csesarea. The fiercene3s of Peter's
natural character was now abated : with great meeker
ness he reasoned on the case with his bigoted
brethren, and convinced them, by the evident proo&
of the grace of God being vouchsafed to Gentiles,
that it was lawful to have communion with them*.
They glorified God, saying, •* Then hath God also
to the Gentiles granted repentance to life." Un-
utterable grace indeed to us, confessed atlen^h and
owned by our elder brethren the Jews ! David had
just reason to say, *^ Let me fall into the hand of
the Lord, for bis mercies are great, and let me not
fall into the hands of man f . Even a converted
Jew admits with difficulty, that the grace of God
may vbit a Gentile.

• Acts, xi. t 2 Sam. xxiv. 14.

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OF JEBUSALEk.

The visits of Paul to Jerusalem seem to have
been but short. The body of the Jewish nation
sought his destruction; and hb Gentile connections
and very reserved practice of Mosaical cerembnies,
rendered him. no peculiar favourite in the mother-
church, though they "could not but glorify the
^race of God which was in him *." But the Church
IS not perfect on eartli. Uis next return to Jerusa-*
lem was, however, of a popular kind, namejy, to
convey the alms of Gentile converts to the Jewish
Christians oppressed by a " fiimine, which came to
pass in the days of Claudius Coesar t" His compa-
nion to Jerusalem was Barnabas, whose liberaMty
iu the b^inning had been so eminent. . This service
being discharged, they both returned to minister to
the Ga^tiles.

The civil pow^ of Judea was now in the hands of
Herod Agrippa, a great favourite of the Rmnah
Emperor, a person of considerable talents, and full
of that specious virtue, which, in secular annals,
would entitle him to gieat renown. In the Church
of Christ be stands a persecutor, and his virtues are^
in the strong but just language of Augustine j;, splen-*
did sins. Yet his persecution w^ not the effect of
a cruel temper. Had the Jews regarded Christianity
with a Civourable eye, he, at least, would have pro^
lected it But long before this timQi the general
£ivour of the common people toward the Cluristians
had been dissipated by the active malice of the rulers>
and Christ was found to have no lasting friends, but
tboBe whom he made so by effectual grace. The
first victim of this political persecution was James
the son of Zebedee : he was slain with the sword,
the first of the Apostles, who depaited from the
Church below, to join that which is above.

Finding that the act was popular, Herod at-*
tempted to dispatch § Peter also. But God had
Gal. i. olt. t Acts, xx, toward the end.

I Splendida peccata. i Acts, xii.

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24 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP, reserved him for more services ; and yet, io all ap-
pearance, there was no hope of his preservation.
' He was imprisoned, and strictly guarded, with a vicM-,
aft«r the passover, when the concourse of Jews at
Jerusalem was very large, to have.him publicly exe-
cuted. The king pleased himself with the idea of
ingratiating himself with his subjects ; but the Church
has arms, which men of the world understand Tiot;^
and they were vigorously used on this occasion.

A spirit of lamest peraeveriog prayer was poured
on the Church of Jerusalem. The Lord delayed to
answer, till the critical moment; — a method not un-
common of ecercising the faith, and zeal, and* pati-
ence of hiB pepple. J3y the miraculous interposition
o£ an angel, Peter, the night before his intended
execution, was delivered from prison. At first be
imagined that to be done in vision, which was a
leality. At length beii^ fully come to himself, and
reflecting dst what the Lord had done^ he camfi to
the house of Mary the mother of John Mark, a wo-
man of eminent piety and of some opulence, where
Qiany Christians were gathered together in the reli -
gbus employment of prayer. Those only, wlio know
what the spirit of prayer is, can conceive the vehe-
mence of wrestling, which then engaged Christian
hearts. The scene which followed was at onceinoe^t
dstonishing,: and most pleasingi They hear a person
knocking at the^door ; a yomig woman named lifaoda
comes to hearken; she knows Peters voice; joy
prevents her from opening the gate ; slie returns to
inform the BuppKeants, that Peter stood before it ;
th^ are induced to suspect her of insanity, rather
than to believe that their prayers were heard ; so
slow are even the best to believe the goodness of
God. She perseveres in her first assertion ; it must
then, say they, be his angel *. Peter continues knock-
ing ; they open at length ; they behold him, and are

* The idea ofXhe mioistry ofangeU among men was popular
with the Jews ; possibly these good men might carry it too far.

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OF JEEUSALBM.

astoni^ied Having waved bis band, and hrou^
them to silefice, he «fomis tbeni of the Lord s won-,
derful ioteipositioii in liis favour. Go, says he, and
show these things to James, and the brethren. James^
^bo ^vas the Lord s brother, widi himself and Jolm
had the greatest concern in the government of the
mother Church * at that time. Peter retires then to
a ptece of concealment,

LitUe did Herod apprehend that his own death Deaih of
should precede that of his prisoner. On a public "*'^'
occasion, in which he appeared in great splendor, he. ^' ^*
delivered an oration, so pleasing to his audience, 44-
that they shouted, '' It is the voice of a God, and not
of a man/' That moment he was smitten with an in-
curable disease by an angel, because he ^^ gave not
God the^ory." 'fhat pride and ambition, which had
gained him the cbarac^r of a patriot, orator, and
statesman, weie punished with death by Him, who
'^ seethnotas man seeth^'" and he fell a warning to
princes, not to seek glory in opposition to God.

The next memorable circumstance in the history Fmt
of the mother*church will deserve our particular at-^ co«u^
tention. This was the first Christian council The ""
controversy which occasioned it, involved a subject l^ '
of vast consequence in real religion. ^ *

t About, twenty years had dapsed since the effu-
sion of the Spirit had commenced ; a period of time
in which, even m tiie midst of one of the most wicked,
nations in the world, in Jerusalem and in its neigh-
bourhood, God had erected his king<lom in the
hearts of thousands who had lived in great unanimity
and charity, '' keeping the unity of the spirit in the
b(md of peace," conscious of their Divine Master s

• Gal. ii. 9.

t I once for ail observe here, that the niceties af chronology
make no part of luy study in this work. Yet I shall endeavour
to attend so much to historical connection, as to be generally
right within a few years. This seems sufficient for my purpose ;
and whoever attends to Ihe second and third chapters to the
Gahtians, will see» thai 1 cannot err much in this instance.

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t6 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

spiritual presence, and rejoicing in hope of his second
coming to complete their felicity. In his strength^
they had sustained, with much patience, two very se-
vere persecutions, in the former of which a Deacon,
in the second an Apostle, had sealed the truth with
his blood. In an earlier part of this period their
hdy harmony had been a little interrupted by a se-
cular contention ; but this was soon composed. The
time was not yet arrived, when those, who called
themselves Christians, could so much forget the
dignity of their profession, as to contrad passionately
for worldly things. The present controversy had a
more intimate connection with the Christian religion
itself, and therefore seemed more likely to disturb
the union of men, with whom spiritaal objects were
the chief ground of concern. The Jews were strongly
attached to their own religious national peculiarities.
Under the influence of pride, envy, and other evil
pas^ons, this disposition supported the sphritof sdf-
righteousness. Nothing could be more contrary to
tt^ genius of the Gospel than the attempt of scmie
Christian Jews, who endeavoured to infuse into the
Gentile converts an idea of the necessity of circum-
cision, and of obedience to the whole of the Mosaic
ceremonial, in order ta salvation. Some of the Pha«
risees themselves were now real Christians, but they
were displeased to see and hear of so many Gentiles
admitted into the Christian Church, and regarded by
the Apostles as on an equal footiug with themselves
in the favour of God. Thus were their minds dark*
ened with respect to the article of justi6cation : and^
before they were aware, by thus insisting on the ne-
cessity of circumcision, they practically averred, that
the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was not sufficient
for man's salvation ; that tlie favour of God was to
be purchased by human works, in part at least; and
that their ritual observances, contributed tq their
acceptance with God.

Tliis was the first time that the natural pride and

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OF JERUSALEM. 27

ignorance of the human heart, disguised under the cekt.
pretence of religious zeal, attempted to undermine . _^'
the simplicity of the faith, by which hitherto Chris-
tians had rested with complacency on Jesus alone,
had enjoyed peace of conscience, and had been con-
strained to obedience by love. The Apostles Paul
and Bcumabas looked on the growingevil with a jealous
eye, and after no small fruitless altercation with the
zealots, thought it better to refer the full consideration
of the question to a council of Apostles and Elders
at Jerusalem. And now Paul returned to Jerusalem
the third time since his conversion, and about seven-
teen years after it ; and, in his progress with Bar-
nabas, reported the conversion of tlie Gentiles, which
gave great joy to the Christian Jews in general.

At the Council, Peter, who had returned to Jeru-
salem, and since Ajmppa's death was no longer
molested, opened the aebate by observing, that a con-
siderable time ago, God had selected him to preach
to the Gentiles, and had blessed his labours with
unequivocal success, in purifying their hearts by faifh,
and in dispensing the Holy Ghost among them, no
less than on the Jews. After God himself had thus
decided, he said it appeared presumptuous in any
person to impose a yoke on the Gentiles, firom which
the Divine Indulgence had exempted them. He in-
sisted that the yoke itself, especially when laid on the
conscience as necessary to salvatifln, was intolerable:
•and he concluded, that even they, who still, for cha-
ritable and prudential reasons, persisted in the ritual v
observances, were yet obliged to repose for salvation
only on the ** grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,'' as
well as these Gentiles, who never had observed them
at all. This full testimony of Peter was supported
by Paul and Baniabas, who gave large proof of the
Divine Grace vouchsafed to the Gentiles. James,
who seems to have been the standing pastor of Je-
rusalem, confirmed the same argument, by the pro-
phets of the Old Testament, agreeably to Peter s

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28 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP. (Jeclaration of the mercy of God in visiting the Gen-
tiles. He gave his opinion, that the GentUes should
no longer be molested with notions subversive of the
grace of God, and tending to teach them dependence
on human works instead of the atonement of Christ
for salvation. Only he recommended, that the Coun^
cil should direct them to abstain from the pollutions
of idols, and from fornication, and from tbin^ stran-
gled^ and fiom blood*. For the number of Jews
dispersed through Gentile cities, who heard Moses
read every Sabbath-day, required these.precautions.

A letter was sent according to these views ; nor
does it appear that there was one dissenting voice in
the Council. It is remarkable, that the synod used
tliis striking expression of censure against the asealots,
they '' troubled you with words, subverting your
soids." Certainly the charitable Apostles would not
so strongly have rebuked a trifling error. Nor is
there^ I Uiink, any other method of understanding
this aright, but on the principle already stated, thai;
the harm did not consist in practising these ceremo-
nies, though virtually abrogated by thedeath of Christ
For these were practised by the Apostle^ themsf lve%
constantly by such as lived in Judea, and occasionally
by the rest The real fault was the depending upon
theoi for salvation, in opposition to the grace of
Christ Here the Apostles knew it behoved them to
be jealous, that God migbt be glorified, and souls
comforted : and the joy, and consolation, and esta-
blishment in the faith t> which ensued amongst the
Gentiles, confirms this interpretation.

It is to be feared, tiiat the Church of Jeri^alem

* Though an idol was nothing, and what was offered to it was
nothing, yet St. Paul ha« given solid reasons why Chrifitiane
should abstain from such meats. Fornication was a sin, con-
cerning the evil of which the heathen converts mi^ht be, he
apprehended, as yet uninformed ; and to abstain from things
strangled and from bloody was necessary, in order to ha\*« any
intercourse with Jews.

t Acts, XV. 31. and xvi. 5.

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OF JERtSAlEM.

reo^ved not all the benefit, which Was to be wished
from the wfedom and charity of the Council, though
it doubtless would be of service to many. But its
mo6t wholesome effects were felt among the Gen-
tiles. The account, which we have in the Epistle to
the Galadans, leads us to suspect that the self-righte-
ous spirit had a very deep influence among some mem-
bers of the Church at Jerusdem. The Apostle Paul
was obliged to exercise a particular caution among
them, and to confer in private with the pillars of the
Church, lest he should ^ve umbrage to tlie Jewish
Christians, and hurt his own usefulness among hts
countrymen *• In this he acted with equal prudence
and charity : y^t nothing could induce him to act
inconsistently with the faith. To press the Gentile
converts to Jewish conformity, appeared to him in
this Kc^t, as no reasons but those of peace, charity,
and prudential expediency, could be pleaded for the
contimmnce of such observances, even among Jews:
and therefore, among Gentiles, who never had been
under the yoke, no c^her construction could be put
on the practice, than that it was necessary to salva*
tien, and that the primary doctrine of the Christian
rdigion, tiie sufficiency of the blood of Christ for
pardon of sin, was disbelieved. The same Apostle
therefore, who, en another occasion circumcised Ti-
mothy f because of the Jews in the neighbourhood,
he being by the mother's side of Hebrew extraction,
now insisted, that Titus, a perfect Gentile, should not
be circumcised J:, because of false brethren, who had
craftily introduced themselves among the Christians,
with a view to undermine their dependence on Jesus,
and to draw them back to the self-righteousness of
Judaism. The liberty of Christ was what he was
zealous to support; and he would not, for an hour,
allow any self-righteous mixtures, " that the truth of
the Gospel might continuel^^ith them ;' an expres-
sion, which throws farther light on tlic controversy
•'OaLii. t -^cts, xvi. 3. | Gal. if.

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HISTOET OF TRC CHUaCd

we have reviewed ; and shows distinctly) that not
circumcision itself, but the dependence on it for sal-
vation in the room of Christ, was the great •bject of
the Apostle's opposition.

He had hitherto found, to his satisfaction^ that aU
his brethren of the Apostolic college had heartily
concurred in checking tlie progress c^ self-rigbteous-
ness. But a lamentable instance of human imbecility
soon appeared. Peter, after having* taken asocial
meal witii some Gentile converts, afterwards withdrew
from their company, on the arrival of certain Jewish
zealots^ who came to liim from James : and thus, for
fear of their censure, he durst not keep company with
men, whose fellowship he yet inwardly reverenced,
and expected to enjoy in heaven. An error committed
by a respectable diameter is infectious. Other Jews
dissembled in a similar way: — even Barnabas was
carried away with their dissimulation, and the truth
of the Gospel was in danger of being forsaken on the
authority of those, who had hitherto upheld its stand-
ard in the world. Such infirmities of the wise and
good prove beyond doubt, to whom alone we are
obliged for the preservation of Christian truth in the
earth. The Lord roused the spirit of Paul on the oc-
casion : he vindicated the truth of the Gospel by an
open and manly rebuke of Peter: and a seasonable
check was put to the growing torrent of Pharisabni,
— that dark but deadly foe of the Gospel, — which, in
one form or another, is ever ready to cloud the light
of truth, and to sap the foundation of Christian peace
and life.

St Paul's fourth visit to Jerusalem is but just men-
tioned in Scripture f. His fifth was attended with
more memorable events. It was seen by the spiiit of
prophecy, that he would undergo bitter persecution
from the infidel Jews ; and the guarded kindness, with
which he was received h^ many, even of the believers
there, formed no pleasing inducement to him to
* Gal. ii. 12. t Acts, xviii. 92.

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OF JERUSALEM.

repeat his visits. But divine charity prevailed in St
Paul's mind over all objections, difiicultieSy and dan-
gers : he rebuked his friends at Caesarea, who dissua-
ded him from prosecuting his journey^ by professing
bis readiness ^^ not only to be bound, but also to die
at Jerusalem, for the name of the Lord Jesus *." His
resignation silenced them : they ^aid '^ the will of the
Lord be done." On his arrival he went to James, and
in the presence of all the elders, recounted the work
of God among the Gentiles. They glorified the Lord,
and rejoiced sincerely on the account: butatthesame
time they expressed what concern it gave them, to find
how Jealous of Paul the brethren were, havii^ heard a
^Edse report of his teaching all the Jews to forsake the
Mosaic observances. Doubdess he had not done this :
but, he had done what displeased the Jewish zealots :
be had insisted on the exemption of Gentiles from the
yoke ; and men, once out of humour, are disposed
to hc^ken to malevolent exa^rations. In this
exi^ncy the advice of James was at the same time
prudent and charitable, namely, that he should join
with four men, who were bound by a Nazarite vow,
in the cvstomaryservicesof the temple; till a sacrifice
should be offered for each of them. With this Paul
concurred ; and thus he gave the clearest proof that
be was ready to* conform both to Jew and Gentile in
things indifterent, with a view to promote the salva-
tion of men.< A few remarks, suggested by these
transactions, shall clo^ this chapter.

1 . We see here that really there was no difference p^i ^ad
of sentiment between Paul and James in religious opt- i^a,
nions, as from a fewf expressions in the epistle of the ^i^tiaaitL
latter, soine are slad to insinuate. Tliese two Apos-
tles, and indeed the whole college, were perfectiy ^
agreed in ttieir views of the nature of the Gospel.

2. In Peter there evidently was, in one instance,

* Acts, xxi. 13* ' t James, ii. latter part.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

a duplicity of conduct with respect to the Mosaic rites,
— in Paul a steady uniformity. He lived as a Jew him-
self: vows, synagogue- worship, and the various rites
of the law he observed, not even sacrifices excepted,
on occasion. He could not indeed look on them now
in any other light than as branches of a humai) esta-
blishment ; since the death of Christ had annulled their
divine authority. The establishment itself be knew
was soon to cease by the destruction of Jerusalem.
To him and to the rest of the Apostles it appeared
more charitable, to submit to the inconveniencies of
conformity, tlian to irritate the whole body of the Jews
on account of circumstantials. On this ground pious
men in all ages have acted, and those/who have most
excelled in Christian fruitfulness, have been most re-
markable for their candour. At the same time the in-
flexible firmness of Paul in vindicating the doctrine of
justification, by allowing on no account the circum-
cision of Gentiles,informs us, where he laid the stress
for salvation. This union of candour and firniness
in the same person, acting variously in opposite cir-
cumstances, has led some writers to accuse him of
inconsistency, who seem not to have understood the
principles of the controversy. This was the case of
Jerom of old. His controversy with Augustine on the
subject is yet extant in the epistles of the latter, whose
statement of the aftkir 1 think perfectly just; audit is
agreeable to the views in which the conduct of the
Apostle has now been exhibited.

3. M^e see here how infinitely important the doc-
trine of justification is ! What excellent fruits it had
brought forth * in tlie Jewish Church, now consisting
of many thousands, has been shown. It appeai-s how
naturally the human heart departs from tlie ftiith of
Christ, before it is aware. The penetrating and zea-
lous spirit of Paul was employed by the divine good-
ness to uphold still the standard of truth. Many, no
♦ Acts, xxi. 20.

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I OF J£RUSAL£lii.

doubt, received benefit from his example ; but the
glory of this Church was now on the decline.

4. The evil of bigotry is no less evident, and how
naturally it connects itself with self-righteousness is
apparent An eager stress laid on any rite, or form,
or external work whatever, easily thus degenerates.
Stedfastness in the faith, and candour, ana charity,
are, under God, our preservatives against it

There was little opportunity of trying the effect of
the charitable scheme, concerted between the tno
Apostles, on the minds of Christians, because before
the seven days were expired, the malice of the infidel
Jews broke out against Paul. St. Luke's narrative,
from tlie twenty-first chapter to the end of his
history, is spent on the consequences of this. The
cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and piety of the
Apostle Paul : the convincing force of his reasoning,
which caused Felix to tremble, and Agrippa to
confess himself almost a Christian : his preservation
from Jewish malice by the privilege of Roman citi-
zenship : die jierils he underwent by sea and land, p^^^ ^^
till he arrived a prisoner at Rome, and bis labours sent -n
for two years iq the ministry among them who visited .^idou /r"
him in his imprisonment: these things are so cir- sea.
cumstantially, and, I may justly add, so beautifully '^ ^'
related by tte sacred writer, that I shall refer my
reader to him altogether, especially as neither the
history of tlie mother-church, nor of any other par-
ticular Churches, is connected with the account

The malice of the Jews having failed of its object
in Paul, by his appeal to Caesar, would gladly have
gratified itself on James. But he, though no Roman
citi:^n, was shielded a little longer by the lenity of
the Roman government*. His long residence at Je-
rusalem, where he was atationary for the most part,

* The first perstcutioa of the ChrittiaDS began about
A. D. 64, the eleventh yea;' of the reign of the Emperor Nercu
See page 98*

VOL. !• D •

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HISTOEY OF TH£ CBUitCH

had given bim an opportaxiity, by a blameless life, to
abate the prejudice of his unbelieving countrymen,
and to extort the tribute of praise from the populace
in general. Aboutihe year of our Lord sixty, he
wrote his Catholic epistle. . It is addressed to Jews
in general ; sometimes he speaks to Christians, some*
time to infidels, like a person well known, add of
considerable influence among both. The covet-*
ousness, inhumanity, and persecuting spirit of the
nation are described in strong colours; and he writes
like one who foresees the speedy desolati6n which
was to overtake them. Ry the practical turn of his
doctrine, by his descanting on the vices of the tongue*,
of partiality to the rich, and of contemptuous treat-
ment of the poor in Christian assemblies f, and
by his directioa against vain swearing if, it is but too
evident, that the Church had considerably declined
from its original purity and simplicity ; and that the
crafts of Satan, aided ever by natural depravity,
were wearing out apace the precious fruits of that
effusion of the Spirit, M^hich has been described.
Such is the common course of things in all similar
cases, within the like period of about thirty years.
The Lord had not however forsaken his Church;
though its members were in a persecuted state, and
were brought before Jewish magistrates §, and vexed,
so far as the rage of this infatuated nation had power
to exert itself. He particularly exhorts them to pa^
tience under their trials, and a resignation to the
Divine Will

About the same time, or a little after, this Church
was favoured with the Epistle to the Hebrews, which
seems to have been written by St. Paul |t.

As apostasy, partly through the fashionable and
natural evil of 8elf?rigbteousness, and partly through

• Chap. iii. t Chap, ii. J Chap. v. § Chap. ii. 6.

II St. Peter, in bit second epistle to the Jews, reminds them
<(f Sl Paul's letter to them, yibich probably, coidd have bc^o
po other th^n (bis epistle.

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OF JERUSALEM. 35

itit cruelty t^f persecution, was the great evil to bfe cent.
feared among them, he directs them particulary to
maintain the Christian faith. He largely and dis-
tinctly ^ows the accomplishment of all the Mosaic
types in Jesus. His priesthood, sacrifice, and in-
tercession are amply described. The privileges and
benefits of his salvation are distinctly stated. He
exhorts them to constancy in the simple faith of
Christ He urges them to persevere in supporting
their Christian assemblies, from which some * had
declined, probably through fear of persecution. He
reminds them of the severities they had patiently
undergone after their first illumination, of the com-
passion which hb sufferings had excited among them,
and of the cheerinlness with which they had sus-
tained the spoiling of their goods, from the con-
fidence they " had of having in heaven a better
and enduring substance." The whole turn of his ex-
hortation shows, that they were in a state of grievous
molestation at the time of writing this epistle. And
yet firom tlieir dulness in divine things, which he so
warmly censures fi it is certain their spiritual taste
had declined. 'The persecution of St. Paul at Jeru-
salem probably excited a general hostility against
the Church. That it did * not proceed to blood :|;,
seems owing to no other cause than the protectioq
of the Roman government The Apostle is particu*
larly earnest in exhorting them to remember and
hold fast the grace of the Gospel, which their first
ministers had taught them, and to consider tliat
Jesus Christ was their great object, and that a re-
turn to Jewish dependencies would ruin their souls.
On tli€ whole, we have here the most glorious views
pf the Gospel, and the most distinct iofonnation of
tlie nature of a true adherence to it; though I see no
evidence on the face of the epistle for concluding^
that be forbad them that same occasional and pru*
deotial compliance with Judaism in external obser*
• Heb. X. as. f lb. v. 12. J lb. xii: 4.

D 2

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36 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

vances, whic|i all the Apostles practised. It was
the departure of the heart from the Lord Jesus,
agailist which he warned them. He dwells not
largely on particular duties- He had not lived
much among them ; and special details of practical
matters came belter from the pastoral pen of James.
Thus earnestly did these two Apostles instruct
and warn a declining Church. But grace has its
seasons ! God will not always strive with man ; yet
the use of the epistles will remain, till time shall be
no more.

CHAP. 11.

JUDEA AND GALILEE.

The Holy Land was divided Into three provinces,
JuDEA, Galilee, and Samaria. This last was
in a situation so peculiar, as to deserve to be con-
sidered distinctly. And of the Churches of the two
iformep I have not much more to say, than that their
state, by fair analogy, may be estimated from that
pf the mother-church. Indeed a strong foundation
had been laid for their conversion by the ministry of
John the Baptist, and by that of our Lord in the
days of his flesh. The angel Gabriel had foretold
of the son of Zaeharias, *' that many of the children
of Israel he should turn to the Lord their God *."
Repentance was his theme, and by this he prepared
the way of the Lord. Jesus himself condescended
in his subordinate capacity of prophet and teacher
to pursue the same method, tliough no regular
Ghurclies were yet formed. He promised that the
girt: of the! Holy Ghost should be vouchsafed to hiji
disciples, and we have several intimations f, tliat a
greater degree of success, of purity, of knowledge,
find of glory, should attend his religion after liQ

* Lu]iLe, i. 3. I John, xiv. aad ^vu

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or JUDEA AKD GALlLtt. 37'

should leave this world, than during his personal cent.
ministry *. ^*

Judiea and Galilee being thus prepared for the
Gospel^ the blessed tidings began to be spread
through then)) and to be attended with rapid suC'^
cess, soon after the first persecution which arose
ccmceming Stephen. Those, who had felt the flame
of Divine Love in Jerusalem, being obliged to flee,
preached through these regions, and many thousands
were converted, as we have seen. The mother-
church, no doubt, 1^ as the most numerous, but vari-^ .
oas Churches in the country must have contiibuted
to make up the sum. . The small size of Palestine
may tempt some to wonder, if many thousands be--
came Christians, how the main body of the nation
could yet remain in infidelity. The amazing popu-
lousness and fertility of the country accounts for
this. The number of populous towns, in Galilee
particularly, is astonishing, as appears from Jose-
pbus^s narrative of the Jewish war. The single town
of Gadara, near the lake of Gennezaret, by no
means a town of the first magnitude, maintained
two thousand swine t- If tlien tlie importance of
regions be measured by the number of inhabitants,
rather than by the extent of ground, tliis small
country might vie perhaps with modem Russia.

Of these Churches the first instruments were not
the Apostles themselves, though they doubtles*
visited them afterwards, and confirlned them. James
the son of Zebedee would not confine his labours to
Jerusalem, till the time of bis martyrdom, no more
ttmn the rest of the twelve, if perhaps we except
James the son of Alpheus, who was the first stand-
mg Pastor of Jerusalem.

* Let this account, once for all, for the much greater use
which I make mi the Acts and of the Epistles, than of the four
Gospels. These ^ast are indeed inestimable ; hut their uses ars
of another kin^ and fall not within the plan of this work.

t Hark, v. 15.

X>3

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3<J HISTOi^Y OF THE CHURCH

These Churches, roost probably, followed the
example of the paient-church, both in its first love
and Comfortable progress, atid also in its. unhappy
declension. Peter's activity in establishing them was
very conspicuous. " The Lord wrought eflfectually'*
in him foi* the conversion of the Jews all along *
He passed through all quarters, and visited the places
iQost remote from the capital, such as Lydda, Saron,
and Joppaf. In all these places the Spirit of God
accompani^ his work. ' It was in this last city that
the Lord by him raised TaWtha from the dead. I^
should scarce have mentioned this miracle, in a work
which professes all along to record the ordinary/
not the extraordinary operations of the Holy Ghost,
were not the woman distinguished by " her good
works and alms-deeds which she did." AH ithe
widows stood by Peter weeping, and showing* the
** coats and garments which she had made, while she
was with them." Thus had this woman's faith
evidenced itself by good works ; and the Spirit of
piety and of prayer had gone hand in hand with that
of industrioivs beneficence. Hail, Tabitha ! thou hast
the highest glory and of the most solid kind, which
is attainable on earth ! But the reader sees how sim-
ple and low Christian exploits must appear in the
eyes of worldly men. They are not like the swelling
deeds of henSes and statesmen, which have hitherto^
ibr the most part, monopolized the historic page*
But the persons who are influenced by the Spirit of
Christ, with Tabitha will yet know with whom they
would wish to be numbered. The female sex, almost
excluded from civil history, will appear perhaps
more conspicuods in ecclesiasticaL Less immersed
in secular concerns, and less haughty tad indepen*
dent in spirit, they seem, in all ages, to have had
their full proportion, or mcnre tiian the other *x, of
the grace of the Gospel, *

•Gal.ii.l^. tAc^ix,

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. \

or SAMARIA. 3^

CHAP, III.
SAMARIA.

Th 1 8 country lay in the midst between Judea and

Galilee, though distinguished from them both in its

polity and religion. The inhabitants possessed a

c, large part of the district, whicli had teionged to

-' the ten tribes, whoin the kings of Assyria had car-

: ried into captivity. These conquerors had filled their

"^ vacant place with various colonists*, who mixed

' the worship of Jehovah with their idols, vainly

J boasted of their relation to Jacob f, professed to

regard the law of Moses, and despised or at least

depreciated the rest of the Old Testament Our

Saviour clearly decides the contest, w hich, for ages,

had been carried on between them and the Jews, i\x

• &vour of the latter J. But though tlie Samaritan

was an idolater in his very foundation, yet in moral

practice he appears not worse than the Jew. Both,:

indeed, were at this time extremely corrupt, and

gloried in cherishing an enmity, which forbad them

the exercise oi common humanity to one another.

The Divine Saviour pitied this people. He visited
them himsdf^ and^ome sinners were converted.
i He made a second attempt ||, but the bigotry of the
village to which he approached, prevented them
froqi receiving him there, a circumstance which ex-
cited the fiery zeal of the two sons of Zebedee, and
gave occasion to our Lord to say, '* The Son of mai>
is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them."
Hcliieekly bore the repulse, and went to anothei'
village. But the efiusions of liis kindness toward
this unhappy people were now to appear in abua-;
dance.
Among the seven deacons the next person tp

^ 2 Kiogs, xvii.'' t J^h^r ^« *^» I ^^^' ^* ^^•
John,iv. It Luke,ix.5a.

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IIL

40 HISTORY dF THE CHURCH

CHAP. Stephen, in zeal and activity, was Philip. Drivdl
from Jerusalem by the persecution, he was directed
to go to the city of Samaria, pierhaps to the same
city called Sychar, where our Lord had conversed
with the woman over Jacob's well. There he
preached Christ, and the Gospel entered the hearta
of many, so ** that there was great joy in that
city*." The inhabitants appear to have been a very
ignorant simple people, but now that the Spirit of
God was poured upon tiiem, none received the Gos-
pel with more cordial pleasure. One effect imme-
diately appeared, which indeed never fails to attend
the hearty reception of the Gospel. Superstition
and diabolical delusions vanished. A person, named
Simon, had deceived this people vrith sorceries ; I
dare not say with pretended sorceries: We shall see
sufficient proof, before we have done with the apos-
tolical history, that sorcery was a real thing. For
a long tmie they had been infatuated ; but Philip's
doctrine expelled their regard for these tilings, and
numbers of both sexes were baptized. Simon him-
self, though a stranger to the nature and power of
Christ's religion, was yet convinced, that Christianity
in general was true ; and this seems tlie just idea <^
a mere historical believer.

The Apostles liearing of the happy reception of
the Gospel 9^ Samaria, sent down Peter and John,
who prayed on the behalf of the peO^ple, tliat tli€r
Holy Ghost might be imparted Arough the imposi-
tion of hands. The Spirit was communicated, not
only in extraordinary gifts, but also in an efiusion of
the same holy graces, which had appeared in Judea.
The former were those alone, which attracted tlj«
attention of Simon. His avaricious heart inmiedi-
ately conceiving the prospect of vast wealth to be ac^
quired, were he once possessed of this supernatural
power, he offered the Apostles a sum of money 4w
the communication of the secret* Peters who saw
♦ Acts, viii* g.

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6¥ ^ArtAlllA.

dis&ictiy both bia covetousness and his ignorance,
rebuked him in the severest manner, assured him that
his heart was wrong altogether, and his state ac-
cursed, notwithstajKling his baptism and profession
of Christianity. At the same time he exhorted him
to repent and to seek the divine forgiveness. Here
we see how singularly remote the religion of Jesus
is from all worldly plans and schemes, and what an
awful difference there ever is between a real and a
nominal Christian. The conscience of Simon felt
the reproof: he begged the Apostles' prayers; but
it does not appear that he prayed for himself. Peter
and John preached through many Samaritan villages,
and then returned to Jerusalem.

The Samaritans, a sort of half Jews, — ^for they
were all circumcised, — bdng favoured with the same
SfHritual blessings as the rest, the minds pf Chris-
tians were prepared to expect a similar extension of
heavenly grace to uncircumcised idolaters. And
among the wonders of divine love which we havo
revbwed, these are pleasing circumstances, that Jew^
and Samaritans, who, for ages, had disagreed in rites,
riiould now be united in Jesus; and while each felt
te same obligations to grace, should have learned
mutual charity for the first time.

CHAP. IV.

ETHIOPIA*.

It is instructive to observe, by what gentle degrees
the goodness of God was preparing the way fbr the
^eral diffusion of his grace in the world. The first
Christians, even the Apostles themselves, wei^ by no

^ The Ethiopia to which .this chapter is confined, seems to
be that part of the country, whose metropolis is called Meroe,
•itoated in a large isUmi encompassed bj the Nile and the rivers
of Astapns and Astoborra: For in these parts (as the elder Pliny
Informs os) Queens had a long time governed under the title
•iCandiCf^ See Cave'a Life of Philip.

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HISTORY' Of THE CHURCH

means disposed to think with any particular compaS'*^
sion of Gentiles, and would scarce have thought of
spreading the Gospel beyond the bounds of theu*own
nation, had not the persecution driven many out of
Jerusalem. The teachers themselves needed to be
taught of God in this part of their office. So helpless
is man in divine things, even after he has been far
voured witli some spiritual light, that by fresh com-
munications alone, he can be induced to make any
additional improvement After Philip had finished
bis work at Samaria, he was by an extraordinary com-
mission, ordered to travel southward toward the de-
sert. He soon discovered the reason : he fell b with
an Ethiopian eunuch, a minister of Candace Queen
of the Ethiopians, who bad been worshipping at Je-
i^isalem, and wa3 returning home in bis chariot
Men, who feel the worth of their souls, will not bo
unemployed when alone« Their concern for their
best interests wiU operate most powerfully, when they
are most disengaj^ from business. The man was
iieading the prophet Esaias^ and the adorable provi-
dence of God had directed him at that particular
lime to the fifty^third chapter, wMch gives so cleai
4 d^cription of Christ crucified. Philip asked him,
if he understood what h« ^ae reading. The maA
confessing his ignorance, desired Philip to come and
sit with luni. The Evangelist took the opportunity
of expounding to him the Gospel from the passage
he was then reading, which at once lays open the
guilty and the miserable conditbn of mankind, their
recovery only by the grace of Jesus Christ, the naturd,
end, and efficacy of his death and resurrection, and
the doctrine of justification before God by the know-
ledge of the same Jesus and by his merits. The
Etl)iopian's mind bad been prepared for the doctrine :
he had been at the pains to attend Jewish instruc-*
tbns, the best then to be htui in the world, except
the Christian, which he now heard, for the first time;
hor had the scandalous wickedness of the Jewish

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' . OP £TOI^8I4. ' 4l|t

mc^on hindered him from attending that worship, cent.
which he believed to be of divine origin. The igno- ^•
ranee of his own country suited not even the weakest
md most glimmering light of a serious mind. Hk
case is an encouragement for men, however ignorant
and mistaken at present, to seek earnestly to God, for
HE will take care thatlhey shall find. The man felt
himself guilty and wicked, and tlie views of the pro-
phetical chapter before ufs, laid open by the preacher,
discovered to him the remedy, which it pleased. God
so powerfully to apply to his heart, that as soon as
they came to a certain water, he desired to be bap-
tizai* Philip assured him that there was no impe-
diment, if he was sincere in the faith of Christ. On
which he professed his belief, that the Jesus of Na-
zareth, whom Philip had preached to him, was indeed
the Son of God prophesied of by Isaiah, and that he
answered the character of Saviour there given to him.
Philip then baptized the £thiopian, who, though his
ipstructor was, by the Spirit of the Lord, immediately
taken from him, went on his way into his own country
rejoicing *. Doubtless this joy had a solid and pow-
erful cause ; and if this case be compared w illi thatof
tlie three thousand first converts, and both of them
with the doctrine of the fifty-third Chapter of Isaiah^
conversion will appear to be a spiritual internal work,
humbling men for sin, and comforting them witli
forgiveness by Christ. The nominal profession, with
which great numbers of persons content themselves,
may seem to fit them for little else, than to disgrace
Christianity by their practice.

It is impossible that the Ethiopian, thus power^
fully enlightened and rejoicingin God, could be silent,
when heretumed home. H is infiuence and character
would at least secure to him a respeciM attention
from some of his countrymen ; and thus, the Gospel^
most probably, was first planted in Ethiopia. But wa
have no niore scripture-light on the subject.

• Acts, viiu ^

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44 BISTORT OF THE CHURCH

C H A F. V.

cje:sar£A.

1 HE great mixture of Jews and Gentiles, in some
of the extreme parts of the Holy Land or its neigh-
bourhood, aflforded a providential opportunity for tlie'
gradual illumination of the latter, for the abatement of
Jewish bigotry, for the demonstration of Divine Grace
in the salvation of all sorts of men, and for the union
of Christian hearts. Thus we find that a Church was
planted at Tyre, another at Ptolemais *, places which
must have abounded with Gentiles. But Ciesarea
affords the most remarkable instance of the observa-
tion just now made. It was the residence of the Ro-
man Governor, and was so situated in the confines
of Syria and Judea, that it was a matter of doubt to
which region it ought to be assigned. And the final
determination of this question in favoyr of the Syrians
is mentioned by Josephus, as one of the immediate
causes of the war, which ended with the destruction
of Jerusalem. This circumstance shows the great
importance of this city, and the strong interest which
both parties had in it.

Philip, after a laborious journey from Azotus,
preacliing in all the cittes, through which he passed,
settled at length in Caesarea. Here he was stationary
for many years f . We find him, toward the conclu-
sion of the period of about thirty years, which takes
in the history of the Acts, still fixed in the same
place, with four virgin daughters, where he entertained
St. Paul in his last journey to Jerusalem. I can no
more conceive Philip to have been idle and unfruit-
ful all this time, than James to have been so at
Jerusalem. A Church, mixed of Jews and Gentiles,
would naturally be formed under so zealous a pastor,
whose observation of the Grace of God in the case
of the eunuch, must have opened his mind to an
afifectionate reception of Gentile converts.

* ActMp xzi. t Acts, viii. 40. all coifipared with xxi. 8.

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OF CiCSAREA.

Indeed the abuse, which the malignant pride of
tiie Jews had made of the Mosaic prohibiticm of
intercourse mth Gentiles, was a great bar tO the ex-
tension of the Gospel. They refused to keep com-
pany with foreigners, and seem to liave looked on
them as devpted to destruction. The Apostles them-
selves were, as yet, under the power of the same
bigotry, till a vision from heaven instructed Peter,
as he was praying on the house-top at Joppa, that
he ought not to call any man common or unclean *.
By this he was prepared for the work which the Lord
was immediately assigning him. The Holy Spirit
suggested to him that three men were at that time
enquiring for him, and directed him to go with them;
" for I Imve sent them f." Peter was soon informed ^J^^"
by the men, that they had been sent to him from Ptter.
Caesatea J by Cornelius, a Roman centurion there,
a devout man, and one that feared God with all his
family, gave much alms to the people, and prayed
to God alway ; who had been warned from God by
a holy angel to send for him. — Peter lodged the three
men that night : two of them were houshold servants,
and the third — rare character! — a devout soldier,
who waited on the centurion continually.

On the next day Peter went with them, but had
the precaution to take with him six Jewish Christians

* Acts, X.

t The proper personality and divinity of the Holy Ghost, and
the unlimited subjection due to him from Christian pastors, and,
of course, from all Christians, are solidly deducible from thisancl
various similar passages in th^ Acts of the Apostles.

J Much has been written concerning two aorta of Proselytes to
the Jewish religion, circumcised ones, and incomplete ones,
called Proselytes of the Gate. Two learned critics. Dr. Lardner
and Dr. Doddridge, seem to have shown, however, that the
latter bad no existence. Cornelius was a Gentile altogether, and
was treated as such by the Jews, though from his pious attention
to the Jewish religion he must have been at least a Proselyte of
the second sort, if any ever were so. In that case it seems
difficult to conceive, why any Jew shoulcj have made such a dif"
(cnjty of converging wjtb persons of ttiis description^

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4^ HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

from Joppa as witnesses of his proceedings. The
following day they entered Caesarea, and came into
the house of Cornelius, who had called together his
Icinsmen and near friends, with that charity for tl)eir
souls, which fails not to influence the minds of those,
who have real charity for their own. On the entrance
of Peter be falls down and worships. Peter corrects
his mistaken devotion. Cornelius informs him, tliat
having been particularly engaged in fasting and
prayer, he was assured 1:^ an an^el that his prayers
and alms were acceptable to God, and that he had
obeyed the divine direction in sending for him. Peter
now preached the Gospel to the company, frankly
owning, that he was at length fully convinced, that
God was no respecter of persons ; but that he equally
regarded Jew and Gentile, whoever the person was
thai •* feared God, and wrought righteousness." Oft
this broad basis of encouragement, he was enabled
to preach to tbenj the good news of forgiveness of
sins by Jesus Christ, whose history they knew, though
they did not understand the nature of his doctrine.
He directed them now to receive that doctrine cordi-
ally for their peace with God. The perfect holiness
and the supernatural works of Jesus, he observed,
demonstrated him to be no impostor, but sent of
God unquestionably : that he himself and the other
Apostles were witnesses of Christ's resurrection, and
had received a' commission from him to preach to
the people, and to urge men's acceptance of him
here, if ever they expected to be welcomed by him,
when he should judge the quick and dead at his second
coming : and that all the prophets had testified, that
■whoever placed his confidence for salvation in the
name of Jesus Christ, should receive remission of
sins.

Few words suffice, where God himself powei'fiilly

works. The whole company were converted to God^

The Holy Ghost, both in an extraordinary and in an

ordinary w^y^ sealed the Apo6tle*s sermon. The

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Of CiCSABEA.

JewMi breAren were astonished to find Gentiles put
on an equal footing with Jews. Peter, after observing
bow unreasonable it would be to deny baptism to
persons who had received the Holy Ghost, no less
than themselves, baptized the whole company ; and
at their desire spent a few days with them, to mstruct
them farther in Christian principles ; and then left
them to the care of Philip, whose character at Cae-
sarea, would, probably, from this time increase in
public esteem.

A remark or two on this important transaction wiU
be proper.

1. The Grace of God acts very variously in con-
verting sinners. There are considerable shades of
difierence in the cases of Saul, of the Eunuch, and

'of Cornelius. The preaching of the Gospel found
the first a determined enemy, the second an ignorant
enqmrer, tbe third a regenerate person already,
though witii no more than the Old Testament-light.
But to all these difierent cases, the doctrine itself id
ttie sanne : and the work of , God in humbling man
for his sins, and leading him to Christ alone lor justi*
fication, is the same also.

2. How necessary is it, that the way of peace by
Christ ak»ie be distinctly explained and understood !
Cornelius, with an enlightened oliind and a tender
conscience, unless he had understood the doctrine of
forgiveness by the blood of the Redeemer, woulit
never have found peace of conscience. Imperfection
still attending his best actions, he must have remained
miserable in his spirit. The doctrine of forgiveness,
accompanied by the Holy Spirit, brought him at once
to a peace before unknown. How careful should we
be to understand this doctrine aright! how zealous,
in proportion to our ability, to transmit the precious
jewel to posterity !

3. How narrow are the hearts of men ! how cir-
cumsprib^d th« charity even of the best ! With dif-
ficulty even Christian Jews are brought to admit a^

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4$ HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

brethren the Gentile couvarts. Self-righteousness Ji
natural to mankind. That God should receive as his
children idolatrous Gentiles, as well as religious
Jews, provokes the pride of narrow-minded selfish
men, who have long been accustomed to consider
themselves as the peculiar favourites of heaven*

CHAP. VI.

ANTIOCH AND SOME OTHER ASIATIC CHURCHES^

We have not yet seen all the gpod effects which
Providence brought out of Stephen s persecution.
Though the Apostles thought it their duty to con-
tinue to water the flocks of Judea and Galilee, and
to look on Jerusalem as a sort of central metropolis
to them all, they encouraged the inferior pastors,
who fled from the rage of persecution, to disseminate
the Gospel in Gentile regions. Damascus, we have
seen, reaped the benefit of tliis dispensation, and so
did Tarsus. Some travelled as far as Phemce,
Cyrus, and Antioch, still preaching only to Jews.
At length certain Cypriot and Cyrenian Jews ventured
to bredc through tlie pale of distinction : and at An-
tioch, the metropolis of Syria, they preached the Lord
Jesus to the Gentiles. The Greek language here pre-
vailed, and, on tliis account, the indiabitants were
called Grecians*, being the descendants of a Mace-
donian colony, planted there by the successor of
Alexander. And now the Lord, willing to overcome
eft'ectually the reluctances of self-righteous bigotry^
attended their ministry with remarkable success.
Tlie idolaters felt the renovating power of the Gos-
pel, and in great numbers turned to the Lord* The
inother-church hearing of this, sent Barnabas, whose
piety and charity were renowned, to carry on and
propagate a work, which required more labourers.
Mis benevolent heart was feasted with the prospect;
• Act3, xi, so.

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A. D.

TN ASIA. 49

tod- tbe ttBalhy of salvation by the grace of Christ cent.
thus exemplified, in persons, who had hitherto been .
involved in pagan darkness, was evidenced in a
manner which, till then, had never been known.
Finding many converts, he exhorted them to perseve-
rance ; and the addition of believers was still so large, '
that he began to look out for a coadjutor. He sought
for Saul, who was then labouring at Tarsus perhaps
uith no great success: we are told of none at least ;
" for a prophet is not honoured in his own country ;**
and he brought him to Antioch. This populous city
employed them a whole year. Here Christian soci-
eties were regularly formed, consisting, in a great
tneasure, of Gentiles. And here the followers of
Christ were first called Christians. It is not probable,
that they would ^ve tliemselves that name. The
tarms brethrek^ elect, faithful, saints, were
tbe names which they would rather apprbve. The
name of Christian seems to have been given by their
adversaries. It is now a term of honour : at that time
41 more opprobrious one could scarcely be thought of
by tbe learned and the polite. Were a man allowed
to posBcss many good qualities ; '^ but he is a Chris-
tian," would have be^i deemed more than a coun-
terb^ance to them all. And other terms mvented by
tbe malevolence of unregenerate men, in different
ages, to stigmatize the same sort of persons, have
produced, by the bare sound, similar effects on
prejudiced minds.

The faith of the Antiochians was signally operative.
Warmed with the love of Christ, and rejoicing in
tbe prospect of heavenly treasures, they checimlly
contributed to the relief of the poor Christians in
Judea, distressed by a famine. A large extension
of Christs kingdom in &ny place, naturally calls
together a large number of pastors. It is pleasant
indeed to labour among the faithful, encircled witli
wncere friends. It is not every real saint, who has
tbe fortitude and charity to quit ^o agreeable a scene,

VOL. V £

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HISTORY tJF'THl: CHURCH

for the sake of breaking up fresh ground . How niudi
longer these teachers would have remained at Antioch,
if left* to themselves, we know not. But the Holy
Ghost now selected Barnabas and Saul for other
4abours. They obeyed the call ; and Seleucia in the
neighbourhood was .their first destination. At this-
port they found a convenient passage to the fertile
«nd voluptuous Island of Cyprus. Methinks the evil
^spirits, who there supported the religious rites and the
sensual practices of tiie devotees of Venus, began to
tremble tor this capital scene of their dominions.
• From Salamis, the eastern point of the Island, to
Paphos the western, they spread the glad tidings of
the Gospel In tliis last place they found Elymas, a
Jewish sheerer and false prophet, in company with
Sergius Paulus, the Roman governor of the Island,
a man of sense and candour, who sent for Barnabas
and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.
The sorcerer endeavoured to prevent the good e&cts
of their labours; till Paul, full of holy indignation at
his diabolical malice, was enabled miraculously to
strike him blind for a season. Sergius u^es astomshed,
we are toW, '' at the doctrinp^of the Lord*, and com*
■nienced a Chri^an from that hour.

The two Apostles sailed now to the adjoining
continent, and arrived at Perga in Pampbylia.
And here John Mark, who had thus far attended tfaem
«is minister, left them and returned to Jerusalem. *
It was, perhaps, more agreeable to him to profess
and practise Christianity at home with bis mother and
friends, than to expose himself to heathens. Even
then^ traces of the love of the world were to be seen
among Christians.

Pisidia, lying to the north of Pamphylia, was the
next scene. Here was another Antioch ; and tlie

• Acts, xiii. 12. The expression is repfiarkable, but has a pe-
culiar propriety. A mere historical believer 'Would have been
astonished at the miracle merely. Sergius, a true c(invert, who
entered into the holy, nature of the Gospel by a spiritual per*
ception, is astonished ** at the doctrine.'*

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Iir ASIA-

Apostles on the Sabbath-day attended the Jewish
tynagogue. After the usual reading of the law and
the prophets, the rulers gave them a friendly invi-
tation to ckhoit tiie people, which Paul embraced
vith his usual zeal. His sermon is much of the same
strain with those of Peter, and of Stephen, tending to
b^t in the hearers a conviction of sinfuhiess, and to
give testimony to Jesus, concluding with a remaikably
plain declaration of the grand doctrine of justification
by faith in Jesus only, and a solemn warning against
the dreadful consequences of hardness of heart, and
of contempt of the Divine message. The Gentiles,
powerfully impressed with the new doctrine, desired
to hear more of the subject the next Sabbath. Many
Jews and proselytes were converted ; and the whole
city almost came on the next Sabbath-day to hear*.
The sight was too much for the envy of the infidel
Jews, who opposed Paul with all their might. The
two Apostles boldly assured them, that though it was
tlieir duty to carry the news of salvation to the Jews
first, yet as they despised God's Gift of Eternal Lif^,
it would now be offered to the Gentiles, agreeably to
the glorious prophecy of Isaiah f, where the experi-
mental influence of the Gospel on Gentile heaits i^
clearly described. The Pagans, i!iot so proud as tlie
Jews, felt that they had no righteousness to plead
before God, thankfully embraced the Gospel/ and
believed in great numbers.

Pisidia was now full of the Gospel; and the
Apostlfs proceeded with vast success, till a persccu*
tion, stirred up by the Jews, induced some sdf-righ-
teous women of rank, in conjunction with the ma-
gistrates, to drive them out of their coasts. From
thence they came to Iconium, the northern extremity
of the country; and the disciples whom they left,
though harassed with persecution, were yet " filled
with Joy and the Holy Ghost" The internal con-
tcdation.of tbeur religion supported tlieir souls. In

• Ajfts, xiii. 44. t 49tb C-lmp»

E 2

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. HISTORY bt TH£ CHURCn

Iconium the two Apostles continued a long time, and
delivered the message of Divine Reconciliation with
much freedom and ener^, to the ccmversion of a
great multitude both of Jews and Gentiles. The
unbelieving Jews "^ exerted their usual malevolence,
and filled the Gentiles with the strongest prejudices
against tlie Christians. In tiiith, their conduct,
though by no means uncomnion, affords a dreadful
instance of human depravity. It cannot be denied,
ihat those Jews must in religious knowledge have far
exceeded theidolatrous inhabitants of Iconium. They
held tlie Unity of the Godhead ; they worshipped him
in their synagogue ; they heard his precepts from
Sabbath to Sabbath out of the law of Moses and the
prophets. They must have known thus far, that the
Messiah was foretold in the latter, and they could
not but be acquainted with their duty both to God
and man in many respects by means of the formen
Yet so unreasonable are they, as to labour to prevent
their pagan neighbours from being instructed in any
thing that deserved the name of religion, and to per-
secute with unceasing acrimony two of their own
countrymen, i^ho agreed with them in the profession
of the worship of the one lining and true (lod. Of
so little influence is what some call the " Unitarian*
religion, if it be unconnected with the Knowledge
and Love of Jesus Christ Persons, who make that
the whole of their religion, can, it seems, rather see
mankind remain buried in the depths of the most
senseless idolatry in worship, and of vicious pi5|ftigacy
in life, than brought over to the real Christian religion,
to the hearty renunciation of tlieir own ricrliteousness,
and to a humble dependence on the atoning blood of
Jesus ! The preaching of Paul and Barnabas excited
a variety of speculations in this city. Ilie Gentiles
were divided; and part ranged themselves with the
Jews, and part with the Apostles. But the former
had the advantage for the present, because they bad
• Aet«, xiv.

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IN ASIA.

tbc arms, — which Christian soldiers cannot use — of
violence and pessecution.

The Apostles, aware of tlieir designs, fled into
Lycaonia, a country to tlie east of Pisidia ; and there
preached the Gospel, particularly in Lystra and
Derbe, In the former of these places, a poor cripple,
who neyer had had the use of his feet, heard Paul
with tlie most respectful attention, and was so far
wrought upon already in his mind, as to believe that
there was virtue in the name of Jesus Chqst to heal
him. To coniirm him \n his yet infant views of the
Christian religion, to attest the truth, and to convince
men that Jesus was both able and willing to sav£,
Paul was enabled by a word to restore the man to
the foil use of his limbs. Immediately these, poor
idolaters concluded, that the gods were come down
to them in the likeness of men. Through this whole
country of Asia Minor, the Greek literature, and
with it the nun^erous fables of Hellenistic vanity,
abounded. They had heard of Jupiter and Mercury
particularly as visiung mankind ; and now Barnabas,
as the elder perhaps, and more majestic figure of tlie
two, must, they conceived, be Jupiter ; and Paul, as
the more eloquent speaker, must be Mercury, the
classical god of eloquence. The priest of Jupiter
brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and, together
with the people, would have done sacrifice to the
Apostles. It was a grievous circumstance ; but our
grief and regret is mitigated, when we reflect that one
of the ftest opportunities was given to Paul and
Barnabas of demonstrating the spirit of real godliness.
However pleasing it might be to corrupt nature to
receive the idolatrous* homage of a deluded people,
nothing could be more abhorrent from the nature of
the Gospel itself, and from the humble character of
• The historical reader can scarcely fail to contrast with tbi»
bebavioor of the Apostles the ambitious arts of Jesuit mission-
aries, and to regret the want of a similar piety and integrity in a
late celebrated naval commander in a scene of trial of th6 same
kind, which happened a little bpfoxt his lamented cHtastroplie^^

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VI.

54 HISTORV (OF THE CHURCH

CHAP, its teachers. They could not bear the sight t they
rent their clotjies ; and ran in among the people, and
fexpostulated with them on the absurdity of their
conduct ; assuring them that they were no more than
frail men like themselves, and that their intention in
preaching to them was, to turn them from these vani-
ties to the living God, who formerly indeed had left
all nations to follow their own ways, but now had sent
HIS servants to preach a method of salvation from
feuch idolatries. Not that the worship of false godi
was excusable ; the constant benefitaiof Providence
calling for thankfulness, and pointing out the Supreme
Creator to the consciences of men. Thus faithfully
did they preach conviction of sin to the Lycaonians^
and with difficulty prevent the actual performance of
the sacrifice, \vhich would have given them more pain
than the persecution that followed.

The fickle multitude, , who had so recently been
even idolatrously attached to Paul and Barnabas, were
soon persuaded by some Jews, who came firom An-
tioch and Icionium, to harbour the worst opinion of
them ; and dou btless the dislike of secular dory, which
these excellent Apostles, with a truly Chnstian spirit,
showed on all occasions, would not a little contribute
to increase this alienation of mind. In a tumult Paul
was stoned, and dragged out of the city, as a dead
corpse; and while the disciples stood round about
him, he rose up, and came into the city, miraculously
restored, as it seems : aiKi he departed the next day
with Barnabas to Derbe. There many were con- *
verted ; and the persecutyig spirit intermitting, they
visited again, in circuit, the regions of Pisidia and
Lycaonia, encouraging the disciples to persevere in
the faith of Jesus in confidence of divine support, and
in full expectation of the kingdom of heaven, into
^hich real Christians must not expect to enter
without much tribulation.

They now ordahied some of the brethren to mi-
nister hi «very Church, and devoutly recommended
2

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IN ASIA. 55

both pastors and flocks to the care qf that graciou3 cent.
Lord on whom they believed : Solemn fasting and . -',
prayer were useA on this occasion. Returning
through Pamphylia, they preached again at Perga,
and from Attalia sailed to the great Antioch, whence
they had been, by the prayera of the Church, recom-
mended to^the grace ck God for the work which they
bad fulfilled.

Here they remained a considerable time previous
to their attendance at the council of Jerusalem, after
which they returned to the same Church in company
with Judas and Silas, who, with authority from the
mother-church, confirmed them in the liberty of the
Gospel, in conjunction With nYany other teachers.
The Christians of Antioch walked now in genuine
consolation, and while they dared to jest on Christ
alone, they practised good works 'in a filial spirit.
Thankfbl tor the assistance of Judas and Silas, they
dismissed them to the Apostles who had sent them*.
Silas, however, loved his situation, and remained in
the sendee of the Gentiles.

Some days after Paul proposed to Barnabas a <c<mtest
second circuitous visit of the Asiatic Churches. Bar- pJiTi^and
nabas, fond of Mark bis nephew, proposed to take B^ruab*..
him with theno. Paul, remembering his former de-
sertion, thought him unfit for the wm'k. On which'
side there was more blame in this contest may be
hard to determine. Probably both were too positive ;
but to us at this distance of time Paul's view of the
question seems the nwre just. The consequence' was
a separation bet\^'een these two Christian leaders ;
and It does not appear that they ever saw one another
after, though it ought not to be doubted, but tlial, on
the whole, their mutual esteem and regardcontinwed :
the best men are but men. The progress of the
Gospel was not, however, retarded. Barnabas sailed
■>nth Mark to Cyprus, and here he is dismissed from
the saccad meinoira* P^iul took wiih hior Silas,
• Acts, XV. 33.

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56 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

having the recomniendation of the bretiiren.to thft
Grace of God, which would lead one to conclude^
that the Antiochians preferred hb cause to that of
Banjabas. He now wpnt through Syria and Silicia,
confirming the Churches.

In Lycaonia, he found the pious Timothy, whom
he took as an associate, and confirmed, the Gentile
converts every where in Christian liberty: Thus the
Churches were established in the faith, and increased
in number daily.

VII.

CHAP. VII.

GALATIA* /

CHAP. The Love of God, where it rules in an ardent de-
gree, is insatiable. The Apostle's heart is not con-
tent with the trophies already erected in many parts
of Asia Minor. As the miser thinks no acquisitions
great, while any prospects of farther gain are stiU
open to his view, so Paul could not with compla-
cency rest in the attainments already made, while so
much ground still lay before him, to the north and
to the west, in the hands of Satan. He travelled
throughout Phry^a and Galatia*. The plantation
of the Churches m the former country will after-
wards engage our attention ; the later, whose history
in point of time is much sooner concluded in sacred
story, will be now most conveniently exhibited. The
epistle written to that Church affords us almost the
only materials we have; but little as they are, tliey
are inestimable. 1 am entirely convinted by Dr*
Lardnerf} that this was an early epistle, and by no
means dated from Rome, as the subscription at the
end of the epistle intimates. Nor is this the only
place in which those subscriptions, which the un«

^ Aci%t xvi. 6, t See hit SopplemoAU

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IN GALATIA.

learned reader should know make no part of the
Apostolical writings, deceive us.

The people of this country received the Gospel
in great numbers^ insomuch that several Churches
were planted through the district. They understood
St Paul's doctrine, and received it in its true sense,
namely, that justi6cation before God is attainable
only by faith m Christ crucified. He cleariy laid
before them the riches of Divine Grace. And they
had so deep an impression of the truths, whid^
be taught, and felt so much of their energy, diat
tbey seemed as it were to see the Son of God cruel*-
£ed among them*: they received the promised
Spirit of adoption, by which they rejoiced in God
as their Father f, and they cheerfully suffered much
persecution for liie name of Christ |. Before this^
they had lived in the darkest idolatry ; for these
Churcbes were formed almost, if not entirely, of
Gentile § . The true G od was made known to tibem,
and Unitarianism, of itself unable to emancipate
men from sin, as the case of the Jews evinced, was
with them attended with the distinct knowledge and
lively faith of Jesus.

What proves the divine taste of this people was,
that no disadvantage in the circumstances of the
delivery of the Gospel operated witli them to its
prejudice. Some remarkable infirmity this great
man was afflicted with ; — what it was precisely we
are no where told; — but it presented something con-
temptible in the eyes of profane persons. And it is
DO small proof of the Galatians being much humbled
and awakened in their minds by the Spirit of God,
that this circumstance lessened not at all their regard
to the Apostle or to his message. " They received
him as an- angel of God, even as Christ Jesus ||."
They confessed the blessedness, which they felt on
account of the Gospel, and were ready to give even
the most painful proofs of their affection to him. In

* Galatiii i^ t iv.6. } iii. 4. S i^* S* 1^ ^v. 14.

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HISTORir Of THE CHURCH

all this we see^ what the Gospel is, what it does for
men who truly understand and embrace it in aa
humbled heart, what was St. Paul's manner of
preaching, and how different a thing Christianity
then appeared 'from the frigid speculations which in
modern times bear that name.

But soon after Paul had left them with the most
pleasing hopes of their spiritual growth, he was astO'^
nished to hear of a change for the worse, which
took place among them. Some Jews, who were
either their own countrymen, or who had lately ar*
rived at Galatia from other parts of Asia Minor
where Paul had laboured, took pabs to pervert
them. They made no attempts, indeed, to unsettle
thteir minds in the views of the unity of the God^
head, and the principal facts of Christianity ; nor did
they endeavour to draw them back to the worship
of idols. They neither formally denied the atone^
nient of Clirist, nor persuaded the people to desist
from Christian worship. Yet was it another gospel^
though it deserved not the name of Gospel *, to the
love of which they seduced them. They assured
them, that they ^ could not be saved without circum-
dsiOn, and prevailed on them to.jUDAizE so far, as
to observe the rites of Moses in various instances f.
They took pains to estrange them from Paul, and
to- draw them over to themselves, and to a worldly
spirit of conformity, loving to appear fair in the eyes
of men, and pretending to be zealous for good works,
while their real view was to avoid the persecution,
which attended the Cross of Christ :j:. To give the
better effect to their insinuations, they instilled into
them disrespectfiil ideas of Paul as though he were
fer inferior to the other Apostles : and, as it seems,
they represented tlie mother-church of Jerusalem,
with the college of Apostles tliere, as coinciding
with themselves in doctrine.

Thus the self-righteous poison, which first issued
* Cbfep. j, (5, 7. . f iv* w. J. :vi. la.

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IN GAtilTlA.

from Jerusalem, was brought into this distant pro*
vince, where the ignorance And simplicity of the
people, unacquainted with Jewish modes and habits^
gave it the freest room to operate. These false
teachers still called themselves Christians, and the
mischief which the^ introduced, may be deemed at
first sight no great one. So, I doubt not, some
6shionable perversions of Evangelical truth at this
day, of a similar kind, appear to many to be of no
great consequence. I am not, however, to disguise
3)at this Galatian delusion appears strongly to re*
semble the perversions to which I allude. I have
represented things as they appear to me from tiie
epistle. The great evil lurking under all this art
and zeal, was the adulteration of the faith of Jesu9>
the sole Author of our salvation. In no epistle does
fte Apostle speak so sharply, or express himself so
veheniently. His exhortation and rebuke came
Warm from a charitable hear^ just after the recep*
tion of the disagreeable tidings. He professes him*
self astonished at the defection of the GaJatians
from Christ ; and execrates any man or even angel^
who should preach any other way of salvation. If
Mich a person still call himself a Christian, and hold
the historical facts of the Gospel, the case is not al-
tered for the better; the deception only pas^g more'
current on that account ^. He asserts, that if they
mixed circumcision, or any work of the law, witk
Christ in the article of justification, Christ would
be of no effect to them f. He must be their whole
Saviour, or he would profit them nothmg ; law and
grace in this case being quite opposite. He markft
the mere worldly nature of the doctrine they were
embracing ^ : it would make them bigotted Jews
indeed, proud, self-rightieous, void of the love of
God and man§, and no bt^tter in their spiritual state
than they were while idolaters ||. Thus they would

• Chap. i. 4 Chap. v. J Chup. vi. toward the end.
) Chap. V. U tv. 9*

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(50 HISTORY OF THk CHURCH

lose all die liberty of the Gospel, and be mere slaves
in religion, like all unconverted persons, who ip
reality are self-righteous, and devoid of holy prin-
ciple. He points out to them the peculiar nature
of the Gospel, as perfectly distinct from any thing
that man in his depraved state is apt to teach or
ready to embrace. In the historical part of the
episde he vindicates his own Apostolical character,
inculcates throughout, in all possible variety of lan«
guage, and with his usual copiousness both of clear
argument and strong diction, the all-important arti-
cle of justification, and presses the necessity of con-
timiiQg in it, in order to be benefited by it Other-
wise we make Christ the minister of sin, or of con-
flemnation.: we build again what we have destroyed ;
and, as far as in us lies, make him to have died in
.vain. He appeals to their own experience of the
happy fruits of the Gospel, which they bad felt in-
ternally, and represento himself as travailing in birth
for them, till Christ be formed in them. He ex-
presses himself dubious of their condition, and de-
sirous of visiting them, that he might adapt his lan-
guage to their perilous situation. He wishes that
their evil advisers were cut off, so mischievous were
they to souls ; and assures them, that the Divine
Vert^ance would overtake tliose that troubled them.
He informs them, that the persecution, which he
himself endured, was on account of this very doc-
trine. This it was that stirred up tlie enmity of the
human heart ; and this doctrine being lost, the Gos-
pel becomes a mere name, and Christianity is lost
in the group of common religions.

It will be proper for us to bear in mind the
Apostle's reasonings on thb subject, and to apply
them to every |)eriod of Church-history; since it is
evident, that the rise or fall of this great Christian
Article, must determine the vigour or decline of true
religion in all ages. He neglects not however to in-
culcate in his usual manner the necessity of good

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IK GALATIA* 6t

Works, as the just fruits and evidences of a real
Christian state*; and he particularly encourages them
to works of mercy, attended with a patient and
cheerful prospect into eternity, and animated with
genuine char% f^

There is reason to hope, that the best effects were
produced by the epistle. No very long time after,
the Apostle again visited these Churches, and went
over the whole country, strengthening " all the dis-
ciples ^.^ This is the substance of what I can collect
from Scripture concerning the history of this Church,
— except a sbgle hint in another epistle ^, in which
be recommends to the Corinthians to use the same
plan for the r^ef of the pobr saints^ which he had
tu^rgested to the Galattana. From the influence
which he hence appears to have had in Galatia, it
is probable, that the Judaical perversion was over*
come.

CHAP. VIII.

FHILIPPI.

T«E dispensation of the Gospel is doubtless the chap.
greatest blessing that can be^vouchsafed to any coun- ^' "'
try. But the times and the seasons G od hath reserved
to faknself. £ven in this sense salvation is of grace ;
and Divine Providence alone orders and appoints,
that the Gospel shall be preached here or there, as
he pleases. Paul and Silas, if left to themselves, in
tbar progress to the west, would have evangelized
Pergamus or Asia propria and Bithynia ||, but were
prevented by special intimations of the Holy Spirit.
They came now to Troas,-r— so called from its being
the place, or near the place, where old Troy had
stood, by the sea-coa^t, — uncertain whither they
should g3 next, and perhaps little apprehensive, that

• Chap. V. toward the end. t Chap. vi. J Acts, xviii. 23,
«i 1 Con xvi. I. II Acts, xvi. 7.

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VIXI.

€i HisToar w the enuKcn

CHA?. God, now for tbe first time was iiHafeducii^ Im
Gospel into Europe. A nightly vision, in which a
Macedonian intreated Paul to come over into his
country and help them, determined at once their
destination. They sailed from Troas to the Island
of Samothracia, and the next day to Neapolis^ a
!^facedonian sea-port, whence, through the gulf of
Strymon, they came to Philippi, the first city of that
part of Macedonia, which tliey would meet with in
their way from Meapolis. So I understand St, Luke's
expressicmn^n; for Thessalonica wfV5 the capital
•f Macedonia. The city of Philippi, though origin^ly
Macedonian, and so Jiamed from Philip tl)e faUier of
Alexander, MnaslbeQatRomaD colony, inhabited by
Roman citizens^ and regqlated by Roman laws and
Customs; The.i^egion, in which it iBtood, had been
renowned for constituting the third J^ the four great
monarchies under the arms of Alexander, and thQ
place itself had been, something more than half a
century ago, the scene of a fanA)us battle, between
two Roman parties. wjagad in a civil war. Neither
of THOSE seasons would have been at all convenient
for the Gospel. The present was a scene of tran-
quillity and order under the Roman government: and
Macedonia, thou^ now only a Roman province, was
going to be the subject of ti^ansactjons infinitely moire
nohie than those, which adorn the history of its
{greatest princes.

The appearances on their arrival did not proipise
any thbg remarkable. They spent a fow days at first
with little prospect of success. They found a few
Jews there, who used on the sabbath day to frequent
an oratory out of the city by the river side : and
5ome women, religiously disposed, resorted thither.
It was the constant method of the Apostles to join
themselves to Unitarians, wherever they could find
them, as the first opening for the Gospi^ of Christ*
Hiey 4id so oo this occc^n, and spake to the wome^.
One of them was Lydia, a person of some property.

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AT PHILIPPI.

-Her heart tbe Lord opened, that '^ she attended to
the things which were spoken by Paul." She was
baptized with her family ; and with afiectionate im*
portunity she prevailed on the Apostle and bh com-*
panions to niake lier bouse their home in Philif^L
Here we have the beginnings of the Phiiip)»an
KJhurch ; but tbe conversion was sound and stable^
and the progress of Lydia in the divine life seems of
the same kind as that of Cornelias. Vexed at the
prospect, Satan employed a young woman possessed
with a spirit of Python to bring the Gospel into con*
tempt, if possible. She constantly followed the Chris*
tian preachers, and bone them the most honourable
testimony. Paul was grieved, as being folly sensiUe
of the ill effect, which a supposed muon between
Christ and Python "* must occasion in the .minds of
men. He was at length enabled miraculously to ejec^
tbe demon. The propri^ors of the young woman,
who had made a trafik of her oracular powers, iind^
ing that she was ilispossessed of the demon, wreaked
their vengeance on Paul and Silas, and by slanderous
accusations induced the magistrates to scourge them
^verely, and to commit them to prison. The jailer
thrust them into the inner prison, and ^tene4 their
leet in the stbcks.

In this situatbn, distressing indeed, and in the
eyes <tf many contemptible, thesetwo servants of God,
«* midnight, tliough oppressed with pain and hunger
^nd every disagreeable circumstance, were yet eiv
abled to pray and sing praises to God. So poweriul
«fe tbe consolations of the Holy Ghost, atid so much
did the love of Chrfet constram them ! And now the
Lord caused a great earthquake, which opened all
the doors of the prison, and loosed every <mt's bondg.
'The jailer awaldng, in his first trepidation, by a

• Tbe very term leafte me to apprehend, that tbe oraculnr
^oik of the Py thiao Apollo amuog the pagans httd sometbixig
liiabolkal in it ; and the story beA>re -us demonstratcB tb^ re^lit/
of such delusions, and that human fraud and sa^actt>: alope aie

not anfficieot to account for them.

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vni.

64 HI8TORT OF THE pHURCfi

CHAP, practice which I wish bad been craditable amottg
^ "' pagans only, was about to destroy himself. Paul
kixKlly assured him that none of the prisoners had
escaped. And now being struck with horror at the
thought of the world to come, to which he had been
hastening in all his guilt, and being divinely convinced
of his danger, he came trembling, and fell down be-
fore Paul and Silas, and brought them but, and asked
what he must do to be saved. - The answer was plain
and direct. Why do any persons who call themselves
Christian ministers ever give any other? ^ Believe
in the, Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved
and thy house." They then instructed him and his
household in the nature of the Gospel, and opened to
him the doctrine of forgiveness of sins by the Uood
of Christ. His conversion appears evidently of the
same kind, as that of the three thousand at Jerusa-
lem. He was humbled for his sins, and he received
pardon by faith in Jesus. His ready submission to
baptism, his affectionate treatment of those, who had
just before been the objects of his severity, and his
joy in tht Lord, demonstrated, that he was turned
from Satan to God. — His whole fiEunily shared with
faim in the same blessings. /

In the morning the magistrates sent an order for
4he dismission of the prisoners. But Paul thought
it not inconsistent with Christian meekness, to demand
from them an apology for their illegal behaviour to
Jloman citizens; for such it seema Suas was, as well
as Paul. The' magistrates, alarmed, came personally
to make concessions, which were easily accept<Jd.
Being dismissed from prison, they entered into Lydia s
house, comforted the disciples, and left Phiiippi for
the presd[it

Some years after, the Apostle again visited the Phi-
lippians, and found them still in a flourishing state.
lie always took a peculiar pleasure in thb Church ;
and, in his epistle written from Rome, he tiianks
God for their sincere fellowship in the Gospel from

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AT PHILIi»W.

the beginning. He expresses his expectation of
liberty, and of being enabled to see tliein again, and
exhorts them to bear patiently the persecutions to
which they were exposed, as being an evidence of
the divine favour*.

Liberality was a shining virtue among these coti"
vertB. They had sent once and again to his relief at
Thessalonicaf, And now they had sent Epaphrodi*
tus to Rome, to minister to his wants. A dangerous
illness had brought that disciple to the borders of the
grave. Upon his recovery he was afflicted to think
of the distress, which the news of his sickness must
have brought on the minds of the Philippians. Paul
was therefore the more anxious to send him back.
The sensibility of that love, with which the Holy
Ghost had influenced all concerned in this affair, is
finely described in this part of the epistlej. Tlie
Apostle, toward the close of it, even exults in the
pleasure which ihe charity of these disciples gave him ;
and he azures them, that his God would " supply
all their need according to his riches in glory by
Christ Jesus." He warns them however ajjainst the
dangers of seduction. Judaizing teachers clesired to
pervert them. He reminds them, therefore §, of his
own simple dependence on the Lord Jcbus, though
he had fairei- pretensions tlian most men to self-righte-
ousness ; and with tears in his eyes declares, that,
even then, many pretended Christians walked like
enemies of the Cross of Christ.

Such was the work of God at Philippi. A consi-
derable number of persons, once worshippers of idols,
devoted to the basest lusts, and sunk in the grossest
Ignorance, were brought to the knowledge and love
of the true God, and to the hope of salvation by his
Son Jesus. In thb failh and hope they persevered
amidst a world of persecutions, steadily brought
forth the fruits of diarity, and lived in tl^e joyful
expectation of a blessed resurrection. .; \ - .

• * Philip, i. «8, 29. t Philip, iv. 16. .

I Chap. ii. toward the end. § Chap. iii. ,
VOJU I. F

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

IX.

CHAP. IX.
TIIESSALONICA.

^Vy^* Of Abphipolis- and Apollcmia, the next cities of
Macedonia ilirough which <St. Paul passed, nothing

• particular i* recorded.; But at Tbessalonica another
European Churcii --was formed inferior in solid piety
to none in the primitive times. This city had beeii
rebuilt by Philip of Macedon, and had its name fixmi
his conquest of Thessaly. Here Paul followed his
usual practice of preachings first to the Jews in thdr
synagogue, and spent the first three Sabbatha in
pointing put the evidences of Christianity. Thecie-
torn of thfe Jews in allowing any of tlieir countrymen
to exhort in their synagogues, gave the Apostle, an
easy opportunity of preaching to this people, till their
accustomed ennjity and obstinacy began to exert it-
self. Some of the Jews \rere houever otmverted*,
and a great multitude of rel^ious Gentiles, who used
to attend thesynagogue, and not a few females, of qua-

' lity. So difficult is itfoi* evenSatan himself to erase all
perception of the one true God from the minds of

1 men, so powetiul is the voice of natural conscienoe,
and so totally unreasonable is tlie polytheism of the
pagans, that notwithstanding the extreme depravity
of human nature, we find, wherever the Jews carried
on the public worship of the God of Israel, it was

- common for some Gentiles to join in their worship.
Within the' bbunds of the Holy Land there wereia
number of this sort. And I observe through the
whole tenour«4[)f Josephus's history, ^t the Komahs
treated ^ith respect what the Jews held saaed ; and

' Tvhoetreriwas distinguished^ by any religious thou^t-
fbhfiesB fixMn others, such an one: found oothing to
init him in Gentile rites, but preferred the.woi^p
of die Jew s. The devout Greeks converted at .Thos*
salonica were of this class; and thb is not the first
• Acts, xviu

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1 AT THESSA LON IC A.

. instance we have seen of the Lord's preparing pcr-
soiis» by an attention to a more imperfect light, for
the Sun of Righteousness. But HE is not confined '

. to one method. The major part of theTbessaloni^n
coQverls were idolaters*, who now turned to t{ie

. living and true God, in the faith and hope of Jes^s,
who *' delivered them from the wrath to come.'*
Faitli, hope, and charity evidenced this people to be
God's elect: the \yord cam.e to their hearts in nmcli
power and assurance; and, though it exposed them
to great aflBiction, this did not prevent |;heir joy of

, the Holy Ghost. /,

. The restless Jews were not ,ashamed fo join with

the most profligate, pagians in persecuting the n§w

converts ; and decent hypocrites and open sinners

wei*e,x)nce more, seen united in. pppo&ing th^ Churph

! of God. ; Theymssa^lted tlie bouse of Jason, ^at
whose houstiPaoland his companions were/ent^r-

r tained. Precautiops having been used to secrete
theni, Jason and someothef Christians, were brought

I before the. mag^^ates, and Qalpmi)iated with Uie

- usual .charge ;of ; sedition. The Rqman goyernof s,
I however, were content with exacting tv security from

JasoQ and his fiien.ds for the peace of the 3tate. J^ut

- the Apostle knew too well the matter of the Jfew^to
confide in any present appearances of their niode-

- ration ; and ^therefore felt iiimself qbliged; abru|)^ly
' to teivetfie infant Church. The first epistle, how-

" ever, which he sent to them, not long alter, pljaiply
proves that they were not without pastors, Ayhom>he
charges them to honour and obey f,
. The growlh of Urn people in gpidliness was sqon
renownal through the Christian wofld. Their per-
secution appears to havei been grievous ; and, hence

. the comfort of God their. S^iviour, and the, prospect

of the invisible world, beq^nae more precious i^ theoi.

The Apostle made tWQatt^pts ,tQ return to them,

ttut was as often disappointed by the malice of Satan^*.

• I Thew. j. 9. t 1 Th€S8. v. % i T.besa. ii. 18.

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68 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

Fearing, lest the weight of afBiction might crush their
religion in its infancy, he sent Timothy to them, to
establish and comfoit them. From * him, on his
return, he learnt the strength of theFr faith and love,
and their affectionate remembrance of the Apostle,
whose benevolent effusions of joy and gratitude on
the occasion exceed all encomium. The influence of
the Holy Spirit in enlightening, comforting, and in-
vigorating this Church, seemed in a good measure to
supply any want of pastoral instruction, in whicli,
from their circumstances, they might probably be
defective. They werie taught of God to love one
another, and they exercised this brotherly affection
in the strongest manner toward all around f.

Fornication indeed was a sin so conimonly prac-
tised among the Gentiles, without the least suspi-
cion of its evil, tliat Paul thought proper to warn
them against it expressly and distinctly j.

In his second epistle he congratulates them on
their great proficiency in feith and love : and, while
he comforts them with the prospect of the second
coming of Christ, he takes occasion to correct a mis-
take, into which they had fallen fi:om what he had
menHoned in his former epistle, of imagining that the
last daj was at hand. Men, who had suddenly pas-
sed from the grossest ignorance, into the full blaze of
Gospel-day, might easily make such a mistake, espe-
cially since their affections were now so strongly
captivated with heavenly objects, and since they
found so little in a world of persecution to cheer their
niinds. There appears only one fault in this people
which he thought necessary to rebukel He intimated
something § of it in the former epistle, in the latter
he was niore express Ij. It was the want of industry
in their callings, with wliich he charged some of
them ; for this was not a generd evil. How they
might fall inta it, is easy to conceive. Persons all

♦ I Tbess. ui* 9, 10. f iv. 9> 10. | iv. 3 — 9*
i I ThesSff iv. ti, 1%. || a Tbess. iii. >!•

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AT TttESSAIX)KICA> 6g

alive for God and his Christ, and knowing little of cent.
the deceitfuiness of the heart, and the crafts of Satan, ^*
might find it irksome to attend to tlie concerns of
this life. It wa3 a fault indeed, and very dangerous,
if persisted in ; but as it was, in all probability,
seon c6rrected, and in part occasioned by the strength
of heavenly aSections, one cannot be very severe in
censuring them.

It may be worth while for those, who feel them-
selves much irritated against similar evils attendant
on the effusion of the Holy Spirit in our days, to
consider whether they do not exercise more candour
toH-ard the Thessalonians, than they do toward those,
who are actually walking in their steps ; whether
they are not apt to respect the former as real Ctms-
tians, and to scorn the latter as deluded enthusiasts!

This Chuitih bears the strongest signatures of
crodliness, theeffect of no common effusion of the
Spirit They adorned the Gospel, with fiEuth, hope,
and charity ; yet showed, by their faults aDd igno-*
ranee, the importance of diligent and much pastoral
iiistruction, in which their circumstances suffered
them not to abound ; and which, under God, would
have soon cured the former, and removed the latter.
They were exposed to such blemishes, as are most
apt to attend oreat attainments in the divine life made
\\\tii vast rapidity.

It appears, that St. Paul visited this people a con-
siderable time after, and gave them much exhortation;
but we have no particular further account of them*.

• In the first epistle he " charges them bj the Lord," that
it be " read to all the holy bretben." As this seems to have
beea his first epistle, and indeed the newest part of the whole
New Testament, the solemnity of the adjuration (o^ju^) has a
peculiar propriety, as Dr. Lardner observes. The Tbes&alonians
were no doubt disposed to receive it as matter of apostolical
inspiration, and the importance of bringing every Christian to
ht \iell acquainted with the word of Ood is fairly ii^ferred.

r 3

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70 HISTOfKY OTTBZ CHUBCH

CHAP. X.

CHAP. Paul was conducted from Thessalonica to Bgrea,
^ -^-' . a city of Macedonia. Here also was a Jewish sy-
nagogue, and here, for the first time, tl)e preach'mg,
of the Cross \^a6 candidly received by Jews. A very
singular character is given of the Jeiis of this place;
— they possessed a liberality of mind, which disposed
them to listen with attention, and to search the Scrip-
tures of the Old Testament with daily assiduity. The
grace of God seems to have prepared these persons
for the Gospel ; and Paul had the pleasure to find
a number of the stamp of Cornelius, who were
groping their way to happiness, and were ready to
bail the light as soon aa it should dawn upon them.
Many Jews of Berea believed, and not a few Gen-
tiles also of both sexes : those of the femaie sex
were persons of quality. The rage of the Tliessalo-
nianJews soon however disturbed this pleasing scene,
and stirred up a persecution, which obliged the
Christians to use some art in saving the Apostles
life. His conductors at first took the road toward
the sea, which might lead the persecutors to suppose
he had quitted the continent They then brought
him safe to Atheni *, once the first city of Greece in
all views, and still renowned for taste and science,
the school b which the greatest Romans studied
philosophy. Here, while he waited for the arrival
of Silas dnd Timothy, he beheld the monuments of
the city w ith other eyes than those of a scholar and
a gentleman. No place in the world could more
have entertained a curious and philosophical spirit
than this. Temples, altars, statues, historical me-
morials, living philosophers of various sects, books
of those who were deceased, a confluence of polite

• Acts, xvii.

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AT BEREA AND ATHENS. 71

and humanized persons of various countries, enjoying CFNt. *
the luxury of learned leisQre,— ^hese things must atf
Once have obtruded 'IhemseWes orchis notice: and-
no man in any age, by strength of understanding,i
iramith of temper/ arfd justness oftaste, seems to
have been more capable of entering into the spirit
of such' scenes than Saul 6f Tarsus. But Divine-
Grace had given his faculties a very different direc-
tion,- and the Chrbtian in him predominated ex-
thsmely above the philosopher and the critic. He
satv here, that even. the excess of learning brought
men no nearer to God. No place on earth was
more given to idolatry. He could not therefore find
pleasure in the classical luxuries presented before
him : He savr his Maker disgraced, and souls perish-
ing in ^in. Pity and indignation swallowed up all
other emotions : and ministers of Christ, by their
ownf sensations in similar scenes, may try how far
they are possessed of the mind of Paul, which, in this
case, certainly was the mind of Christ If aftectiom
be lively, some exertions will tbllow. He laid open
the reasons of Christianity to Jews in their synagogue,
to Gentile worshippers, who attended the synagogue,
and, daily, to any persons whom he met with in tlie
forum. There were two sects very opposite to one
another among the pagan philosophers, namely, the
Epicureans and 'the Stoics. The former placed the
chief good in picture, the latter in, what they called,
virtue, correspondent to the two chief sects among
the Jews, the Saddtrcees and the Pharisees, and in-
deed td th^ two sorts among mankind in all ages, who
yet are in a state of nature^ namely, men of a licen-
tious and dissipated turn of mind on the one hand,
and on the other self-righteous prersons who substi-
tute ttieir own reason and virtue in the room of di-
vine grace and divine influence. As these will in
any age unite against the real friendiof Jesus Christy
so it was here ; The Apostle appeared a mere babbjcr
in their eyes. Jesus and the U-esurrection,. which he

F 4 -^

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

preached, were ideas, from which their minds were
so abhorrent, that they took them for a new god and
goddess.

It belonged to the court of Areopa^s to take
cognizance of things of this nature. This court had
unjustly condemned the famous Socrates, as if he
had depreciated the establbhed religion, though he
bad given as strong proofs of his polytheistic at-
tachments, as he had of philosophical pride. It
pught not however to be denied, that in a lower sense
be suffered fpr righteousness' sake. His honest re-
bukes of vice and improbity exposed him to death ; —
so unsafe is even the least approximation to good-
ness in a world like thb. That St Paul escaped
condemnation here, seems owing to peculiar circum-r
stances. I1ie court under the tolerating maxims of
its Roman superiors, seems now to have had only
the privilege of examining tenets as a synod, with^
out the penal power of magistracy*.

It would carry me toO far to dwell on the excel*
lent apology of Paul delivered before this court
He reproved their idolatry in language and by argu-
ments perfectly classical ; and he announced so much
of the Gospel, as wa$ adapted to the very ignorant
state of his audience. Whoever duly examines this
short mcisterpiece of eloquence, may see that he
labours to beget, in them the spirit of conviction, and
to prepare them for Gospel-mercy, just as Peter did
in his first sermon ^t Jerusalem. The means used
by the two Apostles are as different, as the circum-
stances of a Jewish and Athenian audience were :
The end ^imed at by both was the same.

There is reason to apprehend, that God npver
suffers the plaia aqd faithful denunciation of hi#

• In this Jiewevcr,!, am not very positive: A greater degree
of sceptical indifler^nc^^ might, in the progress of refinement,
have prevailed at Atti^ns in the days of St. Paul, and the court
might itself be as littk disposed to persecute^ as the Romao
powers.

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AT BEEEA AND ATHENS.

Gospel to be altogether fruitless. A few persons
believed in reality and with stedfastness, among
ivbom was Dionysius a member of the court, anci
a woman named Damaris. These Paul left to the
care of that gracious God who had opened their
eyes, and departed from a city as yet too haughty,
too scornful, and too indifierent concerning things
of infinite moment, to receive the Gospel. A (.'hurch
could hardly be said to be formed here, though a
few individuab were converted. The little success at
Athens evinces that a spirit of literary trifling in re-
lig^Ki, where all is theory, and the conscience i$
unconcerned, hardens the heart effectually. What
a contrast between the effects of the same Gospel
dispensed to the illiterate Macedonians, and the phi-
losophical Athenians! Yet there want not many
professing Christians, who, while they stigmatize
men of the former sort with the name of barbarians,
bestow on the latter the appellation of enlightened
persooSf

CHAP. XI.

CORINTH.

This was at that time the metropolis of Greece, chaf.
Its situation in an isthmus rendered it remarkably xr.
convenient for trade. It was the residence of the *^^^^^
Roman governor of Achaia, the name then given
to all Greece : and it was, at pnce, full of opulence,
learning, luxury, and sensuality. Hither the Apostle
qame from Ad^ns, and laboured both among the
Jews and the G^tiles. Here Providence gave him
the acquaintance and friendship of Aquila and his
wife Priscilia, two Jewish Christians lately expelled
from Italy with other Jews, by an edict of the em)>e-
fOT Claudius. •iVith them he wrought as a tent-
maker, being of the san^e occupation : For every
Jew, whether rich or poor, was obliged to follow

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7/1 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP^ some trade. After the arrival of Silas and Tipiothy,
^ '^Jl _^ tlie Apostle with iTiuch vehe'mence preached to his
^— y~- countrymen ; but opjpositioh and abuse' were th^
only feturns he met wfthl The modern 'ndfioits of
charity will scalrcely bfe reconciled to the zealoui hi-*
digiiation which he showed on this occasJon. He
shook his garmetit, and 'told them, that he \t'as clea^
of their destrudi6n; and that he wodld leave them;
and ai>jtly himself to the Gentiles in this'city. With
this denunciatioh hfe Ij^ft tne synagogue, arid entered
into the house' of one Jhstiis, a devout p^sori, Wcfll-
affected to Ihe GospeK ^ 'Crispus also, the ruler of
the synagogue, with his whol6 family, received ihh
truth. But we hear of tib more Jewish converts at
this place. However, many Corinthian^ were cori*-
verted. And a graciou^ vision 6f th6' Lord Jiesus *
who said, to l^aul m' the night, *^ I 'have mAchpedple
in this city," erfcouragied hifid to continue here a year
and a haff. — Hie rage 'of the Jews would doiibtless
be raised to the highest pitch ; but, ais ^usu'al, 4he
moderate spirit of the Roman government prev(Hited
its sanguinary exertions. Gallio the proconsul, bro-
ther of the famous Seneca, was perfectly indifferent
concerning the progress of Christianity, and refused
to pay the least attention to tlieir complaints against
Paul, wljo now found himself so efFectually preserved
from tW fury of his countryman, that* He I'emkihkl
in Corinth a c'oiisiderable nine* longer^ than thbabdV^
Ipeutionecl year and 'a( "hatf. After his depaiifcW,
Apoilbs,' i zealous and eloquent AlexdndHim Jew,
tame to this'city, knd was mkde*a very powerftll
instrument 6f bliildiiig lip this' Church, "and of si-
lencing the opposition of the Jews. The modesty df
this man was as conspiciious as his dptrit. 1111 he
was instructed more perfectly byAquilaand PriscUlA,
he knew no inor^ of Christianity, than ivhat was cori-
tained in the system of John the^ptist. That so
able a man could submit to pTofit*y others^ was 'a
proof of a tumble frame.

• Acts, xviii.

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J^T CpBINTII.

It:ilpp9fU[B, th^l St. Paul| so far as circumstances
acbnitted, k?pt up a, constant correspondence with
U)e Churches, llie care of them, as he says, "came.
upoq him daily/' The. Corinthiaiis wrote to him to.
aak bis. adviii^Q op, sou^e ca3es of conscience.; and^
he understood^ that ^ vaiiety of evils and abuses
bad crept: in amoog U^i^m. On these accounts he
wrote tietwo.episU^a to the Cprinthiaos. Wq are
Qstioaiii^hed to^find in reviewing tlietjn, howfaulty m^ny^
persona of this Church were ; and the scene, which
ibey ei^hiUiit, mof^ i^sQnables modern timn primitive!
IMW^ in 9> vi^rij^ty of ckcumstances. It £ills not
witbii^thQ dqsigp Qf this history to cnlai^ Formei:
writers b^Ye» wife more i\w\ sufficienj: accuracy,
4etaiBed tbc ^viU ; ^t one ^ Least, be a\lo\ji'ed briefly
|» recoi4 thQ gcpd tilings of the Church of Chrbt
Iq regard tQi the people of O.ori^it;h^ tl^eir ^mptioa
bom per§e(jutipn uad^r G^iift, ^i^ tfe^r, state o|
wse and pro^pj^i^y^ so uncommon 'tyith other
Chtu?clies, m a great me^^re account for the little
fpiritOality which they mJ^^ifested. Perhaps . no
Church was more numpfous, ^nd none less holy ii^
the aposloliQ agp. Apd it may teach us not to repine
at the waot of thje ^fij^^cptous operation? of the
Holy ^ifit, when \ve consider ths^t these jCorintlmns
abouaded in them- But many of them were proud of
gifts, contentious, self-conceited, and warm partisans
of Paul, ApoUos, or Peter ; and by the indulgence^
of this sectarian spirit, showed how little they had
leAme<l of true wisdom^ which gives the Apostle oc-
casion^ to recojoaiepd tlie wisdom that is from
above^ (o poiul put the nature and properties of
fipiritunl ivader^t^iog. and to pour a just contempt
os^tbat, ivfeieb^is .mer»ely ni^tural.

With the pride of f^lse nisdom tliey joined a very
i^Mnable ncgtect in piaqMcp. One of tlieir Church
lived in incest, find the offender was not excommu-
nicated f. St. JPapl rebukes them also for their liti-
^ 1 Cor. four firsc Chapieis. t CJb^p. v.

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76 HISTORT OF THE CUUkCH

giousness and lasciviousness *. In answer to their
queries, he recommends celibacy as preferable to ma-
trimony, where a man can practise it, and that I ^hink
from general reasons f, as more favourable to holi-
ness, without however depreciating matrimony, or
giving the least countenance to the food of monastic
abuses, which afterwards prevailed in Christendom*
But mankind are ever prone to extremes ,* and the
extreme which is opposite to superstition so much
prevails at present, that I should not wonder, if some
persons should startle at what T have mentioned as the
sentiments of St Paul, though it be impossiUe for any
unprejudiced person to understand him otherwise.

So little were the Corinthians exposed to pme*-
cution, that they were invited by their idolatrous
neighbours to partake of their idol feasts ; and there
were among them those who complied :|;. There
were also among them false apostles, who, by pre-
tending to instruct them gratis, endeavoured to de-
preciate Paul as a mercenary person §. Hence, whil<$
he rebukes the faults or defects of this people, he
observes that he laboured among them freely, which
the felse apostles pretended to do. He proceeds
to correct an abuse which obtained in their assemblies,
in the article of decency of dress; and another
much worse, — the protianation of tlie Lord s Supper|{.
He insists also on the correction of their abuse of
spiritual gifts, particularly those of languages^.
It appears that gitb were more prized by them, in
sonje respects, than grace itself; and that love, which
he beautifully describes, was at a low ebb among them.
He occasionally mentions however a very common
effect attendant on the preaching of the Gospel even
at Corinth : If an ignorant idolater came into their
assemblies, he was so penetrated with the display of
the truth as it is in Jesus, that he could not but discoVer

• Chap. vi. f Chap. vii. J i Cor. viii. 10.

§ 1 Cor. ix. compared with 2 Cor. xi. 13 — 20.
U 1 Cor. xi. . V Chap, xii, xiii. xiv.

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AT CORINTH. 77

the Tcry secrets of his soul : he would prostrate him- cent.
self in the worship of God, and report that God was in '•
them of a truth *. And, if where the Gospel was so
little honoured by the lives of its professors as at
Corinth, such power attended the dispensation of it,
how much more of the same kind, may we suppose,
happened at Philippi and at Thessalonica ? For we
have not yet mentioned all tlie evils of this outwaixlly
flourishing, but inwardly distempered Church. There
H-ere some, who even denied the resurrection of the
body, which gives occasion to the Apostle to illustrate
that important article f.

Though he had promised to revisit them soon, yet,
in the nextepistle, he assigns a reason why he delayed
longer than he had intended. Their Christian stata
was very imperfect; and he wished to be enabled^
by their reformation, to come among them with mwe
pleasure. In truth, he wrote the first epistle in much
anguish and afHiction ;{;. His soul was deeply affected
for this people; and while great progress in pro-
fession seemed so inconsistent with their experience
and their practice, he felt the sincerest grief He was
relieved at length by the coming of Titus §. From hig
account it appeared, that the admonitions were by no
means fruitless. The case of the incestuous person at
length was attended to by them as itought : they pro-
ceeded even with more severity than the Apostle
desired ; for, though the man gave the strongest proof
of repentance, they refused to resulmit him mto their
Church, till St Paul signified hb express desire that
they would do so«

There can be no doubt but that many persons

* This 18 a proof of the Divine Influenet attendant on Chris-
tiauity. Genend pioofe of its authenticity may be drawn also
from the subject of miraculous gifts. The Apostle's manner of
describing these things proves ^eir redity and their frequency.
For no mun could have convinced these Corinthians, th it they
were m possession of those gifts, if they themselves had not be rn
conscious of them.

t Chap. XV, J 2 Cor.'ii. 4. § 2 Cor, vii.

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78 HISTORY 'OF THE 'church

' belonging to this Cliurch m ere recovered to a state of
aflTcction and practice worthy 6t* Christianity. In
particular the Apostle cOinmends their liberality to-
ward the distressed Christians*. But there was sdll
an obstinate party among the Corintliians, attached

' to the falsd aposiks, whose conduct extorted from hitn
a zedloos and honest commchdafflon of himself his
endowments, and his office, which yet he manages
with great address and delicacy, while he bewails the
sfcdiidaloas practices still existing «mong them f .

Od his arrival at Coiinth after these epistles, he
doubtless executed what he had threatened, namely,
s6me wholesome^ severities on offenders, unless-their
speedy and sincere repentance prevented the neces-
sity of such a step. lie s[)ent three months ^ in his
second visit. But Svc have tio more particular account
in Scripture of this Church. \

• a

XII,

c ir A p. xii.

ROME.

CHAP. It may seem to have been purposely ctppointedi)y
InfinitI Wisdom, that Our fii^st accotmts ottbe Roman
Church should be very imperfect, iir order to confiite
the proud pretensions to universal dominion, which
its bishops have with unblushing arnDganoesopportcd
'for so many^ges. If a litie or' two' in the Oiospels
concerning the keys of St. Peterhavc been made the
foundation of such lofty pretensions in 'his Supposed
succdssoi's to the primacy, how w6uld they iiove
gloried, if his labbui^ af Rome had been so distinctly
celebrated, as those of St. Paul in several Churdies ?
What bounds t^ould have been set to the pride f of
ecclesiastical Rome, could she have boasted of her-
self as the mother-church, like Jerusalem, or even ex-
hibited such trophies of Scriptural feme, as Philipi)),
Thessalonica, Corinth, or Ephesus? The sileoce^of
* 2 Cor. ix. t Cbap. xi. xii, J- AcU, xx«

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AT ROMF.

Scripture b tlie more remarkable, because the Church
kself was m m early period by no uieaus insignifi-
jqaut, either for tlie number or Uie piety of ite con-
.verts* Their tkitb wa^ spoken of through the whole
ivorld*.. The ^^^jostle thus commends them ; nor
does he in his epLst^e to tliein intimate any tiling pe •
^uUarly faulty in their principles or conduct. The
.epistle to the Romans itself^ while tlie world endures,
uilli)ethe fpod of Christian mimjs, and th^ richest
^ system^ of dqctrine tp jjcriptural theologians. By
tlije distinct direqtions Avhich be gives for tlie main-
;tenaope pf jcqarity betwe^en Jews and Gentiles, it
appears tHat tliere must have been a, considerable
nujnbcx of the former among tbeip* ^ If one mig^it
. ipaulge a conjecture, I should suppose that Aqujla
, and . Pri:>cilla, who had laboured with ^t. Paul at
, Corinth botkin a spiritual and temporal sense, and
bad bee« expelled from Italy by the emperor Clau-
- diu3, and. whom he here .salutes as at Rome, were
first ponccn\ed in the plantation of this Church, which
was n^^meyqus, before any Apostle had been there.
Andronici^ and Junias are saluted also m'the epistle :
. th^ wcre.^ m^ of character ^mong fhe . Apostles,
; whose ^nv^sion were of jqin earlier date than ^t
P^ul'sj th^y were also his kinsmen, and had suffered
in coi^uQction. with him for the faith. He salutes
also a number of Qth;rs, tl^i^^ tho^ might not all
be residents of J[lome. The work pi /divine Gmce in
didtingqbbing p^rson^ of various families and con-
nections i^ ever pteervable. There were saints at
Rome of the tyvo families of Ari^tobulus and >Jar-
. jcissus* The former was of tlie royal^ blood of the
Maccabees, and had been carried prisoner tq Rome
by Pompey, He himself liad suffered a variety of
hardships incident to aiife of turbulent ambition like
his ; yet some of his family, of no note in civil his-
^ tory, ar&marked as the disciples of Christ, and h^rs
of the triie riches. )>h arcissus is distinguishe;d in Roman
^ Rom.i.

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Xll.

80 HISTORY OF THT^ CIIUHCH

CHAP, history 03 the ambitions prime minister of Claudius ;
yet some of his housliold were in ih« Lord.

Paul had long wished and even projected a visit to
this Church. Fie did not expect that his journey
thither at last was to be at Capsars expense. Confi-
dent however he was, that when he did come to them,
it should be " in the fulness of the blessing of the
Gospel of Christ." And he intreats the prayers of
the Romans,, that he may be delivered from the in-
fidel Jews, and be acceptable in his ministry to his
believing countrymen at Jerusalem, whither he was
then hastening, that *' he might come to them with
joy by the will of God," and be with them refi'eshed.
Thus did Christians in those days intreat the prayers
of their brethren through the world, and sympathize
M ith one another. And the prayers were answered :
Paul was saved from Jewish malice : was acceptable
to the Jewish converts, " who had compassion on him
in his bonds;" and was conducted safe to Rome.
At Appii Forum and the three taverns he was miet
by the Roman Christians : he thanked God and took
courage *, refi-eshed, as he had been confident he
should be, whenever he might arrive among them.
None but those, who know what is meant by the .
communion of saints, can conceive the pleasure which
he felt on the occasion. After a charitable but fruit-
less attempt to do good to the principal Jews at Rome,
he employed the two years of his imprisonment in
receiving all who came to him, preaching with all
confidence, and without molestation. On account
of bis imprisonment and examination at Rome, the
nature of the Gospel began to be enquired into f in
Nero's court, and the conclusion of the epistle to
the Philippians makes it evident, that some of the
imperial houshold became Christians indeed. And
as the court was by no means disposed to treat bini
with rigour, but rather to favour him with indulgences
ms a Roman citizen, hence many preachers in Rome

• Actr^xxviii. 15. t Philippians, i.

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AT ROME. $1

and the neighbourhood exerted themselves witti more cent,
courage than formerly they dared to do. Yet certain
persons even then could preach Christ with malevo-
lent views of depreciating the Apostles : others did
it with sincere charity. But as real bene6t accrued,
to the souls of men from the labours of the former
as well as of the latter, the lieart of Paul, with a
charity, the wonderful effect of heavenly teachings
could rejoice in both.

Some writers seem to have gone too far, in denying
that Peter ever was at Rome. But the cause of
Protestantism needs not the support of an unreason-
able scepticisms Undoubtedly the account of Peter s
martyrdom there, with that of Paul, rests on a foun-
dation sufficiently strong, namely, the concurrent
voice of antiquity. His first episticj by an expres-
sion at the close of it*, appears to have been dated
thence; for the Church at Babylon, according to
the style of Christians at that time, could be no
other than the Church at Rome. — Of the literal
Babylon we find nothing in the writers of those
days.

CHAP. XIIL
C0L0S8E.

Th I a city of Phrygia was in the neighbourhood of
Lapdicea and Hierapolis, and all three seem to have
been, converted by the ministry of Epaphras the
Colossian, a companion and fellow-labourer of Paul^
who attended him at Rome during his imprisonment,
aud informed him of the sincerity and fruitfulness of
their Christian profession. For though he speaks to
the Colossians only, yet the religious state of the two
neighbouring cities may be conceived to be much thq
lame. The example of Epaphras d^erv^s to b#
♦ iPet.v. 1^

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il HISTORY OF TH£ CHURCH

CHAP, pointed out to the imitation of all ministers. He always
^^^/- t laboured fervently for them in prayers, " that they
might stand perfect and complete in all the vvill of
God*.** And this was indeed one of the best methods
of evincing the sincerity of his zeal, whidi Paul owns
to have been great for these Churches.

The Apostle himself, in the fulness and fervency
of his charity, wishes, that the Colossians knew how
strong the.conflict of his soul was for them, that they
might feel the comfort, understand the mystery, and
enjoy the riches of the Gospel f. They had never
*een his face in the flesh ; but he felt for them as
Christian brethren, and honoured them as those, in
whom the word brought forth fruit, and who had a
Kvely hope in Christ beyond the grave. But there
must have been some particular dangers incident to
their situation, to give propriety to the cautions in his
epistle against philosophy and vain deceit, against
Judaical dependencies and rites, and against an ille-
gitimate humility and self-righteous austerities. Such
filings, he observes, carry indeed the appearance of
wisdom and goodness J, but lead only to pride and an
extravagant selfcestimation. And the tendency of
tliem is, to draw the mind from that simplicity of
dependence on Christ, which is the true rest of the
soul, and tlie right frame of a Christian.

In truth, the Jew by his ceremonies, and the Gen-
tile by his philosophy, equally laboured to overturn
^*- the Gospel of Christ. And their self-righteous efforts

ai-e then only effectually opposed, when Christians
know their " completeness in Christ, and walk in
him.'* After delivering a number of beautiful precepts
closely interwoven with Christian doctrine, the apostle
directs them to read his epistle in their assembly, and
then to send it to be read bv the Laodiceans : and
also to receive an epistle from Laodicea to be read
m their own Church, which, most probably, was the
epistle to .the Ephesians; none of these places being
♦ Col. iv. la. t Chap.ii. i, 2. J CoKii. vkL

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AT COLOS^E. 8.^

lit a great distance from one another*. And he gives
a plain, but very serious, charge to Archippus their
present pastor. We see hence with what care these
precious Apostolical remains were preserved among
primitive Christians ; and we may conceive, how, in
the infancy of spiritual consolation, they fed on those
lively oracles, which we now so indolently possess.

I see nothing more to be collected from the Scrip-
tures concerning the state of this Church, except the
instructive anecdote in the epistle to Philemon. This
man, a Colossian Christian, had a slave, named
Onesimus, who deserted from his master, probably
not without some depredations of his property, and
wandered to Rome. That, like all great cities, was
the sink, which received the confluence of various
vices and crimes. There the wonderful Grace of God
seized his heart. Providence brought him to hear
Paul preach, which we have seen that Apostle con-
tinued to do for two years in his imprisonment
Though former means of instruction under his Chris-
tian master had failed, now, at length, his eyes were
opened, and he became a Christian indeed. Paul
would have found him an useful assistant at Rome,
but thought it most proper to send him back to his
master at Colosse ; and this he did with a short letter,
which may justly be considered as a masterpiece of
Christian politeness, address, and sincerity. In his
Colossian episde he mentions him also as a faithful
and beloved brother. — What important clianges
Divine Grace can effect in the hearts of men, eveil
of slaves, whom proud philosophers despised, appears
very evident from this instance !

• Chap. iv. 16, 17.

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$14 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP. XIV.
THE SEVSN CHURCHES OF ASIA.

^^' There arc some countries, to which we understand
I— .^..M,^ that the Gospel was carried during the 6rst efTusion
of the Holy Spirit, which are only, incidentally men*
Uoned without any detail of facts.

Extensive as vfe have seen, from St. Luke's narra-
tive, the labours of the Apostle Paul were, it is evident
from the epistles, that be is far from relating the
' whole of them. We cannot learn, for instance^ from
the Acts, when he visited Crete. Yet the short
epistle to Titus, whom he left there with episcopal
authority to ordain ministers in every city, and to
regulate the churches, shows that tliat island of a
hundred cities had been considerably evangelized ;
and that many persons, amopg a people proverbially
deceitful, ferocious, and intemperate, had received
the wholesome yoke of Christ

And though I cannot but think, that the strangers
scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia^
Asia, and Bithynia, to whom St. Peter addresses his
two epistles, must mean the Jews of those countries,
yet their conversion would doubtless be attended
with that of many Gentiles. Of three of these we
know nothing paiticularly : the work of God ii;i
Galatia has been reviewed ; and Asia propria alone,
of all the evangelized regions mentioned in scripture-
history, so far as I can discover, remains now to be
considered.

It was on hib first departure from Corintl), that
Paul first visited Ephesus*, which name stands at tlie
head of the seven Churches of Asia, to whom St. Joha
dedicates the book of the Revelation. The impression
made on his hearers durmg this vbit, must have beea

* Acts, xviii. 19.

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3» ASIA. 85

reni&rkably ptBtj ad it wtid bat m short oni!, and «
tiiey pressed hk longer eontkiuance among item.
He left with them Iwwewr for Itfaeir comfort and
kistniction Aquiki and Priscilla, \vho8e Uboun were
afterwards assisted by Apollos,

P^tii hknself returning to £f>he8U8, baptized in
thfe name of Jesus about twelve disciptesj who had
hittierto deceived only John's baptiBm*. From this
ekcumstatice we learn^ that from the first preaching
of the Baptist nothit)g had been done ki vain. Th^
ioapi^tt^t elements ot that harbinger of Christ had
leaved the way for d^rer discoveries^ and a variety
bf pirfeparatory works had tended te ripen tlie Church
of Ged into the fokiess of light and hohtiess.

Pairi preached three months in the Jewish syna-
Mgne at fiphesos^ tiil the usual perverset^ss of the
?ews indu^ him to desist^ and to fonH the converts
kito ti distinct Church . One Ty ranmis lent his schaoi
for the service of Christianity ; and in that convenient
place, for ^ §paoe of two years, the Apoetie daily
tninistered, iti^tiructed, and disputed. And tiras the
H'hole regiofi d( Asia propria had at diGferent times
an opportunity of heating the Gospel.

In no place 'does the word of God ^eem so much
to have trtumplied as at Ephesies. No less nume-
rous ftan those of Cdrinth^ the believers, were much
tnore spiritual. The work of conversioh was deep,
tigorous, and souUttmiisformtng to a areat d^ree«
Many persons, struck w ith the homor ofthek former
trimes, made »n open cohfessioti ; and many, wha
had dealt in the abomitiations of sorcery, now showed
tbeb' sincere detestation of them by bctfrHing their
books before all men, the price of ifiiiich amoiyitedta
a large sum. " So mightHy grew the word of God>
and prevailed." — ^ThtB triumjSis the saored historian^.
— Satan must have trembled for his Idngdom ; the
^mp^ess of all the systems of phik)3D|ihy appeared
tie less palpable, than the fla^tiouso^sa erf* vk^ aod
• Acts, xix.

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86 HISTORY OF THE <JHURCH.

CHAP, die enormities of idolatry : The spiritual power of
yJ^J- . Jesus was never seen in a stronger light since the day
of Pentecost; and the venal priesthood of Diana the
celebrated Goddess of Ephesus, apprehended the
total ruin of their hierarchy.
idoi.try N^ place on earth was more devoted to idolatry.
of the A number of ingenious artists were enriched by
jjphcsians. pfjai^jug silver shriucs for Diana. They felt a sensible
diminution of their commerce, and found themselves
. bound by interest to support the credit of the goddess.
Much people through almost all Asia had been in-r
duced to believe, that manufactured gods were merQ
nothings ; and it seemed high time to mal^e somQ
strong efforts in favour of the declining superstition,
They soon prevailed so far as to fill the city with
tumult; and tliey hurried two of Pauls companions
with them into the theatre, where the whole mob
assembled. The daring spirit of Paul would havQ
led him into the same place. His Christian friends
interposed, and even some of the Asiarcbs,~person5
who presided over the games, — who had a personal
esteem for him, kindly dissuaded him. His zeal
seems not void of rashnass, but it was the rashness
of a hero vexed to tije soul to tliink that Gains and
Aristarchus, his two friends, were likely to suffer in
his absence. Now I apprehend was that season of
extreme distress, which he felt in Asia, and which he
describes so pathetically * in his epistle to the Co-
rinthians, Human resources failed ; and God alone,
he learnt, could support him, 1 he prudent and
eloquent harangue of a magistrate, called the town-
clerk, was the providential instrument of his deliver-
ance. He calmed the spirit of the Ephesians, and
silenced the uproar; after which Paul affectionately
embraced the disciples, and left Ephesus. Tiiree
years he had laboured with great success; and he had
the precaution to leave pastors to superintend tha(
ftnd the neighbouring Churches. Bu( be foresavy

^ 2 Por. i, 8, 9, lo.

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TH^ SEVEN CHURCHES I^ ASIA.

»tilh grief, as he afterwards told these pastors ki a
very pathetic address, when he had sent for them to
Miletus*, that their present purity would not con-
tbue an^tained. Wolves would enter among them
to devour the flock; and, among themselves heretical
perverseness would find countenance, and produce
pernicious separations. He did all, however, which
man could do: he warned them of the danger; and
exhorted them to the persevering discharge of their
<iuty.

The. parting between the Apostles and these mi-
nisters cannot be read without emotion. The elegant
and affecting narrative of St. Luke is before the reader,
and ought not to be abridged. The corruption of
this excellent Church seems not, however, to havQ
taken place, when he wrote to them his epistle. It
is full of instruction; and, next to that to the. Romans,
may be looked on as a most admirable system of
divinity. It has this remarkable recommendation^
that it will serve for any Church and for any ago.
Not a vestige appears io it of any thing peculiarly
miraculous, or exclusively primitive. The. contro-
versies of the Christian world concerning doCivmo
would soqn be dqcided, if men would submit to b^
taught by die simple, literal, and grammatical, meftoing
of this short treatise. Every thing of doctrine and
of duty is in it ; and what the Gospel really \% may
thence be collected with the greatest certainty.

It appears that Timothy was the chief pastor eA
Ef^iesus in Paul's absence f- The Apostle's first
epistle to him throws some light on the state x)f this
Church during his administration. There were some
person^ of a judaical and legal turn of mind, who
endeavoured, by contentious questions, to peryert the
simplicity of evangelical faith, hope, and love- There
were others in the opposite extreme : Two are par-
ticularly characterized, liymenteus and AlexandeE,
Vfi^Q abused the profession of the faith to such opea

♦Acts,xp. t iTim-i.

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it fitSTORY Of mt CtttTHCH.

lic^tiousiiess, as to render their ejection frotn the
Church a necessary measure. So early were th^
Churches ot Christ infected with the same evih, which
W this day fail not to attend ihe propagation of Divme
tfuth! From tlie directions which he gives to Tinmthy
iconcerning tlie regulation of public worship, and th6
character and conduct of church-officers, it appears,
indeed, that ecclesiastical polity had taken a firm root
In this Church. But m^xiem partisans and bigotd
will still search the Scriptures in vain to find theit
own exact model, in matters, which the word 6f God
hath left indifferent, or at leust to he decided only
by variotis circumstances of prudential expediency t
Churches will, doubtless, be much better employed,
in esiablishing and in observing useful f>ractical rules,
•which are compatible with very di(Ferent tonus ojf
government. I should suspect, that the superstitious
end self-righteous spirit, which, under a thousand
Austerities, afterwards supported itself in the eastern
Churcltes, and proved one of the most poweriul
ftigiuefc of popery, had even theh begwn to sho^ itself
-in Ephe«\is and had given occasion to tlie Apostolical
cautions, as well as to the prophetical declaration of
the vast increase of ttiose evils in after-times *. It
was the charitable practice of the Chutxrh of Ephesus,
to maintain Christian widows at the public expense*
Bet 1 fear this liberality had been abused. Young
widows, who had been living a life of ease, bad thf own
themselves as a burden on their religious brethren ;
afid however' high they might appetir in^ Christiati
profession, some of them exchanjjed the love of Christ
for the love of the world, and the Indulgence of
sensuality t- As an Idle life is a great sOufce of tiiese
evild, tlie Apostle recommends that these sliouW be
tfl&coU rdgpd to enter again into the matrimonial state,^
wbiph Wmrtd furnish la<idable domestic employments^
father than that they should be maintained Ijy the
CJburch in a state of indolence. The widows, wl^a
• 1 Tim. iv. ' t ^ ^3«

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fthotiM be so m^otained by the public sfocft, he re- 6pnt.
coiDinends to be those, iVho were far advanced in , /•_ j
Kfe, of eminent laborious piety, and distinguished
for their woiks of charity.

On the whole, we may discover among these ex-
cellent people some appearances of the vefy worst
of evils; which, as yet, made feeble efforts, were
kept down by the superior light and grace that
prevailed, and which seemed in indignant silence
to be expecting future opportunities of diffusing
themselves.

We know nothing more of this Church during the
remainder of St. Paul's Hfe, nor after his death, till
toward the do^e of the first «ntury. St. John, the
only survivor of the Apostles, long continued his
fetherly care of the Churches of Asia propria. During
his exile at Patmos he was favoured with an astonish-
bg and magnificent vision' of the Lord Jesus* from
Wnonn he received several distinct chargers, addressed
to the seven Churches of Asia, descriptive of their
fipiritoAl state at that time, and containing suitable
directions to each of them. The pastors of the
Churches are called angels ; and, xvhat has been ob-
servable in all ages was then the case,— thfe character
of the pastors was much the same with that* of tli6
people. We have bene then, fi-om the highest
authority, some account of the state of these Churches
ttt the close of the first century. — It is short, but
important— Let us endeavour to comprise it into
(IS clear a view as possible.

The Ephesians were still alive in the faith f. character
Attempts had been made to jServert them, but in vain, chui!* of
However subtile the poison of heresy be, here it could Epheius.
-find no admission. Nor could the abominations of
the Nkolaitanes, who appear to have been a sect ex-
tremely corrupt in morals, make any progress among
them. They patiently bore the cro^s ever attendant
on the real faitb of Jesus, but could endure nothing
♦ Rev. i. + Kpv. u.

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9Q HISTORY OF THE CHURCH,

CHAP. that-tGndcd to adulterate it The taste and spirit of iho
j^^J\^ Gospel continued with them : They laboured ia
- - good works without fainting or weariness ; and tlieir

spiritual discernment was not to be imposed on by
any pretences. Yet they had declined from the
intenseness of that love, which they had at first exn
hibited : Their hearts . panted not after Christ with
that steady ardour which formerly had animated
this people; and, with all the marks of sound health
remaining, their vigour had much abated.

How exactly does this account jxgree with the com-
mon case of the best Christian churches. Because it
is a common case, and far from being the worst casei
Christians are apt to be content under such a decline,
and to impute it to necessity, or to the loss of sudden
fervours of no great value, and to plume themselves on
the solidity of an improved judgment But true zeal
and true charity should be shown habitually, and not
only now and tlien when occasional inro^Jds of the
enemy may happen to call for particular exertions.
These atFections ought to grow as the understanding
is improved. The spirit of prayer, of love to Christ,
of active services for his name, was now abated at
Ephesus, and a cool prudence was too much magnif
fied at .the expense of charity. The eternal salvatioi^
of real Christians there was safe; but real Christiai>$
should have more in view than their own salvation, — ^
namely, the propagation of godliness to posterity.
These cautious Christians did not consider that their
decline paved the way for farther and more melancholy
declensions in the ilivine life : that the influence of
their example was likely to be mischievous to those
who foUoweS ; that their juniors w ould much more
readily imitate their defects than their virtues ; in fine,
that a foundation was already laid for the unr
churching of this people, and for the desolation in
which this very region now remains under Mahon^e-
TheCho h ^" vvickedness and ignorance,
of smjrr"^ The ChuTcb of Sn^yrna b w\X addressed. They

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THE SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA.

were at once in a state of great purity of doctrine^ an4
holiness of heart and life. The Divine Saviour com-
mends them in general. That, toward the end of the
first century, they should have preserved the divine
liieia such vigour, — a period of about forty years most
probably, if indeed there had been no intermissions,^
— is somewhat extraordinary, and except in the case
ot Philadelphia, not easily paralleled in history :— So
naturally does depravity prevail, in a course of time^^
over tlie best-constituted churches. But their tribula-
tion anl poverty are particularly marked. They werq
rich in heavenly grace, poor in worldly circumstances.
If poor Churches were fully sensible of the mischiefs
wUch often arise from the accession of opulent indi-
viduab, they would not plume themselves so much
on the admission of such members as they often do.
The Smyrnean Christians were chiefly of the poorer
soit of inhabitants ; yet were they infested with pre-
tenders, ot tlie same spirit as those, w ho attempted
to adulterate the Gospel at Ephesus. Of the Smyr-
peans it may be sufficient to say, that they made large
pretensions to pure religion; that their corruptions
were Judaicai; and that they were under the in-
fluence of Satan. This Church is taught to expect
a severe persecution which was to last some time ;
imd they are exhorted to persevere in faith.

The Church of Pergamus w as also approved of Tbt csinrc^
in general. They lived in the midst of a very im- p^Jilni
pious people, who, in effect, worshipped Satan
himsell^ and did ail that in them lay to support his
kingdom. Yet was their zeal firm and steady. Nor
wab its object a few trifling punctilios, or some little
niceties of doubtful disputation,, but the precious
name of Christ himself, and the faith of his Gospel.
Hence they were exposed not only to contempt, but
to danger of life itself, and to cruel sutFerings. Ouy
Lord mentions one person with particular compla-
.pency, " my faithful martyr Antipas." We know np
fporc of him than what is here recorded, — that " he

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^^as slain trhowg thetii, wherfe iSatati d^lt.*^ Bot
^ what. an hbnouir lo be thus dfetinguiihcd ! Volume?!
(if panegyric havfe b^en tompos^d for nicrfe statesttt^^,
heroes, and scholars. Ho\V ftvr^tA At^ they «iU appear
taken together, compared xviil^ this simple testimony
ti Jesus ! But this Charch does not escape censum
Entirely. There tvrre amon]^ them certain tricked
^nd dangerous characters, m ho, att'mg like Balaatrt
ti old, were employed by Satan to entice "persons t«>
eat things sacf iliced to idol6, and to Commit, fornka-^
tiob ;— two evils often closely connected : Evien the
abominations of the Kicobitancs were practised by
^ome, ,All these are exhorted to repent, from thfe
fear of divine vengeance. On the vfhole, \\itti ^ fe^
Exceptions, and those indeed of an extraordinary
degree of malignity, the Cbtirch of Pergamus wa4
pure and lively, and upheld the standaixi of t!*utb>
though encircled with the flamfcs of martytttom.
The Chnreii The Church of Thyatita was in a tlniving statei
Tb/Ztira. ^^^'^^^J') aiitive^crvicc^ patient dependence-on Oody
and a steady reliance on the divine promises, niftrked
tticir works : and, what is peculiarly landat^e, their
iast works were moi-e excellent than their first *. A
sounder proof of genuine religion than such a grCKiudl
hnprOvement can scarce be conceived. Yet it is iin*
puted as a fault to this Church, tiiat they suffered atk
Artful woman lo seduce the people into the satne ev ils^
which had inTccted Perganms. Her real ntiime \^
know not : her allegorical name is Jejrebel : sht re*-
feeaibled the t\ife bt Ahab, who kept four hwidwsci
prophets at h(^ table, and exerted all her inflottrce to.
Jjl'omote idolatry. The people of God shotiW h^vfe
Counteracted her, but they did not : an advant^g*^
^hich deceitfiil guides have often gained throilgh the
Negligence of the smccre. The very sex of the pi?e^
tended prophetess was a suflfcient reason why sbfe
should have been testiained. *^L^ your womiBt)^
Iceep silence in the Churches t/' is an expre^
• Rev. ii. 19. t 1 C6r. xiv. 34"..

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THE SJ^YBN CmjHCHES IN A?IA.

mrohibition of fenpale^ from the office of teaching^
fcowever wseftil ia oth^r respects pious women may b^
in the Church. Our L^rd informs the Church in
Thyatira, that he gave her space to repent, but to 09
purpode, and therefore now denounces severe threa*
lenings against her and her associates, at the sam^
time vindicating his claim to divine woxsiiip by the
incommunicable title of him who searches the hearts,
and declaring that he would make himself known tp
be such in all the Churches. To those who had kept
theo^ives unspotted from these evils, he declare*
^* be would put no other burden on them :" only he
exhorts them to hold fest what they already had to tb$
day of judgnxent. The unbound Christians in thw
place pretended to great, depths of knowledge, whioh
were, in reality, depths of Satan, — Such persow
often impose on others, and are imposed qn them^
selves by pretences to profound knowledge and t^
superior degrees of sanctity.

The Church of Sardis presents us with an unpleaT Tbetwk
ring spectacle. Their great inferiojity to Thyatira
evinces, how possible it is for two societies of
Christians holdmg the same doctrines, to be in a very
differait state, ne who " walk5 in the midst of the
Churches,'' extols the growing faith and charity of the
first, and condemns the drooping condition of tfie
second. Tliey had neglected tliat course of prayer
aod watchfulness, which is necessary to preserve the •
divine life in vigour. Their works, were now faintly
distinguishable from those of persons altogether dead
in sin. Some * good tilings remained in them, whiclji
yet wer^ ready to die: but their Kves brought no glory
to God, 3or benefit to the cause of Christ; and could
scarce prevent its being scandaUzed in the worlds
A few names indeed there were in Sardis, whoni
Jesus looked on with complacency : they had not
defiled their garments. But most of the Christian? • .
there had contracted deep stains;^ probably by freely
* Key. iii.

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Sacdit.

94 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, mixing with the *'Orlcl, and by conforming to iti
^^\' i customs. And we see here an awful fact authenticated
in the highest possible manner, — that among a so-
ciety of persons all professing the Gospel, the greater
part may be very dead in their souls. It should ever
DC rememl)ered, that human nature b averse to real
faith, heavenly hope, and genuine charity. An omni-

Sotent energy alone can produce or preserve true
oliness. This had been the case at Sard is, when the
Church partook of the first effusion of the Spirit'
Quite contrary to the usual course of natural things,
which are brought to perfection by slow and gradual
improvements, in Christ's religion Godliness starts up
in the mfancy of things in its best form. Seldom are
the last works, as was the case at Thyatira, more
abundant or more excellent Heresies, refinements,
human cautions, commonly adulterate the work of
God. An abuse, perhaps, of some frantic enthu-
siast appears : the correction of it by some pre-
sumptuous pretender to reason introduces another
more specious, but more durable one. The love of
the world increases with the abatement of persecu-
tion. The natural propensity of man to sin exerts
itself more and more : lively Christians are removed
by death : their juniors inferior in all solid godliness,
superior only in self-estimation, reduce the standard
of Christian grace lower and lower : apologies are
invented for sin : what was once experimentally
Icnown, becomes matter of barren speculation : Even
Scriptural terms expressive of vital religion are
despised or sparingly used : fainter and more polite
modes of speech, better adapted to classical neatness,
but proper to hide and disguise the ambiguities of
scepticism, are introduced : the pride of reasoning
grows strong : and men chuse rather to run tlie risk
of hell itself, than to be thoroughly humbled. The
strong hand of God alone, in overbearing convictions
and terrors, and in the sweetest, but most powerftrl
attractions of grace, can conquer thi« contemptuous
3

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TH£ SEVEN CHURCHES IN ASIA. 95

Spirit. No wonder then, that those who never felt, cent,
or who have quenched in a great measure these terrors . _^' J
aDd these attractions, relapse into an impatient
fastidiousness. And then the influence of the Holy
Spirit itself is reasoned against with petty cavils, and
aspersed by illiberal suspicions. Unfaithful and un-
experienced persons, who undertake to teach in these
circumstances, will often, in attempting to discriminate
the operations of the Spirit of God from delusions,
be unfeeling, rough, and unskilful. To them weeds
and flowei-s in the garden of Paradise jwill be the same
tiling. A malignant instinct of profane propensity
tempts them to pull up all together, till they leave *
only the love of the world, and, what they proudly
call, common sense ; which last expression will be
found, at bottom, to denote a very mischievous
engine in religious matters ; for, so applied, it means
neither more nor less than simply, the natural, un-
assisted powers of the human mind, darkened and
corrupted, as they are, by the fall. And now, by
frequent disuse, prayer and religious exercises grow
disagreeable : Sensual and worldly objects allure the
tarnal mind with success : Lucrative speculations
in commerce devour the spirit of godly meditation :
The seasons of religious duty are justled out by the
throng of business ; and excuses of necessity are
easily admitted : Men find a pleasure in being no
longer reputed fanatics; and professors will now
ask leave of the world, how far it will permit them
to proceed in religion Vvithout offence.

1 dare not say, that all this .exactly took place
at Sardis; but much of it did, no doubt; and on
occasion of this first instance of a generart declen-
sion, it seemed not unreasonable to point oat its
ordinary progress and symptoms. >

Tte Christians of Philadelphia are highly extolled. The CbA
They were a humble, charitable, fervent people, pi„{l,dei-
deeply sensible of their own weakness, fearful of pi***.
being seduced by Satan and their own hearts. The

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96 HISTORY OF rnZ CHUBCH.

CHAP. Spirit assares them, that they had a little streogtb^
y^- , wnich had at once been proved and exerted in hold-
ing fast the simplicity of the Gospel, and in detect-
ing and resisting all adulterations of it. They are
further assured, that the Judaical heretics should be
brought at length tg submit to becon^e their disciples
in religion : And a promise of strong support is held
out to them, because they had maintained a truq
patience in suffering. To them, as to all the rest of
the Churches, the rewards beyond the grave are
proposed as the grand motives of perseverance.
The ChoTch Laodicca too much resembled Sardis. The people

Laudicea. wcre in a LUKEWARM State, a religious mediocrity,
most odious to C'hrist ; because his religion calls for
the whole vehemence of the soul, and bids us to bq
cool only in WORLD tY things. The foundation of this
lukevvarmness was laid in pride : They had lost tliq
conviction of their internal blindness, misery, and
depravity. When men go on for years in a placid
unfeeling uniformity, this is always the case. They
were satisfied with themselves, and felt no need of
higher attainments. The counsel, which is given tq
them,— to buy of him gold, white raiment, and eye-
salve, — is precious ; and this call to their souls de-
monstrates that they had learnt to maintain, in easy
indolence, an orthodoxy of sentiments without any
vivid attention to the Spirit of God: — Inaword^
his influence was only not despised in Laodicea.

Such were the situations of the seven Churches
of Asia. The criticism is indeed inestimable : It is
candid, impartial, and penetrating. He, who has
indulged us with it, ijatended it tor the use of aU
succeeding Churches : — and ** he that hath an ear,
let him liear what the Spirit saitb to the Churches''

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REMAINDER OF FIR6T CKKTORT. 97

CHAP, XV.
THE REMAINDER OF THE FIRST CENTURY.

I T is the observation of one of tl)e antients, that ^^v^'
St Luke, in the dose of his Apostolical history, \_ ^ - ^
leaves the reader -thirsting for more. I feel the
force and justness of the thought at this monient.
I have tutherto sailed by the compass of Scripture ;
and now find myself at once entering bto an im-
mense ocean without a guide. In fact I have un-
dertaken to conduct the reader through a long, ob-
scure, and difficult course, with scarce a beacon here
and there set up to direct me : — but I must make
the best use I can of the very scanty materials
betbre me.

It aeems plain, that the Apostles in general did
not leave Judea, till after the first council held at
Jerusalem. They seem never to have been in haste
to quit the land of their nativity. Probably the
tbreateoing appearances of its desolation by the
ftomans, hastened their departure into distant re-
jpons. It is certain that before the close of this
century, the power of the Gospel was felt through-
out the Roman empire. 1 shall divide this chapter

into four parts, aiid review, first, — Tlie progress and
persecution of the Church, Secondly, — ^I'hc lives.
cbamcters, and deaths <^ the Apostles and most
celebrated Evangelists. Thijxily, — ^The heresies of
this period. And, lastly, — -The general character
.of Christianity in tiiis first ag^.

It was about the year of our Lord 64, tliat the Baming
xkj of Borne sustained a general confiagratiou. The i^me.
-omperor Nero, lost as he was to all sense of repu- ^a. d.
Nation, and baclmeyed in flagitiousuess, was yet stu- 64*
4lioQs to avert the infamy of being reckoned the
Author c£ this calignity, which was generally imputed
to him. But no steps that he could take were.suf-

YOL. I. H

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. gB HtSTORT OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, ficient to do away the suspicion. There was, how
^ -J~ 1 ever, a particular class of people, so singularly dis-
tbct frmn the rest of mankind, and so much hated
on account of the condemnation which their doctrinef
and purity of life affixed to all except themselves,
that they might be calumniated with impunity.
These were then known at Rome by the name of
Christians. Unless we transplant ourselves into
those times, Me can scarce conceive how odious and
•contemptible the appellation then was. The judi-
cious Tacitus calls their religion a detestable super-
•stition*, " which at first was suppressed, and after-
wards broke out afresh, and spread not only through
• Judea the origin of the evil, but through the metro*
polw ftlso, the common sewer in which every thing
filthy and flagitious meets and steads." If so grave
and cautious a writer as Tacitus can thus asperse th«
Christians without proof, and without moderation,
we need not wonder, that so impure ^ wretch as
Nero should not hesitate to charge them with the
feet of burning Rome.
First Now it was that the Romans legally persecuted

'**'^*the°" the Churdif<wr tlie first time. And tliose, who know
^b"Mh°' *^ virulence of man's natural enmity, will rather
Rf^nli^ wonder thait it commenced not earH^V, than that it
A. D. raged at length u-ilh such di^eadiul fiiry. " Sbme
64. persons were apprehended, who confessed them-
selves Christians ; and by their evidence, says Tar
citus, a great multitude afterwards were discovered
and seizdl : — and they were condemned not so much
for the burning of Rome, as for being the enemies
of mankind." A very remarkable accusation f It
may be explained as follows. — True Ghristibus,
tiiough the genume fiiends of all their Mt^w-crte^
tures, cannot allow men, who are NOt dift Cbm*
tians, to be in the favour of God. Their ▼ei^'CiAmest-
Dess, in calling on their neighbours to repent «nd b#-
yeve the Gospel, proves to those ne^boum ibivfaait
♦ Taritaft, B. xv.

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REMAINDER OF FIRST CENrURY.

« dangerous state they are ^en apprehended to foa
All, who are not moved by die admonitions of
Cbrisdan charity to flee from the wrath to €ome»
wiU naturally be disgusted ; and thus the purest be- * ^
nevolence will be cooatrued iaio the most mercikts
b^otry. Thus Christians incurred the goieral ha**
tr^, to whkfa the conduct neither of Jews nor bene*
tics rendered them obnoxious.*— And the same cause
produces siojilar eflects to this day.

Their execution was aggravated with insult They
^'ere covered with skins of wild beasts and torn by
d(^ : they were cruciBed^ and set on fire, that tbey
might serve for lights in the night-*time. Nero
ofiered his gardens for this spectacle, and exhibited
the games of the circus. People could not, however,
avoid pitying them, base and undeserving as they
were in Jbe eyes of Tacitus, because they suflered
not for the public good, but to gratify the cruelty of
a tyrant. It appears from a passage in Seneca *
compared with Juvenal, that Nero ordered them to
be covered with wax, and other combustible mate-
rials: and, that after a sharp stake was put under
ttieir chin, to make them continue upright, they were
burnt alive to ^ve light to the spectators f. •

We have no account how the,pe6pkeof God con-
ducted themselves under these sutiferings. What we
-know of their behaviour in similar scenes, leaves ub
in no doutit of their having been supported by the
power of tbe Holy Ghost Nw is it credible, that
the persecution would be confined to Rome. It would
naturally spread througli the empire ; and one of
Curiae 8 inscriptions found in Spain X> demonstrattes
at ooce two important facts, — that tiie Gospel had
^peady penetrated into that country, and — that the
•Chnreh there abo bad her martyrs.

Three or four years were> pn3bably, 4he utmost

. * Seneca« Ep. 14. Ju-v. 1 and 8, with his Scholiast.
' T Bulkt 8 tlistory of Established Christianity.

: See Gibbon's Account of ChrisUanity considered; p. 94*
H 2

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100 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

extent of this tremendous persecution) as in the
year 68 the tyrant was himself, by a dreadful exit,
summoned before the divine tribunal. He left the
Roman world in a state of extreme confusion. Judea
partook of it in a remarkable degree. About forty
years after our Lord's sufierings, wrath came on
the body of the Jewish nation to the uttermost, in
a manner too w^ known to need the least relation
in this history. What became of the Christian
Jews, alone concerns us. The congregation were
commanded, by an oracle revealed to the best ap-
proved among them, that before the wars bc^an^
they should depart from the city, and inhabit a village
beyond Jordan, called Pella*. Thither t^ey retirOT^
and were saved from the destruction, which soon
after overwhelmed their countrymen : and in so re-
tiring they at once observed the precept, and fulfilled
the welUknown prophecy of their Saviour. The
death of Nero, and the destruction of Jerusalem,
would naturally occasion some respite to them from
^eir sufferings; and we bea^ no more of their
perseoited state, till the reign of Domitian, the last
^.jy. frfthe Flavian famOy, who succeeded to tlie empire
gl, ind)eyear8i.

He does' not appear to have raged against the
Christians, till the latter end of his reign. Indeed^
in imitation of bos ikther Vespasian, he made en^
quiry for such of the Jews as were descended from
the royal line of David. His motives were evidently
political. But there wanted not those who were ^ad
of any opportunity of wreaking their malice on
Christians. Some persons, who were brought before
the emperor^ were charged with being related to the
royal family. They appear to have been rdated to
our Lord, and were grandsons of Jude the Apostle,
his cousin. Domitian asked them, if they were of
the family of David, which they acknowledged. He
then demanded, what possessions they enjoyedt and
• Ettseb. B. iiL C. 5f

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• REMAINDER OF FIRST CENTURY. 101

what money they had. They laid open the poverty
of their circumstances, and owned that they main-
tained themselves by their labour. The truth of
their confession was evidenced by their hands, and
by their appearance in general. Domitian then in-
tempted them concerning Christ and his kingdom,.
— when and where it should appear? They answered^
like their Master when questioned by Pilate, — that
bis kingdom was not of this world, but heavenly :
that its glory should appear at the consummation of
the world, when be should judge the quick and
dead, and reward every man according to his wori^
Poverty is sometimes a defence against i^presaioDy
though it never shields from contempt Domitian
was satisfied, that his throne was in no danger from
Christian ambition : and the grandsons of Jude were .
dismissed with the same sort of derision, with which,
their Saviour had formeriy been dismissed by Herod.
Thus had /the Son of God provided for his indigent
idations: — they were poor in circumstances, but
rich in feith, and heirs of his heavenly kingdom.

As Domitian increased in cruelty, towara the end i>onutMn*9
of his re^ he renewed the horrors of Nero s perse- ^?^^
cution. He* put to death many persons accused *. *
of athebm, the common charge against Christians, ^^'
on account of their refusal to worship the pagaa
gods. Among these was the consul^Flayius Clonens
bis cousin, i^ifho had espoused Flavia DomitiUa his
relation. Suetonius observes, that this man was
quite despicable on account of his slotbfulness.
Many others were condemned likewise, who bad em-
braced Jewish customs, says Dion ; part of them
were put to death, others spoiled of^ their ^oods,
and Domitilla herself was bemished into tlie island
of Pandataria. Eusebius records the same facts
with some little variation : but, as he pix>fesses to
borrow from the pagan writers in this instance, I
shall be content with their account.

* Euseb. B. iii. 17. Dion Cassius*
H3

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XV.

■C"

Itoa*' fflSTORV OF THl CHUBCH.

GHAi^.' It is not hwpdi to conceive the real cbantctei^ of
those twa noble persona It ought not to be doubted
thatfihey were genuine Christians, whom God had
distitiguisbed by his grace, and enabled to Ufe upon
it, and toMfkr for it. The Uood of the Casaare,
and the ipleifidor of the imperial houses rctedered
them only mor^ conspicuous objects of digest. It
is well kn(m) that no positive crime is ascribed to
either of thenv. The charge c^ indolenco against the
husband is natural ^^ough, and does honour. (!o ihe
heaveni^mindednessof theman, whose spirit eould
not uwK With the evils of secular amhitinH), and ndth-
the vices <jf the imperiat court.* — ^The humantfty of
the tiaoebiin iil4|ich we live, and the blessings of the
civil ftoedom which the subjects of these kingdoms
enjWj 'prdtect us> it is tnie^ from sidulairtdangers
ofiife'oi^ property) nevertheless, who bainotob*
served, Wat «vien rank and dignity are (among us
exposedtto con^iUeniUe ctetempt, wheoovBr.ti^maa
ii cbnspoccidus andemineBt for azealotis^ppofassioa
and diligent pradioe of truly £iran0eJkal .dlociirincB
dnd precepts? ^ . ^ . v.

^AfjPf ' In the yeaf^ ^ Domitian was slain i and Nervay
llie succeeding emperor^ poblished a pWdon* for
those who-* Were condemned for impiety, tecaltexi
those vi4io were banished, and forbad tlie accusii^
of any nien.on'account of impiety, or Judaism.
OdierS, who were under accusation, or under sen-^
tence €>f condemnation, now escaped by the lenity
of Nerva. This brings us to the dose. of the ora-
tury, in which we bdiold the Christiansy for the
present, in a state of eirtemal pieace. One person
alone enjoyed not the benefit of Nerva s niildneas.
Domitilla still oontinu^ in exile, probably because
she was a relation of tiie late tyrant, whose namo
was now odioas through the world. — Doubtless she
was not forsaken of b&p God and Savbor.
IL The Apostles and Evangelists of this jieriody

• Dion.

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REMAIKDXR Of FIRST CENTtiRT.

ireie their Story distinctly known, and c*ircumstantifilly
related, «rould afford materials indeed of the rarest
pleasure to every Christian mind. But there never
arose in the Church any historians like Thucydides
and Livy, to illustrate and celebrate the actions of
saints. Heroes and statesmen have their reward
here, — saints hereafter. Christ's kingdom must not
af^iear to be of this world ; and while large volumes
iMve been filled with the exploits of heroes, and the;
kitrigues of statesmen, the men, who were the di«
vine instruments of evangelizing souls, — the Nqw
Testaa»3t history excq^>ted, — are for the most part
unknown.

The first of Ae twelve Apostles who suffered
martyrdocn, we have seen, was James the son of
Zebedee : He fell a sacrifice to Herod Agrippa's
ambitioos desire of popularity. I recal him to the ^
reader's memory, on account^ of a remarkable cir^
cumstance attending his death ''^. The man, who had
drawn hhn b^£gare the tribunal, when he saw the
readiness with which he ^bmitted to martyrdom,
was ftoruck with remorse ; and, by one of those sud-
d^conversions-not infrequent amidst the remarkable
effii^ons of the Spirit, was himself turned from the
power of Satan to God. He confessed Christ with
great cheerfukiess. James and this man were both
led to execution; and in the way thither the accuser
requested the Apostle's forgiveness, which he ob*
tamed. James turning to him answered, " Peace
be to thee ;" and kissed him ; and they were bo-
headed U^etber. The efficacy of Divine Grace, and
the blessed fruit of holy example, are both illustrated
in thb story, of which it were to be wished we
knew more than the very scanty account which has
been delivered.

The other James was preserved in Judea to a Martyrdom
much later period. Hb martyrdom took place ^/j^

• j^useb. i. 9.

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104 HtSTORY OF TEE CNUECM.

CHAP, about the year 62 ; and bis episfle was published a
^^ little . before his death. As be always resided at
Jerusalem, and was providentially preserved throu^
various persecutions, he had an opportunity of over*
coming enmity itself and abating prejudice, in some
measure. The name of Just was generally etven
him on account of his singular innocence and ia«
tegrity. And as he conformed to Jewish customa
with more than occasional regularity, lie was by no
means so odious in the eyes of his unbelievins coun?
try men, as the Apostle of the Gentiles. But we
are to observe, that if he had fully overcome their
enmity, he could not have been faitliful to bis Lwd
and Master. Many Jews Respected the man, and
admired the fruits of the Gospel in bim. The
root and principle of the$e fruits was still tfadr ab^
horrence; and from the relation of EusebiAis, the
testimony of Hegesippus, an eaily Christian bbto*
rian whom he quotes, and of Josephus, it .is plain,
that it was thought a pitiaUe thing, that so gpod a
man should b^ a Christian. Pauls eeciipe from
Jewish malice, by appealing to Cspsar, had sharpened
the spirits of this people ; and they were deteirmiQed
.to wreak their vengeance on James, wbo.wasnieriely
H Jew, and could plead no lioman ^emptions.
Festus died president of Judea; and, before his
successor Albinus arrived, Ananias the high -priest,
a Sailducee and a merciless persecutor, held the su*
preme power in the interim. He called a couocii,
before which he summoned James with some others,
and accused them of breaking the law of Moses.
But it was not easy to procure his condemnation.
His holy life bad long secured the veneration of his
countrymen*.

• I have compared Josephus's accoant witb that of Heg^
fiippus, which last appears compatible enough with the former,
and no way improbable ; though I tbink he gives his character
more of the ascetic, than I beUeve to be consistent with that of
a Christian Apostle.

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nzuAmi>MM OP riBST cxnturt.

The leadiog men were uoemy od acooimt of tb^
vast ioerease of Christian eooverts adcfed to the
Churdi by his labours, example, mod authoritr : and
tkney endeavoured to eotao^ him, by peniiadH^ him
to mount a pinnacle of t^ temple, and to sp^ to
te people assembled at the time of the passover,
against Christianity. James being placed al<^ deli^
wneda firank oonfessicm of Jesus; and declared that
he was then sitting at the ri^t faauid of power, and
that be would come in the clouds of heaven. Upon
this Ananias and the rulers were highly inc^ised.
To disgrace hb character was tbdr first mtention —
tiiey iiSieA. To murder his person was thar next
attempt; and this was of much more easy execution*
Crying out, that Justus liimself was seduced, ^y
threw the Apostle down, and stoned him. He had
strength to fall on his knees, and to imy» *'I beseedi
thee, lord God and Fath^, for them; fqr they know
not what they do." One pf the priests^ moved with
the scene, cned out^ ^^ C^^se^ what do you mean?
This just man is praying for you^** A person [H^eseat
with a fuUar's club beat opt his brains, and coinpleted
bb mar^dom*

Veryi'emaRkable b the acknowledgement of Jose- ^^^"^
pbus. ." These things'* — ^meaning the miseries of josepbvi.
the Jews from the Romans — " imppened to them by
way of revenging the death of James the Just, the
brother of Jesus wliom they call Christ For the
Jews slew him, though a very just mwi * '' And from

* I see no good reason to doubt the authenticity of this pas-
sage; which gives abundant confirmation to his famous testi-
mony of Christ ; which is as foUolvs. *' About this time lived
Jesus a wise man ; if indeed we may call him a man ; for be
performed marvellous things ; he was an instructor of such a$
embraced the truth with pleasure. He made many converts
. both among the Jews and Greeks. This was the Christ. And
when Pilate^ on the accusation of the principal men among us,
bad condemned him to the cross, those, who before entertained
a rtepect for him, continued still so to do ; for he appeared to
them alive i^in on the third day; the divine prophets having
declared thfse and many other wonderful things concerning

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! iTMtoar 4>^ THE ckitrch.

tfie 'raihe> wpiter we kwrn, that AttmtM severely
mprialatMfed Anonias, and soon aftier deprived bitn
lyfUieMgti-ikie^thood. '

After the death of Jan^ed and the deaolteiti^i) of
JeiwaAeai^' the Apostles aad disciples of our Lord,
Df mthom many were yet alive, gathered tbetna^lvoi
together with our Lord's kifistnen, to appoinft a
paMor o^ the Churoh of Jerusalem in the rMm tf
Jatt)e&> The electaon fell on Simeon, the scm ofti^
doopas mentioned by St Luke as one of th^ tfMo,
^o went to ^riniiiaus, and who was the 4irbth^«ir
Joseph, our Lottfs reputed fether.~W© shall hmkt
ShaK^on, at the end of tiiis century, the chief pa^tt>i*
iiftbe Jewi^Qiureh. . t<P» jj*.

Patrlihe Apostle seems to !kve labbured w^tk
Miwejiried attivity from about the year 36 to^
je» 63,1 that is, itdm bis oonversiou to the oeriMl
m which St Luke finishes his hkb^. Witmn ttab
^riod he wrote felurteen' epistles, which will be the
blessed meatis of feeding the soub oi the ftiitb^l' t^
Ifeeeffd of time. The seisond ep.tsti^ to^imotiiy ha^
%een i^mmo»ly supposed to have been vifitt€in ^sft
before his martyrdom. I am convinced. '^^ Di*.
* fjHwJn^r's reasonings*, that it was inoi<e probably
written during his two years imprisonment at R^Gim€(>

♦'See the Siipplem^iiit to the Credibility: *•

'f ' >■ ■ ■■ . ■

lini. And the sect of Christians so named from him subsists
to this very time/ * ' *

I have examined,. as cerefoUy as I can, the doabta whkh
have been started oo the authenticity of this passaj^e. T^) oae
thdy seem nwre sumiises. One of them, the supposed Incon-
'STStency of the historian, in testifying so much of Christ, and
yet remaining an unconverted Jej?, affords an argument in its
favour. Inconsistencies oogljt to be expected from inconsistent
persons. ' Such arc many in the Christian world at this day,
%ho in like cinrumstances would have acted a similar part. Such
was Josephns. He knew and had studied something of all sorts
of opinions in religion ; and his writings show him to have been
firm in nothing but a regard to his worldly interest. To me b«
seetns to say just so much and no more of Christ, as might be
expected tirom a learned sceptic, of remarkable good sense, and
supreme bvc of worldly things. '

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HEMAHiPBH OF FIWT CEVWHT. IO7

and that be ^feias uader no pai ticular apprebeasim
ofaufiariigiQ^ixiediately^. PVooi this epi»tle it i^
evident that he IM already been called hetove Nero^
a^tseaUy to the prodiotion, '^ thou must be brought
before C^^ear j'' and that no Christian, not even any
of those who had welcomed big arrival in Italy^
dwst appear in support of him: — He feelingly com-:
plains, *^ aU men forsook me.'' Yet be knew how to
distiogiush between iDalevoleoce and timidity; and«
tbeiefoiie, though be could not excuse their ne^QCt
^bim, he prays* God that it might not be laid U>
their charge. The terror of Nero seems to have
ove^wed the Roman Cliristians, ma«y of whom
Wght have borne witness in his favour. Even Vem^
%mook him, from the loye of the world, and dopartec}
to Thessalonica* H^re axe seasons oi criucal daa^
ffTy which try the hearts of the truest Christiana : It
wm yet a new thing (ot a Christian to be brought
b^CHpe an emperor, and they bad not prepared tbeixH
9(dvea by watching and prayer for the nncommon
Qdoasion. But the grace of the Ijo^ Jesua, which
itwd hitherto been so eminently with the Apostteii
foFSQok him not in his trying moments : The X^ord
*Utood with him, and strengthened him|;'' H^
waa enabled to testify for Cbnst and his Gospel ber
fere Nero, with the same firankness, fortitude, an4
eloqwenGe, that he had formerly done before FeliX|
Festus, atKi Agrippa ; and for tlie first time, an4
probably the last, the murderous tyrant Nero heard
the ^ad tidings of salvation. It seems, by the ex*
preasion, — ^* that all the Gentiles naight hear,"— tliat
Paul was beard in a very full and solemn assembly!
end bad an opportunity of giving a clear account of
Chrbtianity* And as some of C«sar a houd>gld are
maoAioned as daints ia the epistle to the PhiUppians,
there is reason to apprehend, that the preaching was

* This aeems evideot by hi* charging Timothy to como to
hixB before wioter.
t aTim. iv. 17.

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A. D*

HISTORY 6r THE CHURCH.

not in vain. He was, as he owns, " delhrered from
(he mouth of the lion/' Nero bad not then b^un txy
persecute ; and at least he would see the justness of
his plea as a Roman citizen, and be disposed to
feTOur it Nor ou^t the adorable Providence of
God to be passed in silence, who ^ve this man of
abandoned wickedness an opportumty of hearing the
word of salvation, though it made no usefbl impres-
sion oh his mind. Paul seems to have had this audi-
ence during the former part of his imprisonment at
Kome, and to have been remanded to his confinement
for the present

Here he wrote the epistles to the Philippiaii^
Vj ^* and Gotossians beftw^ the end of the year 6^2. From'
the former of these it appears, tiiat ttie whole court
of Nero was made acquainted with his case, and that
the cause of the Gospel was promoted by these
means. In the epistle to Philemon^ i4^hicb accom-
panied tiiat to the Colossians, he expresses a cotifi*
dence of being soon set at liberty, and promises, ii^
that case, shortly to pay them a visit *. And as be
mentions Demas with respect as his fellow-labourer,
botb in this epistle to the Colossians, and in that to
Philemon, I apprehend Demas had repented of his
pusillanimity, and was returned to the Apostle and
to his duty. This is the second case in which it
pleased God to make use of this extraordinary BEMtny
St Paul, for the preservation of ibe Church. The
former instance respected tiie doctrine of justification,
from which even Apostles were indirectly declining}
The latter consisted in the exhibition of a godly spirit
of zeal, and an open confession of Christ. Such b
the sloth and cowardice of man in divine tbii^ and
so little need is there to teach us cauti<Hi and reserve,
that unless God now and then stirred up the ^rits

* I follow Dr. Lardner in tbc dates of the epistles, which he
hat investigated with suigalar ^ligence and sagacity ; and I
once for all acknowledge my repeated obligations to htm im

things of this nature.

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REICAIKDER OF FIRST CENTURY. lOg

of tome eminent Christian heroes, to venture throu^ cent.
difficidties, and to stand foremost for the truth against , \
opposition, Satan would bear down all before him, '
Paul was one of die-first of these hei*oes : and we
ahaM see in every age, that God raises up some
persons of this hardy temper, whom worldly men
never &ul contemptuously to denominate fanatics,
because they discover that greatness of soul ia a
heavenly cause, which, in an earthly one, would
excite respect and admiration.

Having obtained his liberty in the year 63, he most a « ik.
probably would soon fulfil his promise to visit the 63.
Hebrews; after which he might see his Coloseian
friends. There is no certain account of his commg
either 10 Jerusalem or to Colosse ; but most probaU j
he executed what he had a little before promised.
That he ever visited Spain or our Island, is, to si^
ao mcKy extremely doubtful. Of the last there is a
very unfounded report, and of the former no other
pmof, than the mention of his intenticm in the episde
10 the Itonans, which had been written in the year
58, since which time all bis measures had been dis*
concerted. And if he once more made an Asiatic
tour altar bis departure from Rome, there seems
not time enough for his accomplishing the western
journey, as he suffered martyrdom on his letum
to Rome about the year 65 *« He could have
had no great pleasure at Jerusalem : every thing
was there Irastening to ruin. No man was ever
possessed of a more genuine patriotic spirit than this
Apostle. The Jewi^ war, wliicb commenced in 66, a. d.
would have much afflicted him, had be lived to see it. 66.
Bat returning to Rome about a year before, he fell in
with the very time when Rome was burnt, and Chris-
tians were accused as intendiaries. He now found no
mercy in Nero, who would naturally be displeased
at the effect, which he had observed the preaching
oi the Apo^e had produced in hiso^rn houslioUL

* Some very refpectable Chrouologers place the martyrdom
of St Pm\ A^ su 67.

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no HISTORY OF THE CHURC4ff«

CHAP. A cupbearer and a concobine of the emperor hud
^^ ^ been, through Paul's means, converted tott^ faith, as
Martyrdom Chrysostoiii assures us: and this hastened bis death.
«f Paul. n^ ^jis slain with the sword by Nero's order*.

He had many fellow-labourers, wliose mtmes he
has immortalized in his writings. He calls Titus bfs
own son after the common feithf. Timottiy was
also a particular favourite. Antiquity regards the
former as the first bishop of Crete, and^the latter as
the first bishop of Ephesus. Luke of Antioch, the
writer of the third Gospel, and the faitbliil reiater, in
the Acts of the Apostles, of this Apostle'stransactions,
of which he was an eye-witness, is> by him, affec^
tionatdy denominated the beloved Physician. — He
Beemsto have retired into Grreece after St Paul's first
A. D. dismission by the emperor, and there to have written
6^. both his inestimabie treatises about the year 63 or 64.

Cres^tens, whom Paul sent to Galatia, is anctfaer
of his fellow*labourers. Linus, the fiiBt bishop of
Rome, may be added to the list, and Dionysius tiie
Areopagite of Athens, whom Eusebius reckons the
first bishop of the Church in tlwu city,

We have now finished the lives of two taea^ of
singular excell«ice unquestionably, James the Just
and Paul of Tansus. The former, by his uncomilion
virtues, attracted th^ esteem of a whole people, who
were full of the strongest prejudices against him :
Bind in regard to the latter, the question may be asked
witli great propriety, whether such another man ever
exbted among all those, who have inh^ed the
corrupted nature of Adam ? He had evidently a soul
large and capacious, and possessed of those seem-
ingfy contradictory excellencies which, whcarever ttiey
-appear in combination, feU not to form an extraor-
dinary character. But not only his talents were grealt
and various — his learning also was profound and
extensive ; and many persons with ftu* iriferior abilities
and altanHneiit» have effiscted national revolotioie, or
otberriise distinguished themselves in the history of
• Oroaius, B. 7. f Titui i* 4.

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REJiTAINDEK OP FIltST t^KVCRY. Ill

taatdniKL Hisconsutminte fortkuriehf^^ toffijk^
with the mreM gentleness, and the moit active dMrity.
Hb very copious and vivid iniagkifetioa was leha^tizdi
by the most accurate jud^ait, and \fa^ connected
wkh the closest argumentative powers^ DWme Gt^c^
alone could effect so woddei-fiil a corobinaiiM^ inso-
mocb, that for the space of near thirty years after fcis
conversion, this man, whose nauiml haughtiness dnd
liery temp^ had hurried him into a very sAngiAiary
course of persecution, lived the fiiend of mankind ;
reloraed good for evil contimially ; was a model of
patience and tXsneudlence, and Kteadily attentive only
to heavenly things, while yet he had a taste, a spirit
and a genius, which tnighft have shone aknong th^
l^r^rtest stateaanen and men of letters tlmt ever Kved;

We have tfaea in these two men, a strong Bpedmen
df what Grace can do, and we may fairly chaHdAg^
all Che infidels Jn ike world, to produce any thibg like
them in the whole Kst of their heroes. Yet amid^
Ibe constant display of every godly md social virtue,
we learn item Paufs o^n account, that he ever fell
hiadaelf ** carnal, sold under sin," and that $iH dwelt
in him continually. From his writings we learn,
what the depth of human wickedness is : and none
of liie Apostles seem to have understood so much as
he did, the riches of Divine Grace, and the peculiar
^ory of the Christian religion. ITie doctrines elf
dection, justificatioh, regeneration, adoption ; of thfe
priesthood and offices of Christ, and of the infermd
work of the Holy Ghost, as well as the most perfect
floorality founded on Christian principle, are to be
found 4r his writings ; and what Quintilian said of
Cioerp may be justly appUed to the Apostle of the
tJanlHes : " lite #e projedsse scktt, cui F cuius vatdt
pkceiit:'

During this w>hote eflfbsion of the Spirft, — of 96
ttttte acooinift in the sight of God are natiYral human
cKt^dtencfes and •talents, — I see no evidence t^t an jr
persons of extraordinary genius and ^endowments, 9i

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;J12 BISTOKT OF THE CHURCH*

Paul excepted, were employed in the divine work of
propagating the Gospel. St. Luke, indeed, appears
by his writuig3 to have been a classical scholar oi a
chastized and regular taste ; and to approach more
neaiiy to attic purity of diction than any of the New
TestaBDent writers. But to St. Paul, the greatness of
hiji conceptions, and tlie fervour of his zeal, give a
magnificent kind of ne^i^nce in composition, — in
the midst c^ which there is also, if I mistake not, a
vast assemblage of the most sublime excellencies of
ordt(Hy, which demonstrate how high he might have
stood in this line of eminence, had 1^ been amtntous,
or rather had he not been perfectly careless of such
kind of &me. But that men so unlearned as the
rest of the Apostles were, — none of whom appear by
nature to have been above the ordinary standard of
mankind, tiiough by no means below that standard,
— ^that such men should have been able of themselves
to speak, to act, ami to write as they did ; and to
produce such an amazing revolution in the ideas atid
manners of mankind, would require the most extra*-
vagant credulity to believe. — The power of God is
demonstrated from the imbecility of the instruments.
Tlie minds of men void of the love of God are
always apt to suspect, as counectedwith fanaticism,
the most precious mysteries of the Gospel, and the
whole work of experimental religion. And the more
vigorously these things are described, the stronger the
suspicion grows. May not this have been one reason
why St Piuil was directed to expose himself the
most to this unjust censure, by dwelling more copi«
ously than any of the rest of the Apostles On views
most directly evangelic^;— St. Paul, I say, — begause
he must be idlowed byall who are not wilHngto betray
their own want of discernment, to have been a man
fii eminent solidity of understai^'mg? If Christian
experience be a foolish thing indeed, it is strange that
the wisest of all the Christians should have beea the
mmt abundant in describing it

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A. D.

R£MAIND£R OF FIRST CENTURY. 11 J

Of St Peter we have by^ no meins so lai^ an cent.
account as of St. Paul. The last view we have of
bim in Scripture presents him to us at Antioch. This
was probably about the year 50. After this he was "^q^
employed in spreading the Gospel, — principally
among his own countrymen, but one canhot suppose
exclusively of Gentiles, — in Pontus, Galatia, Cap-
padocia, Asia, and Bithynia. His two episdes were
directed to the Hebrew converts of these countries.
And if be was far less successful than Paul among
the Gentiles, be was much more so than that great
man was among the Jews. He, who wroiight effec-
tually in Paul among the forjioer, was mighty in Peter
among the latter*. It should ever#be remembered,
VHO alone did the work, and gave the increase.

Peter probably came tp Rome about the year 63. a. d.
Thence^ a little before, his martyrdom, he wrote liia 63.
two episf^s. Strange fiqtions have been invented of
his acts at Rome, of which I shall sufficiently testily
my disbelief by silenc0, — the method which I intend
constantly to use in diings of this nature. It is evi-
dent, however, that he here met again with that same
Simon the sorcerer, whom he had rebuked Ions; ago
in Samaria, and who was practising his sorceries in
a much hi^er style in the metropolis. No doubt
the Apostle opposed him successfully ; but we have
no account of this matter, except a very vague and
declamatory one by Eusebius. — At length, when
Paul was martyred under Nero, Peter suffered with
him by crucifixion with'hishead downward, — a kind
of deaih which he himself desired, —most probably
frorr an unfeigned humility, that he might not die in
the ^ame manner as his Lord had done. Nicephorus
infbfins Q% tlmt he liad si[)ent two years at Rome.
St Peter, in his second epistle, observes, that his
I-ord had shown him, that his death was soon to take
place. And. this gjves a degree of credibility to a
story of Ambrose related in one of his discourses,'
• Gal. ii. 8.

VOL. I. I

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114

• CHAP.
XV.

Crucifixion
©fPcier.

A. D.

67.

HISTORY OF fHE CHURCH.

the purport ofwhich IB, that the pagans being inflamed
against him, tlie bt^thren b^ed him to retreat
durinj: the violence of the persecution. Tlieir intrea-
ties^ ardent as he il^as for martyrdom, moved bim.
He began to go out of the city by night But coming
to the gate*, he saw Christ entering into the city.
Wliereupon he said, Lord, whither art thou going ?
Christ answered, I am coming hither to be crucified
again. Peter hence understood that Christ was to be
CiHiciikd again in his servant. This induced hin>
voluntarily to return ; and he satisfied the miiKls of the
bretliren with this accoontj and was soon after seized
and crucified. Whoever considers tUe very sdemn
manner in which our Lord foretold tlie violent death
of this Apostle, in the close of St. J^n s Gospel; and
that, in his second epistle, he himself declares that
his divine Master had shown him, that be shouici
quickly put off bis tabernacle, t^ill find no difficulty in
conceiving, thatthci visioA-jr^iow related firocn Ambrose
i»^bt have taken place a littie4ime before ^e writbg
of this epistle^ and, that the writipg of tiie Epistle may
bave a Ifttle time preceded his seizure and violent
death. I mention this as a probable conjecture only.
The story itself is consonant to tlie miraculous power*
tJien in the Chunjh'; and its evidence rests on th»
character of Ambrose himself,, an Italian Inshop,.
whose integrity and understanding are equally ye-
ipectable.

Peter's wife had been called to martyrdom a little
bef(»*e himself. He saw her led to death, and rejoiced
at the grace of God vouchsafed to her ; and addressing
her by name, exhorted and comforted her witU
*' Remember the Lord];/'

There aie two striking attestations to the character
of St Peter, which may be fairly drawn fi*om the

• Sermon cont. x\ux. i. 1 1.

t Tbere is no necessity to consider Christ's appearance a»
any Uiing more tbau a vision*
{ Ckmeut. Strom. 7,

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REMAINDEU OF FIRST CENTURY.

ftflcred writings. As it is allowed on all hands, that he
authorized tlie publication of St. Mark's Gospel, had
lie been disposed to spare his own character, he would
not have suffered the shameful denial of his Master
to have been described, as it is in that Evangelist,
with more aggravated circumstances of gui! t, and with
fainter views of his repentance, than are to be found
in the other Evangelists. I am indebted for the other
remark to Bishop Gregory, the first ot'th^t name.
In his second epistle, St. Peter gives the most honour-
able attestation to the Apostle Paul's epistles, though
he mast know that in one of them — that to the Gala-
tians— his own conduct on a particular occasion was
censured. This is evidently above nature. 'The most
unfeigned humility appeal^ to have been an eminent
part of the character of this Apostle, who, in his eariy
days, w as remarkable for the violence of his temper.
His natural character was no uncoiAmon one. Frank,
open, active, courageous; sanguine hi his attachments
and in his passions; no way deficient, but not emi-
nent, in undcrstat^ding, — a plain honest man ; yet,
by grace and supernatural wisdom, rendered an
instrument of the greatest good in the conversion of
numbers, and only inferior to St Paul. — He seems
to have lived long in a state of matrimony ; and by
Clemenfs account, was industrious in the education
d his children.

Mark was sister's son to Barnabas, the son of
Mary, a pious woman of Jerusalem. He was pro-
bably l)rought up in Christianity from early life; and
bis conduct, for sonfie time, gives credibility to an
opinion, tolerably confirmed by experience, that early
converts, or those wIjo have been religiously brought
up, do not make that vigorous piogress in divine
things generally, which those do, whose conversion
has commenced after a life of much sin and vanity.
Their views are apt to be faint, and their dispositions
in religion languid and indolent. We are told by
Epiphanius^ that Mark was one of those who were

I 2

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XV.

Il6 HISTORY OF THE CHUBCM-

CHAP, offended at ,the words of Christ recorded in the 6th
chapter of St* John ; and that he then forsook him^
but was afterwards recovered to his Saviour by means
of Peter. After our Lord s ascension, he attended his
uncle Barnabas with Paul ; but soon left them and
returned to Jerusalem. Barnabas however hoping
t[)e best from one, whom be held so dear, proposed
him to Paul as their companion on some ftiture
occasion. After the rupture, which this occasioned^
between the two Apostles, Barnabas took him as his
companion to Cyprus. Undoubtedly his character
improved. Some plants are slow of growth, but
attain at length great vigour, and bear much firuit
Even Paul himself, who had been so much offended
:with him, at length declared, ^^ he is profitable to me
for the ministry*." From the epistle to the Colossians^
it is evident that he was witli the Apostle b his
-A. D. imprisonpfient at Rome, This was in the year 62^
62. JJis Gospel was written by the desire of the believers
at Rome about two years after. I know not when to
, fix the time of his coming to Egypt. But he is
allowed to have founded the Church of Alexandria,
and to have been buried there. He was succeeded
by Anianus, of whom Eusebius gives the highest
culogium. It is evident that the society of those
three great men^ Barnabas, Paul, and Peter, at dif-
ferent times was very useful to him. Probably his
natural indolence needed such incentives. In Mark
then we seem to have noticed one of the first promoters
of Christianity, of a cast of mind different from any
we have hitherto reviewed. — ^The variety of tempers
and talents employed in the service of Crod, and
sanctified by the same divine energy, affords a field
of speculation neither unpleasipg nor unprofitable.

Of the labours of nine Apostles, James, Andrew^
Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, Jude,
Simon, and Matthias, scarcely any thing is re*
corded.

. • a Tim. iv. 2.

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REMAINDER OF FIRST CENTURY*

Of John the Apostle a few valuable fragments
may be collected. He was present at the council of
Jerusalem, which was held about tlie year 50 : nor
is it probable, that he left Judea till that time. Asia
Alinor was the great theatre of his ministry, parti-
cularly Ephesus, the care of which Church remained
witti him after tlie decease of the rest of the Apostles.
The breaking out of the war in Judea would proba-
bly oblige the Apostle to bid a total farewell to his
native country. — While he resided at Ephesus, going
once to bathe there, he perceived that Cerinthus was
in the bath ; He came out again hastily : Let us flee,
says he, lest the bath should fall, while Cerinthus,
an enemy of truth, is within it. The same story i^
told of Ebion as well as of Cerinthus : they were
both heretics, and of a similar character : and it is
ah easy mistake for a reporter of the story to cbn*
found names ; but if the whole should have ha^ no
foundation, it is not easy to account for the fiction.
The testimony of Irenaeus, who had it from persons
who recefved their information from Polycarp the dis-
ciple of St. John, seems suiEciently authentic. Ire-
njeus, a man of exquisite judgment, evidently believed
the story himself; and surely the opinion of such a
person, who lived near tliose times, must outweigh
the fanciful criticisms and objections of modern au-
thors. The fashion of the present age., humanely
sceptical, and clothing profane indifference with the
name of candour, is ever ready to seduce even good
men into a disbelief of facts of this nature, however
well attested. But let the circumstances of St. John
be well considered. He was a surviving Apostolical
luminary. Heretical pravity was deeply spreading
its poison. Sentiments, very derogatory to the per-
son, work, and honour of Jesus Christ, were diffused
with gieat perverseness of industry. What should
have been tlie deportment of this truly benevolent
Apostle ? I doubt not but he was ever forward to
relieve personal distresses : but to have joined tbQ

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11 8 HiSTOfeY 6T TUl: CUtJRCH.

CHAP, company of the principal sn pporters of heresy, would
^^1 M have been to countenance it. He well knew the artft
of seducers. I'hey were ready alvvays to avail them-
selves of the seeming countenance of Apostles or of
apostolical men 3 and thence to lake an opportunity
of strengthening themselves, and of diffusing their
poison. Such has been their conduct in all ages.
Having no ground of their own to stand on, they
have continually endeavoured to rest on the authority
of some great man of allowed evangelical respectabi-^
lity. This artful management, clothed with the pre-
tence of charity, points out to the real friends of the
Lord JesUs, what they ought to do, from motives of
real benevolence to mankind, — namely, to bear pati-
ently the odious charge of bigotry, and to take every
opportunity of testifying their aWiorrence of heretical
views and hypocritical ijctions. Humanly speaking,
I see not how divine truth is to be supported in the
world, but by this procedure ; and I scruple not to
say, that St. John's conduct appears notoply defen-
sible, but laudable, and worthy the imitation of Chris-
tians. It is agreeable to what he hinr^self declares
in one of his short epistles, addressed to a Christian
lady, — that if " any come to her house, and bring
not the true doctrine of the Gospel, she ought not
to receive him, nor bid him God speed ; because tq
bid him God speed, would make her partaker of his
evil deeds." His menacing language concerning Dio-
trephes, in the other epistle to Gaius, breathes, what
some would call, the same uncharitable spirit. And
when I see St. Paul shaking his garment against the
infidel Jews, and hear him saying, *' Your blood be
on your own heads, I am clean ;" and when I find
him warning the Galatians thus, " If an angel from
heaven should preach any other doctrine, let him be
accursed," and wishing that they which troubled
them, " were even cut off," — I am instructed how
to judge of the indignation of holy St John agains^t
Cerinthus, •

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REMAINDEK OF FI EST CENTURY. llj

Indeed the primitive Christians were even more cent.
careful to avoid the society of false Christians than
of open unbelievers. With the latter they had, at
times, some free intercourse ; with the former they
refused even to eat*. — We have already seen, how
our Saviour commends the impatience and discern*-
ment of tiie Ephesians, who could not bear false
professors. — They had tried those who call them-
selves ^'Apostles, and are not; and had foUnd
them liars."

It is one of the designs of this History, to show
the actual conduct of real Christians in life and con-
versation : and the relation before us, of John's be-
haviour to Cerinthus, illustrates this. But, — if wc
must so fer humour the taste of Socinians and sceptics
as to allow ourselves to doubt the existence of well-
attested facts because they contradict the fashionable
torrent, wie shall injure tlie faithfulness of history,
make present manners the standard of credibtltty,
and practically adopt a very absurd modish position,
— ^that the divme charity of a sound Christian, is the
same thing as the refined humanity of a philosophi-
cal heretic. — I would ask any person, to whom the
infection of nK)dem manners renders this reasoning
of difficult digestion, whether he ought more to ap-
prove of the conduct of one gentleman who should
mix in easy familiarity with a company of murderers,
or ofimotherwho should fly from it with horror. If
we believe spiritual murderers, who labour to ruin
«)uls by propagating Antichristian views, to be still
more pernicious than the former, we shall not be
under any difficulty in vindicating St John.

The unreasonable doubts that have arisen in our
times concerning the fact we have been considering,
appear to me to originate in a spirit of heresy. There
is another fact, respecting the same Apostle, which
comes before us loaded with similar sceptical objec-
tions: and these are to be ascribed; I fear^ to the
♦ t C«r. V. 10, 11.

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120 PISTORY OF THE fMlVUCn.

CJUP. prevalence of deisrn. Tcrtullian * tells us, that, by
^^' ^ order of Domitian, John was cast into a caldron of
boiling oil, and came out again witliout being hurt.
This must have happened, most probably, during the
iatter part of the reign of that emperor ; and Tertulr
lian was certainly compet«nt to relate such a fact as
this : — Yet it is now generally disbelieved or doubted.
Is it because we see no miracles in our own times?
Let the reader transport himself into the first century ;
and he will see no more improbability, in the nature
of the thing, that a miracle should be wrought in
favour of St. John, than infavpurof Paul, as recorded
in the last chapter of the Acts. The miracle softened
not the heart of Domitian, who would probably supr
pose the Apostle to have been fortified by magical
incantations. He banished him into the solitary Isle
of Patmos, where he was favoured with the visions
pf the Apocalypse. After Domitian's death, he
returned from Patnjos, and governed the Asiatic
churches. There he remained till the time of Tra-
jan. At the request of the bishops, he went to the
neighbouring churches, partly to ordain pastors, and
partly to regulate the congregations. At one place
in^his tour, observirtg a youth of a remarkably in?
teresting countenance, he warmly recoqimended him
to tlie care of a particular pastor. The young roaa
was baptized; and, for a time, lived as a Christian.
But being gradually conupted by company, he became
idle and intemperate; and at length so dishonest, as
to becoine a captain of a band of robbers. Some time
after John had occasion to inquire of the pastor con-
cerning the young mcin, who told him, that he was
^ow dead to God ; and that he inhabited a mountain
over against his church f. John, in the vehemence of
his charity, went to the place, and exposed himself
to be taken by the robbers. " Bring me, says he, to
your captain." Tlie young robber belield him coming ;
ftud as soon as he knew the aged and venerable Apos^r
• Prescript Haer. t Clem, Alex, apu^ Eueeb,

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REMAINDER OF FIRST CENTURY. 121

tie, be was struck with shame and fled. — St. John
foUoKcd him and cried, jVlyson, why fliest thou firooi
thy lather, uoamied and old? Fear not; as yet there
remaineth liope of salvation. Believe me, Christ
bath sent me. Hearing this, tlie young man stood
still, trembled, and wept bitterly. John prayed,
exhorted, and brought him back to the society of
Christians; nor did he leave him, till he judged him
fally restored by divine Grace.

Even the truth of this last relation has been ques^
tioned by Basnage. But as I know no reason for
hesitation, I ^all leave it with the serious reader,
who loves to behold the tokens ot Grace from age
to age dispensed to sinners.

We have yet another story of St John, short, but
pkasing, and which has had the good fortune to pass
uncontradicted. Being now very old, and unable to
say much in Christian assemblies, ^' Children, love
one another/' was his constantly repeated sermon.
Being asked, why he told them only one thing, he
answered, that " nothing else was needed." This
account rests on the single testimony of Jerom, so far
as I have found. But as it seems to fall in with the
spirit of the age more than the others, its truth is al-
lowed. We may hence observe how little regard b
paid to real evidence by many critics, who seem to
make modem mamiers the test of historical credi*-
bility. Whatever fact shows the spirit of zeal, the
realty of miracles, or the work of the Divine Spirit
on the heart, must be questioned : What indicates
feeling or humanity, this alone must be allowed to
stand its ground. In truth, I shouM be sorry to
have so beautiful a story called in question ; but its
evidences are by no means superior to those of the
three fonner.

John lived tliree or four years after his return to
Asia, having been preserved to the age of almostahun-
dred years, for the benefit of the Church of Christ,,
^ inestimable pattern of charity find goodness.

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12t KfSTORY OF TH15 CHUflCH.

Of the Apostle Barnabas nothing is known, excq>t *
what is recorded in the Acts. There we have an
honourable encontluna of hi« character, and a particu-
lar description of his joint laboui's with St. Paul It
is a great injury to hini, to appixihend the epistle,
which goes by his name, to be his.

The v^-ork of Hennas, though truly pious and pro-
bably written by the person ujentioned in the Epistle
to the Romans, is yet a composition of inferior nierit;
oor is it wortli while to detain the reader concerning it.
Indeed wc liave no ecclesiastical work, exclusive of
the Scriptures, except one, which does any peculiar
honour to the first century. To believe, to suffer, to
love, — not to write, was the primitive taste.

The work wliich I except is Clement*s Epistle to
the Corintliians. This is he, whom Paul calls hts
fellow-labourer, whose *' name is in the book of
life*." He long survived Paul and Peter, and was no
doubt a blessing to the Roman Church, over which
he presided nine years. His epistle was read in many
primitive churches, and was admh^ed exceedingly by
the antk^nts. It has a simplicity and a plainness,
not easily relished by a systematic modem ; but there
belongs to it, also, a wonderful depth of holiness and
w isdom. A few quotations relating to its history, its
doctrine, and its spirit, will not improperiy close this
account of the pastors of the first century^

Its history will bring again to our view the Church
ef Corinth, which* we have already seen distracted
wilhschisnis and contentions, and more disgracing its
hiji^li calling with secular ambition than any other
priiwitivc Church. From the testimony of Clement it
fippears that St Paul's two epistles had been abun-
dantly uscfiil ; and that lie Imd reason tb rejoice ill
tlie confidence which he reposed in the sincerity of
profession, which prevailed in many of them, notwith^
standing these evils. Tlie account which he gives of
their good situation, may just;ly be considered as tbo
♦ PMHpp. tv^ .

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B£MAIND£R OF FiRST CliNTtRT.

proper fruit of apostolical admonitions. — " What
strangers that came among you, did not take ho-
nourable notice formerly of the firmness and fulness
of your faith ? Who of them did not admire the
sobriety and gentleness of your godly spirit in Christ?
Who did not extol the liberal practice of your Chris-
tian hospitality? How admirable was your sound and
mature knowledge of divine things ! Ye were w ont
to do all tilings without respect to persons ; and ye
walked in tlie ways of God in due subjection to your
pastors, and submitting youi^selves the younger to the
elder. Ye charged young men to attend to the gravity
and moderation becoming the Christian chamcter ;
young women to discharge their duties with a blame-
less, holy, and chaste conscientiousness; to love their
husbands with all suitable tenderness and fidelity ;
and to guide the house in all soberness and gravity*
Then ye all showed a humble spirit, void of boasting
and arrogance, more ready to obey than to command,
more ready to give than to receive. Content with the
divine allotments, and attending diligently to the word
of Christ, ye were enlarged in your boweld of love ;
and his sufferings on the cross were before your eyes.
Hence a profound and happy peace was imparted t©
you all : an unwearied desire of doing good, and
a plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost was v ith you.
Full of holy counsel, in all readiness of mind, with
godly assurance of faith, ye stretched forth your hands
to the Lord Almighty, intreating him to be gra<:ious to
you, if in any thii>g ye unwillingly offended. Your care
was, day and night, for all the brethren ; that the num-
ber of his elect might be saved in mercy and a good
conscience. Ye were indeed sinqere and harmless,
nod forgiving one another. All dissension and schism
in the Church w as abominable to you : ye mourned
over the faults of your neighbours; ye sympathized
with their infirmities as your own : ye were unwea-
ried in all goodness, and ready to every good work.
Adorned wjth a venerable and upright conversatiooi

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124* HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

ye performed all tliingsin his fear; and the law of God
was written deep indeed on the tables of your hearts/*

It is pleasii>^ to see this numerous Church, of
whom our Saviour had so long ajjo declared that ** he
had much people in this city,'* toward tlie close of
the century, still alive in the faith, hope, and charity
•of the Gospel, free in a great degree from the evils,,
^hich had cost St. Paul so much care and grief, and
preserving the vigour of ti ue Christianity. But his-
tory must be faithful : and their decline is described
in the same epistle. Pride and a scl)ismatical spirit,
which have since tarnished so many churches, and
which were evils particularly Cormtliian, defaced this
agreeable picture. But let Clement speak for himself :

" Thus when all glory and .enlargement were
given to you, that Scriptiap was fulfilled, * Jeshu-
run waxed fat and kicked. Hence envy, strife, dis-
sension, persecution, disorder, war, and desolation
have ij. ized your church. ^ The child has behaved
himsell proudly against tlie antient, and the base
against the honourable, tlie mean against the emi-
nent, and the foolish ag-ainst the wise.' Hence righ»
teousness and pc^ice are far from you ; because ye
ell leave the fear of God ; and your spiritual sight
is become too dim to be guided by tlie faith of the
Gospel. Vc walk not in his ordinances, nor w;alk
worthy of the Lord Christ; but ye all walk too
much according to your own evil lusts, nourishing
and chcribliing a malignant spirit of envy, by which
tlie t'wbi death came into the work^/'

The schism pregnant with so many evils gave
occasion to this epistle. It seems tlie distracted Coi-
riiUhians asked counsel of the Church of Rome ; and
hvv venerable p«>tor urotc this epistle inconsequence
oi their request. lie apologizes, indeed, for the delay
of writing, which he imputes to the afflictions and
tiistrefctcb which befel the Christians of Home *, most

• Tlie lid Pcrscculiou of the Christians, v»as by Dopitiaii,

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REMAINDEk OF FIRST CENTURY* ^a.>

probably on account of Domitian's persecution, tlie^
letter itself being written about ihe year 04, or 95. lu.
these times tlie sin of scliism was looked on wiili the
greatest horror. Clement calls the promoters of it,
*' the haughty disorderly leaders of the abominable
schism." — It is no trilling guilt, which men incur, by
precipitately giving themselves up to the will of those^
whose aim is strife and the advancement of a sect or
party, not the interest of godliness. He speaks of
persons, who talk of peace with their lips, while their
conduct shows, that they love to break the unity of the
Church ; like the hypocrite, who draws nigh to '* the
Lord witli his lips, while his heart is far from him." .
The attentive reader cannot but observe, how the
san^e evil prevails in our days to tlie great injury of
leal piety ; and yet how little it is de()lored ; ratlier,
how much encouraged and promoted by specious
representations of liberty, of the rlo;ht of private judg-
ment, of a just contempt of implicit faith, and of
pleas of conscience. Doubtless, from these topics
there are deducible arguments of great moment, and
which deserve the most serious attention in practical
concerns : but, at present, it is not my prov ince
to explain the vpiddle path in this subject, nor to
prove that modem evangelicaj Churches aie far gpnc
into the vicious extreme of sciiisuu

Vera remm vocabula amklmus.

However some persons ipay tiiumph in ejecting
separations from faithful pastors, it is a sliamcfpl
and an unchristian practice : and pcrlmps humble
spirits may, from Clement himself, acquire sufficient
instruction, how to di^icriminatc the spirit of consci-
entious zeal from tliat of schism, ami to know when
they ought not to separate from tlie Church to which
they belong.

" The Apostles,*" says he, "with tlie greatest
care ordained the rulers of the Church, and tielivered
•.rule of succession in future, that after tlieir de-

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IlISTORY OF TH?: CHUfttH.

cease other approved men m\gH succeed. Those
then who, by them, or in succession by other choice,
were ordained rulers with the ap[)robat!on and con-
currence of the whole Church ; and who in a blame-
less conduct have ministered to the flock of Chrat in
humility ; who for a series of years have been welt
reported of by all men, these we think it unrighteous
to deprive of the ministry. Nor is it a sin of small
mapiitude, );o eject from the sacred office men whose
ministry J2ffith been thus blameless and holy. Happy
those presbyters, who have finished .their course, and
have departed in peace and in the fruitful discharge
of their duties ! They at least, remote fi-om envy and
faction, are not subject to popular caprice, nor ex*
posed to the danger of out-living the affections of
their flock, and their own unfruitfulness. We see*
with grief, brethren, that ye have deprived of the*
ministry some of your godly pastors, whose labours'
for your souls deserved a different treatment" And
he goes on to show, that godly men in Scripturt^
** were indeed persecuted, but by the wicked ; were*
im[)risoned, but by the unholy ; were stoned, but by
the enemies of God ; were murdered, but by the pro*
fane. Was Daniel cast into the den of lions by men
who feared God ? Wei-e Shadrach, Mcshach, and
Abednego cast into tlic midst of the burning fiery
furnace by men, who worshipped the Most High?'*
iScbSsrtti What the sin of schism is, — in what manner the

c^nfiiiwuj. Corinthians were guilty of it, — and how far all this
is applicable to the case of Churches at this day,
will need but little comment.

Clement afterwards reminds them of their former
guilt in St. Pauls time. " Do take up the writing
of the blessed Apostle ; what did he say to you m
the beginning of the Gospel? Truly, by Divine
Inspiration, he gave you directions concerning him-
self, and Cephas, and ApoUos, beijatrse ev^n then
ye were splitting into parties. But jyour party-spirit
at that time had less evil in it, because it ww

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REMAINDER OF FIRST CEf^TURr-

exercised in favour of Apostles of cHiinent holiness,
»id of one much approved of by thern. But now
consider who they are that have subverted you, and
broken the bonds of brotherly love. These ai-e
^meful things, brethren, very shameful ! Oh tdl
k not on Christian ground, that the antient and fkni-
rishing Church of Corinth have quarrelled with their
pastors, from a weak partiality fior one or two persons.
This rumour hath not only r-eacbed us Christians, but
is spread among infidels; so that the name of Gr)d
b bla^)hemed through your folly ; and your own
spirilual heaWi is etidangered indeed." After exhort-
ing them with much pathos to heal the breaches, he,
toward the close, beseeches Aem — ^* to send back
owr messengers shortly in peace witti joy, that they
may quickly bring us the news of your concord,
which we so ardently long for ; that we may speedily
lejoice on your acteount."

What eflfecc on the Corinthians this kind animad-
versioH produced we know not: The whole history
ef the schism certainly deserved to be noticed : It rsf
related by the faithful pen of Clement ; and the spiiit
of declension IhMw simple Christianity, and the way
by wliieh the Spirit of God is commonly provoked to
depart Iroin churches once flourishing in holiness, are
well described. Human nature appears to have
been always the same : And tliis example affords a
standing admonition to Christian churches to beware
of that nice, factious, and licentious spirit, whichi
mider pretence of superior discernment and regard
for liberty of conscience, has often broken the bonds
of peace, and sometimes subjected the best of pastors
to suflRer, from a people professing godliness, what
mi^ have been expected only from persons alto-
gether impious and profane.

No apology, I trust, can be necessary fm* laying
before the reader, from tlie same excellent author, tha
following occasional exhortation. " Set before yon|i
^yes tlie My Apostles.r-Through the enmity of the

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138 ^' HISTORY OF THE CHlJllCHi

huinEUi heart Peter underwent a variety of afflicliods^
and having suffered martyrdom, departed to the due
place of glory. Through the hatred of a wicked world
Paul having been scourged, stoned, and seven tinges
cast into prison, obtained at length the reward of his
patience : Having preached the Gospel in the east
and west, he obtained a good report through failii :
Having preached righteousness to the utmost bounds
of the west, and having suffered martyrdom from
princes, he left this world, and reached the shore of
a blessed immortality : — He was an eminent pattern
of those, who suffer for righteousness sake., By the
godly conversation and labours of these men, a great
multitude of the elect was gathered together ; who,
through similar hatred of the world, w ere afflicted with
cruel torments and obtained a similar good report
among us through faith. Through the operation of
tlie same principle, even women jiipong us have
sustained tlie most cruel and unrjghtpous sufferings,
and finished in patieptfaidi their course, and received^
Dotiviibstanding the weakness of tkeir sex, tlie prize
of Christian heroes."

The nature of the epistle being practical, and those
to whom it was written not being corrupted in their
sentiments, much of doctrine by accurate exposition
and enforcement is not to be expected Vet the fun-
damentals of godliness are very manifest : Salvation
ONLY by tlie blood of Christ, the necessity of repent-
ance in all men, — because all men are guilty before

Cod, — THESE GREAT TRUTHS hc SUppOSCS, aud

builds on continually. "Let us steadfastly behold
the blood of Christ, and see how precious it is
in the sight of God, which being shed for our
salvation, hath procured the Grace of Repentance
for all the world."

And the nature and necessity of lively faith, as si
{)rinciple of all true goodness and happiness, and
perfectly dist'inct from the dead historical assent, witU
which it is by many so unhappily confounded, is well

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REMACNDSR OF FIRST CENTURY. 1 29

Illustrated in the case of Lots wife. " She had cent.
udother spirit, another heart : hence, she was made a
monument of the Lord's indignation, a pillar of salt
ix> this day ; that all the earth in all generations may
icQow, that the double-minded, who stagger at the
promises of God, and distrust the power of grace in
nnbetief, shall obtain notliing of the Lord, but the
signal display of. his vengeance."

The^divine dignity and glory of our Saviour; is
well described in these words : " Our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Sceptre of the Majesty of God, came not
in the pomp of arrogance or pride ; for, notwith-
standi^ his power, he was meek and lowly."

The doctrine of Election, in connexion with holi-
ness, a.s the Scripture always states it, appears re-
markably distinct in this epistle. A passage may
properly be introduced here, to show that it was a
primitive doctrine, and ma^de use of for the promo-
tion of a holy life:

, " Let us. go to him in sanctification of heart,
lifting up holy hands to him, influenced by the love
of our gracious aikl compassionate Father, who hath
made us for himself a portion of the election. For
thus it is written, * When the most high divided to
the nations their inheritance, and as it were sepa-
rated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the
people according to the numbec of his servants. The
Lord's portk>n is his people : Jacob is the cord of
his inbsritance.' And in another place he says,
' Behold, the Lord taketh to himself a nation from the
midst of the nations, as a man taketh to hinisetf the
first finits of hm thre^hin^ floor ; and from that
nation sliall proceed the most holy things.'

^* Since therefore we aire the holy on£ s portion,
let us be careful to abound in all thiqgs which ap-
pertain to holiness*."

3ut the distinguishing doctiine of Christianity,
without winch indeed the Gospel is a mere name,
* £p. ad Cor. 1. 29 sect.

VOL. I. K

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BISTORT OF THE CHURCH.

and incapable of consoling sinners, is doubtles^ jiMh
ti6cation by the Grace of Christ through faith
alone. — See the following testimony to it in this
author. It deserves to be distinctly remembered, as
an unequivocal proof of the faith of the primitive
Church.

" All these," he is speaking of the Old Testament
fathers, " were magnified and honoured, not through
themselves, not through their own works, not through
tlie righteous deeds which they performed, but
through HIS WILL. And we also by his will being
called in Christ Jesus, are justified not by our-
selves, nor, by our own wisdom, or undei;standing,
or godliness, or by the works which we have wrought
in holiness of heart, but by faith; — by which tlie-
Almighty hath justified all, who are or have been
justified firom the beginning."

His quick perception of the common objection, —
what need then of good works ? His ready answer to
it, and his manner of stating the necessity of good
works, and of placing them on their proper basis,
show how deeply he had studied, and how exquisitely
he relished and fdt St Paul's doctrines : —

" But what then? Shall we neglect good works?
Does it hence follow, that we should leave the law
of loving obedience? God forbid; — let us rather
hasten with all earnestness of mind to every good
work ; for the Lord himself rejoices in hb works*
Having such a pttttem, how strenuously should we
follow his will, and work the works of righteousntesa
with all our might."

The doctrine of the work of the Spirit on the heart,
and of the experience of his consolations in the soul^
which, in our days, is so generally charged with
'enthusiasm, appears from the following passage :

" How blessed, how amazing the gifts of God ;
beloved ! Life in immortality, — splendour in right-
eousness,— truth in liberty, — faith in assurance, —
sobriety in holiness ! — And thus far in this life we

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SEHAIMDER OF FIRST CENTURY-

know eiperiroentally . If the earnests of the Spirit be
so precious, what must be the things which Grod
hereafter liath prepared for them that wait for him ? '*

I forbear to produce his views of the resurrection,
and his beautiful manner of supporting the doctrine
by the andogy of nature, after the manner of St. Paul.
His mistake in applying the story of the Arabian
Phoenix has been, I thmk, too severely censured^
None in truth ought to censure it as a blemish,
except those who can so much compliment their own
sagacity, as to say, that they in like circumstances
would not have done the same. If the fact had been
true, it doubtless would have afforded ahaf^y illus-
tration of the doctrine of a resurrection. The story
was generally believed in his days. That Clement
believed it, is no proof of weakness of Judgment :
and nobody contends, tliat his epistle, in the proper
and strict sense, is written by inspiration.

What men are by nature, — how dark and mise-
rable ; — what they become by converting grace in
the renewi^l of the understanding, is thus expressed :
■^ Thi'ough him, that is, througli Jesus Christ, let
us behold the glory of God shining in his fkce:
Through him the eyes of our hearts were opened :
Through him our understanding, dark and foolish as
it was, rises again into his marvellous light : Through
him the Lord would have us to taste of immortal
knowledge."

This epistle seems to come as near to apostolical
simplicity, as any thing we have on record : The
illustration of its spirit would show this abundantly.
It is difficult to do this by sirj^le passages : A temper
80 heavenly, meek, holy, charitable^ patient, yet fer-
vent, pious, and humble, runs through the whole.
The following specimen deserves the r^er s notice :

" Christ is their's, who are poor in 4>irit, and lift
not up themselves above the flock ; but are content
tb be low in the Church." — " Let us obey our
^spiritual pastors, and honour our elders^ und let th#

, K 2

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XV.

132 HISTORY OP THE CHURClf* ^

CHAP, younger be disciplined in the fear of God. Let
^^ our wives be directed to what is good ; to follow
chastity, modesty, meekness, sincerity. Let thetn
evidence their power of self-government by their
silence ; and, let them show love, not in the spirit
of a sect or party, but to all who tear God.'' Again,
" Let not the strong despise the weak : and let tlie
weak reverence the strong. Let the rich communis
cate to the poor ; and let the poor he thankful to
God, for those through whom their wants are sup-
plied. Let the wise exert his wisdom, not merely
in words, but in good works. Let the humble
prove his humility, not by testifying of himself how
humble he is ; but by a conduct, tliat may occa-
sion othei^ to give testimony to him: Let not the
chaste be proud of his chastity, kno^ ing that from
God he has received the gift of continency." " Have
we not all one God, one Christ, one Spirit of Grace
poured upon us, and one calling in Christ ? Why
do we separate and distract the members of Christ,
and fight against our own body, and arrive at such
a height of madness, as to forget that we are mem*
bers one of another."

" Is any among you strong in faith, mighty in
knowledge, gifted in utterance, judicious in doctrines,
and pure in conduct t The more he appears exalted
above others, the more need has he to be poor in
spirit ; and to take care, that he look not to his own
things ; but tliat he study to promote the common
good of the Church."

. " Every one, whose heart has any good degree
of the fear and love, which is the rchult of our com-
mon hope, would ratlier that he himself be exj)osed
to censure than his neighbours ; and would rather
condemn hhnself, than break that teautiful bond of
brotherly love, which is delivered to us."

After pressing tlie beautiful example of the cha-
rity of Aloees recorded in the book of Exodus •, be
• Ex. xxxn.

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REMAINDER OF FIRST CENTORY. I33

•ays, " Who of you has any generosity of sentiment,
or bowels of compassion, or fulness of love ? Let him
say, if tlie strife and schism be on my account : I
frill depart, wherever you please, and perform what-
€ver the Church shall require. Only let Christ's
flock live in peace with their settled pastors. Surely
the Lord will smile on ^ch a character.''

III. The reader will not expect that I should S^'^^"*^
solicitously register the names, and record the opi* Ceniuiy.
nions and acts of those who are commonly called
heretics. — I have only to view them in one single
iisjtity namely, as they deviated from the spirit of
the Gospel. Let us keep in view what that really
is. The simple faith of Christ as the only Saviour
of lost sinners, and the effectual influences of the
Holy Ghost in recovering souls altogether depraved
by sin, — these are the leading ideas.

When the effusion of the Holy Ghost first took
place, these thing^were taught with power ; and no
sentiments, which militated against them,* could be
supported for a moment. As, through the preva-
lence of human corruption and the crafts of Satan,
the love of the truth was lessened, heresies and
various abuses of the Gospel appeared : and in esti-
' mating them, we may form some idea of the declen-
sion of true religion toward the end of the century,
which doubtless was not confined to the Jewish
Church, but appears, in a measure, to have affected
die Gentiles also.

The epistolary part of the New Testament affords
but too ample proof of corruptions. The Apostle
Paul guards the Romans against false teachers, one
mark of whose character was, that *' by good words
and fiiir speeches they deceive the hearts of tlie sim-
ple *." Corinth was full of ^Is of this kind. There
false apostles transformed theriiselves into the ap-
pearance of real ones. The Jewish corruption of self-
righteousness, which threatened the destruction of
♦ Rom. xvi.

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HISTOET OF THE CHURCH.

the Galatian Church, has been distinctly considered.
Maqy Christians, so called, walked as enemies of the
cross of Christ, " whose end was destruction, whose
god was their belly, whose glory was in tbar shame,
who minded earthly things*" So Paul tells the Phi-
lippians, and with tears of charity.-r-The epistle to
the Colossians proves, that pretty strong symptoms
of that amazing mass of austerities and superstitions
by which, in after-ages, the purity of the faith was so
m^ch clouded, and of that self-righteousness which
superseded men's regard to the mediation of Jesus
and the glory of Divine Grace, had begun to dis-
cover themselves, even in the Apostle's days.

The prophesy of Antichrist, in the first epistle of
Timothy, chapter the fourth, expressly intimates^
that its spirit bad already commenced by the exces-
sive esteem of celibacy and abstinence. The corrupt
mixtures of vain philosophy had also seduced some
fix>m the faith. Under the gradual increase of these
complicated evils, a meaner religious taste was form-
ed, in several churches at least, which could eveo
bear to admire such injudicious writers as Hermai
and the Pseudo- Barnabas f. — Peter, and JudeJ,
have graphically described certain horrible enormities
of nominal Chrbtians, little, if at all, inferior to the
most scandalous vices of the same kind in these
latter ages. The spirit of schism we have seen
again breaking out in the Chuixh of Corinth. — But
let us observe more distinctly the heretical opi-
nions of the first Century.

Ecclesiastical historians, who have passed by the
roost glorious scenes of real Christianity, have yet
with minute accuracy given us the lists of heretics,
subtilized by refined subdivisions without end. It
seems more useful to notice them, as they stand
contradistinguished to that faith which was once
delivered to the saints. Tertullian reduces the
heretic^ of the aposb^ic times to two classes, the
♦ Philipp. iii, t ? P«t. J Jude'g Epistle,

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REMAINBER OP YIEST CENTURY. I35

Docetas and the EbiOhites. Tbeodoret also ^ves cent.
the same account of them. ^ _Jl

Of the instruments of Satan in these things, Si-
mon, who had been rebuked by Peter in Samaria^
was th^ mo6t remarkable ; lie was tlie father of the
Gnostics or Docetse, and of a number oi^ heretical
opinions and piactices of the first century. How-
ever obscure the history of Simon himself may be*
the leading opinions of the Dooette are obvious
enough. They held that the Son of God had no
proper humanity, and that he died on the cross only
m appearance. — Cerinthus allowed him a re?tl human
nature : he considered Jesus as a man born of Jo-
seph and Mary; but supposed that Chhist, — whom
yet all the heretics looked onas propeily inferior to
the supreme God, — descended from heaven, and
united himself to the man Jesus.

The Ebionites were not much different from the
Cmnthians: they removed the appearance of mys<p
tery from the subject: In general they looked on
Jesus Christ as a mere man born of Mary and her
husband, though a man of a most excellent cliaiacter.
— Whoever tbmks it needful to examine these thingp
more nicely, may. consiilt Irensus and Eusebius :
The account of Ebion in the latter is shoit, but suf-
ficiently clear.

It is not to be wondered at, that with such low
ideas of the Redeemer s person, . the Ebionites der
nied the virtue of his atoning blood ; and laboured
to establish justification by the works of the law.
Their rejection of the divine authority of St. Paul's
epistles, and their accusaticHi of him as an Antino-
mian, naturally arise from their system. Tertullian
tells us, that this was a Jewish sect : and their oi>-
i^irance of Jewish rites makes his account the more
credible.

These two heretical scliemes, the one opposing
the humanity of Chrbt, the other annihilating tltfi
divinity, were the inventions of men.leanii>g to their

K4 •

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HISTORY or THE CHUBCH.

own undetstandings, and unwilling to admit the great
mystery of godliness, — "God manifest in the fltesh,*
The primitive Christians held, that the Redeemer
was both God and man, equally possessed of the
real properties of both natures ; and no man, willing
to take his creed from thc^ New Testament, ever
thought otherwise; the proofs of both natures in one
person, Christ Jesus, being 'abundlmtly diffused
through the sacred books. One single verse in the
ninth chapter to the Romans*, expressing both, is
sufficient to confound all the critical powers of heret
tics : 8U[)d therefore, on tlie slightest grounds, they
have been compelled to have recourse to their usu^
method of suspecting the soundness of the sacred
Text. The only real difficulty in this subject is, for
man to be brought to believe, on divine authority;
that doctrine, the grounds of which he cannot comr
prehend. Though we have just as good reason to
doubt the union of soul and body in man, from our
equal ignorance of the bond of that union, yet
proud men, unacquainted with the internal misery
and depravity of nature, whicl^renders a complete
character, like that of Christ, so divinely suitable to
our wants, and -so exactly proper to mediate ber
tween God and man, soon discovered a disposition to
oppose the doctrine of the Incarnation of Jesus ; and,
as there were two ways of doing this,— by taking
away either one or the other of the two natures, —
we see at once the origin of the two sects before ua.
The doctrine of the atonement was opposed by both ;
— by tlie Docetsc in their denial of the real hunmu
nature of Jesus; and by the Ebionites in their de^
nial of the Divine Nature, which stamps an infinite
value on his siifTerings.

Such were tlie perversions of the doctrines of the

incarnation and atonement of the Son of God. Nor

did the doctrine of justification by faith only, which

St. Paul had so strenuously supported^ escape a ^k

♦ Verse 5.

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REMAINDER OF FIRST CENTURY.

fiailar treatment In all ages this doctrine bias beea
either fiercely opposed, or basely abused. The
tpbtle to the Galatians describes the former treat-
ment : The epistle of Jude the latter.— The me-i
moirs of these heretics, short and imperfect ss they
are, inform us of some, who professed an extraor<«
c&iaryd^ree of sanctity, an^ affected to be abstracted
altogether from the • flesh, and to live in excessiye
abstemiousness. We find al^ that there were others,
who, as if to support their Christian liberty, lived
in sin with greediness, and indulged themselves in
all the gratifications of sensuality. Nothing short
of a spiritual illumination and direction can indeed
secure the improvement of the grace of the Gospel
to the real interests of holiness. At this day there
are persons, who think that the renunciation of all
our own works in point of dependence must be the
destruction of practical religion ; and they are thence
led to seek salvation " by the works of the law :*''
while others, admitting in words the grace of Jesus
Christ, encourage themselves in open sin. A truly
humbled Arame, and a clear insight into the beauty
of holiness, through the effectual influence of the
Divine Spirit, will teach men to live a sanctified life
by the faith of Jesus. The Gentile converts by the
Gnostic heresy, and the Jewish by that of Ebion,
were considerably corrupted toward the close of the
oeutury. The latter indeed of these heresies had been
gradually making progress for some time. We have
seen, that the object of the first council of Jerusa-
lem was to guard men against the imposition of Mo-
saic observances, and to teach tliem to rely on the
grace of Christ alone for salvation. ^ Ijut self-rijzhte-
ousness is a weed of too quick a grow th to be easily
eradicated. The Pharisaic Christains, we may ap-
prehend, were not immediately advanced to theYull
size of heresy. But when they proceeded to reject
St Paul's writings, we miy fairly conclude, that
they^fully rejected tlic articla of justificktiqn.-r-A

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XV.

13S HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, separation was made ; and the Ebionites, as a dis-^
tinct body of men, deserved the name of heretics.

St. Paul indeed, who, with an eagle s eye^ had
explored the growing evil, was now no more in the
world. But the Head of the Church prolonged the
life of his fevourite John to the extreme agp of almost
a hundred : and his authority checked the progress
of heretical pravity. He resided much at Ephesus,
where Paul had declared, that grievous wolves
would make their appearance. Jerom says^ that he
wrote his Gospel at the desire of the bi^ops of
Asia, against Cerinthus.and Ebion. Indeed such
expressions as these, ^^ the passover, a feast of the
Jews,'* — and, **that sabbath day was an high day,**
seem to indicate that the Jewish polity was now no
more, it not being natural to give such explications
of customs, except to those, whahad no opportunity
of ocular inspection. I cannot but think, that Dn
Lardner, who is no friend to the vital doctrines of
Christianity, has betrayed his predilection for So-
ciniatiism, in his attempts to show that' St. John in
his Gospel did not intend to oppose any particalar
heresies *. In truth, there are various internal proofs
which corroborate the testimony of Jerom. The
very beginning of his Gospel is an authoritative de-
claration of the proper Deity of Jesus Christ: The
attentive reader cannot but recollect various dis^
courses to the same purport : The contession of
Thomas, after his resurrection, stands single in St
John's gospel : The particular pains, which he takes,
to assure us of the real death of his Master, and of
the issuing of real blood and water, from his wounded
side, are delivered with an air of one, zealous to
obviate the error of the Docetoe : Nor can I under-
stand his laying so great a stress on Jesus Christ's
coming in tlie flesh f in any other manner.

* See his Supplement to the Credibility, in the history of St,
John.

t I John, iv.

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REHAII^DER OF PIR8T CENTURY.

Wlnle this Apostle lived, the heretics were much
discountenanced. And it is certain that Gnostics
and Ebionites were always looked on as perfectly
distinct from the Christian Church. There needs no
more evidence to prove this, than their arrangement
by Ireneus and Eusebius under heretical parties.
Doubtless they called themselves Christians ; and so
did all heretics, for obvious reasons : and, for rea-
aooB equally obvious, all, who are tender of the fun-
damentals of Christ's religion, should not own their
right to the appellation. Before we dismis them I
would remark,

1. That it does not appear by any evidence which
I can find, that these men were persecuted for their
leligion. Retaining the Christian name ; and yet
f^fying man's righteousness, wisdom, and strength^
" they spake of the world, and the world heard
them. The Apostle John in saying this, had hi^
eye, I believe, on the Docetce particularly. In our
own times persons of a similar stamp viould willingly
ingratiate themselves with real Christians; and yet at
the same time avoid the cross of Christ,, and what-
ever would expose them to the enmity of the world.
We have the testimony of Justin Martyr, that Simon
was honoured in the Pagan world, even to idolatry*.
— What stress is laid on this circumstance in the
New Testament, as an evidence of the characters
of men in religious concerns, is well known.

2. If it be made an objection against evangelical
principles,, that numbers, who profess them, have
run into a variety of abuses, perversions and con-
tentions, we have seen enough, even in the first
century, of the same kind of evils to convince us,
that such objections militate not against divine truth,
bat might have been made with equal force against
the apostolical ag^.

3. A singular cliange in one respect has taken
place in the Christian world. Tliu two heretical

* Apud. Euseb. B. ii. E. 11.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

parries above described, were not much unlike the
Arians and Socinians at this day. The former havei
radically, tlie same ideas as the Docetae, though it
would be unjust to accuse them of the Antinomian
aboniiinations which defiled the followers of Simon :
The latter are the very counterpart of the £bionite8^
The Trinitarians were then the body of the Church ;
and so much superior was their influence and num-^
bers, that the other two were treated as heretics.
At present the two parties, who agree in lessening the
dignity of Christ, though in an unequal manner, are
carrying on a vigorous controversy against one aino^
ther, while the Trinitarians are despised by both as
unworthy the n(;tice of men of reason and letters.
Serious and humble minds will, however, insist on
tlie necessity of our understanding that certain fun^
damental principles are necessary to constitute the
real Gospel. The Divinity of Christ, — his atone«-
ment, — justification by ftuth, — regeneration — these
they will have observed to be the principles of the
primitive Church: and, witl)in tliis inclosure, the
whole of that piety which produced such glorious
efiects has been confined : and it is worthy the
attention of learned men to consider, whether the
same remark may not be made in all ages.

IV, Thus have we seen a more astonishing revo*
lotion in tlie human mind and in human manners,
than ever took place in any age, eflfected without any
human power, legal or illegal, and even against the
unitt)d opposition of all the powers then in the world:
and this too not in countries rude or uncivilized, but
in the most humanizeii, the most learned, and the
most polished part of the globe, — within the Roman
empire, no part of which was exempted from a
sensible share in its etiects. — ^This empire, witfaia
the first ceijturv at least, seems to have been the
proper limit of Christian conquests *.

♦ Indeed that France had any share in the blessings of tht
Gospel withio this century, can only be inltned irom the

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REMAIXDE^ OP FIRST CENTOrY.

If an infidel or sceptic can produce any thing like
tills, effected by Mahometanism or by any other re-
ligion of human invention, he may then with some
plausibility compare those religions with Christianity :
But, as the Gospel stands unrivalled in its manner
of subduing the mhids of men, — the argument for
its divinity from its propagation in the world, will
remain invincible.

And, surely, every dispassionate observer must
confess, that the change was from bad to good.
No man will venture to say, that the religious and
moral principles of Jews and Gentiles, before their
cooversion to Christianity, were good. The idola-*
tries, abominations, and ferocity of the Gentile
world will be allowed to have been not less than they
are described in the first chapter to the Romans:
and the writings of Horace and Juvenal will prove,
that the picture is not exaggerated. The extreme
wickedness of the Jews is graphically delineated by
thdrown historian, and is neither denied nor doubted
by any one. What but the influence of God, and
an EFFUSION of his Holy Spirit, — the first of the
kind since the coming of Christ, and the measure
and standard for regulating our views of all sue*
feeding one8,-rcan account for such a change?
From the Acts of the Apostles and their epistles, I
have drawn the greatest part of the narrative ; but
the little that has been added from other sources is
not heterogeneous. — Here are thousands of men
turned from the practice of every wickedness to the
practice of every /virtue : many, very suddenly, or
at least in a short space of time, reformed in under-
standing, in inclination, in atfection ; knowing, lev-

knowledge wi have, that it was introduced into Sp ;iti. Whe-
ther our own country was evangeHzed at all in tbis ^^ntnry, is
very doubtful. Nor can we be certain that any miniiit^rs as yK
bad passed into Africa. The assertion, tborei'uie, ib^ti Uie G^^
ye\ had spread through the Roniun empire, fnust be under^op^
with a few exceptions, though I think fec&Ke a^y more thin
tbost, which kave been memiimed. ' * ... * '

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HISTORY OP THE CHUBCH.

ing, and c6nfiding in God ; from a state of mere
selfishness converted into the purest philanthropists;
living only to please God and to exercise kindness
toward one another ; and all of them, recovering
really, what philosophy only pretended to, — the do-
minion of reason over passion ; unfeignedly subject
to their Maker ; rejoicing in his favour amidst tho
severest sufferings; and serenely waiting for their
dismission into a lemd of blissful unmortality. —
That all this must be of God, is demonstrative :
— but the important inference, which teaches the
divine authority of Christ, and the wickedness and
danger of despising, or even neglecting hin), is not
always attended to by those who are most concerned
in it.

But the Christian Church wais not yet in posses*
sion of any external dignity or political importance.
No one NATION as yet was Christian, though thou*
sands of individuals were so ; — but those chiefly of
the middling and lower ranks. The modem improve-
ments of civil society have taught men, however,
that these are the strength of a nation ; and that
whatever is praiseworthy is far more commonly dif*
fused among them, than among the noble and great
In the present age then it should be no disparage'-'
ment to the character of the first Christians, that the
Church was chiefly composed of persons too low in
life, to be of aily weight in the despotic systems of
government which then prevailed. We have seen
one person * of uncommon genius and endowments,
and twof belonging to the Imperial fiatmily, but
scarce any more, either of rank or learning, con-
nected with Christianity. We ought not then to be
surprised, that Christians are so little noticed by
Tacitus and Josephu»: These tiistorians are only
intent on sublunary aftd general politics : they give
no attention even to the eternal welfare of individuals.
•~Nor is this itself a slight exemplification of the
^ PauL t Clemens sod DomiuUa.

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REMAIKDElt OF FIRST CENTURT.

gemus of that religion^ which is destined to form
men (or the next life, and not for this.

In doctrines the primitive Christians agreed : They DoctTinci
all worshipped the one living and true God, who ^^^t^**
made himself known to them in three persons, Father^ ^hiil'^
Son, and Holy Ghost: Each of these they were
taught to worship by the very office of t^aptism per*
formed in the name of the Father, the Son, and the
Holy Ghost : — And the whole economy of grace se
eonstantly reminded tliem of their obli^tions to the
Father who chose them to salvation, to the Saviour
who died for them, and to the Comforter who sup*
ported and sanctified them, and was so closely con-
nected with their experience and practice, that they
were perpetually incited to worehip the Divine Three
m One. They all concurred in filling conviction of
sin, of helplessness, of a state of perdition : in re*
lying on the atoning blood, perfect rigliteousness,
and prevalent intercession of Jesus, as their only
hope of heaven. Regeneration by the Holy Ghost
was their common privilege, and without his constant
influence they owned themselves obnoxious only to
sin and vanity. Their community of goods, and their
love-feasts *, though discontinued at length, — pro-
bably because found impracticable, — demonstrated
their superlative charity and heavenly-mindedness. —
Yet a gloomy cloud hung over the conclusion of tlie
first century.

The first impressions made by the effusion of the
Spirit are generally the strongest and the most de-
cidvely distinct from the spirit of the world. But
human depravity, over-born for a time, rises afresh,
particularly in the next generation. Hence the dis-
orders of schism and heresy. Their tendency is to
destroy the pure work gf God. The first Christiansv .
with the . purest charity to the pebsons of heretics,
gave their errors no quarter ; but discountenanced
them by every reasonable method.
* See Jude's epistle.

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144 HiSTbUY OF THE CHUttCH.

CHAP. The heretics, on the contrary, endeavoured trt
.^^ ^^1 . unite themselves with Christians. If the same itie*-
thods be at this day continued ;— if the heretic en-
deavour to promote his false religion by pretended
charity, and the Christians stand aloof from him,
without dreading the charge of bigotry, each act in
character, as their predecessors did. The heretics
by weakening men's attachment to Christ, and the
schismatics by promoting a worldly and uncharitable
spirit, each did considerable mischief; but it was the
less, because Christians carefully kept themselvea
dbtinct from heretics, and thus set limits to the in*-
fection.

It has been of unspeakable detriment to the Chris*-
tian religion, to conceive that all who profess it, are
believers of it, properly speaking. Whereas very
many are Christians in name only, never attending
to the NATURE of the Gospel at all. Not a few
glory in sentiments subversive of its genius and spirit
And there are still more who go not so far in opposi*
tion to godliness ; yet, by making light of the whole
. work of grace on the heart, they are as plainly void
of Christianity. We have seen the first Christians
individually converted : and, as human nature needs
the same change still, the particular instances of con-
version described in the Acts are models for us at
, this day. National conversions were then unknown ;
nor has the term any proper meaning. But when
whole countries are supposed ta become Christians
merely because they are so termed ; when conver-
sion of heart is kept out of sight ; and when no spi-
ritual fruits are expected to appear in practice ; — -
when such ideas grow feshionable, opposite charac-
ters are blended ; the form of the Gospel stands,
and its power is denied. — But let us not anticipate ;
— These scenes appeared not in the first century*

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CENTURY IL

CHAP. L
THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANS DURING THE
REIGN OF TRAJAN.

THE master of the Roman world in the beginning
of this Century was the renowned Trajan. His
predecessor Nerva had restored the Cliristian exiles,
and granted d full toleration to the Church. Hence
the last of the Apostles had recovered his station at
Ephesus, and slept in the Lord, before the short
interval of tranquillity was closed by the persecuting
spirit of Trajan. Whatever explication may be
given or conjectured of the cause of his dislike of
Christians, he had a confirmed prejudice against
them, and meditated the extinction of the name :
nor does it appear that he ever changed his senti*
ments, or retracted his edicts against them. i

There is an account of his persecution in his cor- The ma
respond^nce with Pliny the governor of Bithynia, ^'of tile***' !

a man well known in classical history. The two Cnrisiians* i

epistles between the emperor and the governor ^' ^' '

deserve to be transcribed at length*: they seem to ^^^ i

have been written in 106 or lOTt. ^^

107*
C. Plin^ to Trajan Emperor.

" Health. — It is my usual custom, Sir, to refer all P''ny'«

things, of which I harbour any doubts, to you. For Tf»>n?

• Pliny's Epistles, x. 97, 98* I

t Or perhaps in 102 or 103 of the vulgar sra. The reader

will do well to keep in miud, that many disagreements in chro- !

nology are accoanted for by considering that the Birth of our

Saviour is placed by some of the best chrooologert four ysars

before our vulgar asra.

VOL. 1. I.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

who can better direct my judgment in its hesitation, or
instruct my understanding in its ignorance ? I never
had the fortune to be present at any examination of
Christians, before I came into this provmce. I am
therefore at a loss, to determine what is the usual
object either of enquiry or of punishment, and to
what length eitlier of them is to be carried. It has
also been with me a question Very problematical,^ —
whether any distinction should be made betM^een tiie
young and the old, the tender and the robust ; —
whether any room should be given for repentance,
or the guilt of Christianity once incurred is not to
be expiated by the most unequivocal retiactation ;: —
whether the name itself, abstracted from any flagi-
tiousness of conduct, or the crimes connected with
the name, be the object of punishment In the
mean time this has been my method, with respect
to those, who were brought before me as Christians*
I asked them, whether they were Christians ; if they
pleaded guilty, I interrogated them twice afresh,
with a menace of capital punishment- In case of
obstinate perseverance, 1 ordered them to be exe-
cuted. For of this 1 had no doubt, whatever was the
nature of their religion, that a sullen and obstinate
inflexibility called tor the vengeance of the Magis-
trate- Some were infected with the same madness,
whom, on account of their privilege of citizenship,
I reserved to be sent to Rome, to be referred to your
tiibunal. In the course of this business, informa-
tions pouring in, as is usual when they are encou-
raged, ni^ore cases occun-ed. An anonymous libel
was exhibited, with a catalogue of names of persons,
who yet declared, that they were not Christians then,
or ever had been ; and they repeated after me an
invocation of the gods and of your image, which,,
for this purpose, I had ordered to be brought with
the images of the deities : They performed sacred
r\tes with wine and frankincense, and execrated
Christ, — none of which thin^ I am told a real
3

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BURIIJO THE REIGN OF TRAJAN. I47

Christian can ever be compelled to do. On this ac- cent.
count I dismissed them. Others, named by an in- ^ JL
former, first affirmed, and then denied tlie charge of
Christianity; declaring that they had been Christians,
but had ceased to be so, some three years ago,
others stjll longer, some even twenty years ago. All
of them worshipped your image, and the statues
of the gods, and also execrated Christ And this .
was the account which they gave of the nature
of the reh'gion they once had professed, whether
it deserves the name of crime or error, — namely
— that they w^ere accustomed on a stated day to
meet before daylight, and to repeat among them-
selves an hymn to Chiist as to a god, and to bind
tfiemselves by an oath, with an obligation of not com-
mitting any wickedness ; — but on the contrary, of
abstaining firom thefts, robberies, and adulteries ;—
also, of not violating their promise, or denying a
pledge; — after which it was their custom to separate,
and to meet again at a promiscuous harmless meal,
from which last practice they however desisted, after
the publication of my edict, in which, agreeably to
your orders, I forbad any societies of that sort On
which account I judged it the mpre necessary, to
enquire, by torture, from two females, who were
said to be deaconnesses, what is the real truth. £ut
notfiing could I collect, except a depraved and ex-
cessive superstition. Deferring t(ierefore any farther
investigation, I determined to consult you. For
Ae number of culprits is so great, as to call for
serious consultation. Many persons are informed
against of every age add of both sexes ; and more
stiU will be in the scune situation. The contagion of
the superstition hath spread iiot only through cities,
but even villages and the country. Not that I think
it impossible to check and to correct it. The success
of my ^[Kleavours hitherto forbids such desponding
Aoughts: for the temples, once almost desolate,
begin to be fireq^qeoted, and tlie sacred wlemnities,

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148 HISTORY OP THE CHURCH

CHAP, which had long been intermitted, are now attended
afresh ; and the sacrificial victims are now sold every
where, which once could scarce find a purchaser.
Whence I conclude, that many might be reclaimed,
were the hope of impunity, on repentance, abso-
lutely confirmed."

Trajan to Pluiy. «

" You have done perfectly right, my dear Plitiy,
in the enquiry which you have made concerning
Christians. For truly no one general rule can be
laid down, which will apply itselito all cases. These
people must not besought after: — If they are brought
before you and convicted; let them be .capitally
punished, yet with this restriction, that if any re-
nounce Christianity, and evidence his sincerity by
supplicating our gods, however suspected he may be
for the past, lie shall obtain pardon for the future,
on his repentance. But anonymous libels in no case
ought to be attended to ; for the precedent would
Jje of tlie worst sort, and perfectly incongruous to
the maxims of my government."

The moral character of Pliny is one of the most
amiable in all Pagan authority; yet does it appear,
that he joined with his master Trajan in his hatred
of Christians. In the course of this history, many
instances of the same kind will occur. Trajan's
character is do'ibtless much inferior to Pliny's; — It
is illustrious indeed by reason of great talents, and
great exploits ; but, by the testimony of Dio, Spartian,
and Julian, stained \uth flagrant vices*; and, as is
generally confessed, tarnished by an extravagant am-
bition. But how* is it to be accounted for, that men,
who seem enamoured with the beauty of virtue,
should turn from it with perfect disgust, and even
persecute it with rancour, when it appears in the
most genuine colours? Let those who imagine such
• See Lardncr's Collection, v. ii. c. .

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DURING THE REIGN OF TRAJAN.

men as Pliny to be good and virtuous in the proper
sense of the words, try to solve this phenomenon on
their own principles. On those of the real Gospel
the question is not hard to be determined. Admit-*
ting that Pliny might at first be prejudiced against
Chrbtians from misrepresentation, how happens it,
thaf he continues so after better information, even
when he is convinced, tlmt no moral evil is to be
found in the Christians of Bithynia, that their meet-
ings are peaceable, and the ends aimed at by them,
not only innocent, but laudable ? The truth is, virtue
in Pliny's writings, and virtue in St. Paul's, mean not
the same thing. For humility, the basis of a Chris-
tian's virtue, the pagan has not even a name in his
language. The glory of God is the end of virtue in
the system of one, — his own glory is the end of vir-
tue in the system of the other. The Christians of
Bithynia would be able to give the severe inquisitor
'* a reason of the hope that was in them with meek-
ness and fear," and then suffering according to the
will of God, to commit the keeping of their souls
to him in well-doing, as to a faithful Creator. These
and other precious sentiments in St. Peter's first
epistie, which was addressed to some of their fathers,
possibly to some of themselves then alive, would
now be remembered with peculiar force. A vain-
glorious mmd like Pliny's, elated with conscious
rectitude, would scorn to bear of being saved by the
atoning blood of Jesus, would not believe the repre-
sentation of human nature which they would give hioi,
and would prefer his own reason before the instruc-
tion of the Holy Spirit. Had he been, like Cicero,
deeply tinged with the academical philosophy of
Greece, like him he would have gloried in sceptical
ambiguity, or have inclined to the atheistic views, tp
which most of the old philosophers were devoted.
But as he seems to have imitated him, rather in his
passion for oratorical glory, than in his philosophical
spi it, he rested in the vulgar creed, highly absurd

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

as it was, and preferred it to the purest dictates of
Christianity. The former thwarted not his pride and
his lusts: the latter required the huoiiliation of the
one, and the mortification of the other.
. In all ages, men even of amiable morals, if des-
titute of true holiness, are enemies of the Gospel. —
We here see the true reason of this enmity; which
is not capable of being abated by argument : for if
that had been the case, Pliny might have seen the
iniquity of his proceedings. To call a thing madness
and depraved superstition, on the face of ^hich he
sees much good and no evil, is the height of unrea*
sonableness. But it is practised by many at this day,
who call themselves Christians, but are really as averse ,
to the Gospel as Pliny was : and if we would not be
deceived by mere names, but would enter into the
fepirit of thmgs, it would not be difficult to under*
stand, who they are that resemble Pliny, and who
they are that resemble the Christians of Bithynia.

In fact, as there are now, so there were then, per^
sons, who worshipped Christ as their God, who loved
one another as brethren united in him : men who
derived from his influence support under the severest
pressures : who were calumniated by others : who
i^ere treated as silly people, on account of that hum-
ble and self-denying spirit, by which they kept up
communion with their Saviour on earth; and who
^expected to enjoy him in heaven. — It was not the
HbluII of Trajan and Pliny, that such principles were
iiot extemnnated from the earth. 1 hey hated the
weti and their rcligbn.

The difference between the persecutors and the
sufferers is remarkable with respect to the spirit of
politics. The religion of Trajan was governed by
this spirit : And his servant thinks it needful to force
men to follow the pagan reli^on, whetlier they
beHeved it to be right or not. rersecuting edicts
appear to have been in force against Christians before
ti^ correspondence which we ^ve seen ; and Nerva's

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DURING THE RZIQJS. OF TftAJAN.

lE^eration seems to have ceased. But the Christians
showed, that their Master s kingdom was not of this
world : They were meek and passive, as Christ him-
seli' had bera, and as Peter had exhorted them to
be. Their number was very large in Bithynia, ca-
pable surely of raising a rebellion troublesome to the
state ; and they would*have done so, if their spirits
had been as turbulent as those of many pretended
Christians. " But they were subject not only for
wrath, but also for conscience' sake." If there had
been the least suspicion of a seditious spirit among
them, Pliiiy must have mentioned it ; and their dis«
continuance of their feasts of charity, after they
found them disagreeable to government, is a proof
of their loyal and peaceable temper.

In Asia, Arrius Antoninus persecuted them with
extreme fury. I am not certain whether his persecu*
tion belongs to the reign of Trajan; but as there
was an Antoninus very intimate with Pliny, the fol-
lowing story of him, frcHn Tertullian*, may not im-.
properly be introduced here. — The whole body of
Christians, wearied with constant hardships, pre*
sented themselves before his tribunal : He ordered
a few of them to execution, and said td the rest,
'^ Miserable people, if you choose death, you may
find precipices and halters enow." — I am willing to
believe, that the Christians hoped to disarm the per^
secutor by the sight of tlieir oumbers.

One oi the most venentble ^bamcters at this time
vas Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, the successor of
St. Jaines. Jerusalem indeed was no m(M«, but the
Church still existed in some part of Judea. Some
heretics accused hitn, as a Christian, before Atticus
the Roman governor. He was then a hundred and
Vwenty years old, and was scourged many days. ThQ
persecutor was astonished at his hardiness ; but not
moved with pity for his sufferings: — at last he
^pdered him to be crucified f •

* Ad ScapuL C. olt. f Euseb. B« iii, c. 99V

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Trajan
eoines to
i^utioch.

A. D.

107.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

'It was \n the year 107, that Ignatius, bishop of
Antioch, \^as martyred for the faith of Jesus. On
the death of Euodius, about the year 70, he had
been appointed in his room by the Apostles wha
were then alive. He governed the Church during
this long period : Nor was it a small indication of
tlie continued grace of God to tliat city, to have
been blessed so long with siich a luminary. We
must be content with the short character given of his
ministry in the Acts of Ignatius, a piece of martyr-
ology first published in 1647 by archbishop Usher,
from two old manuscripts w hich have stronger marks
of credibility than is usual with such compositions.

^* He was a man in all things like to the Apostles :
as a good governor, by the helm of prayer and
fasting, by the constancy of his doctrine and spiritual
' labour, he opposed himself to the floods of the ad-
versary : he was like a divine lamp illuminating the
hearts of the faithful by his exposition of the Holy
Scriptures : and lastly, to preserve his Church, he
scrupled not freely to expose himself to a bitter death."
These Acts were compiled by those who went with"^
him from Antioch, and were eye-witnesses of hb
sufferings*.

Ambition atid the lust of power were not stronger
features in the character of Coesar, than the desire of
martyrdom was in that of Ignatius. Divine Provi-
dence however preserved him for the benefit of the
Church during the persecution of Domitian, and
reserved him to the time of Trajan. This prince
being come to Antioch about the tenth year of his
reign, in the year 107, in his way to the Parthian war,
Ignatius, fearing for the Christians, and hoping to
avert the storm by offering himself to suffer in their
stead, came voluntarily into the presence of Trajan,
I shall deliver the conference, as it stands in the Acts
of Ignatius, — a monument of false glory shrouding
itself under superstition and ignorance, op the on«

* Wake's Epistles.

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DURING THE REIGN OF TRAJAN. 15^

hand ; and of true glory, supported by the faith anrf cent.
hofHS of Jesus, on the other. ^ ^^'_ ^

Being introduced into the emperor's presence, lie
was tiuis addressed by Trajan *. W^hat an impious ignatiis
spii it art thou, both to transgress our commands, and ^l^^j^
to inveigle others into the same folly, to their ruin ?
Ignatius answered, Theophorus ought not to be called
so ; forasmuch as all wicked spirits are departed far
from the servants of God. But if you call me impious
because I am hostile to evil spirits, I own the charge
iu that respect. For I dissolve all their snares,
through the inward support of Christ the heavenly
King.— Traj. Pray,who is Theophorus?— Ign. He who
has Christ in his breast. — Traj. And thinkest thou
not that gods reside in us also, who fight for us against
our enemies.'^— Ign. You mistakein calling the demons
of the nations by the name of gods. For there is only
ONE God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and
all that is in them ; and one Jesus Christ, his only
begotten Son, whose kingdom be my portion ! — Traj.
His kingdom do you say, who was crucified under
Pilate? — Ign. His, who crucified my sin with its
author ; and has put all the fi^aud and malice of Satad
under the feet of those who carry him in their heart. —
Traj. Dost thou then carry him who was Crucified
within thee? — Ign. I do ; for it is written ; " I dwell in
them, and walk m them." Then Trajan pronounced
tills sentence against him : " Since Ignatius con-
fesses, tiiat he carries within himself him that was
crucified, we cotnmand, that he be carried bound by
soldiers to Great Rome, there to be thrown to the
wild beasts, for the entertainment of the people."
' The learned Scaliger was puzzled to conceive what
could induce Trajan to order his being sent so long

' * SjB« the Acts of Ignatius ; and the preface of the Irfe of
Ijgnatius prefixed to a Tragedy written by Mr. Gambold, which
represents the spirit of primitive Christianity. The tragedy,
ponsidered as a composition, is unequal; but it contains m«ny
beautiful passages. ^

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154 HISTORY OF THE €|iURCH

a journey for execution. It might seem m(»^ natural
ior him to have directed that he should suffer in the
view of i)is own flock, in order to deter them from
Christianity. But Trajan might think the exapiple
much more striking and extensive, by using the
method wliich he took. At any rate, Providence
undoubtedly displayed, in this way, much more abun-
dantly the honours of the cross, as will appear by what
follows. — Tlie doctrine of Union with Christ by faith,
DOW so mucli ridiculed, appears here in its full glory :
And if ever we be called to scenes like these, we shall
feci the need of it strongly, and be sensible of the
impotence of those schemes of mere human inven-
tion, which are often substituted in its room Christ
within can alone support the heart in the hour of
severe trial: The boasted moral vhrtue of proud
philosophers is radically defective and unsound.

The scene before us is august ; and the state of
Christendom at that time is much illustn«ted by it.
The seven epistles of this great man, undoubtedly
genuine as they are, and accurately distinguisiied
torn all corrupt interpolations *, will come in aid to
the Acts of his martyrdom : By them he being dead,
yet speaketb ; and wliat the Gospel can do for men,
who reaUy believe it, and feel the energy of the Spirit
of its divine Author, haa not often been naore illustri-'
ously displayed.

From Antioch he was hurried by bis guards to
Seleucia: Sailing thence, after great fatigue hs
aiTived at Smyrna. While the ship remained in port,
he was allowed the pleasure of visiting Polycarp,
who was bishop of the Christians there. They bad
been fellow-disciples of St. John ; and the holy joy of
their interview may he conceived by such persons a^
know what the love of Christ is, and how it operates
in the breasts of those in whom be dwells. Deputies
were sent from the various churches of Asia to attend

•••Arehbisbop Usher bas preserved, or rather restored, theM
Epistles id us.

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DURING THE EEION OF TRAJAN. 155

and console him, and to receive some benefit by his
spiritUHl communications. Bbhops, presbyters, and
deacons conversed with him : a general convocation
seems to have taken place. — Four of Ignatius s seven
epibtles were written from Smyrna, to the Churches
of Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, and Rome.

The Church of Ephesus appears, from his epi^le
to them, still to have maintained its character of
evangelical purity. Their zeal indeed had decayed^ ,
but was revived : and the rage of |>ersecutioa was
the hot-bed, which reanimated their souls, and made
them fruitful again in faith, hope, and charity. The
very titles, by which he addresses them, demonstrate
what their faith was in common widi that of the whole
Church at that time ; and abundantly show the vanity
of those, whose dislike of the peculiar truths of
Christianity induces them to suppose, that the ideas
of predestination, election, and grace, were purely
the systematic mventions of Au^ustin, and unknown
to the primitive Christians. — We are certain, that
St Paul's epistles, and that particularly addressed
to this Church, are full of the same things.

^* Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to tiie
worthily happy Church in Ephesus of Asia, blessed
in the majesty and frilness of God the Father, pre-
destinated before the world to be perpetually perma-
nent in glory, immoveable, united, and elect in the
genuine suffering for the truth *, by the will of the
lather, and of Jesus Christ our God, much joy in
Jesos Christ, and in his spotless grace." The cha-
racter, which he gives of their bishop Onesimus, raises
our idea of him to a great degree. He calls him
" inexpressible in. charity, whom I beseech you to love
according to Jesus Christ, and all of you to imitate
him. Blessed be his name, who has counted ycHi wor-
thy to enjoy such a bishop." With him he honourably
mentions fdso some presbyters or deaccms of thdr
Church, " Throu^ whom," says he, " I have seen
* Allttdiog, doubtless, to the errors of the DoceUp.

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156 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP, you all in love." Oncsimus probably was the fuo^itive
'- , slave of Philemon, a growing plant in St Paurs
time.

The unaffected charity and humility of Ignatius
deserve our attention. He alone seemed uncon-
scious of his attainments, while the whole Christian
world adniired him. " I do not, says he, dictate to
you, as if I were a person of any consequence. For
though I am bound for the name of Christ I am not
yet perfected in Christ Jesus. For now I begin to be
a disciple, and speak to you as my teachers. For I
•ought to be sustained by you in faitih, in admonition,
in patience, in long suffering. But since charity wiH
not suffer me to be silent concerning you, for this
reason I take upon me to exhoit you to run together
with me according to the mind of God."

Nothing lies more on his heart in all his epistles,
than to recommend the most perfect union of the
members of tlie Church, and to reprobate schisms
and dissensions. He represents the Christians as all
united to Jesus Christ ; all partaking of the ;ame
spiritual life. To separate from the Church ; and to
lose that subordination in which they stood to their
pastors, was to tear in pieces the body of Christ,
and to expose themselves to the seduction^ of those
who would draw them from the faith and hope of
the Gospel. In modem times this language is judged
not very consonant to the spirit of liberty, on
which we are so apt to felicitate ourselves. And I
am perfiuaded, that the strong manner, in which
submission to the Bishop is inculcated, has been
the most weighty argument with several persons to
encourage themselves in doubts of the authenticity of
these pieces. But to doubt the genuineness of these
epistles ou this account, is to be the slaves of
prejudice. Usher, and after him Vossius, have suf-
ficiently distinguished the genuine from the false and
,. ttie interpolated : and the testimony of antiquity, an4
the ^reemcnt of the epistles, as thu^ purified, with

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DURING THE REIGX OF TRAJAN. 1 57

the quotations of the antients, render them superior cent.
to all exceptions*.

The circumstances in which the Churches were,
sufficiently justify the strong expi^essions of Ijgjnatius.
Heretics of various kinds abounded : and their speci-
ous artifices were likely to seduce the minds of the
weak. What then could be so just a preservative to
them, as to stick close to the society of their faithful
pastors, the successors of the Apostles? Humility
is the guard of real Christian goodness : nothing
but the want of it could have tempted them to desire
a separation : and in every age the same conduct
toward godly pastors is, doubtless, the true wisdom
of the Church : I'he spirit of schism, of ambition,
of self-conceit, disguising itself under the specious
pretences of liberty and of conscience, has constantly
produced the most fatal effects. Ignatius certainly
would not have wished the Ephesians to follow un-
sound and unfaithful pastors : but much more caution
in judging, and a much greater degree of submission
to ministers confessedly upright, are doubtless requi-
site, than many persons in our days are willing to
admit. — " Let no one," says Ignatius, "mistake; — If
any man is not within the altai', he is deprived of the
bread of God. U the prayer of one or two has so
much strength, how much more that of the IJishop
and of the whole Church? He, who separates from
it, is proud, and jondemns himself: For it is written,
God resistetli the proud. Let us study therefore obe-
dience to the Bishop, that we may be subject to God.
And the more silent and gentle any one observes the
Bishop to be, the more on that account should he
reverence him. Every one, to whom the Master
commits the stewardsliip, ought to be received as the
Master himself." — " Indeed,' says he, " Onesimu3

• I shall not enter into so large a field of criticism : — whoever
has leisure and temper suOicient for the subject, may read with
advantage l)u Pin's statement of the controversy concerning
Ignatius's epistles; and may tlience, 1 believe, learn all that is
ntedful to be known concerning it.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

exceedingly commends your go3ly order : — and that
you live according to truth, and that no heresy dwella
with you" — ** Some indeed, with much ostentation,
make specious but fallacious pretensions, whose
works are unworthy of God, whom you ought to
avoid as wild beasts. For they are raging dogs,
biting in secret, whom you should shun, as being
persons very difficult to be cured. One physician
there is bodily and spiritual, begotten and unbegotten,
God appearing in flesh, in immortal true life, both
from Mary and from God, — first suffering, — then
impassible — ** I have known some who went firom
this placed whom you did not suffer to sow tares
among you : you stopped your ears; so that you
would not receive their seed, as being stones of the
temple of your Father, prepared for the building of
God Ae Father, lifted up into heavenly places by
the engine of Jesus Christ, which is his cross, using
the H^y Spirit as a cord." — " Yet pray earnestly
for other men without ceasing; for there is hope of
conversion in them, that they also may be brought
to God. Give them an opportunity to be instructed,
at least, by your works." — " Without Christ, think
nothing becoming; — in whom I carry about my
bonds, — spiritual jewels; — in which may I be found
at the resurrection through your prayer, that my lot
may be cast among the £phesian Christians, who
have always harmonized with the. Apostles in the
power of Jesus Christ!"

" Ye are partakers of the mysteries with Paul
the holy, the renowned, the blessed, whose footsteps
may 1 follow !" — " Neglect not assemblies for
thanksgiving and pra3^r : For when you assiduously
attend on these things, the powers of Satan are
demolished, and his pernicious kmgdom is dissolved
by the unanimity of your faith" — " Remember me,
as Jesus Christ also does you. Pray for the Church

^ From Smyrna, I suppose, where the heresy of the Docet#
was more commcin*

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DURING THE REIGir OF TRAJAN. 159

in Syria, whence I am led bound to Rome, — the cent.
meanest of the faithful who are there." . '^'•

I know not how the reader may conceive ; but,
to my mind, under all the disadvantages of a style
bloated with Asiatic tumour, and still more perfmps
of a Text very corrupt, the Ideas contained in these
passages of Ignatius's epistle — and indeed the great-
est part of it is little inferior to this specimen, —
while they represent partly the faith, discipline, and
spirit of the Ephesian Church, and partly the chari-
table and heavenly mind of the author, give the fairest
pattern of real Christianity alive in its root and in
Us fi-uits. We see here what Christians once were,
and what the doctrines of divine grace are. And that
happy union, order, and peace, which flourishetl so
long at Ephesus, untainted with heresy, and ever pre*
serving the simplicity of reliance on the Lord Jesus
Christ, calls for our commendation of their obedience
to their faithful pastors ; — the want of a tender con-
scientiousness in which matter, so soon dissi|)ate»
the spirit of the Gospel in many modern Churches,
and favours very much the growth of a contrary
. spirit of fickleness, turbulence, and self-importance;
which, at the same time that it .feeds the pride oif
corrupt nature, reduces large societies of Christians
into contemptible little parties at variance with one
another, and leaves them an easy prey to the crafty
and designing.

The letters of Ignatius add something to the stock
of history, as they mtroduce to our acquaintance the
two Asiatic Churches of Magnesia and Tralles, which
• else had been unkno^^n to us. In truth, that whole
fertile region pf Asia propria seems to have been
more thoroughly evangelized than any other part of
the world at that period. From the time of St Paufs
labours at Ephesus, "when all they, which dwelt in
Asia, heard the word of tl)e Lord Jesus, both Jews
and Greeks *,** to the martyrdom of Ignjjttius, — that
♦ Acts, xix. lo.

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l6o HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

is for half a century or upwards, — the truth as it ii
in Jesus was preserved in its purity in these Churches :
The opposers of the Gospel could gain no footing
at all in some of them : In others they made no
great, or at least, no abiding impressions : In some
tiie fervour of piety was much declined ; and in
others it still retained a considerable strength. A
strong sense of the infinite value of Jesus in his
Godhead, his priesthood, and his blood, prevailed in
this region : Faith and love were fed by the view of
the Saviour ; and patience in suffering for his name
was one of their most common virtues.

Damas, the Bishop of Magnesia^ was a young
person, whom Ignatius calls "worthy of God,
Eminent grace in persons of tender years was some-
times in the primitive Church distinguished by their
advancement to the Episcopacy. In his letter to
the Magnesians, he warns them not to despise hi»
youth, but to imitate the holy Presbyters, who gave
place to him, but not to him so properly, as to ^e
Father of Jesus Christ — **Some persons, indeed,
call a man a Bishop, but do every thing indepen-
dently of him. Such seems to me to have lost a good
conscience, because their assemblies are not regulated
with stedfastness ar>d Christian order." He mentions
also with honour Bassus and Apollonius as Presby-
ters, and Sotio the deacon, " whose happiness,"
says he, " may I partake of! because he is subject,
to the Bishop, as to the grace of God, and to tlie
presbyterj^ as to ttie law of Jesus Christ"

Here, as elsewhere, he evidently points out three
distinct ranks in the primitive Church, — tlie Bishop,
the Presbyters, and the Deacons. A blind and im-
plicit submission to a hierarchy, however corrupt,
worthless, and ignorant, was then unknown. But a
just and regular subordination, according to the ranks
of men in the Church, was much attended to ; and
nothing like it, humanly speaking, so much encou-
rages and enables godly pastors to discharge their

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DURISTG THE REIGN OK TRAJ-AN.

oflSce with zeal and alacrity. Nor is it difficult to
conceive, what was the most customary mode of
church-government in those times. In vain, I think^
witi almost any modern church whatever set up a
claim to exact resemblance. Usher's model of re-
duced Episcopacy seems to come the nearest to the
plan of the primitive Churches. At first indeed, or
for some time, church governors were only of two
ranks, Presbyters and Deacons : At least, this ap-
pears to have been the case in particular instances i
as at Philippi* and at Ephesusf: and the term
Bishop was confounded with that of Presbyter. The
Church of Corinth continued long in\his state ; so
£»* as one maiy judge by Clement's epistle ; and
thence we may in part account for the continuance
of their conte^itious spirit. As these Churches gre^
numerous, they could never be all assembled in one
place : the Presbyters must have ministered to dif-*
ferent congregations, though the Church continued
one. Toward the end of the first century, all the
churches followed the model of the nriotber-church
of Jerusalem, where one of the Apostles was the
first Bishop. A settled presidency obtained, and the
name of Angel was first ^ven to the supreme ruler^
though that of Bishop soon succeeded. That this
was the case in the seven churches of Asia, is cer-
tain. The address of the charges to him in the book
of the Revelation demonstrates his superiority. The
Deacon, it is well known, was chosen to administer
in sacred employmaits of an inferior kind. These
three ranks appear to have been general through the
ChristiaQ world in tiie former part of this century.

It has been an error common to all parties, to
treat these lesser matters, as if they were jtjRE di-
TiNO, or like tiie laws of the Medes and Persians,
umdterabte. Could it, however, conveniently be
done, it may perhaps be true that a reduced Epis^
eopacy, in which the Dioceses are of small extent,
• Ch. i. PWipp. t A^ XX. 17.

VOJL. I. K

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

as those in the primitive Cliureh undoubtedly wefC,
and in which the President, residing in tlie metro-
polis, exercises a superintendency over ten or twelve
presbyters of the same city and neighbourhood,
would bid the fairest to promote order, peace, and
harmony.

But the Christian world has been more anxious
to /Support different modes of government, than to
behave as Christians ought to do in each of tlieui.
A subject of much greater importance is suggested
to us by a passage in the epistle to the Magncsiang,
" As tbere are two coiiis, one of God, tlie othei*
of thej world, and each of them is impressed with
iti; pwn character : the unbelievers are of this world,
tb^ believers in Iqve have tlie cliaracter. of God the
Tatjier through Jesus, into whose sutferings if we
are unvyilling to die, his life is not in us." Thus
does Ignatius call our attention to the grand dis-
tinction of men into two sorts before God ; of which,
whoever has (felt ]tl*ei force, will be Ultle solicitous
concerning other distinctions.

Let us. hear Ignatius's testimony to the Deity of
Christ, aod to justi6cation by his Grace tlirough
faith, and to the constant influences of tlie Holy
Spirit : And we may observe at the same tiiue, how
the Jewish leaven of self-righteousness had not
ceased, to attempt at least, to darken, and to cor-
rupt those essentials of tlie Gospel. The religion
of the Jews, indeed, must have been at this time in
a very low state; y^t the same Pharisaism is so
congenial to tlie hufnan mind, that ministers in all
ages will see occasion to warn tlieir people against
k, as Ignatius did. ...

" Be not deceived with heterodox opinions, nor
- old unprofitable fables. For if we still live accord-
ing to Judaism^ we confess that we have not received
Grace. For the Divine Prophets lived according
to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this they were
persecuted, being inspired by his grace, to assure the

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B0RING THE REIGN OF TRAJAN. 163

disobedient, that there is one Godj who manifested cent.
himself by Jesus Christ his Son, who is his Eternal ^ ^^^
Word — If then they have cast off indeed their old
principles, and are come to a new hope in Christ,
let them no longer observe the Jewish Sabbath, but.
live according to the resurrection of the Lord*, in
whose resurrection from the dead our resurrection
also is ensured, by him and by his death, which some
deny ; — through whom and by whom we have re-
ceived the mystery of believing; and on account of
this we enduje, that we may be found disciples of
Jesus Christ our only teacher. How can we live
without him, whose disciples even the prophets were ?
for jn spirit they expected him as their teacher. —
Let us not then be ini^n^ible of his loving-kindness :
For if he measured to us according to what we have
done, we should ire ruined. Therefore being his
disciples, let us learn to live according to Chris-
tianity : he who follows any other name than this,
is not of God. Lay aside then the old bitter leaven,
and be transformed into a new leaven, which is Jesus
Christ — For Christianity is not converted to Judaism,
but Judaism to Christianity, that every tongue con-
fessing God might be gathered together. — ^These
things I warn you, my beloved, not because I have
known some of you thus ill disposed ; but, as the
{east of you, I am willing to admonish you, that ye
M\ not into the snares of vain-glory, but that ye
may be well assured of that nativity, suffeiing, and
resurrection, during the government of Pontius
Pilate, of which literally and really Jesus Chrbt was
the subject, who is our hope, from which may none
of you be turned aside I — I know that ye are not
puffed up, for ye have Jesus Christ in yourselves ;
and the more I praise you, the more I know that
ye will be lowly minded." — Beautiful view of their
genuine humility i

'^ Study then to be confirmed in the doctrine? of

* Rp^Mumv ^r— A manifest intimation to them to observe
the Lord's Day.

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ItrSTORY ©P THE CftURCH

the Lord and the Apostles, that in all things which
ye do, ye may have good success in flesh and spirit,
m fiaith and love, in the Son, and the Father, and
the Spirit — Knowing that ye are full of God, I have
briefly exhorted you. Remember me in your prayers,
that I may come to God, and to the Church in
Syria, of which I am unworthy to be called a mem-
ber. For I need your united prayer in God, and
your charity, that the Church in Syria may be
thought worthy to partake of the dew of heavenly
grace through your Church. The .Ephesians at
Smyrna, whence I write, together with Polycarp,
Bishop of the Smyrneans, and the rest of the
Churches in the honour of Jesus Christ, salute you :
They live as in the presence of the glory of God, as
ye do also, who have refreshed me in all things :
Continue strong in the concord of God : — Possess
a spirit of union in Jesus Christ''

From Smyrna he wrote also to the Church of
Tralles, the Bishop of which was Polybius, *• who
so rejoiced with me," says he, "that I beheld all
your multitude in him. Receiving therefore your
divine benevolence through him, 1 seemed actually
to find you, as I have known you to be, followers
of God. For since ye are subject to the Bishop as
to Jesus Christ, you appear to me to live, not after
man, but after Jesus Christ ; who died for us, that
believing in his death you might escape death."

In what follows we have an intimation of the weak
and infant state of this Church ; which, though sound,
had probably not been so long planted as the rest.
And the martyr seems to express some conscious-
ness of superior attainments and gifts, but checked
with deep humility.

'* I have a strong savour of God ; but I take a
just measure of myself, lest I perish by boasting.
For now I must more abundantly fear, and not
attend to those who would inflate me with pride — I
love indeed to »ufler, but do not know wbi^her
I am worthy. — I need gentleness of spirit, by which

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DURIWO THp REIGN OF TRAJAN.

the prince of this world is subdued. Cannot I
write to you of heavenly things? — Ye are infants;
and I fear lest I should hurt you: — I fear lest,
through incapacity of receiving stronger meat, ye
should be injured in your spiritual growth." — Ha
goes on to guard them against schisms and heresies,
to remind tliem of the foundation of the Gospel,
Christ and him crucified ; and, in his usual man*
ner, to recommend obedience to their pastors: —
He modestly thus concludes, — " As yet I am not
out of the reach of danger ; but the Father is faith*
ful in Jesus Christ to fulfil my petition and yours,
in whom may we be found blameless ! "

The subject of his letter to the Roman Christians
was, to iutreat them not to use any methods for his
deliverance. — He had the prize of martyrdom before
him, and he was unwilling to be robbed of it. — He
speaka with uncomnKm pathos ;

" I fear your charity, lest it should mjure me. It
will be easy for you to do what you wish : But, it
will be dUhcult for me to glorify God, if I should
be sp«^ through your iotreaties.'—If you be silent
in my behalf, 1 shall be made partaker of God; but
if you love to retain me in the flesh, I shall again
have my course to run. — I write to the Churches,
and Signify to them all, that I die willingly for God,
unless you prevent me : I beseech you, that you
show not an unreasonable love toward me : Suffer
me to be the food of beasts, by wiiich means I shall
attain to the kingdom of God. Rather encourage
the wild beasts, that they may become my sepulchre ;
that nothing of my body way be left ; that 1 may
fflve no trouble to any one, when I &11 asleep, —
From ^rria to Rome, I fight with wild beasts — in
homan Ibrm, — by land and sea, by night and day^
chained to ten leopards, who are made even worse
by kind treatment fiy their injuries I learn the
nxne to be a disciple of Jesus^ — yet am I not hereby
justified, idaj I enjoy the real wild bea:^ which

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l66 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP, are prej'yared for me : May they exercise aU thdr
^* fierceness lipon me! I will encourage them, that
they may assuredly devour me, and not use me as
some, whom they have feared to touch. But if th^
will not do it willingly, I will provoke them to it: —
Pardon me, — I know what is good for me. Now I
begin to be a disciple : nor shall any thing move
me, of things visible and invisible : — Let fire and the
cross, let the companies of wild beasts, let breaking
of bones and tearing of limbs, let the grinding of
the whole body, and all the malice of the Devil
come upon me ; be it so, only may I enjoy Jesus
Christ! All the ends of the world, and the king-
doms of it will profit me nothing : It is better for me
to die for Jesus Christ, than to reign over the ends
of the earth : Him I seek who died for us : Him I
desire who rose again for us : He is my gain laid up
for me : — Suffer me to imitate the Passion of my
God. If any of you have Him within you, let him
conceive what I feel, and let him sympathize with
me, and know what a conflict I have. The prince
of this world wishes to corrupt my purpose toward
God : Let none of you present assist him : My
worldly affections are crucified : The fire of Gods
love bums within me ; and cannot be extinguished t
It lives : It speaks, and sajrs, * Come to the Father.'
I have no delight in the bread that perisheth, nor in
the pleasures of this life : I long for the bread of
God ; the flesh of Jesus Christ of tlie seed of David :
and I desire to drink his blood, — incorruptible love,r
Certainly no words can express in a stronger
manner the intenseness of spiritual desire: and one
is disposed to look down with contempt and pity oq
the magnanimity of secular heroes and patriots, as
compared with it Yet I have some doubt, whether
all this flame, strong and sincere as it unquestion-
ably was, had not something mixed with it by no
means of so pure a kind. For I would not carry
the reader's admiratbn or my ovm .beyond the limifci.

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DURING THE REIGN OF TRAJAN. 167

of human imbecility. — Ought not the Roman Chris- cent.
tians to have endeavoured to save Ignatius's life by ^^'
ail honest means ? — Has any man a right to hinder
others from attempting to save the life of the inno-
cent?— or, Will his intreaties give them a right to
be as indifferent for his preservation as he himself
is ? — Oujiht not every man, however prepared for
death, and preferring it, if God please, to use alt .
possible nielhods, consistent with a good conscience,
to preserve his life ?

I cannot answer these queries to the advantage of
Ignatius's determination. Was not his desire of
martyrdom excessive? If he was wrong, it was
douUless a mistake of judgment. I fear the example
of Ignatius did harm in this respect in the Church.
Martyrdom was, we know, made too much of in the
third century : — so hard is it to be kept from all ex-
tremes :-^ouRS are generally of the opposite kind.

These reflections are suggested, in part, by the
example of St Paul. He, indeed, "would go to
Jerusalem," though he knew he should be bound.
But the certainty of death was not before his eyes,
and therefore his resolutbn, in this case, is not si-
milar to that of Ignatius. As for the rest, he took
no pains to dissuade others from saving his life : He
took pains to save it himself : He blames his friends
at Rome for deserting him : And that eagerness for
martyrdom which Ignatius expresses, I see neither
in Paul nor in any of the Apostles. They rather
refer themselves calmly to the will of God in things
which concern themselves. On the whole, there
appears in Ignatius, the same zeal for God and
love to Jesus Christ, and tlie same lioly contempt
of earthly things, which was so eminent in the
Apostles ; but, I suspect, not an equal degree o(
calm resignation to the Divine Will.

The time which he was allowed to spend at
Smyrna, in company with his beloved Polycarp and
Other ^ieikU, must have been highly agreeable le

M 4

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HISTORT OF THE CHURCH

him. But bis keepers were impatient of their long
stay : the reasons were, most probably, of a maritime
nature. The season, however, for the public spec-
tacles at Rome was advancing, and, perliaps, they
were afraid of not arriving in time. They now set
sail for Troas, where, at his arrival, he was refreshed
with the news of the persecution ceasing in the
Church of Antioch. He had been attended hither
by Burrhus, the deacon of Polycarp; and him he
dispatched with an epistle to the Philadelphians, by
Way of return for the visit which their Bishop had
paid him at Troas. For here also several churches
sent their messengers to visit and to salute him : and
Providence so far restrsined the inhumanity of his
guards, that he was allowed to have intercourse
with them. — He wrote three epistles m<He at this
place.

The Philadelphians, from his account, were still
favoured with the same spirit of grace, by which they
had been already so honourably distinguished among
the seven churches of Asia. He recommends, as
usual, unity, concord, obedience ;— ^not that he had
* f^und any thing amiss in them, in these respects.

One may form some idea of the manner in which
these primitive Christians enjoyed the grace of God,
and admired and loved it, as it appear^ in one ano*
ther, by his way of speaking of the Philadelpbiaii
Bishop, whose name is not given to us, *^ whom,''
says he, " I know to have obtained the ministry, not
by any selfish or worldly means or motives, but
for the common good of saints ; nor through vain*
glory ; but from the love of God the Father, and the
Lord Jesus Christ I am perfectly charmed with
his meekness : When silent, he exhibits more power
than vain speakersy"

He recommends to them to preserve an unity in
the administration of the Lord's Supper : '' For there
is one body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and ooe cup
m the unity of his blood ; one altouv ^ cdm cm

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BUaiKG tHE RSIGK OF TBAJAX. 169

Bbbop, with the Presbytery and the Deacons my cent.
fellow-servants. — Whatever ye do, do all according ^/['
to the wiU of God."

The firomess of Christian fiuth, and his zeal
against the spirit of self-righteousness, are observ*
able in the following passage. *' If any interpret
Judaism to you, hear him not. For it is better to
hear the Gospel from a circumcised person, than
Judaism f)X>m an uncircumcised one. But if both
speak not of Jesus Christ, they are to me pillars
and sepulchres of the dead, on which are written
only the names of men.—The objects dear to me
are Jesus Christ, his cross, his death, his resurrec-
tion, and the faith which is in him ; by which T de*
sire, through your prayer, to be justified.'' He begs
them to send a Deacon to Antioch, to congratulate
his people on the cessation of persecution. Toward
tiie conclusion be speaks of Philo, the deacon from
Cilicia, who ministered to him, together with Aga«
thopes, a choice saint, who renouncing the world,
had followed him from Syria.

He wrote also from Troas to the Smyrneans, and
his commendations of them are consonant to the
character they bear iri the book of the Revelation.
They had w^itbered the storm of persecution, which
was there predicted, and had probably enjoyed the
ministry of Polycarp from St. John's time. The most
striking thing in this epistle, is the zeal with which
he warns them against the Docetse. In his view the
evil of their heresy consisted in taking away the
atoning blood of Christ, and the hope of a blessed
resurrecticm : — Let modem Divines hear him, and
be in^nicted. ^' I glorify Jesus Christ our God,
who hath given you wisdom. For I understand, that
you are perfect in the immoveable friith of our Lord
Jw» Christ ; who re a lly was of the seed of David
acoMrdifig to the fiedi, and bom of a virion really ;
—who REALLY soffcred under Pontius Pilate. —
For these things he su&red for us, that we might bo

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IIISLTORT or THE CHTJItCH- -

saved. And he truly suffered; as also he trxjlV
raised up himself: not as some infidels say that he
SEEMED to suffer. — 1 forewarn you of those beasts^
who are in the shape of men ; whom you ought not
only not to receive, but if possible not even to meet
M'ith. Only you ought to pray for them — if they
may be converted, — which is a difficult case. — But
Jesus Christ, our true lifie, has power to save to the
uttermost" — A humble and thankful sense of the
unspeakable value of Christ, leads naturally to this
charitv, and tlie want of it leaves men alwavs, undeF
tlie api)earance of candour, to a cruel insensibility of
heart and an qndistinguishing scepticism. It seems,
that these heretics, with the usual aitifices of such
persons, laboured to work themselves into the good
graces of Ignatius. He sees through their designs,
and says,: — *' for what does it profit me, if any man
commend me, and yet blaspheme my Lord, denying
him to have come in the flesh r — Tht^ separate from
the JCucharlst and from prayer, because they confess
not the Eucharist to be the body of our Saviour
Jesus Christ, who suffered for our sins. — ^They who
contradict . the gift of God, die in their reasoningis/
— Union with the Bishop lie strenuously insists on.
^' It is not lawful without the Bishop, to baptize,
or .to make a love feast"

We see the practice of true Christians in those
times. They carefully separated themseltes firom
heretics : they beheld their views with borcor : , they
stuck close to Christ. — His Godhead, Manhood,
Atonement, Priesthood, were inestimably pirecious
in their eyes. They could not allow those to be
Christians at all, who denied the fundarafentais : In
fine, they preserved order and close connection with
their pastors : tliey did notliing in religion without
them. — These were the means of protecting tnilb
among them : and the long course of evangplic^
prosperity in these Churches, under God> may be
•scribed to the use of these means* . .

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DURING. THE REIGN OF TRAJAN. 1?^

One tetter only remains to be mentioned, — that c^nt.
to Polycarp, — It contains a just picture of pastoral
integrity, wisdom, and charity : 'i he whole of it de-
serves to be studied by all ministers. Tlie more holy
any Pastor is, the more will he be sensible of the need
of divine wisdom and strength. — The disadvantages
in which a poor sinful worm is involved, who has to
contend against the united powers of the world and
the devil, amidst the corrupt workings of his own
nature, the open opposition of the profane, and the
faults of God's own people, cannot even be con-
ceived by a mere secular Clergy, intent only on ease
and prelerment, or, at best, on literary indulgences
and external decorum : as littie will they be con-
ceived by those ambitious and turbulent teachei^,
who are so swallowed up in poUtical dreams, as to
forget that Christ's kingdom is not of thb world.

** I exhort thee, by the grace with which thou
art clothed, to apply thyself to thy course of duty;
and to admonish all, that tiiey may all he saved.
Do justice to thy statbn in all diligence^ both tem-
NDoral and spiritual : Be studious of that best of bles-
\m^ unity : Bear with all, as also the Lord doth
wflb thee : Bear with all in charity, as indeed thou
aim dost. Find time for prayer without ceasing :
Ask for more understanding than thou hast at pre-
sent : Watch, — and possess a spirit ever attentive :
Speak to each separately,, as Almighty God shall
enable thee to do : Bear with the diseases of all, as
a perfect combatant: — ^The more labour, the more
reward. — If thou love only the obedient disciples,
thou evidencest no grace : Rather bring into orderly
subjection the turbulent through meekness ; Every
wound is not cured by the same metiiod of appli- *
cation : Watdi as a divine wrestler : Thy theme is
immortality and eternal life. — Let not those who
seem experienced Christians, and are yet unsound
in the faith, stagger thee: Stand firm as an anvil
continually struck. It is the character of a gi:eat

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HtSTORT OF TH£ CHURCH

wrestler to be mangled, — and yet to conquer : — Be
more studious than thou art : Consider the times;
and expect him who is above all time, who is un*
connected with time, the Invisible one made visible
for us, — the impassible, but passible for us; who
bore all sorts of suffCTings for us. — Let not widows
be neglected : Next to the Lord, do thou take care
of them : I-et notliing be done without thy cogni-
zance : Do thou nothing without the mind of God«
— Let assemblies be more frequently held: Seek
out all by name : Despise not slaves of either sex ;
yet let them not be puffed up, but serve more faitli*
fully to the glory of God, that they may obtain a
better liberty from God : Let them not desire to be
set at liberty at the charge of the Church, lest they
be found slaves of lust. — If any can remain in chas-
tity for the honour of the Lord, let them do so with-
out boasting. If they boast, they are lost : and if
the man set himself up above the fiishop, he is lost.
It behoves the married to enter into that connection
with the consent of the Bishop, that tbe marriage
may be aiter the will of God, and not to fulfil tbe
lusts of the flesh."

From Troas, Ignatius, being brought to Neapolts^
passed by Philippi through Macedonia, and that
part of Epirus, which is next to Epidamnus. Having
foimd a ship in one of tlie sea-ports, his conductors
sailed over the Adriatic; and thence, entering into
tbe Tuscan sea, and passing by several i^ands
imd cities, at length they came in view of Puteoli,
which being shown to him, he hastened to go forth,
desirous to tread in the steps of the Apostle Paul ;
but a violent wind arising would not permit htm to
accomplish tliis design. His attendants, the relats^.
of the martyrdom, say, tiiat the wind then became
fevourabie for one day and night ; — and that tbey
were hurried on oHitrary to their wishes: Thet sor-*
rowed at the thought of being separated from ban :
but UE rejoiced in the prospect of soon leaving tUo
3

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DURING THE EEION OF TBAJAN.

xvorld and departing to his Lord, whom he loved : — ►
They sailed into the Roman port Ostia; and when
the unpure sports were at an end, the soldiers began
to be offended with his slowness ; but the bishop
joyfully complied with their hastiness^ Ostia was
some miles from Rome; and he was met by the Ro**
man Christians, who intimated their strong desire
for his preservation. Some of them probably had in-
fluence with the great; and they were willing to
try it; Ignatius, however, was inflexible. He -was
brought to Rome, and presented to the Prefect of
the city.

When he was led to cxecutioni be was attended Mtityni^^
by a number of the bretlwen, and was allowed to ©f
join in prayer with them. And he prayed to the Son '!"*^
of God* in behalf of the Churches, — ^that he would j'^-'
put a stop to the persecution, and continue the love
of the brediren toward each other. He was then led
into the amphitheatre, and speedily thrown to the
wild beasts. He had here also his wish: The beasts
were his grave: A few bones only were left, which
the deacons gathered, carefully preserved, and aiter^^
wards buried at Antioch.

The writers thus conclude: " We have made
known to you both the day atnd the time of his mar-
tyrdom,— that being assembled together according to
that time, we may jointly commemorate the magna-
nimous martyr of Christ, who trode under-foot the
devil, and completed the course which he had de-
voutiy wished in Christ Jesus our Lord, by whom
and with whom all dory and power be to the Father
with the blessed Spirit for ever. Amen."

Usher has preserved, or rather restored to us also
an epistle of Polycarp to the PhHippians. It breathes
the same spirit as those of his fel!ow*disciple, but
has leas pathos and vigour of sentiment. Citations
from it will be needless. — He begs the Philippians to

* I use the expression of the Acts : let the reader make the
obriOQS inferclice for himself.

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174 HISTORY OF THiE CHURCH.

communicate to him what they knew of Ignatiu^^
whom they had seen at Philippi, after his departure
from Smyrna. We hence see how the Cliurches then
formed one large firaternit)^ abstracted from partial
views of supporting little factions and interests. He
exhorts them to obey the word of righteousness, and
to exercise all patience, which they had seen exem-
plified in Ignatius, and in others among themselves,
and in Paul himself, and the rest of tSe Apbstles :
for these loved not this present world, but him, who
died and was raised again by God for ui. By his
account it appears, that the Philippians still retained
the Christian spirit. — One of the Presbyters, Valens,
together with his wife, had sinned through covetous-
ness. — Would to God such spots in the pastoral
character were as singular in our tinges ! Polycarp
beautifully expresses his charitable concern for them,
and exhorts them, in affectionate sympathy, to en-
deavour to restore their spiritual health.

These facts and observations throw some light on
the persecution of Trajan, on the spirit of Christians
fio far as it can be collected at that time, on the mar-
tyrdom of Ignatius, and on thesignal glory whichGod
was pleased to diffuse around it among the Churches.

CHAP. II.

THE HISTORY OF CHRISTIANS DURING THE
REIGNS OF ADRIAN AND ANTONINUS PIUS.

Trajan died in the year 117. The latter part
of his reign had been employed in his great military
expedition into the East^ whence he lived not to re-
turn. His exploits and triumphs fall not within my
province: — I have no concern with him except in
that line, in which to a Christian he must appear to
the greatest disadvantage; and out of which, it were
heartily to be wished, that he had ever given any evi-
dence of a desire to remove. His successor, Adriaiv

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. ADEIAN A3»D ANT0XINU3 PIUS.

appears not to have issued any pereecutmg e(fictei.
But ttie iniquity of liis predecessor surv<ive<l; and
Adrian s silent acquiescence for a time, gave it suffix
cient scope to cxdrt itself in acts of barbarity*.

In tbe mean time ttie Gospel spread more and
uaore. A number of Apostolical persons demon-
strated by their conduct, that the Spirit, whidi had
influenced the Apostles, re^^ted upon- them. FiUeii
Mith divine charity, they distributed their substance
to the poor^aod travelled into rea^ions, which, as yet,
had not lieani the sound af the Gospel: and having
planted the faith, they ordained pastors^ committed
to them the culture of the new ground, and then
passed into other countries. Hence, numbers through
grace embraced the doctrine of salvation, at the first
hearing, with much alacrity f. It is natural to ad-
mire here the power of the Holy Spirit ^ God in
the production of so pure and charitable a temper ;
to contrast it with the illiberal selfishness too preva-
lent even amon^ tte best in our days ; and to regret
how little is done for the propagation of the Gospel
through the world, by nations whose aids of com-
merce and navigation are so much superior to
tliose enjoyed by the autients* — One advantage those
Christians possessed indeed, which we have not :
They were all one body, one Ciiurch, of one name,
and cordially loved one another as Brethren : The
attention to fuudamentals, to real Christianity, was
not dissipated by schismatic peculiarities, nor was
the body of Christ rent in pieces by factions : There
were indeed many heretics ; but real Christians ad-
mitted tliem not into their communities : the line of
distinction was drawn with sufficient precision ; and
a dislike of tlie person or office^ of Christ, and of
the real spirit of holmess, discriminated the heretics :
and Separation from them, while it was undoubtedly

• Tb« j)erwc!ition of the 2d year of Adrian, is commonly
called the IVtb P^necution of the Christians.

t.fioseb. B. ill. c. 33,

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wiisTOiiy OF the church.
the b^t mark of charity to their souls, tended tx»
preserve the faith and love of true Christians in
genuine purity.

Among these holy men Quadratus M^as much dis«
languished. He succeeded Publius in the bishopric
of Athens, who had suffered martyrdom either in
this or in the foregoing reign. He found the ilock
m a dispersed and confused state ^: Their publick
assemblies were deserted : their zeal was grown cold
and languid : their lives and manners were corrupted ;
and they sealed likely to apostatize firom Christi-
anity. Quadratus laboured to recover them with
much zeal and with equal success f. Order and
discipline were restored, and with them the holy
flame of godliness. One of the strongest tesUmo*
nies of these things, is the account which the famous
Origen, id the second book of his treatise against
CebuSi gives of the Athenian Church. While this
fflreat man is demonstrating the admirable efficacy of
Christian &ith on the minds of men, be exemplifies
his positions by this very Church of Athens, on ac-
count of its good order, constancy, meekness, and
quietness : — He represents it as infinitely superior in
these respects to t^e common political assembly in
tlmt city, which was factious and tumultuary: — He
affirms th^t it was evident, that the worst parts of
the Church were better than the best of their popu*
kur assemblies. This is a very pleasing testimony to
the growth of Christianity, since the time that a
handful of seed was sown there by St. Paul : and^.
let the testimony of so penetrating and sagacious an
observer as Origen be considered, as one of the many
proofs that might be ^ven of the happy effect which
real Christianity hits on human society. To a mind
not intoxicated with vain ideas of secular glory, the
Christian part of Athens must appear infinitely more
happy and more respectable, than that coipmoQ-
npalth ever had been ia the meridian of it's glory>

* Euseb. B. iv. c^ ^2. f Cave* s U!h of Qnadratut.

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Adrian and antoninus tius. 1^7-

^«^]3ut we hope in future pages to give mufch strohget*' cent.
proofs of the advantages derived to society from
the Gospel.

In the sixth year of his reigrt, Adrian came to
Athens, and was initiated iti the Eleusinian mysteries.
This Prince was remarkably fond of Pagan institu-
tions ; and by this very circumstance demonstrated
a spirit extremely foreign to Christianity. The per-
secutors were proceedmg with sanguinary vigour,
when Quadratus, at length, presented an apology
to the Emperor, in which he defended the Gospel
from the calumnies of its enemies ; and ill which
he particularly took notice of our Saviour s miracles,
his curing of diseases, and raising of the dead, —
some instances of which, he says, namely, of persons
j^sed from the dead, were alive in his time. '
' Aristides, a Christian writer at that time in Athens,
addressed himself also to Adrian in an apology ori
the same subject. The good sense of the Emperor
at length was roused to do justice to his innocent
subjects. The apologies of the two writers may be
reasonably supposed to have had some effect on his
i^ind. Yet a letter from Serenius Granlanus, Pro-
consul of Asia, may be conceived to have moved him
still more. He wrote to the Emperor, " tliat it
seemed to him unreasonable, that the Christians
should be put to deaths merely to gratify the cla-
mours of the people, without trial, and without any
crime proved agamst them." This seems the first in-
stance of any Roman Governor daring publicly to
suggest ideas contradictory to Trajan's iniquitous
maxims, which inflicted death on Christians as such,
abstracted from any moral gui^^. And it seems tO;
me a sufficient proof, that the severe sufferings of
Christians at this period, which appear to have been
very Femarkable in Asia, were more owing to the
active and sanjguinary spirit of persecution itself, —
which, from Trajan's example, was become very
fashionable^ than to any explicit regard to his Edicts.

VOL. h N

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HISTORY OP TUS eHUROH.

We have Adrian's Rescript addressed to Minuclus.
Fundanus, the successor of Graoianus, whose go-
vernment seems to have been near to it*s conclusion^
when he wrote to the Emperor.

To Minucius Fundanus.

" I have received a letter written to me by the
very illustrious Serenius Granianus, whom you have
succeeded. — ^To me then the affair seems by no
means fit to be slightly passed over, that men may
not be disturbed without cause, and that sycophants
may not be encouraged in their odious practices.
If the people of the province will appear publicly,
and make open charges against the Christians, so as
to give them an opportunity of answering for them-
, selves, let them proceed in that manner only, and,
not by rude demands and mere clamours. For it
is much more proper, if any person will accuse them,
that YOU should take cognizance of these matters.
If any then accuse, and show that they actually break;
the laws, do you determine according to the nature
of the crime. But, by Hercules*, if the charge be
a mere calumny, do you estimate the enormity of
such calumny, and punish it as it deserves."

Notwithstanding the obscurity, which I find Dr.
Jortin and Dr. Lardner suppose to be in this rescript,
I cannot but think it clearly shows that it was the
intention of the Emperor to prevent Christians from
being punished as such. The only reason for hesi-
tation, which I can see, is the inconsistency of it
with Trajan's rescript. But it does not appear that
Adrian intended the conduct pf his predecessor to be
the model of his ow? ^ and we shall see, in the next
reign, still clearer proofs of the equity of Adrian's
views. It is but justice due to this Emperor, to free
his character from the charge of persecution ; and

• Thi$ is an Oath, demonstrating only the earnestness of
tbe writer in his declarations, accor£ng to the nsqal profane*
Mssofmeii. A

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ADHIAN AN© AifTONIl^US PluS.

Christians of that or of any age could not ol>!€Ct to
the propriety of being punishc^d equally with other
men, if they violated the laws of the state. But it is
the glory of the times we are now reviewing, that
no men were more innocent, peaceable, and well*^
dbposed citizens than the Christians. Yet the enmity
of men's minds against real godliness, — so natural in
all ages, — ^laid tJ^em under extreme disadvantaged
unknown to others, in vindicating themselves from
unjust aspersions: and this forms, indeed, one of the
most painful crosses which good men must endure
in this life. For example, many heretics, who wore
the name of Christians, were guilty of the most
detestable enormities : these were indiscriminat^y
charged by the pagans on Christians in generaL—
This drcuinstance, in addition to other still more
important reasons, rendered them careful in pre-
serving the line of separation distinct : and, by the
excellency of their doctrine, and the purity of their
lives, they were enabled gradually to overcome all
uncandid insinuations.

There is extant also a letter of Adrian* in which -
he speaks .of Christian bishops in as respectable a
manner as of the priests of S^apis; and. of Christ
tians in general as very numerous at Alexandria.
Sifice St Mark's time therefore, it is evident, though
we have scarce any particular accounts, that the
Gospel must have flourished abundantly in Egypt

But the same equitable rule of government, which
ferbad Adrian to punish the innocent Christians^
led him to be very severe against the guilty Jews:
for now appeared Barchocliebas, who pretended
to be the star prophesied of by Balaam. This
miBerable p60{^ who bad rejected the true Christy
received the impostor with open armr; and were by
him led into horrid crimes ; and amongst the rest
into a cruel treatment of the Christians f. The issue

• VopisCQS, b* ii. 67.

t Justin MartyTi in his first, commonly called second A pology,
y a observs9

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l80 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, of the rebelUon was the entire exclusion of the Jew4
^ J^, p from the city and territory of Jerusalem. Another
city was erected in its stead, and called, after the
emperor s name, -SEIia. This leads us to consider
how the state of the Mother-church of Jerusalem
-was affected by tliis great revolution. The Christian
Jews, previous to the destruction of Jerusalem by
Titus, as it has been observed, had retired to Pella,
a little town beyond Jordan, mhabited by Gentiles :
The unexpected retreat of Cestius had given them
this opportunity of eflFecting tlieir escape. How
long they continued here, is uncertain. They must,
A. t>. however, have returned before Adrian's time, who,
1 1 7. coming to Jerusalem 47 years after the devastation,
found there a few houses and a little -Church of
Christians built on mount Sion. Here the Church
of Jerusalem kept their solemn assemblies, and
seemed to have acquired a splendid accession by the
conversion of Aquila, the emperor s kinsman, whon^
he made governor and overseer of the new city. But
as he continued to pursue hib magic and astrological
studies, he was excluded from the Church. — A
strong proof that the Mother-church still retained
a measure of its pristine purity and discipline ! —
Corrupt churches are glad to retain persons of emi-
nence in their communion, however void of the
spirit of the Gospel. — Aquila, incensed, apostatized
to Judaism, ^nd translated the Old Testament into
Greek*.

Eusebius, b. iv. c. 5. gives us a list of the bishops
who successively presided in Jerusalem. The first
was the Apostle James, the second Simeon ; both
whose histories have been recorded. He mentions
thirteen more ; but we have no account of their cha-
racters or actions. During all this time something
judaical seems to have continued in their practice ;

observi^s that Barchocbebas cru«lly tortured such Christians as
refused to deny and blaspheme Jesus Christ.
♦ Cave's Life of Simeon.

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ADRIAN AND ANTONINUS PIUS. l8l

thoqgb Jewish ideas would naturally decay by de- cent,
crees. The revolution under Adrian, at length put
a total end to the Jewish Church, by the extirpation
and banishment of this people. — ^To such outward
changes is the Church of Christ subject : a new
Church, however, arose in iElia, of the Gentiles,
whose bishop was named Mark.

Adrian, arfter a reign of twenty-one years, was
succeeded by Antoninus Pius, who appears to have
been, at least in his own personal character and
intentions, always guiltless of Christian blood. It
was now very difficult for the enemies of Christ to
support their persecuting spirit, with any tolerably
specious pretensions: The abominations of heretics,
whom ignorance and malice will ever confound with
real Christians, furnished them with son\p: Probably
these were much exaggerated : but whatever they
were, the whole Christian name was accused of them.
They were charged witli incest, and the devouring
of infants ; and thus a handle was afforded for the
barbarous treatment of the best of mankind ; till time
detected the slanders, and men became at length
ashamed of affecting to believe what was in its own
nature improbable, and was supported by no evi-
dence. It pleased God at this time to endow some
Christians with the power of defending his truth
by the manly arms of rational argumentation. Justin ;J^'*|"*
jVIaityr presented hb first Apology to the emperor a.*^d.
Antoninus Pius, about the third year of his reign, j \q *
A. D. 146. He was of that class of men, who, in q/
those days, were usually called philosophers. His j^q^
conversion to Christianity, his views and spirit, his
labours and sufferings, will deserve to be considered
in a distinct chapter. Suffice it here to say, that
the information and arguments, which his first Apo^
logy contained, were iK>t in yain. Antoninus was a
man of sense and humanity. Open to conviction^
uncorrupted by the Vain and chimerical philosophy
<?f the times, he was desirous, of doing justice to all

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HISTOKY OF THE CHURCH.

mankind. Asia propria was still the scene of vital
Christianity and of cruel persecution, — ^Thence the
Christians applied tp Antoninus; and complained of
the many injuries which they sustained from the
people of the country. — Earthquakes, it seems, had
lately happened ; and the pagans were much terrier
fied, and ascribed them to the vengeance of Heaven
against the Christians. We have, both in Eusebius *
and at the end of Justin's first Apology, the Edict
sent to the common council of Asia ; every line of
^vhich deserves attention.

The Emperor^ to the Common Council of Asia.

*'^ I am quite of (pinion, that the gods will take
care to discover such persons. For it much morp
concerns them to punish those who refuse to worship
them, than you, if they be able. But you harass
and vex tlie Christians, and accuse them of Atheism
and other crimes, i^^ch you can by no means prov^
To them ii|; appears an advantage to die for their
religiont and they gain their point, while they throw
away their lives, rather than comply with your in*
junctions. As to the earthquakes which have hap-
pened in past times, or lately, is it not proper to
remind you of your own despondency, when ihej
happen; — and to desire you to compare your spirit
with theirs, aond observe how serenely they confide
in Godp In such seasons you seem to be ignorant
of the gods, and to n^lect their worship: You
live in the practical ignorance of the supreme God
himself, and you harass and persecute to death those
who do worship him. Concerning these same men,
tome others of the provbcial govemorsi wrote to our
divine father Adiian, to whom he returned answer,
-^— ♦ That they should not be molested, unless they
appeared to attempt something against the Roman
govermnent' Many also have signified to me con**

♦ B, iv. u, la, 13,

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ADRIAK AND ANTONINUS PIUS.

MfDing these men, to whom I have returned an
toswer agreeable to the maxims of my father. But if
any person will still persist in accusing the Christians
tnerely as such, — Let the accused be acquitted,
though he appear to be a Christian; — and let the
accuser be punished." — Set up at Ephesus in the
common assembly of Asia.

Eusebius informs us, that this was no empty
edict, but was really put in execution. Nor did this
emperor content himself with one edict. He wrote
to the same purport to the Larisseans, the Thessa*
lonians, the Athenians, and all the Greeks.

As this prince reigned 23 years, such vigorous
measures must, after some time at least, have had
their effect. And we may fairly conclude that during
a great part of tliis reign the Christians were per-
mitted to woi-ship God in peace. A few remarks
on the conduct of this prince, tod on the facts which
appear on the face of bis edicts may be judged not
improper.

1. There are, it seems, some instances of princes,
even in antient history, not unacquainted with the
just principles of religious liberty, which are now
more generally understood. The most intelligent
legislator, in any age, never understood the natural
rights of conscience better than Antoninus Pius. He
saw that Christians, as such, ought nottobe punish-*
ed. His subjects, bigoted and barbarous, were far
itom thinking so ; and it was not till after repeated
edicts and menaces, that he forced them to cease
from persecution.

2. In the conduct of this emperor one may ob-
serve how fiar human nature can advance in moral
virtue by its natural resources, while it remains des-
titute of the grace of God and the superior principle
of holiness. If the advocates of natural morality,
considered as abstracted frewm Christianity, were to
fix on a character the most able to support the weight
of their cause, it would be their interest tO put it

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II.

I^SA^ HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, ioto the hands of Antoninus Pius. He would defend it,
not with pompous systems and declamatory flourish^
es, but by an amiable, generous, and magnanimous
conduct. I have been astonished at the character that
is recorded of him. Doubtless a more distinct and
explicit detail of his life would lessen our admiratioiu
We have not the opportunity of knowing him sq
thoroughly as . we do Socrates and Cicero. The
former, by the writings of his scholars, the latter by
his own, are known as minutely as if they were our
contemporaries. Could the emperor be as accurately
scrutinized, possibly something of the supercilious
pride of the Grecian, or of the ridiculous vain-glory
of the Roman Patriot, might appear. They are both
allowed to be very eminent patterns of moml virtue;
but yet, witli all the disadvantages of such imper^
feet historians as Victor and Julius Capitolinus, they
must concede the palm to Antoninus. Despotic
power, in liis hands, seems to have been only an
instrument of doing good to mankmd. His tempei*
was mild and gentle in a very high desree ; yet the
vigour of his government was as strikms, as if he
had b^n of the most keen and irritable disposition.
Hq consulted the welfare of his subjects with great
diligence : He attended to all persons and things with
as n^inute an exactness, as if his own private property
had been concerned*. — Scarce any fault is ascribed
to him, but that of a temper excessively inquisitive.
His successor, the second Antoninus, owns, that he
was religious without superstition; and in particular,
that he was not superstitious in the worship of th?
gods. This we have in his Stoical Meditations, still
extant f. We cannot therefore doubt but that a
person of this stamp would find opportunities of
knowing what Christianity was. He certainly did
know sometliing of it, and he approved of the moraj

♦ Jali. Capitol. Vit Ant. chap.' 7. See Lardner't Colleo
tion$, chap. xiv.

•j- Book vi. c. 30.

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ADRIAN AND ANTONINUS PIUS. 185

conduct of Christians. He gives them the most cent,
honourable character, has no fear of them as disloyal ^*
or turbulent, and makes comparisc^is between them
and Pagans to the advantage of the former. From
an expression in the edict, — " if they be able, "^— one
might be tempted to suspect, ^at be had very little
INTERNAL rcspcct for the gods. Were there no
^ God, no divine providence, and no future state,
the virtue of this man would doubtless be as com*'
plete, and as consistent as so absurd an hypothesis
will permit: — but his case shows, that it is possible,
by die united influence of good sense and good
temper, for a man to be extremely beneficent to his
fellow-creatures without due regard to his Maker.
Surely — if the holiness of a truly converted Christian,
and the mere moral virtue of a " natural man," were
the same things, — ^Antoninus ought to be esteemed
a Christian. — Yet it does not appear that he ever
seriously studied the Gospel. — A sceptical careless-
ness and indifference, not unlike that temper, which^
under the names of candour and moderation, has
now overspread the face of Europe, appears to have
possessed the mind of this amiable prince : and, while
he attended to the temporal advantages of man-
kind, and felicitated himself on his good actions, he
seemed to forget that he had a soul accountable to the
Supren^e Being; and scarce to think it possible,
that it should have any guilt to answer for before
BiH. The evil of such a contempt of God is what
mankind are of all things least inclined to discern :
Yet it is the evil of all others the most vehemently
opposed in Scripture under the several branches of
idolatry, unbelief, self-righteousness, and pride. No
WPhder; — for, wjthput a knowledge of this evil, and
a humble sense of guilt in consequence, the very
nature of the Gospel itself cannot be understood.
The conclusion resulting from this consideration is,
that godliness is perfectly distinct from mere mo-
rality: The latter indeed always flourishes where

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1 86 History ot rat tbxjttln.

<^^' godliness is ; but it is capable of a sepamt^ eiiM«»
cttce.

3. The edict of this good empertf is t singularljr
Valuable testimony in favour of the Christians of tbafc
time. It appears that there were then a race of meti
devoted to the service of Christ, ready to die for his
name and for his religion : These tnen exemplified
the superior trorth of their religion by a superior
probity and innocence of manners, so as to appear
the best of subjects in the opinion of an emperor of
the highest candour, mtelli^nce, and acute observa*
tion. Itiey were pot inferior to the most excellent of
the heathens in morality : and they possessed, fur-
ther,— what this emperor confesses their enemies
were void of, — a sincere spirit of reverence for the
Supreme Being, — ^an unaffected contempt of death,
* — and that to which Stoicism pretends, — a real sere-
nity of mind under the most pressing dangers ; — and
all this grounded on an unshaken confidence in God^
— ^ We cannot but hence conclude — tliat the effusion
of the Spirit of God, which began at the feast of
Pentecost, s^as still continued. Christians were so
IN POWER, and not in name only, by the testi-
mony of an heathen prince : and those, who would
substitute the virtue or the morality of fallen man in
the place of the religion of Christians, would do well
to consider, that sound virtue and sound morality
themselves know no support like that of Christiani^.
^^This divine religion comprehends every possible
excellence that can be found in all others ; and has,t
over and above, its own peculiar virtues: — It
possesses a fund of consolation and an energy of
support under the prospect of death itself; and it
points out the only safe and sure road to a blissful
imnaortality.

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JUSTTN MAllTTR^ IS7

CHAP. III. ,
JUSTIN MARTYH.

This great man was born at Neapolis in Samaria,
antiently called Sichem. His father was a Gentile^
— probably one of the Greeks, belonging to th^
colony transplanted thither : He gave his son a phi-
losophical education. — Justin in his youth travelled
for the improvement of bis understanding; and
Alexandria afforded him all the entertainment which
an inquisitive mind could derive from the fashionable
studies. The Stoics appeared to him at first tiie
masters of happiness. He gave himself up to one
of this sect, till he found he could learn from him
nothing of the nature of God. It is remarkable —
as he tells us himself*, — that his tutor informed
him, — this was a knowledge by no means necessary;
which fact very much illustrates the views of Dr,
Warburton, concernuig these antient philosophers :
namely, that they were Atheists in reality. He next
betook himself to a Peripatetic, whose anxious desire
of settling the price of his instructions convinced
Justin that truth did not dwell with him. A Py-
thagorean next engaged his attention, who, requiring
of him the previous knowledge of music, astronomy^
^d geometry, dismissed him for the present, wh^a
be understood that he was unfurnished with those
sciences. In much solicitude he applied himself to
fi Platonic Philosopher ; and with a more plausible
appearance of success from this teacher than from
any of the foregoing. He now gave himself to re-
tirement. " As I was walking," says Justin, " near
the sea, -I was f net by an aged person of a venerable
appearance, whom I beheld with much attention.
We soon entered into conversation ; and upon my

* His dialogue with Tryph^i whence the account of his coi^
tersiou is extracted.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

professing a love for private meditation ; the vene-^
rable old man hinted at the absurdity of mere spe-
culation, abstracted from practice : This," continues
Justin, " gave occasion to me to express my ardent
desire of knowing God, and to expatiate on the
praises of philosophy. The stranger by degrees en-
deavoured to cure me of my ignorant admiration of
Plato and Pythagoras : He pointed out the writings
of the Hebrew Prophets as much more antient than
any of those called philosophers ; and he led me to
some view of the nature and of the evidences of
Christianity: He added, 'Above all things, pray,
that the gates of light may be opened to you : for
they are not discernible, nor to be understood by any
one, except God and his Christ enable a man to
understand/ He said many other things to the
same effect : He then directed me to follow his ad-
vice ; and he left me. I saw him no more ; but —
immediately a fire was kindled in my soul, and I had
a strong affection for the Prophets and for those men
"who are the friends of Christ : I weighed within my-
self the arguments of the aged stranger ; and, in tlie
end, I found the divine Scriptures to be the only
sure phflosophy." — We have no more particulars of
the exercises of his mind in religion. — His conver-
sion took place, from this beginning, sometime in
the reign of Adrian. But he has shown us enough
to make it evident, tliat conversion was then looked
upon as an inward spiritual work in the soul, — the
same work of grace which the Spirit operates at
this day on real Christians. There appear, in his
case, an earnest thoughtfulness attended with a strong
desire to know God, and also an experimental sense
of his own ignorance and of the insufficiency of
human resources ; Tlien there appear further, — the
providential care of God in bringing him under the
means of Christian instruction, — a direction to his
soul to pray for spiritual illumination, — the divine
iiunger created in his heart,— and, ir^ due time, th^

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satisfactory comforts and privilegeis of real Chris* tKsr.
tianity ; which wth him was not mere words and ^'
declarations ; for he says, He found Cliristianity to "
have a formidable majesty in its nature, adapted tO
terrify those who are in the way of transo:ression, as
well as ' a sweetness, peace, and serenity for those
who are conversant in it. He owns in another of
his works* that the example of Christians suffering
death so serenely for their feith, moved his mind
not a little : This is an obvious consideration, and
need not be insisted on ; however worthy it may be
the notice of those called Philosophers in any age.
— Justin after his conversion still wore the usual
philosophic garb, which demonstrates that he re-
tained, perhaps, too sreat an affection for the studies
of his youthf : and if I mistake not, he always pre-
served a very strong tincture of the spirit of philo-
sophy, though not in such a manner as to prevent
bis sincere attachment to the Gospel.

Coming to Rome in the time of Antoninus Pius,
he there wrote a confutation of the heretics ; parti-
cularly of Marcion, the son of a bishop bom in
Pontus ; who, for lewdness J, was ejected from the
Church and had fled to Rome, where he broached
errors of an Antinomian tendency. It malces no
part of my plan to define the systems of heretics ;
but only to speak of them as they come in my way,
with a special reference to the opposition, which
they made to the fundamentals of the Gospel. That
holiness, *^ without which no man shall see the
Lord,' and which it was the great desi^ of Christ
to promote, found in this pretended Christian a cor-
dial qnemy. Justin, who had tasted of the holy
nature of the Gospel in his own experience, with-
stood him both in conversation and' by his writings.

• Apology second, though misnamed the firtt, in all th^
copies of Justin.

t Cave's Life of Justin.

I The truth of this charge against his morals has been dis-
puted, pdsslbly with justice.

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HISTOBT OP THE CHURCH.

About the yMr 1 40, he published his excellent Apo#
logy fofthe Christians, addressed to Antoninus Pius;
which may reasonably be supposed to have had a
considerable influence on that emperor s political
conduct towards the Christians.

It appears from this performance, that it was com-
mon to accuse Christians merely as such; and
to cliarge the faults of any persons, who bore the
name, on. the whole body. — Thus there is no new
thing under the Sun.— The term Christian was
matter of obloquy at that time : Various other terms
of scoff and contempt have been invented since ; and
it requires no great degree of rational power to show,
as Justin has done completely, the absurdity and
inccmclusiveness of such methods of attacking reli-
gion, whether they be antient or modern. He takes
notice alsp of the happy effects which the conduct
of Christians had then on mankind. " We have
many instances," says he, '^ to show the powerful
effects (^example among men : Many persons Imve
been impressed in fiivour of the Gospel by observing
the sobriety and temperance of their neighbours, — '
or the unparalleled meekness of their fellow-travellers
under cruel treatment, or the uncommon integrity
and equiw of those with whom they transacted busi«*
ness.'' These are fresh proofs of tlie continuance
of vital reli^n in the time of Justin : — A man
calling himself a Christian, without any practical
power of the religion, would scarcely have then beea
classed among the brethren. I find also fresh proofs,
in this apology, of the strong line of distinction kept
up in those days between Christians and hereticsii
The author observes that the latter were fond of the
name of Christians, and yet were not persecuted.—
There was nothing in tbeir s{»rit and conduct that
provoked persecution.— He takes notice also of the
small number of Jewish converts in comparison of
the main body of the nation. But this, he observes,,
was agreeable to the prophecies of the Old Testa^-
3

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JUSTIN HAETTIU

rnent He describes likewise the customs of the
prknidve Christians in public worship, and in the
i|dministration of the Sacranients, in order co show
Ihe fiilsehood of the charges generally urged against
them. "^

Not long after his fi^st apology, Justin left Rome
and went to £phesu% where he had a diacoiirse
with Trypho the Jew ; — the substance of which he
has given us in a dialogue. In tliis work he notices
the common calumnies against Christians, — of theii*
gating men, — ^of their extinguishing the lights, — and
of tb^ proopiscuous sensuahty; but treats thes^
charges as not credited by men of sense and candour
among their enemies; and therefore as not meriting^
a serious confutation.

On his retjum to Rome, he had frequent contests
with Crescens the Philosopher, — a man equally re*
OMprkable iof malignity to Christians, and for the
loost horrid vices. Justin nidw presented his second
apolc^ to M. Antoninus Philosophus, tbe successor
<^ Pius, and a^ detennined enemy to Christians. He
bad conceived hopes of softening his ooind toward
them, as he had done that of his predecessor, — but
in vain. Marcus was their enemy during his whole
reign ; and they scarcely ever had an enemy more
implacable. — The immediate occasion of the second
apology, as he himself informs the Emperor, was
this: —

" A certain woman at Rome had, together with
b^ husband, lived in extreme profligacy and licen--'
tionmesa But on her conversion to Christiani^i
her own conduct being changed^ she endeavoured
to persuade her husbwd also to imitate her ex«
ample, by representing to him the punishment of
eternal fine, which in a future state would be in-r
flicted on the disobedient. But be persisting in hi^
wickedness, she was induced to wish for a separation.
By.the advice of her friends, she continued, how-
ever, to live with him; hoping that in process of

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HISTORY OF THE CHtJRCH.

time he might be brought to repentance, Upori hiS
coming to Alexandria, he proceeded to greater lengthsl
of wickedness, so that finding the connection novit
no longer tolerable, she procured a divorce from
him. He, not impressed with the happy change
which had taken place in her dispositions, and un-
moved with her compassionate attempts to rescue
him from ruin, accused her of being a Christian.
Upon which she presented a petition to tou, O
EMPEROR, that she might have time to dispose and
regulate her houshold affairs : and she promised that
after that was done, she woiild answer to the charge ;
— which petition you granted. The husband, find-
ing his wife to have gained a respite from his malice^
diverted it to another object, —to one Ptolemy, who
had instructed her in Christianity, and who had been
punished by Urbicius the Prefect of Rome. He
persuaded a centurion, his fi-iend, to imprison Pto-
lemy ; and to ask him whether he was a Christian#
He, no flatterer or dissembler, ingenuously confessed,
' and was a long time punished with imprisonment*
At last, when he was brought before Urbicius, and
was asked only this question — whether he was a
Christian, he confessed himself a teacher of the Di-
vine Trutli. For no true Christian can act otherwise^
— ^Urbicius, nevertheless, ordered him to be led to
execution : Upon this, a Christian, named Lucius,
expostulated with him on the absurdity of these pro-
ceedings,— on the iniquity of putting men to death
merely for a name, abstracted from any one specific
charge of guilt ; — a conduct unworthy of Emperors
such as Pius the last, or ^hilosophus the pr^ent*
or of the sacred Senate. * You too appear to me
to be of the same sect,' was all that the Prefect
deigned to reply. Lucius confessed that he was ;
and was himself led also to execution ; which hei

* I am aware that the Greek in Justin would make it pixK
bahle that Pius was then reigning ; but Eusebius's CDntrarj-
testimony determines me to think oUierwise.

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JUSTIN MARTYk. I93

bore with triumphant serenity ; declaring that he was cent.
now going from unrighteous governors to God his ^^'
» gracious Father and King. A third person was
sentenced also to death on the same occasion. And I
also," continues Justin, "expect by persons of this
sort to be murdered, perhaps by Crescens the pre-*
tended Philosopher. For he deserves not the name
of a pliDosopher, who, with a view of pleasing many
deceived peisons, publickly accuses (christians of
Atheism and impiety, though he himself be totally
ignorant of their real character, I, Justin, have
interrogated him, and proved that he is quite unac-
quainted with the subject I am willing to undergo
an examination before you in company with him.
And my questions and his answers will make it evi-
dent to yourself, that he knows notliing of our atfairs;
or, at least, conceals what he does know."

But Marcus was not a man disposed to exercise
common justice towards Cliristians. The pliiloso-
phic garb .vas no shield to Justin, even in the eyes
of an Emperor, who piqued himself on the surname of
Piiilosoplier. The sincerity of his Christian attach-
ments outweighed every argument and every plausible
appearance in his favour. Crescens procured him
iioprisoament for the crime of being a Christian, —
tlie greatest evil of which a human bcihg could be
giuilty in the eyes of this Emperor. The acts of
kis maityrdom, which carry more marks of trutli
tlum many other martyrologies, give the following .
account*. " lie and six of his coiupanions having
been apprehended, were brought uefore Rusticus the
Prefect, — who, 1 suppose, had succeeded Urbicius,
' — a person of considerable eminence, and famous
for his attachment to Stoicism. He had been, tutor
to the Emperor, who acknowledges, in the first book
of bis Meditation^, his obligations to him on several
accounts, and particularly for his teaching him to be
of a placable and forgiving temper. This is one
* C'ave'3 Liie of Justin.

VOL. I. O

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III.

194 * HISTOHY OF tHE «UUBCH#

CHAP, instance, among thousands, that it is possible for a
man to be strongly infipressed with many beautiful
ideas of morality; and stiU to remain an inflexible
enemy to the Gospel. Rusticus undertook to per-
suade Justin to obey the gods, and to comply with
the Emperor's edicts. — The Martyr defended the
i-easonableness of his religion. — Upon which the Go-
vernor enquired in what kind of learning and disci-
pline he had been educated. He told him, that he
had endeavoured to understand all kinds of discipline^
and had tried alK/iethods of learning, but finding
satisfaction in none of them, he at last had found
rest in the Christian doctrine, however fashionable it
might be to despise it. Wretch! replies the indig-
nant Magistrate, arjt thou captivated then by that
■ RELIGION ? I am, says Justin; I follow the Chris-
tians, and their doctrine is right. " What is their
doctrine ?" It is this, we believe the one only God
to be the Creator of all things visible and invisible;
and we confess our Lord Jesus Christ to be the Son
of God ; foretold by the prophets of old ; and that he
is now the Saviour, teacher, and master of all those
wlio are duly submissive to his instructions, and that
he will hereafter be the Judge of mankind. — As for
myself, I am too mean to be able to say any thing
becoming his infinite Dfeity : This was the businesj^
of the prophets, who, many ages ago, had foretold the
coming of the Son of God into the world. " Where
do the Christians usually assemble?" The God of
the Christians is not confined to any particular place.
** In what place do you instruct your scholars?"
Justin mentioned the place in which he dwelt, and
told him that there he explained Christianity to all
who resorted to him. The Prefect having severally
examined his companions, again addressed JustiiK
" Hear thou, who hast the character of im orator,
and imaginest thyself to be in the possedsbn of truth.
If I scourge thee trom head to foot, thinkest thott
that thou shalt go to heaven T AHhouc^ I suffer
1

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JUSTIN MARTYR.

/what you threaten, yet I expect to enjoy the portion
of ail true Christians ; as I know that the divine grace
and favour is laid up for all such, and shall be so,
while the world endures, " Do you think' that you
ehall go to Heaven, and receive a reward ?" I not
only tibink so, but I know it, and have a certainty of
it which excludes all dou|bt. — Rusticus insisted that
they should all go together, and sacrifice to the gods.
Nd man whose understandins; is sound, replies Justin,
will desert true religion for the sake of error and im-
piety. " Unless you comply, you shall be tormented ,
without mercy." We desire nothing more sincerely
than to endure tortures for our Lord Jesus Christ,
end to be saved. Hence our happiness is promoted;
and we shall have confidence before the awful tribu*
nal ef our Lord and Saviour, before which, by the
divine appointment, the whole world must appear.
The rest assented, and said, — " Dispatch quickly
your purpose, we are Christians, and cannot sacrifice
to idols." The governor then pronounced sentence,
— *• As to those, who refuse to sacrifice to the gods,
and to obey the imperial edicts, let them be first
scourged, and the\i beheaded according to the laws.** Martyrdom
The martyrs rejoiced and blessed God, and being ^^
led back to prison, were whipped and aftenvards ^!°d.^'
beheaded. Their dead bodies were taken by Chris- |go '
tian friends, and decently interred.

Thus slept in Jesus the Christian Philosopher
Justin, about the year 1 63, and about the tliird or
fourth year of the reign of Marcus. Like many of the
antient fathers, he appears to us under the greatest
disadvantage. Works really his have been lost; and
others have been ascribed to him ; part of which are
not his; and the rebt, at least, of ambiguous authority.
He is the first Christian since the Apostles' days, who
added to an unquestionable zeal and love for the
G ospei, the diaracter of a man of learning and philo-
sophy. His early habks were retained ; and yet were
conaecratcd to the service of God. This man, surely^

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qisTonT or the church.-

should not be suspected of unreasonable impfulses
and fancies. His religion was the effect of serious
aud long deliberation : and the very best and most
important /Use which a Gentleman and a Scholar can
make of his ratj^fual faculties, — namely, — to deter-
mine his choi(|^ in religion,— was made by Jiistinw
He examined #e various philosophic sects, not merely
ibrthe purpose of amusement or osjtentation, but to
find out God; and in God true happiness: He tried
and found tliein all wanting : He sought him in tlie
Gospel: H-e found him there: He confessed him :
He gave up every thing for him : He was satisfied
with his choice ; and he died in serenity. His per-
severing in the profession of philosophy might proba-«
biy have another view besides the gratification of his
own taste : Hc'nvight hope to conciliate tlic affection*
of philosophers, aixi allure* them to Christianity. The
charity of his heart appears indeed to have been great :
He played for all ^n : lie declined no dancrers for
tlie good of souls ; and he involved himself in disputes
with philosophers for their benefit, to his ow n
extreme hazard. His hmise was open for the instruc-*
tion of all who consulted iiim ; thou^^h he seems to
have iisver assumed the ecclejiasiical character. To
draw gentlemen and persons of lii>eral education ta
pay attention to Christianity, appears to Imve been
his chief ejnployment. But he found it easier to
provoke opposition, and to throw away his own life,
than to |)er.^uade a single philosopher to become a
Christini. The danger of learned pride, the vanity of
hoping to disarm the enmity ofthe wise of this world
by tlie most charitable concesssions, and the incurable
prejudice of the great against the humble rcligioD
of Jesus, ai^ mudi illustrated by his story. So is the
viclorious efficacy of Divine Grace, which singled
out Justin fi'om a race of men, of all others the most
opposite to Christ. We have seen a philosopher per-*
secuted to death ; infoxmed against by one of his
brethren 5 condemned by another, and saitfcringby tb<r

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AUSTIN MARTYR.

muthority tf an Emperor, who gloried more m the
philosopliic than in the Imperial name. A man of his
ieai'ning and sagacity should not raslily be supposed
destitute of argument and system in his views. Men
of sense will scarce think the ideas of such a person
vnworthy of their regard. — Let us see then briefly
what were Justin's sentiments in rehgion. We may
possiblw.be led to conclude that (Christian principles
may be. seriously maintained in consistence with the
love of science and letters: thouj^h perhaps we may
observe some degrcHJ of adulteration, wliich these
principles received, by passing through a channel of
all others the most.untavourable for the conduaing
of their course, — the channel of philosophy *.

It is certain that Justin worshipped Christ as the
true Cipd in the full anil proper sense of the words.
\Ve have seen one testimony of it already in his ex-
jamination before Rusticus, But let the reader hear
Jus own words. IVyphof the Jew finds fault with
the Ciiristians on account of tliis very seutimtnt. *' To
me it appears,.'' says he, '*a paradox incapable of any
sound proot, to say, that this Christ was God before
all time ; and diat then lie was made man, and suf-
fered ; And to assert thj^t he was any thing more
than a man, and of men, ap|>ears not only paradox-
ical, but foolish." " 1 know,'' answered Justin, *'lhat
it appears paradoxical; and particularly to those of
your nation, who are determined neither to know
nor do tlw u ill of God, but to follow the invcniion*
of your teachers, as God declares of you. IJow;-
ever, if I could not <4Bmon.stratc that he exiiitcd
before all tiine, being CJod the Son of the Maker of
the miiverse, and thai he \va3 made uian of the

* It scarce need be repeated, tluit h\ Xh\* lenn I mci^n all
along that philiniopby o( Uie Antienis^ u inch was tuuiided in
pride, was chiefly specuhiiixe and metaphysical, ajid at bottom
alheisiiral : — no one objt;rls. to tiiosc moral inuxiins of llie aii-
tient philosophers, wliich were m many instance? excellent,
tliongb^d«fertiye in principle.

t Diuit>gue, P. 63.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH^

Virgin ; yet, as this personage was ^own by cvety
sort of proof to be the Christ of God, be the question
as it may respecting his Divinity and Humanity, you
have no right to deny that he is the Christ of God,
even if he were only mere man : you could only
say, that I was mistaken in my idea of his charactar.
For there are some who call themselves Christians,
who confess him to be the Christ, but still maintain
that he is a mere man only, with whom I agree not ;
neither do most of those who bear that name agree
with them ; because we are commanded by Christ
himself not to obey the precepts of tfien, but hi$
own injunctions, and those of the holy prophets.**
" Those," says Trypho, ** who say that he was mad
alone, and that he was in a particular manner anoint-
ed, anil made Christ, appear to me to speak more
rationally than you. For we all expect Christ a
]man, of men ; and that Ellas will come to anoint
him." — ^The purport of tliis whole passage is plain :
The GENERAL body of Christians in the sec(md
Century held the proper Deity of Jesus Christ : Th^
believed that this was a part of Old Testament reve-
lation ; and they looked on a small number, who
held his mere humanity, to be men who preferred
human teachers to divine. They considered the
Jewd also, the most implacable enemies of Chris-
tianity, as choosing to be directed rather by human
teachers than by the divine oracles ; and as inex-
■^usable in denying tlie Divine Mission of Christ,
whatever opinion they might have formed of his
person. — Let the learned leader judge for himself,
by turning to the passage in Justin, whether it will
not bear tlie weight \vhich I have laid upon it— The
testimony of a man so thoughtful, judicious, and
honest as Justin, must be decisive, or nearly so ; —
and therefore must, in a great measure, determine
the question much agitated in our times, relative to
the opinion of the Antients, concembg the persou
of Clirist.

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JUSTIN MARTYR* 1^9

la «K>tber part of the same dialogue^, be speaks cent.
of Christ as the God of Israel who was with Mose^; ^^'
and explains his meaning when he said that true
Christians regarded what they were taught by the
Prophets. In his first Apology, he tells the Emperor
in WHAT SENSE .Christians were Atheists: They
did not worship the gods commonly so called, but
they t worshipped and adored the trufc God, and
bis Son, and the prophetic Spirit, honouring then^
in word and in truth. If those, who call themselves
Unitarians, were as candid and impartial as they pro-
fess, the controversy concerning the Trinity would
be soon at an end. — ^That the primitive Christians
worshipped one God alone, all who espouse the
doctrine of the Trinity will allow. Let the Unita-
rians with equal frankness acknowlec^e that they
worshipped the one God in the three persons jupjt
now mentioned ; and then we have the Trinity jki
Unity. ' Further — Justin uses two terms usually
expressive of that worship and adoration, which
incommunicably belongs to the Deity J. — But, till
there be a disposition in men, without disputation,
to humble themselves before divine Revelatior\,
neitlier frankness in concession, nor unity in senti-
ment is to be expected.

The all-important doctrine of Justification he
states^ in the same manner as^St. Paul does; bq«
lieving, that to press the necessity of Mosaic rites on
others was to fall from* the faith of Christ. The
learned reader may see more at -large his views of
Begeperation and For^veness of all past sins througti
Chnst Jesus H, and how extremely different they
were from the nominal Christianity which contents
so many persons.

He appears to have had the clearest views of that
special illumination, without which no man will un-
derstand and relish real godliness. His first unknown

.^ Dulpgue62. tl i^t Apology 159, i(k), aod(>6 Dialogue*

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fiOd HISTORY OF •THfc CHURCH.

OTA P. instructor had taught him this ; and he seems never
to have forgotten it. He informs Trypho, — ^that,
for tlieir wickedness, God bad hidden from the Jews
the power of knowing divine wisdom, except from
a remnant, who according to the grace of his com-
passion were reserved, that their nation might not
behke Sodom a'nd CJomorrah. — The eternal punish-
ment of th(? wicked he avows so plainly, that I shall
spare quotations upon that subject.

.In fundamentals he was unquestionably sound:
Yet there seems, howdver, something in his train
of thinking, which was the effect of his philosophic
spirit ; ^nd which produced notions not altogether
agreeable to the genius of the Gospel. Thus, toward
tlie close of the second Apology, he declares that
the doctrine of Plato were not heterogeneoite to
those of Christ; butonlyNOT altogether similar.
-And he seems to assert, that Plato, and the Stoics,
and the Pagan winters, in prose and verse, saw some-
'thing of truth. from the portion of tlie seed of the
•Divine Word, which he makes to be the same as
the Word, the only begotten Son of God. The
reader, who chuses to consult the last folio page of
the Apology may judge for himself, \^4}ether he does
not there confound together two things perfectly
distinct, — the light of natural conscience which God
has given to all men ; — and the light of divine grace
peculiar to the children of God. Certain it is that
St Paul, who speaks of both, in the epistle to the
Romans, always carefully distinguishes them, as of
a kin^ entirely ditFerent one from the other. He
never allows uncon veiled nicn to have anv portion
at all of that light which is peculiarly Christian : But
thus it was tliat this excellent nian seems to tiave ,
forgotten the guard, which can scarcely be too ot'teu
repeated, against philosophy. We may see hereafter
how mystics and heretics and piatonizing Christiarts '
jumbled these things togethi^r entirely, and what
.^ attempts were made by the Philosophers to inoor-

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JUSTIN MARTYR. ' 201

porate their doctrine of tjie To iv with the Gospel*.
Justin seems, unwarily, to have given them some
handle for this: and, if I mistake not, he was the first
sincere Christian who was seduced by human phi-
losopliy to adulterate the Gospel, thou}/}) in a small
degi*ee. It siiould ever be remembered, that Chrisf-
tian light stands single and unmixed ; 22nd will not
bear to be kneaded into the same mass with otlier
systems,- religious 6r philosophical. — We may here,
mark the beginning of the decay of the first spiri-
tual EFFUSION among the Gentiles, through taise
.wisdom: as, long before, — namely,- *from the first
coimcil of Jerusalen), — we noticed a similar decay
in the Jewish Church, through self-righteousness.

The same prejudice in favour of the instructor of
his youth leads him to pay to Socrates a very great
compliment, as if that extraordinary man had really
known the true God, and had lost his life for at-
tempting to draw men from idolatry. — Whereas al-
most evefiy line of the narrative left us by his disciple^
shows, that he was as much an idolater as the rest
of his couutrymen. — The last words he uttered, it
is well known, were entirely idolatrous. — Justin had
not learnt so fully as St. Paul would have taught him,
that " the world by wisdom knew not God." In
the last page of his Trypho there is also a phrase-
ology extremely ^.uspicious. lie speaks of a self-
determining power in marif, and uses much the same
kind of known reasoning on the obscure subject of
free-will as has been fixshionable since tlie days of
Arminius. lie seems to have been the first of all
sincere Christians, who introduced this foreign plant
into Christian ground. I shall venture to call it
foreign till ii\s right to exist in the soil shall be proved
ftom scriptural evidence. — It is very plain tiiat I do

* An al>stru»e and mystic*;) ojjiiHon, which prevailed very
gpnerully among the antieoi philosopbers ; but which it is *
diOicuIt to make iiitc Ili^ible b\ any Lxplaimlion. It difleis,
howe\er, very httio, if at all, from downright Atbci.sm.

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202 HISTORY OF THt CHURCH .

CHAP, not mistake his meankig, — because he never €X-«

IIL

plicitly owns the doctrine of Election ; tliough, with
happy inconsistency, like many other real Christians,
he involved it in his experience, and itqplies it ik
various parts of his writings.

But, — ^the novelty, once admitted, was not easily
expelled : — ^The language of the Church was silently
gnd gradually changed, in this respect, firom that
more simple and scriptural mode of speaking used by
Clement and Ignatius : Those primitive ChristiaM
knew the doctrine of the Election of Grace, but not
the self-determining power of the human will : — We
shall see hereafter the progress of the evil, and its
arrival at full maturity under the fostering hand o^^
Pelagius,

CHAP. IV.

^HE EMPEROR MARCUS ANTONINUS, AND Hl«
PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS.

CHAP. He succeeded Pius in the year 161, and appear^
^ -^ very soon after to have commencal the persecution
A. D. against the Christians, in which Justin and his friends
161. ^^*^re slain. It excites a curiosity, not foreign from
the design of this History, to discover what could
be the cause of so much enmity against a people,
confessedly harmless, in a Prince so considerate, so
humane, and, in general, so well-intentioned as
Marcus is allowed to have been. — Besides; he acted
in this respect directly contrary to the example of his
predecessor, whose memory he doubtless much re-
vered, from whose intelligent and investigating spirit
he must have derived ample information conceming
the Christians, and whom in all other matters of go-
vernment he imitated so exactly. The fact, however,
is certainly so : Marcus Antoninus was, during all his
reign, which continued 19 years, an implacable per-
secutor of Christians; and this not from mere ig-

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U17BISK MARCUS AKTONIKtTS.

noraiice of their moral character. — He knew them,—*
yet hated them, and showed them no mercy : He
allowed and encom'aged tlie i^iost barbarous* treats
mcBt of their persons ; and was yet himself a person
of great humanity of temper : just and beneficent to
tbe rest of mankind : He was free from all reproach
in his general conduct; and in several parts of it wa4
a modeUworthy the imitation .of Christians.

I think it impossible to solve this phenomenon on
any other principles than those bv which the enmity
of many philosophers of old, ancl of many devotees
and exact moralists of modern times against the
Christian religion, is to be explained. The Gospel
is in it s own nature not only distinct from careless
and dissolute vice, but also from the whole religion
of philosophers : I mean of those philosophers who
form to themselves a reli^n from natural and self-
devised sources, either in opposition to the revealed
word of God, or with the neglect both of that word
and of the influence of the Holy Spirit, who is tiie
great agent in applying tlie Scriptures to the heart
of man. — In all ages it will be found that the more
strenuously men support such religion, the more
vehcmentiy do they hate Christianity. Their religion
is pride and self-importance : It denies the fallen
tftate of man, the provision and efficacy of grace, and
the glory of God and the Redeemer. — The enmity
bence occasioned is obvious. — It must be considered
also that Marcus Antoninus wa$ of the Stoical
fiect, — who carried self-sufficiency to the utmost
pitch.

He fancied that he carried God within him.
Like most of the philosophers, he held the mystical
doctrine of the To h ; but he held it in all its de-
testable impiety and arrogance. With him to be
good and virtuous was the easiest thing in the world :
it was only ta follow nature, and to obey tlie die-
fates of the Deity, — ^tbat is, of the human soul,

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204 HISTORY et THE CHXHiCH

which was divine and self-sufiicie»t. He could not;
with these views be humble; nor pray earpestly;
nor feel his own internal wickedness and misery;
nor endure the idea of a Saviour and Mediator. —
If, like his predecessor, Pius, he had been con-
tented to be an ordinary person in religion, the hu-
manity^ of his temper would probably have lei
him, as it did the emperor Pius, to have respected
the excellent character and virtues of Cliristians ;
and he would have felt it his duty to have protected
such peaceable and deserving subjects. — I say, pro-
bably; and I express myself with some reserve,
because I much doubt, whethei' he possessed an
understanding equally sound with tliat of Antoninus
Pius. — But, be that as it may, the pride of Philoso-
phy appears to have been wounded and exasperated.
Whoever has attended to the spirit which pervades
his twelve Books of Meditations, and duly compared
them with the doctrines of the Gospel, must ac-
knowledge a total opposition ; ^nd then he will not
wonder that Christians suffered from a serious Sjoic,
what might have been expected only fiom a flagitious
Nero. — Pride and licentiousness are equally cou-
demne4 by the Gospel ; and tliey equally seek re-
venge.— If this be a true state of tlie case, the
pliilosophic spirit, explained aixl stated as above,
however differently modified in different ages, will
always be inimical to the Gospel ; and the most
decorous moralists belonging to the class of which
we are now speaking, will be found in union, on
tliis subject, with the basest characters. " Beware
of philosophy," is a precept which as mucli calls for
our attention now as ever.

Yet so fascinating is the power of prejudice and
education, that many would look on it as a grievous
crime to attempt to tear the laurels of virtue from
the brows of Marcus Antoninus. Certainly, how-
ever, if his virtue had been genuine ; or at all q{ 9

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VNDER MARCUS ANTONINUS.

piece with that of the Scriptures, he could never
have treated Christians so cruelly, as we shall see
he did.

Is this, then, the man, whom Mr. Pope celebrates
in the following lines ?

^Vho nubfe ends by noble means obtains,
Or failing smiles in exile or in chains.
Lake good* Aurelius let him reign, or bleed
Like bucratei, that man is great indeed.

.—Providence seems however to have determined,
that those who, in contiadiction to the feelings of
human nature, dirk and indigent as it is, and needing
a divine illumination, will yet proudly exalt their
ou-n ability and sufficiency, shall be frustrated and
put to shame. Socmtes, with his last breath, gave a
sanction to the most absurd idolatry : and Aurelius
was guilty of such deeds as human nature shudders
to relate.

It b remarkable that Gataker, the editor of An-
toninus's Meditations, represents himself in the most
humiliating terms, as quite ashamed to behold the
superior virtues of this Prince as described in this
book. — ^To say and to do, are, however, not the same
things; nor is there much reason to believe, that
Marcus performed in practice, what he describes in
theory. — But, exclusively of these reflections, sup-
pose we were inclined to draw a comparison betue(in
the author and his commentator with respect to hu-
mility, such comparison would certainly be much to
the disadvantage of the fonnqr. I pix»tend not to
have studied the writings of MaR-us Aurelius with
fio much anxious care as to be assured, tl^t there
appear in them no traces of this virtue in the empe-
ror; but the GENKRAL TURX of the whole book
leads me to conclude, that the writer felt no abasing
thoughts of himself. I have already defined in wliat
sense I use the' term pliilosopher, as contrasted with
ihe bumble fotbwer of Jesus Christ; and in that
* ADtofiiDus was called also Aurehus.

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filSTORY OF TITE ClftTRCH

sense I affirm that no pbiiosopber made such a cottr
fessipn of himself as Gataker does. — Such is the
natural effect of some knowledge of Christianity on
the human mind !

If we attend to the notices of history on the edu-
cation and manners of Marcus, the account which
has been given of hb enmity against the Gospel will
be amply confirmed. Adrian bad introduced him
among the Salian priests when eight years old, and
he became accurately versed in the rituals of his
priesthood. At twelve he began to wear the Philo-
sopher's cloak: he practised austerities: he' lay on
the bare ground; and was with difficulty persuaded
by his mother to use a mattress and slight coverlet
lie placed in his private chapel gold statues of big
deceased masters; and visited tlieir sepukhral mo-
numents ; and there offered sacrifices, and strewed
flowers. So devoted was he to Stoicism, that he
attended the schools after he became emperor; and
the faith which he put in dreams sufficiently proves
his superstitious credulity. From a man so much
lifted up by self-sufficiency, bigotry, and superstition,
an illiberal censure of the Christians* is not matter
of surprise. '^ This readiness," says he, " of being
resigned to the prospect of death, ought to proceed
from a propriety of deliberate judgment, not from
mere uuiiitelligent obstinacy, as is the case with the
•Christians ; it should be founded on grounds of solid
reason, and be attended with calm composui-e with-
out any tragical raptures, and in such a way as may
induce others to admire and imitate." If this em-
peror hf d ever attended to the dying scenes of Chris-
tians tortured to deatli by his orders, with any degree
of candour and impartiality, he miglit have seen all
these circumstances exemplified. Thousands of them
chose to suffer with deliberate judgment ; preferred
heavenly things to earthly ; counted the cost ; and
made a reasonable decision; not doubtful^ ns the
. • iithB. Sects*

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VNDEE MARCUS AKTOlflNUS.

emperor was, concerning a future life ; but calmly
resigning this life in firm expectation of a better, and
without any circumstances to justify the suspicion
cf pride or ostentation ; on the contrary, they were
adorned with naeekness, cheerfulness, .^.nd charity.
— Hence thousands and ten thousands have been
induced to examine what that hidden energy of
Christian l*fe must be, which produces such exalted
sentiments aiid such grandeur of spirit; and the
power of, prejudice was never more strongly exhi-
bited than in this malignant censure of Antoninus ;
which in truth, is the more inexcusable, because ho
laboured under no involuntary ignorance of Chris-
tians. For, besides the knowledge of them which
be must have acquired under his predecessor, he
hac^an opportunity of knowing tljem from various
apologies published in his own reign. Justin's se-
cond apology, as we have seen, was published during
his reign; one sentence of which denjonstrates, in
how striking a manner our Saviour's prophecy was
then fulfilled, " A man's foes shall be they of his
own houshold ! " — Every where, he observes, if a
Gentile was reproved by a father or relation, he
would revenge himself by informing against the
reprover ; in consequence of which he was liable to
be dragged before the governor, and put to death.
Tatian also, Athenagor^, Apollinaiis, bishop of Apologia
Hieropolis, and Theophilus of Antioch, and Melito c,„|,^^„^
of Sardis, published apologies. Tliis last published
his about the year 177, of which some valuable '^^ ^*
remains are preserved in Eusebios. A part of his ^77*
address to Marcus desencs our attention*, both. on
account of the justness of the sentiments, and the
politeness with which they are delivered. " Pious
persons, aggrieved by new edicts published through-
out Asia, and never before practised, now suffer per-
secution. For audacious sycophants, and men who
^vet other persons' goods^ take; advantage of these
* B. iv. C. 25.

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208

HISTORY OF THE CHURCIh

CHAP, pipclamations openly to rob and spoil the innocent
. ^y* ^ by night aiid by day. If tliis be done through your
order,^— let it stand good ; — for a just emperor can-
not act unjustly ; and we will cheerfully submit tb the
honour of i^uch a death : — This only we humbly
crave of your j\lajest;y, that, after an impartial ex-
animation of u^ and of our accusers, you would justly
decide whether we deserve death and punishment,
or lite and protection. Hut, if these proceedings be
not yours, and the new edicts be not the effects of
your personal judgment, — edicts vvhich ought not to
be enacted even against barbarian enemies — in tliat
case we entreat you not to despise, us, who are thus
unjustly oppressed." He afterwards reminds him of
tlie justice done to Christians by his two immediate
predecessors.

From this account it is evident that Marcus, by
new edicts, couunenced the persecution, and that it
was carried on with n)trciiess barbarity in those
Asiatic regions which had been relieved by Pius.
'J'here is nuthiiig pleasant that can be sujigested to
us by tliis view of the crut^l treatment of Christiana
and of the author of it, except one circumstance—
that tlie effusion of the Spirit of God still continued-
to produce it's holy fruits in those hijjhly -favoured
regions.

Jn the two next chapters. I propose to describe

distinctly tv\ o scenes of this em[)eror*s persecution ;

and r shall now conclude tliis general account of

him, with brictly mentioning the reniarkable story of

loreinis his danger and relief in tiic u ar of the Marcomanni *.

tte"Mau^ He and his army being hemmed in by the enemy,

Mcr:? ready to perish with tlnrst ; when suddenly a

storm of tliunder and lightning affrighted the

enemies, whilst the rain refreshed the Romans. It

is evident that tlie victory was obtained by a remarks

able providential interposition. Tlie Christian sol-

cliers in his army, wc are surc, in their distress

♦ Euseb. B. V. C. 5.

A. D.

174-

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CHAP. V.

UNDER MARCUS ANTONINUS. 209

would pray to their God, even if Eusebius had not cent.
told us so. Ail Christian writers speak of the
relief as vouchsafed in answer to their prayers, and
no real Christian will doubt of the soundness of
their judgment in this point. I have only to add,
that Marcus, in a manner agreeable to his usual
superstition, ascribed his deliverance to his gods.
Each party judged according to their own views ;
and those moderns who ascribe the whole to the
ordinary powers of nature, or to accident, judge
also according to their usual profaneness or irre-
ligious turn of thinking. Whether the Divine inter-
position deserves to be called a miracle or not, is a
question rather concerning propriety of language
than religion. This seems to me all that is needful
to be said on a fact, which on one side has been
magnified beyond all bounds ; and on the other has
been reduced to mere insignificancy. It happened
in the year 174. The emperor lived five years
after this event, and as far as appears, continued
a persecutor to the last.

MARTYRDOM OF POLTCARP.

In or about the year 1 67, the sixtli of Marcus, ^^ j^^
Smyrna was distinguished by the martyrdom of her ^g-r*
bishop, Polycarp.

We mentioned him before in the account of Ignatius.
He had succeeded Bucolus, a vigilant and industrious
bishop, in die charge of Smyrna. The Apostles,—
and we may suppose St John particularly, — or-
dained him to this office. He had been fainiliarly
conversant with the Apostles, and received tlie go-
vernment oi the Church from those who had been
eye-witnesses and ministers of our Lord ; nnd he

VOL. I. p

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iJlO HISTORY. OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, continually taught tliat which he had been taught by
_ J'_ J them*. Usher t has laboured to s1k>w J that he was
the ANGEL of the church of Smyrna addressed by our
Saviour, If lie be ri^ht in this, the character of
Polycarp is indeed delineated by a hand divine; and
the martyjKlom before us was particularly predicted.
By this account he must have presided 74 years over
that Church : — certainly^ as we shall hereafter see,
his age must have been extremely great : he long
sumved his friend Ignatius ; and was reserved tp
suffer by Marcus Antoninus. Some time before that
' event he came to liome to hold a conference with
Anicetus, the bishop of that See, concerning the
time of observing Easter. The matter was soon
decided between them, as all matters should be,
which enter not into the essence of godliness. They
each observed their own customs without any breach
of charity between them, real or apparent. But
Polycarp found more important employment while
at Rome. The lieresy of Marcion was strong in that
city ; and the testimony and zealous labours of one
who had known so much of the Apostles were suc-
cessfully employed against it; and many were reclaim-
ed. It was not in Marcion's power to undermine
the authority of this venerable Asiatic. To procure
a seeming coalition was the utmost he could expect;
and it was as suitable to his views to attempt this,
as it was to those of Polycarp to oppose such dupli-
city and arti6ce. Meeting him one day ui the street,
he called out to him, '* Polycarp, own us." " I do
own tliee," says the zealous bishop, '* to be tlie first?
born of Satan." I refer the reader to what has
been said already of St. John s similar conduct onsuch
occasions ; and shall add only that Irenteus, from
whom Eusebius relates the story, commends his
conduct, and speaks of it as commonly practised by
tbe Apostles and their followers. Irenaaus inform^

• Fiiseb, iv. 14. f In his Prolegmn. to Ignatius

J J^ftYe's Ufe of Polycarp.

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MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP. 211

US* that he had a particular delight in recounting cent.
what bad been told by those who had seen Christ j^
in the flesh ; that he used to relate what he had been
informed concerning bis doctrine and miracles ; and
when he heard of any heretical attempts to overturn
Christian fundamentals, he would cry out, ''To
what tiioes^ O God, hast thou reserved me ! " and
would leave the place.

Indeed when it is considered what Marcion main-
tained, and what unquestionable evidence Polycarp
had against him in point of matter of fact, we shall
see he had just reason to testify his disapprobation.
This man was one of the DocETiE : According to
him, Christ had no real human nature : He rejected
the whole Old Testament, and mutilated the New.
He held two principles, after the manner of the
Manichees, in order to account for the origin of
evil. If ml3n, who assert things so fundamentally
subversive of the Gospel, would openly disavow
the Christian name, they might be endured with
much more composure by Christians ; nor would
there be any call for so scrupulous an absence from
their society; — for St. Paul has so determined the
casef. But for such men, whether anticnt or
modem, to call themselves Christians, is an intolera-
ble insult on the common sense of mankind. — We
know nothing more of the life of this venerable
bishop : — Of the circumstances of his death we
have an account, and they deserve, a very particular
relation.

The greatest part of the antient narrative is pre-
• served by Eusebius ;}:. The beginning and the end,
which he has not given us, have bcu^n restored by
the care of archbisliop Usher. It is an epistle
written in the name of Polycarp s Cluirch of Smyrna :
I have ventured to translate the whole myself, yet
not without examining what Valesius, the editor of

• Irenaeofi's Epistle to Floriw. i 1 Cor. v. lo.

J B. iv. Euseb. Hist. ch. J5.

P 2

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213 HtSTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP. Eusebius, and archbishop Wake, have left us on the
subject. It is doubtless one of the most precious
ornaments of antiquity ; and it seemed to deserve
some notes and illustrtitions.

" The Church of God which sojourus at Smyrna,
to that which sojourns at Philomelium *, and in all
places where the Holy Catholic Church sojourns
throughout the world, may the mercy, peace, and
love of God tlie Father, and of the Lord Jesus
Christ, be multiplied ! We have written to you,
brethren, as well concerning the other martyrs, as^
particularly the blessed Polycarp; who, as it were,
sealing by his testimony, closed the persecution.
For all these things, which were done, were so con-
ducted, that the Lord frora above, might exhibit to
us the^ nature of a martyrdom perfectly evangelical.
Polycarp did not precipitately give himself up to
death, but waited till he was apprehended, as our
Lord himself did, that we might imitate him ; not
caring only for ourselves, but plso for our neigh-
bours. It is the office of solid and genuine charity
not to desire our own salvation only, but also that of
all the brethren f. Blessed and noble indeed are all
martyrdoms which are regulated according to the will
of God : for it behoves us, who assume to ourselves
the character of Christians, — a name professing dis-
tinguished sanctity, — to submit to God alone the dis-
posal of all events;};. Doubtless their magnanimity,

* A .city of Lycaonia. I thought it right to give the English
reader the precise term — of sojourninjj — used in the original.
It was the usual language and the spirit too of the Church at
ihat time.

t I translate according to the Greek. But though common
candour may put a favourable construction on the expiessions,
the honour then put on martyrdom seems excessive.

I They doubtless mean to censure the self-will of those whf>
threw themselves on their persecutors before they were provi-
dentially called to suft'er. The calm patience of Polycarp, in
this respect, was more commendable than the impetuosity of
Ignatius. But Polycarp now was much older than he was when
Ignatius suffered, and very probably had guowk in grace. Tht
Asiatic churches seem to have corrected the errors of excessivt

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II.

MARTYRDOM OF POLTCARP. 213

their patience, their love of the Lord, deserve the ad- cent.
miration of every one; who thoughtorn with Avhips till
the frame and structure of their bodies were laid open
even to their veins and arteries, yet nneekly endured;
so that those who stood around pitied them and la-
mented. But such was their fortitude, that no one
of them uttered a sigh or groan : Thus they evinced
to us all, that at that hour the martyrs of Christ,
though tormented, were absent, as it were, from
the body ; or rather that the Lord, being present,
conversed familiarly with them : thus they were sup-
ported by the grace of (/hrist; thus they despised the
torments of this world, and by one hour redeemed
themselves from eternal punishment. The fire of
savage tormentors was cold to them : for they had
steadily in view a desire to avoid that fire which is
eternal and never to be quenched. And w ith the
eyes of their heart they had respect to the good
things reserved for those who endure, — things —

WHICH EYE HATH JS^OT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD,
NOR HATH IT ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF

MAN TO CONCEIVE. But these good things were
then exhibited to them by the Lord : They were in-
deed then no longer men, but angels. In like man-
ner those, who were condemned to the wild beasts,
underwent for a time cruel torments, being placed
under shells of sea fish, and exposed to various
other tortures, that, if [)0ssible, the infernal tyrant,
by an uninterrupted series of sutfering, might tempt
them to deny their M^ter. Much did Satan contrive
against them * : but, thanks to God, without eflFect
agaiast them all. The magnanimous CJermanicus,
by his patience and courage, strengthened the weak :
He fought with wild beasts in an illustrious manner;

• The language of these, aiitient ChristitiDs deserves to be
noticed; they huve Iheir eye mni*e steadily on a divine influence
on the one hand, and on a diabolical one on tlie other, thaa is
fashionable in our limes.

2eal, which even in the best Christians had formerly prevailed.
The ease of Qutntus will sood throw light on this subject.

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214 HISTORT OF THE CHURCH.

for when the Proconsul besought him to pity Im
own old age, he irritated the wild beasts by pro-
vocation, and was desirous of departing more quickly
from a world of wickedness. — And now the whole
multitude, astonished at the fortitude of Christians,
that is, of the true friends and worshippers of God,
cried out, ^' Take away the atheists*, let Polycarp
be sought for." One Christian, by name Quintus,
lately come from Phrygia, his native country, on
sight of the beasts, trembled. He had persuaded
some persons to present themselves before the tri-
bunal of their own accord. Him the Proconsul,
by soothing speeches, induced to swear and to
sacrifice. On this account, brethren, we do not
approve of those who offer themselves to martyr-
dom ; — " for we have not so learned Christ."

" The admirable Polycarp, when he heard what
passed, was quite unmoved, and resolved to remain
in the city. But, induced by the intreaties of his
people, he retired to a village at no great distance ;
and there, with a few friends, he spent his time
entirely, day and night, in praying, according to his
usual custom, for all the churches in the world. —
Three days before be was seized, he had a vision
while he was praying : He saw his pillow consumed
by fire : and turning to the company, he said pro-
phetically, " I must be burnt alive." — Upon hear-
ing that the persons, in search of him, were just at
hand, he retired to another village : Immediately
the officers came to his house ; and not finding him,
they seized two servants, one of whom \vas induced,
by torture, to confess the place of his retreat. Cer-
tainly it was impossible to conceal him, since even
those of his own houshold discovered him. And
the Tetrarch, called Cleronomus Herod, hastened to
introduce him into the Stadium ; that so he might
obtain his lot as a follower of Christ ; and that tliose,
w ho betrayed him, might share with Judas. Taking

* The term of reproach then commonly affixed to Christians.

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MARTVRDOM OF POLYCAKP. 215

then flie servant as their guide, they went out about
supp^r-tioie, with their usual arms, as against a
rbbbe'r ; and arriving late, they found liim lying in
an upj^er room at the end of the hoijsc, whence he
might have made his escape *, but he would not,
saying,—'" The will of the Lord be done." Hear-
ing that they were airived, he cfaine down and con-
vei'sed with them ; and all, who were present, ad-
mired his age and constancy : Some said, *' Is it
worth while to take pains to apprehend so aged a
person ?" He immediately ordered meat and drink
to be set before them, as much as they pleased, and
begged them to allow him one hour to pray without
mdestatbn ; which being granted, he prayed stand-
ing ; and was so full of the grace of. God, that he
could not cease frofn speaking for two hours:
The hearers were astonished ; and many of them
repented tliat they were come to seize so divine a
character.

*' When he had finished his prayers, having made
mention of all whom he had ever know n, small and
great, noble and vulgar, and of the whole Catholic
church throughout the world, the hour of departing
being comfe, they set him on an ass and led him to
the cityf. The Irenarch Herod, and his father Ni-
cetes, met him, who taking him up into their chariot,
began to advise him, asking, " \Vhat liarm is it to
say. Lord Coesar I — and to sacrifice, and he safe ?"
At first he w as siletit, but being pressed, he said, " I
will nqt follow your advice.'' VVhen they could not
persuade him, they treated htm abusively, and thrust
him out of the chariot, so that in falling he bruised
his thiuh. But he, still unmoved as if he had suf-
fered nothing, went on cheerfully under the conduct
of his guards to tlie Stadium. There the tumult

• Those tvhu know the p-islt- rn cuiftonl of Hai-rooftd houses,
will not be su'prist-d at this.

+ I have not thought it wo: th \vliilc to tr.jii.^late what relates
to the lime when Polycarp M:lloi«'(l, on which point the learned
disagree in the mode of intcrinctatuii.

P 4

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21 6 HTSTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP. , being so great that few could hear any thing, a voice*
^ _yi ,_, from heaven said to'Polycarp, as he entered on the
Stadium, " * Be strong, Polycarp, and behave your-
* self like a man.'' — None saw the speaker, but many
of us heard the voice. —
Martyrdom " When he was brought to the tribunal, there was
Poijwp. ^ great tumult, as soon as it was generally understood
that Polycarp was apprehended. The Proconsul
asked him, if he was Polycarp ; to which he assented.
The former then began to exhort him; — " Have
pity on thy own great age — and the like. Swear
by the fortune of Caesar — repent — say —Take away
the atheists." Polycarp, with a grave aspect, be-
holding all the multitude, waving his hand to them,
and looking up to heaven, said, " Take away the
atheists." The Proconsul urging him, and saving,
" Swear, and I will release thee, — reproach Christ;"
Polycarp said, " Eighty and six years have I served
him, and he hath never wronged me, and how can
I blaspheme my King whQ hath saved me?" The
Proconsul still urging, " Swear by the fortune of
Caesar ;" Polycarp said, " If you still vainly con-
tend to make me swear by the fortune of Caesar, as
you speak, affecting an ignorance of my real charac- -
ter, hear me frankly declaring what I am : I am a
Christian; an^ if you desire to learn the Christian
doctrhie, assign me a day, and hear." The Proconsul
said, ''Persuade the people." Polycarp said, **Ihave
thought proper to address you ; for we are taught to
j)ay all Lronour to magistracies and powers appointed
by Gocl,''.vhich is consistent with a good conscience.
But I do not hold them worthy that I should apolo-
gize before themf." " I have wild beasts," says the
Proconsul : " I will expose you to tfiem, unless you
repent." " Call them," replies the martyr. ** Our

* The reader should remember that miraculous interpositions
of various kinds were still frequent in the church.

t i cannot think that this was said in contempt of the vul-
gar, but on account of the prejudice and enmity which their
conduct exhibited at that time.

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MARTYRDOM OF POLTCARP. 217

minds are not to be changed from the better to the cent.
worse: but it is a good thing to be changed from evil "•
to good." " I will tame your spirit by fire;" says
the other, "since you despise the wild beasts, unless
you repent." " You-threaten me with fire," answers
rolycarp, ** which bums for a moment^ and will be
soon extinct; but you are ignorant of the future
judgment, and of the fire of eternal punishment re-
served for the ungodly. But why do you delay ? Do
what you please." Saying this and more, he was filled
with confidence and joy, and grace shone in his coun-
tenance : so that he was far from being confounded
by the menaces : On the contrary the Proconsul was
visibly embarrassed : he sent, however, the herald to
proclaim thrice, in the midst of the assembly, " Poly-
carp hath professed himself a Christian." Upon this
all the multitude, both of Gentiles and of Jews, who
dwelt at Smyrna, with insatiate rage shouted aloud,
** This is the doctor of Asia, the father of Christians,
the subverter of our gods, who hath taught many not
to sacrifice nor to adore." They now begged Philip,
the Asiarch, to let out a lion against Polycarp. But
be refused, observing, that the am phi theatrical spec-
tacles of the wild beasts were finished. They then
unanimously shouted, that he should be burnt alive;
— for his vision was of necessity to be accomplished. —
Whilst he was praying, he observed the fire kindling;
and turning to the faithful that were with him, he
said prophetically, — " I must be burnt alive." The
business was executed with all possible speed ; for
the people immediately gathered fuel fi'om the work-
shops and baths, in which employment the Jews*
distinguished themselves with their usual malice. As
soon as the fire was prepared, stripping off his clothes,
and loosing his girdle, he attempted to take off his

* I scarce know a more striking view of the judicial curse '
inflicted on the Jews than this, indeed this people all along
exerted themselves in persecution; and Justin Martyr tells u*
of a charge which hnd heen seiu from Jerusalem hy the chief
priests against Chrislians, diiected to theii' brethren through
the world.

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i2l8 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

shoes,— a thing unusual for him to do formerly,-^
because each of the fiuthful were wont to strive who
should be most assiduous in serving him. For,
before his martyrdom, his integrity dtid blameless
conduct had always procured him the most unfeigned
respect Immediately the usual appendages of
burning were placed about him. And when they
were going to fasten him to the stake, he said^
" Let me remain as I am; for He who giveth me
strength to sustain the fire, mil enable me felso,
without your securing me with nails, lo remain un-
moved in the fire.'' Upon which they bound him
without nailing him. And he, putting his hands
behind him, and being bound as a distinguished
ram select^ from a great flock, a bumt-oflering
acceptable to God Almighty, said, ** O Father of thy
beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through
whom we have attained the knowledge of thee, O
God of angels and principalities, and of all creation,
Bnd of all the just who live in thy siglit, I bless
thee, that thou hast counted me worSiy of this
day, and this hour, to receiv? my portion in the
number of martyrs, in the cup of Christ, for the
resurrection to eternal life both of soul and body,
in the incorniption of the Holy Ghost ; among whom
may I be received before thee this day as a sacrifice
well-savoured and acceptable, which thou, the faithful
and true God, hast prepared, promised befoi^ehand,
and fulfilled accordingly. Wherefore I praise thee
for all those things, I bless thee, I glorify thee, by
the eternal High Priest, Jesus C'hrist, thy well-
beloved Son : through whom, with him in the Holy
Spirit, be glory to thee both now and for ever.
Amen."

" And when he had pronounced Amen aloud, and
finished prayer, the officers liuhted the fire, and a
great flame bursting out, — We, to whom it was
given to see, and who also were Reserved to relate to
others that which happened, — saw a wonder — For

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MARTYRDOM OF POLYCAJIP.

the flame, forming the appearance of an arch, as the
sul of a vessel filled with wind, was as a wall round
about the body of the martyr; which was in the
midst, not as burning flesh, but as gold and silver
refined in a fiimace. We received also in our nos-
trils such a fragrance, as arises from fi*ankincense, or
some other precious perfume. At length the im-
pious, observing that his body could not be consumed
by the fire, ordered the confector* to approach,
and to plunge his sword into his body. Upon this
a quantity of blood gushed out, so that the fire was
extinguished ; and all the multitude were astonished
to see the difference thus providentially made between
the unbelievers and the elect; of whom the ad-
mirable personage before us was, doubtless, one, in
our age an Apostolical and prophetical teacher, the
bishop of. the Catholic church of Smyrna. For,
whatever he declared, was fulfilled and will be fiil-
filled. But the envious, malignant, and spiteful
enemy of the just, observed the honour put on his
martyrdom, and his blameless life; and knowing
that he was now crowned with indmoitality and the
prize of unquestionable victory, studied to prevent
us firom obtdning his body, though many of us longed
to have communion t with his sacred flesh. For
some persons suggested to Nicetes, the father of
Herod, and the brother of Alee J, to go to the Pro-
consul, and intreat him not to deliver the body to
the Christians, " lest, said they, leaving the Cruci-
fied One, they should begin to worship him." And

• An officer, whose business it was in the Roman games to
dispatch any beast that was unruly or dangerous.

t I see no ground for the well-known l^apistical inference-
hence nsually drawn respecting the virtues ascribed to relics.
To express an utl'ectionate regard to the deceased by n decent
attention to the funeral rites, is all that is necessarily meant by
the expression.

I Alee is spoken of with honour in Ignatius's E4)istle to the
Sroymeans. She, it seems, bad found, iu htr nearest reUtions,
inveterate foes to whatever she held dear.

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220 HISTORT OF THE CHURCH.

they said these tilings upon the suggestions and ar-
guments of the Jews, who also watched us, when
we were going to take his body from the pile ; unac-
quainted mdeed with our views, namely, that it is
not possible for us to forsake Christ, who suffered
for the salvation of all who are saved of the human
race, nor ever to worship any other*. For we adore
HIM as being the Son of God ; but we justly love
the martyrs as disciples of the Lord, and followers
of him, on account of that distinguished affection
which they bore towards their King and their
Teacher ; — and may we be ranked at last in their
number ! The centurion, perceiving the malevolence
of the Jews, placed the body in the midst of the fire,
and burnt it Then we gathered up hi« bones, — more
precious than gold and jewels, — and deposited them
in a proper place ; where, if it be possible, we shall
meet, and the Lord will grant us, in gladness and joy,
to celebrate the birthday of his martyrdom, both in
conimemoration of those who have wrestled before us,
and for the instruction and confirmation of those
who come after f. Thus far concerning the blessed
Polycarp. — Eleven brethren ft-om Philadelphia suf-
fered with him,— but he alone is particularly cele-
brated by all : — even by Gentiles he is spoken of in
every place. He was in truth, not only an illustrious
teacher, but also an eminent martyr, whose martyr-
dom all desire to imitate, because it was regulated
exactly by evangelical principles. For by j)atience
he coiKjuered the unjust magistrate ; and thus receiv-
ing the crown of immortality, and exulting with
Apostles and all the righteous, he glorifies God, even

tiie Father, and blesses our Lord, even the Rulei* of

• The faith of Christ, and a jiist houour paid to true Chris-
tiaos, abstracted from superstition and idolatry, appear in this
passage.

t If we were in our times subject to such sufferings, I suspect
^ese anniversary-mai lyrdoms of antiquity might be thought
■ useful to us also. The superstition of alter- times appears not, I
think, in this epistle.

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MARTYRDOM OF POLYCARP. 221

our bodies, and the Shepherd of his Church dispersed
through the world. — You desired a full account ; and
we, for the present, have sent you, what will, per-
haps, be thought a compendious one, by our brother
Mark. When you have read it, send it to the
brethren beyond you, that they also may glorify the
Lord, who makes selections from his own servants
of holy men, who shall thus honour him by their
deaths. " To him who is able to conduct us all by his
grace and free mercy into his heavenly kingdom, by
his only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, to him be glory,
honour, power, majesty, for ever. Amen. Salute
all the Saints ; those with us salute you, particijlarly
Evaristus the writer, with all his house. He suffered
martyrdom on the second day of the month Xan-
thicus, on the seventh day Before the Calends of
March, on the great sabbath, at the eighth hour.
He was apprehended by Herod, under Philip the
Trallian Pontifex, Statins Quadratus being procon-
sul, but Jesus Christ reigning for ever, to whom be
glory, honour, majesty, an eternal throne from age
to age ! We pray that you may be strong, brethren,
walking in the word Jesus Christ, according to the
Gospel, with whom be glory to God, even the
Father, and to the Holy Spirit, for the salvation of
his elected Saints, among whom the blessed Polycarp
hath suffered martyrdom, with whom may we be
found in the kingdom of Jesus Christ, having fol-
lowed his steps !

" These things Caius hath transcribed from the
copy of IrenoBus, the disciple of Polycarp, who also
lived with Irenaeus. And I Socrates of Corinth have
transcribed from the copy of Caius. Grace be with
you all. And I Pionius have transcribed from the
tore-mentioned, having made search for it, and re-
ceived the knowledge of it by a vision of Polycarp,
as I shall show in what follows, collecting it whe«
now almost obsolete. So may the I-rord Jesus Christ

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*2a HISTOEY OF THE CHUECU.

gather qie with his elect, to whom be glory witli
the Father and the Holy Spirit to the ages pf ages.
Amen."

I thought it not amiss for the iBnglish reader to see
the manner in which books were th^n successively
preserved in,the church. Of Irenaeus we shall hear
more hereafter. Nor ought Pionius's account of his
vision to be hastily slighted, by those who consider
the scarcity of useful writings in those days. Whether
the case was worthy of such a divine interposition^
we, who indolently enjoy books without end, caa
scarce be judges. However, if any chuse to add thb
to the number of pious frauds, which certainly did
once much abound, the authenticity of the account
will still, in substance, remain unimpeached, as very
neajr the whole of it is in Eusebius. This historian
mentions Metrodorus, a Presbyter of the sect of
Marcion, who perished in the flames among others
who suffered at Smyrna. It cannot be demed that
heretics also have had their martyrs. Pride and
obstinacy will in some minds persist even to death.
Put as fiJl, w1k> have been classed among heretics,
have not been so in reality, Metrodorus might be a
very different sort of a man from Marcion.

A comparative view of a sound Christian Hero
suffering as we have seen Polycarp did, with a Ro-
man Stoic or untutored Indian undergoing afflictions,
where we could have an opportunity of surveying all
circumstances, might show, in a practical light, the
peculiar genius and spirit of Christianity, and its
divine superiority. At the same time, tiiose who
content themselves with a cold, speculative, and as
they term it, rational religion, may ask themselves
how it would have suited their principles to endure
what Polycarp did; — and whether something of
what is falsely called enthusiasm, and which the
foregoing epistle breathes so abundantly, be not
rqally divine and truly rational in tlie b^t sense.

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martths or ltoks and vixnnb. 393

CHAP. VI.
THE MARTYRS OF LYONS AND VIENNE.

*The 6ame of the persecution by Antoninus reach'*
ed a country, which hitherto has affiurded us no
ecclesiastical materials ; I mean that of France, in
those times called Gallia. Two neighbquring cities^
Vienne and Lyons, appear to have been much fa--
voured with evangelical light and love. Vi^me was
an antient Roman colony ; Lyons was more modern,
and her present bishop was Pothinus. His very
name points him out to be a Grecian. Irenaeus wa«
a Presbyter of Lyons^ and seems to have been the
author of the epistle which EusebiMS has preserved,
and which the reader shall see presently. Other
names concerned in these events are evidently of
Greek extraction, and it is hence nK)st probable tha(
some Asiatic Greeks had been the founders of tliesq
Churches. Whoever gasts his eye on the map of
France, and sees the situation of Lycms, at present
the largest and most populous city in that kingdom,
next to Paris, may observe how favourable the con-
fluence of tlie Rhine and the Soane — antiently called
the Arar — on which it stands, is for the purposes of
(Tomniercet- The navigation of the Mediterranean,
in all probability, was conducted by merchants of
Lyons and of Smyrna ; and, hence, the easy intro-
duction of the Gospel from the latter place and from
the other Asiatic churches b apparertt. How much
God hath blessed the work in France, the accounts
of their sufferings will evince. Lyons and Vienne
appear to be daughters, of whom thei^ A^i^tic mO'
thers needed nut to be ashamed.

• Euseb. iv. c. 1.

t When will the moderns, notwithstai^ding aU ikf^is ^iiligbt'
eii'^d views and improvements, learn to connect n'4v ig9ii«^ u.tti
commerce with the propu^atipn q{ th^ Q<;»^p«l: . *

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2i4 HISTORY OF THE CHURCtf:^

THE JEPISTLE OF THE CHURCHES OF VIENNE
AND LTONS, TO THE BRETHREN IN ASIA AND
PHRYGIA *.

The servants of Christ, sojouniing in Vienne
and Lyons in France, to the brethren in Asia pro-
pria Rnd Phrygia, who have the same faith and
hope of redemption with us, peace, and grace, and
fAorj from God the Father and Christ Jesus our
Lord.

Wfe are not competent to describe with accuracy,
Bor is it in our power to express the greatness of
the affliction sustained here by the saints, the intense
animosity of the heathen against them, and the com-
plicated suflferings of the blessed martyrs. The
grand enemy assaulted us with all his might ; and
by his first essays, exhibited intentions of exercising
malice without limits and without control. He left
no method untried to habituate his slaves to hb
bloody work, and to prepare them by previous ex-
ercises against the servants of God. Christians
were absolutely prohibited fi-om appearing, in any
houses except their o^ti, in baths, in the market,
or in any public place whatever. The grace of God,
however, fought for us, preserving the weak and
exposing the strong ; who, like pillars, were able to
withstand him in patience, and to draw the whole
fury of the wicked against themselves.' These en-
tered into the contest, and sustained every species
of pain and reproach. What was heavy to otiiers,
to them was light, while they were hastening to
Christ, evincing indeed, that the sufferings of

THIS PRESENT TIME ARE NOT M'ORTHY TO BE
COMPARED WITH THE GLORY THAT SHALL BE

REVEALED IN US. The first trial was from the
people at large; shouts, blows, the dragging of their
* Eusebius does not give tfie whole of the epistle at length,
bat omits some parts, and interrupts the thread of the narrative.
It is not necessary to notice the particular instances.

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HARTTBS OF LYONS AND VIENNE. 225

bodies, the plundering of their gpods, caatidg of
stones, and the confining of them within their own
houses, and all the indignities which may be ex«
pected from a fierce and outrageous multitude, these
were maignanimously sustained. And now, being
led into the Forum by the tribune and the magis*
trates, they were examined before all the people,
whether they were Christians; and, on pleading
guilty, were shut up in prison till the arrival of the
governor *. Before him they were at length brought }
and he treated us with great savageness of manners.
The spirit of Vettius Epagathus, one of the bretliren,
was roused, a man full (^ charity both to God and
man, whose conduct was so exemplary, though but
a youth, that he might jpstly be compared to old
Zachaxias: for he walked in all the commandment^
and ordinances of the Lord bl^upoeless, a man evei^
univeari^d in.a^ts of bene^cei^e to his neighbours,
full of zeal towards God, and fervent in spirit. He
coul4 not bear to see so manifest a perversion of
justice ; but, beii^ moved with indignation, he de*
manded to be hem^d in behalf of the brethren, and
pledg^ himself to prove that there was nothing
atheistic or impious among them. Those about the
tribxmal shouted against him : He was a man of
(juality: and the govempr, being vexed and irri-^
tated by so equitable a demand from such a person,
only asked him if be were a Christian ; and this he
cqa^QSsed in the most open manner: — tlie conse-*

?mm^e was, that he was rfiaked among the martyrs*
Je was called, indeed, the Advocate of the Chris*
tians; bat he bad an Advocate -f within, the Holy

* It U probable, but not quite certain, that this governor was
Stvems, aftenr am eraper^. The conduct of this, governor
was wmtby of so inhuman a prince.

t It is not easy to trufslate this, because of the ambiguous
ose of tke ttrm nei(CM9^«rm,' Which signifies both a comforter
and an advocate. Besides their only advocate in heaven, Jesut
Ctirifl^ Cbrvit&ani b»T« tbs comfort ao4 power of bis Spirit
within.

VOL. I. Q

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ti6 HISTORY OF THi CHURCH.

Spirit more abundantly than Zacharias, wliich he
demonstrated by the tuhiess of his charity, cheer-
fully laying down his life in defence of his brethren ;
for he was, and is still, a genuine disciple of Christ,
following the Lamb whithersoever he goetto*. The
rest began now to be distinguished. The capital
martyre appeared indeed ready for the contest, and
discharged their part with all alacrity of mind.
Othei-s seemed not so ready ; but rather, unexer-
cised, and as y<5t weak, and unable to sustain the
shock of such a contest : Of these, ten in number
lapsed, whose case filled us with great and tinmea-
sumble sorrow, and dejected the spirits of those who
had not yet been apprehended, who, thougli th6y
sustained all indignities, yet deserted not the martyrs
in their distress. Then we were all much alarmed,
because of the uncertain event of confession ; not
that we dreaded the torments with which we were
threatened, but because we looked forward unto the
€nd> and feared the danger of apostasy. Persons
were now apprehendecl darfy of such as were counted
worthy to fill up the number of the lapsed, so that
the most excellent were selected from the two
churches, even those by whose labour they had
Ipeen founded and established f. There were seized
at the same time some of our heathen servants, — for
the governor had openly ordefed us all to be sought
for, — who, by the impulse of Satan, fearing the tor-
ments which they saw inflicted on the Saints, at the!
suggestion of the Soldier*, accused us of eatinb
human flesh, and of various unnatural crimes, and
ef things not fit even to be mentiotted or imagined^

* Evi^ry in^XK wbo reads this must see the iniquity and ab-
surdity of the governor! A tenn pf reproach stands in the room
of argument, l^he term Christiiin has long ceased to be infa-
mous. But the words, LoUard, Poritan, Pietist, and Methodist^
have supplied it's place.

: t Hence I judge that their churches were of no great an-
tiquity.

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MARTYRS OF LYONS AK© VIENNE.

End such as ought not to be believed of imnkind*.
These things being divulged, all were incensed even
to madness against us ; so that if some were for^
merly more moderate on account of any connections
of btood, affinity, or firiendship, they were then
transported beyond all bounds with indignation.
Now it was that our Lord's word was fulfilled;
"The time will come when whosoever killeth
you will think that he doeth God service." Thef
holy martyrs now sustained tortures :which exceed
tlie powers of description: Satan labouring, by means
of these tortures, to extort somediing slanderous
against Christianity. The whole fury of the multi-
tude, the governor, and the soldiers, was spent in a
particular manner on Sanctus of Vienne, thejdeacon ;
and on Maturus, a late convert indeed, but a mag^
nanimous wrestler in spiritual things ; and on Attalus
of Pergamus, a man who had ever been the pillar
and support of our church J; and, lastly, on Blan-
dina, through whom Christ showed, that those things,
that appear unsightly and contemptible among men,
are most honourable in the presence of God, on ac-
count of love to his name, exhibited in real energy,
and not in boasting and pompous pretences. For
while we all feared ; and among the rest while her
mistress according to the flesh, who herself was one
of the noble army of martyrs, dreaded that she would
not be able to witness a good confession, because of
the weakness of her body, Blandina was endued
with so much fortitude, that those, who successively
tortured her from morning to night, were quite

• Hence we sec again the usual charge of unnatural crimes
objected to the Christiiins, believed in the paroxysm of the per-
secution, but afterwards generally disclaimed by sober persons.

t Surely they needed much the aid of the heavenly Com-
forter, promised in those discourses, to enable them to sustain
the load of calumny so injurious and distressing.

X A farther confirmation of the idea that the Gospel had
been brought into France by the charitable zeal of the Asiatic
Christians.

ft 2

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228 HISTOET OF TUB CHUBCH. '

worn out with fetigoe, and owned theo^dves bon-
querdd and exhausted of their whole apparatus of
tortures^ and were amazed to see her still breathing
whilst her body was torn and laid open : they con-
fessed that any. single species of the torture would
have been sufficient to dispatch her, much snpre so
great a variety as had been applied But the bless-
ed woman, as a generous wrestler, recorered fresh
vigour in the act of confession ; and it was an evident
ceSreshment, su{^rt, and an annihilation of all her
pains to say, ^' I am a Christian, aind no evil is
<x)mmitted anu)ng us/'

In the mean time Sanctus, having sustaiisd in a
manter more than human the most ba]i)arous
indignkieS) while the impious hoped to extort from
himsometlibg injurious to the Gospel, througii the
duration and intenseness of his sulierings, r^isfeed
with so much firmness, that he would neither tell
his own name, nor that of his nation or state, nor
whether he was a freeman or slave; but to every
interrogatory he answered in Latin, *' I am a Chris-
tian." This, he repeatedly owned, was to him both
name, and state, and race, and every thing; and
nothing else could the- heathen draw from him«
Hence the indignatioa of the governor and of the
torturers wasfiercely levelled against this holy person,
so that having exhausted all the usual methods of
torture, they at last fixed brazen plates to the most
tender parts of his body. These were made red
hot for the purpose of scorching him, and yet he
remained upright and inflexible, and firm in his con-
fession ; being, no doubt, bedewed and refreshed by
the heavenly fountain of the water of life which
flows from Christ *. His body witnessed indeed the
ghastly tortures which he had sustained, being one

• An illustrious testimony to the doctrine of the Spirit* ia-
flueoces, now so much depreciated, but which was then the
support of suffering Christians. The aUiision is to St. John, 7^
chapter, " He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow
rivers of living water. And this spake he of the Spirit.''

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MARTTIS OF LTONS AND VIENNE.

continued wound and bruise, altogether contracted,
and no longer retaining tbe form of a human crea-
ture : , In this man the view of Christ suflFering
wrought great marvels, confounded tbe adversary^
and showed, for the encouragement of tiie rest, that
nothing is to be feared where the love of the Father
is; and that nothing is painful where the glory of
Christ is exhibited. For while the impious imagined,
when after some days they renewed his tortures,
that a fresh application of the same methods of pu'-
oishment to his wounds, now swollen and inflamed,
must either overcome his constancy, or, by dispatch-
ing him on the spot, strike a terror into the rest, as
he could not even bear to be touched by the hand,
this was so fax from being tbe case, that, contrary to
all expectation, his body recovered its natural posi*
lion in the second course of torture ; he was restored
to bis former shape and to tbe use of his limbs ; so
dia^ by the grace of Christ, this cruelty proved not
a punishment, but a cure.

One of those who had denied Christ was Biblias,
a female. The devil imagining that he had now
devoured her, and desirous to augment her condem*
nation, by 'inducing her to accuse the Christians
ftdsely, led her to the torture, compelling her to
charge us with horrid impieties, as being a weak and
. timorous creature. But in her tcMture she recovered
herself and awoke as out of a deep sleep, being
admonbhed, by a temporary punishment, of the dan-
ger of eternal fire in hell ; and, in opposition to the
impious, she said, '' How oan we eat infismts, — we,
to whom it is not lawful to eat the blood of beasts *•-'
And now she professed herself a Christian, and was
added to the army of martyrs. The power of Christ,

* Hence it appears that tbe eating of blood was not prac-
tised among tbe Cbristians of Lyons; and, tbat they understood
not christicm liberty in this point, will not be wondered at by
tboie who cootider the circumstances of tbe first Christia&s.

<i3

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HISTORY OF THE CHITBCH.

exerted in the patience of his pedple, bad now ex-
hausted the usual artifices of tonnent ; and the devil
was driven to new resources. Christians were thrust
into the darkest and most noisome parts of the
prison : their feet were distended in a wooden trunks
even to the fifth hole ; and in this situation they
suffered all the indignities which diabolical malice
could inflict Hence many of them were suffocated
in prison, whom the Lord, showing forth his own
glory, was pleased thus to take to himself. The
rest, though afflicted to such a degree as to seem
scarce capable of recovery under the kindest treat-
ment, destitute as they were of all help and support,
yet remained alive, strengthened by the Lord, and
confirmed both in body and mind ; and these en-
couraged atid comforted the rest.

Some youn^ persons who had been lately seized,
and whose bodies had been unexercised with suffer
ings, unequal to the severity of the confinement,
expired. The blessed Pothinus, bishop of Lyons,
upwards of ninety years of age, and very infirm and
asthmatic, yet strong in spirit, and panting after
martyrdom, was dragged before the tribunal ; his
body worn out indeed with age and disease, yet he
retained a soul through which Christ might triumph.
Borne by the soldiers to the tribunal, and attended
by the magistrates and ail the multitude, shouting
against him as if he were Christ himself, be made a
good confession. Being asked by the governor, who
was the God of the Christians, he answered, If ye
be worthy, ye shall know! He was then unmercifully
dragged about, and suflfered variety of ill treatment :
those, who were near, insulted him with their hands
and feet, without the least resptct to his age; and
those at a distance threw at him whatever came to
hand : every one looked upon himself as deficient iu
^eal, if he did not insult him in some way or anotber.
Vov thus they ima^ned tliey revenged the cause

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MARTYK^ OF LYONS AN0 VIENNE. 2?3l

of their gods : He was thrown ioto prison almost cent.
|)reathles8 ; and after two days expired. ^^^J!^

And here appeared a remarkable dispensation of
Providence, ^d the immense cou) passion of Jesus,
rarely exhibited indeed among the brethren, but not
foreign to the character of Clirist. Many, who, when
first apprehended, had denied their Saviour, were
notwithstanding shut up in prison and suffered dread-
ful severities, as this denial of Christ had availed
them not But those, who confessed him, were
imprisoned as Christians, abstracted from any other
charge. Now the former, as murderers and inces-
tuous wretches, were punished much more than the
rest : Besides, the joy of martyrdom supported the
latter, and tlie hope of the promises, and the love of
Christ, and the Spirit of the Father, The former were
oppressed witli the pangs of guilt ; so that, while
they were dragged along, their very countenances
distinguished them from the rest: but the faithful
proceeded with cheerful steps : Their countenances
shone with much grace and glory: Their bonds were
as the most beautiftil ornaments, and they themselves
looked as brides adorned with their richest array,
breathing the fragrance of Christ so much, tlmtsome
thought they had been literally perfumed. The
others went on dejected, spiritless, and forlorn, and
in every way disgraced, even insulted by the heathen
as cowards and poltroons, and treated as murder-
ers: they had lost the precious, the glorious, the soul-
reviving appellation. The rest, observing these
things, were confirmed in the faith, confessed without
hesitation on their being apprehended, nor admitted
the diabolical suggestion for a moment.

The martyrs were put to death in various ways :
Or, in other words, they wove a chaplet of various
odours and flowers, and presented it to the Father.
In truth, it became the wisdom and goodness of God
(0 appoint that his servants, after enduring a great

<i 4

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23a filiBtOttt OF ¥ttE ClttJhtH.

CHAP, and vijiegated contest, should, as victors, reciivd
^_J^,^^^^, the great crown of imiDortality. — Maturus, Sanctas,
filandina, and Attalus, were led to the wild beasts ,
into the. amphitheatre, to the common spectacle of
Gentile inhumanity.

One day extraordinary of tl>e shows being afforded
to the people oil our account, Maturus and Sanctus
again underwent various tortures in the amphitheatre,
as if they had suffered nothing before. Thus were
they treated like those? wrestlers, who, having conquer-
. ed several times already, were obliged afresh to con^
tend with other conquerors by fresh lots, till some
one was conqueror of the whole number and as such
was crowned. * Here they sustained again, as they
were led to the amphitheatre, the blows usually in^
dieted on those who were condemned to will beasts;
they were exposed to be dragged and torn by the
beasts, and to all the barbarities which the mad
populace with shouts exacted, and above all to the
hot iron chair, in which their bodies were roasted,
and emitted a disgusting smell. Nor was this all ;
the persecutors raged still more, if possible, to over-
come their patience. But not a word could be extort-
ed from Sanctus, besides what he first had uttered —
the word of confession. These then after remaining
alive a long time, expired at length, and became a
spectacle to the world, equivalent to all the variety
usual in the fights of gladiators.

Blandina, suspended to a stake, was exposed as
food to the wild beasts ; she was seen suspended in
the form of a cross, and employed in vehement sup-
t)lication. The sight inspired the combatants with
much alacrity, while they beheld with their bodily
eyes, in tlie person of their sister, the figure of Him

• The allusions to the savage shows, so frequently made ia
this narrative, point out their frequency in these ferocious
times ; and give us occasion to redact on the mild appearances
which soeiety has asaumcd, nmc^ ev^ the form of Christianity
has prevailed in the world.

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MARtYBS OF LYONS AND VIENNE. 5*33?

who was cmcified for them, that he might pefsunde cent.
those who believe in him, that every one who suffers *^*
for the glory of Christ, always has communion with
the living God. None of the beasts at that time
toiiched her : she was taken down from the stake,
thrown again into prison, and reserved for a future
contest; that* having overcome in various exercises,
she might fiilly condemn the old serpent, and fire the
brethren with a noble spirit of Christian emulation.
Weak and contemptible as she might be deemed, yet
when clothed with Christ the mighty and invincible
champion, she became victorious over the enemy in
a variety of rencounters, and was crowned with im-
mortality.

Attains also was vehemently demanded by the
multitude ; for he was a person of great reputation
among us. He advanced in all the cheerfulness and
serenity of a good conscience ; — an experienced
Christian, and ever ;*eady and active in bearing testi-
mony to the truth. He was led round the am phi*
theatre, and a tablet was carried before him, inscribed
in Latin, " This is Attains the Christian." The rage
of the people would have had him dispatched imme-
diately; but the governor understanding that he was
a Roman, ordered him back to prison : and con-
cerning him and others, who could plead the same
privilege erf Roman citizenship, lie wrote to the
emperor, and waited for his instructions.

The interval which this circumstance occasioned
was not unfruitful to the Church. — The unbounded
compassion of Christ appeared in the patience of
many : * Dead members were restored to life by
the means of the living ; and the martyrs became
singularly serviceable to the lapsed ; and thus the
Church rejoiced to receive her sons returning to her
bosom : for by these means most of those who had
den^ Christ were recovered, and dared to profess
their Savipur : they felt again the divine life in their
* Dead in their spiritual affections*

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HISTORr OF THE CHURCH.

souls : they approached tx) the tribunal ; and their
God, who willeth not the death of a sinner, being
again precious tb their souls, they desired a fresh op-
portunity of being interrogated by the governor.

Caesar* sent orders that the confessors of Christ
should b^ put to death ; and that the apostates from
their divine Master should be dismissed. — It was
now the general assembly, held annually at Lyons,
and frequented from all parts ; and this was the
time when the Christian prisoners were again exposed
to the populace. The governor ag^ interrogated :
Roman citizens had the privilege of dying by de-
collation ; the rest were exposed to wild beasts ; and
now it was that our Redeemer was magnified in ttiose
who had apostatized. They were interrogated se-
parate from the rest, as persons soon*to be dismissed,
and made a confession to the surprise of
THE Gentiles, and were added to the list of
martyrs. A small number still remained in apostasy ;
but they were those who possessed not the least
spark of divine faith, had not the least acquaintance
with the riches of Christ iu their souls, and had no
fear of God before their eyes ; whose life had brought
reproach on Christianity, and had evidenced them
to be the children of perdition f; but all the rest
were added to the Church.

During their examination, a man who had lived
many years in France, and was generally known fpr

* Tt mast be confessed that the power of Stoicism in harden-
ing the heart was never more strongly illustrated than in the
case of Marcus Antoninus, thus breaking all the rights of
Roman citizenship, and all the feelings of humanity. It puts
me in mind of Mr. Pope's lines,

In lazy apathy let Stoics b<»ast

Their virtue fix'd— 'tis fix'd as in a frost.

t The difference between true and merely professing Chris-
^ tians is well stated, and deserves to be noticed. A season of per-
secution separates real believers and real experienced Christians
from others, much more visibly than ministers can now do by
the moit judicious distinctions. _

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HARTYRS OF LYONjS AN^D VIENNE. ' 235

bis love of God and zealous regard for divine truth, cent.
a person of apostolical endowments, a physician by ^^
profession, a Phrygian by nation, and named Alex-
ander, stood near the tribunal, and by his gestures
encouraged them to profess the faith. He appeared
to all who surrounded the tribunal as one who tra-
vailed in much pain on their account. And now
the multitude, incensed at the Christian integrity
exhibited at the conclusion by the lapsed, made a
clamour against Alexander as the cause of this
change. Upon which the governor ordered him into
his presence, and asked him who he was : He de-
clared that he was a Christian : The former, in great
wrath condemned him instantly to the wild beasts ; —
and the next day he was introduced with Attalus."
Por the governor, willing to gratify die people, de-
livered Attalus again to the wild beasts ; and these
two underwent all the usual methods of torture in the
amphidieatre : indeed they sustained a very grievous
conflict, and at length expired. Alexander neither
groaned nor spake a word, but in his heart conversed
with God. Attalus, sitting on the iron chair and
being scorched ; when the smell issued from him,
said to the multitude in Latin, " This indeed which
TE do is to devour men ; but we devour not our
fellow-creatures, nor practise any other wickedness.'*
Being asked what is the name of God, he answered,
" God has not a name as men have."

On the last day of the spectacles, Blandina was
again introduced with Ponticus, a youth of fifteen :
they had been daily brought in to see the punish-
ment of the rest. They were ordered to swear by
the idols ; and the mob perceiving them to persevere
immoveably, and to treat their menaces with supe-
rior contempt, were incensed ; and no pity was shown
either to the sex of the one or to the tender age of
the other. Their tortures were now aggravated by
all sorts of methods ; and the whole round of barba-

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' HIITOEY OF THE CHUftCH.

rities was inflicted ; but menaces and puoishnieatft
were equally ineffectual. Ponticus, ammated by
bis sister, who was observed by the heathen to
strengthen and confirm him, after a n!iagtianimoiis
exertK)n of patience, yielded up the ghost.
Martyrdom And uow the blessed Blandina, last of all, as a
^, <>/. ffenerous mother having exhorted her children, and
«cnt them before her victorious to the King, review^
ing the whole series of their sufferings, hastened to
undergo the same herself, rejoicing and triumphing
in her exit, as if invited to a marriage supper, not
going to be exposed to wild beasts. After she had
endured stripes, the tearing of the beasts, and the
iron chair, she was enclosed in a net, and thrown to a
' bull ; and having been tossed some time by the ani*
mal, and pioving quite superior to her pains, through
the influence of hope, and the realizing view of the
objects of her faith and her fellowship with Christy
slie at length breathed out her soul. Even her ene*
mies confessed that no woman among them had ever
suffered such and so great things. But their madness
against the saints was not yet satiated. For the fierce
and savage tribes of men, being instigated by the
ferocious enemy of mankind, were not easily soften^
ed ; and tliey now began another peculiar war against
the bodies of the Saints. That they had been
conquered by their patience, product no stings of
remorse : Indeed the feelings of common sense and
humanity appear to have been extinguished among
them : Disappointment increased their fury : The de*
vil, the governor, and the mob equally showed their
malice; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, " He
that is unjust, let him be unjust still," as wdl as^
" He that is holy, let him be holy still*." They now
exposed to dogs the bodies of those who had been

• Rev. xxii. 11. A striking proof of thf sacred regard paid
to that dJTJne work-^the book of ihe Revelation,— in th«
second cdutury.

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MARTYRS OF LtONS AND VIENNE. 337

mfifocated in prispn, and carefully watched nigbt ^ cent^
day, lest any of odr people should by stei^th ppf/j l^Vi
form the funeral rites. And then expo^ng wha^t had
been left by the wild beasts w by the Are, , relics,
partly torn, and partly scorched, and the h^^ witli
the trunks, they preserved them by military guar(te
•unburied for several days. Some gnashed on theiQ
with their teeth, desirous, if possible, to mai^e them
feel still more of their malice. Qthers laughed £mi4
insulted them, praising their own gods, and ascribe
ing the vaigeance indicted on the martyrs to them«
All, however, were not of this ferocious mould* Yet
even those who were of a geaitler spiritj and wh<)
sympathbed with us, in 90011^ degree, upbraided us»
often saying, — "Where is your God, — and what
profit do ye derive frow their religion, which y^
valued above life itself *?'^

As for ourselves, our sorro^v was greatly increase^
because we were deprived of the melancholy satisfacr
tion of interring our friends. Neither the darkness of
the night could befriend us, nor could we prevail by
prayers or by price. They watched the bodies witS
tmremitting vi^lance, a3 if to deprive them of
sepulchre was to them an object of great importance
The bodies of the martyrs, halving been co0tun>eT-
liously treated and exposed fpr six days, were burnt
-and reduced to a^hes, and scattered by the wicked
into tlie Rhone, that not tlje least panicle of tbeni
might appear on the earth any more. And tbey did
these things as if they could prevail against Qod, aiaij
prevent tteir resurrection — and tliat they migjit deter
others, as they said, from the hope of a ft^ture life
— *'On which relying they introduce a strange aj?d
new religion, and despise the most excruciating tpr-
tures, and die with joy. Now let us see if they will

• A diversity of temper or education produced a diversity of
conduct among' these men, while yet all seem to have been
equally void of the fear and love of God.

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HISTORr OF THE CHURCH.

rise again, and if their God can help them and
deliver them out of our hands* "

Eusebius observes here, that the reader may
judge, by analogy, of the fierceness of this persecu-
tion in other parts of the empire, from this detail
of thd affairs at Lyons ; and then adds something
from the epistle concerning the humility, meekness,-
iind charity pf the martyrs ; and this he contrasts with
the unrelenting spirit of the* Novatians, which after-
wards' appeared in the Church. " They were such
sincere followersof Christ, who, though he was in

THE form of a MAN, THOUGHT IT NOT ROBBERV

TO BE EQUAL WITH GOD," that, though elevated
to such height of glory, and though they. had borne
witness for Christ not once or twice only, but often,
ia a variety of sufferings, yet they assumed not the
venerable name of martyrs, nor permitted us to
iiddress them as such. But if any of us by letter
or word gave them the title, they reproved us vehe-
mently. For it was with much pleasure that they
gave the appellation in a peculiar sense to Him who

IS the FAITHFUL AND TRUE WITNESS, the first-

begotten from the dead, and the Prince of. divine
life. And they remembered with respect the de-
ceased martyrs, and said ; They indeed were mar-
tyrs whom Christ hath deigned to receive to himself
in their confession, sealing their testimony by their
exit, but WE are low and mean confessors. ' With
tears they intreated the brethren to pray fervently
for them, that they might be perfected.

They exhibited, however, in real facts, the energy
of the character of martyrs, and answered wi^
much boldness to the Gentiles : llieir magnanimity,

* The natural enmity of the human mind against the things
of God was never more strongly exemplified than in this per-
secution. The folly of thinking to defeat the coun^lv of
God appears very conspicuous; and so does the faith and hope
of a blessed resurrection,— the peculiarly animating theme of
true Christians.

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MARTYRS OF LYONS AND VIENNE*

imdaunted, calm, and intrepid, was visible to all
the world, though the fear of God induced them
to refuse the title of martyrs. • They humbled them-
selves under the mighty hand by which they are
now exalted *. They were ready to give a modest
reason of the hope that was in them before all :
They accused none : They took pleasure in com-
mending, none in censuring ; and they prayed lor
their murderers, as Stephen the accomplished mar-
tyr did, •* I^rd, lay not this sin to their charge.**
And if HE prayed thus for those who stoned him;
how much more ought Qiristians to pray for the
brethren? — ^They never gloried in aii unbecoming
way over the lapsed ; but, on the contrary, they
supplied their weaknesses with maternal tenderness,
and shed many tears over them to the Father : tliey
asked life for them, and he gave them it, which
they were glad to communicate to their neighbours.
Thus in all things they came off victorious before
(jod, — ever cultivating peace, — ever commending
peace ; — In peace they went to God, leaving neither
trouble to their mother the church, nor faction and
sedition to the brethren; but joy, peace, unanimity,
and charity.

Eusebius has given us another passage also which
deserves attention. Alcibiades, one of the martyrs,
had led, bef<;re the persecution, the life of an
Ascetic: — he used to subsist only on bread and
water. As he continued the same regimen while
in confinement, it was revealed in a vision to Attains,
after his first contest in the amphitheatre, that Alci-
biades did ill not to use the creatures of God, and
that he gave an occasion of scandal to others. Al-
cibiades was hence induced to change his diet, and
to partake of the bounty of God with thanksgiving.
— Eusebius tells us also of an epistle directed by
these martyrs to Eleutherus, the bishop of llome^
• 1 Pet. T.

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U40 HISTORY 01; THi: CIIURCH*

in which they give a very honourable encomium of
Irenaeus the presbyter. Of him we shall have oc*
casion to speak more hereafter. He was appointed
successor to Pothinus : he outlived the storm, and
governed the Church afterwards with much ability
and success. The letter to the Churches of Asia
end Phry^a, of which Eusebius has given us such
large and valuable extracts^ furnishes strong prooi^
of his piety and judgment.

The superstitions, which afterwards arose in sq
great abundance, and with so much strength : and
which^ like a dense cloud, so long obscured the
light of tiiQ Church, seem scarcely to have shaded
the glory of ^hose Gallic martyrs , in any degree*
The case of Alcibiades and the wholesoa)e (Seek
which the divine goodness put to his well*meant
austerities, demonstrate that excesse^s of this nature
had not yet gained any remarkable ascendency in
the Church. And the descripticMi of the hqmility
and charity of the martyrs shows 1^ spirit much
superior to that which we shall have occ£^ion, with
regret, to notice in some succeeding aiMttpIs* of mar".-
tyrdom. In a word, the power of Divine Grace
appears little less than apostolical in the church a^
Lyons. The only disagreeable circumstance in the
whole narrative is the too florid and tumid style,
peculiar to the Asiatic Greeks ; and which Cicero,
m his Rhetorical works, so finely contrasts with tlie
Attic neatness and purity. In a translation it is
scarce possible to do justice to thoughts extremely
evangelical and spiritual, clothed originally in so
tawdry a garb. Yet under this great disadvantage
a discerning eye will see much of the *' unction" of
real godliness. — At first sight we must be struck
with the difference between primitive scriptural Chris-
tianity, and that affectation of rational divinity,
which has so remarkably gained the ascendant in
Christendom in our times. In the account we have
read, the good bfluence of the Holy Spirit on the
3

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MARTYRS OF LYONS AND VIENNE. ^41

one handy and the evil influence of Satan on the other,
are brought forward every where to our view. In our
times both are concealed, or almost annihilated ; and
little appears but what is merely human. Whether
of the two methods is most agreeable to the plan of
the sacred writings, must be obvious to every serious
and honest enquirer. Christ's kingdom, in the nar-
raUve before us, appears truly scriptural and divine :
Christian faith, hope, and charity, do their work
under the direction of his Spirit: Christians are
humble, meek, heavenly-minded, patient, sustained
continually with aid invisible ; and we see Satan
actively, but unsuccessfully, engaged against them^
In the degenerate representations of the Christian
religion by many modems, what a different taste and
spirit ! — Every thing is of this world ! — Policy and
ambition leave no room for the exhibition of the
work of God and the power of the Holy Ghost :
The belief of Satanic influence is ridiculed as weak
superstition; and natural, unassisted reason, and tlie
self-sufficiency of the human heart, triumph with-
out measure !

CHAP. VIL

THE STATE OF CHRISTIANS UNDER THE REIGNS

OF COMMODUS, PERTINAX, AND JULIAN.

THE STORY OF PEREGRINUS.

The reigns of the two last-mentioned emperors, chap.
which close the century, are short, and contain no , ^^^
Christian memoirs. That of Com mod us is remark-
able for the peace granted to the Church of Christ
through the world*. The method which Divine
Providence used for this purpose is still more so.
Marcia, a woman of low rank, was the favourite
concubine of this emperor. She had, on some ac-
♦ Euscb. B.v. c. 19.
VOL. I, R

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VIL

242 HISTORY OF THE CHUtlCA

CHAP- count not now understood, a predilection for the
Christians, and employed her interest with Com-
modus in their favour*. He was himself the most
vicious and profligate of all mortals, though the son
of the grave Marcus Antoninus. Those, who looked
at secular objects and moral decorum alone, might
regret the change of emperors. In one particular
point only, namely, in his conduct towards the
Christians, Commodus was more just and equitable
than his father. And the power and goodness of
God in making even such wretched characters as
Commodus and Marcia to stem the torrent of per-
secution, and td afford a breathing- time of twelve
years under the son, after eighteen years of the
most cruel sufferings under the fiither, deserve to be
remarked. For certainly the Church of Christ has
no communion with debauchees ; and though it be
abhoirent, also, in its plan and spirit from the sys-
tems of proud philosophers, yet it is always friendly
to every thing virtuous and laudable in society. — The
fact is. It has a taste peculiarly its own : God's *vays
are not like ours. — The Gospel now flourished abun-
dantly ; and many of the nobility of Rome, with
their whole families, embraced it. Such a circum-
stance would naturally excite the envy of the great.
The Roman senate felt its dignity defiled by innova-
tions, which to them appeared to the last degree
contemptible; and to this malignant source, I thmk,
is to be ascribed the only instance of persecution in
this reign.

Apollonius, at that time a person renowned for
learning and philosophy in Rome, was a sincere
Christian; and as such was accused by an informer
before Perennis, a magistrate of considerable influ-
ence in tlie reign of Commodus. The law of Anto-
ninus Pius had enacted grievous punishments against
the accusers of Christians. One cannot suppose
his edict had any force during the reign of his sue-
♦ Dion. Cassiof .

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tNDER COMMOnuS, &C. 243

cfessor Marcus; but under Comriiodus it was re-^
i^ved ; or rather, a new one, still more severe, was
enacted, that the accusers should be put to death*.
Perennis sentenced the accuser accordingly, and his
legs were broken. Thus far he seems to have
coniplied with the injunctions of the kw : in what
follows he obeyed the dictates of his own malice, or
rather thdt of the senate. He begged of the pri-
soner with much earnestness, tliat he would give an
account of his faith before the senate add the court
Apollonius complied, and delivered an apology for
Christianity ; in Consequence of which, by a decree
of the senate, he was beheaded. It is not quite easy
to account for this procedure. It is perhaps the
only trial recorded in history where both tlie accuser
dnd the accused suffered judicially. Eusebius ob-
serves, that the laws were still in force, commanding
Christians to be put to death, who had been presented
before the tribunal. But Adrian, or certainly An-
toninus Pius, had abrogated this iniquitous edict
of Trajan. Under Marcus it might be revived, —
as what severity against Christiaris was not to be
expected from that cruel persecutor ? Now Corn-
modus, by menacing accusers with death, probably .
^Supposed he had sufficiently secured the Christians,
Yet, if a formal abrogation of the law agabst
Christians did not actually take place, one may see
how Apollonius came to suffer as well as his adver-
sary. In truth, if he had beCn siletit, it is veiy
likely he would have saved his own life. Insidious
artifices, under the pretence of much respect and
desire of information, seem to have drawn him into
a measure which cost him so dear : — He died, how-
tver, in the best of causes !

There is, in the work of Lucian, a remarkable

story of a person tiamed Peregrinus, which, as it

falls in with this century, and throws light 6n the

character of the Christians who then lived, deserves

• Buseb. B. T. c. 19.

R a

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244 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP, to be here introduced. '* In his youth," says this
Y"l , author, " he fell into shameful crimes, for which
he was near losing his life in Armenia and Asia.
I will not dwell on those crimes ; but I am per-
suaded that what I am about to say is worthy of
attention. There is none of you but knows, that
being chagrined because his father was still alive ^
after being upwards of sixty years of age, he stran-
gled him. The rumour of so black a crime being
spread abroad, he betrayed his guilt by flight
He wandered about in divers countries to conceal
the place of his retreat, till, upon coming into Ju-
dea, he learnt the admirable doctrine of the
Christians, by conversing with their priests and
teachers. In a Httle time he showed them tliat they
were but children compared to himself: for he
became not only a prophet, but the head of their
congregation : in a word, he was every thing to them :
he explained their books, and composed some him-
self; insomuch that they spoke of him sometimes
as a god, and certainly considered him as a lawgiver
and a ruler. — However, these people, in fact, adore
that great person who had been crucified in Pales-
tine, as being the first who taught men that religion.
— While these things were going on, Peregrinus was
apprehended and put in prison on account of his
being a Christian. This disgrace loaded him with
honour: it was tlie very thing he ardently desired:
it made him more reputable among those of that
persuasion, and furnished him with a power of per-
forming wonders. The Christians, grievously aflBicted
at his confinement, used their utmost efibrts to pro-
cure him his liberty; and as they saw they could
not compass it, they provided abundantly for all his
wants, and rendered him all imaginable services.
There was seen, by break of day, at the prison-,
gate, a company of old womep, widows, and or-
phans, some of whom, after having corrupted thq

guard with 'money, passed the night witl^ him:

3 . • . . ^

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UNDER COMM0DU8, &C.

there they partook together of ele^nt repasts, and
entertained otie anoUier with religious discourses.
They called that excellent man the New Socrates.
There came even Christians, deputed from many
cities of Asia, to converse with him, to comfort
him, and to bring him supplies of money ; for the
care and diligence which the Chrisrians exert in these
junctures is incredible: they spare nothing in such
cases. They sent, therefore, large sums to Pere-
grinus ; and his confinement was to him an occasion
of amassing great riches ; for these poor creatures
are firmly persuaded they shall one day enjoy im-
mortal life; therefore they despise death with won-
derful courage, and offer themselves voluntarily to
punishment. Their first lawgiver has put it mto
their heads that they are all brethren. Since they
separated from us, they persevere in rejecting the
gods of the Grecians, and in worshipping that de-
ceiver who was crucified : they regulate theirmanners
and conduct by his laws ; they despise, therefore^
all earthly possessions, and use them in common.
Therefore if any magician or juggler, any cunning
fellow, who knows how to make his advantage of
opportunity, happens to get into their society, he
immediately grows rich; because it is easy for a man
of this sort to abuse the simplicity of these silly peo-
ple. However Peregrinus was set at liberty by the
president of Syria, who was a lover of philosophy
and of its professors ; and who, having perceived
that this man courted death out of vanity and a
fondness for renown, released him, despising him too
much to have a desire of inflicting capital punishment
on him. Peregrinus returned into his own country,
and as some were inclined to prosecute him on ac-
count of his parricide, he gave all his wealth to his
fellow-citizens, who, t)eing gained by this liberality,
imposed silence on his accusers. He left his country
a second time in order to travel, reckonmg he should

»3

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VII.

?46 HJSTORT OF THE CHURCH

CHAP, find every thing he wanted m the purses of tb©
Christians, who were punctual in accompanying hiixj
wherever he went, and in supplying him with all
things in abundance. He subsisted in tliis manner
for a considerable time; but having done something
which the Christians abhor, — they saw him, I think,
make use of some meats forbidden amongst them, —
he was abandoned by them ; insomuch that having
not any longer the means of support, be woulc(
fain have revoked the donation he had made to lus
country*."

The native place of this extraordinary man was
Parium in Mysia. After his renunciation of Chris-
tianity, he assumed the cbarg^cter of a philosopher.
In that light he is mentioned by several heathen au-
thors; and this part he acted till th^ time of his
death ; when, in his old ^e, he threw himself into
the flames, probably because suicide was honourable
in the eyes of the Gentiles, and because Eippedocles,
a brother philosopher, had thrown himself into the
vulcano at moupt JEina. — A remark may here b^
made on the writer, on the hefp, and on tlie Chris-
tians of those times*

It will not be necessary to give an anxious answer
to the railleries, cavils and insinuations of Lucian in
this narrative. Whoever knows any thing of real
Christianity, and the usual obloquy thrown upon it,
will easily make just deductions, and separate what
is true from what is false. Lucian was one of the
most facetious authors of antiquity : He doubtless
possessed the talents of wit and satire in a supreme
degree. But truth and candour are not usually to
be expected from writers of thjs sort : Lucian, like
others of the same vein, had his eyes turned malig-
nantly tchfvards all objects but, himself: He was
intolerably self-conceited, and may be ranked with

* Lardner's Collect. Vol iL c. 19.— Bullet's Establishmen^t
of Clihstiaiiity,

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UNDER COMMOBUS, ScC

Voltaire, Rousseau, Hume, and other modem wnt«

ers of that stamp: He was sarcastic, unfeeling; and

suspicious of evil every where, except in his own

heart. The common consequence of such a temper,

indulged without restraint, is a sceptical indifference

to all sorts of religion, a contempt of every mode of

it without distinction, and supercilious self-applause

on account of superior discernment Such men, of

all other?, seem most to fall under the censure of

the wise man. He that trusteth his own

HEART IS A fool. They take for granted the

sincerity, humanity, and benevolence of their own

hearts, with as much positiveness as they do the

obliquity and hypocrisy of other men's. Antiquity

had ONE Lucian ; and, it must be confessed the

absurdities of paganism afforded him a large field of

satire^ which, eventually, was not unserviceable to

the progress of Christianity : Our times hai«

ABOUNDED with writers of this stamp; and it is

one of the most striking characteristics of the de«

pravity of modem taste, that they are so much read

and esteemed.

. Peregrinus is no very imcommon character. On
a less extended scale, men of extreme wickedness
in a similar way may frequently be noticed : Men,
whose early life has been devoted to nothing but
vices : Then, afterwards, something of the garb and
mode of real Christians is assumed by these de-^
ceivers. But it is not every one who has the abi-^
lities of Peregrinus to wear the hypocritical ^|arb so
assumed with consummate address, and to impose
on genuine Christians of undoubted disoemment
The unfeeling heart of Lucian appears to rejoice in
the impositions of Peregrinus ; and particularly^ that
he was able to impose on Christiana so long and so
completely. A philantliropic mmd would rathei have
been tempted to mourn over the depravity of human
nature, that it should be capable of such wickedness.
Providence, however, often sets a dismal mark upon

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M8 HISTORT OF THE CHUW!H.

,CHAP. such men in this life. Peregrinus lived long enough
^^IL^ to be proved a complete impostor, and to be ren-
dered intolerable to Christians; he acted the philo-
sopher afterw ards, it seems, a long time : for what
is often called philosophy is consistent enough witli
much hypocrisy; and his dreadful end is awfully
instructive to mankind.

Yet, what is there in all this account of the
Christians, discoloured as it is by the malignant
author, which does not tend to their honour ? While
Peregrinus made a creditable profession, they re-
ceived and rejoiced in him : they did not pretend to
infalUbility. His superior parts and artifice enabled
him a long time to deceive. It is probable that be
avoided as much as possible the society of the most
sagacious and penetrating among the Christians.
The followers of Jesus had learnt to spare the mote
in thar brother's eye, and to feel the beam in tteir
own. They were most solicitously guarded against
that species of deception which is the most fatal,
namely, the delusion of a man's own heart. If
many of them were hence too much exposed to the
snares of designing men, the thing tells surely to their
honour, rather than to their disgrace. As for the
rest; their liberality, their zeal, their compassion,
their brotherly love, their fortitude, their heavenly-
mindedness, are confessed in all this narrative to
have been exceeding great 1 rejoice to hear from
the mouth of an enemy such a testimony to the cha-
racter of Christians : it is one of the best which I can
meet with in the second century : Amidst such a
dearth of materials it was not to be omitted. In
morals, Christians must then have been, at least,
much superior to the rest of mankind ; and it is
only to be kunentdd, that he who could relate this
story, had not the wisdom to make a profitable use
of it fer himaelf.

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CHRISTIAK AUTHORS. 249

CHAP. VIII.

SOME ACCOUNT OF CHRISTIAN AUTHORS WHO
FLOURISHED IN THIS CENTURY.

It may throw additional light on the history of
Christian doctrine and manners in this century, to
give a brief view of Christian authors. Some oi the
most renowned have been already spoken to, and a
few more of great respectability must be deferred to
the next century, because they outlived this.

Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, lived under tlie reign
of Marcus Antoninus and his son Commodus. He
wrote many epistles to various churches, which de-
monstrate his care and vigilance in support of Chris-
tianity ; — a pleasing proof that Corinth was singu-
larly favoured by being possessed of a zealous and
charitable pastor ; though of his labours there, and of
the state of the numerous society of Christians^ under
his ministry, we have no account He wrote to the
Lacedaemonians an instruction concerning the doc«
trine of the Gospel, and an exhortation to peace and
unity. He wrote to the Athenians also ; and, by
his testimony, he confirms the account before given
of their declension after the martyrdom of Publius;
and of their revival under the care of Quadratus ; and
he here informs us that Dionysius the Areopegite
was the first bishop of Athens. In. his letter to the
Christians in Crete he highly commends Philip the
bbhop, aiid guards them against heresies. In his
epistle to the churches of Pontus, he directs that all
penitents should be received who return to the Church,
whatever their past crimes have been, even, if ^ilty
of heresy itself. One may heace infer, that discipline
was as yet administered with much strictness in the
churches ; and that purity of doctrine, as well as of
life and manners, were looked on as of high im-
portance, insomuch that some were inclined to a

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250 HISTORY OP THE CHUECH.

CHAP, decree of rigour incompatible with the Gospel,
^^^^ which promises full and free forgiveness through
Christ to eVery returning sinner, without liinitationa
or exceptions. Such inferences concerning the man-
ners and spirit of the Christians at that time seem
obvious and natural : The present state of chufch-
discipline among all denominations of 'Christians in
Engknd would undoubtedly suggest very diffident
reflections. — He writes also to rinytus, bishop of
the Gnossians in Crete, advising him not to impose
on the Christians the heavy burden of the obli-
gation to preserve their virginity, but to have respect
to the weakness incident to most of them. It
seemed worth while to mention this also as a proof
that monastic austerities were b^inning to appear in
the Church ; and that the l)est men, after the example
of tlie Apostles, laboured to control them. Pinytus
in his reply extols Dionysius, and exhorts him to
afford his people more solid nourishment, lest, being
always fed with milk, they should remain in a state
of infancy. This answer speaks something of the
ilepth of thought and knowledge in godliness, with
which Tiny tus was endowed

In his letter to the Romans, directed to Soter their
bishop, he recommends to them to continue a cha-
ritable custom, which, from their first plantation,
they had always practised ; namely, — to send relieif
to divers Churches throu^out the world, and to
assist particularly those who were condemned to the
mines ; — a strong proof both that the Roman church
continued opulent and numerous, and also that they
still partook much of the spirit of Christ*,

Theophilus of Antioch is a person of whom it were
to be wished that we had a larger account He
was brought up a Geotilet wasi educated in all the
knowledge then reputable in the world, and was
doubtless a man of considerable parts and learnings

♦ Euseb. B. iv. c. 23.

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CHRISTIAK AUTHOBS* 25:1

His conversion to Chriatianity seems to h&ve been cent.
the most reasonable thing imaginable. The Holy , ''•
Spirit in his operations ever appears to adapt himself
much to different tempers. Theophilus was a rea-
soner; and the grace of God, while it convinced
him of his own inability to clear up his doubts, effec-
tually enlightened his understanding. The belief of
a resurrection appears to have been a mighty impedi-
ment to his reception of the Gospel : It contradicted
bis philosophy. — The notions of proud philosophers
vary in different ages; but they seldom fail in some
form or other, to withstand the religion of Jesus*

Of his labours in liis bishopric of Antioch we
have no account He carried on a correspondence
with a learned man named Autolycus; but with
what success we are not told. He appears also to
have been very vigilant against feshionable heresies.
He lived thirteen years m his bisliopric ; and died
in peace about the second or third year of Com-
modus *

Melito, bishop of Sardis, from the very little of
his remains that are extant, may be conceived to be
one whom C'od might make use of for the revival of
godliness in that drooping church. The very titles
of some of his works excite our regret for the loss
of them. One of them is^ on the submission of the
senses to faith ; another on the soul, the body, and
the spirit ; another on God incan^ate. A fragment
of his, preserved by the author of tlie Chronicle,
call^ the Alej^andrian, says, '* that the Christians
do not adore insensible stones, but that they worship
one God alone, who is before all things and in all
thiqgs, and Jesus Christ who is God before' all
ages." He lived under the reign of Marcus Anto-
ninus. His unsuccessful but masterly apology pre-
sented to that emperor has already been noticed.
He travelled into the east on purpose to collect
authentic ecclesiastical information ; and he gives us a
* Euseb. B. iv. c. 93. and Cave's Life of Theophilus.

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852 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

OTAp. catalogue of the sacred books of the Old Testament.
He died and was buried at Sardis ; — a man whom
Polycrates, bishop of Ephesus, his contemporary,
calls an eunuch, that is, one who made himself an
eunuch for the kingdom of heaven's sake*. Several
such, I apprehend, were in the primitive times. But
the depravity of human nature is ever pushing men
into extremes. There soon arose some, who made
a self-righteous use of these instances of self-denial;
anci clogged them with unwarrantable excesses.
The contrary extreme is now. so prevalent, that, — if
a person were to follow the example of Melito on
the same generous principles which our Saviour ex-
presses,— It would be thought very extraordinary,
and even ridiculous. But, whatever has the sanction
of Holy Writ, should be noticed to the honour of
those who practise it, whether agreeable to the taste
of the age we live in or not, unless we mean to set
up the eighteenth century as a sort of Pope to judge
the foregoing seventeen. — ^The same Polycrates ob-
serves of him, that his actions were regulated by
the motions of the Holy Ghost ; and that he lies
intened at Sardis, where he expects the judgment
and resurrection.

Bardaswies of Mesopotamia, a man renowned for
learning and eloquence, escaped not the pollution
of the fantastic heresy of Valentinian. His talents
and his love of refinement were probably his snare ;
but, as he afterwards condemned the fabulous dreams
by which he had been mfatuated, and as he is al-
lowed to be sound in the main, some relics of his
former heresy might be left without materially in-
juring either his faijh or his practice. I know no
particular reason for mentioning him at all, but for
the sake of introducing a remarkable passage of his
writings, preserved by Eusebiusf, which shows at

• Matthew, xix. Euseb. B. iv. c. ^5. Du Pin and Cave.

i Euseb. Precep. Evang. Jortin's Remarks iv.

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CHRISTIAN AUTHOES«

once the great progress and the powerful energy of
Christianity.

" In Partliia," says lie, " polygamy is allowed
and practised, but the Christians of Parthia practise
it not In Persia the same may be said with re-
spect to incest. In Bactria and in Gaul the rights
of matrimony are defiled with impunity. The Chris-
tians there act not thus. In truth, wherever they
reside, they triumph in their practice over the worst
of laws and the worst of customs.'* This eulogium
is not more strong tiian just. — In what age did
human inventions, whether philosophical or religious,
produce such fruits as these?

MUtiades was usefully engaged in discriminating
the genuine influences of the Holy Spirit from the
fictitious,— -of which unhappy instances had then
appeared. False prophets evinced at first the most
stupid ignorance, and afterwards a distempered
imagination and furious frenzy. Miltiades showed
that the influence of the Holy Spirit described in
Scripture, was sober, consistent, reasonable. There
is no new thing under the sun: impostures and
delusions exist at thi^ day; — and why should it not
be thought as reasonable now as it was then — to
discriminate genuine from fictitious or diabolical
influences, by laying down the true marks and evi-
dences of each, instead of scomfiilly treating all alike
as enthusiastic ? The extraordinary and miraculous
influences chiefly come under Miltiades's inspection;
for these were at that time very common in the
Christian church ; so were delusive pretences also ;
particularly those of Montanus and of his followers.
"T^Let the discerning reader apply the observations
to be made on these and similar facts to our own
times.

Apollinarius of Hierapolis wrote several books
under tlie reign of Marcus Antoninus. We. have
at present only their tities. One of them was a
Defence of Christianity, dedicated ^o the emperor.

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vm.

254 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP. The work, of which we know the most from a
fragment preserved in Eusebius, is that against the
Montanists, which will fall under our obsei*vation in
the next chapter.

Athenagoras^ towards the latter end of this cen-"
tury, y^rote an apology for the Christian Religion.
His testimony to the doctrine of the Trinity, con-
tained in that work, expresses something beyond a
mere speculative belief. This article of the Christian
faitli appeared to him of essential consequence in
practical godliness. He is a writer not mentioned
by Eusebius. Du Pin does him injustice by ob-
serving that he recommends the worship of angels.
I have not access to his apology, but shall give a
remarkable quotation from Dr. ty aterland, to whom
I am obliged for the only valuable information I
have of this author*. Speaking of Christians, he
describes them as ^' men that made small ac-
count of the present life, but were intent only upon
contemplating God and knowing his Word, who is
from him, — what union the Son has with tlie Father,
what communion the Father has with the Son, what
the Spirit is, and what the union and distinction
are of such so united, the Spirit, the Son, add the
Father."

If this be true, — and Athenagoras may well be
credited for the fitct — it is not to be wondered at,
that the primitive Christians were so anxiously te-
nacious of the doctrine. It was the climate in which
alone Christian fruit could grow. Their speculations
were not merely abstracteid. They found in the
view of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, something
of that energy which could raise them from earth to
heaven : That is, they found the peculiar truths of
the Gospel, which are so closely interwoven with
the doctrine of the Trinity. The right use of the
doctrine is briefly, but strongly intimated in this

• Epiphanius Heres. 54. 1. See Dr. Wat«rlftQd's Import-
fmce of the Doctrine of the Trinitj«

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PROGRESS OP CHRISTIANITY. 255

passage; — and the connection between Christian cent.
principles and practice appears. In truth, a Trini-.. JJ: ^
tarian speculatist may be as worldly-minded as any
other person. His doctrine, however, contains that
which alone can make a man fix " his affections on
things above."

CHAP. IX.

THE HERESIES AND CONTROVERSIES OF THIS
CENTURY REVIEWED, AND AN IDEA OF
THE STATE AND PROGRESS OF CHRJSTIANITV
DURING THE COURSE OF IT.

My plan calls me not to notice mirtutely all the
heresies which appeared in this century: but I
would not omit them, whenever they may throw
light on the work of God's Holy Spirit and the pro-
gress of godliness. — On their own account, they
deserved not much attention ; yet it was necessary
to examine and confute some of them; and Irenaeus
acted charitably in so doing. It is, however, to be
regretted, that in his celebrated work against here-
sies, he should be obliged to employ so much time on
scenes of nonsense. — Let it be remarked in general,
that tlie same opposition to the Deity of Christ, or
his manhood, and the same insidious methods of
depreciating or abusing tlie doctrines of grace, con-
tinued in the second century, which had begun in the
first, with this difference, that they were now multi-
plied, varied, complicated, and refined by endless
. subtleties and fancies, in which the poverty of taste
and genius, so common in a period when letters are
declining, discovers itself no less than the Christian
doctrine. Like spots in the sun, however, they va-
nished and disappeared from time to time ; though
revived again in different forms and circumstances.
Not one of the heresiarchs of this century was able

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HISTORY OF THE CHUtCU.

to create a strong and permanent interest ; and it is
no little proof of the continued goodness and grace of
God to his Church, that the sound Christians still
kept themselves separate and distbct, and preserved
the purity of discipline.

It has often been said, that many have been en-
listed among heretics, who were real Christians.
When I see a proof of this, I shall take notice of it
But of the heretics in the second century, I fear,
in general, no such favourable judgment ought to be
passed. The state of Christian affairs, in truth,
w as such as to aftbrd no probable reason for any
real good man to dissent. Where was there more
of piety and virtue to be found than among the
general society of Christians ? And how could any
persoris be more exposed to the cross of Christ than
they were?

Hereiyre- 1. The first sct of hcrctics of this century, were
th^^jJ^Mon those who opposed or corrupted the doctrines of the
of Christ, person of Christ. A single quotation from Eusebius
may be sufficient, as a specimen.

Speaking of the books which were published in
these times, he observes*, " Among them there is
found a volume written against the heresy of
Artemon, which Paulus of Samosata in our days
endeavoured to revive. .When this book had con-
futed the said presumptuous heresy, which main-
tained Christ to be a mere man, and that this was an
antient opinion ; after many leaves tending to the
confutation of this blasphemous falsehood, the author
writes thus : * They affirm that all our ancestors,
even the apostles themselves, were of that opinion,
and taught the same with them, and that this their
true doctrine was preached and embraced to the
time of Victor, the thirteenth bbhop of Rome after
Peter, and was corrupted by his successor Zephy-
rinus. This might carry a plausible appearance of

• B. V, c. 35.

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1»R0GR£SS OF CHftlStlANlTT.

Irdth, were it not, in the first place, contrddicted
by the Holy Scriptures, and in the next, by the
books of several persons, which they published long
before the time of Victor, against the Gentiles, in the
defence of the truth and in confutation of the here-
sies of their times. I mean Justin, Miltiades^
Tatian, and Clement, with many others; in all
which woi4cs Christ is preached and published to be
God, Who knoweth not that the works of Irenaeus,
Melito, and all other Christians, do confess Christ
to be both God and Man? In fine, how many
psalms, and hymns, and canticles were written fix)m
the beginning by faithful Christians, which celebrate
Christ, the Word of God, as no other than God
indeed ? How then is it possible, according to their
report, that our ancestors, to the days of Victor,
should hare preached in that way, when the creed
of the Church for so many years is pronounced as
certain, and known to all the world? And ought
they not to be ashamed to report such falsehoods of
Victor, when they know it to be a fact, that this
very Victor excommunicated Theodotus, a tanner,
the father of this apostasy, who denied the divinity
of Christ, because he first affirmed Christ to be
only man. If Victor, as tliey report, had been of
then* blasphemous sentiments, how could he have
excommunicated Theodotus the author of the
heresy?'"

Victors government was about the dose of the
second century. The anonymous author before us
writes roost probably in the former part of the third*
Nor is his testimony much invalidated by his being
anonymous* The facts to which he speaks were
dotoriouB and undeniable. We see hence, that all
parties, notwithstanding the contempt, which some
affect, of the testimony of antiquity and tradition^
are glad to avail themselves of it where they can ;
which is itself a proof of the tacit GOBseiifc of aUflian-

VOL. I, •

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Hf^TORT OF THE CHUECIt, '

l^ind, that this testinaony, thcx^h by no means de-«
cistve, nor such 9s ought ever to be' put in qunpe*
tilion with Scripture, yet M^eighs smnething, and
ought not to be treated with unreserved disdain. In
our own days the same attempt has been made in
the same cause ; with what probability of sucoess, in
the way of sound argumait, let the reader, who
has considered the passage I have quoted from
Eusebius, judge for himseli In fact, it appears
that a denial of the Deity of Christ could not find
any patron within the pale of the Church, for the first
two hundred yea^s. The prevaleacy of sentiments
derogatory to the person and offices of Christ was
reserved for a lat^r period. Every person of any
ehiinence in the Church foe J4fldgp)ent and piety»
holds unequivocally an opposite language. In some
of the most renowned we have seen it all along in
the course of this century.

This Tbeodotus was a citizen of ByMntinmt a
tanner, but a man of parts and learning. Heie**
tical perversions of Scripture have often been inr
vented by such persons: Pride and selfK^ncett
seem to have a peculiar ascendency over mtn who
have acquired knowledge in private by their own
industry : And doubtless one of the best advantages
of public seminaries is this, — ^that modesty aod rea^
sonab)^ submiftsion are iaculmted in them; and neo^
by seeing and feeling their own inferiority, are. tw^M
to think more lowly of their own attainments, 'iniis
self'-taught tanner speculated ; folt himself importam
^ough to be sin^ar ; and revived the heresy of
Ebion. He was brought witb some oiber Cbdsr
liana before persecuting magistrates: His eovpar
nions honestly confessed Christ and mxSsmdi Hetwat
the Qnly man. of the company whod^iied' him. In
truth, be had no prineiplies stoong enough to induct
him to bear the cross of Christ TheMotua liv^
atul a deokr. of Christ), aad being afier/v^ardB iipbmidr

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«d[ for dcoyinghis God; •* N(^'* says he> " I have
not denied God, but man; for Christ is no more *,*'
His heresy hence obtained a new iiaEne, that of the
God^denyh^ apostasy f. Persecution frequently
does in t^iis life, in part, what the last day will da
completely, — ^separate wheat fix)m tares !

2. The controversy respecting the proper time of Controrersy
the observation of Easter, which bad been amicably ©Stttf"*
adjusted between Polycarp of Smyrna and Anicetus
of Home, who had agreed to differ, was unhappily
revived towards the close of this century : Synods
were held concerning it: and an uniformity was
attempted in vain througliout tiie Church. Victor
of Rome, with much arrogance and temerity, as if
he had foilt the very soul of the future papacy formed
in himself, inveighed against the Asiatic churches> .
and pronounced them excornnmnicated persons. The
firmness, moderation, and charity of of jc man was
of great service in quashing this dangerous contention.
Ireneus, bishop of Lyons, rebuked the uncharitable
spirit of Victor, reminded him of the union betweea
Polycarp and his predecessor Anicetus, notwith-
stacKling their diflference of sentiment and practice
in this point, and pressed the strong obligation of
Christians to love and unity, though they mighl
di&r in smaller matters ; and surely a smaller mat«-
ter of diversity was scarcely ever known to occasion
contention.

The particulars of the debate are not woithy of
Ipecital. — Certain fundamentols bein^ stated in the
first place, in which all real Christians are united^
they may safely be left, each society to follow its
private judgment in other things ; and, — surely,— r-
yet hold the unity erf the Spirit in the bond of peace.
But that this was effected with so much difficulty,
and that so slight a subject should appear of so great
Aioiiient at this time, seems no small proof that the

* Damascen. Heres. 54. f A^ynrtOitf •vof'tat^itt.

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260 HISTOEY OF THE 'CHUKCH.

CHAP, power of true godliness had suffered some dedeh*
v^j^-^ sion ; and was an omen, towards the close of this
century, of the decay of the happy effects of the first
great feffusion of the Spirit When faith and love
are simple, strong, and eminently active, such sub*
jects of debate are ever known to vanish like mists
before the sun,
Hereiy of ^ 1;^^ Church was internally shaken and much
disfigured by the heresy of Montanus. This is the
account of it given by ApolHnaris of Hierapolis, who
took pains to confute it*. " Being lately at Ancyra
in Galatia, I found the Church throughout filled, —
not with prophets, as they call them, but with false
prophets ; where with the help of the Lord, I dis-
puted publicly for many days against them, so that
the Church rejoiced and was confirmed in the truth;
and the adversaries were vexed and murmured. It
originated in the following manner : T here is a village
in Mysia, a region of Phrygia, called Ardaba, where
we are told that Montanus, a late convert in the time
of Gratus, proconsul of Asia, gave advantage to
Satan by being elated with ambition. ITie man
behaved in a frantic manner, and pretended to
prophesy. Some who heard him, checked him as a
lunatic, and forbad his public exhibidons, mindful of
our Saviour's predictions and warnings against false
prophets : but others boasted of him as endued with
the Holy Ghost, and forgetting the divine admoni*
tions, were so ensnared by his arts as to encourage
the imposture. Two women were by Satan possessed
of the same spirit, and spake foolish and fanatical
things. They gloried in their own supposed superior
sanctity and happiness ; and were deluded with the
most flattering expectations. — Few of the Phrygians
w ere seduced, though they took upon them to revile
every Church under heaven which did not pay ho-
mage to their pretended inspirations. The faithful
♦ Euseb. i3. C. 14.

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PROGRESS OF CHRrSTIANITY.

throughout Asia in frequent synods examined and
condemned the heresy."

It has ever been one of the greatest trials to men
really led by the Spirit of God, — besides the open
opposition of the profane, — to be obliged to en-
counter the subtile devices of Satan, who often raises
up pretended illuminations, and so connects them
with delusion, folly, wickedness, and self-conceit,
that they expose true godliness to the imputation of
enthusiasm, and to contempt and disgrace. The
marks of distinction are plain to minds which are
serious and of tolerable judgment and discretion;
but, men, void of the fear of God, will not distin-
guish. We see here an instance of what has often
been repeated from that day to die present in the
Church of Christ; and Christians should never fail
to do now, what they then did, — namely,^ — they
should examine, expose, condemn, and separate
themselves from such delusions : The enthusiasts of
every age follow the pattern of Montanus in folly,
pride, and uncharitableness : Nothing happens here
but what is foretold in Scripture : and in truth, de-
lusions of this sort so generally accompany the real
work of God, that wherever that appears, these
very seldom fail to appear also.

4. But the eruptions of fanaticism are too wild and
unnatural to remain long in any degree of strength.
Whatever high pretensions they make to the influ- -
ences of the Divine Spirit, they are ever unfavour-
able to them in reality ; not only by their unholy
tendency during the paroxysm of zeal, but much
more so by the effects of contemptuous profaneness
and incredulous scepticism which tliey leave behind
them. It is for the sake of these chiefly that Satan
seems to invent and support such delusions. — ^But
his grand resource against the Gospel is drawn from
contrivances more congenial with the nature of man.
Human philosophy after the rudiments of the world
and not after Chnst, formed the last corruption of

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CHAP, this century; which I shall 1^ open, to the best nf
^^' my judgment, from the lights of history. It was
toward the close of the century tlmt it made its ap-
|)ea?ance, nor were the effects of it very great at
present : in the next century they appeared very
distinctly.

Alex;andria was at this time the m^ reqowned
seminary of leaining. A sort ofphilosophers there
appeared who called themselves Eclectics^ t^causc,
without tying themselves down to any one set of
rYules, they chose what tliey thought most agreeable
to truth from different masters and sects. Their
pretensions were specious; and while they preserved
jthe appearance of candour, n^deration^ and dis-
passionate inquiry, they administered mujch. fuel to
the pride of men leaning to their awn uiKl^rstandt
inga. Ammoniu3 Saccaa, a famous Aiexaod^iaa
teacher,, seems to have reduced the. opinions pf this
jsect to a system. Plato was bis principal guide; but
he ' invented many things of which Plato, nevei^
dreamed. What Ws religious profession was is dis^
puted among the leavned. Undoubtedly he was
educated a Christian; and, though Porphyry, in
his enmity against Christianity, observes that he
forsook the Gospel and returned to gentilisnip yet
tlie testimony of Eusebius*, who must have known,
seems decisive to the contrary; — it proves, that be
continued a Christian all his days : his tracts oa
the ag] cement of Moses and Jesus, and his har-^
mony of the four Gospels, demonstrate that he
desired to be considered as a Christian, This man
fencied that all religions, vulgar and philosophical,
Grecian and bai barous, Jewish and Gentile, meant
the same thbg at bottom. He undertook by alle^
gorizing and subtilizing various fables and systems^
to ntake up a coalition of all sects and religions;
and, from his labour continued by his disciples—^
some of whose works, still refa^io,— i^ foiU0wen

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PROGRESS OF CHRISTIANITY.

were tau^t to look on Jew, Philosopher, vulgaf
Pagao^ and Christian^ as all of the same creed.

l>r. Lardner, in opposition to Mosheim, who
aeems to have very successAiUy illustrated this mat*
'tor J contends that there were no such motley-mixed
cbaracters,. and that the scheme is cfmnerical. I
have attended closely to Dr. Larchiar's own ac*
c<nmt of this teactor; and also to his review of
t>hilosophers in the third and following centuries ;
and it appears to me, that persons of the class de-
scribed did actually exist Ammonius himself seems
to hdve been, if I may be allowed the expression, a
Pagan-Christian. I'hat Eusebius and Porphyry
sixxikl each claim him for their own, is no iittl^
proof of his ambiguous character : and I wish we
may not have too melancholy proofs of the same
thing, when we come to consider the characters of
many of the fathers who followed. Longinus, who
was of the same school, though more a philologist
than a philosopher, in his well-known respectful
quotation from Moses, evinces that he wag tinctured
with a sknilar spirit. Plorinus is largely aiid fully
in the same scheme. Who knows whether to call
Ammianujs the historian, and ChalcidiuS) Christian
Or Pagan? They affected to be bothj or rather
pretended that both meant the same thing ; and in
the fourth and fifth century, though some, with Por-
phyry, through the virulance of their opposition,
were decided enemies of Christ, it is certain that
many ambiguous dmracters abounded among the
Christians.

In truth, we see in every age similar scenes. The
Gotpel in its infancy hats to struggle with the open
and ^avowed enmity of all mankind. He, whose
decisive power alone can do it, after floods of per-
secution and a thousand discouragements, gives his
i^^gion a settiemant inr the woild too strong to be
overtamectr ^ its enemies hoped at first would be
tfie case. The light of divine troth fails not to make
some imptessions on minds by no means converted

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

through it to God. Christianity, though it enforce*
its truths with much greater clearness than liatund
religion does ; and though it proves its superiority,
by exhibiting men who practise accordingly, still haa
many truths in common with natural religion : Thence
ingenious persons are ready to persuade tliemselves,
that their philosophy and the Gospel mean the same
in substance: They compliment Christianity wth
^ome respectful attention, and yet studiously avoid
the cross of Christ, and the precise peculiarities of
the Gospel, in order to preserve their credit in the
)*^orld. We may all have so much noticed* this
disposition in men, and the number of doubtful cha-
racters in consequence, that Mosheim's account
cannot, I thbk, appear difficult of admission^

Undoubtedly the appearance of persons of this
$ort is a sure symptom that the Gospel is raised to
gome degree of eannence ami stability in the world.
In the first century such an ambiguous character
would have been a rare phenomenon. Philosophers
found no desire to coalesce with a religion contemp-
tible in their eyes in all respects. It was not till
numbers gave it some respectability, that a coalition
pf that kind took place. Seneca would haye thought
himself sufficiently liberal in not persecuting, but
pnly despising the same religion, which Ammonius,
a century afterwards, deigned to incorporate, in
pretence at least, with his philosophy. — It ha^ beeq
observed, that the attempt of the court of Charles
^e first to draw over some of the pariiamentary
leader^ to their interest, was a sure sign of the dimi-
nution of regal despotism. Satan beheld the decay
of his empire of idolatry and philosophy in the same
light ; and it behooved him to try the same arts to
preserve what remained. Melancholy and disastrous
as was the evil we are contemplating, and evea
more decisively destructive to the progress of vital
godliness than any other which had yet appeared, it
w»s, however, an evidence of the victorious streogtH

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PEOORESS OF CHRISTIANITT.

of the Gospel, and a confession of weakness on the
part of paganism.

In carrying on these arts of seduction, the insi*
dioasness of such middle chai'acters consisted much
in expatiating on the truths which lie in common, as
of the greatest importance; and in reducing, as far
as in them lay, the peculiar truths of the Gospel
into oblivion. It was just in this manner, I re-
member, that* a clergyman speaks in a celebrated
sermon preached on the accession of James the
^second. While he deals out strains of fulsome
adulation on ttie sovereign, he answers the objection
against hini drawn from his religion, by observing of
what little importance opinions were; and that
moral and practical matters were alone worthy of
consideration. The conduct of James, in a little
tfane after, shewed the weakness of this reasoning :
and the effects of this philosophical evil, which,
like leaven, soon spread in some faint degree over
the whole Church, shewed too plainly that pure
and unde61ed sentiments of religion are of high
importance.

We have hitherto found it no hard matter to dis*
coter, in the teachers and writers of Christianity, the
vital doctrines of Christ We shall now perceive
that the most precious truths of the Gospel begin
to be less attended to, and less brought into view.
Even Justin Martyr, before the period of eclectic
corruption, by his fondness for Plato adulterated
the Gospel in some degree, as we have observed
particularly in the article of free-will. Tatian,
bis scholar, went bolder lengths, and deserved
the name of heretic. He dealt largely in the merits
of continence and chastity; and these virtues,
poshed into extravagant excesses, under the notion
of superior purity, became great engines of self-
righteousness and superstition, obscured men's views
9i the faith of Christ, and darkened the whole faci^

• Tbe Vkar of Newcaatlc

•

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IX.

fA6 HI9TORY OF THE CHVRGH.

CHAP, of Cbrifitianity. Under the fosteriag band of Am*-
montus and his followers, this fictitious holinesfly
di^ised undertime appearance of eminent sanctity^
was formed into a system ; and it soon began to ^
Iterate the worst of evils. That mem is altogetlier
fallen, — that be is to be justified wholly by the faith
^ Christ, — that his atonement and m^iation alone
procure us access to God and eternal lile, — that
holiness is the efiect of divine Grace, and is the pro*
j)er work of the Holy Spirit on the heart of man;—
lliese, — and if there be any other similar evaiige^
lical truths, — as it was not possible to mix them
with Platonism, faded gradually in the Churd), and
were at length partly denied and partly forgotten*

St. Paul's caution against i>h]losophy and vain
deceit it appears, was now fatally neglected by the
Christians. False humility, '^ will-worship,"' curious
and proud refinements, bodily austerities mixed with
h^h self-righteous pretensions, ignorance of Christ
and of the true life of faith in him, iniseraUy super*
seded by ceremonies and superstitiotui, — iSX these
things are divinely delineated in the second chapter
to the Colossians ; and, so far as words can do it,
the true defence against them is powerfully described
and enforced.

Even the cultivation of the human mind, when
carried on in the best manner, is apt to be abused
by fallen man, to the perversion of the Gcnpel*
' Yet I would ]Qat place the mathematics and natural
])diilosopby on the same footing as the Platonic or
Stoical doctiines. In truth, philosophy is too re^
^peetable a name for these last: As they were
managed in the school of Ammonius or of Antone
nus, they displayed little that deserved the attaotioD
of a wise man : They were either rmnantic, or ab«
selutely fiklse. The philosophy of the modema^
whea applied to abstract quantity, or to the works
of nature, isy doubtless, possessed of truth and so-
lidity, yet gieat care is requisite to keep evea modem
3 •

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PROGRESa OF CHRISTIAKITT.

i)hilo3ophy within its due bounds; and to|)reywt
lt& eocroachments oo Christianity : and the danger
of bek^ elatad by pride, and of beio^ made too
wise for the teaching of God')& H<^y Spurit, ia coosh
m^n to this with all other sorts of se<:ular knowledg9«
In re^d to what is calkd u^oral philosophy and
ineta^ysks, tliese seem oHich a)ora ;neariy aili^ to
the an^t philosophical evilsy and have ever been
dangerous to rd^om: fatal naistakca have beeo
made through their means; aod in gmerali if wa
except a very small portion of natural truths vrhich
are agreeable to the moral sense and conscience of
mankind, they appear, — at least, — when conducted,
as they have usually been, by un-evangelical persons,
— ^to be the very same sort of mischievous specula-
tion and refinement against which the apostle to the
Colossians speaks. Certainty his cautions against
philosophy, are equally applicable to them ; — for
TH£V have been found to militate against tlie vital
truths of Christianity, and to corrupt the Gospel in
our times as much as the cultivation of the more
antient philosophy corrupted it in early ages. — I
would here be understood, in both cases, to refer
to matter of fact, and not^o imaginary suppositions.
— In fact, the systems of the moral and metaphysi-
cal writers have rarely been founded on Christian
principles, and yet they have pretended to incorpo-
rate themselves with the Gospel. The effect of such
combination must ever prove mischievous, par-
ticularly when addressed to the reason of man,
prejudiced by self-conceit and the love of sin.

And here we close the view of the second century;
which, for the most part, exhibited proofs of divine
grace as strong, or nearly so, as the first We
have seen the same unshaken and simple faith of
Jesus, the same love of God and of the brethren ;
and, — that in which they singularly excelled modern
Christians, — ^the same heavenly spirit and victory

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!i6S msTORT or the church.

CHAP, over the world. But a dark shade is enveloping
^" these divine glories. The Spirit of God is grieved
already by the ambitions intrusions of self-righteous-
ness, argumentative refinements, and Pharisaic pride;
and though it be more common to represent the
most sensible decay of godliness as commencing a
ccntuipF later, to me it seems already begun. The
surriving effects, however, of the first Effusion of
the Spirit, and also the effects of some rich additional
communications of the same Spirit, will appear in the
tiiird century<

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CENTURY III.

CHAP. I.

BEFORE we proceed with the orderly course
of events in tins century, it may be convenient
to continue the account of authors who properly
bdonged to the last, thou^ they survived the con-
clusion of it We meet with four celebrated cha-
racters of this description; Irenaeus, Tertullian^
Pantaenus, and Clement of Alexandria.

Of Irenseus it were to be wished we had a more
copious account: The place of his birth is quite
uncertain. Hb name, however, points him out to.
be a Grecian. His instructors in Christianity were
Pi^ias, bishop of Hierapolis, and the renowned
Polycarp. The former is generally allowed to have
been a man of I'eal sanctity, but of slender capacity.
He, as well as Polycarp, had been a disciple of
St John ; and with all the imbecility of judgment
which is ascribed to him, might, under God, have
been of signal service to Irenseus. The instructions
of Polycarp, however, seem to have made the deepest
impressions on his mind from early life.

The church of Lyons, we have seen, was a dau^
ter of the church of Smyrna, or of the other neigh-
bouring churches. Pothinus, the bishop, must have
been a Greek as well as Irenaeus ; who, as Presbyter,
assisted the venerable prelate in his old age. After
the death of Pothinus, about the year 169, Irenaeus A. D.
succeeded him. Never was any pastor more se- 169.
verely tried by a tempestuous scene. Violent per-

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

secutTon without, and subtile heresies within, called
for the exertion, at once, of consummate dexterity
and of magnanimous resolution. Irenaeus was fa-
voured with a large measure of both ; and he wea-
thered out the stonn. But heresy proved a more
constant enemy Aan persecution. The multiplica-
tion of it, m endless refinements, induced him to
write his book against heresies, which must have
been at that time a very seasonable work. — His
vigour and chaiity also in settHng the insignificant
disputes about Easter, as well as his share in writing
the account of the martyrdoms of Lyons, have
already been mentioned*

The beginning of the third century was marked
with the persecution under Septimus Severus, the
successor of Julian. Severus himself had, most pro*-
Iwibly, <lirected the persecution at Lyons, in which
Pothinus suffered ; and when he began to persecute
as emperor, he would naturally recall the idea
of Lyons, and of the persecution in which he had
had so large a share. Gregory of Tours, and
the antient martyrologists inform us, "that after
several torments Irenaeus was put to death, and
together with him almost all the Christians of that
populous city, whose numbers could not be neckoned,
so that the streets of Lyons flowed w ith the blood
of Christians." We may easily allow that this is a
rfietorical exaggeration. Yet I see no reason with
some to deny" altogether the truth of this second
persecution at Lyons, or of Ireneeus suflfering man*
tyrdom under it. Gregory of Tours is not the best
nuthority, but tliere is no circumstance of improba^
bility here. The silence of Eusebius affords no
ai-gument to the contrary, because Ite is far finom
relating the deaths of all celebrated Christians. Of
those in the West particularly, he is by no means
copious in his narrative ; and the natural crudty of
Severus, added to his former connection with LyonsJ^
gives to the fact a strong degree of credibility.

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IKENJEOT.

The labours of Irenasus in Gaul were doubtless
of the most solid utility. Nor is it asmatl instance
of the humility and charity of this great man,— >
accurately versed as he waa in Grecian literature^
— that he took psdns to learn the barbarous dialect
of Gaul, conformed himself to the rustic maiuiem
of an illiterate people, and renounced the politeness
and elegant traits of his own country, for the love
of souls. Rare fruit of Christian charity ! and
highly worthy the attention of pastors in an age
Kke this, in which so many undertake to preadt
Christianity ; and yet seem little desirous of distin«
guishing themselves in what peculiarly bdoogs to
their office !

His book of heresies is nearly the whole of his
writings that have escaped the injuries of time. His
assiduity and penetration are equally remarkable in
analyzing and dissecting alt the fanciful schemes,
with which heretics hm disgraced the Christiaa
name. It is easy to notice that his views of the
Gospd are of the sanoe cast as those of Justin ''^^
w^Kxn he quotes, and with whose works he appears
to have been acquainted. Dke him he is silent, or
nearly so, on the election of grace; which from
|he instructors of his early age he mast often have
beard: And, like him, he defends the Arminkui
notion of free-will; and by similar ai^meutsf*
His philosophy seems to have had its usual infiuence
oo the mind, — in darkling some truths of Scripture^
and in mixing the doctrine of Christ with human
inventions.

There is not touch of pathetic, practical, or experi-
mental religion in the work. The plan of the author,
which led him to keep up a constant attention to
ipeoiitattve errors, did not admit it. Yet, there is

♦ B. 4. C. 14. .
* t B* ^ C 7air-^Qaiii ii^ aobi9 sit, vecras dquivaleni to JostiD's

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MISTORT OF THE 6HURCtt.

every where so serious and grave a spirit^ and no^
and then such displays of godliness, as shew him very
capable of wilting what might have been singularly
useful fo the Church ia all ages^

He mdies a strong use of the argument of tradition
111 support of the apostolical doctrine against the
novel heresies. His acquaintance with primitive
Christians Justified him in pressing this argument*
The force of it, in a certain degree, is obvious, though
the papists have perverted his declamtions in favour
of their own church. But what may not men per-
vert and abuse? The reasonable use of tradition^
as a collateral proof of Christian doctrines, is not
hence invalidated. What he observes here concern*
ing the barbarous nations is remarkable*. — " If
there were any doubt concerning the least article,—*
ought we not to have recourse to the most antient
churches where the apostles lived? What — if the
apostles had left us no writings whatever ? Ought
we not to follow the tradition which they left with
those to whom they committed the care of the
diurches ? It is what several barbarous nations do,
who believe in Jesus without paper or ink, having
tlie doctrine of salvation written on their hearts by
the Holy Ghost, and faithfully keeping up to antient
tradition concerning one God the Creator and his
Son Jesus Christ Those, who have received this faith
without Scripture, are barbarians as to their manner
of speaking, compared with us; but as to their senti-
ments and behaviour, they are very wise and very
acceptable to God ; and they persevere in the prac-
tice of justice and charity. And if any oi>e should
preach to them in their language, what the heretics
have invented, they would immediately stop their
ears and flee far off, and would not even hear thosa
blasphemies.''

• B. 3. C. 4.— Sec Fleory's Charch History on the Subject
of the Works of the Fathers, Vol. i. B. 4.

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Tbtis it appears, that to the illiterate barbarians,
tradition, thougti a poor substitute, supplied the place
of the written word. We may not, however, suppose
that their faith was blind and implicit. Our author
gives a strong testimony to iheii' godliness ; and those
of them who were taught indeed of God would have
in themselves the strongest and most reasonable of
all proofs of the divinity of their religion. — This is
a valuable evidence of the Holy Spirit's influences,
and of the native energy of divine truth on the hearts
fmd lives of very illiterate men.

There is uo new thing under the sun : — The arti-
fices of the Valenlinians in alluring men to their
communion are specimens of the wiles of heretics
in all ages. — '* In* public," says Irenaeus, ''they use
alluring discourses, because of the common Chris-
tians, hs they call those who wear the Christian name
in general ; and to entice them to come often, they
pi-etend to preach like us : and they complain that,
though their doctrine be the same a9 ours, we ab-
stain from their communion, and call them heretics.
When they have seduced any persons firom the faith
by their disputes, and made them willing to comply;
they then begin to open their heretical mysteries."

He doubtless agrees with all the primitive Chris-
tians in the doctrine of the Trinity : He makes use of
the forty-fifth Psalm particularly to prove the Deity
of Jesus Christ. He is no less clear and sound in his
views of the incarnation f: and, in general, notwith-
standing some philosophical adulterations, he cer-
tainly maintained all the essentials of the Gospel.

The use of the mystic union between the Godhead
and manhood of Christ in tiie work of redemption ;
and, in general, the doctrine of the fall and of the
RECOVERY, are scarcely held out more instructively
by any writer of antiquity. The learned reader, who

• B. 3.C. 15. t C.6.P.V. 15.

VOL. I, T

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HISTORY Ol T«^& CHURCH.

has a t^te for what is peculiarly Christiai^ will not
be displeased to see a few quotations *.

" He united man to God : For if man had not
overcome the adversary of man, the enemy coul4
not, according to the plan of God's justice, have beeo
effectually overcome. — ^And again, if God had not
granted salvation, we should not have been put into
firm possession of it ; and if man had not been united
to God, he could not have been a partaker of immor-
tality. It behooved then the Mediator between God
and man, by his affinity with both, to bring both
into agreement with each other."

"Thef Word of God, all powerful and perfect
in righteousness, justly set himself agauTst the apos-
tasy, redeeming bis own property from Satan, who
had borne rule over us from the beginning, and had
insatiably tuade rapine of what was not his own ; —
^ni this redemption was effected not by violence ;
but the Lord redeemed, qs with his own blood, and
gave his life fojr our life, and his tlesh for our flesh/
and so effected om* salvation/'

He beautifully expresses our recovery in Christ J.
^ Our Lord would not have gathered together thesf
things to himsdi^ and have saved through himself
in the end wb^t had perished in the beginning
through Adam, if he had not actually been made flesh
and blood. He, therefore, had flesh and blood, nof
of a kind different from what men have ; but he
gathered into himself the very original creation of
the Father, and sought that which was lost§."

Udoubtedly the intelligent scriptural reader will
recollect the divine reasoning of the author to the
Hebrews to be very similar to all this. And those,
who see how well the views of Irena^us are supported
by him, will know bpxV to judge of the opinions of

* * B. 3. 20. t L. 5. C. 1

t AfeuufmXmof^i Eplu i. 10. — See Dr. Owen's Preface U
his ** Xeir«>u)y«»."

i B. 5, C. 14.

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those who call this scbotasUc theology, wUl dee also (Dbnt^
bow accurately the primitive fathers understood anjd ^^^*
maintained the doctiines now deemed fanatical) and
lastly, will observe the propriety of being zealous lot
Christian peculiarities. — Anotlier short extract shall
conclude this account of the book of heresies.

" The Word of God, Jesus Christy on account of
his imioense love, became what we are, that he
aii^t nc^ke us what he is*. "

Of the few fragments of this author, there is nothiog
that seems to deserve any peculiar attention, except
that of an epistle to Floriaus, whom he had knorwa
^in early life, and of whom he bad hoped better thingg
than those into which he was afterwards seduced.
*' These doctrines," says he, " those who vi-ere
Presbyters before us, — those who had walked with
the apostles, did not deliver to you. For I saw
you, when I wafi a boy, in the lower Asia, with
Polycarp ; and you were then, though a person ef
rank in the emperor's service, very desirous of being
approved by him. I choose rather to mention things
that happened at that time than facts of a later date*
The instructions pf our childhood grow with our
growth, and adhere to us most closely, so that I caa
describe the very spot in which Polycarp sat and
expounded, and his coming in and going out, and
the very manner of his life, and the figure of his
body, and the sermons which he preached to the
multitude, and how he related to us his converse
with John, and with the rest of those who had seen
the Lord, how he mentioned their particular expres-
sions, and what things he had heard from them
of tl)e Lord, and of his miracles and of his doctrine.
As Polycarp had received frotn the eye-witnesses
of the Word of Life, he told us all things agreeable
to the Scriptures. These things, tlien, through the
mercy of God visiting me^ I heard with seriousness^ ;
1 wrote theo) not on paper, but on my heart; and ^
^ Books. Pre&ce.

T 2

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HKTORY OF THE CHURCH.

ever since, through the grace of God, I have m
genuine remembrance of them, and 1 can witness
before God, that if that blessed apostolical Presbyter
had heard some of the doctrines which are now
maintained, he would have cried out and stopped
his ears, and in his usual manner have said, ^ O
good God, to what times hast thou reserved me,
that I should endure these things ! ' And he would
immediately have fled from the place in which he
bad heard such doctrines/'

How superficially, in this age, which calls itself
enlightened, numbers ai^ content to thmk on re-
ligious matters, appears from the satisfaction with
which two confused lineS of a certain author, great
indeed as a poet, but very ill-informed in religion,
lare constantly quoted ;

For modes of faith 1«t graceless zealots fight; —
His cati't be wrong wh»&e life is in the right.

Proud and self-sufficient men, to whom tJiese lines
appear full of oracular wisdom, may, if they please,
pronounce Irenseus a '* graceless zealot" But those
in every age, to whom evangelical truth appears of
real importance, will regret that so little of this zeal,
"in earnestly contending for the faith
aV'-hich M'^as once demveeed to the saints,"*
discovers itself in our times : — They will regret, I
say, this want of zeal, because they think it absolutely
necessary to preserve practical as well as theore-
tical Christianity in the world. ^

C H A P. II.

tertullian.

^'** We have not yet had any occasion to take notice
of the state of Christianity in the Roman province
of Africa. This whole region, once the scene of

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TERTULLIAN. ^77

Carthaginian gi*eatness, abounded with Christians in cent*
the second century, Ihougli of the manner of the in- *'^'
troduction of the Gospel and of the proceedings of
its first planters we have no account. ' In the latter
part of the second, and in the former part of the
third century, tliere flourished at Carthage the famous
Tertullian, the first Latin writer, of the Church
whose works are come down to us. Y^t, were it
not for some light which he throws on the state of
Christianity in his own times, he would scarcely
deserve to be distincdy noticed* I have «eldora
seen so large a collection of tracts, all professedly
dn Christian subjects, containing so little matter of
useful instruction. The v?ry first tract in the vo-
lume, namely, that de Pallio, shows the littleness of
his views. The dress of the Roman Toga ofi'ended
him : he exhorted Christians to wear the Pallium^
a more vulgar and rustic kind of garment, and there-
fore more becoming their religion. All his writings
betray the same sour, monastic, harsh, and severe
turn of mind. — *' * Touch not, taste not, handle not,"
might seem to have been the maxims of his religious
conduct The Apostle Paul, in the chapter alluded
to, warns Christians against '' will-worship and
Voluntary htimility," and shows that while the flesh
outwardly appears to be humbled, it is inwardly
puflfed up by these things, and induced to forsake
the Head, Christ Jesus. This subtile spirit of self-
rightebusness may, in all likelihood, in Tertiiliian's
time, have very much overspread the African church;
— otherwise his writings would scarcely have ren-
dered him so celebrated amongst them.

All his religious ideas seem tinged deeply with
the same train of thinking: his treatise of Repentance
is meagre and dismal throughout; and while it
enlarges on outward things, and recommends pros-
tration of our bodies before the priests, is very ^ight
on the essential spirit of repentance itself

* ColftSStxi.

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HISTORY or THE CHURCH.

A Cbristlao soldier, who had refused to
erown of laurel which his commander had given faiitr
with the rest of his regiment, was punished for the
disobedience, and was also blamed by the Chris-
tians of those times, because his conduct bad a
tendency to irritate jieedlessly the reigning powers*
I am apt to think that he mi^t have worn it ai
knocently as St Paul committed himself to a ship
whose sign was Castor and Pollux. It was a mili-
tary ornament merely, and could no more be sidd
to have any connection with idolatry than almost
«very custom of civil life must have had at that
time. The Apostle, I think, would have concurred
in disapproving the soldier's want of obedience to his
lawful superiors : and he might have referred Chris*
dans to his own determination in the case of eating
things sacrificed to idols, — ^^ Eat of such things as
they set before you, asking no questions for conscience
sake." But Tertullian decides on the other side of
the question, and applauds the disobedience of
the soldier. His reasons are dishonourable to his
understanding. He owns that there is no scripture
to be found against compliance in this case. Tra-»
dition, he thinks, a sufficient reason for contumacy:
and then he proceeds to relate some traditional
customs maintained in the African churches, among
which the very frequent signing of themselves with
tiie sign of the cross is one.

Superstition, it seems, bad made deep inroads into
Afrita. It was rather an unpolished region ; —
certainly much inferior to Italy in point of civiliza-
tion. Satan's temptations are suited to tempers and
situations. But surely it was not by superstitious
practices that the glad tidings of salvation had been
first introduced into Africa. — ^There must have been
a deep decline. — Ohe of the sti^ongest proofs that
the comparative value of the Christian religion in
different countries is not to be climated by their
distance from the apostolic age, is dedudble from

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WHftiLLlAKi 279

the times of TerttiMiati.-^If tiiy life be ^red, that I ce!«t.
may proceed with thb History, we shall see Africa
dfi^bit a much ittote pleading spectacle.

AH thi^ inan*d casuistical detemiinations savour
of ti)6 same asperity. He approved not of flidit
in p^^ecution,-^m direct conkradiction to our ^*
viour s determination*. He takes notice of a martyf
aamed Rulilius; who, having died several times from
^ace to plade to avoM persecution^ and saved him-^
jictf by money, was suddenly seized, and (^ried
he^ve the Governor, when he thought hitnself secure.
He add^, thai baving undergone several previous
torments, he finished ^ martyrdom by fire. «

I would iMich rath^^ qtiote TeituUian as an his-
torian than a rcAsonet;-^We may make useful
ftifleetion^ on this fa<!;t, without concerning ourselves
with the inferetices of the writer.

He dbapproved alto,^—at least after hi^ separation
it6m the Church, — of second marriages, and called
Acm AB-uifTEBT. FoT as he does not appear to
hate be^ri much acquainted with tl)e depravity,
mtsef'y, and imbecility of human nature, most of his
precepts cai»ry rathet a stoical than a Christian ap-
pearance. He was, in his own disposition, doubtless
a man of gt'eat natural fortitude ; and most pro-
bably of great strength of body : He lived to an
advanced age. — He seems not to have had any thing
of that sympathy with the weak and timid, whicb
forms so beliutitol a part of the Chi^istian cliaracten
The Church in general was not severe enough,
according to his ideas of discipline ; yet, it must bd
confessed, they were by no means wanting in thai
respect. In our licentious tiiHes, when sloth and
dissipation, — the very opposite extremes to those
which pleased the genius otTertuHian, — abound, all,
who love the ways of Christ, regret that disciplind
is at so low an ebb.

The Montanists, H*hoee austerities' wero extremey
• &fattbew, X, 23.

T 4

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11.

280 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. .

CHAP, and whose enthusiasm was real, seduced at lef^tb
our severe African ; and he not only joined them^
but wrote in their defence, and treated the body
of Christians, from whom he separated, with much
a)ntempt. — I have the satisfaction however, as yet,
to find that the largest body of Christians, so called,
was the soundest.

Tertullian, we are told, resented certain treatment
which he met with firom some Homan Christians.
But of this I know no particulars; only, that an
accident of this sort is said to have influenced his
secession from the Church. Error, however, is
very inconstant : He afterwards left the Mpntanist»
either entirely, or nearly so ; and formed a sect of
his own, called TertuUianists, who continued in
Africa till Augustine's time, by whose labours their
existence, as a distinct body, was brought to a close.
The character of Tertullian is very strongly deli-
neated by himself in his own writings ; if there had
been any thing peculiarly Christian, which he had
learnt, from tlie Montanists, his works must have
shown it: but they are all of the same uuitbnnly
sable complexion : nor' does he seem to have in-
creased in any thing but in severity.

It is but an unpleasing picture which truth has
obliged me to draw of this author. One agreeable
circumstance, however, attending iiis history is this;
—It was not on account of any fundamental error
in principle, that he left tlie Church.* The faith of
Christ, and the practice of real godliness existed -
there, beyond doubt, to a much greater degree than
, amongst the heretics of th6se times, though it be
allowed and hoped, as it ought to be. that some
good persons might belong to them. The abilities of
'jTertullian, as an orator and a scholar, are far from
being contemptible; and have, doubtless, given him
a reputation to which he is by no means entitled ou
account of his theological knowledge. Yet the man

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TERTULLIAN.

appears stlwajs serious and earnest ; and, therefore^
much more estimable than thousands \vho would
take a pleasure in despising bim, while they them-
selves are covered with profaneness. Nor is it for
us, after all, to condemn a person, who certainly
honoured Christ, defended several fundamental Chris-
tian doctrines, took large pains in supporting what he
took to be true religion, and ever meant to serve God.
He might even in his latter days, if not before, be
favoured with that humbling and transforming know«
ledge of Christ which would tit him for the enjoyment
of the kingdom of heaven. — Supersdticm and enthu^*
siasm are con^patible with real godliness : profiuie-
ness is not so. — It were to be wished, that those,
who are noost concerned in this remark, were more
dbposed to attend to it than they generally are.

In his treatise against Praxeas, he appears to have TertiUiaa
had very clear and sound views of the doctrine of the ^^eas.
Trinity. He speaks of the Trinity in Unity, " Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost, yet one God." He speaks of
the Lord Jesus as both God and man, son of man
and son of God, and called Jesus Christ. He speaks
also of the Holy Spirit, the^ comforter, the sanctifier
of the feith of those who believe in the Father, Son,
and Holy Spirit. He observes, " that this rule of
&ith had obtained from the beginning of the Gospel,
antecedent to any former heretics, much more to
Praxeas, who was of yesterday." To those who
know the primitive times I need not say, that Ter-
tullians own heresy lessens not the credibility of his
testimony to these things. — His M ontanism altered
not in the least his view of the Trinity.

The heresy of Praxeas consisted in making the
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all one and the same:
and this notion is no other than what has since been
better known by the name of Sabellianism. In this
way the distinction of persons in the Godhead is
denied ; and no doubt tlie mystery of the Trinity

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38t^ HlSTORt or tJftft CHURCH.

€HAi^. removed ; but theh what becomes of the divide Re*
^^l' t_j velation itself? — All attempts to subvert the faith of
Scripture on thi$ subject, labour utider the sftiiHl
error, namely, a desire to accommodate divine tfutbi
to our narrow reasoning faculties :-^let men learfl
to submit; and on no account attempt to strip the
Almighty of his attribute of Incomprehertsibility I
TertuUian informs us,— that Praxeas first brougbl
ti^s evil from Asia into the Roman world ; and that
he seduced many; but at last was confuted and
dilenced by "an instrument* whom God pleased to
make use of :-*-^nd tlie evil appeared to be eradi-
cated.'* EVen Praxeas himself had the ingeiluouBnesi
to retract his mistake, and his hand^writing still
remikins among the natural meft — so Tertulliaii ealte
the Christians in general from whom he had sepanMedj
■—and he no more revived his heresy. Others
t^vived it afterward, which occasioned the treatiM
whence I have extracted this brief account,
^r^lo^**^'* In his Apology, the eloquence and argomentativc
^ ^^' powers of our author appear most conspicuous Hd
refutes, in the usual manner, the stale heathen calum««
fties of Christians feediog on infiemts. Their remark-
able power over demons be states in the same mannef
as various of the fathers have done.— As a proof d
the unity of the Godhead, he appeals to the con-
science^ of mankind, and to a common practice, evert
among idolaters, founded on the supposition of onb
God. His description is remarkably striking*-*
" What God hath given,^' " God sees it,** and ** I
recommend to God," and " God will restore to me ;**
" These," says he, " are universal modes of speaking
and of appealing to the osk supRfEME. O testi-
mony of the soul, naturally in favour of Christianity!
— When men seriously pronounce these words, they
look not to the Capitol at Rome, but to tieaven above.

* A modest periphrasis, I apprehend, denoting TertulliaA
hioueU:

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TERTULLIAN.

For file soul knows the sent of the living God, whence
it had its own origin.'' — I scarce remanber a finer
observation made by any author in favour both of tte
aatural vcuce of conscience and of the patriarchal
tradition of titie religion ; for both may fiurly be sup-
posed concerned in the support of thk practice. It
nhows bow difficult it was for Satan to eradicate
entirely every vestige of truth; and every classical
reader may obe^ve how cpmmoB it is for the Pagaa
writers to speak <tf God as one, when they are mosfr
serious ; and instantly to slide into the vulgar poly<K
theism, when they b^n to trifle*

This apology exhibits a beautiful view of the man^
ners and spirit of the Clnistians of his time ; and
shows what real Christianity does for men^-^The
following passages merit particular attention.'*-'^ We
pray," says he, *^ for the safety of the emperors to^
d^ eternal Gt)d, the true, the living God, whom:
emperors themselves would desire to he propitious to
tiiem above all others who are odled gods. We,
looking up to heaven, with out-sttrttcbed hands
because they are harmless, with naked heads because
we are not ashamed, without a prompter because we
pray from the heart, constantly pray for all emperors,
that they may have a long life, a secure empire, m
safe palace, strong armies, a faithful senate, a ^vell-^
moralized people, a quiet state of the world,— what*-
ever Cssar would wish for himself in his public and
private capacity. I cannot solicit these things from
any other than from Him from whom, I know, I shaU
obtain them, because he alone can do these things,
and I am he who may expect them of tiirn, being bis
servant who woi'ship him alone, and am ready to
lose my life for his service. Thus then let the claws
of wild beasts pierce us, or their feet trample on us,
while our hands are stretched out to God : let crosses
suspend us, let fires consume us, let swxntls pierce
Mr breasts, — a prayii^ Christian is in a frame for

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II.

284 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, enduring any thing. How is this — ^ye generous rulers?
— Will ye kill the good subject who supplicates God
for the emperor? Were we disposed to return evil
fin- evil, it were easy for us to revenge the injuries
which, we sustain. But God forbid £at his people
should vindicate themselves by human fire ; or4)e
reluctant to endure that by which their sincerity is
evinced. Were we disposed to act the part, I will
not say, of secret assassins* but of open enemies,
should we want forces and numbers? Are there not
multitudes of us in every part of the world ? It is true
we are but of yesterday, and yet we have filled all
your towns, cities, islands, castles, boroughs, coun-
sels, camps, courts, palaces, senate, forum : — We

LEAVE YOU ONLY YOUR TEMPLES. For what

war should we not be ready and well prepared, even
tiiough unequal in numbers ; we, — who die with so
much pleasure, were it not that our religion requires
us rather to suffer death than to inflict it? — If we
were to. make a general secession from your domi-^
nioiis, you would be astonished at your solitude. —
We are dead to all ideas of worldly honour and
dignity : nothing is more foreign to us than political
concerns: The whole world is our republic. — We are
a body united in one bond of religion, discipline,,
and hope. We meet in our assemblies for prayer.
We are compelled to have recourse to the divide
oracles for caution and recollection on all occasions.
We nourish our faith by the word of God, we erect
our hope, we fix our confidence, we strengthen our
discipline by repeatedly inculcating precepts, exhor*
tations, corrections, and by excommunication, when
it is needful. This last, as being in tlie sight of God^
is of great weight ; and is a serious warning (rf the
future judgment, if any one behave in so scandalous
a manner as to be debarred from holy communion.
Those, who preside among us, are elderly persons,
not distinguished for opulence, but worthiness. a£

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TERTULLIAN, 2,85

eharacter. Every one pays something into the pub- cent.
lie chest once a month, or when he jileases, and ^^ "^; ^
according to his ability and inclination ; for there is
no compukion. These gifts are, as it were, the de-
posits of piety. Hence we relieve and bury the
needy, support orphans and decrepit persons, those
who have suffered shipwreck, and those who, for
the word of God, are condemned to the mines, or
imprisonment This very charity of ours has caused
us to be noticed by some ; — See, say they, how these
Christians love one another."

He afterwards takes notice of the extreme readi-
ness with which Chrisrians paid the taxes to the
existing government, in opposition to the spirit of
fraud and deceit, with which so many acted in these
matters. But I must not enlarge ; — the reader may
form an idea of the purity, uitegrity, heavenly-mind-
edness, and passiveness under injuries, for which
the first Chrbtians were so justly renowned. The
effect of that glorious effusion of the divine Spirit was
the production of this meek and charitable conduct in
external things : Every evidence that can be desired
is given to evince the truth of this relation : — ^The
* confession of enemies unites here with the relations
•f friends.

I shall close tlie account of Tertullian with a few
facts taken from hb Address to Scapula, the perse-
cuting governor, without any remarks. ^ ^

Claudius Herminianus, in Cappadocia, was vexed
because his wife was become a servant of Christ,
and for that reason he treated the Christians cruelly.
— Being eaten with worms, " Let no one," says he,
" know it, lest the Christians rejoice." Afterward,
convinced of his error in having, by force of torments,
caused persons to abjure Christianity, he died ahnost
a Christian hhnself

At Thistrum, Cincius Severus himself taught

? Scie the foregoing ^count of Peregripus, jmge 2^^.

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S86 HISTQKT QM'WZ CHURCH.

CHAP. Chri^niQ$ how to answer «o as to obtom their
I^_ . dismissbn.

Asper^ having tnoderately tortured a person and
brought bim to auhmit^ would not cooipel hkn to
sacnfiee ; and he made a public declaration aiBong
the advocates, ^^ that be was grieved that be had
b«d any tbbjg to do with such a cause/'
, The einperor Severus faknself was^ in one part ai
bis life^ kind to the Christians. Procuhis, a Christ
tian» had cured him of a disorder by the use of a
certain oil ; and he kept him. in his palace to his
xleath. The man was well known to Caracalla, the
anccessorofSeverusi^ whose nurse was a Christian.
Even some persona of the hi^esit quality, of botii
ses^es, were^ openly ccnnmended and protected by
Severus against the raging populace.

Arriua Antoninus, in Asia, persecuted sa vehe-
mently, ^at all tbe Christians of the state presented
tbemsdves in a body : He ordered a few of them to
bQ puif to deaih^ and dismissed the rest,, sayings ^' If
you wish to diei Mretdied nocn, ye may find preci-
pices and halters."

CHAP. III.

CHAP. One of the most respectable cities within the
^_^^^'- __j precincts of the Roman empire was Alexandria, the
metropolis of Egypt Here the Gospel had been
pkntol by St. IVtark ; and, from the considerable
auccesa which bad attended it in most capital towns,
it is probable that many persons were converted.
But of the first pastors of this Churdi, and of the
work of God among them, we have no account Our
more (Kstinct information begins with what is evil.
The Platonic philosophers ruled the taste of diis city,
which piqued itself on its superior erudition. Am-

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mooios Sgcqas had, as we have seen, reduced tberf
the notions of tb^ learned into a system, which pre-
tended to embrace all sorts of sentiments ; ana bif
successors, for several ages, followed bi§ plan. We
are told, that from ^i. Marks lime, a Christian
catechetical school was supported in Alexandria.
Whether it be so or not, Pantaeuua is the first mastQC
of it of whom we have any account. It should seena
from a passage of Eu^ebius *, that be was a Hebrew
by descent. By tradition he bad received tlie true
doctrine from Peter, James, John, and Paul ; and|
no doubt, he deserved this testimony of Eusebiu^,
notwithstanding the unhappy mixture of philpsq*
phy which he imbibed in this region. For Pan*
taenus was much addicted to the sect of the Stoic5|
H sort of romantic pretenders to perfection, which
doctrine flattered human pride, but was, surely, ill
adapted to our natural imbecility and to scriptural
views of innate depravity. The combination of
Stoicism with Christianity m the system of Pantsem^
mqst have very much debased the sacred trutlis;
and we may be assured that those who were disponed
to follow implicitly the dictates of sucli an instructor*
must have been furnished by hkn with a cloudea
light of the Gospel; — still, it is not improbable but
that many of the simple and illiterate Christians
might happily escape the infection, and preservQi
unadulterated, the genuine simplicity of the faith of
Christ :-^The bait of reasoning pride lies more in
the way of the learned ; and, in all ages, they ar^
more prone tQ. be caught by it.

Pantffinus always retained tl)e. tilie of the Stoi^
philosopher, after he had been admittedi to. eminent
employments in the Christian qhujpqht- Fw twi
years he laboriously discharged the office, qf Gate*
chist, and freely taught all that desired him : wlievca^
tiie school ol; hi;s predecess^ors bad hem mpr^
private.

• B. 5. C. 10. t Care's Life of Pantffi«us.

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' HISTORT OF THE CHUACH.

Certain Indian ambassadors, — it is not easy to
determine from what part of India they came, —
intreated Demetrius, then bishop of Alexandria, to
send them some worthy person to pregich the faith
of Jesus in their country. Pantcenus was chosen ;
and the hardshyjs he must have endured, were,
doubtless, great But there were at that time* many
Evangelists, who had the apostolical spirit to propa-

fite the faith at the hazard of their lives. And, as
antaenus very freely complied with this call, we
have here one of tlie best proofs of his being pos-
sessed of the spirit of the Gospel. His labours among
ignorant Indians, where neither fame, nor ease, nor
profit were attainable, appears to me much more
substantial proofe of his godliness, than any which
can be drawn from his catechetical employments at
Alexandria. The former would oblige him to attend
chiefly to Christian fundamentals, and could afford
Kttle opportunity of indulging the philosophic spirit.
We are^told he found in India the Gospel of St
Matthew, which had been carried thither by the
Apostle Bartholomew, who had first preached amongst
them. — I mention this, but much doubt the truth of
it. — Of the particular success of his labours we have
no account : He lived to return to Alexandria, and
)*esumed his catechetical office. He died not long
after the commencement of the third century. He
wrote but little : Some commentaries on the Scrip-
tures are all that are mentioned as his, and of them
not a fragment remains.

Candour, I think, requires us to look on him as
a sincere Christian, — whose fruitfulness was yet
much checked by that very philosophy for which
Eusebius so highly commends him. — A blasting wind
it surely was; but it did not entirely destroy Chris-
tian vegetation in all whom it infected. — I^t us now
turn our eyes to his disciple, from whom we may
collect more clearly what the master was, because
• Euscb. B. 6. C. 9.

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CLEMENS ALEXANDRINU^. 289

we have more evidence concerning him. — But the cenI*.
Christian reader must be prepared to expect a de- . ^^
clension in divine things, in the state of tlie Church
before us.

CHAP. IV.

CLEMENS ALEXANDRIKUS.

He was, by his own confession, a scholar of Pan-
ttenus, and of the same philosophical cast of mind.
He was of the eclectic sect It is sincerely to be re-
^tted that Clemens had any acquaintance with
them : for so far as he mixed their notions widi
Christianity, so far he tarnished it: and though we
may admit, that by his zeal, activity, learning, and
reputation, he did good to many in instructing and
inducing them to receive the fundamentals of tlie
divine religion, it is nevertheless not to be denied
that he clouded the pure light of the Gospel: — Let
us hear himself: '^ * I espouse neither this nor tliat
philosophy, neither the Stoic nor the Platonic^ nor
the Epicurean, nor that of Aristotle ; but whatever
any of these sects hath said, that is fit and just;
whatever teaches righteousness with a divine and
religious knowledge, all this I select; and call it
pliilosophy."

Is it not hence very evident, that from the time
that this philosophizing spiiit had entered into the
Church through Justin, it had procured to itself
a respect to which its merit no way entitled it? For
what is there even of good ethics in all the philoso- .
phers, which Clemens miglit not have learnt in the
New Testament; and much more perfectly, a^
without the danger of pernicious adulteratiofis r

* Sirom. L. K S«» Cetft'% UU of CI#fnen«.
VOL. I. V

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IV,

SgO HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP. Doubtless many valuable purposes are answered by
an acquaintance with these writers ; — but to dictate
to us in religion, Clemens should have knojin, was
no part of their business. — " The world by wisdom
knew not God;" — " Beware of ^philosophy.'' The
Christian worjd was now gradually k*aming to neglect
these Scriptural cautions, and divine knowledge is
certainly much too high a term for any human doc-
trine whatever.

He succeeded his master Pantaeuus in the cate-
chetical school, and under him were bred the fa-
mous Origen, Alexander bishop of Jerusalem, and
other eminent men. I read the following passage of
Clemens with no pleasure, — " As the husbandman
first waters the soil, and then casts in his seed, so
the notions which I derive out of the writings of the
Gentiles serve first to water and soften the earthy
parts of the soul, that the spiritual seed may be
the better cast in, and take vital root in the minds
of men."

This, certainly, is not a Christian dialect : The
Apostles neither placed gentile philosophy in the
foundation, nor believed that it would at all assist
in raising the superstructure of Christianity. On
the contrary, they looked on the philosophical re-
ligion of their own times as so much rubbish ; but,
in all ages, the blandishments of mere reason on
such subjects deceive us; — " VAiaX man w^oulb

BE WISE.**

Besides his employments in the office of Catechist,
he was made Presbyter in the Church of Alexandria.
Duringthe pereccution under Severus most probably,
he visited the East, and had a peculiar intimacy with
Alexander bishop of Jerusalem, who seems to have
been a holy man. This last suffered imprisonment
for the faith ; and in that situation he wrote a letter
to the Church of Antioch, which was conveyed by
Clemens^ Something c^* the ^irit oii Christianity

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CLEMENS ALEXANDRIKUS. Spt

appears in the fragment of this letter. " Alex- cknt.
ander^ a servant of God, and a prisoner of Jesus ^^^'
Christ, to the blessed Church at Antioch, in the
Lord, greeting. Our Lord has made my bonds, in
this time of my imprisonment, light' and easy to me;
while I understood that Asclepiades, a person ad-
mirably qualified by his eminency in the faith, was,
by divine providence, become bishop of your holy
Church of Antioch. These letters, brethren, I have
sent you by Clemens tlie blessed Presbyter, a man
of approved integrity, whom ye both do know already
and shall still ilirther know: He hath been here
with us according to the good will of God, and hath
much established and augmented the Church of
Christ" From Jerusalem Clemens went to Antioch,
and afterwards returned to his charge at Alexan-
dria.— The time of his death is uncertain.

The mystic philosophy, to which he was so much
addicted, would naturally darken his views of some
of the most precious truths of the Gospel. In par-
ticular, the doctrine of justification by faith in Jesus
Christ will always sufter from a connexion of this
kind: Human philosophical doctrines admit no
righteousness but what is a man s own. — There is,
not\A ithstanding, good proof of the solid piety of
this learned man. Little is known of his life ; but
his religious taste and spi: it may be collected fiom
his writing^.

His Exhortations * to the Gentiles is a discourse
written to convert the. Pagans from their religion,
and persuade them to embrace that cf Jesus Christ.
In the beginning of it he shows what a difference
there is between the design of Jesus Christ, and
that of Orpheus, and of those ancient musicians who
were the authors of idolatry. ** These captivated
men by the sweetness of their music with a view of
rendering them miserable slaves to idols ; and of
leaking uiem like the very beasts, the stocks, the
• Dg Pio Clement.

U 2

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HISTORY OF THE CHUECM.

Stones, M hich tljey adored ; — whereas Jesus Christ,
who, from all eteniity, was the Word of God, always
bad a compassionate tenderness for men, and at last
took their nature upon him, to free them from the
slavery of Demons, to open the eyes of the blind and
the ears of the deaf, to guide their paths in the way
of righteousness, to deliver them from death and hell,
and to bestow on tl)em everlasting life, and to put
them into a capacity of living a heavenly life here
upon earth ; and, lastly, God made himself man to
teach man to be like unto God." He shows them,
that eternal salvation cannot otherwise be expected,
and that eternal torments cannot otlierwise be avoids*
ed, than by believing in Jesus Christ, and by living
conformably to his laws. *' If you were per-
mitted/' says he, *' to purchase eternal salvation,
what would you not give tor it? And now you may
obtain it by faith and love; — there is nothing can
hinder you from acquiring it; — neither poverty, nor
misery, nor old age, nor any state of life. Believe^
therefore, in one God, who is God and man, and
receive eternal salvation for a recompenoe. — Seek
God, and you shall live for ever."

The candid Christian sees that the fundamentals
of the Gospel are actually here, though not laid
down in the clearest and happiest manner. "^ lu
bis Paedagogue he describes the word incarxate
as the instructor of men; and says, " that he pei^
^rms his functions by tbrgiving our sins as he is
God, and by instructing us as he is man, with great
sweetness and love:— He equally instructs all
sorts, because, in one sense, all are children : yet w«
must not look on Christian doctrines as childish and
contemptible : on the contrary, the quality of chil-
dren, which we receive in baptism f — or regcne^

• Du Pin.

t The outward sign and the inward spiritual grace, on ac-
count of their usual connexion in the pritnitive church, an
UM^ 48 synonymous by a number cf primitive writer^ which

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CLEMEWS ALIXANDUIKUS. 293

radon, — i^enders us perfect m the koowledge of cent.
divine thin^, by delivering us from sdns through tJ^L^
grace, and by enlightening us with the illumination
of fwth; so that we are at the same time both chil-
dren and men: and the milk with which we are
nourished, being both the word and will of God, is
very solid and substantial nourishment." These
appear to be some of his best ideas of Christianity.

In his Stromata he speaks with his usual par- s^omatt
dality in favour of philosophy, and shows the effect ciennL
his regard for it had on his own mind, by saying that
faith is God's gift, but so as to depend on our own
free-will. His account of the perfect Christian,
whom hie calls Gnosticus, is sullied by stoical rhap-
sodies *. — " He is never angry, and nothing affects
him; because he always loves God : He looks upon
tliat time as lost which he is obliged to spend in re-
<5eiving nourishment: He is employed in continual
and mental prayer. He is mild, affable, patient, but
at the same thne so rigid as not to be tempted : He
gives way ndther to pleasure nor to pain.** — But
enough of these views : Pseudo- religionists have since
his time dealt lai^ly in such reveries, so inconsistent
with that humbling sense of imbecility, and that sin-
cere conflict against the sin of our nature, which is
pecoliariy Christian. In truth — if his knowledge
of Christian doctrine was really defective, the de-
fect lay in the point of original sin. Of this his
philosophical sect knew nothing aright; and it must
be owned he speaks of it in a very conftised, if not
in a contradictory manner. On the whole, — such
ig the baneftileffect of mixing things which will not
incorporate,-— humaninventions with Christian truths^
— that this writer, learned, laborious, and ingenious
as he was, may seem to be far exceeded by many
obscure ' and illiterate persons at this day^ in true

has, unhappily, piven ormsimi to one of the worst abuses, by
these wim pUiIce all grace in form and ceremi»ny only.

• Fleury^ B, 4.

V 3

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294 BISTORT OF THt CHURCH '

Scriptaral knowledge and in the experience oT di-
vine things. — That he was, in the main, a truly pious
person, neither makes this account less credible,
nor the danger less of admitting the pestilent spirit
of human self-sufficiency to dictate in the Christian
religion.

C H A P. Y.

THE STATE OF THE CHURCH DURING THE
REIGNS OF SEVERUS AND CARACALUU

It seemed proper to prefix to the general history (rf
the third century, the lives of the four persons, which
we have reviewed ; partly because they were studious
men not very much connected with the public state
of Christianity ; and partly because the knowledge
of their views and taste in religion may. prepare the
reader to expect that unhappy mixture of phUosophi*
cal self-righteou«ness and superstition, which much
clouded and depraved the pure light of the Gospel in
this century.
The vth Severus, though in his younger days a bitter per-
^w'^fVhc secutor of Christians at Lyons, was yet, through the
ciiri>ti«ii». influence of the kindness which he had received
fi-om Proculus, favourably disposed toward the Chris-
tians for a considerable time. It was not till about
A.D. ^^ ^^^^ y^*^ ^f h'^ re^g^j which fells in with the
201. y^^^ ^^^ hundred and two, that his native ferocity
of.temper brake out afresh, and kindled a very severe
persecution against the Christians. He was juat re-
tuined from the East victorious: and the pwide of
prosperity induced him to forbid the propagation of
tlie Gospel. Christians still thought it right to obey
God rather than man. Severus persisted; and
exercised the usual cruelties. The persecution raged
every where; but particularly at Alexandria. From
various parts of Egypt the Christians were brought

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UNDER 8EVERUS, &C. 295

ttikher to suffer; and they expired hi torments, cemt.
lieonidas, father of the famous Origen, was be- ^.J^l^^
headed; 6o easy a death Iwwever was esteemed a
favour. His ^on was then very young; but the ac-
eoont, which is given of him by Eusebius*, deserves
owr notice.

Lseftus was at that lime governor of Alexandria Account of
smdof the test of Egypt; and Demetrius had been " ^*"*
recently elected bishop of the Christians in that city.
Great numbers now suffering martyrdom, young
Orig^ panted for the honour, and needlessly exposed
himae^ io danger. His mother checked the impru-
dent zeal at first by earnest entreaties ; but perceiving
tJhat heatill was bent on suffering with his fether, who
at ^dttime was closely confined, she very prppferly
«)K^rcised her motherly authority by confining him to
the house, and by hiding fipom him all his appareL
The vehement spirit of Origen prompted him, when
he could do nothing else, to write a letter to his
fetber, in which he thus exhorted him, " Father, faint
not, Add don't be concerned on our account." He
had been carefully trained in the study of the Scrip-
tures under the inspection of his pious father, who,
together wkb the study of the liberal arts, had par-
ticularly superintended this most important part of
education.- Before he introduced his son to any
material exercises in profane learning, he instructed'
him in the Scriptures, and gave him daily a certain
task out of them to repeat. The penetrating genius
of Origen led him, in the course of his eu:ployment,
to investigate the sense of Scripture, and to ask his
&tlier questions beyond his ability to solve. The
fiither (decked his curiosity, reminded him of his
imbecility, and admonished him to be content 'Aith
the plain grammatical si^nse of Scripture, which
obviMi^ly offered itself; — but inwardly rejoiced, it
seems, thutGod had given him such a son. And it-

• Ecjseb.B. vi.C. 1.

V 4

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99^ H{$TORY OF TH£ CSUBCfl

CHAff. would not have been arnks^ if he bad rqjoifod wttM
Tiif:tfBX.iKG; — perhaps he did so; and Origw^
early loss of such a father, who, probably, was mora
ainqple la Christian faitb and piety than be bllQ9^tf
ever wa^t might be an extreme disadvantage to bjm*^
Youths of great and uncommon parts, acconipaoi?dL>
as is generaliy the case, with much aiobitioii and
boundless curiosity, hc^ve often been the instruments
of Satan in perverting diviue truth: and it is not so
mucb.at(;ended to as it ought to be by WMJ tni^y
pious and bumble spuls, that the superior efDinenoe^*
in parts and good sense, of young persoos wbonk
tb^, love and respect, is % no means a progiaQ9tie>
of ^e like superiority in real spiritual knowMg^ tod:
the discernment of divine things. Men of gwkiii;
if they meet with enc<Miragement, will be sure to>
distingubh themselves in whatever lioe of life Ibey*
inove. But men of genius and even of very reivark*
able endowments, thoqgh sincere in Cbristiaiyty,.
may, not only in the practice, but even in the per-
e^tion of Gospel-truths, b^ for out-stripped by
others who are naturally o^ch their inferiors; bteause
the latter are by no means so exposed to the crafts
of Satan, are not so liable in their judgments to be
warped from Christian simplicity, are more apt to
look for understanding from above, and are less
cUsposed to lean to an^arm of flesh.

We seem to discover, in the very be^^oning of
Origen, the foundation of that presumptuous spirit
which led him afterwards to phiiosophii^ so 'danger^
Qusly in the Christian religion, and never to oootent
himself with piain truth, but to bunt after some-
thing siugulac and extraordinary ; — though it must
be acknowledged his sincere desire of serving God
appeared from early life; nor does it ever seem to
have forsaken him, so that he may be considered as
having been a child of God from early years.

His father dying a martyr, be was left, with his
2

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lPI»6ier aod other «x cbfldreo, aa orphtn aged
•9v«ntaen years. His fiuiher a substance was coo^
Vacated b; the emperor, and the fiunily Deduced to
great distress. But Ptovidmce gave him a fnend ia
a. rich and godly matron,- who yet supported in her
bouse a certain person of Antiocb, who was noted
for heresy. We cannot at this distance of time assign
bar motives ; but Origen, though obtiged to be m the
company of the heretic, could not be prevailed on
to JQin in prayer with him. He now vigorously ap-
plied himself to the improvement of his understand^
mg; and having no more work at school,— it seems,
bMausQ he soon acquired all the learning his master
could give him, — and finding that the business ot
eatechising was deserted at Alexandria because 6l
tbe pers^ution, he undertook the work himself; and
Mnreral gentiles came to hear him and became his
disdples. He was now in the dghteenth year of h/m
%ae; and in the lieat of tbe persecution be disCioguish-
ed himself by his attachment to the martyrs, not only
to those of his acquaintance, but in |;eneral to all
who suffered for Christianity. He visited such of
them as were fottared in deep dungeons and close
impsipooment;; and was preseutwith them even after
tbar condemnation, and boldly attended them to
tbe place of execution : he openly embraced and sa*
luted them; and was once in imminent dai^^ of
bemg stoned to death on this account Indeed he
was repeatedly in peril of bis life; for the persecution
daily prevailed; and he could no longer pass safely
through tbe streeto of Alexandria. He often chained
his lodgmgs, but was every where pursued; and,
humanly spmking, it seemed impossible fw him to
escape. Hjs instructions, however, and his zeal pro*
duced great ^fe^ ; multitudes crowded to hear Mm ;
and were by his labours incited to attend to Chfis*
tianity.
The charge of tbe School was now, by Deme^

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HiSTOIir or THE CUUMH

triga the bidK>p, committed to him alone; and to
converted it wholly kito a school of reKgious kifbr*
motion : He makitained himsdf by the sale of tiie
prdfene books which- he had been wont to study.
Thus he Uved many years, an amazing monunient^
at once both of industry and of self-denial. Not only
the day, but the greater part of the night was by hkn
devoted to religious study ; and he pracdsed, witb
literal conscientiousoessy our Ijord's rules, of not
having two coats, nor two pairs of shoes, and of nol
providing for futurity. He was inured to cold,
nakedness, and poverty: He offended many by his
QnwilUognesa to receive their gratuities: He ab*
stained from wine; and, in ^neral, lived so abste-
miously as to endanger his life. Many persons
imkated.his! excessive austerities : and were^ at that
timo, honoured with the name of philosophers ; and
sCMne of them patiently suffered martyrdom.

I state facts as I find them. — A strong spirit of
self-righteousness, meetmg with a secret ambition,*
too subtile to be perceived by him who is the dupe
of it, and supported by a natural fortitude of mind
and by the active exertion of great talents, hath ena-
bled many in external things to seem superior in
piety to men of real humility and self-diffidence,
who penetrating more happily into the genius of the
Gospel^ by the exercise of faith in the Son of God
and. that genuine chanty which is its fh^it, are led
into a course of conduct less dazzling indieed, but
much more agreeable to the Gospel. One cannot
fern^ a high idtea of the solid judgnv^t of these Alex-
andria^ converts. Were there none of the elder
and more experienced ChristianB in that city, who^
were capable, vith meekness of wisdom,«of cor-
recting the exuberances of this zealous youth, and*
of .Rawing bicD that, by such a rertisal di the com-
forts of life, he affected a superiority to Paul him-'
se^t.y^bo grateftiUy received the alms of thePiulip-
pians ? Excesses of this sort must have been attended

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UITBIIR SEVERU8, &€. 399

with great defects in bward vital ^dljness : The cekt.
reader is again referred to the second chapter of the ^^JJIl^
epistle to the Colossians, for a comment on the con- ^'"'^^^'^
duct of CMgen, How much better had it been for
him to have continued a scholar for some time
longer ; and not to have feasted the pride of the
humati heart by appointing him a teacher! — But the
lively flow of genius seems to have been mbtaken
for great growth in Christian knowledge and piety.

One of his scholars, called Plutarch, was led to Kartjr.
martyrdom. Origen accompanied him to the place ^"^
of execution. The odium of the scholar's sufferings
reflected on the master ; and it was not without a
peculiar providence that he escaped the vengeance
of the citizens. After him Serenus suffered by fire:
the third martyr was Heraclides; the fourth Heron.
The former bad not yet been baptized, being only
what was called a Catechumen : the latter had been
lately baptized ; but both were beheaded. A second
Serenus of the sair^e school, having sustained great
torments and much pain, was beheaded. A woman
also, called Rata, as yet a Catechumen, suffered
death. Potamie^na, a young woman remarkable
for beauty, ipurity of mind, and firmness m thefiiith
oi Christ, suffered very dreadful torments: She was
scourged very severely by the order of Aquila the
judge, who threatened to deliver her to be abused by
the basest characters. But she remained firm in .tbe
fidth : was led to the fire, and burned together vritfa
her mother Marcella. Tlie heart of l^isilides, a
soldier, who presided at her execution, was softened.
He pitied her, treated her courteously, and protected
her, so far as he durst, from the insplence of the
mob. She acknowledged his kindness, thanked him,
and promised that after her departure she would in-
treat the Lord for him. Scalding pitch was poMJ^
on her whole body, which she sustained in much
patience. Some time after Basilides, being required
by his feUow-soldiers to swear profanely on a certain

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HIBTOHT OP THE €tIinttfH

occasion, be i^sed, and confessed fahnself a Chris*
tian. Tbey disbelieved him at first ; but finding him
senoos, tbey carried him before the judge, who re<*
manded him tD prison. The Christians visited him ;
and upon being qaesdoned as to tiie cause of hia
sudden change, be declared that Potamiiena, three
days after her martyrdom, had appeared to him by
night, and informed him that she had performed her
promise ; and that he should shortly die. — ^After
this he suffered martyrdom.

The reader will think this an extraordinary story :
It is tinged with superstition, no doubt; but who
can vaiture, without meriting the imputitioa of te^
merity, to reject it altogether as a fiction. EuseUus
lived at no great distance from the time of Orioen :
He had made accurate inquhies after him and hitf
followers in Alexandria ; and he observes that the
fam^of PotamisBna was in his own time very great
in that province. Her martyrdom and that of the
soldier seem sufficiently authentic. Her promise to
pray for him after her departure only shows the
gradual pi^valence of &natical philosophy, will*
worship, and the like; and if the reader be notpre^
pared by a sufficient d^ree of candour to admit the
truth of authentic narratives and the reality oi con-
verting grace, because pitiably stained; in many
instanced, with sucli superstition, he will find little
sa^^ction in the evidences of Christian f^ety for
many ages. But we are slaves to habit In our
Own time we make great' allowances in Christians
for the love of the world : we are not so easily dis*
posed to make allowances for superstitions. Yet
many wrong sentiments and views may be found
where the heart is devoted, in faith and love, to God
and his Christ It will still be objected, that God
would Mt sanctify superstitions of this sort, by caus-
ing supematurally tlie deceased spirit of a martyr to
appear to Basilides.— *I answer,— the supposition of
ft dream removes aU die difficult; andtbe ax)rt

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^^Yy whra w& recollect that the man's iniod could CBiir^
notiail to have been previously under a strong im- ^"
pression of the person of the sutferer^ of her. late
mar^rdom, and of tlie circumstances which at*
tended it

A peculiar resoUitioD made and put into execu*
tioQ aboutthia time by Origin illustrates his character
in the strongest manner. Though disposed beyond
most men to allegprize the Scriptures, in one paa*
sage hefollowed their literal sebse too ck^ely. ^'Tbecc
ere some who have nmde themselves eunuchs for
the kif^dom of heaven's sake*." — We need not b^
at a loss for his motives. He was much convermnt
among women as a cttecbiser and ao expounder ci
the Scriptures ; — ahd, no dodbt» he was desirous of
renooving occasions for the slanders of infidels^ as
wel) as temptations from himself. — However he took
all possible pains to conceal the fact

One cannot but be astonished in noticing how
strong the self-righteous maxims and views were
grown in the Church; — yet still, — piety of principle«
combined^ with fervour of zeal, must be revered by
every one, who is not lost to all sense of goodness*
— ^Tbe extraordinary step taken by Origen, above
alluded to, could not remain a secret Demetrius
his bishop, at first enocmraged and commended him :
afterward |^ through the power of envy, on account
of his growing popularity, he published the &£t
abroad with a view to asperse him. However, the
iHshops of Cesarea and Jerusalem protected and
supported him, and <u*dained him a presbyter in the
Church. Day and ni^ he contiaued «tiU to taboiur
at Alexandria. — But it is time to turn from Alex-*
andria toother parts of the Roman empire;, and to
aee what effects wane produced by this sane pcise-s
cution of Severus. . -.

Alexander, a bishop in Capfmdocia, confessed thi
fiidth of Christ, and sustaineda^aorietyof sufiefki^^

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IIISTORT OF THE CHURCH

and yet by the providence of God was at length
deliver^: — and he travelled afterwards to Jerusa-
lem. There he was joyfully received by Narcissus
the very aged bishop of that See, a mam of extra-
ordinary piety, who associated Alexander with him
in the labours of Christian instruction. Some epistles
of the latter were extant in Eusebius s time, who
gives us a short fragment of one of them, sufficiently
authenticating the fact, — that thpse two holy men
wsere joint pastors of Jerusalem.

" Narcissus greets you, who governed this bj-
sbopric before me ; and now being an hundred and
sixte^i years dd, prayeth with me, and that very
seriously, for the state of ttie Church, and beseeches
you to be of one mind with me."

If the ancient martyrologies had been preserved
uDCorrupted, they would afford us useftil materials,
and illustrate much the spirit and genius of real
Christianity in its primitive professors. But frauds,
interpolations, and impostures, are endless: The
papal and monastic superstitions, in after-ages, in-
duced their supporters to corrupt these martyrolo-
gies, and indeed the writings of the fathers in general,
llie difficulty of procuring materials for a well-con-
nected credible history of real Christians is, hence,
increased exceedingly. What I cannot believe, I
shall not take the trouble to transcribe; what I can,
where the matter appears worthy of memory, shall
be exhibited. This is the cas^ of the maityrs of
Sdllita, a city of Africa, in the province 6f Carthage.
The narratbn is simple, credible througlK)ut, and
worthy of the purest ages of tlie Gospel. — The facts
belong to the times of Severus.

" Twelve persons were brou^t before Satuminus
tiieprocoi^ul at Carthage, the chief of whom were
Speratus, Narzal, and Cittin, and three women»
Donata, Secunda, and Vestina. Whan they canoe
bdbre him, be said to them all, ^^ You may expect
tho emperor our master's pardoiii if you return to

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\ UN PER SEVF.RU^, &C. '$0^

^yoor senses, and observe tbe oerermuks t)f our
gods." To which Speratus replied, *' We have never
been guilty of any thing that is^vil, nor been par-
takers of injustice : We have even prayed for those
wlio persecute us unjustly; iu which we obey our
Em PERORj who prescribed to us this rule of beha^
viour/' Saturninus answered, " We have .als6 a
religion that is simple: We swear by the genius of
the emperors, and we o0er up vows for their bealtb^
which you ought also to do/' Speratus answ6ted,
•* If you will hear me patiently, I will declare unto
you Ae mystery of Christian simplicity." The pro-
consul said, '' Shall I hear you speak ill of our cere-
monies? Rather swear, all of you, by, the genius of
the emperors our masters, that you may enjoy the
pleasures of life." Speratus answered, ** I kpow
not the genius of the emperors. I serve God, who
is in heaven, whom no man hath se^n, nor can see.
I have never been guilty of any crime punishable
by the public 1 iws: if I buy any thing, I pay the
duties to the collectors : I acknowledge my God and
Saviour to be the Supreme Governor of all natioqs :
I have made no complaints against ai^y person ; afid
therefore they ought to make none against me."
The proconsul turning to the rest said, *' Do not yc
imitate the folly of this mad wretch ; but rather
fear our prince and obey his commands." Cittin
answercdi, " We fear only the Lord our God, who
is in heaven." Tlie proconsul then said, — " Let
them be carried to prison, and put in fetters till to-
morrow."

The next day the proconsul, seated on \m tribn-
nal, caused them to be brought before him, and
said to the v^omen,' — " Honour oar ptince, and do
sacrifice to the gods." Donata replied, ** We ho-
nour Caesar as Caesar; but to God we offer pi^yer
and worship." Vestina said, *' I also am a. Cbri^
tian." Secunda said,. ^* I abo believe iiVioylCnwiit
and willcQptinue steadfast to him; and, u\ regard to

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HISTORT OF tBB C1I0ACR

your gocb) we will not serve and adore tiiem.'* The
proconsul ordered them to be separated; then, try-
ing called for the men, he said toSperatus, *' Perse-
verest thou in being a Christian?" Speratus answered,
" Yes, I do persevere : — Let all give ear, I am a
Christian ;^' which being beard by £e rest^ they said,
" We also are Christians." The proconsul said,
" You will neitiier consider ycHir danger nor receive
mercy." They repUed, " Do what you please, we
rimll die joyfully for the sake of Jesus Christ''
The proconsul asked^ ** What books are those which
you read and revere?" Speratus replied, " The
four Gospels of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;
the Epistles of the Apostle St Paul, and all the
Scrip^re that is inspiml of God." The proconsul
said, " I will give you three days to reflect and to
come to yourselves." Upon which Speratus an^
swened, ^^ I am a Christian, and such are all those
who are with me: and we will never quit the faith
of our Lord Jesus. Do, therefore, what you
think fit'^

The proconsul, seeing their resolution, pronounced
aentence aeainstthem, — that they should die by the
hands of toe executioner, in these terms :— ** Spera-
tus and the rest, having acknowledged themselves to
be Christians, and havmg refosed to pay due honour
to the emperor, I command their heads to be cut
off." Th^ sentence having been read, Speratus and
his fellow^sufferers said, " We give thanks to God,
who honoureth us this day with behig received' as
martyrs In heaven, for confessing his nameV They
were carried to the place of ptmishraent, where they
fell on their knees all together, and having again given
thanks to Jesus Christ, they were beheaded ^.

f At Carthage itself four youn^ Catechumens

were seized, Revocatus and Felicitas, — slaves to

tiiesame master, — with Satuminus and Secondulus,

and abo Vivia Perpetua, a lady of quality. She

• Henry, B. 5. p. 77. ' t Acta sincerA, p. S6.

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tJNDtR SEVERUS, ScC.

had a fether, a mother, and t^o brothers, of whom
one was a Catechunjen : she was about twenty-two
years of age ; was married, and was then pregnant ;
and moreover, she had a young child at ber breast.
To these five, by an excess of zeal too common at
that time, Satur, voluntarily, joined himself. While
they were in the hands of the persecutors, the father
ofPerpetua, himself a Pagan, but full of afFectioA
to his fevourite offspring, importuned her to fall froni
the feith. His intreaties were vain. Her pious
constancy appeared to him an absurd obstinacy, and
enraged him so much as to induce him to give her
very rough treatment. For a few d^ys while these
catechumens were under guard, but not confined in
the prison, they foutid means to be baptized ; and
Perpetua's pmycrs were directed particularly for pa*
tience under bodily pains. They were then put into
h defrk prison. To the rest, who had been more ac-
customed to hardships, this change of scene had not
toy thing in it very terrible. To her, who had ex-

rriericed nothing but the delicacies of genteel life,
was peculiarly formidable and distressing: Her
concern for her infant was extreme. — ^Tcitius and
Pomponius, two deacons of the Church, obtained
by money, that the prisoners might go out of the
dark dungeon, and for some hours refresh themselves
ill a more commodious place, where Perpetua gave
the breast to her infant, and then recommended hin^
carefully to her mother. For some time her mind
was oppressed with concern for the miseir she had
brought on her family ; though it was for the sake of
ti good conscience ; but she grew more composed,
and her prison became a palace.

Her lather, sonie time after, came to the prison
overwhelmed with grief; which, in all probability,
'A^as. augmented by the reflections he had made on his
own rough and angry behaviour to her at their last
ihterview. "Have pity, my daughter," says he, ^^ori'
Ay grey hsiri jr have pity on your fatlier, if I wits

VOL, !• X

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306 HISTORY OF THE CHUftCH

CHAP, ever worthy of that name : if I niyself have brought
you up to this age ; if I have preferred you to aU
your brethren, make me not a reproach to mankind:
respect your father and your aunt" — these, it seems^
were joined in the interests of paganism, while the
mother appears to have been a Christian, ottierwise
his silence concerning, her seems scarcely to be ac-
counted for ; — *' have compassion on your son, w ho
cannot survive you : lay aside your obstinacy, lest
you destroy us all : for if you perish w^e must all of
us shut our mouths in disgrace." The old gentleman,
w ith much tenderness, kissed her hands, threw him-
self at her feet, weeping and calling her no longer
his daughter, but his mistress — the mistress of his
fate ! He was the only person of the family who did
not rejoice at her martyrdom. Perpetua, though in*
wardly torn with filial affection, could offer him no
other comfort than to desire him to acquiesce in tlie
Divine disposal.

The next day they were all brouglit into the courts
and examined in the presence of vast crowds.
There the unhappy old gentleman appeared ^ ith his
little grandson, and taking Perpetua aside, conjured
her to have some pity on her child. The procurator,
Hilarian, joined in the suit, but in vain. The old
man then attempted to draw his daughter from
the scaffold. Hilarian ordered him to be beaten;
and a blow, which he received with a staff, was felt
by Perpetua very severely.

Hilarian condenmed them to be exposed to the
wild beasts. They then returned cheerfully to their
prison. Perpetua sent the deacon, Pomppnius, to
demand her child of her father, which he refused to
return. The health of the clvld, we are told,
suffered not; nor did Perpetua feel any bodily in-,
convenience.

Secondulus died in prison. Felicitas was eight
months gone with child j and seeing the day of the
public shows to be ncar^ she was much afflicted lest.

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UNDER SKVERUS, &€* .

her execution should take place before herdeliveiy.
Her compaQions joined in prayer for her three days
before t^ie spectacles ; and she was, with gre^t dif-
ficulty, delivered of a child. One of the door-keepers,
who, perhaps, expected to have found in her a stoi-
cal insensibility, and heard her cries,' said, " Do you
complain of this? what will you do when you are
exposed to the beasts?" Felicitas answered, with a
sagacity truly. Christian, " It is I that suffer ipw,
but then llhere . wili be aqother with me, . that will
suffer for me, because I shall suiffer for his sake/' —
Her new-born daughter was delivered to ^ Christian
woman, who nursed it as her pvvu* *

The tribune appears to ha,v^ credite4 a report,
tliat the prisoners would, fr^i^hpmselves by masjical
practices; and, in consequ^jq^,'to have pceaied then>
roughly. *' Why don't you,? Isays I^^rpetua, " give
us some relief? Wil| ,it/iot be for .yoiu? honour that
we should appear vjfi^] fed at the spec^:acles ? "

This address of hers had thedesir^ effect ; It pro-
cured a very agreeable alteration in.thejr.^treatmeut*
On the day betoe the sliows, they wqrej supplied with
their last meal ; and the martyrs did mq\v utmost to
convert it into ai^ *ocy»vii ; they ate in public : their
brethren and otliers were allowed to vi§it them : and
the keeper of the prison himself, by this time, was
converted to the faith : they talked to the people, and
warned them to flee fro^i the wrath to come: they
pointed out to them their own happy lot, and smiled
at the curiosity of those who ran to see them. *' Ob^
serve well our faces," cries Saliur, with much anima-
tion, " that ye may know them at the day of judg-

ment^'

The Spirit of God was much with them on the
day of tria.1 : joy, rather than fear, was painted on
their looks. Perpetua, cherished by Jesus Christ,
went OH with a composed countenance and an easy
paiq^ holding down her eyes^ lest the spectators

• A'loTt'kaaC

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HISTOUT ^F THE CHURfcH

might draw wrong conclusions from theJr vivacity*
Some idolatrous garments were offered them by the
Pagans: " We sacrifice our fives," said they, " to
avoid every thing of this kind.** — The tribune de-
sisted from his demand.

Perpetua satig, as afreidy vitforious* : and H6-
vocatus, Saturrtiriiis, dnd Satur, endeav6utedt6 affect
ftie people with ihe fear of the wrath to come*
Being cortie into Milarian's presence, " Thbu judges?t
is,*' said they, '* and God shall judge theie." The
niob Mi'is ^nriged, and insisted drt tlieir beihg
Scourged tiefbre they were exposed to thie beasts.
It was done, and tiie martyrs rejoiced in being con-
formed fo their Saviour s sufferings.

Perpetua and Felicitas were stripped, and put ftito
fhe nets, dtid eitpos^d to' a wild cow. The spectators
were slrbcked dt the sight : idr the one was an ac-
complished "beauty, and the other had been newly
delivered of a child. — ^The assistingexecutionerdreM^
them back and covered them with loose garments.
P'erpettia wbs fit st attacked ; and falling backwards
khe put herself into a reclining posture; and seeing
her habit torn by h^r side, she retired to cdver her-
self: shfe then gathered up her hait, that she might
seem less disordtered : she raised herself up, and
seeing Felicitas bruised, she gave her her hand and
lifted her up : then they went toward the gate,
ijvhere Perpetua was received by a catechumen, called
Rusticus, who attended hi6r : " I wonder,"' said she,
'^ when they will expose us to the cow;" — She
had been, it seems, insensible of ^iiat had {Massed;
nor could believe it till she saw ori her bogy and
clothes the marks of her sufferings. She caused her
brother to bfe called, and addressing herself to him
^d Rusticus, she ^aid, '^ Continue firm in the feith ;
love one another; and be neither frigbtenited noi*
6ffended at our suffering^."

The people insisted on having the martyr* ttrodj^t
into the midst of the amphitheatre tfaiit tbifty* might
4

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bave tb6 piea9ure of peeing tb^n die : some of them ce^.
rose, up aild went forward of their own accord, after ui. *
having given one another the kiss of charily : others
received the last blow without speaking or stirring.
Perpetuafell into the hands of an unskilful gladiator,
vhp pierced her between the ribs so as to give her
much unnecessary pain. She cried out ; and then
9be hersdf suided his trembling hand to her
throat: — ana thus with the rest she slept in
Jews.'

Augustine, in his ex|X)^tion of the forty-seventh
Pfalm, takes notice of the victorious strength of di-
yine Iqw prevailing over all natural affections, and
produces this same Perp^etua as an exapiple"*: — >
?^ We know and read thus in the sufferings of the
t>le8sed Perpetufu" — He mentions the same story
also in three other places in his treatise of the soul f*
Sut it is evident that he doubts whether Perpetua
herself wrote what is ascribed to her. If go, we
may well doubt ; and more than doubt the truth
of the visions with which this excellent narrative has
been inti^rmixed; and with which I have not thoqght
it worth while to trouble the reader. Yjet the ge-
neral histpry has every mark of a.utbenti,city.— Au-r
gustine himself published three sermons on the an-?
niversary of the martyrs. It is much to be regretted
that the finest monuments of e.cple$if^tical antiquity
have been thus tarnished ^y mixtures pf fraud pr
sujierstition.^ — ^The authority of Augustine has ep^
abled me to distinguish with some degree of precision
the truth from the falsehood. My business dpes no(
call me to recite the frauds ; and it will be needless
to add further remarks : The pious reader sees, ^itl^
pleasure, thqrt God was vet present with his people.
--riodeed the power of God appeared evidently dia-;
pkyed during the cpAjrae of this dreadful persep«-
tkaa, by the sudden and ama^ng conversipns of ^*
vend pei^Qos who vohmtarily sulfered death fqr th%|
• Tom. V. ilL t ^ i« C. iq« U3. do. U 4* )8. Tom. 7t

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310 HISTORY OF TAE CHUUCH

doctrine which they before detested. Of this we
have the very respectable testimony of Origen, who,
whatever other defects he be justly charged with, ig
certainly allowed to be of unquestionable veracity *.
' Severus would naturally extend this persecution
to Gaul, the scene of his former cruelties. In fact,
it was now that Irenaeus suffered : and tnany n[X>re
suffjrcd with him ; and Lyons was once more dyed
with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. Vivarius
and Androlus, who had been sent by Polycarp ttiere
to preach the Gospel, were put to death. At Co-
mana in Pamphylia, Zoticus the bishop^ who had dis-
tinguished himself by writing a^nsttbe Montanists,
obtained the crown of martyrdom;

At this tryirig season it was, that some Churches
purchased their peace awi quiet by paying money,
not only to the magistrates, but also to the infornjers
and soldiers who v^ere appointed to search them
out. The pastors of the Churches approved of this
proceeding, because it was only suffering the loss of
their goods, and preferring that to the endangeijng
of their lives. However casuists may decide this
question, it is easily conceivable tlmt the practice
might take place with many in real uprightness
of heart. '

It is usuaLwith God to moderate the sufferings

of his people, and qot to suffer them to be tried by

A. D. persecution at once very long and ve!^ violent. — In

211. the year two hundred and eleven, after a reign of

eighteen years, the tyrant Severus died : and tiie

Church found repose and tranquillity under his son

and successor Caracalla, though a monster of wick-

.edness.

Divine Providence had long before prepared for
the Christians this mitigation of trial, in the circum-
stances of Caracalla's education. He bad known
Proculus the Christian, wlio had reco\'ered the health
of his father, and was maintaiaed in bis palace to
* Contra Cekuni, L. i.

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UNDEK SEVERUS, &C.

bis death : and he had himself been nursed, when
an infant, by a Cliristian woman. Though this could
not win his heart to Jesus Christ, it gave him an
eariy predilection in favour of Christians, insomuch
that when he was seven years old, observing one
of his play-fellows to be beaten because he fol-
lowed the Christian religion *, he could not for some
time after, behold with patience either his own father
or the father of the boy. Certainly few men have
ever exceeded him in the ferocious vices; yet, durijig
the six years and two months which he reigned, the
Christians found in him friendship and protection. In-
deed, for the space of thirty and eight years, — from
the death of Sevcrus to the rei^n of Decius, — if we
except the short turbulent interval of Maximinus, the
Church enjoyed a continued calmf. — About the year Ongo^
two hundred and ten, Origcn came to Rome, where R^e."*
Zephyrinus was bishop, desirous of visiting that an- a. d.
tient Church, but soon returned to Alexandria, and 210.
to his office of catechising. He entrusted to Ilcraclas^
his associate in that employment, the instruction of
the more ignorant, while he himself took care of those
who had made a greater proficiency. His active
spirit induced him to study the Hebrew language;
and the first fruit of his labour was the publicJition
of the Hexapla. In this great work he gave the
Hebrew text and the translations of the Septuagint,
of Aquiki, Symmachus, Theodotion, — and two
othcTs, which had long been obsolete, and whose
authors were unknown. Of these interpreters, Sym-
machus was an Ebionite ; that is, he held that Christ
was but a mere man J; and he inveighed against the
genuine Gos[)el of St Matthew, for no other reason,
that 1 can see, but on account of the clear testimony
M-hich the beginning of it affoi'ds against his heresy.

'* Spartiau's Caracalla. The Pagan author says, "because he
ft»lluwed the Jewihh Religion ;" but, wosl probably, he means
the Christian.

t SulpitiuB Severus, B. 2. C. 42. t £useb. B. 6. C. 16.

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^X^ HISTOEY OF THE CHURCH

— T|;)ese works of Or^en, in addition to his constant
_ diligence, both in writing and in preaching, are
"" monuments at least of the most laudable inoustiy.
Tlie evangelical reader would wish, no doubt, to see
stronger signs of real Christian proficiency in expe-
rimental and practical religion ; — but we must be
content with such matter as tlie ecclesiastical recordsj
afford us.

One Ambrose, addicted to the Valentiniah here-
sy, an extn^mely fanciful and romantic scheme,
not w orthy of the reader's attention, found himsel(
confuted by Origen, and was brought over to thq
(Church. Many learned men also felt the force of
|iis argumentatioas, Heretips and philosophers at-
tended his lectures ; and he took, no (doubt, a very
excellent method to procure regai'd to himself at least;
— he instructed them in profene and seculai' learn-
ing. He confuted the opinions of the different sects
by opposing them to each other ; and he exposed the
various fallacies with so much acuteness and sagacity,
that he obtained among the gentiles the reputation of
a great Philosopher. He encouraged many persons
to study the liberal arts, assuruig them, that they
would, by that means, be much better furnished foi;
the contemplation of tlie Holy Scriptures :— He was
entirely of opinion, that secular and philosophical
institutes were very necessary and profitable to his
own mind. — Does it escape the reader, how muct^
in the course of the Christian annals we are alreiuly
• departed, though by insensible degrees, from Chris*
iian simplicity r Here is a man looked up to with
reverence, at least by the eastern Church, as a grea(
luminary ; — a man, who, in his younger days, wa^
himself a scholar of the amphibious Ammonius; who
mixed together Christianity and pagan phUos(^hy ;
and who, by reading his motley lectures, drew over,
in form at least, many of the heathen philosophers to
embrace the religion of Jesus. These nientioD h\v^

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often in their books: some dedicate their works to
him; and others respectfully deliver them to him as
thdr master. All this Eusebius tdls us with much
apparent satisfaction. To him the Gospel seems to
have triumphed over gentijism by these means. — •
There is no doubt, but, in a certain sense, Origen's
^ucce$s was great; but I much fear that, in return;
the pure Gospel suffered greatly by an admixture oJF
gentilism. What can this e:ptraoj:dinary teacher and
author mean, by asserting tlie utility and even the
* necessity of philosophy for himself as a Christian!^
Are not the Scriptures able to make a mait

WISE UNTO SALVATION THROUGH i^AITH WHICtt

IS IN Christ Jjjisus, that the man of God

MAY BE PERFECT, THOROUGHLY FURNISHED TO

ErVERY GOOD WORK ? Suppose R man of common
^ense, perfectly qnacquainted with all the learned
lore of Ammonius, to study only the sacred books,
with prayer, dependence ou divine guidance and
illumination, and with self-examination? Is it not
conceivable that he may acquire a competent, — nay,
eveifi an eminent knowledge of the Scriptures? Cer-
tainly an acquaintance with classical and philosophic
ica^ lemming may furnish him with strong arguments
to prove the necessity and the excellency of divine
i^velation; fipd therefore they deserve seriously to be
epcourag^ in the minds of all who are to instruct
others, — for their improvement in taste, language,
eloquence, and history; but if they are to dictate
in religion, — or are thought capable even of adding
to the stjock of theological knowledge, — the Scrip-
j(ures, — with reverence be it spoken, — may seem to
bave been defectively written. In tnith, we hear,
^ujQong these learned converts of Qrigen, nothing —
^f QonvictioQ of sin — of conversion — of the influence
of the Holy Spirit — of the love of Christ. They
jjyre pleased with their master;— Superioi' parts wi
• Eweb, 3^6.— 17,

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3H HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

citap: learning always command the esteem of mankind :
^\ , -^but, what are all his labours which we have now
before us, but vain attempts to mix thinjrs which the
HoJy Ghost has declared will not incorporate ? The
mischief which actually followed, was to be expect-
ed: Characters were confounded : and hencefor-
ward, among the learned, the distinction bet^^»een
Christian godliness and human philosophy is but
faintly marked. — 1» Origen had simply and plainly
expounded to his learned additors the peculiar and
vital trullis of the Gospel,! cannot but suspect that
many of them would have ceased to attend his in-
structions.

The iamous Porphyry, — than whom Christianity
bad never a more acriuionious enemy, — takes notice
of Origen's allegorical mode of interpreting Scripture,
observes that he was acquainted with him when
young, and bears testimony to his rapid improve-
ments under Ammonius. He asserts, — ^what indeed
Eusebius, who niust have known, contradicts, —
that Ammonius, though brought up a Christian,
turned afterwards a gentile. He acknowledges " that
Origen continually perused Plato, Numenius, and
the rest of the Pythagoreans; that he was well venei
in Chceremon the Stoic, and inCornutus; and, that
from all these mastery, he borrowed the Grecian
planner of allegorical interpretation, and applied it
\o the Jewish Scriptures."

We have seen, before, the wanton spirit of alle-
gory introduced by Ammonius: and it is very pro-
bable that Origen then first leai-nt to treat the Scrip-
tures in the same manner. He had the candour to
confess that he had been mistaken in his literal inter-
pretation of our Saviour's words concerning eunuchs.
He, afterwards, fell into the contrary extreme, and
allegorized all the three clauses in the Gospel of St.
Jllatthew*; — and introduced such a complicated
♦ Chap.'xix. 12. %

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- UKDER SFA^BRU8, &C.

scheme of fanciful interpretation, as for many ages
after, — through the excessive respect paid to titiis
man, — much obscured the light of Scripture.

There wanted not, however, some persons who
' found n^ult with Origen for all this attachment to
J>agan philosophy. Probably, simple, docile, inge-
nuous minds, wliich desired to be fed Avith the

" SINCERE MILK OF THE WoRD, THAT TH^Y

MIGHT GROW THEREBY," found themsclvcs Starved
amidst all this heterogeneous, inconsistent doctrine.
He felt himself called upon to vindicate his practice;
— which he does, only by observing the use of phi-
losophy in confuting heretics; and by the example ©f
Pantflenus, and of Heraclas, an Alexandrian pastor,
— his coadjutor, who formerly had worn the common
dress, and afterwards took up the philosopher s garb,
and still studied eamestiy the writings of the heathen
philosophers. What does all this prove but the
destructive progress of this epidemical disease ?

The governor of Arabia sent to Demetrius, de-
siring ttje instruction of Origen; who did not hesitate
to undertake the necessary journey for that pqrpose;
and he then returned back to Alexandria.

The elegant publication of Alinucius Felix,-^a
work deserving even to be ranked among the Latin
classics for neatness and purity of style, was an orna-
ment to the I^tin Church. The arguments contained
in it against Paganism are well pointed and well
adapted to the state of the world at that time : It is
pnly to be regretted that we see not more of the
real nature of Christianity in that celebrated per-
formance.

In the ypar two hundred and seventeen, M acrinus a.^d,
succeeded Caracalla, who bad reigned a little morQ 217.
than six yems.

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5i6 HUTORr or the chuiuim.

CHAP. VI.

STATE OF CHRTSXIANITY DURIJ^G THJf BErCNf
OF MACRINUS, HELIOGABALUS, ALEXANDER.
MAXIMINUS,PUPJENUS,GORDIAN, AND PHILIP.

jMacrinus reigned one year and two montiis;
and was succcjeded by Heliogabalus ; whose follies
and vices are infamous ; but it does not appear that
tbp Church of God suffered on that account. He
seems not to have conceived any particular pre-
judices against Christians ; on the contrary, he ex-
Sressed a desire of removing their rites of worship to
Lome. — It is not worth while to attempt an expla-
nation of the views of so senseless a prince. — He was
«ii»?%ii»- slain at the age of eighteen, in the year two hundred
and Jwenty-two, after he had swayed the sceptre
three years and nine months. His cousin Alex-
ander succeeded him ; who was then only in the
sixteenth year of his age, but was esteemed one of
the best moral characters in proiieme history. — Hi*
mother IVf amms&a, is called by £usebius *, a most
godlv and religious woman. — I am at a loss to
vindicate the expression. — It does not appear that
phe received the faith of Christ : — however, — nei-
per she nor her son persecuted, they rather approv-
ed and countenanced, the Christians. They wenft
persons ol^candour and probity theniselves ; and they
saw that, in morals at least, the people of God con^
curred with their own views. Their conduct wa*
laudable; but — mark the mischief of blending
philosophy with Christianity ! How cheap is the term
GODLY 2?'owa in the eyes of Eusebius !

The providence of God not only secured his CJhurch
from suffering, but procured it a favourable patron in
this princess and her son. The emperor had a do-
mestic chapel, where, every morning, he worshipped
* Eufieb. L. 6. Fleuiy, B. v. iv.

A.D.
222.

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sTAti OF ciinnrikviTY.

flittse decjBased ptinces, whoise characters were most
*steemed : their statues were placed ai!nong those
of the gods : and into this company hfe introduced
ApollbniuB of TVana, Jesus Christ, Abraham, ^nd
Orpheus*. He had a desire to erect even a tefriple
tb Christ, and to rettive htm regularly ittto the num-
ber of the gods.

There are, on record, other instances of his can-
dour towards the Christians. — The right of possessing
A ceitain piece of ground wds claimed by a tavern-
keeper : It had beto common for a lotigtimef, and
the Christians had 6ccupied it for a place of worship.
— ** It is fitter," said Alexander, '' that God should
fe served there, in finy nmmier whatever, rather than
thiat it should bfe used for a tavei*n." He frequently
teed this Chri^ian sentence, " Do Ai yo^ would
BE DOirtE BT." He obliged a crier to repeat it wheri
fee punished any person; and ^asso fond of it, thai
he caused it to be written in his palace and in the
public buildings. When he was going to app6int
^verriors of provincies or other officers, he proposed
their names in public, giving the people notice, that
if they had dny crime to accuse them of, they should
come forv\*ard and make it known. " It would be!
a shame," says he, " not to do that with respect to
governors, who are entrusted with men's properties
and lives, which is done by Jews and Christian^
when they publish the names of those whom they
mean to ordain Priests." And, indeed, by Origen's
iwrcount J, the Christians were so very careful in the
choice of their pastors, that the civil magistrates werd
by no means to be compai-ed with them in probity
and sound morality. This prince had, it seems, too
tnuch gravity and virtue for the times in which he
lived : — for some persdns, in derision, called him
Archysynagogus ||.

* Lamprid. i That is, v^ithout owner or possessor.

i* Ag* Celsus, B. iii. and viii.

i Hie chief niler of the syaagogae.

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HISTORT OF THE CHURCH.

It seeais to have been bis plan to encourage every
tiling that carried the appearance of yeligion and
virtue ; and to discQimtenancc whatever was openly
immoral and profane. — His historian* tells us ** that
he favoured astrologers, and permitted them to teacb
publicly; that hehiniself wasw^lUkiJled in the vain
science of tlie Aruspices, and was master of that of
the Augurs in a high degree."
A. D. In the year two hundred and twenty-nine, Alex*
22y. andcr was obliged to go to (he East, and to reside
at Antioch. I J is mother Mamma^a w^nt with him,
and having heard of the fame of Origen, and being
very .curious t<) hear new things ; slie sent him a guard,
and caused him to come to her. All the account
>ve have of this interview is, that he continued there
a while, and publislied many things to thp glory of
(iod, and concerning the power of the heavenly doc-
trine; and, that he then returned to his school at
Ale^jiuidria.

* v\Vhat Ori;;en taught this princess we are not told:
AVhat ho ought to have taught her, the Acts of the
Apostles would have amply informed him — A plain
and artless declaration of the vanity and wickedness
of all the reigning idolatries and philosophical sects;
and what is still more— of the corruption, helpless-
ness, and misery of man, and a faitliful information
concerning the only way of salvation by Jesus Christ,
tiie great duty of believing on him, of confessing him,
and of admitting the sanctifying operations of his
Spjrjt, — these things a perfectly sound preacherwould
have shown to her ; and his exhortations would have
been entirely founded on these doctrines; nor would
he have felt the necessity of aiding his message by the
authority of Plato or of any other philosopher. —
History informs us of no remarkable eftect which
attended the ministry of Oriiien on this occasion.
1 hat hi spake what he believed and whlat he thought
* Lampridius.

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STATE OF CHRISTIANITY*

toost wise and expedient, id not to be doubted ; but
\s/e ii)ay be elloNyed to lament, that his ^own state
and views were too similar to those of MamoKisa
and of her son, to permit him tp represent Ciiris-
tianity to them in the clearest and ,tbe most striking
manner. In truth, it is to be feaied that a number
of Cl^istians so called, at this time, were much of
the same religion witli Alexander himself. — He seems
to have learnt, in some measure, the doctrine of the
upity of the Godhead ; and by die help of the eclectic
philosophy to have consoHdated all religions intp
one mass. — But the Scriptural method of teaching
tilings that accompany salvation will not incorpo-
rate witli this system of doctrines.

The liberality of his friend. Ambrose enabled
Origen to prosecute his Scriptural studies with vast
rapidity. Ambrose hin)S8lf was a deacon of the
Church ; and, by his faithfulness under persecution,
he obtained the name of Confessor.
. At this time Noctus of Sinyrna propagate^! the
same heresy in the Last, wliidi Praxeas had done
in the West, — namely, that tliere was no distinction
among the Divine Persons. The pastors of the
Church of Ephesus sumuioned him before them ;
and demanded whether he really maintained this
opinion. At first he denied it; but afterwards^
having formed a party, he became more bold, and
publicly taught his heresy. Being again interro-
gated by the pastors, he said, " What harm have I
done ? I glorify none but one God ; I know none
besides him who hath been beijotten, who suffered
and died.'' He evidently, iq, this way, confounded
tlie persons of the Father and the Son together ;
*and being obstinate in his views, he was ejected
put of tlie Church with all his disciples. — We hava
here an additional proof of the jealousy of the pri-
'mitive Christians in support of the fundamental ar«
ticles of Christianity : The connexion also indissolubly^

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$id antonr of the churca-

cJflAP. fjreserVed between heretical pravity and pride of
ju--^^ „^ heart appeared in this teacher. — He called himself
Moses, and his brother Aaron*.

Origen was now sent for to Athens to assist the
Churches, which were there disturbed with several
Ori^ heresies. Thence he went to Palestine. At Caesa-
•^J^?^ rea, Theoctbtus the bishop, and-Alexander bishop of
A. D. Jerusalem, ordained hiiii a priest it the age of forty-
230. "^^^9 about the year two hundred and thirty. De-
metritis, his own bishop, was offended; and, at
length, divulged what had hitherto been kept very
secret, — the indiscreet self-mutilation before-men-
tioned, which took place in the youth of Origen.
Alexander defended himself in what be had done, hf
iheentonlium which Demetrius had given of Origen
in his letter. The latter, on his return to Alexan-
dria, found his bishop quite incetised against him ;
for, he procured even his ejection from the ChiircH
by a council of pastors, on account of some en*ors
that appeared irt his works. Wlmt judgment is to
be formed of these errors I shall have a future occa-
sion to consider. Banished from Egypt, this great
man lived now in Palestine with his friends Theoc*
tistus and Alexander, still followed by many disciples,
and particulariy respected by Firtnilian of Cappa-
docia, who looked ii pon it as a happiness to enjoy
his in^structions. Here also the famous Gregory
Tliaumaturgiis attended his theological lectures,
which, even in his exile, were delivered iii Origen's
usual manner.

Demetrius, bishop of Alexan(dria,died, after having
held that office forty-three years. A long period!
—but, our information is too indistinct and scanty
to enable us to pronouhce his real character. , If we
were sure that he preserved a very upright conscience'
fo^i^rd God in things of ess^ntifat moment, sotiie-
thing mi^ht be advanced tX) justify his severe treat-
ittent of Origen: but; aS we ane lett on that head to'
* Floury. B. 5. Epipbanius and Theo<lor«t»

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STATE OF CHRTSTIANITT.

conjectures, it is, perhaps, better to be silent-
Or^en's assistant Heraclas succeeded him.

In the y^ar two hundred and thirty-five Alexander The
was murdered together with his mother; and Maxi- ^^p^'^J^,
min the murderer obtained the empire. His malice murdered,
against the house of Alexander disposed him to perse- a. d,
cute the Christians; and he gave orders to put to 235.
death the pastors of the Churches. The persecution Maximin
was not confined to them : Others suffered at the same ^^^*
time; and, it seems by Firmilian's letter to Cyprian sccution.
of Carthage, that the flame extended to Cappadocia.
Ambrose, the friend of Origen, and Protoctetus,
minister of Caesarea, suff'ered much in the course of
it; and to them Origen dedicated his book of martyrs.
He himself was obliged to retire. But the tyrant's
reign lasted only three years, in which time it must
be confessed that the rest of the world had tasted of
his ferocity as much as the Christians had. — His
persecution of them was local; but his cruelty to
mankind in general seemed to have no limits.

Pupienus and Balbinus, the successors of Maxi- j^^ ^^
rain, were slain in the year two hundred and thirty- 238*
ei^t: Gordian reigned for six years, and was then
supplanted by the usual military turbulence, which
made way for his murderer, Philip the Arabian.

Origpn, in a letter to his scholar Gregory Thau-
maturgus, exhorts him to apply himself chiefly to
the holy Scripture ; to read it very attentively ; not
to speaJc or judge of it lightly, but with unshaken
&ith and prayer, which, says he, is absolutely neces^
sary for the understanding of it. — ^This exhortation
will be noticed by the pious reader, doubtless, with
much satisfaction. It proves that his philosophy
had not obliterated hb Chiistianity.

A fi'esh attempt was now made to pervert the doc-
trine of the person of Christ — Beryllus, bishop of
Bostra in Arabia, aflirmed that our Saviour, betbre
his incarnation^ bad no proper divinity, but only his

VOL. !• y

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HiSTOIiy OF THE CHURCH.

Fathd's divinily dwelling in himself. Thus Ease**
bius states the matter. It is not easy to form clear
ideas of these sentiments : they seem, however, to
annihilate the divine personality of the eternal Word.
The mail, it seems, was not obstinate : he listened
to sound Scriptural argument, and was therefore re-
claimed by means of Origen. He even loved his
instructor ever after, and was sincerely thankful to
him ; — a circumstance, which reflects an amiable
, light on tliie character of Beryllus .*.
A. D. Philip began to reign in the year two hundred
244. and forty-four. Eusebius tells us that he was a
, Christian ; and indeed that he was so^ by profession,
seems well attested by the concurrent voice of anti-
quity. He is said to have submitted to certain
ecclesiastical censures from a bishop; but tlie
report is void of proper autJienticity ; — and most
probably, he ranked at his death only as a Catechu-
men.— There is, however, no doubt, but in the fourth
A. D. y^^*' ^^ ^^ ^^^S^9 fi^d in the year of Christ two
^.y] hundred and forty seven^ he allowed and conducted
the secular games, which were full of idolatry : and
this is a tact, which clearly proves that he was not
disposed to give up any thing tor the sake of Christ :
And, in general, there is not the least ground to con-
clude from history that he was a cordial friend to the
Gospel. — Nevertlieless the progress of Christianity
in the world at this lime must have been very grea^
which could induce so worldly-minded a person as
Philip to countenance it without reserve or ambi-^
guity. — To this emperor and to his wife Severa,
Origen wrote an epistle, which was extant in Euse-
bius's time. •

It appears frpm' one of the homilies of Origen,
that the long peace which the Church, — with only
the short interruption <^ Maximin's persecution, — -
had enjoyed, hjid brou^^t on a great degree of luke-

• Hieronym. Eccle. Scrip, luxx. — Sec Dr. WaterlaQd ««
the Importaoce of the Trinity.

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STATE OF CHRISTIANITY. 323

warmness and even of much religious indecorum, cent.
Let the reader only notice the difference between ^ ^|^ ,i
th# scenes which he here describes and the conduct
of the Christians both in the first and second century,
and he will be affected with the greatness of the de-
clension.

'* Several*," says he, *^come to Church only on
solemn festivals; and tlien, not so much for instruc-
tion as diversion : Some go out again as soon as they
have heard the lecture, without conferring or asking
the pastors any questions t Others stay not till the
lecture is ended ; and others hear not so much as a
single word: but entertain themselves in a comer
of the Church."

By the blessing of Almighty God, nothing was so
likdy to conquer this careless spirit, as the faithftrl
<lispensation of the peculiar truths of the Gospel in
a practical manner, so as to search the hea,rt.—
But the ability as well as the taste for doing this had
much declined, in the eastern part of the Churqh
especially. — Origen complains elsewhere of the am-
bitious and haughty manners of pastors, and of the
wrong steps which some took to obtain prefer*

HENTS.

This great man was now once more employed in
Arabia in coiifvting another error, namely, — of those
who denied the intermediate state of souls ; and this
he manago^ with his usual good success f.

Philip enjoyed the fruits of his crimes five years, ^^^
and was then slain and succeeded by Decius. — A bishop of
little before his death, in the year two hundred and Carthage.
forty-eight, Cyprian was chosen bishop of Carthage. * ^Z
— A star of the first magnitude, — when we consider ^
the times in which ho lived. — I^t us recreate our-
tselves with the contemplation of it : We are fatigued
-with 'hunting for Christian goodness ; and we have
discovered but little: and that with much difficulty.
' — We shall find Cypriaa to be a character, w1m>
* rieury. f E«»«b. B. vi. 3&

Y 3

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324 HISTORY Of THE CHUR€H.

partook indeed of the declensions which we have
noticed and lamented ; but who was still fair superior,
I apprehend, in real simplicity and piety, to the
Christians of the East

CHAP. VII.
THE CONVEKSION OF CYPRIAN.

^viL*' The life of this prelate was written by Pontius his
deacon. It is to be regretted, that one who must
have known him so well, should have written in so
incompetent a manner. Very little distinct infor-
mation is to be gatliered from him ; but Cyprian's
own letters are extant, and from them I shall en-
deavour to exhibit whatever is of the greatest
moment They are, in truth, a valuable treasure
of ecclesiastical history : The spirit, taste, discipline^
and habits of the times, among Christians, are strongs
ly delineated; nor have we in all the third century
any account to be compared with them. He was a
professor of oratory in tlie city of Carthage, and a
man of wealth, quality, and dignity. Caecilius, a
Carthaginian presbyter, had the felicity, under God,
to conduct him to the knowledge of Christ; and,
in his gratitude, Cyprian afterwards assumed the
pnenomen of Csecilius. His conversion was about
V. D. the year two hundred and forty-six; and two
846. years before his elevation to the See of Carthage.
About thirteen years comprehend the whole scene
of hb Christian life. — But God can do great things
in a little time ; or to speak more nervously with the
eacred writer, " one day is with the lord as
A thousand tears.*' He did not proceed by slow
painful steps of argqmentation, but seems to have
been led on with vast rapidity by the effectual opera-
tion of the Divine Spurit : — ^and he happily escaped^
in a great measure at least, the shoals and quicksands

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CONVEMION OF CYPRIAIT.

of false learning and self-<x)nceit, which so much
tarnighed the cluiracter of his eastern brethren. Faith
and love in native simplicity appear to have been
possessed by him when an early convert He saw
with pity the poor of the flock ; and he knew no
method so proper of employing '^ the unri^teoos
mammon as in relieving their distress*/' — He sold
whole estates for their l^nefit.

It was an excellent rule of the Apostle concern-
ing ordination, '* Not a novice, lest, being lifted up
with pride, he fail into the condemnation of the
devil." There appeared, however, in Cyprian a
spirit at cmce so simple, so zealous, and so intelligent,
that in about two years after his conversion he was
chosen presbyter, and then bishop of Carthage.

It was no feigned virtue that thus advan)ced him
in the eyes of the people. With Cyprian the love
of Christ evidently preponderated above all seoular
considerations. In vain his wife opposed his Chris-
tian spirit of liberality. The widow, the orphan,
and the poor, found in him a sympathizing benefactor
contiQually. The presbyter Ccecilius must have be-
held with much delight the growing virtues of his
pupil : — ^When dying, he recommended to his care
his own wife and children. It was with no satis-
faction that Cyprian observed the designs of the
people to choose him for their bishop. He retired, to
fivoid solicitation: His house was besieged: His
retreat was rendered impossible. He yielded at
length, and with much reluctance accepted the

PAINFUL PRE-^EMINENCE. For SO he SOOfl fouud

it. — Five presbyters, however, were enwnics to his
exaltation. His lenity, patience, and benevolence
towards them were remarked by every one.

The active spirit of Cyprian was, no doubt, much
ipmployed before he was mado a bishop: Indeed
Pontius tells us, that this was actually the case];
• Pontius Vit. Cyp,

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HISTOftY OF THE CHtPRCH.

but he communicates no parti^lars. St. Ausim
says, that liis letter to Donatus was his first work ;
and) therefore, the time of writing it may safely be
placed before hb arrival at episcopal dignity, rart
of thb letter, as it will illustrate his conversioii, and
show the spirit of a man penetrated with di?ine love,
and lately recovered iirom the idolatry of the world,
well deserves to be translated. — " 1 nnd your whole
care and concern at prescint is for conversion : you
look at me; and in your affection, expect much
from me : — I fear, I cannot answer your expccta-
ticms. — Small fruits must be looked for from my un-
woithiness;-7-Yet, I will make the attempt; for the
SUBJECT MATTER IS all On my side. — Let plansibte
arts of ambition be used in courts ; but when we.r
speak of the Lord God, plainness and sincerity, not
the powers of eloquence, should be used. Hear,
then, things not eloquent, but impottant ; not court-
ly, but rude and simple; — so, should the divine
^)odDess be celebrated always with artless truth. --«
Hear, then, an account of something which is felt be-
fore it is learnt ; and is not collected by a long course
of speculation, but is imbibed by the soul through
the compendium of grace ripenmg her, as it were all
at once.

*' While I lay in darkness and the night of paganism,
and when I fluctuated uncertain and dubious with
wandering steps in the sea of a tempestuous age,
ignorant ctf my own life, and alienated from light an4
truth, it appeared to me a harsh and difficult thing,
as my manners then were, to obtain what divine
grace had promised, — namely, that a man should be
bom again ; and that, being animated to a new life
by the salutary washing of regeneration*, be should
strip liimself of what he was before, and though the
body remained the^ame, he should, in bis miad,

* An instance we have here of the powerful effects of rege-
neration attending baptism in thoise dayi.

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CONVERSION OF CYPBIANi

become altogetber a new creature. How can so
great a change be possible, said I, — that a mail
should suddenly and at once put off what natofe and
habit have eonlirmed in hitn. These evils are deef^y
and closely fixed in us. How shall be team parsi-
mony, who has been accustomed tio expejisive cukI
magnificent feasts? And how shall be, wboihas been
accustomed to purple, gold, and costly attke^ con^*
descend to the simplicity o( a plebeian habit? Can
he who was delighled with the honours of ambilicffi^
live private and obscure ? Further,^ — the man hai^
been a€CU8k>med to crowds of clients, and will tbink
selitude the most dreadful punishment — He must
still, thought I, be infested by tenacious allurements^
Drunkenness, pride, anger, rapacity, cruelty, ambi*-
tion, and lust, must still domineer over him.

^^ These reflections engaged my mind very often;
fcfr they were peculiarly applicable to my own case;
' — I was myself entangled in many errors of my
former life, fxom which I did not thmk it possible to
be cleared : hence, I favoured my vices, and, through
d^peir of what was better, I stuck close to them as
part of my very ftame and constitution.. But after the
filth of my former sins was washed awuy in the laver
of regeneration^ and divine light, fro(n abovei^ had
infused itself into my heart now purified and cleansed);
after, througli the effusion of the Holy Spirit from
heaven, the new birth had made me a new creatare
indeed, — immediately, and in an amaeing mmnef^
dubious things began to be cleared up' i things once
abut were opened ; dark things slione forth*; and wh£(t
before seemed difficult and even impossible, now
appeared easy and practicable. I saw that, that
which was born after the flesii and had lived enslaved
by wickedness, was of the ** earth, earthy;" but that
the new life, now animated by the Holy Ghost,
began to be of God. You know and recollect, as
perfectly as I do, my conversion frpm a deadly
crimmal state to a state of lively virtue: You know

r 4

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

what these opposite states have done for mc :^-what
they have taken away ; and what they have conferred :
and, therefore, I need not proclaim it : To boast of *
one's own merits is odious ; though that cannot he
called an expression of boasting, but of gratitude,
which ascribes nothing to the virtue of man, but pro<p
fesses all to • proceed from the gift of God : Thus
deliverance from sin is the consequence of sound faith :
— The preceding sinful state was owing to human
blindness. — Of God it is, — of God, 1 say, even all
that we can do: — thence we live; — thence we have
strength; — thence we conceive and assume vigour ;
even though, as yet, placed here below, we have
some clear iforetaste of our future felicity. Only,
^ — ^let fear be the guardian of innocence ; that the
Lord, who kindly shone bto our minds with an
effusion of heavenly grace, may be detained as our
guest by the steady obedience of the soul which
delights in him, — lest pardon received should beget
a careless presumptioui and the old enemy break ia
afresh.

*^ But if you keep the road of innocence and. of
righteousness, if you walk with footsteps that do not
slide, — i^ dependbg upon God %vith all your heart
and with all your migh^ you be only what you have
begun to be, you will then find, that according to the
proportion of faith, so will your attainments and
enjoyments be. For no bound or measure can be
assigned in tlie reception of divine grace, as is the
case of earthly benefits. The Holy Spirit is poured
fortli copiously; is confined by no limits; is re-
strained by no harriers; he flows perpetually; he
bestows in rich abundance: Let our heart only
thirst and be open to receive him : As much of ca-
pacious faith as we bring, so much abounding grace
do we draw from him. Hence an ability is given,
with sdber chastity, uprightness of mind, and purity
of language, to heal the sick, to extinguish the force
of poisou; to cle^se the filth of distempered minds,

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CONV^ESION Of CYPRIAN*

to speak peace to the hostile; to give tranquillity to
the violent, and gentleness to the fierce; to compeli
by menaces, unclean and wandering spirits to auit
their hold of men ; to scourge and controul the foe,
and by tormaits to bring him to confess vi^bat he is.
— ^ThuSy in what we have already begun to be, our
new spiritual nature, which is entirely the giit of
God, triumphs in its freedom from the b^daflo
pf sin and Satan; though, till our comiptime
body and members be changed, the prospect,
as yet(:amal, is obscured by the clouds of world-
ly objects. What a faculty, what an ener^ is
this ! — that the soul should not only be emancipated
from slavery, and be made free and pure ; but also
stronger and more eflScient, so as to become victorious
and triumphant over the powers of the enemy ! "

Thie testimony here given to the ejection of evil
spirits, as a common thing among the Christtaos,
evai in the tl^rd century, deserves to be noticed, as
a proof that miraculous influences had not ceased in
tl^ Church. Minutius Felix speaks to the same
purpose, and I think with more precision. ^^ Being
adjured by the living God, they tremble and remaia
wretehed and reluctant in the bodies of men : they
either leap out immediately, or vanish by degrees,
as the faith of the patient or the grace of the person
administering relief may be strong or weak.'* — Indeed
the testimony of the FaUiers in these times is so general
and concurrent, that the fact itself cannot be denied
without universally impeaching their veracity. It is
not my province to dwell on this point : The sane-
tifyii^ graces of the Spirit call for my particular at-
tention ; ai>d these are described by Cyprian as bj
one whp had seen and tasted them. No doubt, after
his conversion, he experienced in himself vital, ener«
getic, and divine principles, &r beyond the reach of
ordinary rational processes;— and he appeals to hit
friend Donatus if be had not also felt the same*

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(33P KISTOBT OF Tfire CHfTfeCR.

^ We may stfely, therefore, infer that mch things
utare then not infrequent among' Chrftttansi though
ciBTtahllj, the effusions of the Holy Ghost did Mi
so ttmdi abound as in the two former eenturies. — In*
deed wtiat but the power of God on the heart can ac-
count for a cfaaqge so sudden^ so i^pid, and yet so
fivmand solid, as that of Cyprian ? What can be con-
cei^ed more opposite than the last thirteen years of
his life compared with the former part of it? — Will
itiodernfastKltousness call all this Enthusiasm?

In this narrative, the reader will notice, that tht
essentiai doctrines of justification and regeneration
by drrine grace were not only believed but experi-
enced by ^s eeafous African. — ^The difference be-
tween mere human and divine teaching is rendered
striking by such cases. With no gf^eat furniture of
learning, it was his happiness to know little, }f any
things of tfie then reigniog philosophy. — We see a
man of business and of the world rising at once a
Huenix in the Church ; and though no extraordinary
Theologian in point of accurate knowledge, yet an
useful practical Divine, an accomplished Pastor;
flflfflning witfi the love of God and of souls, and with
unremitted activity spending and being spent for
Christ Jesus.— This is the Lord's doing; and it
should be remarked as his work.^— We shsdl see
tliat Cyprian's own conversion prepared him fof
iKTtusl service. — Argument and dispute prevailed
amons Christians in the East; — brotherly love in
Ae West.

He seems to record a remarkable influence of
Divine Grace as having accompanied his baptism.
it is reasonable to suppose that this was commonly
the case at that time: The inward and spiritual
grace really attended the outward and visible sign.
And it is to be lammted, that the corruption and
pcrvei-sion of affcer-ages, availing itself of the ambi-
guous Itfigoage of the fathers on this subject, —
7

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COWVERSIOIT OF CTlPRIAK. 33I

wUch, ^nitii them, vitfts natural ^nou^, — supposed cctt.
A NECESSARY coDnexioD to take place where there ^"*
had been a frequent one, Iti Cyprian's time to call
baptism itself tlie new hirth was not very dangerous :
In our age it is poison itself: Men are apt to con^
tent themsdves with the outward and visible' sign;
and it has long been the &shbn to suppose all per-"
BODSj who have been baptized when they were infants,
to be, of course, when they are grown up, in a state
of regeneration by tiie Holy Spirit: and thus rneii
have Teamed to furnish themselves with a convenient
evasion of all that is written in Scripture concerning
the godly motions of the third person of the sacred
Trinity.

Cyprian goes on, — " And that the marks of di-
vine goodness may appear the more perspicuously by
a discovery df the truth, I would lay open to your
view the real state of the world ; — I would remove!
the thick darkness which covers it, and detect the
liidden mischiefs and the evils which it cotitains.—
For a Kttle time, fancy yourself withdrawn to the
top of a high mountain ; — thence inspect the appear-
ance of tilings below you ; look all around ; — preserve
yourself unfettered by worldly connexioris, — observe
' the fluctuating tempests of the world ; — you will then
pity mankind ; you will understand and be sensible
of your own happiness ; — you will be more thankful
to God ; and, w ith more joy, you will congratulate
yourself on your escape."

He then gives an affecting view of the immensity
of evils which the state of mankind at that time
exhibited ; and graphically delineates the miseries of
pubKc and of private life; after which he returns
to the description of the blessings of true Chris-
tianity.

" n>e only placid and sound tranquillity,** says he,
" the only ^lid, firm, and perpetual security is, to
be delivered from the tempests of this restless scene,
to be stationed in the port of salvation; to lift up

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53tl HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

GBAPL the eyes from earth to heaven, and to be adUnitted
P^ , into the favour of the Lord : Such a man approaches^
in his thoughts^ near to his God; and justly gtorie%
that whatever others deem sublime and great ia
human afiairs, — is absolutely beneath his notice.
He, who is greater than tiie world, can desire
nothing, can want nothing from the world. What
an unshaken protection ; what a truly divine shelter
fraught with eternal good, it must be» to be loosed
from the snares of an entangling worlds to be puiged
from earthly dreg^ and to be wafted into the light
of immortal day ! When we see what the insidious
rage of a destructive enemy was plotting against us;
— certainly, we must be the more compelled to love
what we shall be, because we have now learned both
to know and to condemn what, we were. Nor is
there> for this end, any need of price^ of canvassing,
or of manual labour : This complete dignity or power
of man is not to be acquired by elabomte efforts ;
The gift of God is gratuitous and easy. As the sun
shines freely, as the fountain bubbleS| as. the rain
bedews, so tlie Celestial Spirit infuses himself. The
soul looks up to heaven and becomes conscious of
its Author : It then begins actually to be what it
believes itself to be : It is higher than the firmament,
and sublimer than all earthly power. Only> — do
you, whom the heavenly warfare hath* marked for
divine service, preserve untainted and sober your
Christian course by the virtues of religion. Let
prayer or reading be your assiduous employment :
Sometimes speak with God : At other times heay
him speak to you : Let him instruct you by his pre-t
cepts; let him regulate you : Whom he hath made
rich, none shall make poor. There can be no
penury with him whose heart has once been enriched
with celestial bounty. Uoofs arched with gold, and
houses inlaid witli marble, will be vile in your eyes,
when you know that your own minds are rather to
be cultivated and adorned: That this house is morq

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CDITVEKSION 0» CYtRlAlf*

valuable which the Lord has chosen to be his temple,
in which the Holy Ghost has begun to dwell. Let
us adorn this house with the paintings of innocence,
let us Uluminate it with the light of righteousness.
This will never fall into ruin through the decays
of agp: Its ornaments shall never fade. Whatever
is not genuine is precarious, and affords to the pos*
lessor no sure foundation. This remains in its
culture perpetually vivid; in honour, and in splendor,
spotless and eternal : It can neither be abolished nor
extinguished. — Is it then capable of no alteration?
— ^Yes, — It will receive a rich improvement at the
resurrection of the body.

** Let us be careful how we spend our time : let us
r^oice ; but let not an hour of entertainment be in*
consistent or unconnected with divine grace. Let
the sober banquet resound with psalms ; and as
your memory is good, and voice harmonious, per-
form this office, — as I believe you da — It will be
more than agreeable, — it will be delightful, — ^to your
dear friends to hear of your sjnritual and religious
harmony."

In all this the intelligent reader sees the jHctureof
an active Christian, — possessed of a rich portion of
that effusion of the Holy Ghost which, finom the
Aposdes' days, still exhibited Christ Jesus, — and
fitted by experience to communicate to others the
real Gospel, and to be a happy instrument of
guiding souls to that rest which remains for the
people of God.

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S34 histohy of thje cbubcs

CHAP. VIIL

TH£ BEGINKIKGS OF THE FEBSMUTIOlf Of

DECIUS. THE GOVERNMENT OFCTKHAM TILL

HIS RETIBEMEKT.

CHAP. How Cyprian conducted himself in his bishopric,
■L -^-l' who is sufficient to relate? says Pontius, in the fuU
ness of his admiration* Some particular account
however might have been expected from one who
had such large opportunity of information. He
does make some brief observations on his external
appearance. *^ His looks had the due mixture of
gravity and cb^rfulness; so that it was doubtful
whether he were more worthy of love or of reve-
rence. His dress alao was correspondent to his looks :
He had renounced the secular pomp to which his
rank in life entitled him ;— yet be avoided affected
penury.'' — From a man of Cyprian's piety and good
sense united, such a conduct might be expected.
The vuth While Cyprian was labouring to recover the spirk
b^E^tiiT' ^^ godliness among the Africans, which long peace
A. dT ^^^ corrupted, Philip was slain and succe^ed by
250! Decius. His enmity to the former emperor con-
spired with his pagan prejudices to bring on the
most dreadful persecution which the Church had yet
experienced. It was evident that nothmg less than
» the destruction of the Christian name was intended.

'Jlie chronology is here remarkably embarrassed ;
nor is it an object of much consequence to trouble
either myself or the reader with studious attempts
to settle it. Suffice it to say that the eventful period
before us of Cyprian's bishopric extends from the
A. D. y^^^ *^^'^ hundred and forty-eight to two hundred
248^ ^^^ sixty, and that Decius's succession to the empire
^Q must have taken place toward the beginning of it.
260. '^^^ persecution raged with astonishing fury, beyond
the example of former persecutions, bo& in the

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East und WesL ThQ latter is the seeae beft)re \j&
at present lo a treatise of Cypriao conceming
the lapsed*, we have an a&cting account Qf the de^
clension from the spirit of ChristiaDity, virhich bad
taken place before hk conversion, and which moved
God to chastise his Church, ^^ If the cause of our
miseries," says he> " be investigated, the cure of
the wound may be found. The Lord would have
bis family to be tried. And because long pooice
bad corrupted ttie discipline divinely revealed to us^
the heavenly chastisement hath raised up our faith
which had lain almost dormant: and when, by our
sins, we had deserved to suffer still more, the mer-
ciful Lord so tnoderated all things, that the wbde
scene rather deserves the name oi a trial than a
persecution. . Each had been bent oo improving his
patrimony; and had forgotten what believers had
done under the Apostles, and what they ought
always to do : — They were brooding over tlie arts of
amassing wealth: — The pastors and the deacons,
each forgat their duty: Works of mercy were neg-
lected, and discipline was at the lowest ebb. —
Luxury and effeminacy prevailed : Meretriciouf
arts in dress were cultivated ; Fraud and deceit were
practised among brethren. — Christians could unite
themselves in matrimony with unbelievers; could
swear not only without reverence, but even witiiout
veracity. With haughty asperity they demised their
ecclesiastical superiors: They railed against one
another with outrageous acrimony, and conducted
quarrels with determined malice: — Even many
bishops, who ou^t to be guides and patterns to
the re^ neglecting the peculiar duties of their
stations, gave themselves up to secular pursuits : —
.Tbey deserted their places of residence and their
flocks : They travelled through distant provinces in
quest of pleasure and ffixi ; gave no assistance ta
the needy brethren; but were insatiable in their
* S«ctioa4.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

thirst of inoney : — ^Thcy possessed estates by frftikl,
and multiplied usury. What have we not deserved
to suffer for such a conduct ? Even the Divine Word
hath foretold us what we might expect, ' if his

CHILDREN FORSAKE MY LAW, AND WALK NOT
IN MY JUDGMENTS, I WILL VISIT THEIR
OFFENCES WITH THE ROD, AND THEIR SIN

WITH SCOURGES.' Thesc things had been denounced
and foretold, but in vain : Our sins had brou^t
our affairs to that pass, that because we had despised
the Lord's directions, we were obliged to undergo
a correction of our multiplied evils and a trial of our
fiuth by severe remedies."

That a deep declension firom Christian purity
had taken place not only in the East, where fidse
philosophy aided its progress as we have seen, but
also in the West, where the operation of no pecu-
liar cause can be traced beyond the common in-
fluence of prosperity on human depravity, is now
completely evident from this account of Cyprian :
and, — it deserves to be remarked, that the first grand
and general declension, after the primary effusion
of the Divine Spirit, should be fixea about the
middle of this century. The wisdom and goodness
of God is also to be dbserved in qualifying the
bishop of Carthage by a strong personal work on
bis own heart : and then, in raising him to the See
of Carthage, to superintend the western part of his
Church in a time of trial like the present The
trial, no doubt, was kindly intended by Providence
to operate as a medicine for the revival of the de-
clining spirit of Christianity; but it needed, never-
theless, all that fortitude, zeal, and wisdom with
which Cyprian was so eminently endowed.

In such a situation it was not to be expected that
the people under the bishop's care should, in generali
stand their ground: avarice had taken deep root
among them ; and vast numbers lapsed into idolatry
immediately. £ven before men were accused at

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UNDER DECIUS, &C 337

Chrisdans, ** many ran to the forum and sacrificed cent.
io the gods as they were ordered ; and the crowds ^"'
of apostates were so great * that the magistrates
wished to delay numbers of them till the next day^
but they were imporiuoed by the wretched sup-
pliants to be allowed to prove themselves heathens
that very n^t"

At liome tht persecution ra^ with unremitting
violence. There Fabian the bishop suffered ; and,
for some time, it became impracticable to elect a
successor : yet, it does not appear*that the metropolis
suffered more, A proportion, than some other places,
since we find that the flame of persecution had
driven several bishops from distant provinces, and
made them fly for shelter to Romef. Cyprian,
however^ having been regularly informed by the
Roman clergy of the martyrdom of their bishop,
congratulated them on his glorious exit;]:, and exulted
on occasion of his uprightness and integrity* He
expresses the pleasure he conceived in observing that
his edifying example had so much penetrated their
minds ; and owns the energy which he himself felt
to imitate the pattern.

Moyses and Maximus, two Roman presbyters,
with other confessors, were also seised and im-
prisoned. Attempts were repeatedly made to per-
suade them to relinquish the faith, but in vain. Cy-
prian found means to write to them also a letter
fiill of benevolence, and breathing the strongest pa-
thos §. He tells tliem that his heart was with them
contiimally, — that he prayed for them in his public
ministry, — and in private. He comforts them
under the pressures of hunger and thirst which they
endured, and congratulates them for living now not
for this life but for the next; and particularly, becauic
their example would be a means of confirming many
who were in a wavering state. — But Carthage sooa

♦ Cypri. ilelapsis. + Ep. 31. t Ep. 4. § Ep. 16.
TOL. I. Z

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%VIII.

338 HISTORT OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, became an unsafe scene to Cyprian himself. — By
repeated suffrages of the people at the theatre he waH
demanded to be taken and given to the lions; and
it behoved him immediately eith^ to retire into a
place of safety, or to expect the crown of martyr*
dom.

Cyprian's spirit in interpreting Scripture was mord
simple, and more accommodate to receive its plain
and obvious sense, than that of men who had learned
to refine and subtilize. He knew the liberty which
bis Divine Master had given to his people — of fleeing
wh^i they were persecuted in one city, to another ;
— and he embraced it Nay, he seems scarcely to
have thought it lawful to do otherwise. — Even the
last state of his martyrdom evinces this.— His man*
ner of enduring it, when it, proividentially, was
brought on him, sufficiently acquits him of adl sus-
picion of pusillanimity. — To unite such seemingly
opposite things as discretion aad fortitude^ each in a
very high degree, is a sure characteristic of gi^eataess
in a Christian : — 'It is grace in its h^est exercise. —
Pontius thinks it was not without a particular divine
direction that he was moved to act in this nmoner
for the benefit of the Church.

Behold him at pr^ent, in some place oi retreat,
under the protection of God, and through .the love
of his people safe for. the space of two years from
the arm of a most barbarous. persecution ; — and let
us next see how he employed ^is interval of re*-
t«:ement.

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HisToar OF cvpBiAK. 339

C H A P. IX.

THE HISTORY OF CTFBIAN AND OF THE WE8TEEN
CHURCH DUBINO HIS RETIREMENT OF TWO
TEARS.

V^YPRIAN wae never more active than in his
retreat Nothing of moment occurred in ecclesias^
tical affiurs either in Africa or in Italy with which he
was unacquainted; and bis couosek, under God^
were of the greatest ii^uence in both countries. I
shall endeavour to abbreviate the account from his.
own letters which were written in this period.

The presbyters of Carthage sent Clementius, a
sub-deacon, to Rome, from whom the Roman clei^
learnt the place of the retreat of the bishop. They,
in return, express to the Africans their perfect agree^
ment in opinion concerning the propriety of the con-
cealment, because be was an eminent character^
and a life extremely valuable to the Church. They
represent the conflict as very important, which God
had now permitted for the trial of his servants :
They said, it was the express purpose of Crod to
mamfest both to angeb and to men, that the con^
queror shall be crowned, and the conquered, that is,
the faithless apostate, be self-condemned. They ex^
press the deep jsense which they had both of their
own situation and that of the clergy of Carthage^
whose duty it was to take care not to incur the cen**
sure passed on fiuthless shepherds in the prophet *,
but rather to imitate their Lord the good shepherd,
who laid down his life for the sheep f, and who so
^rnestlyand repeatedly charges Simon Peter/ as
a propt of his love to his Master, '^ to feed his
sheep^;." " We would not wish, dear brethren^" say
they, ** to find you mere mercenaries, but fpod
shepherds, since you know it must be highly smiul
* Ezek. xxiLiv. 3,4. fJoho, x. t John, xxi. .

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340 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

in you not to exhort the brethren to stand immove-
able in the faith, lest tliey be totally subverted by
idolatry. Nor do we only in words tlius exhort you ;
but, as you may learn from many who came from
us to you, our actions, "a ith the help of God, accord
witH our declarations : we make no scruple to hazard
our lives; for we have before our eyes the fear of
God and of eternal punishment, ratiier than the fear
of men and of a temporary calamity: we do not de-
sert the brethren ; we exhort them to stand in the faith,
and to be ready to follow their Lord when called :
We have also done our utmost to recover those who
had gone up to sacrifice in order that they mij^t
save their lives. Our Church stands firm in the
foith in general : Some indeed, overcome by terror,
either because they were persons in high life or
were moved by the fear of man, have lapsed ; yet
these, though separated from us, iie do not give up
as lost altogether, but we exhort them to repent, if
they may find mercy with him who is able to save:
we would not, by abandoning them^ render their
case hopeless and incurable.

** We wish you, brethren, to actio the same man-
ner, as much as in you lies : — Exhort the lapsed, if
they should be seized a second time, to confess their
Saviour. And we suggest to you to receive again
into communion any of these, if they heartily desire
it, and give proofs of sound repentance. And, cer-
tainly, officers should be appointed to minister to
the widows, the sick, those in prison, and those who
are in a state of banishment A special care should
be exercised over the catechumens, to preserve them
from apostasy ; and those, whose duty it is to inter
the dead, ought to consider the interment of the
martyrs as matter of indisponsable obligationC"

" Sure we are, that those servants, who afaall be
found to have been thus faithful in that which is
least, will have " authority over ten cities *•" May

• L4ike, xix. 19,

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HISTORY OF CYPRIAV.

God, who does all things for those who hope in him/
grant that we may all be found thus diligently em-
ployed ! The brethren in bonds, the clergy, and the
whole Church salute you : We all of us with earnest
solicitude watch and pray for all who call on the
name of the Lord. And w*e beseech you, in re-
turn, to be mindful of us also in your prayers/

Several obseiTations present themselves on this
occasion, r. It appears, that, both at Rome and
Carthage, the reduced mode of episcopacy was the'
form of ecclesiastical government which gradually
prevailed in the Christian world. It is not to be
supposed that the whole body of Christians either
at Rome, or at Carthage, was no more than what
might be contiuned in one assembly. — The inference
IS obvious.

2. The Roipian Church appears, in the beginning
of' Decius s persecution at least, to have been in a
much more thriving state than that of Caitliage,
and their clergy to have been models worthy of'
imitation in all ages.

3. The administration of discipline among the
Christians, wisely tempered by tenderness and strict-
ness, is truly admirable.

4. The work of the Divine Spirit also amongst
them, infusing the largest charity, even to the laying
down of their lives for the brethren, is manifest
beyond contradiction. — Now mark the spirit of a
pnmitive pastor, full of charity and meekness, of
2eal and prudence, in the following letter of Cyprian
to bis dergy : —

" Being hitherto preserved by the favour of God,
I salute you, dearest brethren, and I rejoice to hear
of your safety. As present ck'cumstances permit
not my presence among you, I beg you by your faith
and by the ties of religion, to discharge your duties,
iu conjunction with mine also, that nothing be
wanting either on thjs head of discipline or of dili-
g^ce. I beg that nothioii may be wanting to sup-

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HISTORY OF TH:^ CHtJKCH^

ply the necessities of those, who are imprisooed
because of their glorious profession and avowal of
God, or who labour under the pressure of indir
gence and poverty, since the whole ecclesiastical
fond is in the hands of the clergy for this very pur-
pose, that a number may have it in their power to
relieve the wants of individuals.

" I beg further, fhat you would use every pru-
dential and cautious method to procure the peace
of the Church; and if the brethren, in their charity,
wish to confer with and to visit those pious suffering
professors, whom the divine goodness hath thus £BMr
shone upon by such good be^nnings, they should^
however, do this cautiously, not in crowds,..Aor in
a multitude ; lest any odium should hence arise, and
the liberty of admission be denied altogether; and
lest while, through greediness, we aim at too much,
we lose all. Consult therefore and provide, that
this may be done safely and with discretion ; so
that the presbyters one by one, accompanied by the
deacons in turn, may successively minister to them,
because the change of persons visiting them is less
liable to breed suspicion. For, in all things we
ought to be meek, and humble, as becomes the ser-
vants of God, to redeem the time, to have a regard
for peace, and to provide for the people. Most
dearly beloved and longed-for, I wish you all pros-
perity, and intreat you to remember us. Salute fiU
the brethren. Victor the deacon, and those that
are with us, salute you *."

The numerous defections which took place, must
have penetrated deeply the fervent and charitable
spirit of Cyprian. Not only very many of the laity,
but part of the clergy also had been seduced ** I
could have wished,** says hef, "dearest brethren, to
have had it in my power to salute your whole body
sound and entire ; but as the melandtioly ten^)eat has^
in addition to the fall of so many of tb^ peopl^ ako
• EpU. 4. t Epis. 5.

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111.

niSTORT OF CYPRIAN, 343

afifinrted part of the deray, — aad accumulation of our cent.
sorrow! we pray the Lord, tbat, by divine mercy,
we may be enabled to salute you at lea^t, — whom
we have known hitherto to stand firm in faith and
Tirtae, — as sound and unshaken followers of Christ
for the time to come. — Though the cause loudly cal-
led on me to hasten my return to you ; first, on
account of my own desire and regret for the loss of
your coinpany,-^-a desire which bums strongly within
me; — in the next place, that we might, in full
oouocil, settle the various objects in the Church which
require attention ; yet, on Uie whole, to remain still
concealed seemed more advisable on account of
other advantages which pertain to the generai safety,
an account of which our dear brother Tertullus will
give 3fOo ; who, agreeably to that care M'hich he
employs in divine wwks. with so much zeal, was also
the adviser of this counsel, that I should act with
caution and moderation, and not rashly commit
aoyself to the public view in a place where I had so
often been sought and called for.

" Relying theareforeon your affection and conscien-
tiousness, g( which 1 have l^d good experience,
I exhort and charge you by these letters, that you,
whose situation is less dangprous and invidious,
would supply my lack of service. Let the poor be
attended to as much as possible, — those I mean, who
have stood the test of persecution : suftfer them not
to want necessaries ; lest indig^ence do that against
them which pei*secution could not 1 know the
charity of the brethren li^s provided for very many
of them :— yet, — as 1 wrote to you before, even while
they were in prison, — if any persons do want meat
or clothing'^, let tlieir necessities be supplied."

In the sequel of this epistle, he shows a deep

knowledge of the depravity of the human heart, which

is very apt to be putl'ed up witl) vain-giory and self«>

conceit, on the consciousness of havii^ well per*

* It hence appears that a number of thtm hud been released.

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IX.

344 BISTORT OF THE CHUECH.

CHAP, formed our part in any respect I cannot fbr-^
hew transcribing the following practical rules of
humirty.

^' Let them know, — that they must be instnided
and taught by tou ; — that the doctrines of Scripture
require subordination in the people to their pastors ;
—that they should cultivate an humble, modest, and
peaceable demeanour ; — and that tho^e who have
been gloriously bold id the avowal of thdr fieuth,
should be equally exemplary in all the branches of
Christian conduct — The harder trial yet remains: —
The Lord saith, ' H^ that endureth to the ^id, the
same shall be saved *.' Let them imitate the Lord,
whose humility never shone more than at the eve oiF
his passion, when he wadied his disciples' feet*
The Apostle Paul too, alter repeated sufferings, still
continued mild and huinfole. Hb elevation to the
third heaven begat in him no arrogance; neither, says
he, ^ did we eat any man s bread for nought, but
laboured andlravailed night and day, that we might
not be charg^ble to any of you t«'

'^ A 11 tliese duties do you instil into the minds of the
brethi-en : and, — because he, who humbles himself,
S)ball be exalted, — now is the time more particularly
that they should fear the snares of the enemy of
souls, who loves to attack even the strongest, and to
revenge the disgrace which he has already sustained
from them. The Lord grant that, in due seascm,
I may be enabled to visit my people i^ain ; and to
exhort tliem to uselul purpose. For I am grieved
to hear that some of them run about idly, foolishly,
and insolently; or give themselves up to strife; and
even pollute, by fornication, those members which
had^ confessed Christ; and are not willing to be
subject to the deacons or presbyters, but seem to
act as if they intended, by the bad conduct of a
few profcs2K)rs, to bring disgrace on the whole body.
• Matthew, X. 12. . f « Thess. iil S.

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HISTORY OF CTPRIAV. 345

He is a true professor indeed, on account of whcmi cent.
the Church need not blush, but glory. '"'

"To the point, concerning which certain presbyters
wrote to me,* I can answer nothing alone; for, from
the beginnmg of my appointment to this See, I de-
termined to do nothing without your consent and
the consent of the people. But when, by the favour
of God, I shall have returned to you, — we will
treat in common of all things."

In* the next letter he dwells on the same subject,
namely, the ill conduct of some of the confessors.
The use of good discipline in the Church of God;
the benefits of orderly subjection in the members ;
the danger of pride and self-exaltation ; and — the
deceitfuhiess of the human heart, are well staled^
mid in exceeding strong terms.

After having congratulated his people on the
steadiness of their confession, he reminds them of
the necessity of perseverance, since faith itself and the
new birth conduct us to life eternal, not merely as
once received, but as preserved. He reminds them, '
that the Lord regards him that is poor ^and of a
contrite spirit, and that trembles at his words; — and
he rejoices to find that the greatest part of the con-
fessors thus adorned the Gospel. — But he had Heard
that some of them were puffed up : To these he ex-
hibits the mild, charitable, anc! bumble spirit of the
Lamb of God : " And dare," says he, " any one,
who now lives by him and in him, to lift himself
up with pride? — He that is least among you, the
same shall be great. How execrable ought those
immoralities and indecencies to appear among you,
which we have heard of with the deepest sorrow oif
heart !" — He then repeats what he had before men-
tioned of the lasciviousness of some.

** Contentions and strifes ought to have no place

among you, since the Lord has left us his peace.

1 bes^h you abstain from reproaches and abuse;

♦ Epia. fi.iid Rogatianum prcsbyterum ft csteros confcssores.

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346 . HisTOftr OF the church*

CHAP. — for he who speaks what is peaceable, and good,
and justy according to the precepts of Christ, daily
imitates his Lord and Master. — We renounced the
world when we were baptized ; but now we truly
and in deed renounce the worlds when, upon being
tiled and proved by God, we scruple not to pye
np our own wills ; to follow the Lord ; and to staod
and live in his &ith and fear. Let us strengthen
one cuiother with mutual exhortations, and stnve ta
grow m the Lc«xl; — that when, in hb miercy, he
shall give us that peace and tranquillity which be
has promisad, we may return to the Church as new
man ; — and that both our brethren and the gentiles
way receive us improved in holy conduct; aad may
admire the excellency of the morale and disciplino
of those very Christians, who had astonished tbeia
by their fortitude during the persecution."

The mind of Cyprian, fuH of the fear oi God, and
reflecting, from a comparison of Christian precepts
with the practice of professors, how exceedingly his
people had provoked the Lord before the persecution,
was v^hementiy incited to stir Uiem up to repentance.
— He addresses them from his recess*, as fol-
lows :t-*' Though I am sci^ible, dearest brethr«[i,
that as we all live in the obedient fear of God, you
are instant in prayers, yet I also admonish you that
we ouglit to breathe out our souls to God, not only
in words, but also in fieisting, tears, and every method
of supplication. In truth, we must understand and
confess that the apostasy which, in so large a degree,
has wasted our flock and still wastes it, is the pro*
per consequence of our sins."

He then goes on to speak erf their practical cor-
ruptions', as be does in his treatise concerning the
lapsed. " And what plagues, what stripes do we
not deserve, since even confessors, who ought to be
patterns to the rest, are quite disorderly! Haioe,
while the proud and indecent boa^Uug of their con?
fessiou pufis up^m^ torments have come upon us,
* Epi». 7.

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RlflTOET OF CTFUAV.

wd torments unremitted ; — ^tedious and most dis-
tressing; and so protracted as to exclude even the
comfort of death itsdf ! *"

" Let us pray wkh our whole heart for mercy :
and if the answer to our prayers be slow, because
we have deeply ofihided ; — ^let us knock ; for to
him that knosketb it shall be opened, when prayers^
groans, uid tears beat at the door." — ^He thai
records some visions ; — which, as they rather suit
the dispensation of ttmt i^ in which mhracles were
by no means wantii^ I pass over.

^^ Our Master himself prayed for us ; because
thou^ himself no smner, yet he bore our sins.
And if HE laboured and watched on account oi ra
and of our sins, how much more should we be m^geot
m prayer? Brethren*- let us first intreat our Lord
himseUT, and then throu^ him we may obtain fitvour
with God the Father. The Father himself ccnrects
and takes care of us, in the midst of all pressures*
provided we remain finn in the faith, and stick close
to his Christ ; — as it is written, * Who shall se*
parate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness,
or peril, or sword?' None of these can separate
believers : Nothing can pluck away those, who ad-
here closely to his body and blood. — P^secution
is the examination and trial of our heart. God
would have us to. be sifted and tried ; nor was ever
his help wanting in trials to those who believe.
Let our eyes be lifted up to heaven, lest earth with
its enticements deceive us. If the Lord see us
biunble and quiet, lovingly united, and corrected
by the present tribulation, he will deliver us. Cor-
rection has come first; pardon will follow : Let us
only continue to pray in steady fiuth; and to behave
like men placed between the ruins of the fallen, and
the remains of these who are in fear, — between a
multitude of the sick, and the few who have escaped
a devouring pestilence.'*

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IX.

348 ' HUTORY OF THE CITORCH.

CHAP. Thus the persecution at Carthage appears to haire
been very Kli'eadful ; but mostly so on account of the
number of apostates : Tlie Christian laith, patience,
and magnanimity of Cyprian and of a small remnant
were in full exercise.

The persecutors endeavoured to lessen the num*
ber of Christians by banishing irom Carthage all
those who confessed Christ : but this not answering
their pwpose, they proceeded to cruel torments.
Cyprian, hearing that some had expired under their
sufferings, and that^others were still in prison yet
alive, wrote to these last a letter of encouragement
and consolation. Tlieir limbs had been sorely
manned and torn., so that they appeared like one
contmued wound ; yet they remained firm in the
fiiith and love of Jesus. One of them, Map^
pitdicus, amidst his tonuents, said to the proconsul,
** To-morrow you shall see a contest for a prize."
— He alluded to the crown of martyrdom ; and, what
be uttered in faith, the Lord fulfilled : — He lost bis
Kfe in the conflict on the next day*.

So keenly was the mmd of Cyprian fixed on hea-
venly things; and so completely lifted up above the
world, that he ardently exulted and triumphed amidst
those scenes of horror. He describes the martyrs
and confessors as wiping away the tears of tlie Church,
while she was bewailing the ruiiJs of her sons. He
represents even Christ himself as looking down with
complacency; fighting and conquering in his ser-
vants; and giving strength to believers in proportion
to their faith : — " He wis present in the contest,**
says be ; ^* He encouraged, corroborated, animated
his warriors. And he, M'ho once conquered <leath
FOR us, always conquers in us." Toward the close
of bis epibtle he consoles, with suitable, arguments,
those, who had not yet been crowned with martyr-
dom, but were preparai for it in spirit.

The joy of Cyprian, on account of the fidthfulnesa;

* Epis. 8, . • '

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HISTOEY OF CYPRIAN. 349

of tiie martyrs, was, however, considerably damped cent.
by the disorderly conduct, which begiin to take place '"*
in his absence. Those, who had suffered tortures for
Christ, and were on the point of martyrdom, and to
whom it was usual to make application for the pre*
sentation of petitions, wrote to him and requested,
that the consideration of the cases of lapsed Chris- .
tians might be deferred till the persecution was stop--
ped, and the bishop was restored i& his Church. In
the mean time, several of these lapsed bnethrto of-
fered themselves to certain presbyters of Carthage to
be received again into communion ; and they were
actually re-admitted to the Lord's supper without
any just evidence of their repentance. — The bishop
dissembled not his displeasure on this occasion:
He confessed, he had long borne with these disorders
for the sake of peace, till he thought it his duty to
bear with them no longer : — He said, " that it was
quite unprecedented to transact these things without
the cous^ent ef the bishop*:- — and that, — even in
lesser offences, a regular time of penitence was ex-
acted of the members ; — a certaio course of discipline
took place, — they made open confession of their sins,
and were re-admitted to communion by the im-
position of hands of the bishop and his clergy." —
He directs, that the irregular practice might be stop-
ped, till, on his return, every thing should be settled
with propriety.

Some of the martyrs themselves, it api>ears f, acted
very inconsiderately in this business, and gave to
lapsed persons recommendatory papers, conceived
in general terms. Cyprian wishes them to express
the NAMES of the persons, and to give no such re-
commendations to iny but those, oif whose sincere
repentance tl)ey had some good proof; and even in

• A further confiriration of the antiquitj of a limited
episcopacy in the Church of Christ.
t Ep'iB. 10.

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HI8T0&T or THE CVCHtCH.

1^ case to refer tfaeuhknate cofpuooioe of soch
mattsers to the bishop.

£ver7 thing has two handles. Cjrpnan* has
beai represented as stretehh^ Ihe episcopal power
beyond its due bounds. I see no evidence that be
exceeded the powers of his predecessors. A pious
care for the good of souls, — not any ambition for
the extension of his own authority, seems to influence
his mind in these afiairs ; — but of this, the learned
reader must judge for himself, who will take the
pains to examine bis episdes with attmtion. Let
any man peruse the following letter ; and consult his
own heart as he goes along, wh^er it be the Ian*
guage of a tender £Uher of the Church, or of an
imperious lord

CYPRIAN TO THE BRETHREN O^ THE LAITT,
GREETING.

I know from my own feelings, dearest Brethren,
that you must grieve, and bitterly bewail over the
ruins of our people, as I sincerely join with you in
sad grief ajod lamentation for every one of them :
I experience the truth of what the blessed Apostle
said, " Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who
is offended, and I bum not?" and again, '' If one
member suffer, all the members sufier with it" I
sympathize, and condole with our brethren, who have
lapsed dirough the violence of persecution : It is true,
their wounds give me the most acute pain : they ab-
solutely break my heart; but, divine grace can heal
them.*— Still I think we should not be in a hurry ;
nor do any thing incautiously and precipitately ; lest,
while we rashly re-admit them into communion, the
divine dbpleasure be more grievously incurred. Th^
blessed martyrs have written to us, ** begging that
their petitions in jfavour of the lapsed may be ex-
amined, when the Lord sliall vouchsafe pejgu:e to us,

* Mosh^nh—Eccksiastical History*

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tnd we fihidl be able U^ retimn to the Cborch." —
Certainly then every case shall be examkied in
your own presence and wkb the concurrence of your
own judgoienls.^ — But I hear that some presbytery .
—neither inkidfol of the precepts of the Goepel, — '
DOT considering what the martyrs have written to
us, — ^and i^ in contempt of the episcopal authority,
have already begun to commanicate with the lapsed,
and to administer the Lcml's supper to them, in de-
fiance of that legitimate order by which alone re*ad-
tnissions ars ever to be regulated. For, if in lesser
faults this discipline should be observed, much more
ought It in evits, tike these, which radically affect
Christian profession itself. Our presbyters and Cha-
cons are bound to admonish the people in this matter,
that tiiey may <^herish the sheep intrusted to them,
and instruct them in the way of imploring mercy by
the divine rules.— I have too good an opinion of tte
peaceable and humble disposition of our people to
believe that they would have ventured to take such
a step, had they not been seduced by the adulatory
arts of some of the ctei^.

Do you, then, take care of each of them; and,
by your judgment and moderation, according to the
•acred precepts, moderate the spirits of the lapsed:
let none pluck off fruit, as yet uiu^ipe, with im-
provident predpitation : let none commit a vessel
ag^ to tte deep, shattered already and Idaky, till
it be carefully re-fitted : let none put on his tattered
garment, till he see it thoroughly repaired. — I beseech
TiiKM also to attend to this advice, and to expect
our return ;-*that when we shall come to you, — by
the mercy of God, — we may, with the concurrence
<^f oth^ bishops examine the letters and the petitions
of the martyrs, in the presence of the confessoi-s,
according to the will of the Lord."

It is hence observable, that persons, whose re-
ligion had. more of form than ^cerity, and whose
consciences were not altogether seared, acted in tlie
2

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HISTORY OF THE CH0HCH.

same manner then as such do now ; — that is^ they
were more ha^ to gain the good will of men than
of their Maker. They were ambitious of the fevour
of the martyrs of those times, who were unquestion-
ably soimd and pious Christians ; and we shall see
5oon still stronger proof, that even men of eminent
godliness are sometimes too apt to repay, with
concessions of a dangerous nature, the professions of
respect made to them by ambiguous characters. The
Lord s supper was then, as it is now, made by some
an engine of self-righteous formality. And it is in
cases of this nature tSat wholesome Church-discipline
is v^ry precious. The danger of fal$e healbg justly
appeared .great to Cyprian, nor can any thing be
conceived more proper than the delay which he
directed. Yet as the time was protracted to a more
distant period than he expected, and as he was
afraid that (he sickly season of the hot weather might
carry off some of the lapsed, he directs, in a sub-
sequent letter*, *' that any of the 'laps^ penitents
whose lives miglit be in danger, slK>uld, by such
Church officers as were authorized, be re-admitted
into tbjB Church." And he intreats his clergy to
cherish the rest of the fallen Christians with care and
tenderness. — He observes that the grace of the Lord
would not forsake the humble.

His exhortations to his clergy were not without
effect They fell in with his views, and solicited the
people to patience, modesty, and real repentance. —
They consulted him how they should act in certain
critical cases : He referred them to his former letters;
and repeated his ideas of the proper season of set-
tling, in general, tlie concerns of the lapsed ; at the
same time he urged the indecency of some persons
in expecting a re^admission into the Church before
the return of those who were io exile, and were
f^ripped of all their goods for tiie sake of tlie Grospel.
*' But, if they are in such excessive hurry,'" said the
* Epifr. 12.

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HIStOftt or CYFRIAN. ' S5S

bkbop, " it is in their own power to obtain even cent.
mbre than they desire. The battle is not yet over ; ^^^•-
the conflict is daily carrying on. If they cordially
repent, and the fire df divine faith bums in their
bi^easts, he who cannot brook a delay, may, if he
pleaee, be crowned with martyrdom!"
- The African prdate was^ ever studious of preserving
an intimate connexion v^iih the Roman Church,
where still the persecution raged and prevented the
election of a successor to Fabian.

The next epistle is employed in giving them an
account of his proceedings.

The bold neglect of discipline in Carthage proved
a source of vexation to his mind in addition to his
other trials, and called forth all the patience, tender-
ness, and fortitude of which he waf? possessed. — Lu-
cian, a confessor of Christ, sincere and fervent in
£uth, but injudicious, and too litdie acquainted with
Christian precepts, undertook, in the name of the
collective body of the confessors, to re-admit into
communion all the lapsed who had applied to them*;
and he wrote a very concise letter to Cyprian, in which
he desirfed* him to inform the rest of the bishops of
what Ibey had donel and expresses a wish that he
may acquiesce in thie views of the martyrs. — It
canoot be denied, — Aat, -ori the one hand, a super-
stkiousvenei^tibn'fof the character of a martyr and
n confessor had grown up atriong these Africans; —
and that; on the otber^r-those, who had suffered for
Christ fin persecution, were apt to be elaicd with
spiritual pride, and'te assume an authority which by
no means belonged tothem ;— ^6 dangerous a thijig ii
it to be unacquainted M^ith Satan's devices,-^and so
prone in ail ages are- even profi^ssors of true religiort
to walk in the steps of Korah; Dathaft, and Abirair. :J:.

Cyprism sent the copy of tliisjetter to his clergy
at Cartbage; and prefaced his observations on it,
in the f<^wing pointed manner; ** To this i^rAN

• Epis. |7« t Ep^» *^» J -^^ Numbers, \^i.

VOL. I. . A A

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354 HUTOAT OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP. WILL I LOOK, saith the Ijord. even to him thai?

IS POOR AND OF A CONTRITE SPIRIT, AND TIf AX

TREMBLETH AT Mv WORD. This character becomos
us all, particularly those who have fallen, that they
may appear before the Lord humble and penitent
indeed." He then added, — " that the biahops,
his brethren, had agreed with hiiD in opinion to de-
fer the consideration of the cases of the lapsed to a
qouncil to be held by them in general, after that it
should have pleased God to restore peace to his
Church;'' — and he urged them " to support these
views.'' He sent them, at the same time, a copy oi
a correspondence between Caldonius, aii African
bishop, and himself.

It is not known in w hat place Caldonius lived,
but he, like Cyprian, was very caotious in restoring
the lapsed to communion. Some, however, of bis
Church, having apostatized by sacrificing to the
pagan gods, were called to a second trial ; whea
they recovered their ground ; and. in consequaoce^
were driven into banishment and stripped of their
property. Caldonius expressed his opinion that such
should be re-admitted. Felix, a presbyter, bis wife
Victoria, and one Lucius, thus lost their possesaiQiia,
which were forfeited to the Imperial treaaucy^. A
w^oman, also, nan^d Bona, who was dra^^ by her

Eagan husband to sacrifice, was, while th^ held
er hands, compelled to a seeming comptiance, but
she fully cleared lier integrity by saying, '^ I did it
not, — YE have done it" She also was banished.
Caldonius having stated the facts and given, his owa
opinion, asks the advice of .Cy(»rian, w ho acquiesces
in his judgment; and adds, tlmt he wished all the
lapsed, who then caused him so much affliction,
were disposed to retrieve their Cbrbtian character by
these methods, rather than to increft^ their faults by
pride and insolence *•
A confessor, named Celerinus, who lived iaaome

• Epit. i8, 19. - . *

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lit.

HISTOKT OT CYFEIAK. 355

|HUrt of Africa, — most probaWy in banishment, — cent.
was much grieved on account of the apostai^ of his
two listers, Numeria and Candida. He wept night
and day in sackcloth and ashes on their account;
and, h^Ming of Ludan still being in prison and re«
served for martyrdom at Carthage, be wrote to him
10 into^eat that either he himself or any of his suf-
fering brethren, — particularly, whosoever shoold first
te called to martyrdom, — ^would restore them to the
Churchy He bc^s the same favour for Etcusa also;
who, though she had not sacrificed, had given money
to be. excused from the act^. He assures Lucian
of the sincerity of their repentance ; and says, k
was evicknoed by their kindness and assiduity m
attending on the sufiering brethren. He, manif(^y,
attributes too vnich to the character of martyrs, ih
affirming, that ^' because they were friends and wit>
oessesof Christ, they had therefore a power of v^
dulging all requests of this sort" This letter ami
tfae answer of Lucian bonttiki a mixture of good anA
•evil: they exhibit true gmcetumished witii pitiable
knorance, and superstition. Both Celerinus and
Lucian were, doubtless, good men; — but we are
more dbposed to make candid allowances for tlie
^lefects of our own age than for those of preceding
times.

The conduct of Lucian affords a memorable and
laooeiitable instance of the weakness of human nature
'even in a r^n^^te spirit. His answ^er to Cele-
jmm t disfdays the most consummate fortitude, — and
this, — as fiftT as appears — grounded, in the main, on
the true faith and love of Christ The existence of
a deploraUe and subtile spirit of pride, in some de-
gree, is, perhaps, not to be denied; but this holy
man was, certainly, not aware of the alloy. — He de-
scribes himself and his companions as shut up and
pressed to^gether excessively close in two sfiiall
cells, and also greatly suffering from hunger, thirst,
* Epit. sa. t £p^9. ai.

A A 2

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IX.

356 HISTORY OF TJiZ CHURCH. ^

CHAP, and intolerable heat He mentions a ''Duft>j[)^!<3f
^ tbem as already killed in prison; and adds thi^t, in
a few days, he himself must expire. *^ For five
days," says he, ** we have received very little bre«d.;
-and the water is apportioned to us by measure/' —
Such were the sufferings of this persecutioo-— ^
Xuciax) sp^tks of all ttiis in a cool, and most un«>
^ected manner ; — like one, whose mind was lifted
up above the world and its utmost malice, and pa*
tiiently- expected a blessed immortality. As to Ihe
{)etition o( Cielerinus in favour of his sisters, he in-
forms him that Paul the martyr who bad lately suf*^
jpred, had visited hiai while tlt in the Boi>v,and
^d said, — " Luciao, I Bay to thiee betbre Chiisl,
that if any person after my decease beg of ydin to be
restored to the Church, ck) you, in nay name, grant
lijs request." . Lucian extends this gemrosity. to the
4jpce£^test height ; and. refers hijin to the. general
';i|i^er, which he had already wiiiten in behalf of the
lapsed. Yet, he owne, they ought to. explain their
cause before tiiebftsbop, and make a coufessipn. It
is very plain, however, that heattiibutes, in this mat*
ter, a sort of superior tlignity to PauU to hiipsel^
and to Uie other mailers : and, no doubt^ the vain-
glory of martyrdpip was much augq^ented by the
excessive regard which now began to be shown
to sufferers. — These a^d simibr facts eoo^tj^in -
the reluctant historian to acknowledge^ that the
corruptions of superstition, in giving iqfimoderate
honour to saints and martyrs, which a&erwards^
through Satan's artifice and deliision> grew to the
-enormous pitch of idolatry itselli bad alreaby en-
tered tile Church, and contamiqated tlie simplicity
and the purity of Christian faitii and de}>eiidenGe.
Yet this concession, — it must be letpfiembered, — ■
implies no suspicion of hypocrisy eitliqr \a the martyrs
or in their adniii^rsv This same^ Lucian ira^a maa
of true, of ^substantial p^e!ty.~-He wept and lament^

ed excecdjn^y,. on account of the lapseflavomen;
2 • ••

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• HISTORY OP CYPRrAX/ ' 357^

and had the fear of God^ constantly before his eyes/ gent.
Probably, he was not very judicious : his letter is
confused and perplexed beyond measure; nor is it
now easy to say, how far the obscurity is to be-
ascribed to the want of a clear understanding, or to
his very distressed circumstances, or to the corrup-
tion of the text.

It is evident that a spirit extremely dangerous to
the cause of piety, humility, and wholesome'yisci-
pline, was spreading fast in the African Church.
Celerinus himself, who had been a confessor *, owns
that the cause of his sister had^been heard by the
clergy of her Church, — at that time it seems, des-
tkute of a bishop; — who had deferred the settlement
of it till the appointment of the chief pastor; — but'
the precipitation of men would brook no deW.

The eyes of all prudent and more discerning per-*
sons in the Church were fixed on the bishop of
Carthage in this emergency. The danger of the loss '
of the Gospel itself, by substituting a dependence ori-
saints instead of Christ Jesus, forcibly struck his"^
mind. His connexion with the Roman clergy, and '
the superior regard to discipline which thet^ prevailed, '
was of some service on the occasion ; and, in his
correspondence with them f, he compares the im- [
moderate assuming conduct of Lucian with the^
modesty of the martyrs Mappalicus and Satuminus;
who had abstained from such practices : The former
bad written only in behalf of his own mother and
sister; and the latter, who had been tortuffed and
imprisoned, had yet sent out no letters whatever of
this kind,. Lucian, he complains, every whei*e
fbrei^hed the lapsed with letters testirncnial for
their reception into the Church, written with his

/ * By a confess(»r in the langurtge of those times, we are sil-
viVfB to uoderfttand a ptrson who has publicly professed or
confessed bJisself to be a Christian, when called upon by the i
heathens to nacriuce to their godd, oi olheiwist; vu wuisliip
them. . ,

tKpisi^M."' • ' ' - — •

A A3

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH*

own band in the name of Paul wfaile alive, ooDtiiided
to furnish them after his deaths and declared that
that martyr had directed him to do so; — though be
should have known, says Cyprian, that he ought to
obey the Lord rather than his fellow-servant

A young person, named Aureiius, who had suf-
fered torments, was seized with the same vanity, but
was unable to write; and Lucian wrote many papers
inhis name.

Cy|»ian complains of the odium thus incurred by
the bishops. In some cities, he takes notice how
the multitude had forced the bishops to re-admit tlie
lapaed ; but he blames those rulers cif the Church
for want of faith and Christian constancy. In his
own diocese he had occa^on for all his fortitude^
Some, who were formerly turbulent, were now much
more so, and insisted on being speedily re-admitted.
He observes that baptism is performed in the name
of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and that re-
mission of past sins is then received ; and then he
complains that the name of Paul, in effect, is in^
serted in the place of the Trinity. He applies, on
this occasion, St. Paul's well-known holy execration
denounced in the beginning of the Epistle to the
Galatians. He owns his obligation to Rome for the
letters of their .clagy, which were well calculated to
withstand these abuses.

He * wrote a congratulatory letter to the confes-
sors Mouses and IVUximus, whose fttith and zeal^
united with modesty and with the strictest attention
to discipline, he had formerly much commended ; and
he now thanks them for the epistolary advice, which
they had given to the African confessors. In their
answer f they appear transported with holy joy, and
elevated with the heavenly prospects before tfiem.
Iliey quote the New Testament Scriptures rela-
tive :}; to these things; and express such strength of

I MatUv. 10, II. Luke vi. 23. MaU.x. i8. Raoi.viii,35-

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HISTOar OF CYPRIAN. 359

fenth, kd|)c, and charity^ as demonstrates the real cent.
power of diTine grace to have been possessed by "^
tbem in a very eminent manner.* Their love of the
divine word andof justt discipline appears no less ^;reat
than their zeal and ardour for martyrdom. They
ebsenre bow deeply and bow widely spread the evil
of defection bad been ; and they conclude with very
just observatiocis on the light method of treating the
lapsed, in perfect agreement with Cyprian. Great-
ness of mind, a hi^ sense of the importance of or-
der, a bearvenfy warmth of temper, wd an accuracy*
of judgment are equally and abundantly evident in
ftis eptttle : — Such endowments esdsting mjust pro-
pordoo prove that tim work of the Hdy Spirit was
very sound in these excellent men.

Cyprian now wrote to tiie lapsed themselves ; and
rebuked tbe predpitationof some, and exposed tlie
injustice of their dakm, ' since they acted as if they
took to theinselves the whole title of the Church ;
be commended the modesty of others, who refused
to take advantage of the indiscreet recommendation
of the mart3rrs, and who wrote to him in the lan-
guage of penitents ;— whence it appears diat the folly
oi tiiB lapsed was by no means universal*.

Gaius Diddensis, one ofthe presbyters of Cyprian,
undertook, along with bis deacon, against the sense
of the rest of tlie clergy, to communicate with the
lapsed. Repented admonitions availed not to a re«
formation. As the bishop was sensible that the
common people, for whose salvation he wh3 soli-
citous, wers deceived by these things, he commends
bis clergy for refusing communion with so obstinate
and irregolar a presl^ter and deacon. — He again f
intmates his intention of judging all things m full
council u|>on his return ; and intreats them to co-
operate, in' the mean dme, ^vith his views in the
OMUntenAnce of discipline. In writing again to the
Roman clergy, he declares his determination of

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36&

CHAP.
IX.

KISTOIor OF THE CHUaCH.

acting as God had directed bis mioisterB in tha Coa*
pel, if the contuinaciotia were not reformed bybia
and by their admonitions *. .

Ttje Roman clergy condole affectionately with
Cyprian ; — "Our sorrow," say they, " is doubled^
because you have no real from these pvessinjg diffi-
culties ^of the persecution ; and because the immo-'
derate petulance of the lapsed has proceeded to the
height of arrogance. But, though these thingis have
grievously afflicted our spirits; yet your firmness and
evangelical strictness of discipline have moderated*
the load of vexation : You have both restrained the
wickedness of certain persons ; and also, byexh(»rt-i
ing them to repentance, havesbown them the whc^-
some way to salvation. — We w^ astonished that tbey
should proceed to such lengths, in a timeao mourn-
ful, so unseasonable as the present; — that they
should not so much as ask for re-communion with
the Church; but claim it as a ri^t; — and even
affirm that they are already forgiven in heaven.
Never cease, broti^r, — in' your love of souls, — to
moderate and resti*ain tliese violent spirits ; and to
oflfer the medicine of truth to the erroneous, thou^
the inclination of the sick be often opposite to the
prudent industry of the physician. These wounds of
the lapsed are fresh, and produce considerable tu*
mours; but we feel assured, that, in process of time,
their heat and violence will subside; — and the pa-
tients themselves will then be thankful for that delay,
which was absolutely necessary for a wholesome cure,
provided there be none to Wm them with w^pons
against themselves, and, by perverse instruetions, to
demand for them the deadly poison of an overhasty
restoration : for wc cannot think that they would
all t have dared to have cl^iujed their admission sa
petulantly, without the encouragement of 3otne per-
sons of ecclesiastical idfluence. , , We know. the &ith^^

i They mutt have unHeirstood that by much Uie .major part
at leust of the lapsed Were guil^ of this evil.

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HISTORY OF CTPaiAK.

the good order, the humility of tfae Carthaginian
Church ; — ^wh^ce we have been surprised in notic-
10^ certain harsh reflections made against you in a
oortain epistle^ when we have formerly had repeated
pfroof of your mutual charity/'

They proceed to give the most whdesome advice
to the lapsed ; and^ in truth, the whole conduct of the
Roman clergy, at this season, reflects the highest
honour on theor wisdom and their affisction ; and af-
fords the most pleasing proofs of the gpod 3tate of
that Church at that time. Tbe same can by no
means be said of C^rjan's:-^they. v*ere, — aft we
have seen, — a dedinu^ peofde befoFe his appoint-
ment to tiie See; and the acoarge of persecution
}m>duccfd rasi numbers of apostates.-^^ln those days
of disdplioe, the lapsed, hy their eagemessfor re-ad«
mission, showed the same dispositions of selfishness
and of pride, wfaicb, in our times, are evinced by wish-
ing to hear nothing but cwofort preached to tbem,
— by finding fault with mbisters who dare not speak
folse peace; — and by unsoundly healing themselves.
We are perfectly lax in point of discipline: — Who
r^rds its menaces against the disorderly ? — With
the first Christians this was an awful concern. — ^Tlie
same depravity of nature seems now to work on cor-
rupt minds in another way ; but so as still to exer-
cise the patience and fortitude of godly ministers ;
who, by persevering in their duty, and not giving
way to tbe unreasonable humours of their people in
tlttogs of importence, will find, in the end, a whole-
some issue even with many of their most unpromising
and froward hearers.

An African, named Privatus, who had left his
country and travelled to Rome, solicited to be there
received as a Christian. , Cyprian had mentioned
liim to tbe Roman clergy, and pointed out his real
and dcmgerous character. Iri the close of this ad-
mirable * letter they inform him that, before they
• EpU. 29. *

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HISTORT aF THE CHUKCH/

bad reeeived his cautionary letters, thaybad detected
the impostor. At the same timetbey lay down a
golden maxim, ^^ that we all aa^l to watebfor tbe
body of the wtole Church, difiurod Hiroi^ various
provinces." — It was this unity and umfonmty of tbe
Christian Church, irbich hitterto bad preserved it,
under God, from tbe infection of heresies* Node
of these were yet able to mbc themselves w^ the
'' body of Christ * :' and the Churcb,— instead of
bdng brofca:! into miall bandfiils of distinct sets of
persons, aU glorying in lumng something peculiarly
cKceUent, and prone to despise their neighboun,--
as yet knei^ no other name than tba^of chbistiak :
numbers and diver^ of place alone prevented timr
assembling all togetter ; for (bey were one people.
In Ifeah^ and Afiica the union at this time a(^>eiff»
very salubrious: and the vigorous spirit and sound
understamiii^i of Cyprian was enatded to apply the?
solid graces of tbe Romaii Church as amedicine for
the reformation <tf his own disordered ftock.

The Roman clergy, in af second letter, take notice
of St. Pauls eulogium oif their Church in the be^
ginning of his epistle ; — ^ that their foitb was spoke»
of through the whole world," and they express tfadr
desire of treading in the steps of their Cbristiaa pr^
decessors. They mention the caiea of :j: Libelli^ici,^
which were two^fold; ist, Of those who d^vet«d
in written testimonials to heathen maj^strates, in
which they abjured the Gospel; and who, at the SMie
time, by paymg money, obtained the privilege of not
sacrificing to tbe gods. — ^dly. Of those wbo procured
itiends to do these same things for them. Bdtbf

* Coloss. i. 24. His body's 9ake« which is Cbe Church.

t Epis. 30.

J So called from tibellus, — which here mtans a nmci«e
urritteu document, signed by the person whom it coiKtrttid,
and contaiiUBg an account of bis religion ; In many cases^ it
\va« oqly signed by s<»uie creditable and well-known friend. —
An evasive contrivance— for the purpose of quieting insincere
CiPiiscienceSy not yet quite hardened I

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nmmr of CYjpaiAir. 363

kinds,* these last, at well as those who had actually cent.

sacrificed^ were censured by the Roman clergy as ^ J[^]^

lapaed persons. They mention likewise the letters

sent by the Roman confessors into Africa to the

same piurport, and express their joy on account of

the consistency of thetr conduct in matters of db-

dpline with their suflS^ngs for the faith. Thqf

declare their agreement, in opinion witili Cyprian,-^

to defer the setdement of these aftairstiU some ganeral

measure could be planned for this purpo8e> aft^ peace

should be restored. '' Behold/' say they, ^^ almost

the whole world is laid waste : — Fragments of the

feUen lie in ev^ place :-*With one and the same

counsel, with unanimous prayers and tears^ let us, — '

who seem hitherto to have escaped the ruins of this

idsitatiooi as well as those, who have ifiot stood

entirely faithfid during the persecution, intreattbe

Divine Maiesty^ and bes peace in the name of ttie

whole Chutfcfa: let us cherish, guard, and arm one

mother with mutual prayers : let us supplicate for

the liq^isedi that they may be raised : let us pray for

those who stimd, that they may not be temptai to

their ruin ; let us pray also, that those, who have

feUen, may become sensible of the greatness of the

oime, and may ha:ve the wisdom not to widi for

a crude and momentary medicine, and that they may

BOt chiturb the yet fluctuating state of the Church^

*— lest they should appear to aggravate our distresses

by exciting iirrfiAif allt sec^ious and in&unma*

tory Qoounotions. — Let them knock at the doors,

but not break then. — I ^t them go to the threshold

of the Church, but not leap over it Let them watch

at the gates of the heavenly camp, but with that

modesty winch becomes those who remember they

iMive been deserters. Let them arm themselves

indeed with the weapons of humility, and resume

tliat shieid of fatth which they dropped through the

fear of death ; but so that they may be armed

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HISTORY OT THE CHUHCH.

against tlie devil, — not against that very -Churchj-
whidi laments over their fall." '

The want of d bishop at Rome was an additional
reason for delay. They speak, of certain bishops
who lived in their neighbourtiood, and alsO' of others,
who, through the- flame 4)f persecution, had ftedto^
them from distant provinces, — who allc(fti6ur^»
in the same views. * ^- ' '

There was a very young man, named Aurelins,
whom Cyprian speaks of as greatly excelling in the'
graces of Christianity. He had twice' unoergone
the rage of persecution for the sake of Christ : —
Baoisbment was his jfirst punishment, ^and torture^
the second. The bishop had drdained this youth
m reader in the Church of Carthage ; and he apo-
logizes on account of the peculiar circumstanced
of the case and of the times, for bb not having pre-;
Tiously consulted his presbyters ^and deacons. He
beseeches them to pray, that both their bishop and
good Aurelius may be restored to the exercise of
theirrespcctive functions*'—! cannot butbende ob-
serve, how exact and orderly the ideaB of ordinatiCNfi
were in those times.— It is not to th^ advantage of
godliness among us, that pereons can now be in-
troduced to very high offices in tht ministry without
much previous trial, ceremony, or difficulty*.

Celerinus was also ordained a reader by the
same f authority. However weak in judgment be
may appear from the transactions between him and
Lucian already stated^ the man suffered with great
zeal for the sake of Christ. The very beginning
of the persecution found hSai aready^ combatant
For nineteen days he had remaioedi in ^risott fet-
tered and starved^ but he persevered and escaped
at length without martyrdom. . His grandlatlier and
two of. his uutJes had sufFered for Christ;; and thei^
anniversaries were celebrated by the Chur&h.

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rrtasmmr »T ctprian.

, 'It^eem^, tii^ Cyprian Jblioiight proper to reward
wtth-heoouraUe estatiliiihments in the Church those
who had suffered with th^ greatest faithfulness in
the persecution, which was naw drawing to« close*
NuBoidicus. wa^ advanced to the office of presbyter.
He had attended * a great number ^of martyrs who
-wwe murdered, pactly with stones, and partly by
fire. His wifc^ sticting close by bis side, was burnt
to death with th^ rest : He himself, half burikt, buried
with stones aiMl leftibr dead, was found a^wardi^
by his daii^ter ; and, through her care, he recovered.
PmbaWy, tb»la$t4»ie was^tbeeflfectof thi tumul*
tuary rage of ap^rseeiHing populate : The ferocity
of many in .these limes cHdnot permit them to wait
forjegal orders; — Who can teU the number of Chris-
tKm sufferers;: whiditby mode of oppression must
have added to the list of' martyrs'f' ' a i

Ainictetall these caras the charity and diKgfence of
Cyprian toward bis flock were unremitted. The read^^
er wiio loves tbe-aonalsiof genuine and active god-
liness will not be wearied dm tseeing stilt fi^h proofs
of it in extratcts of twrt letters to hk clergy |.

** Dear brethren, Is^Lhfte you :• By the graced
God,^ 1 am still safe; and I wiih to come soon to
you ^---^tbat Quhr mntnall desire, and that ^ of 'a\l th6
brethren, maytbe gratified. Whenever, on the settle-
menl ol your a&irs, you ^mll write to me that I
ought to come, or^ if tUd Lord should €ond^c«fnd
to make it plain to lae before, then I will eomd ttf
you; for where can 1 have more happiness ftudjclV,'
than there, wb^e' God appointed me both first to
become a belicves,.and also to grow iu ikith. I
breech you, takedtfigent carec^ the widows, of
the sick, and of all tiie poor; and supply also
strangers, if any be indigent, widi what is needful
for tliem, out of my proper portion, u hich I l^ft
with Rogatian tbepriwbyter. And lest tliut^hould,

* Kpis. 35. t Epi«* 8^. 37* * *

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Hi^TORT tMP niE eamman.

by this time, be all spent, I have seat by Nirieoi
the Acdytb *, another sum ai money to the aame
presbyter, that you may 4hemoc« readily and larg^
supply the distressed.

'^ Though you have been frequently admoniahed
by my letters to show all oare for those, who have

furiously confessed the Lord, and are in prison, yet
must repetfedly intieat your attetitioci to the same
tlung. I wish circumstances would permit my pre^
sence among you: With the greatest pfeasm^ and
readiness would I dkchai^ these soleoem duties of
kve and afiectbn towards our brethren. Birt — De
you represent me. — A decent care for the bterment,
not only of those who died in torture, but also of
such as died under the pressures of confinement, is
necessary. For, whoever hath submitted himself lo
torture and to death, umler tiie eye of God, hatth
already suffered all that God would have him to
suffer. — ^Mark also the days in which they depart
this life, that we may cdieboale their commemocation
among the memorials of the martyrs : — ^though our
most fidthfid and devoted friend Tertullos,— who,
Igneeably to hk usual exactness and care, attends to
^ir obsequies^*— bath written, still writes to me,
and s^ni6e8 the days in which tibe tiessed mar^
are transmitted to immortality. — ^Thair memorials
^re.here celebrated, and I hope^shortly, under Di«
viae Providence, to be able to celebrate them with
y9u» Let not your caie and diligence be wanlii^
for the poor, wk> have stood firm in the faith, and
have fou^ with us in the Christian war&re* Our
affectionate care and attention to them are tto more
requisite, because neither their poverty nor persecu-
(ion have driven them from the love of Christ"

Every one knows into ii^hat iddatry these oom-
memorations of martyrs afierwards degenerated. —
But I observe few or no ^iffa of it in the days of
Cyprian.

* An inferior officer of the Church, signifying an attendaaW

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- . hk additian to other evils, the providenee of God cj^nt!
iiow tboqght fit .to ^xjeroise the mind of Cyprian .^^^^
^vkh ooe of tim oooBtdidtressU^ calamities, wbidii
can happen to a fever of peiiQe and cbarityi— the
rise of a acbianu

There * existed in the Church of Cmthagb a perr Acooeat •r
tKm of a very ^soeptionable character, oai^ Feli- ^^'
cisaiEpua, w|k> had long been a aecret ^9iwy qf the
JtHfibop. By the wm^. artiAoes and Mandishments,
4whicbi»editiQusperQoii9 onJce use 4M^ mnUi^ies^ tfab
wan had «Qtk6d some :of the flock.to \Mmei£; and
i^ beUcpnuaoaioB witb tbrnn onatcertim tii^ttQtein.
Amm^ tbeae wA in iJliw Q^ighhoOThoo4>()bere ak«-
jiviKlseireraldiscfGetbffatfaraf^ ivJbp/wereAiithorriaed
^ Cyfftiao tofdisobai^^teileteif^
4«iA to fomisb thiem ;witti>iiaiall simn of i3ioDcy to^
jbif^gin iHMiteas mio ; and aldo to maker^ sefport of
ib^ages^ tipflMtiHons, aadqaalitiesy idiattha tgij^t
.•i^^Mcb af Iben for e<t9h^ratical as aho^
;h0JiK)9^{«9Qp6rLy.qi<a]tf^ F^uuimiimst oppMed
aod-thiTiafMd. bath ftin^e. dmyid. Seferrf^ofr^kie
.pooi^ who.iytnieAp^feto^iieUawdrivyei^^tliftt
liy b^ with iiBptridue jerefity, bisoause^^ey arefbaed
to eomoiiiiikiile w^the notfeMda. This oian^rom-
^ iMta.inarieMi;, and takkis<BMd^^*^<'^^^^9P^^'^
abseoca, ii(boserat»nihes{^Qdi^r expectadbes^^
ihe jiaiwatHiaa bad. Marly ceased at^ Quthaga,
railed an oppositiQQ agaiaat the btshoipi in f«iair,e«-
iomd aoeans to unite a cooatdevable fxtrty toiamfldf,
--«nd threatened aU those pecaoos, whordidnot
cbu9e to partaka ia the fl€dition4-rnAsM>ng otlier
crimes, this sower of disoard Ivid Imd gtiiltjr>€£)adal-
lery; and be wm saw ito method oS .^eveofeing an
infegwbs eummmmitfitionf. butthirf|tif .setting tip
faimself aa a leader.-^HisMOond im this^ttdkHis busi-
Beas was aaoied uViigenduss .viiiq: did .his utniost to
promote the same views,**-4i;ypriaii, by letter, «x-
jpressed his yehci^ent sorrow oqacgoimt of. these
• Epii. 38.

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HISTOST Of THE CHimeH.

evils, promified to take fiill cognizance of tbeni oti
his retuhi, and in the nnean-time be wrole to bis
clergy to suspend from communion Felidsnimis and
his abettors. — Hb clergy wrote to*him in answer,
that they had suspended the chiefii of the fiictbn
accordingly *.

In the mean-time there were not wanikig upright
and sealous ministers^ who instructed the people ak
Carthage. Among these were distinguished Britius
the presbyter, also lU^tian and Numidicus^ >con-
fessors; and some deacons of real godliness* j|Fhett
warned their flodts of tM eVik^f «cbism,'Md en-
deavoured to preserve peac^ahd unky^ and to recover
the lapsed by wholesome t^etliods^ In addttibn to
tlieir labours, Cyprian wrote now to the peojf^vthem-
selves fv ^* For,*' sayshe, ** the mfalice^anid p^pfidy
of soQ(fe presbyters hath^cted^ that i'^Muld not
be able to come to yoii before Easter'j;^ But the
source of the faction of FelidBsimui is now dtaeoveved,
and we are acquainted Witfetbe>foundttlf#n oo which
ft stands. Hisfolloweraeneourage^^cmiitiwnfes^rM,
Aat they shodld notiharmMiseiwkh'Chm-'' bishop,
nor observe ecde^iasstieal di^^pHqe fiiitbMly^and
modestly. And aa if ' «t were tdo iJIde for them to
have corrupted the tniiidii of coirfelMrffi andto hatis
armed them against theip pastor,iand to baif^eatained
Ihe glcM7 of theit confessions Uiey turnM^aFemtelves
to poison the spirits of <tiie lapsed, to beep thetti
fit>m the great duty of constant pr&yar, iwid to^ kmne
them to an unsound and dang^us re-admidi^«
But I beseech you/ brethren^ watch ;again«t'\i^
snarebof thedotil: Be on ^ngtuufd^imd ' wodc
out your own salvation:' ^9 is a BWond^and tt dif*
ierent sort of ptmecution and umf/MixXi* '^fhe^iit^
seditious prcsbytnrs may be justly dompat^ to ihie
five pagan niiers> wfaoiatdy^via conjundion with

• £pi». 39. f Epis: 4<i.

{ In wb«t wa/ tii«y hindered Lis arriving Sooner vrtH appear
afterwards*

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HISTORY OP CYPRIAN; 369

thfe magistrates, published some plausible arguments CENTi
with a view of subverting souls. The same method ,__i^ll
is now tried, for the ruin of your souls, by the five
presbyters with Felicissimus at their heaid : They
teach you, — thr^t you need not petition ; — that he
who hath denied Christ, may cease to supplicate th6
siame Christ whom he hatii denied ; — that repentance
is not necessary; — and in short, that every thing
should be conducted in a novel manner and contrary
to the rules of the Gospel.

'* My banishment of two years, and my mournful
separation from your presence ; my constant grief
and perpetual lamentation ; and my tears flowmg day
and night, because the pastor whom you chose with
so much love and zeal could not salute nor embrace
you, — all this, it seems, was not a sufficient accu-^
mulation of sorrow. — ^To my distressed and exhausted
spirit a still greater evil must be added, — that in so
great a solicitude I cannot, with propriety, comd
over to you. The threats and snares of the perfi-
dious oblige me to use caution ; lest, on my arrival^
the tumult should increase ; and lest I myself, th^
bishop, who ought to provide in all things for peace
and tranquillity, should seem to have afforded mat-
ter for sedition, and again to exasperate the miseries
of the persecution. Most dear bretliren, I beseech
you do not give rash credit to the pernicious repre*
mentations of those who put darkness for light :
Tbey speak, but not from the word of the Lord :
They, who are themselves separated from the Church,
promise to restm^ the lapsed.

" There is one God, one Christ, one Church. De-
part, I pray you,^ far from these men, and avoid their
discoofse^ as a plague and pestilence^ They hirtder
your prayers and teats, by affording you false con-
iolations. Acquiesce, I beseech you^ in my counsel :
I pray daily for you, and desire you to bf i^tored
to the Church by the grace of the Lord. — ^Joln yout
prayers and tears with mine. But, if any person

VOL, I. BB

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37Q HISTOftY OF TAB OHUEGH.

shall <l€6pise repeintance^ and belak6 himsdf W
Felioi3si[nuf> and to his foctioo^ let him know that
his re-admissiOn into the Church will be impracti-
cable."

It is not possible^ by a few extracts, to give a
perfect idea of the glowing charity, which reigned in
Cyprian's breast on this oojasion. Wlioever has
attended to the imbecility oi human natui^, ever
pione to consult ease^ to humour selfish feelings^
and. to admit flattery, will see the difficult trials of
patience, wl^ch fai^ful pastors, kk all agies, have
endured from the insidious arts of those who would
heal the wounds of people falsely, — Uncharitable —
and> imperious— ^-are the ususd epithete with which,
they are aspersed on account of their faithfulness. —
But " Wisdom is ju&titied of lier children,"
Character But thcrc was also auotbcr character, who wast
Vovlm. * primary agent in these disagreeable scenes, — No-.
vatus, a presbyter of Carthage, a man extremely
sc£|ndaloias and immco^l'^. His domestic crimes
had been so notorious as to render him not only w>
longer fit to be a minister, but even unworthy to be
received into lay-commiUX>ion. The exawnation of
his conduct was about t^ take place, wh^i^ t^ break*
ing out of the persecution by Decius prevented it
He it was, who supported aud cherished the viewa
of Feliciss^mus and of th^ rest; and he ai^pears,* by
his address and capacity, to have be^ mtreiBel}!
well qualified to produfce much mischief in the
Church. He could do it no serviw ; because he wa?
absolutely devoid both of honesty aad conscience. —
FeUcissimus biasself; though ^ first the ostensible
leader of the cong^gaAi(»Q on the loouAtaip^ g9VQ
way afterwards to ope of the five pr^byt^ic^fw^iied
I'ortunatus, who wa^ constituted bishop uaii opposi*
tk.n to Cypriaii. Most of tl^ five had beeaalvead)^
bw)ded \vith infamy for iii^o^oraluies. Yet so deep
is tbecorruptioe of human nature — thatsudi chaioc-
• Eptf . 49.

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of
Novatiaiu

HISTOHY OF'CTFftlAK.

ters Qsbfl^y find advocates, even where the light of
the Gospel shines^ and where thece .exist pastors of
emineiit sanctity. The fiurt is^ pastors of this last de*
scription cause numerous eneoues to themselves by
irritating the corruptions of wicked soeQ, which they
constantly do by refusing to speak peace where there is
no peace. — It is no slight proof of the strength of these
evils, that even a persecution tlie most dreadful yet
recorded in the annals of the Church, did not per-
fectly unite Christian professors in love. The pious
reader will, hence, infer the necessity^ which called
for so severe a scourge to tlie Church ; and will also*
vemark the advantages thence accruing to the really
&itbful, either by happily removing them to rest out
of a world of sin and vanity, or by promoting their
sanctification, if their pilgrimage be prolonged.

Novatus^ either unwilling to &ice the bishop of AccOnnt
Carthage, or desirous to extend tlie mischiefe of
schism, passed the sea and came to Rome. There
he connected himself with a priest, named Novatian,
a friend of the confessor Moyses, who has been al^
ready mentioned, and whose sufferings at Rome were
of a tedious nature. Novalus had the address and
Boanagement to effect the^ separation of Novatian
fipom the Church. — Moyses renounced all intercourse
with his former friend and acquaintance on account
of thia conduct; and soon after died in prison, where
he had been confined nearly a year. DoubtlesB, he
entered into eternal glory at length, having left the
evidenee of modesty and peaceableness, in addition
to his other mcnre splendid virtues, as testimonies of
bis love to tlie Lord Jesus*

Novatus found the religious ideas of his new asso^
en^ and partner arrang^ in extreme opposition to
bis own. Novatian had been. a Stoic before he was
a Christian ; and he still retabed the rigour of the
sect to such a degree, that 'he dkapproved of re*
ceiving those into the Church %\ ho once, had lapsed,
though they gave the sincerest marks of repentance.

BB2

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

FuU of tb^ unwarranted severities, he eielaimect
against the wise and well tempered lenity of the Ro-
man clergy in receiving penitents. Many of the
clergy of llooie, who were still in prison for the
&uth;-^^nd among these Maxhnus and otliers, to
whom Cyprian had formerly written, — were seduced
by this apparent zeal for Church-discipline ; and they
joined Novatian. His African tutor, with astonish-
ing inconsistency, after having stirred up a general
indignation in his own country and against bis dun
bishop on account of severity to the lapsed, now
supported a party who complained of too much
lenity at Uome. It is hard to say which of the two
cxti^emes is the worse: — Novatus detended both
within the compass of two years; — and with equal
pertinacity. * -

The Roman clergy thought it high time to stem
the torrent They had, for sixteen months*, with
singular piety and fortitude governed the Church
during one of its most stormy seasons. Schism was
now added to persecution : The necessity of choos-
ing a bishop grew more and more urgent ; yet a
bishop of Rome must, of course, be in the mostim-
ioinentdwger of martyrdom ; — for Decius threatened
all bishops with great haughtiness and asperity. Six-
teen of them Imppened to be then at Rome, and
tliese ordained Cornelius as the successor of Fabiao.
He was very unwilling to accept the office; but the
people, who were present, approved of his ordina-
tion ; and no step was to be neglected, which might
be useful in withstanding the growing schism. — ^The
life of Cornelius appears to have been worthy of the
Gospel : Novatian, however, not only vented many
calunmies against him, but also contrived, in a very
irregular manner f, to be elected bishop in op-
position.
Thcfim Thus was forined tlie first body of Christians.

PisseutCff. "^

♦ Flcury, B. 6.

t See in Euseb. B. 6« Cornelius's letter concerning Nova*

tian, whom Eutebius confounds \?ith Novatus by mistake*

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HISTORY OF CYPRIAX.

tvho, in modern laemguage, may be called dissen-
Ti:rs ; that is, inen, who separate from the general
Church, not on grounds of doctrine, but of disci-
pline- The Novatlanists held no opinions contrary
to the faith of the Gospel. It is certain from some
writings of Novatiau extant*, that their leader was
sound in the doctrine of the Trinity. But the con-
fessors, wiiom his pretensions to superior f purity
bad seduced, returned afterwards to the communion
of Cornelius,' and mourned over their own credulity.
In a letter of Cornelius to Fabius, bishop of Antioch,
a few circumstances are occasionally nHJntioned, \
from which an idea of the state of the Church of
Rome, at that time, may be collected;}:. There
were under the bishop forty-six priests, seven dea-
cons, seven sub^deacons, forty-two acolyths, fifty-
two 'exorcists, readers, and porters, and upwards
of fif^en hundred widows, and infirm or disabled
persons. — *' The number of the laity was," says he,
"innumerable." — I don't know so authentic a me-
morial of the numbers of the Christians in those
times.

' In his letter he charges Novatian, — perhaps with-
out sufiicient warrant, — with having denied himself
to be a priest during tlie heat of the persecution, and
with obliging his separatibts, when he administered
to therai the Lord's supper, to swear to adhere to
himself — The party, however, at Rome daily lost
ground : Nicostratus ttie deacon was among the very
few persons of note there, who, after being seduced
by the arts of Novatian, did not return into commu-
nion and peace with Cornelius. — Conscious of scan-
dalous crimes §, this schismatic fled from Rome into
Africa;: — whither Novatus himself also returned*:
and there the Novatians found many adherents, and
are said to have elected for themselves, as a sort, of

• Ste Wateriand's Importance of the Trinity.
t Epis. 48 and 49.

t About the middle of the third century.
^ I'he Novatians called themselves Cathari, pure peoplt.
BB3

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574 HISTOBT or the CliURCU.

counteT'blshop, a presbyter, named Maximus^ who
had been lately sent as deputy from Rome, by
Novatian, to inform Cyprian of the new election*
in opposition to that of Cornelius, — ^This same de-»
puty, Cyprian had rejected from communion.

k would not have been worth while to have de-
tailed these events so distinctly, but for the purpose
of marking the symptoms of declension in the Church,
— the unity of which was now broken for the first
time : for it ought not to be concluded that all the
Kovatians were men void of the faith and love c£
Jesus. The artifices of Satan also, in pushing for*«
ward opposite extremes, are worthy of notice : The
skilful tempter tries both the lax and the severe me-
thod of discipline. The former he finds more suitaUe
to the state of Christianity in our times ; but it could
gain no solid footing in the third century. The No*
tatian schism stood at last on the groimd of exces*
sive severity; — a certain proof of the strktuess of
the ecclesiastical government then fashionable among
Christians, and, of course, of great purity of life
and doctrine having been prevalent among tliem:
To refuse the re^mission of penitents was a dan-*
gerous instance of pharisaical pride: but, injustice
to Novatian, it ought to be mentioned, that he ad-
vised the exhorting of the lapsed to repentance,
though he thought that they should then be left to
the judgment of God. On tlie same plan he also
condemned second marriages: — Extreme austerity
fuid superstition were growing evils in this century;
and thoy were cherished by false' philosophy.

At length, Cyprian ventured out of his retreat
und returned to Carthage. In what manner be
there ccxKlucted himself, shall be the subject of tho
pext chapter.

^ The election of I<)ovatiaiu

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cTf^RiAir, 375

C H A P. X.

tTPRlAN*S SETTLEMENT OF HIS CTTURCH AFTER
HIS RETURN, AND THE HISTORY OF THE
WESTERN CHURCH TILL THE PERSECUTION
UNDER CALLUS.

A H£ prudeiKe of Cyprian had been so remarkable
tfcnring the whole of itie persecution of Decius, that
we inay faWy conclude he had ceased to apprehend
uny personal danger when he appeared again in
public at Carthage. In feet, k was not the cessa*
tion of malice, but the distraction of public affairs^
which put an end to this persecution. Decius, on
account of the incursion of tfie GoAs, was obliged
to leave Rome; mnd God gave a respite to his ser-
"watitfl, while men of the world were wholly taken up
with resisting or mourning under their secular cala-
mities.— After Easier a council was held at Carthage,
and the eyes of Christians were turned toward it :
The Chwch was in a very confused state; and some
settlement of it w«o expected under the auspices of
Cyprian and the other bishops of Africa. At first,
a. short delay was occasioned on accoimt of doubts
which arose respecting the validity of the election of
Cornelius*. But an exact infoi*mation of the cir-
cumstances laid open the truth : the regulajity of
his appotnteient, and the violation of order in the
schisomtical ordination of Novatian, by some persons
who were^ in a state of intoxication, appeared so
clearly, that no room for hesitation was left : Nova-
tian was rejected in the African synod ; — Felicissi-
mus, with his five presbyters, was condemned-, and
Cornelius wiis owned as legitimate bishop of Rome.
— And now the case of the lapsed, which had given
so much disquietude, and which Cyprian had so
often promised to settle in Hill council, was finally
• Set CotHtlitis'a letter in E\iseb.
BB 4

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HISTORY OF TH|; CHURCH.

determined : — and with men, who feared God, it was
no hard thing to adjust a due medium. — A proper
temperature was used between the precipitation of
the lapsed and the stoical severity of Novatiao.
Hcpce, tried penitents were restored, and the case
of dubious characters was deferred ; and yet every
method of Christian charity was used to bring about
and facilitate their repentance and re-admission.

Fortunatus preserved still a schismaticai assembly.
But' both this bishop and his flock shrunk soon into
insignificance. The Christian authority of Cyprian
was restored. The Novatian party alone remained
a long tiipe after, in Africa and elseu here, numerous
enojjgh to continue a distinct body of proteasing
Chri^^tians. The very little satisfectory light, which
Christian annuls afford concerning these dissenters,
shall be given in its place. And, as I am convinced
that tlie Almighty has not liiinted his creatures to
any particular aqd strictly defined nnodes of Church-
government, I cannot be under much temptation to
partiality. — 1 he laws of historical truth have obliged
me to state facts which prove their secession to baite
been unjustifiable ; but that circumstance does not
render it impossible that the Spirit of God might be
M^ith some of this people during their continiianoe as
a distinct body of Christians.

Thus did it please God to make use of the vigour
and perseverance of Cyprian in recovering the
Church of Carthage from a state of most deplorable
declension. First, she had lost her purity and piety
to a very alarming degr^ ; then, she was torn with
pel secution, and lifted by tlie storm so much that
the greatest part of her professors apostatized ; and,
lastly, she was convulsed by schisms, through men s
unwillingness to submit to the rules of Good's own
word in wholesome discipline and sinc^e repentance.
On Cyprian s return, however, a new train of regii-
lation was established by the council of Carthage;
and unity was restored in a great measure 2 The

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CYPRIAN. 377

accounts of the succeeding transactions are imper- cknt.
fcrt ; but there is great reason to believe that tlie ^ ^": ^
Church of God was much recovered in these parts.

Decius lost his life in battle in the year two a. d.
hundred and fifty-one, after having reigned thirty 251.
nioutiis. — A prince — neither deficient in abilities
nor in moral virtues, but distinguished, during this
whole period, by the most cruel persecution of the
Church ot God ; he appears to have been bent on
its ruin; but was stopped in his career by an over-
ruling Providcuce.

Tiie Church were now allowed peace for a little
time under Gallus, tlie successor of Decius.

There remain a few circumstances to be observed,
which attended this persecution in the West, before
we proceed to relate its eflFects in the Eastern Church.

Cyprian, zealous for the unity of the Church, in^
formed Cornelius"^, that certain persons camo to
Carthage from Novatian, who insisted on being
heard as to some charges which they had to produce
against ComeHus: — But, — tliat as sufficient and
ample testimony had already been given in favour
of Cornelius, — as a prudent delay had also been
made, — ^and as the sense of the Church of Rome
bad been authentically exhibited, any further au-
dience of the NovATiANs had been refused. —
These, he observes, strove then to ipake a party in
Africa ; and for this purpose solicited different towns
and private houses. The council of Caithage in-
formed them that they ought to desist from their
obstinacy, and not to relinquish their motlier Church;
but to own, that a bishop being once constituted
and approved by the testimony and judgment of his
colleagues and of the people, another could not be
lawfully set up in liis room : and, that therefore, if
they intended to act peaceably and faithfully, — if
they pretended to be the assertors of the Gospel of
Christ, — tliey ought to return to the Church.
* £pi8. 41. ^

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57^ HISTORY or tK£ CHURCH. .

CHAP. Though the ideas contained in this fj|)isUe mny
y_,-^ _' appear very repugnant to the habits of thmking con-
tracted by many professors of godliness in our days',
I see not, I own, on what principles they can be
controverted. There is a medium between the des*
potisni of idolatrous Ron>e and the extreme licen-
tiousness of modem ecclesiastical polity.— Are not
peace and unity precious things?— and ought ncft
they to be preserved in the Church if possible ? —
Then \vby should not the decided sense of the ma*
jority prevail, where that mode of evangelicaUy set-
tling a Church has been usual, and where it is not
contrary to the established laws of the country, —
and lastly, M-here pastors sound in faith and decorous
in manners have been appointed ? — Can it be right
lor a small number of individuals to dissent-^and
that, on no l>etter ground, than tlieir own fancy and
humour*? This is not keeping the uidty of the
Spirit in the bond of peace.— Such, however, was
the first origin of the Novatian schism.

'o '

* Tlie autbm* would, by bo means, be understood liere to
encroach on the right of private judgment^ but hje laments
sincerely that the evil of separation bhould have been ronsi-
dered by the Novatians as a trifling matter; and he, fortber,
laments, tbata s|iirit of the same kind should anpear tm prevail
strongly in our own days.— Does, tli en, right and wr^nj^;, — witl
wiy one say,— depend upon numbers? llave not the fkw a5 ud-
doubled a right to their own opinions as the maKy? — Such
questions are often asked, — and with on air of trinmph.-^But,
after aU, — whoever denied this right of opinion ; this right to
think? — It is the right of actino according to this right ef
opinion that is contested. — l-.et a man, for examj>le, in his pri-
vate judgment prefer for his pastor or his bbhop some person
diilerent from him who has betn elected by the majority; —
, Let him publicly show this preference at the time of gtvinig
bis suQrage;— but let him remember to acquiesce peaceably in
the appointment of the person elected; and not endeavour
to divide the Church of Christ by placing a rejected candidate
or some other favourite at the head of a faction in oppositkm
lo the election of, — perhaps, — a truly godly and rel^ttms man*

But in all this the author supposes either the Lex scriptaor
the Lex non scripta of the country to authorize eccksiafitiral
appointments by election.

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CYPRIAN. 379

, Persons, wIk> have been accustooied to approve cent.
the unrestraaned and ooscriptural manner of con- . "'y
dueling religious communities, which now so unhap«
pily prevails ; who feel no pity for the Church of
Christ, nor care how much her members be torn one
from another, and who make no more difficulty of
ehanpiog their pastors than their workmen ; will not
ent;;r into the beauty of Cyprian's charitable concern
for the unity of the Church. It is evident, union at
Rome was as much on his heart as union at Car-
thage, becautse he considered Christ's body as one.
He explains* to Cornelius why lie was not imme*
diately acknowledged as'bisbop, and how he wa»
honourably received on full information. He speaks*
of the Roman schism with horror ; he represents the
Cliristian scliismatics, as rehising the bosom and
the embrace of tlieir mother, and as* setting up an
adulterous head out of the Church. I attempt not
to vindicate expressions which go to.the length of a
total condemnation of the persons of schismatics :
Schism is not so deadly an evil as heresy ; nor must
we undertake to judge the hearts of others. But
when all this is allowed,— ^Does not the zeal of Cy-
prian call fpr similar candour ? — The mischief, which
bad just begun to show itself in Rome and Carthage^
was then new in the Chrbtian world. Before the
time of tliis able and active prelate, no instance had
happened of any separations made from the Church,
except in the case of damnable heresies : Slight and
tolerable inconveniendes had not yet been thought
sufficient reasons to justify such violet measures; —
and, it must be owned, if really good men in all ages
had possessed the same conscientious dread of the
sin of Schism, it would have fared much better with
vital Christianity; and, further, those separations
which roust of necessity be made, wheii false wor-*
ship and false doctrine are prevalent, would faav«
been treated with more respect in the world,

• £pis.42.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

Encouraged with the success of his pacific labours
at home, Cy|)riaii endeavoured to heal the breaches
of the Roman Christians. He was sensible that the
example of the confessors, whom Novatian's appear-
ance of superior piety in discipline had seduced,
had occasioned a great defection. He wrote re-
spectfully to his. former correspondents, and assured
them that the deepest sadness had possessed hb
breast on their account : he reminds them of the
honour of their faithful sJfferings : he intreats them
to return to the Church; and points out the in-
consistency of their glorious contession of Christ
with their present irregularity. But so exactly at-
tentive was Cyprian to order, that he first sent the
letter to Cornelius,, and ordered it to be read to hira,
and submitted to his^ consideration before he would
sufier it to be sent to the confessors*. With the
same eautious charity lie explains again to Cpmelius
some things which had given umbrage to that prelate
with respect to the delay of the acknowledgmeni
i)f his ordination f. These transactions appear to
me to beloni^ to my plan ; and to be sin^gularly in-
structive. — ^The conduct of this African bishop is
calculated to admonish Christian ministers in all
ages to enlarge tlieir views «o as to comprehend the
whole Church of Christ; and never to feel assured
that they grow in true zeal and true charity, as long
as they do not fear tlie evils of division, and do nol
labour to preserve peaee and unity.

The progress of Christian grace wiU always be
much seen in the just management of matters of
this kind.

There is the greatest reason to believe that the
authority of Cyprian had a great effect on the minds
of Maximus and l!je other seduced confessors, whose
imdoubted piety gave the chief support to Nova-
tian s ptirty; iiut another circumstance happa^ed
about the same time, which contributed to open
* Epis. 43, 44. t Epis. 45-

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their eyes eifectufally. The excessive eagerness of (Xip\
the schismatics at Rome defeated their own end. > ^l.
With the view of increasing the Schism, they were
so fraudulent as to send out frequent letters in the
u^mes of these confessors, almost throughout all
the Churches. Maximus and the rest became ac*
quainted with the fact and were exceedingly surprised:
they owned they knew not a syllable of the contents
of these letters: and they heartily desired a re*
union with the Church. The whole body of the
Roman Christians, — and probably, at that time no
purer Chnrch existed, — sympathized with these con-
fessors both in their seduction and in their recovery.
Tears of joy and thanksgiving to God burst forth in
the assembly. " We confess," say Maximus and
Ihe rest witli ingpnuous frankness, ** our mistake. —
We own Cornelius the bishop of tlie most holy
j^eneral * Church, chosen by Almighty God and by
Christ our I-ord; we suffered aa imposture: We
were circumvented by treachery and a captious plau-
sibility of speech ; and tliough we seem to have had
some communication with a schisumtic and a he-
retic f, yet our mind was sincerely with the Church;
for we knew that tliere is one God, one Christ,
one Lord, whom we have confessed ; one Holy Ghost ;
and that one bishop ought to be in the general
Church." " Should we not," says Cornelius, *• be
moved nith their profession; — and, by restoring
them to the Church, give them the op|)ortunity of
acting according to that belief which they have dared
to profess before all the w orld ? Wc have restored
Maximus the presbyter to his office: — the rest we
liave also received with the zealous consent of the
people."

* I choose to translate Cornelius's C ithulicx in Fpis. 46.
trhich gives an account of this transaclitai, general ruLber
than CATHOLIC, to distinguish the Church of Christ at large
from particular separatists.

t They confound here two terms that ought to be kept dis-
iioct. Novatian was a schismatic, but not a heretic.

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38? HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP. Cyprian, with his usual animation* congrahi^^
]^' lated Cornelius on the event; and describes the
^ happy ^ect which the example of the confessors
had on the minds of the people. — And, I cannot but
tibink that, in modem times, much evil might have
been prevented in the Church of Christ, — if many
excellent men, who have suffered their minds to be
harassed by needless and frivolous scruples, had
possessed more tenderness of conscience in regard
to the question of schism and separation. — " No
one can now be deceived," says Cyprian, *^ by the
loquacity of a frantic schismatic, since it appears
that good apd glorious soldiers of Christ cooiUi not
long be detained out of the Church by perfidy and
fellacy."

Th^ Novatians being baflBied at Rome, Nova-
ti]» and Nicostratus went over to Afi"ica. We
have already taken notice of their seditious attempts
HI those parts. ' Cornelius f, by letter, warned Cy-
prian of the probable approach of the schismatics ,-
and certainly, there is a disagreeable harshness of
language in this account of his enemies as-well as in
the fi^toent of his Epistle preserved by Eusebius.

Of Novatus himself, the bishop of Carthage, who
must have thoroughly known him, asserts expressly
and circumstantially that he was guilty of horrible
crimes, which, in truth, it is neither pleasant to par^
ticularize, nor does the plan of this history call tor
such a detail. — The honest charity of Cyprian re-
quires that this testimony should be admitted ;{;•
This bishop was as remarkable for moderation as
fosr aeal. He speaks with much sensibility of p^^ns
aeduced by the arts of the foul impostor ; and ob*
serves — -^^ Those only will perish, who are wilful in
then- evils* The rest, says he, the mercy of God
the Father will unite with us, and the grace of our
Loitl Christ, and our patience." I wish this be-
nevolent spirit bad bad opportunities of knowing
• £pift«47. t Epis.48. t I^fuu49-

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CYPETAN. 385.

Ktyvatian as perfectly as he knew Novatus, But a cent.'
Roman, who does not appear ever to have come ^*'*
into Africa at all, could only be made known to bitu
by report — I shall fiad a convenient place by and
by, in which it may be proper to make such further
remarks upon him as tlie scanty and imperfect ma«
lerials will supply. — Let the candid reader, liowever,
always bear m mind, that, though Novatos was,
doubtless, a very wicked man, though no gromid*
for tlie separation appears in history, and though,
there is not the least reason lo l>elieve that the Spirit
of God had left the general Church to abide with
the dissentiente, yet the personal character of several
of the supporters of the schism might still be exr
cellent.

In answer lo a friendly letter of the Roman con-
fessors*, Cypiian, after congratulating Ihem on
their re-union with the Church, and expressing hia
sincere sorrow for the former defection, delivers his
sentiments on the duty of Christians in this point..
The fluttering idea, whicb had seduced these good.
wen, was a notion of constituting a Church here o»
earth exactly pure and perfect. — The man, wba
sustained so much ill-will on account of discipline,
may be beard with patience on this subject. — Yet he
was far from supposing that fallible mortals should
be able,, in all cases, lo decide positively who were
true Christians and wl)o not, and to rectify all
abuses, and to cleanse the Cliurch of all its tares*
The middle state between impracticable efforts of
severity aiKl licentious neglect was Cyprian s judg-
maiit : He thought it necessary that the lapsed should-
9Im>w good marks of penitence ; and he held it highly
culpable to separate from the visible Church, for the
want of that exact purity in the members which the
present state. of thmgs does not adniit. But let us
hear the bishop himself : The subject is not^ indeed^
• Epw, 50,51.

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

of the first importance, but it deserves, on account
of its practical influence, to be deeply considered by
all friends of vital godliness.

^* Though there appear to be tares in the Church,
our faith and love ought not to be impeded by seeing
them, so that we should desert our post. — Our
business is to labour, that we ourselves may stand a
scrutiny, that when the wheat shall be gathered into
the harvest, we may receive reward according to our
labour. The Apostle speaks of vessels not only of
gold and silver, but also of wood and of earth, and
some to honour and some to dishonour.

" Be it our care that we be found vessels of gold or
silver : but we arje not to break in pieces the vessels of
earth : this belongs to the Lord alone, who has a rod
of iron. — The serx'cmt cannot be greater than his
master : nor must any man claim to himself what the
Father attributes to the Son alone : — No man shpuld
think himself capable of thoroughly purging the floor,
or of separating all the wheat from the tares by human
judgment To think so is proud obstinacy and sa-
crilegious presumption, which a depraved madness
assumes to itself; and while some lay claim to a
dominion of this kind beyond the limits of justice and
equity^ they are lost to the Church ; and, while they
insolently extol themselves, they become blinded by
their passions, so as to lose the light of truth. With
these views, we have aimed at a proper medium;
we have contemplated the balance of the Loi-d ; we
have thirsted exceedingly that we might be directed
both by the holiness and tlie mercy of God the Father;
and, aiter a long and careful ddiiberation, we have
settled a just m^iocrity. — I refer you to my own
books on the subject, which I lately read here ; and
which, from motives of brotherly love, I have sent
over to you, to read. In them there is wanting
neither a due censure of the lapsed, nor medicine
to heal the penitent. — I have e^ressed also my

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CYPRIAX. 3^5

thougiits on the unity of the Church to the best ol* centt.
'my iceble judgment*." ]^^'

There- was a bishop of some note, named Anto-
nius, who seemed disposed to embrace the Novatian
schism. To him Cy[)rian in a lonj; letter explains
M ith much force and clearness the whole of his ideas
on the subject. A short abridgment of it may merit
penisal, because of tlie charity and good sense
which run through it f .

He clears himself from the charge of inconsistency,
by showing, in both cases, the views on which he
acted under very different circumstances, formerly
^vith strictness, now with lenity; — he informs him
' what had been determined both at Itome and Car-
thage concerning tlic lapsed ; — he enlarges on the
virtues of Cornelius, who had ventured his life in
a time of severe trial under Decius ; — he defends
him against the unjust aspersions of the Novatians,
and demonstrates, tliat very difFereut rutes and
methods should be used, according to the circum-
stances of offenders ; and that Novatian's stoicism,
by which all sins are ecpial, was absolutely repugnaiit
to the genius of Christianity. He supports his ideas
of mercy by striking and apposite passages of Scrip-
ture. For instance : " The w hole need not a physi-
cian, btit the sick." What sort of a physician is he,
' who says, ** I cure only the sound? " — " Nor ought
we to think all those w horn we sec wounded by a

* degree of apostasy, during tlie deadly persecution, to
be absolutely dead ; but rather to lie half dead only,

' ^nd to be capable of being recovered by sound faith

* and penitence, so.as yet to display in future tlie true
chai'actcrs of confessors and martyrs."

He shows that the censures of the church ought
not to anticipate the judgment of the Lord. His
quotations of Scri[)ture, in behalf of receiving peni-

* lie means Lis treatises on the Lapsed, and on the Unity
of the Church.

. t 5pis. 52.
VOL. I. CO

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HISTORY OF THE, CHURCH.

tents, agab into the Church, may wipll be spfu-ed : — •
The Novatian uncharitableness will, in our days,
.scaixely find a defender.

He beautifully insists on the propriety and whole-
someness of mercy, gentleness, and charity, and
exposes the unreasonableness of the present dissent,
-from this circumstance, — that formerly, in Affica,
.sometishops excluded adulterers from a retprn into
the Churcb, — but they did not form a schism on .that
account. And yet an adulterer appears to him fo
'deserve a greater degree of severity than a man who
.lapses through fear of torment. — He exposes the
^absurdfty of the Novatians in exhorting men to re-
pent, while they rob them of all those comforts and
,hopes which should encourage repentance. It is
observable that he alleges noticing particular against
the personal character of Npvatian : — but he blames
Schism with an excess of severity not to be de*
^fended.

Reniark, from another circumstance, the strictness
of discipline which then prevailed in the purest
.Churches. — Several persons, who stood firm for a
time in persecution and afterwards fell tiirough ex*
tremity of torment, were kept three years in a st^te
of exclusion from the Churcb ; and yet they livcji
all that time with every mark of true repentknce.— »
.Cyprian being consulted * decided that they ought
to be re-admitted to communion. *

The appearance of a new persecution frpm Gallus
now threatening the Churph, . Cyprian, with the
African synod, wrote to Cornelius on the subject of
hastening the reception of penitents, that they mig6<
be aniied for^ the approachmg storm f-

In the meaii-time Fehcissimus finding, after his
condemnation, no security to his reputation in ^fr^f^i
crossed the sea to Rome, raised a party against Cof-
neUus, and, by nienaces, threw him into great fear^
Cj'prian's spirit seems more disturbed on tlus opqi).'

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111.

CTPUIAN. 387

sion than I have seen reason to observe in any of his cent.
epistles. He supports the dignity of the episcopal
character in a style of great magnificence ; but it is
evident, that continued ill treatment from seditious
characters had led him into some degree of impa-
tience: The language he uses concerning the autho-
rity of bishops, would sound strange to our ears,
tliough it by no means contains any definite ideas
contrary to the Scriptures. The whole epistle is cal-
culated to rouse the dejected spirit of Cornelius ;
and shows much of the hero, — less of the Christian.
He confesses — that he speaks grieved and irritated,
by a series of unmerited ill usage. He takes notfce
tliat, at the very time of writing this, he was again
demanded by the people to be exposed to the lions.
He speaks of the ordination of Fortunatus and also
of Maximus, by the schismatics, in a contemptuous
manner. — It is very evident, that, on the whole, he
triumphed in Carthage among his own people. His
great virtues and unquestionable sincerity secured
him their affections ; but they seem not to have been
sufficiently patient and discreet in the re-admission
of offenders : He complains that, in some cases, they
were violent and resentful; — and in others, preci-»
pitately easy and favourable. The eloiquence, and
even the' genuine charity of this great man, appears
throughout this fifty-fifth epistle; — but it is deficient
in the meekness and the moderation, which shine
in his other performances.

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388 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. •

C H A P. XI.

THE EFFECTS OF THE PERSECUTION OF DECIU8
IN THE EASTERN CHURCH.

CHAP. 1 HE eastern and western Churches were, in those
times, divided from each other by the Greek and
Roman language, though cemented by the common
bond — of the Komail government, and much more
— of the common Salvation. It will often be found
convenient to consider their history distinctly. The
gentile Church of Jerusalem still maintained its re-
spectability under Alexander its bishop, who has
been mentioned above. He was again called on to
confess Christ before the tribunal of the president at
Caesarea; and, in this second trial of his faith,
having acquitted himself uith his usual fidelity, he
was cast into prison : His venerable locks procured
him neither pity nor respect ; and he finally breathed
out his soul under confinement*.

At Antioch, Babylas after his confession dying in
bonds, Fabius was chosen his successor. In this
persecution the renowned Origen was called to suffer
extremely. Bonds, torments, a dungeon, the pres-
sure of an iron chair, the distension of his feet for
many days, the threats of burning, and other evils
Mere inflicted by his enemies, all which he manfully
endured: and his life was still preserved; for the
judge was solicitously careful that his tortures should
not kill him. " What words he uttered on tliese
occasions and how useful to those who need conso^
lation, many of his epistles," says Eusebius, " de-
clare with no less truth than accuracy ! " — If the
words here aljuded to w ere now fextant, more light,
I apprehend, might be thrown on tlie internal cha-
racter of Origen, in respect to experimental godli-
jiess, tfian by all hb works which remain. Th^

' {iuseb. B. 6. from C. $9 to the end.

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:^ERSECUTION OF DECIUS. 389

show the scholar, the philosopher, and the critic : — . cent.
Those would have displayed the Christian. This > j^,: ^
gi*eat man died in his seventieth year, about the same
time as the emperor Decius.

By and by I shall find occasion to insert an esti-
mate of his character.

Dionysius was at this time bishop of Alexandria, Arconnt of
—a person of great and deserved renown in the bilhopTr
Church. We are obliged to Eluscbius for a few frag- AicxaudrU.
ments of his writing?, some of which being historical,
must be here inserted. In an epistle to Germanus
he writes thus : — " Sabinus, the Rom'an governor,
s^nt an oflficer to seek me, during the persecution
of Decius, and I remained four days at home, ex-
pecting his coming : he made the most ' accurate
storch in the roads, the rivers, and the fields \vhtre
he suspected I might be hid. A confusion seems to
have seized him, that he could not find my house ;
for he had no idea that a man^^in my circuinstances,
should stay at home. At length, after four days,
God ordered me to remove*; and, having opened
me a w ay contrary to all expectation, 1 and my ser*
vants and many of the brethren went together. The
event showed that the whole was the work of Divine
Providence. — About sun-set, I was seized, together
\?ith my vvliole company, by the soldiers, and was
led to Taposiris. But my friend Timotheus, by the
providence of God, was not present, nor was he
seized. He came afterwards to my house, and found
it forsaken and guarded ; and he then learned that
we were taken captive. How wonderful was the
dispensation ! but it shall be related precisely as it
happened. — A countryman met Timotheus us he
ilras flying in confusion, and asked the cause of his
hurry: he told him the truth: the peasant heard
the story and went away to a nuptial fe;ist, at wliicU
it was the custom to watch all night. . He informed
the guests of what he had heard. At once, they
' • 3y 4 vision or some other Divine manifestation, I support.

. c c 3

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

all rose up, as by a signal, and ran quickly to us, and
shouted : our soldiers, struck with a panic, fled ; and
the invaders found us laid down on unfurnished beds.
I first thought they must have been a con?pany of
robbers. They ordered me to rise and 20 out quick-
ly : at length, I understood their real designs ; and
I cried out, and intreated them earnestly to depart^
and to let us alone. But,^ if they really, meant any
kindness to us, I requested them to strike off my
head, and so to deliver me from my persecutors.
They compelled me to rise by downright violence:
and I then threw myself on the ground. They seized
my hands and feet, pulled me out by force; and
placed me on an ass, and conducted me from the place.*"
In so remarkable a manner was tliis useful life pre-
served to the Church. We shall sec it was not m vain.
. In an epistle to Fabius bishop of Antioch, he
gives the following account of the persecution at
Alexandria, which haa preceded tlie Decian per-
secution by a whole year, and which must have,
happened therefore under Philip, the most open
friend of Christians. " A certain augur and poet
took pains to stir up the malice of the gentiles agains.t
us, and to inflame them with zeal for the sup*
port of their own superstitions* Stimulated by him,
they gave free course to their licentiousness, and
deemed the murder of Christians to be the most
perfect piety and the purest woi*ship of demons.
They first seized an old man, named Metras, and
ordered him to blaspheme: he refused; and they
beat him with clubs, and pricked his face and eyes
with sharp reeds : they dragged him to the suburbs,
and they there stoned him. Then they hurried one
Quinta, a faithful woman, to the idol-temple, and
insisted on her worshipping of the gods.-^Quinta
showed the strongest marks of abominating that prac^
tice. They then tied her by the feet; draggs;<l her
over the rough pavement through' 9II the city ; dashed
her a^inst mill-stones^ and whipped her; and lastly

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III.

^Persecution' ov t>£cius. 391

Uiey led her back to the place where they had cent.
first seized h6r ; and there they dispatched her.
-^After this, with one accord, they all rushed
on the houses of the godly : every one ran to the
house of his neighbour, spoiled ^nd plundered it ;
and purloined the most valuable goods, and threw
away those things which were vile and refuse, and
burnt them in the roads ; and thus was exhibited the
appearance of a captive and spoiled city. The 'bre-
thren fled and withdrew themselves, and received
with joy the spoiling of their goods, as those did
to whom Paul beareih witness ; and I do not know,
that any person, who fell into their hands, — ex-
cept one, — denied the Lord. Among others, they
seized an aged virgin, called Apol Ionia, and dashed
. out all her teeth ; and having kindled a fire before
the city, they threatened to burn her alive, unlesji
she would consent to blaspheme. This admirable
woman begged for a little intermis&ion; and she
then quirkly leaped into the fire, and was consumed.
They laid violent hands on Serapion in his own
hous^ : they tortured him and broke all his limbs ;
and, lastly, threw him head-long from an upper
room. No road, public or private, was passable
to us, by night or by day : the people crying out
always and every where, that unless we would speak
blasphemy, we should be thrown into the flames ;
— and these evils continued a long time. A sedition
then succeeded, and a civil war, which averted their
fury from us, and turned it against one another ; and
tigain we breathed a little during the mitigation of
^ their rage. Immediately the change of government
"^ was announced : The persecuting Decius succeeded
Philip our protector, and we were threatened with
destruction : The edict, which our Lord foretold
would be so dreadful as to seduce, if it were possible,
even the elect*, appeared against us. — All were

• It 18 evident that this application of out Lord's words is a
inistake,

C C 4

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\I.

59- lUStORY OF THE CHURCtt»

CHAP, astonished ; many Cliristians of quality discovered,
themselves immediately through fear; others, who
held public offices, were constrained by their office to
appear; and others were brought forward and be-
trayed by their gentile relations. Each person was
cited by name. They then approached tlie unholy
altars; some pale and trembling, not as if they were
goini» to sacrifice, but to be themselves the victims;
so that they were derided by the multitude who stood
Uround ; and it was visible to all that they were very
much frightened both at tlie prospect of death and
at the crime of sacrificing : but some ran more readily
to the altar, and affirmed boldly, that they never had
been Christians. Of such our Lord affirmed most
truly, that tliey should be saved with great diffi-
culty*. Of the rest, some followed the various ex-
amples above mentioned ; and others fled : — Some
persisted in the faitlij and suffered bonds and iai-
prisonment for many days ; but, at last, before they
were led to the tribunal, they abjured their religion;
— others lield out longer, and endured torments. —
But the firm and stable pillars of the Lord, being
strengthened by him, and having received vigour and
courage proportionate and correspondent to tke
lively faith which was in them, became admii-aU«
martyrs of his kingdom. — The fust of these Avas
Julian^ a gouty person who could neither stand nor
walk; he was brought forth with two others who car-
ried him; one of whom immediately denied Christ*
Tlie other, called Cronion the IJenevolent, and old
' Julian hims(ilf, liaving confessed the Lord, were led
through the whole cityy — very large as ye know it isj
— sittmg on camels : they were then scourged, and
were at last burnt in a very hot fire in the view of
surrounding multitudes. A soldier, named Besas,
i^tood by them and defended tliem from insults; which
so incensed the mob^ that the man lost his head iot
liaving thus behaved boldly in the service of his God*
* 1 supposie he meaus b«cau«e they were rich*

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' PERSECUTION OF DJvCIUS. ^95

*r-An Afncaii by birth, called Macar*, and truly cem'.
meriting the appellation, having resisted much im- ' '^^*
portunity, was burnt alive. After these, Epimachus
and Alexander, who had long sustained imprison-
ment and undergone a thousand tortures, were burnt
to death ; and along with these four women. Am-
monarion, a holy virgin, was grievously tormented
by the judge for having declared beforehand that she
would not repeat, the blasphemy which he ordered:
she continued faithful, and was led away to execution.
The venerable ancient JMercurid — and Dionysia, a
mother, indeed, of many children, but a mother who
did not love her children more tlian the Lord — and
another Ammonariou, — these, together with many
others, Mere slain by the sword without being first
exposed to torments : — for the president was ashani-
ed of torturing them to no purpose, and of being baf-
fled by women; — which had been remarkably the
case in his attempt to overcome the former Ammo-
narion, who liad undergone what might have beeu
esteemed sufficient toiture for them all. — Heron,
Ater, and Isidore, Egyptians, and w ith them a boy
of fifteen, called Dioscorus, were brought before tlie ,
tribunal : the boy resisted both the blandishments
tmd the tortures which were applied to him : the rest,
after cruel torments, were burnt. The boy haviua
answered in the wisest manner to all questions, and
excited the admiration of the judge, was dismissed
by him from motives of compassion, with an intima-^
tion of hope that he might afterwards repent: — And
jiow the excellent Dioscorus is witli us, reserved to
a greater and longer conflict. Nemeslan was first
accused as a partner of robbers ; but he cleared
himself of this charge before the Centurion: — An
information — that he was ^ Christian, was then
brought against him, and he came bound before the
president, who most unjustly scourged him \\itU
twice the severity used in the case of malefactors,
* iiappy or blessed.

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394 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH*

CHAP, ahd then burnt him among robbers. — Thus was h^
h6noured by resembling Christ in suffering.

"And now some of the military guard, Ammon,
Zeno, Ptolemy, and Ingenuus, and with them old
Tbeophilus, stood before the tribunal; when a certain
person bemg interrogated whether he was a Chris-
tain, and appearing disposed to deny the imputation,
iliey made such lively signs of aversion as to strike
tfie beholders ; but before they could be seized, they
ran voluntarily to the tribunal and owned themselves
Christians, — so that the governor and his assessors
were astonished. — God triumphed gloriously in
these ; and gave them evidently the ascendant over*
tiie judges; and they went to execulion with all the
marks of exultation.

" Many otliers through the towns and villages were
torn to pieces by the gentiles. Iscyrion was an
a'^ent to a certain magistrate ; yet he refijsed to sa-
crifice : This man, after repeated indimities, was
killed by a large stake driven through his intestines.
— But why need I mention the multitude of those
who wandered in deserts and mountains, and were
at last destroyed by famine, and thirst, and cold, and
diseases, and robbers, and wild beasts? Those, who
survived, are witnesses of their faithfulness and vic-
tory. SuflSce it to relate one fact : There was a very
aged person named Chaeremon, bishop of the city
of Nilus. He, together with his wife, flbd into an
Arabian mountain; and they did not return; nor
irould the brethren, after much searching, discover
them alive or dead ; and many persons about the
Bame Arabian mountain were led captive by the
Barbarian Saracens, some of whom were aftbrwards
redeemed for money with difficulty ; — otiiers could
never regain their liberty.'' Dionysius adds some-
thing concerning the benevolence of the martyrs
towards the lapsed, and contrasts it wkh the inex-
orable severity of Novatian.

Two things are evident frotia this nairrativd, isl^
4

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^ . I^ERSECUTION OF DECIUS. 395

Tiat tjhe, persecutipn found the eastern Chrisfiaijs as cent.
poorly provided against the storm as the western, -^^l^-'l^
Long peace and prosperity bad corrupted both ; and
men, in t^e former part of this century^ had forgot-
ten that a Christian life was that of a stranger. The
Decian persecution, under God, was at once a
spourge and an antidote.. 2d, Yet there still existed
a competent number of tliose who should prove the
truth of Christianity, and the power of Divine Grace
accompanying it. — The true Church is not destroyed,
bilt flourishes and triumphs amidst inward and out-
ward evils.

Eusebius relates a story, from Dionvsius's letters Thettory
to Fabius, which he says was. full ot wonder : — scropi^n*
".There was a faithful aged person, named Serapion,
i»vho had lived blameless a long time^ but fell, in the
time of trial, through fear of death or of bodily pain,
lie had frequently solicited to be restored to the
Church, but in vain. — because he had sacrificed.
He was seized with a distemper and continued speech-
less and senseless for three days successively ; but
recovering a little on the fourth, he called to his grand-
son, " And how long," says he, " do you detain me? x
I beseech you hasten and quickly dismiss me. De*
aire one of the presbyters to visit me;" and after
this he was again specdiless. The boy ran for the
presbyter ; it was night ; the presbyter Mas sick, and
could not come. But he had given directions to re-
ceive dying penitents, — particularly if they should
have supplicated for it,— that they might leave the
world in good hope. He gave a little of the Eucha-
rist to the boy ; and bid him to dip it in water, and
put it into the old man's mouth : The child hasteneii
to follow the directions ; and found Serapion a little
recruited,^— who said, " You are come, son ; — da
quickly what you are ordered, and dismiss me." The
^d man had np sooner received the morsel, than hq
fOLve up the ghost — Was he not evidently reserved,
until be was absolved ; and was not his sin remitted,

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396. History of the cifuftcin ^

CHAP, and the man acknowledged by Christ as a faithful^
sen^ant on account of many good works/* Thus faf
Dionysius.

I remark here, ist, That the connexion between
the sacrament and the grace conveyed by it, being
usually thus expressed as if it were necessary and
iridissoluble, both in baptism and the Lords Supper,
gave occasion to the increase of much superstition
in the Church. I am disposed to believe, that both
Dionysius and Serapion knew that the sign was no-
thing without the inward grace. Yet perhaps they
are not to be acquitted of superstition on account of
the inordinate stress which they laid on external
things. — The reader must observe that this evil con-
linues to grow during the third century.

2d, — That, along with this superstition, the power
of the leaders of the Church would naturally increase
beyond tlie due bounds. That it did so afterwards'
surprisingly is well known ; — but I judge the evil to
have begun already both in the east and in tlie
wesU

3d, — ^That there was at that time, among persons
of real piety, a general propensity to extend disci-
pline too far. IScrapion ought, doubtless, to have
been sooner received into the Church. The Lord
seems to have favoured him with a token of his loving
kindness, by fulfilling his desires of being re*admitted
into the Church before he left the world.-- But how
much more decent and proper would it have been
for him to have been received while in health? Satan
always pushes men to extremes. Church-discipline
was held then too high ; with us it is reduced to the
lowest state. Without communion with a visible
Church establishment in form, however impractica-
ble it might be, it was scarce thought possible for a
man to be saved : Many persons, at that time, would
have had no hope of Serapion's salvation, if the
|>ower of his disease had prevented the reception of
the Eucharist. This miserable superstitioq increased.

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:PEltSECUTION OF DECIUS.

. till by the light of the Reformation it was destroyed.
On the contrary, in our age, tlie Lord's Supper it-
self is treated witli levity by thousands who call
themselves Christians; and communion with a set-
tled ministry and Church is esteemed as a thing of
trifling consequence by numbers who profess the
doctrines of vital godliness.

Dionysius wrote several other tracts, which are
J mentioned by Euscbius : — Among the rest, he wrote
. to Cornelius, bishop of Rome, in answer to his*
^ letter against Novatian*; and informed him — that
. he had been invited by Ilejenus of Tarsus in Cilicia,
and bv the rest of the bishops of his neighbourhood,
by Firmilian of Cappadocia. and Theoctistes of
Palestine, to meet them in a synod at Antioch, w hef e
some attempts were made to strengtlien the Nova-
tion party. — But all these Churches united to con-
demn the schism : and, with this view, Dionysius
>vrote to the Roman confessors both before and after
they had returned to the Church. On tirj whole,
the East and West united in condemning the new
dissenters; whose head having professed that some
brethren had compelled him to the separation,
Dionysius wrote to Novatian himself to this effect:
*^ If you were led unwillingly, as you say, you will
prove it by returning willingly; for a man ought to
suffer any thing rather than to rend the C'hurch of
God. Even martyrdom on this, account would be no
less glorious than on any other; — even more so, —
For in common martyrdom a man is a witness for
one soul : — here for the whole Church. And now,
if you would compel or persuade the brethren to
unaniniity, your good conduct would be more lauda-
ble tlian your defection was culpable. The latter
will be forgotten, the former will be celebrated
through the Christian world. But if you find it im-'
practicable to draw over others, save your own soi4
f llusebiua certainly calls liim ](^[Qwitus b^ mistake*

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

at least; I wish you to be strong in the Lord, and
studious of peace/' — Sucli Mas the zeal of 'tile
Christian leaders at that time for the preservation 'of
UNitr. If there had been a defection from Christian
purity of doctrine in the general Church, or if the
Heads of it, for the most part, had been %4cious men
in principle or practice, one might have suspected
tliat the Lord had forsaken these, and that his spfrit
bad rested chiefly with the new separatists. But that
godliness in a considerable degree prevailed still in
the Church at l^rge is very evident Cyprian, Dio-
nyslus, Cornelius, Firmilian, were holy men : Mar-
tyrs, in abundance from their flocks, suffered for
Christ's sake: A number of Church-officers sdflferfed
jn a very edifying manner : — ^The lapsed wdi^ re-
stored among them by the moSt Christian' methods
of mildnress and just discipline ; — arid this vi^ith sute-
cefes In a variety of cases. — Dionysius concurred with
Cyprian in his views on the Subject : and, though the
flame of Christian piety was Considerably* lowei^ed
since t&^ days df Ignatius; I see not a stiadow of
proof that there was any just Reason for dissent x>r
any superior degree of spirituality with the NbVatSaAs.
' —If, for example, there had been many |)ersdn$
among them of half the piety of Cyprian, I think it
f)robabte, that history would not have been ^lent
respecting them. * * *

It is my diity to trace the work of the Divine
Spirit wherever I can find it. Tracefc of this Spirit,
with the Novatians in general, in these times, I can-
pot discern : and yet, it is improbabfe, that they shotild
h^ve been a people altogether forsalccri of God.
Whereyer the real truth, as it is in Jesus, is pro-
'fessed, there some measure othis Spirit most pro-
bably exists. Novatiali himself is constantly repre-
liended'both by Cyprian and by Dionysius: Yei, I
observe, they cast noimputations'oil his moral cha»
^acter : ilis schism alone is theobjfect of theii^ repte-
bension :^ Corndius/indeed, carries the in&tter stilj

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ill;

PERSECUTION OF DECIUS. 399

farther, as we have seen ; but I am not disposed to cent.
credit all he says : His temper was heated by per- ^" '
.jsonal competition.

Before we proceed to other instances of the De-
cian persecution, it may be proper to conclude tlie
aftair of Novatian : Let us collect what evidence we
can ; .and endeavour to form a just estimate of his
character: — If our observations appear unsatisfac*
tory ; — let it be imputed to the scantiness of tlie
materials.

Novatian was originally a Stoic ; and seems to Cfatractcr
have contracted all the severity, which marked th^t Norititn.
sect of philosophers. He was born a Phrygian, and
came to Rome, where he embraced 'Christianity.
He applied for the office of presbyter ; but, as he had
peglected certain ecclesiastical forms after recovery
from a sickness, he was objected to by the clergy and
the people. The bishop, — probably, Fabian the pre-
decessor of Cornelius, — desired that the rules might
be dispensed with in his case. ' This was granted ;
and it is a testimony, surely, rather in favour of his
abilities and conduct than otherwise, particularly,
, as the circu mstance stands recorded by the pen of his
rival Cornelius*. That he excelled in genius, learn-
ing, and eloquence, is certain: and hence, it is not
})roba^)le, that iie was a man of debauched or of
09$e morals. The evils of hi» schism were unques-
tionably great; but novice seems affixed to his cha-
racter; ' nor. (Joes any just suspicion he against the
J purity of his intentions. One f of the letters of the
lomari clergy'to Cyprian, written by Novatian hin>-
self, is still extant: It is worthy of a Roman pres-
byter and of a zealous Christian ; —and, at that time,
the writer coincided in opinion with the African pre-?
Jate. Eus(^bius, in his Chronicon, ranks him among
.jthe copfessore; and it'is certain, that \^hiio Ije coij?
* See bis letter u) Eusebius,

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400 HISTOKV OF- THE CHURCFf.

tinued presbyter his fame was not only without a
blot, but very fair in the Cfmrch.

Perhaps it had been happy for him if he had neveV
consented to become a bishop. The preference
given to Cornelius in the election of a bishop, was,
probtlbly enough, the grand cause of tlic ^chisiii:
From being actuated by a temperate degree of seve-
rity, he became intolerably inexorable in his ideas of
discipline: It is not for man to say how far temper,
Stoicism, prejudice, and principle might all unite in
this business : — ^Wc must uow behold him bishop of
tlie Novadans, and industriously spreading the schism
through the Christian world. The repeated con-
demnation of it in synods hindered not its growth;
and as purity of principle and inflexible severity of
discipline, v>ere their tavourite objects, it is not to
be apprehended that Novatian could have supported
himself in the opinion of his followers without some
degree of exemplary conduct. He is allowed to have
preserved in soundness the Christian Faith : There
' is actually extant a treatise by him on the Trinity ; —
and that, one of the most regular and most accurate
which is to be found among the ancients. It is
astonishing that any man should ascribe the ideas of
the Trinitarians mainly to the Nicene Fathers. We
have repeatedly seen proofs of the doctrine beii^
held distinctly in all its parts from the Apostles' days.
This treatise by Novatian may be added to the list.
— I know not how to abridge it better than by re-
ferring the reader to the Athanasian creed*. The
Trinity in Unity, and the Godhead and Manhood
of Christ in one person, are not more plainly to he
found in that creed, than in the composition of this
IX)n temporary of Cyprian.

1 wish that a more experimental view, — a more
practical use — of Christian doctrines, were to be
seen in it. But all professors of Christianity, —
C'hurchnien or dissenters — seem, at that time, tq

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FRBSECVTIOlr OF bECltS. ' 401

iaave much relaxed in this respect The favour and
simplicity of the life of faith in Jesus was not so well
known : yet, — particularly under the article of the
Holy Ghost, — he speaks very distinctly of ^^ Hiai as
the author of regeneration, the pledge of &e pro*
tniaed inheritance, and, as it were, the hand*-wnting
of eternal salvation, — who makes us the temple ct
God and his house, — who intercedes for us with
* groanings which cannot be uttemd,' — who acts aA
oor advocate and defender,--7who dwdis in our^
bodies, and sanctifies them for immortality. He i(;
is, who fights against the fl^h, — ^bence the flesh
fights against the spirit :" — and he proceeds to speak
in the best manner of his holy and blessed operations
in the minds di the £uthful *.

He wrote also a sa^isibie little trac^ against the
bondage of Jewish meats ; in which he explains the
nature of Chrbttan liberty, according to the views of
St Paul, withjp^tdirections for the maintenance of
temperance and decorum.

The letter to Cyprian before mentioned closes his
works* He lived to the time of Valerian, under
whom Cyprian suffered. In that persecution also
fell Novadan by martyrdom, as i^pears from the
authentic testimony of Socrates f. His rival Cor-
nelius died a littie time before them, in exile for
the faith. — It will be a grateful refreshment to the
reader to pause for a moment; and to contemplate
tiiese three men meeting in a better world, clothed
with the garments of Jesus, and in him knowing their
mutual rdation, which prejudice hindered in this
mortal scene of strife, infirmity, and imperfection.
Neither the separation of Novatian, nor the severity
mth which the tworeguk^ bishops condemned him,
can be justified. — ^There ^seems, however, sufficient
evidenc^of the Christian character of the separatist :

^ Nw. THn. p. it4. t L. IV. C. a«.

VOL. !• iDp

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402 HrSTOBY OP THE CffURCFf-

— The general tepor of his life ; — and above all, bii
death, show to whom he belonsred *.

The reader will pardon this dlgresrion ; — if that be
indeed a digression, — which shows that the Spirit
of <jod was not limited to one denomination of
Christians; and wh?ch paves the way for a liberal
and candid construction of characters. In the future
scenes of this history, while we trace the kingdom of
God through a multiplicity of names and divisions
of men, it will highly behove us to cultivate an un«
prejudiced temper.

To proceed with the Decian p^secution. — The
management of this seems to have been the whole
«mployment of the magistrates. Swords, wild beasts,
pits, red-hot chairs, wheels for stretching human
bodies, and talons of iron to tear them; — these were
at this time, the instruments of pagan vengeance.
Malice and covetousness in informing against Chris-
tians wei-e eagerly and powerfully set on work during
this whole short, but horrible reign : And the genius
of men was never known to have had more. of em-
ployment in aiding the savageness of -the heart. IJfe
was prolonged in torture, in order that impatience
in suffering might effect at length, what surprise and
terror could not.

Mark two examples of Satanic artifice. A martyr
having endured the rack and burning plates^ the
judge ordered liim to be rubbed all over with hcMiey,
and then to be exposed in tlie sun, which was very
hot, lying on hi§ back with his hands tied behind
him, that be might be stung by the flies. — ^Another
person, young and in the flower of his age, was,
by the order of the same judge, carried into a plea-
sant garden among flowei's, near a pleasing rivulet
surrounded with traces: here they laid him on a ifea-
ther bed, bound him with silken cords, and left him
alone. Afterward, a very handsome lewd woman

* Greg. Nyss. vita TbaunK p; looo.— See Fleary, .B..6-r-a5.

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rKESEC^TION OF DECIUS. 4^3

turas introduced to»him; who- b^an^ to embrace him
Bod to court him with' all imaginable impudence.
The martyr spit in lier face; and at length bit off his
own tongue; as the nfiost effectual method in his
power of resisting the assaults of seosuidity. In the
most shocking and disgusting- trials, Christianity,
however, appeared what it is, — true holiness ; while
its persecutors showed that they \\ ere at ciiiuicy witii
45very virtuous principle of internal benevolence,
and of external decorum *.

Alexander, bishop of Comana, suffered martyr- Martyrdom
dom by fire. At Smyrna, Eudemon the bishop apos- Aiwaader,
tatized, and several unhappily followed his example. Wshop
But the glory of this Church, once so celebrated by commi.
the voice of infalHbility f, was not totally lost. The
example of Pionius, one of the presbyters, was
salutary to all the . Churches. — The account of his
martyrdom is, in substance, confirmed by Eusebius:
— Nor, in general, is there any thing in it impro-
bable, or unworthy of the Chrbtian spirit if. — In
expectation of being seized, he put a chain about
his own neck, and caused Sabina and Asclepiades ^
to do the same, — to show their readiness to suffer,
Polemon, keeper of the idol-temple, came to them
with the magistrates : ** Don't you know," says he,
" that the emperor has ordered you to sacrifice ? '*
" We are not ignorant of the commandments/' says
Pionius, " but they are those commandments which
direct us to worship God." *' Come to the market-

Jlaccy" says Polemon, ** and see the truth of what
have said." " We obey the true God," said Sabina
and Asclepiades.

When the martyrs were in the midst of the mul-
titude in the market-place, " It would be wiser in
you," says Polemon, '* to suboiitand avoid the tor-
ture." Pionius began to speak : " Citizens of Smyrna,
who please yourselves with the beauty of your walls

• Jerom vita Paul. f Rev. ii. 8, 9, &c.

J Euscb. B. 4. C. 15.— Fleury, B. 6—30.
• I> D 2'

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And tjty, 'snd ^oAne yotisd^^eB on account df youf
Poet H^ner; and ye Jews, if there be any among
you, hear fne speak a ifew words: We find that
Smyrna has beene^teeroed^liefmestcityintbewcrUi,
and was reckoned tiie'chief of those which contended
for the honour of Homer's birth. I am informed
that yoQ deride those who come df their own accord
*D sacrifice, or whoxlo niot reftise whennrged to it
fiirt sorely your admired Homer should teach von
never to rejoice at the death of any man *•'* " And
ye Jews onghtto obey M<ises, who tells yoo, * Thou
•sfaalt not see thy 'brothers ass or his ox fall down by
the way, andihicte thyself from Mm : thou shalt sordy
help him to lift 'them up again f/ And Solomon
says, /^joicenot when thine enemy faHeth/ — For
tny part i would rather ^ie, or undergo any »ifferines
timn c(Hitradi(^ my eonscienoe in religions <concems^.
Wfaenoe then proc^ those bursts of laughter and
-crud scoiffe of the Jews, pointed not only against
those who haw sacr)6c^ but against lis? They
insult us wjth a malicious pleasure to see our long
f)eace in*<nrrupted. — ^Thou^ we were thc^ enemies,
5tifl we ere men. — fiot what harm have we done
them ? What have we made them to suffer? Whom
have we spoken against? Whom have we perseouted
with unjust and unrelenting hatred ? Whomlia^ we
ccHBpeUed to woi^bip 4dols? Have they no compas-
sion for the unfortunate? Are they themselves less
-culpable than tiae poor wretches, who, Ihrou^ tiie
fear rf men or of tortures, have been induced to
frenounoe their religion ?" (Hetben addressed the J ews
on the grounds of their own Scriptures, and solenmly
-placed befoi^e the Pagans the day of judgment.
The sermon bore some resemblance to Stephen's §

* Odyss. 5c«ii. v. 412.

t Deut. xvti.4.

I Plonius adapts hiniMlf to his audience, and coDvictstheaa
of guilt even by their own principles, a thing not hard to bt
done in all cases,— Except in those of true Christians, wh»
never fail to jibow ^helr £u(^%y their. woAs.

S Actsof the Apostles, dHtp.-vii,

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in I&e cfrcttniitaacea: Ife tended to beget Qotsmoi^
of sin, and to lead nen to feeltb^r rmd of the Di-
Tine Savioar, accordiog to tiMf JAistest views ttnd in
tfae soundest taste of the Grospel. He spa^e ton^^
and was nery attentively heard; and there 16 readon
to hope that his exertions were not in vain. Tbe peo-
pfe who surrounded him said with PoletniM^ ^' Beilieve
us, Piooiust your probity and wisdom make us dee»
yo« worthy to lifve ; — and life is pleaaant" — ^Thus
powerfully did eousdenee and huopanity operate m
tfafiir/ hearts. '^ I own/' says the martyr, '^ life is
pltasaat, but I mean toat eternal life whieh I aspire
after: I do not with a contemptuous spirit reject Ae
l^ood things of tlus life ; but I prefer soeoething wbick
la io&aitely better: — I tbaok youi for your expres^iioa
al kkadness: I cannot^ however, butsus|)eet sooie
stratagem inii"

The peqpile contamed intreatuig him : md he stiU
discoursed to- them of a fiitare stata — ^Tbe weUr
knowa siaserity and um|uestionable virtues of the
xoati serai to hkve filled the Smymeans wilb veneM-
tiony and htt enemies bcmur to fear an u]^roar labia
fevour. ^^ It is imposB^e to persuade yoU. then^''
said Polemon. '' I wouU to God I couJiot'' sftys
FicHiiiis, '^ persuade yeuto be a €bristiaii}/'

Sabina^ tw the advice of Pisontaav who.waaber
beottiar, had chaoged her nam^ for feair of felting
into the hands of heat pagan mbtresa^ wh<K in wder
to compel her to renounce Chrisliaiii^, bad feimeily
pot her in irons, and baaidied bet to Ibe nouotainsk
where the bret^ea secretly supported her with qqu^
rishment She new called b^^fTbeodota. ^^What
God dost tliou adoie ?" says Polemea. *^ God Ah
mighty," she answered, " who made all thing»; — of
which we are assured by his Word Jeeui Quist'^
^' And what dofitTHOuadoee?" speaking to Aatdb*
piades. ^' Jesus Christy" sagra be. *^ What, ia tbeie
anotfacv G<xl?'' saj^PoLemon. ''No,"saysbe,''ai»
is the same whom we come here to <;QvlM?r '^^He»

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HlSTOttY ^F THE CHURCH. ^ ^

who worships the Trinity in Unity; will find no cHffi«
culty in reconciiing these two confessions. Let him,
who does not so worship, attemptit. One person
pitying Pionius, said, " Why do you that are so
learned seek death in this resolute manner ?"

When carried to prison, they found there a pres-
byter named Lemnus, — a woman named Macedonia,
— and another called Eutychiana, a M ontankt

These all employed themselves in praising God,
and showed every mark of patience and cheerfulness.
Many pagans visited Pionius, and attempted to per-
suade him to renounce his religion : — His answers
struck them with admiration. Some persons, who,
by compulsion, had sacrificed, visited them and shed
many tears. ** I now suffer afresh," says Pionius;
^^ and n^hinks I am torn in pieces when I see the
pearls of the Church trod under-foot by swine, and
the stars of heaven cast to the earth by the tail of the
dragon *. — But our sins have been the Cause."

Ihe Jews, whose character of bigotry had not
been lessened by all their miseries, and whose hatred
to Christ continued from age to age with astonishing
uniformity, invited some of the lapsed Christians to
their synagogue. The generous ' spirit of Pionius
was moved to express itself vehemently against the
Jews. Among other things he said, " They pretend
that Jesus Christ died like other men by constraint
Was that Man a common felon, whose disciples
have cast out devils for so many years ? Coqld that
man be forced to die, for whose sake his discifrfes,
and so many others, have voluntarily suffered the
severest punishment?" — Having spoken a long time
to them, he requested them to depait out of the
prison.

Though the miraculous dispensations attendant on

Christianity form no part of the plan of tiiis History,

I cannot but observe' on this occasion, how strongly

their contbuanc6 in the third century is here attestedi

• Rev. xii. 14,

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IIL

P£RS£CUTIOSr OF DECIU8. 407

Pionia& affirms, that devils were ejected by Qbris- cent.
tians in the name of Christ; and he does th'is in the
face of enemies, who would have been glad of the
shadow of an argument to justify their bitterness,
resentment, and perfidy.

The captain of the horse came to the prison, .and
ordered Pionius to go to the idol-temple. " Your
bishop £udemon hath already sacrificed,'' said he.
The martyr, knowing that nothing of this sort could
be done legally till the arrival of the proconsul, re-
fused. Tlie captain put a cord about his neck, and
dragged him along with Sabina and others. They
cried, " We are Christians," and fell to the ground,
that th^ might not enter the idol-temple. Pionius,
after much resistance, was forced into it nnd placed
on4he ground before the altar : and there stood the
unhappy £udemon, after having sacrificed.

Lepidus, a judge, asked; "Wlxat God do you
adore?" " Him," says Pionius, " that made heaven
and earth." " You mean him that was crucified r"
^^ I mean htm whom God the Father sent for the
salvation of men." The judges then whispered to
one another, and said, — " We, must compel them to
say what we wish." — Pionius heard them, and cried,
" Blush, ye adorers of false gods : have some respect
to justice, and obey your own laws : they Qnjoin
you not to do violence to us ; hut merely to put us
to death."

Then Ruffinus said, ** Forbear, Pionius, .this thirst
after vain-glory." " Is this your eloquence?" an-
swered the martyr : " Is this what you have read in
your books ? Was not Socmtes thus treated by the
Athenians' ? According to your judgment and advice
HE sought after vain-giory, because lie applied him-
self to wisdom and virtue." — Ruffinus was struck
dumb. — ^Thecase was apposite in a dcigree : Socrates,
undoubtedly, sui&red persecution on account of hb
realtor moral virtue.

. A certain person placed a crown. qaPjqiuuss
p D 4

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H18T0HY OF THOHCHiraeH;

hnd, vfbieh be tore in pieces beiwe tbe altar : Tte
pagans, finding Iheir parsuasions ineffixtual, m^
manded diem tx) prison.
Martyrdom A few days after thi3> the prooxisul Quintiluui
c( Pipnius. jeturned to Smyrna, and exammed Pionius^ He^
Ham; tried both tortures and persuasions in vain;
and, at length, emraged at his obstinacy, be sentenced
faiai to be burnt alive. The martyr went cheerfully
to tlie place of execution, and thanked God, who had
preserved his body pure from idolatry. After he
was stretched and nailed to the wood, the executioner
' s«d to him, ^^ Change your mind, and the nails shaft
be taken out" " I have felt them/' answered Pio-i
i^us: He then remained thoughtful for a^time}
afterward he said, '^ I hasten, O Lord, that I may
the sooner be a partaker of the resurrection." MetrcH
dorus, a Marcionite, was nailed to a plank of wood
in a similar manner : They were then both placed
upright ; and a great quantity of fuel was heaped
around them. — Pionius, with his eyes shut, remained
ttotionless, id»orbed in prayer while the fire was
eonaum^ng him. At length be opened his eyes, and
liooking cheerfully on the fire, said, ^^ Amen ;"— ^ia
last words were, " Lord, receive my soul." — Of the
^ticular manner in which his companions suffered
deaith we have no account

1q this narrative we see tbe spirit of heavenly
love triumphing over all worldly and selfish consi**
Anrationa Does not the zeal of Pionius deserve
M be coonneiDorated as lon^as tbe world endures?
The man appem^ to have forgotten his sufferings :
He h wholly takep up in vindicating the divine truth
ao the last. — Who can doubt of his having been a
faMvful preacher of the Gospel ? He is intent on the
Messed work amidst his bitterest paons. — Glorious
0xempti<ication of true religion in its simplictl^ !

If there be any thing particular m the treatment
he underwent, it consists in the repeated endeavoiifs

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momscuTTOir of saxmrs. 409

was iimch respected, tiiough the Cfanristiaii was ab* cekt.
horred. Integrity and uprightness, ivhen esMnent yJlJL
and supported by wisdom and learning, £ul not to
overawe, to captivate, and to soften maidcind. The
TOice of natural conscience pleads; but cannot over^
come the enmity of the human heart a^rainstGod

There are many good reasons which may be as^
signed why soond le^lming ought to be cultivated by
Christians, and especially by all who mean to be
pastors of Christ's flock. The case of Pionius djearly
kitiiBates this. Knowledge never iails to ensuret re**
spect. It doe^ thb a thousand times more effectually
with mankind than birth or wealth, or rank, or power.
— It is evident that Pionius was a man of learning
and Aat his persecutors esteemed hint on that
account, and took pains to detach hkn from Cbrifr^'
tianity. — We may conceive how usefui this accom«
pl»htfient bad been in the course of his ministry.

A Montanist and a Marcionite are the fellow*
sufferers of this martyr : The latter is consumed
with him in the flame$». Doubtless^ from all tkm
information of antiquity, both these heresies appear
m an odious Kgbt But there might be exceptions,
and who so likely to be among those exceptions^ aa
tfiose who suffered? We must not confine the truth
of godiiness to any particular denominatimi. Pro*
vidence, by mixing persons of very opposite piuties
m the same scene of persecution, demonstrates that
the pui'e faith «k1 love of Jesus may operate in those
who cannot own each other as brethren : I know
not whether Pionius and Metrodqirus did so on earth :
I trust they do so in heaven.

In Asia a merchant, ndmed Maximus, was brought
before Optimus the proconsul, who inquired wer
hb condition? ^^ I was bom free," said he, ^' but I
am the serwmt of Jesus Chrfet" " Of what profes*
sion are you ?" " I live by commerce." -" Are you a
QwistJan?"/' Though a sinner, yet I ama Chriiiian.''
While the ttSQal process of persuaaions andoftortures

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4^0 HISTORY OF THE CHITRCH.

CHAP, wfas going forward; — he exclaimed, — ** Tb^eare
J!'^ A ^^^ torments which we suffer for the name of our
LordJesus Christ: They are wholesome unctions."
— Such was tlie effect of the Holy Ghost shedding
the love of God in Christ abroad in the human
heart ! — He was ordered to be atoned to death *.
- All this time the persecution ratted in Egypt with
unremitting fury. In the lower Thebais there was
a young man named Paul, to whom, at fifteen years
of age, his parents left a great estate. He was a
person of much learning, of a mild temper, and full
of the loye of God. He had a married sister,, with
whom he lived. Her husband was base enoughto
design an information against him, in order tp ob-
tain his estate. Paul, having notice of this, retired
to.tbe,descrt mountains, where he waited till the per^
secution ceased. Habit, at length, made solitude
agreeable to him. He found a pleasant retreat, and
lived there to tlie age of fourscore aixi ten years*
At the tinie of bis retirement he was twenty-thrce,
^ and he lived to be a hundred and thirteen years old f-
' This is the first distinct account of an hermit in the
Christian Church. — No doubt ought to be made of
the genuine piety of Paul. — ^Those, who, in our days^
condemn all Mouks with indisciiminatiog contempt^
seem to make no allowance for the prodigious change
of times and circumstances. Reflect seriously on
tlie sort of society to which Christians were exposed
in the reign of Decius : Ws^ there a day, — an hour^
in which they could enjoy its comforts, oi' secure
its benefits? Wher^ could Christian ^yes or ears di-
rect their attention, — and not meet with objects ex-
ceedingly disgusting^ If Paul preferred solitude in
such a season, we need not be more surprised tlmn
we, are at the conduct of Elijah the profit. — But>
why did he not, with the return of peace, return ^Isa
to the dischat*ge of social duties? — The habit wais
^Contracted ; and the love of extremes is the infifnu^
♦ Flcury,^ B. 6 — 40, t ttW. B. 6—48.

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PEESECUTION OF DECIUS.

of human nature. — Besides, a heart breathing the
purest love to God, might riatoraliy enough be led
to think the perfection of godliness best attainable in
solitude. — The increasing spirit of superstition soon
produced a number of imitations of Paul : and the
most lamentable effect was, that those, who possess-
ed only external religion, placed their righteousness
and their confidence in monastic austenties ; — and
thus, firom the depraved imitations of well-meant be-
ginnings, one of the strongest supports of false religion
gradually strengthened itself in the Christian world.
Here we close the account of the Decian peree-
cution. Its author is admired by Pagan writers.
What has been said of IVajan and Antoninus is ap-
plicable to him: lie was a moralist; and be was
a cruel persecutor. — tt cannot be denied, that for
thirty months the Prince of Darkness had foil op-
portunity to gratify his malice and hisfory. But
the Lord meant to chasten and to purify his Church,
— not to destroy it. The whole scene is memorable
on several accounts. — It was not a local or inter-
.mitting, but an universal and -constant persecution :
and, therefore, it must have transmitted great num-
bers to the regions where sin and pain shall be no
more. — ^The peace of thirty years had corrupted the
whole Christian atmosphere: The lightning of the
Decian rage refined and cleared it. No doubt,
the effects were salutary to the Church. External
Christianity might indeed have still spread, if no
stioh scourge had been used ; but the internal spirit
of the Gospel would, probably, have been extin-
guished. The survivors had an opportunity of learn-
ing, in the faithfulness of the martyrs, what that
spirit is ; and- men were again taught, that he alone,
who strengthens Christians in tliKeir sufferings, can
eflfectually convert the heart to true Christianity* —
Tbesloq^iD, however, proved feital to manyindividmds
who apostatized; and Christianity was, in that way,
cleared -of many false friend& We have also noticed

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412 liisTaitT OF the: CH-inecn

tiro collaiteral enls. — Betl^ the fennatien of adiua»
aod of superstitious 9oHtudes> bad their 4ate from the
fieciaa persecution.

CHAP. XIL

TISE mSTORT OP THE CHURCH DUETNIG THK
REIGN OF CALLUS.

CHAF. Xhs successor of Decks allowed the Church of
^^J^lJ;,^ Christ a little tranquiUity. Duriog that sptiee' the
Caiite toe two snadl treatises ^^Cypriaa concerniog^the Lapsed
ceediDe- ftQ^ eooccsning Unity, were, doi^btless, of some
•***^*** service vk recovering the lapsed to a state of pe-
'^' ^^ nifceoc^ aad ia disposing tlie minds of Q»en to pre^
^5^- serve the unity of the Church- In the fofmer of
these treatises, indeed, it must be confessed he car-
fKS bis censure of the Novatians too for* The sia
and tiie danger of rending the body of Christ might
iwe beea stated in the sibroi^iBst terms, without pro*
navocing the evil to be absohitely daoinabte: Thi^
wed earrying the matl&r beyond all bounds ^ mo*
iktaAion. But the same candour which should
imdiae one to apprehend tiiat Novatian wm influ<»
eoced by good indentions, in his too ri^ seliemev
pieads^ s^o for the n^otives of Cyprian's zeal in the
maiotenanee of unity. — He seems to have considered
tbe t&i^bief a^ most ex^eed^ly destructive; and
be caotfind no terms si^ci^tly stuong taexfHress-
hje detestatieoiof it
^JT thr ^^^ Gallttfi seoa begpin to disturb the pe^ce of the
TEitb Per- CliTiotians, though liot with the incessant fury Qf bi^
•^*'*^* predecessor. — A Roman presbyter, naraed-Uyppo^
litusy bad been seduced into Novatiani^m; Unt bi$
mkkA bad not been perverted from the &ith wd love
of Jesu^ He waj» now called on to suffer martyr^
doHV wbichbadddwith courage and fidelity father
curiosity or a desire of instinctive mformation in-^

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dned 190106 f^erscMss to. aekbimiRitl^ soeaeiof
bis svffenii^, wb^heribe stiM persi&fted 4u the coat^
BiiniioBi of Novatian ? He declared in the moit
explidt terms, tbc^ be^now saw the-affiikiQ a-neiir
ligbt, — tbat be repented of Slaving ^ocouraged itit
fichbm, — a»(d that be <died m tbe-comnHi&ion of 4be
general Church* — SuchrajesfeUBOoy mudt have 'wedc*
ened the 4niueQoe of the achism *.

In 4his iperseoutkm of Gdius it was tiiat Conae- Banisimient
iius ccmfessed dte £Mth of Chirist, 'aad was banished^ (Wiki.
by the emperor, to Civita Veoobia; which .gave <k:<-
caakm to a coq^atulatory letter from Cypiaaiu im
one {>art of it be reflects on the Novatians with 4us
usual vehemence: — The rest bpeathes a fervenl; spirit
of piety and charity, and throws a strong light oa
two historical facts; — namely, — that the persecution
of <jraUu8 was severe ; — and, that the Roman Chris^
iians bore it with becoming and exemplary fortitude.

^ We have been ;made acquainted, dearest bro-
ther, wkb tbe:^riou8 testimonies of your faith and
virtue; and we have received the honour of your
-confession with such exuttation, that, in the upraises
of your exceUent conduct, we reckon oursdves part*
jBt&rs and compwiions. For, as we have but one
Oiurch, united hearts, and indivisible concord, what
pastor rqjcMcesiiot intbe honours of his fellow-pastors
as his own ? Or what brotherhood does not eveiy
^her^ exult in the joy of brothers? We cannot ex-
press how great was our joy and gladness when we
iheard of your prosperous fortitude ; — that at Rome
YOU were the leader of the confession, and, moreover,
•that the confession of the leader stren(]^thened, in the
^brethren, their disposition to confess ; — that while
you ted the way to glory, you incited many to be
eomipanions of your glory ; so that we are at a loss
•which most to ^ebrale, — your active and steady
£uth, or the ins^arable love ofttlie brethren. The
.virtne of the bishogx in leading the way was publicly
• Flcury, B. 7. x.
3

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4^4 HISTORY OF THE CHURCK

CHAP, adrmred ; while the union of the br*ethren in follow-
y^JJ^ ing him was proved beyond contradiction : There
was but one mind and one voice among you all. The
Apostle foresaw, in spirit, this iaith aAd firmness of
the whole Roman Church, which have shone so illus-
triously ; and, in praising the primitive fathers, he
stirs up their future sons to an imitation of their
courage and patience. Your unanimity and per-
severance is a great and an instructive example to
the brethren. Ye have taught largely the important
lesson of fearing God, of firmly adhering to Christ,
of uniting pastors with the people, brethren w th
brethren in one common danger : ye have proved,
-^tbat a concord thus formed is invincible ; — that
the God of peace hears and answers the joint
prayers of the peace-makers. — With terrible vio-
lence the adversary rushed to attack the soldier^ of
Christ; but was bravely repulsed. ^

" He had hoped to supplant the servants of God,
by finding them, like raw soldiers, unprepared : Ht
had hoped to circumvent a few individuals ; but he
found them united for * resistance : and he learnt, —
that the soldiers of Jesus remain on the watch sober
and armed for the battle ; — that they cannot be con**
quered ; — that they may die ; but that they are
invincible because they fear not death ; — that they
resist not aggressors, since it is not lawful for them^
though innocent, to kill the guilty* ; and lastly — that
they readily give up their life and shed their blood,
in order that they may the more quidcly depart fit>m
an evil world in which wickedness and cruelty rages
with so much fierceness. What a glorious spectacle
under the immediate eyes of God! What a joy in
the sight of Christ and of his Cliurch, that — not a
single soldier, but the whole army together, en-
dured the waifare ! Every individual, who heard of
* A plain proof of the passiveness of CbristiaDs, still con-
tinued from the Apostolic age, under the mo»t onjist treat*
loent

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UNDER GAttUS. 4^5.

^is proceeding, has joined in it : How- many lapsed cew.
are restored ^y this glorious confession : For now
Ibey have stood firm ; and, by the very grief of their
penitence, are made more magnanimous : Their for-
mer fall may now be justly considered as the effect
of sudden tremor ; but tl)ey bave returned to their
true character : they have collected real faith and
strength from the fear of God, and have panted tor
martyrdom.

" As much as possible we earnestly exhort. our
people not to cease to be preparcd for the approach-
ing contest, by watching, fasting, and prayers. Thes^
are our celestial arms : these are our fortresses and
weapons. Let us remember one another in our
supplications ^ Let us be unanimous and united :
and let us relieve our pressures and distresses by
mutual charity : And whosoever of us shall first be
called hence, let our mutual love in Christ continue ;
and let us never cease to pray to our merciful Father
for all our brethren and our sisters.''

Thus ardent was the spirit of Cyprian in the ex-
pectation of martyrdom ! And so little account did
he make of ten)|)oral things ! And, in this natural
and easy manner, did he esteem the dreadful scenes
of persecution as matter of joy.

He himself was preserved, for the use of the
Church, beyond the life of Gallus, as well as of
Decius. — Coinelius died in exile: IJ is faithfulness
in suffering for Christ evinces all along whose ser-
vant he was; — otherwise, history atibrds little evi-
dence respecting his character. — The little specimen,
which we liave of his writings, will induce no one
to think highly of his genius or capacity.

It Ls no wonder that Cyprian, who had seen and
known such dreadful devastations under Decius,
finding after a very short interval, the persecution
raiewed by Gallus, should be attempted to imasnne .
the approach of Antichrist, — the end of the world,
—and the day of judgment to be at hand. Sagacious

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HI8TQEY OF THE CHURCH

and holy men are never more apt to be deceived
than when they attempt to look into futurity. God
hath made the present so much the exclusive object
of our duty, Uiat he will scarce suffer even his best
and wisest servants to gain reputation for skill and
foresight by any conjectures concerning the times
and the seasons, which he hath reserved in his own
power. The persecution of G alius proved, however,
a light one compared with that of Decius. Under
very formidable apprebeqsions of it Cyprian wrote
an animating letter to the people of Thibaris *.
The mistaken idea I have mentioned, probably, added
fipirit to the epistle; nevertheless the reasoning is
5olid ; and his arguments, and the Scriptures whick
he quotes, deserve attention in all ages. — ^A few ex-
tracts may gratify the reader.

^^ I had intended, most dear bnethi^en, and wished,
— if circumstances bad permitted, agreeably to the
desires you have frequently expressed, — ^iny^lf to
have come among you; and, to the best of my poor
endeavours, to bave strengUiened the brotherhood
witli exhortations. But urgent aftairs detain me at
Carthage; I cannot make excursions into a country
so distant as yours; nor be long absent from my
people. — Let these letters then speak for me.

" You ought to be well assured, tliat the day of
affliction is at hand ; and, that the end of th^ world,
and the time of Antichrist is near : We should all
istand prepared for the battle, and think only of the
glory of eternal life and of the crown of Christian
confession. Nor ought we to flatter ourselves that
the imminent persecution will resemble the last : —
a heavier and more ferocious conflict hangs pver us^
for which the soldiers of Christ ought to prepare
themselves with sound faith and vigorous foititude;
and consider that they f daily drink the cup of the
blood of Christ, for this reason, — ^that they them-

. • Epis. 56.

t The daily reception of the Lord's supper appears to h««
been the practice of the African Church at that tim*^

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III.

selves may be able to shed -their blood for him--^ c^.
To folloH' what Christ'hath taught and tlone is to be
willing to be found with Christ. As John the Apos-
tle says ; ^ He^ that saith he abideth in Christ, oUght
himself also to walk even as he walked.' Thus also
the blessed Apostle Paul exhorts and teaches," say*
ing, * We are the sckis of God, and if sons, then
heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if we suffei*
with him tliat we may also be glorified together. **
Ijet no man desire any thing now which belongs td
a perishing world ; but let him follow Christ, who
lives for ever, and who makes his servants to live,'
if indeed they be settled in the faith of his name.
For the thue is come, most dear brethren, which out*
Lord long ago foretold, saying, * The hour is coming,
when whosoever killeth you niH think hedoeth God
service.' " In his usual manner he quotes those Scrip*
tures which relate to persecution : and, doubtless,
the force and beauty of tliem would then be felt and
admired, more than they are by us, who, it is to be
feared, are apt to speculate upon them at our ease
with too much inditference.

Observe how justly he arms their minds against
the discouragement which the circumstances of ap-
proaching persecution are apt to induce. " Let
na onOj when be sees our people scattered through
' fear of persecution, be disturbed, because he sees
not the brethren collected, nor the bishops emplo^^ed
among them. We, whose principles allow us to
suffer death, but not to inflict it, cannot possibly, in
such a season, be all in one place. Wherever, there-
fore, in those days, by the necessity of the time, any
one shall be separated, in t>ody, not in spirit, from
the rest of the flock, -^let not such an one be moved -
at the horror of the flight, nor be terrified by the so-
litude of the desert, while he retreats and lies hid.
No man is alone, who hath Christ for his com-
panion:' No man is without God, who, in hb own
soul, preserves the temple of God uadefil^^.* T^^

VOL. I. £ E

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xn.

4^8 HISTORY Of THE CRCRCH

ctup. Cbristiaa may indeed be assailed by robberd or by
^" wild beasts among the mountains and deserts; he
may be afiUcted by famine, by cold, and by thii^t ;
he may lose bis life in a tempest at sea, — ^but the
^AViouH himself watches hb feithful soldier fight'
ing in all these various ways ; and is ready to bestow
the reward which he has promised to give in the

resurrection/'

He then produces precedents of Scripture-saiote,
who suffered for God in the most antient timesi and
adds, ^^ How shameful must it be f<Mr a Christian
to be unwilling to suffer, when the Master suffered
first ; to be unwilling to suffer for our own sins,
when he, who had no personal sin, suffered for us'^.
The Son of God suffered, that he might make us
tfae sons of God : — and, shall not the sons of men
be willing to suffer, that they may continue to be
esteemed the cliildren of God ?

^^ Antichrist is come, but Christ is also at hand. —
The enemy rages and is fierce, but the Lord is our
defender : and lie will avenge our sufferings and
our wounds." — He again makes apposite Scripture-
quotations.-^That from the Apocalypse is remark-
able, ^^ If any man worship the beast and his
image," &c. Rev. xiv. 9.

^^O what a glorious day," contmues Cyprian,
" will come, when the Lord shall begin to recount
his people, and to adjudge their rewards ; — ^to send
the guilty into hell ; — to condemn our persecutors to
the perpetual fire of penal flame; — and to bestow
on us the reward of feith and of devotedness to him.
What glory ! what joy ! to be adipitted to see God ;
— ^to be honoured ; to partake of the joy of eternal
light and salvation with Christ the Lord your Goj> i
to salute Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and ail the

* I hi^e traoslated this literally, 'ilie difiereiice bctweea
suflfering for our own sins, and saf&riiig for as, is strii^iog; tb«
first is corrective, the second is by imputation. Cyprian be*,
lieved the atonement of Chrifit, and therefore i^aried'his phrase-*
^ogy, tapreTeot nustakes. **^ " • ^

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UNDER GALLUS.

Patriarchs, and Prophets, Apostles, and Martyrs; to
joy with the righteous, the friends of God, in the
pleasures of immortality! — When that revelation
shall come, when the beauty of God shall shine
upon us, we shall be as happy as the deserters and
rebellious will be miserable in inextinguishable fire."

Such are the views of the next life which this good
bishop sets before Christians. The palm of heavenly-
mindedness belonged to these persecuted saints:
and I wish, with all our theological improvements,
we may attain to a measure of this zeal amidst the
various good things of this life, which, as Chrbtians,
we at present enjoy.

Lucius was chosen bishop of Rome in the place Ladoi
of Cornelius ; but was immediately driven into exile BiJ]J^"^f
by the authority of Gallus. Cyprian congratulated Rome,
him both on his promotion and on his suflferin^. a. d.
His exile must have been of short duration. He 252.
was permitted to return to Rome in the year two
hundred and fifty two ; and a second congratulatory
letter was written to him by Cyprian *. He suffered
death soon after; and was succeeded by Stephen.
— ^The episcopal seat at Rome was tlien, it should
seem, the next door to martyrdom.

It was not owing to any diminution of his usual
zeal and activity, that the African bishop was still
preserved alive, while three of his contemporaries
at Rome, Fabian, Cornelius, and Lucian, died a
violent death or in exile. About tliis time he dared
to write an epistle to a noted persecutor of those
times, named Demetrianus : and, with great freedom
and dignity, he exposed the unreasonableness of the
pagans in charging the miseries of the times upon
the Christians. There will be no necessity to give
any detail of his reasonings on the subject : — Pagan-
ism has at this day no defenders. — The latter part
of the epistle, which is exhortatory and doctrinal,,
♦ EpU. 58.

E E 2

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420

Pcftilcnce
in Africt,

A.D.
252.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

shall be afterwards considered, when we come to
make an estimate of Cyprian's theological works.

The short reign of Gallus was distingubhed by
so large an assemblage of human miseries, as to give
a plausible colour to Cyprian's mistake of the near
approach of the end of tlie world. A dreadful
pestilence broke out in Africa, which daily earned
off numberless persons ; and frequently swept away '
whole houses. The Pagans were alarmed beyond
tneasure : They neglected the burial of the dead
through fear, and violated the duties of humanity.
The bodies of many lay in the streets of Carthage,
and in vain seemed to ask the pity of passeogei's*.
— It was on this occasion, — that the Lord stirred
up the spirit of Christians to show the practical su-
periority of their religion ; and, that Cyprian, in
particular, exhibited one of the most brilliant proofe
of his real character. He gathered together his peo-
ple, and expatiated on the subject of mercy. He
pointed out to them, — that if they did no more than
others, — no more than the heathen and the publican
did in showing mercy to their own, there would be
nothing so very admirable in their conduct ; — that
Christians ought to overcome evil with good, and,
like their heavenly Father, to love their enemies,
since he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the
good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust'
Why does not he, who professes himself a son of
God, imitate the example of his Father? We ought
to answer to our birtli, and tliose, who appear to be
bom again of God, should not degenerate, but should
be sohcitous to evidence the genuineness of their
relation to God by the imitation of his Goodness.
Mucb more than this, Pontius tells us, was s^d by
him. — But Pontius is always very scanty in hia
informations.

The eloquent voice of Cyprian, on this occasion
.as on otherd, foused the alacrity of his people. The
• Vit. Pont. ,

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UNDER GALLUS.

Christians ranked themselves inte classes for the
purpose of relieving the public distress. The rich
contributed largely : The poor gave what they could ;
namely, their labour with extreme hazard of their
lives:— The pagans saw with astonishment the
effects of the love of God in Christ; and had a
salutary opportunity of contrasting these effects with
their own selfishness and inhumanity.

The dreadful calamity of the plague gave to Cy-
prian an opportunity of impressing on the minds of
his people, what in truth had been the ruling object
of his own life since his conversion, nainely — a warm
and active regard for the blessings of immortality,
joined with a holy indifference for things below.
He published on this occasion his short treatise on
Mortality. He, who wrote it, must have felt what
all have need to feel, — how little a thing life is, —
bow valuable the prospect of heavenly bliss ! The
whole of tliis little tract is very precious ; but the
reader must be content with a few extracts.

" The kingdom of God, my dearest brethren,
shows itself to be just at hand. The reward of life,
the joy of eternal salvation, perpetual gladness, and
paradisejost, — all these things come into our pos-
session now that the world passes away: Heavenly
and eternal glories succeed eartkly, fading trifles.
What room is there for anxiety, solicitude, or sad-
ness, unless faith and hope are wanting? If,Mndeed,
a man be unwilling to go to Christ, or does not be-
lieve that he is going to reign with him, such a
one has good reason to fear death : For, * the just
live by faith.' — Are ye then just; Do ye live by
faith ; Do ye really believe in the promise of God ?
— If so, — why do ye not feel secure of the faithful-
ness of Christ; why do ye not embrace his call, and
bless yourselves tliat ye shall soon be with him and
be no more exposed to Satan ?"

He then makes an apposite use of the case of
good old' Simeon, and adds,

'^ Our stable peace, our sound tnmquillity^ our
EE 3

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XII.

422 HISTOEY OF THE CHURCH

CTL4P, perpetual security, is in tiie world to come : — In this
world we wage a daHy war with our spiritual ene-
mies; we have no rest :t If one sin be subdued,
another is up in arms: — We are continually exposed
to temptations ; but the divine laws &riAd us to yield
to them. — Surely, amidst such omstant pressures,
we ought to be joyful in the prospect of hastening to
Christ by a speedy departure. How does our I^rd
himself instruct us on this very head? Ye shall
weep and Ifiment, but the world shall rej<Hce; aad
ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be
turned into joy. — Who does not wish to be free
from sorrow f Who would not run to take possession
of joy ? Since then to see Christ is joy, and since our
joy cannot be full till we do see HiM,-^what
blindness, what infatuation is it, to love the penal
. pressures and tears of the world, and not to be
desirous of quickly partaking of that joy which shall
never pass a^^ay !

" The cause of this, dear brethren, is unbelief :
We none of us believe really and solidly those things
to be true which the God of truth promises,-— whose
^ord is eternally firm to those that put tlieir trust in
him. If a man oC a grave and respectable character
promises you any tiring, you do not doubt his per-
formance, because you know him to be faithful. Now
God himself speaks with you; and dare you waver
in uncertainty ? He pronrises you immortality when
ye shall depart out pf this world ; and will ye still
doubt?' — This is not to know God : This is to ofToid,
with the sin of unbelief, Christ the Lord and Master
of believers : — ' To me to live is Christ, and to die
18 gain/ said the blessed Apostle, — who computed
it to be gain indeed, — no longer to be detaiti^ in
the snares of the world, — no longer to be obnoxious
to sin and the flesh,— -to be exempt from excruciating
pressures, — to be freed from the poisonous jaws rf
Satan, — ^and lastly, to go to the joys of eternal sal-
vation upon the call of Christ"

Some of Cyprian's people happened to be stag-
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UKDEE GALLU8.

gered in tbdr minds, because they found tiiat Chm-
tians were liable to be afflicted with tiie plague as
others: Upon which, the bishop explained to them
— ^that IN SPIRIT the children of God are indeed
separated from the rest of mankind; but that, in all
other respects, they are obnoxious to the common
evils of human life. In hk usual manna* he suppcntft
his precepts by Scripture^examples ; and speaks
eloquently and solidly of the benefits of affiction$,
and of the opportunity of showing what spirit they
are of. " Let that man fear to die," says he, " who
has the second death to uiuiergo ; who is not bom
of water and the spirit ; who is not a partdcer c^
the cross and passion of Christ ; and whom elenml
flame will torment with perpetual punishment. To
such an one life is indeed a desirable object, because
it delays his condemnation: — but what have good
men to dvead from death ?^ — ^They are called by it
to an eternal refreshment. — There is, however, great ^
use in a season of uncommon mortolity : It rouses
the idle ; compels deserters to retom ; and produces
faith in the gentiles : It dismisses and sends to rest
many old and fiedthful servants of God ; and it raises
fresh and numerous armies for future battles.

" We should consider and think again and again, .
that we have renounced the world and live here as
8trang^i*s. What stranger loves not to return to
his own country? Let us rejoice in the day whidi
summons us to our home. — There, a great number
of dear friends await us : What raptures of motoa)
joy to see and embrace one another.**

The active as well as the passive graces of Cyprian
Trere kept in perpetual exercise by various calamities,
which happened at no great distance of time from
each other. The madness of men has ever been
generating the horrors and miseries of war, and there
have never been wanting poets and historians to <Se-
lebrate the praises of those who have most exceeded
others in shedding human blood. — It belongs to

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4^ HISTORY OF THP, CHURCH

it?HAi^ jiarratioQBi purely Christian to record, with a modest,
^1,_^ yet firo) approbation, the ax:tions of holy men, whom
the world despi^ies, but, whom the grace of God
leads to the exercise of real love tp God and roen.^ —
Mark another instance of Cypriap's truly Christian
beneyolence; . Nuiqidja, the country adjoimQg to
Cs^rtbage, h^ been blessed with the light of the
jGpspel, and a number of Churclies were planted in
it. Py op irruption of the. barbarous nations, who
fieithf r o\^ed the Romap sway, nor had the Teast
^u:quaintanc^ with Christianity, many Numidian
jconyerts were parried into captivity. laght bishops,
- Janp^rius, Maximus, Proculus, Victors Mpdianus,
jlsfemesian, Nampulqs, and Honoratus, wrote the
piournful account tp the prelate at Carthage. What
he felt and did on the occasion his own answer will
best explain. '^ he love of Chrbt and the influence
pf his Holy Spirit will appear to have been not small
in the African Church from tlus and from the fore-
going cqse ; nor will the calaipities of the tiopes and
ihe spourge of persecution seem to have been sent
|p tlneip in vain*.

^* With much heart-felt sorrow and tears we r^d
your letters, dearest brethren, which y^ wrote to us
in the solicitude of your Ipvc concerning tlie captivity
pf our brethren and sisters, for who would not
g-ieve in such pases ? or who would not reckon the
^ef of his brother his own? since the Apostle Paul
says, ' If one member suffer, all the members suffer
>vith it; and if one member rejoice, all the other
members rejoice with it ;' and elsewhere, * Who ip
>veak, fmd I am not weak?' Therefore now the
captivity of our brethren is to be reckoned our cap-
tivity; and the grief of those who are in danger is to
|>e reckoned as our own grief, since we are all one
)x)dy : — Not only our affections, but the religion of
Jesus itself ought to incite us to redeem the brethren:
for, since the Apostle^says, in another place, ' Knp^
* EpLfc 6q. Pam.

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UNDER GALLTTS. 425

ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the cent.
Spirit of God dwelleth in you?' It follows, that "
evenif our lovedid not induce us to helpthe bnetbren,
yet, in such circumstances, we ought to constder^'thiBtt
they which are taken captive, are the temples of God,
and that we ought not, by a long delay and n^ect,
to suffer the temples T)f God to remain in captivity,
but to labour with all our mi^^ and quickly to show
our obsequiousness to Christ our Judge, our Lord, ^
AND OUR God. For whereas Paul the Apostle
says, ^ As many of you as have been baptized into
Christ, have been baptized into his death ;' Christ H
to be viewed as existing in our captive brethren ; and
itE, who dwells and abides in us, must, by a sum.c^
money, be redeemed from captivity,, and snatched
from the hands of the barbarians ; — he, who by his
cross and blood*, redeemed us frx)m death, and
snatched us from the jaws of Satan. — In fact, he
suffers these tbinas to happen, in (Htler that our faidi
-mky be tried, %nd that it may be seen whether we be
•wilUng to do for another what every one would wish
to be done for himself, were he a prisoner $unong the
barbarians. For who, if he b§ a father, does not
now feel as if his sons were in a state of captivity?
Who, — if a husband, — is not affected as if his own
wife were in that calamitous situation ? This must be
the case, if we have but the common sympathy of
men. — Then how great ought our mutual sorrow and
vexation to be on account of the danger of the virgins
who are there iield in bondage! Not only their sla-
very, but tiie loss of their chasdty is to be deplored :
the BONDS of barbarians are not so much to be
dreaded as the lewdness of men, lest the members
of Christ dedicated to him, and devoted f for ever to

' Redemption by the bleod of Jesus, union and fellowship
with him maintained in the soul by faith, and the retains of
love answerable to his loving kindness, these are the principles
of Christian benevolence.

i Voluntary celibacy, I apprehend, was in growing repute
in the Church at that time. St. Paul's advice in the 7th of

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HISTORT or THE CH€RCH

Ifae honour of continency, should be defiled aod
insulted by libklioous savages.

" Our brethren, ever ready to work the work of
God, but now much more quickened by great soitdw
and anxiety to forward so sakitary a concern, have
freely and largely oootributed to the relief of Ibe
distressed captives. For, whereas tlie Lord says in
the Gospel, ^ I was sick, and ye visited me;' with
how much stronger approbation would he say, ^ I was
a captive, and ye redeemed me!' And when again he
Bays, ^ I was b prison, and ye came to me;' how
mudi more is it in the same spirit to say,— I was in
the prison of captivity and lay shut up and bound
among barbarians, axid ye freed me from the dun-
geon of slavery : Ye shall receive your reward of the
Xord in the day of judgment!-

^ Truly we thank you very much that ye wished ns
to be partakers of your solicitude, and of a work so
cood and necessary; — that ye have offered us fertile
nelds in which we might deposit the steds of our hope
with an expectation of an exuberant harvest. We
have sent a hundred thousand sesterces, — the (collec-
tion of our clergy and laity* of the Church of
Carthage, which you will dispense forthwith accord-
ing to your diligence. Heartily do we wish that no
such thing may happen again, and that the Lord
may protect our brethren from such calamities. But
ii^ to try our faith and love, such afflictions should
again befal you, he«%itate not to acquaint us ; and
be assured of the hearty concurrence of our Church
with you both in pii^iyer and in cheerful contrW
butions.

*' That you may remember in your prayers, our
brethren, who have cheerfully contributed, — I ha^e
subjoined the names of each ; — I have added also

first Cor. had then many followers, but monastic vows had yet
no existence.

* About 7Si^ 51. sterling. — See Notes to Epif. 62, Oxford
Edir. ^, . . -

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XJlTDEm VALI»IAK. 497

fte names of oar colleagues 'm die irasMtrjy 'mbo
were present and contributed^ in dieir.own names
and in that of the people; and/ besides my own
proper quantity, I have set down and sent tbrnr
respective sums. We wbh you, brethren, always
prosperity/'

About tliis time> Cyprian wrote to an African
bishop, named Cascilius, for the fmrpose of correct-
ing a practice in the administration of tlie Lord'a
Supper, which had crept into some Churches, — of
using water instead of wine. — With arguments dbrawn
from the Scriptures, he insists on the necessity of
wme in the ordinance, as a proper anblcfm of tbe
bleod of Christ

The appcmitment oi Stephen to tbe bishopric of
Rome was soon followed by the death of Gallus ;
who was slain, in the year two hundred and ftftj- |^V^
threes after a wretched reign of d^een months.

Gallot.

CHAP. XIII.
THE PACIFIC PART OF VALERIAN's REIGN.

Under Gallus the peace of the Church of Christ ca^.
seems to have been very short and precarious. But
his successor Valerian, for upwards of three years,
proved Aeir friend and protector. His house was
full of Christians, and he appears to have had a
strong predilection in their favour.

The Lord exercises his people in various ways.
There are virtues adapted to a state of prosperity
as well as of adversity. — ^The wisdom and love erf
God, in directing the late terrible persecutions, have
been plainly made manifest by the excellent fruits.
— Let us now attend to the transactions of Christians
during this interval of refreshment.

The affairs of Cyprian detain us long, because
his eloquent pen continues to attract us ; and because

7
%

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•4»8 HISTORT or THE CHURCH

CHAP, we would not lose. a £iitMjl and an able guide, tfll
y^^- ^.we are compelled to leave bim. — Probably, there
were many before his time, whose Christian actions
would have equally deserved to be commemorated:
But the materials of information Sail us : The fine
^ compositions of this bishop are still, however, a
capital source of historical instruction.
. Duringthetraoguillityundertbeemperor Valerian,
a OQUncil was hcdd in Africa, by sixty-six bishops,
with Cyprian at their head. The object of this as-
eeoAAy was, doubtless, the regulation of various mat-
ters relating to the Church of Christ-^— These bishops
had, unquestionably, each of them, a small diocese;
and with the assistance of their clergy, they superin-
tended their respective jurisdictions according to the
primitive mode of Church-government The face of
Africa, which is now covered with Mahometan,
idolaJtrous,:and piratical wickedness, afforded in those
days a very pleasing spectacle ; for we have good rea- ,
son to believe that a real and salutary regard was paid
to the various flocks by their ecclesiastical shepherds.
But, we have no particular accounts of the proceed-
ings of this council beyond what is contained in a
letter of Cyprian, to which I shall presently advert.
:He mentions two points, which engaged their attaa-
tioji ;-r-but, it is very likely, that matters of ^-eater
importance than either of those . points were then
reviewed: — The synod was worthy of the name of
Christian : many of the bishops then present had
faithfully maintained the cause of Christ durii^ scenes
of trial the most severe that can be imagined i and
I know no ground for suspecting the clergy of those
.tiiDCs to have been influenced by schemes of political
ambition for increasing their wealth or power.

A presbyter, named Victor, had been i^-admitted
into the Church without having ftndergone tlie le^
timate time of trial in a state of penance, and ateo
without the concurrence and consent of tne people*
His bishop Thempius had done this arbitrarily and

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UNDEE VALERIAN. 4^9

contrary to the itistitutes of the former council for
settling such matters. Cyprian, in the name of the
council, contents himself with reprimanding Thera-
pius ; but yet confirms what he had done, ami warns
him to take care of offending in future.

This is one of the points. And^ we see hence thai,
a strict and godly discipline, on the whole, no^ pre--
vailed in the Church; and that the wisest and mG^
successful methods of recovering the lapsed were
used. , The authority of bishops was firm, but not
despQtic : and the share of the {i^ople, in matters
of ecclesiastical correction and regulation appears
worthy of notice.

The other point he thus explains in the same tetter
addressed to lldus : " As to the care of infismts, of
whom you said that they ought not to be baptized
within the second or third 'day after their birth, and
that the ancient law of circumcision should be so
far adhered to, that they ought not to be baptized
till the ei^th day ; we were all of a very different
opuiion. We all judged that the mercy and grace of
God should be denied to none. For, if the Lord says
in his Gospel, ' the Son of man is not come to de-
stroy men's lives, but to save them,' how ought we
to do our utmost, as &r as in us lies, that no soul
be;lost ! Spiritual circumcision should not be impeded
by carnal circumcision. If, even to the foulest of-
fenders when they afterwards believe, remission of
sins is granted, and none is prohibited from baptism
and grace ; how much more should an infant be ad*-
mitt^ ; — who, just born, hath not sinned in any re-
spect, except, that being carnally produced according*
to Adam, he hath, in his first birth, contracted the
ccNfKt^^n of the ancient deadly nature ;-T*and wbo^
obtains the remission of sins with the less difficulty,:
because not his own actual guilt, but that of andther,'
is. t^ be remitted ?

** Our sentence therefore, dearest brother, in the
council was, that none, by us, should be prohibited

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Defence of
Infant-bttp-

43a HISTORY OF THE CHUECH

CHAP, from baptism and the grace of God, who is merciful
^"il , and kind to all.^

I purpose carefully to avoid disputes on subjects
of small moment Vet to omit a word here on a
pointy which hath produced volumes of strife, mi^t
seem almost a studied affectation: On such occasions
I shall briefly and pacifically state my own views, as
they appear deducible from evidence.

Instead of disputing whether the ri^t of infant-
baptism is to be derived from Scripture alone, and
whether tradition deserves any attention at all, I
would simply observe, — that the Scripture itself
seems to speak for an infant baptism * ; — Mid further,
that tradition, in matters of custom and discipline, is
of real weight, as appears from the confession of
every one; for every one is glad to support his cause
by it, if he can : — and, in the present case, — to those
who say that the custom of baptizing children was
Bot derived from the apostolical ages, the traditional
argument may fairly run in language nearly Scrip-
tural, *^ if any man seem to be contentious, we have
no such custom, neither the Churches of Godf T
— and we never had any such custom as that of con-
fining baptism to adults.

Here is an assembly of sixty-six pastors, men of
approved fidelity and gravity, who have stood the
fiery trial of some of the severest persecutions ever
known, and who have testified their love to the Lord
Jesus Christ, in a more striking manner than any
Antipsedo-baptists have had an opportunity of doing
in our days; and, if we may judge of their religiousr
views by those ofCyprian, — and they are all in per-
fect harmony with him, — they are not wanting in any
fiindamental of godliness. No man in any age more
reverenced the Scriptures, and made more c6pious
use of them on all occasions, than he did ; and, — it
must be confessed, — in the very best manner. For
he uses them continually, for practice, not for

• 1 Cor. vii. 14. t 1 Cor. xL 16.

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UKDER VALERIAN. 4J^

osT£KTATiON ; for USE, not far the sake of vic«*
TORY m argument— Before this holy asseix^ly a
questioQ is brocghty — uot whether in&nts should be
baptized at all, — none contradicted this, — but, whe-
ther it is right to baptize them immediately, or on
the eighth day ? Without a single negative, they alt
determined to baptize them immediately. This trans-
action passed in the year two hundred and fifty-three, a* jk
Let the reader consider : If infant-baptism had been 253.
an innovation, it must have been now of a consi-
<lerable standing : The disputes conceniing Easter,
and other very uninteresting pomts, siiow that such
an innovation must have formed a remarkable mm
in the Church. The number of liercsies and divisions
had been very great Among them all such a devi-
ation firoih apostolical practice as this must have
been remarked. To me it appears impossible to
account for tliis state of things, but on the footing
that it had EVER been allowed; and, therefore, that
the custom was that of the first Churches. Though,
then, I should wave the argument drawn from that
sentence of St Paul, " Else were your children
unclean, but now they are holy ;" — and yet it is pot
easy to explain its meaning by any thing else than
infant-baptism, — I am under a necessity of conclud-
ing, that the antagonists of infant-baptism are mis-
taken. Yet I ifee not wljy they may not serve God in
sincerity, as well as those who are differently minded
llie greatest evil lies in the want of charity; and
in that contentious es^^erness, with which singularity,
in little things, is apt to be attended. Truly good
men have not always been free from this ; — perhaps
few persons, on the whole, cultivated larger and
more generous views than our African prelate ; —
yet, in one instance, we shall presently see, he was
seduced into a bigotry of spirit not unlike to that
tvbtefa I here disapprove, and greatly lament

1 could have wished that Christian people had
never been vexed with a controversy so fiivolous as

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XIU.

432 HISTORY OF THE CHURClS

CHAP, this about baptism : but having, once for all, given
my views and the reasons of them, I turn from the
subject, and observe further, — that there is, in the
extract of the lettei- before us, a strong and clear
testimony of the faitli of the ancient Church concern-
ing the doctiine of original sin. One may safely be
allowed to reason, on that head, in the same way
as in the case just now considered; but the fulness of
Scripture concerning so momentous a point precludes
the necessity of traditional arguments. A lover of
divine truth will, however, not be displeased to find
— that, without contradiction, Christians in the mid-
dle of the third century did believe, that men were
bwn in sin and under the wrath of God throu^
Adam's transgression, and, by their connexion with
him. as a federal head, were involved in all the con-
sequences of his offence. Such were the sentiments
of the ancient Christians in general; — ^^of the very
best Christians, — w ho possessed the Spirit of Chiist
in the most powerful degree. — The just consequences,
which belong to this fact, are seldom attended to by
persons who are wise in their own conceit — '' Let
us attend," say they, " to right reason, — to modern
improvements in tlie interpretation of Scripture, and
let us reject without ceremony the obsolete absur-'
dities of ancient ignorance f — The real practical
meaning of which is this : We will torture and twist
ia every possible direction the most perspicuous
passages of holy writ, rather than we will acknow-
ledge them to contain doctrines, which we dislike* —
To submit at once to the testimony of the Divine
Word is, in itself, the most reasonable thing in the
world ; but when men will not abide by that; — whea
they will subsdtute schemes of their own fancy and
invention, — in the place of actqal revelation,— and
still profits themselves to be under the guidance of
the Scriptures, it may dien be v«ry expedient tor
oppoiie and confute their unwarrantable constructions
and criticisms by the uuai^imous judgment of tbr

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tlTBEU VALfeuiAir. 43^

fhifliMv^ Ghurch, ^^ho had th6 biBSt (JpportmiitY oi (^lir.
kndWftig the truth.^-^There is no linprgudieed iiiirid, "'
n^lch will not feel the htce of this Argument.

Thefolloifrtng private case,— *vbich must haVi

^ KAjf^petied in time of p6aee,— and therefore rfiAy

ptoptAy be rdeited tb tWJ peri6U, QeieHts, on ac^

^oofit of file light, which it throws oh pridiittv^ Ghris^

iito ntttfrtiers, to be distractljr recorded.

'* Cyprian to Eucratius his brothBn HttMh.
Ydtrt* knre arid ^^teem have indnti^ you, dearest
bfoAer, to cOiteult me as to what I think of thri
«»6 of a Player finlong you ; who ^ill cOiitinues id
instruct others in that infamous and miserable drf,
irbhlh he Wnrielf hath ledrnt You afik, whfetiier he
AouM bt ilHowed ib6 continuance of Christian com-^
ihtttndn? I think it very inconsistent with the ma-
jesty of God, find tiie rul^ of his Gospel, that th^
fiiodeSty and honour of the Church should bd
defiled by so base and infamous a contslgioh. hi
fce law • men are prohibited to wear female atth^,
ind are pronounced abominable; ho^V much mor^
criminal must it be, not only to put on wonlen'^
ffTtnebtSy but also to express lascivious, obscene;
tad effeminate gestures in si wiety of instructing
dihcrs!-— By these meilnS boys will not be improved
nk dny thmg iSiat is g6od, but abSclately ruined id
fteir morals.

*^ And let rto man excuse himself, as having left the?
fheittre, while yet he undertakes to qualify other^
ht the work. Yon cannot say that the man ha^
d&sed firom his business, when M provides stfbdti-
fetes in his own place; and funfiishes tb^ playhouse/
.With a number of performfefi instead of^ on6; aiicf
feacb^ them, contrary to the divioi ordinanc^jl, to
liotlfotind, in their app&nrf, iht proper and dtfedirilf
dfaflnaiont of the sex6s ; and so gratifies Safari \f^
ttedeflleMeflt t^ tat ditine worlknimsbip.-^lf the
man makes poverty his excuse, hid fi^s^d ma/

• Deut xxii. 5,
Vol. I, » f

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XIII.

434 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

CHAP, he relieved iu the same maaner as those of o&iei9f

who are maintained by the alms of the Church, pro*

vided he be content with fixigal and simple foodg

;and do not fancy that we are to hire hmiy by a salary,

to cease from sm; since it is not our interest, but

pis OWN, that is concerned in this affiiir. But,—

jet his gains by the service of the playhouse be ever

so large, — What sort of gain is i\mt, which tears

men from a participaUon in the banquet of Abraham,

Isaac, and Jacob, and leads them from their misera*

ble and ruinous feasting in this world to the punish-*

pents of eternal &unine and thirst? Therefore,—

if possible, — recover him from this depravity and

infamy to the way of innocence and to the hope of

life, that he may be content with a parsimomous, but

salutary maintenance from the Church.. And, if your

Church be insufficient to maint^ its own pow \

he may transfer himself to us^ — ^and he shall here

receive what is necessary for food and raiment:—

He must, however, no longer teacii his pernicious

lessons ; but himself endeavour to learn somethii^

from the Church that may be useful to his salvation^

Dearest son, I wish you constant prosperity f,"

. The decision of Cyprian is, doubtless, that, which

piety and good sense would unite to dictate in the

case. — A player was ever an infamous character at

Rome ; and was looked on as incapable of filling

any of the offices of state. The Romans, at the

same time that they showed, in this point, the sounds

ness of their political, evinced the depravity of their

moral, sense : for there were still maintained by

them, at the public expense and for the public

amusement, a company of men, who, — they,knew, —

must of necessity be dissolute and dangerous mem-^

bers of society. If this was the judgiuent of sober

pagans, we need not wonder that tie purity of Chris-

. * Eiicratiiis was the bishop of a place called 'fbeae^ lyiug
in the military road to Carthage.

t Ep.6i,J>am.

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UNDER VALraiAN"* 43.^

Canity would not even ^ufier such characters to be cent.
admitted into the bosom of the Church at all. To , i' ^
say» that there are noble sentiments to be found in
some dramas, answers not the purpose of those, who
would vfaidicate the entertainments of the stage. The
support of them requires a systek in its own na-
ture corrupt; — a system, which must gratify the vo^ .
luptuous and the libidinous, or it can have no dura-^*
Ue existence. Hence, in eveiy age, compkunts have
been made of the licentiousness of the stage ; and
the necessity of keeping it under proper restraints*
and relations has teen admitted l^ its greatest*
admirers. But it is, I think, a greatmistake to sup-
pose that the stage may remain a favourite amuse-
ment, and, at the same time, be so n^lated as not
to offend tiie modest eyes and ears of a humble
Christian. The gravest advocates for the theatre
expect pleasure from it rather than instruction : If,
therefore, you believe that human nature is corrupt'
and impure, only ask yourself what sort of dramatic
exhibitions and conversations will be most likely to
meet with the applause of the people; — and you will*
soon be led to conclude, that the playhouse is and
must be a school of impurity.

The first Christians felt the force of this^ obvious
argument, and they rejected the stage entirely.—
A Christian, renouncing the pomps and vanity of
this wicked world, and yet frequenting the play-'
bouse, was with them a solecism. — The effusion
of the Holy Spirit, which, during three centuries, we
are now reviewing, never admitted these amusements
at all— The profession of the dramatic art, and the
professicm of Christianity, were held to be absolutely
inconsistent with each other.

It is one of the main designs of this History tQ
dhow, practically, what true Christians were, both in
principles and in manners : and, in this view, the
case befpr^ us is exceedingly instructive. — What
would Cyprian have said had he ^e^n large assem*

W T 2

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43^ HISTOUT OF T»E CBTUWH

CHAP, btie^of Gbristita^ SO calted, devoted} taliMM mpn^'
J^"j' y lities, and supporting them wi& tH their vnght^ and
deriving ffom them the highest ck^^t? — ^' Such
persons mus^ certainly, be straagera to the joy of
tbe H^y Ghost; and I cannot but wonder ithy tb^
choose to retain the naoie of Cbriatam*'^ — ^TlMsni if
he had examined their stage-emeftmnmentfi, and
compared them with those tlmt were in vogue in his
own day, — ^Woald he not have seen the sameoon-
fiision g( sexes, — the same ^acouragement of on-
chaste desires, and the same sensuality, with the same
contemptuous ridicule of Christianity ?-^if^ nideed,
in bis time the Gospel was ever burlesqued on a
stage, as it has, finequentiy, been in ours. — la some
points of lesser consequence, tiie ancient drama
might differ from the modem ; but, on the wfax^ the
i»pirit and tendency was the same; and, doabdess,
this exedUent bishop would ha^e been astonished to
betold^ that in a country, wkidi called itself Chris-
tian^ actors and actresses and managers of play-
iKMses amassed large sums of money; — that many
exemplary dergyraen could scarce find subsistence;
cfnd^ that theologians of great ertiditioa enlisted in
the service of the stage, and obtained applause by
writing comments on dramatic poets. ^

Tb^e was a bbhop of Assurae, named Sbrtuna*
tus, who had lapsed in the tune of persecution^ uid
who, without any mark&of repmtance, stiHassun^ed
to himself the episcopal character^ and insisted oi^
kis beii^ received as such bytheclergy and people.
Tti^ case produced an epistle of Cyprian to the
Church \ in whicb he as strenuously opposes the
atihiliiHiB claims, of the bbhop as, in similar ciroum^
stances, he had formerly d^ those of the laity;
and he repeats the advice which he had be&H^ ^ven
to the lapsed^ and cautions the people a^iot the
reception of him ill his former rank aad station. —
Behold now the atremious assertor of the right o£

^£fUM<

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in.

; IWHEJr TALEBXAK. 437

fattMul bishdpB opeilly exposing the pratawiotntof craxL
unworthy 'Ones, and imtructing the people toguaod
themselves agftkitf aoch ilehianoB ! Wbat efiwt hb
efHstb had, does not appear: The weight of has
character, and the vigour of the disGiptine then hap-
pily prevalent in Africa, maloe it probaUe that it had
the desired sitccesa

Rogatian, an African bishops coflBpIakied to Cy-
priaa alid his oolleBga^ assembled id a SyAod, of
titt inaakiot and iojurious hebav^nlr ef ^ deaoett*
Cyprian ofaservefi^ that he might hai^aidonahiipsclf
jusdoe without takii^: this tttp^^^Hp af^pdies t&e
caseof Korah, Datfaan, and Abirao^te tfak of the
hm^ity deacon^ ^and takes netbe wfjrproperiy 4f
tine hwdfiUe and unassombig carmf^e ek our Laid
toariBird the impioua dignitaries of doe Jewish Church.
" He taught u8," says he, " by his own behavioar
femrardi nlse pastors, how true ones ought to be
folly flffid f^lajrijr honoured."

The Mowing passa« is, periuips, die most
atrildqg proof tn any in Cyprian's writi^, that ttee
ideas of episcopacy usore too lofty, even Tn that age,
and that they hul insensibly gro«in widi the gradual
increase of supenrtitaon*— Juet it be temarkM as a
cbameter of the spirit of diose times; and as ah
instance of the eSxkoi that spitit oa a aakid the
most pure and humble.

'' iL)Bacons ought to renxmber that the Lord .
dmaQ Aposdes, tint is, Irnbops and rulers ; but that
dieApoktes^ after his ascent kito heaven, chose fo
tliemsel ves deacons, as the ministers of their g6veni«
fbeat toid of tbeCharch. Nt>w if we dare do any
tfaiogt against God ^ho makes bishops, tiien m^y
BEACOKs dare to act against us by wbcuttj they are
appointed."

Even the least aSBsmvri part of this eotnparisoa
is vGxy iKiseeialy : Bishops are, by io nUeans, to be
constderod in the same light as ApostJb^-^IIb iMkt
observation is, however^ Mric^y justi ^^ These are

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43^ HIStDEY OF THE CHXmCH

CHAP, ^tbe begintUDgs of heresies, and the attempts of iU-
^"^' , disposed schismatics to please tfaemsehres and to
despise with haughtiness their superiors :^ ' He pro-
ceeds td advise the bishop how to act concerning a
turbulent lieacon ; and he does this with that happy
mixture of firmness and charily, of which, by a pe-
culiarly intuitive discernment, he seldom failed to
abbw himself a master *. '

Geminius Victor, by his will, appointed Faij^-
fitts, It presbj^, a guardian. In an African synod,
Cypriaaaiid'.libt colleagues iiltote to the Church df
Furnfb t • fffbtest agamst the practice. — The derj^y
iteHBthetl looked xm ashmen wholly devoted to dime
thitigs; secular cares wcrh taken out of their hands
: as. much i9is possible. — Let this fact, also, be noted
AS (Hie of the happy effects of the work of the Holy
Ghost on the Church.

Novattamsm had spread into Gaul ; and Mercian,
bishop of the Church of Arelate, united bimseUf
to the schism. Fauatinos, liishop oi Lyons, and
fiQverdl other French bishops, wrote to Stephen of
Rome on this subject Faustinus wrote, also, con-
. cernii^ the same matter, to Cyprian of Carthage ;
who, id a letter td Stephen^ supported the aiuse of
the g^ieral; Church a^instthe schismatics. — ^Tliese
facts are maDtioifed, for the purpose of showira how
the Gospel, which had so gloriously begun at Lyons
in the secoikl century, must now have spuead in
France to a great d^ree.-~Contentions and schisms
, usually have no place, till afior Christianity has
taken dfiep root

The same observation may be made respecting die

• progress of Christianity in Spain ; where, by the

iQScriptipna of Cyriac of Ancona, it appears that the

light of truth had entered in Nero s tifaie. Two

. Spaniab bishops, Basilictes and Martial, had deser-

vetdiy lost their pastoral offices in the Church, on

^ »(H^unt of tiifiir uoiakbfulness in the persecution.

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UNCEK VALERtAN. . .,

Cyprian and his colleagues in council wrote to con-
firm their deposition : He shows that the people no
less than the clergy were bound to abstain firon^
communion with such characters; and he supports
his argument by the directions of Moses to the
children of Israel, " Depart, I pray you, from thei *
tents of these wicked men/* He recommends*—
that ordinations should be performed in the sight
of all the people, that they might all have jan
opportunity to approve or to condemn the cha-
racters of thepersons ordained. He takes notice — <
that, in Africa, die neighbouring bishops used to
toeet in the place! where the new bishop was to be^
ordained ; and, that there he was chosen in the
presence* of the people themselves, who kneW fully
the fife dnd conversation of every candidate* He
observes— ^that Sabinus, who had been substituted
in the room of Basljlides, had been ordained in this
fail" and equitable manner : and be censures Basilides
for going to Rome, and for gaining by deceit, the
consent of Stephen to his being re-iastated in his
former dignity. Cyprian thinks — that his guilt was
much aggravated by this conduct : and in regard to
MBrticd, who, it seefns, had defiled hmiself with
Pagan abominations, he insists, — that his deposition
ought to remain confirmed.

While these things show the unhappy spirit of
linman depravity bearing down the most wholesome
fences of discipline, they evince, that there existed
persons at that time in tne Christian world, who ex^
crted themselves, — and that not wiUiout success,—
to preserve the purity of Ae Church. — And, if ever
it should please God to affect, with due care an(|
zeal, the hearts of those, who possess thel power to
reform our own ecclesiastical defects and abuses,
better guides and precedents than these, — next to
the Scriptures, — will scarcely be found. x. D.

In the year two hundred and fifty-four, Pupian, 254^
* Epis. 68.

y F 4 '

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upiati*f

440 HISTQl^T or THJP CfmiECH

a Christian of 4i$tinctiou ia Ca,rtibi^gey b^ iettei
accused Cyprian qf ruling the Church Mf jth wpcri^

ous sway; and of ejecting ipember^ firpn) i| witl|

»ccusatiun great insolence and haughtiQe^fi. Th^ African pr^
of c>prun. i^^g jjj^j presided now during six je^s, 91^ hA4
signalized himself;, equally V^. p^rsecMtipp ao4 U)
peace, as the friend of piety, order, aii4 ^i^pliiMi
and had exerted himself, ^ tt^^ u^e of qvj^ ten^;^
ral and spiritual faculty, solely for thi^ gppfii of ti^
falling and distempered Churcl^: hp s^w, by t^Mf
time, the great success pf hi^ labours.; 9p4f it bWi
behoved him to pay the ta^, wbMch (^loiqei^t; viftiif
6ver does pay to slander aj]ud to envy,-:-A tp3|, 09
doubti exceedingly irksome £jpddistre6^g;n»n^i^i^fr
thel^ss, necessary to preuent the ri$ingp of pn4^
and to preserve the most enweut Qbristwi^ l^i^i^
befpre his pod. Pupiajfi believed, or affeo^i to
believe yejy unjust rumours, lyhic^i w^ra c4fC^)#f4
against his pastors aad s^id, that tinr scruplp of
conscience, with vYhichhQw^ seized, pr^veq^him
frqm owning the authority of Cyprian, ^fe himself
had suffered during the persecutipn, sov^ l^d b«W
faitliful; but, like Luciap, whom he, prohafclji r^r
sembled both in virtues and weakn^as^, he wa$ db-
gustcd at the backwardues^ of Cypriap ia rccoiving
tliG lapsed. This nialcoi}tent heavily QoaipI%iQed of
^is Si^ve^fity, while the Novatian party bad sepiur^ted
from theif bishop qa;,iiccount of his lenity. Th*
i>est Qnd wisest characters have ever beep inoBt 69*
posed to such ipcoqsistent charges, {t 6fm not
appear that j^upian wa^ able to raiso. a 4ft@094 90a(
of dissenters on oppqsit^ grounds to tho9e of tbf
i^rst : and w^ may hx>pe tb^t he reflectqd on hit
error,, aiid returned into ^ statc^.of recoacili^M:^'witb
ills bishop. A few e^^tracts fion^ CypriauVsiWwer^
— for we have not Pupian s letter.-^in^y tbrow 9^
stronger light on the tennper and pnocipl^f. of C^
prian, and afford us spm^ ss^Mtary i^^^ciptjoi^.
To the charge of Pupian — that bf WM not pos-
12

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a«^c4 of- buidiliiy, he »ii$wei»4hi]fl< '^ WUofa tif
^ J3 nuwt deficierA w hijLo^H^?-*'!, who daily sarvt
the bretbrw ; ^d whp, with kiqidpefts Md pleasure^
c^ceive eiy^ry oja/f whacooMiB to iN Church; or you,
.who cQa^tttpte yom^lf the \fi^o^ of the biif^p» and
li^p judgQ o( tiiiQ ipc}«appQintRd by Godib( a cav
twi ^iQe? Th^ Lordi W th« <jk>spel, when it was
i^d to hup, ' Aji^(^f^ thw the hi^ priest so V
sdll |ire§ei*vU% th? ro^pect dim to tkw ncentobil
ch^adn^r,! ^d votbifig %g«iaAt the high priest^ bufc
qaly cli^^ hisown ipiiocfow : and St Paul, though
he mig^t h^^ bOQC^ jus^fied im usbg atn»g laoguage
Agimst thpsQ wt^ bfid crud^ the Ixund, 701 en^
fiwers, ^I wbtnot, brethren, thfit he was ^ H^
J^rktf; for i)t if writteRi tbot shaU not speak evil
ojf ^ wifa?;of thy p^opW/
, ^^ tTnl^aS; jiftdiMi youwiHsay — kbat before the
Der^ft^opi whra yoi^ woi^ i« cofDmuoion with m%
X w9^ yottir pastor; k4% th|i:t alter the peiseoulioa I
Cfi9^ to h^sa— I s>4ppoaey then, the persecution
f^xalted yoM to tha hi^ hQiKHur of a witness £ot
Christ ;^ and, at t^ ^wao tioif^ depreaaadme from
ipy oflSce by ^ heavy peoscxiption : — yet,— the very
i^cty which pfos^i^ me, acknowkictged my rank:
^ a bisliop^ ; TbiBp^ ev#fi those, who believed not
God who appqiats th6rt)ishop, cpedited the devil wh6
proscribed lua^

^' I speak not thas^things in a way of boasting, but
Tvith grief; sii^ypu set youraelf upasa^geof
God and his Christ, who sayStto tiie Apostles,— andl,
of conseqa^(>oet to ajil the bmhopa, the successors of
the ApostleS) -*-' He that heareth you^ beareth me ;
;snd hk that reject^ you, r^ectsth ma' — Hence
heresies and sohisin mrise: and must arise, w-benever
persons presamptuoqsly despise tbe autooriiyof the
bisttop^ who alone is the president of the Church : — ;
what arcog^tfica is this, —to eali pastors to toua

^ The t^ict.niw tk^%^^^ Wkotvep skaH Jiold or possess any
jptart of thft jy^ods, of C«ailHW Cyfftw, Insbop o£ tbt Chria'

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XIU.

443 Misffefet OF tHE CHlfRCH

CHAP. Icoghizance ; dud anleiss they be acquitted M Youm
ijar, — behold, — the brethren must be pronounced to
JiRve been without a bishop for the last six years !

" You say your scruples must be solved : — buf;
^Wby did not those martyrs, who, full of die Holy
<jtho8t,»*-suffered for God and his Christ ; — ^Wby
did not many of my Colleagues, and many of the
people, who have been illustnous for their sufferings,
indulge similar scruples? Must all — as you affirm —
i¥bo have commuracated with me» be considered as
polluted^ and as having lost the hope of eternal life?
— Pufmn alone is upright,— inviolable, — holy, —
•chaste: he must not mix with us : he must dwell
tolitary in paradise ! !"

He then exhorts him to return to the bo^rii .of
the Church: but at the same time he informs Wm,
that, in the matter of hia( re-admission, he shfell be
£uided by intimations and fidtnonitiohs from the
Lord, communicated to him possibly by visions and
dreams. — ^This is a language not unusual in Cyprian :
but we know too little of the mode of dispensation
which the Church, at that time, was under, to judg^
accurately concerning it : — certainly the age of mi-
racles had not tlien ceased : and, certainly, instruct-
tion by dreams was very much the method used by
God in Scripture :-r-TQ rejedl> therefore, wholly the
positive declarations of a man of Cyprian's wisdom
and veracity, would be inexcusable temerity. — He,
repeatedly, speaks of ttie Lord's directbns revealed
to him in the manner above mentioned. If some ex-
pressions in tlie letter be allowed to favour of epis-
copal haughtiness which was then growing in the
Church, the main tenor of it, nevertheless, contains
nothing but what Pupian ought to have attended
to n^ost seriously. A readiness to believe stories,
-which tend to calumniate the worthiest pastors, is
e snare which Satan has too succes^lly laid for
the men^rs of the Church in all ages : and, doubt-
4ess, much greater circumspection is required on this
head, than many are disposed to pay. The brotberiy

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VN1>EE VALERIAN. 443

fellowship of Churches depends, in a great mea- cent.
«ure, on their endeavours to preserve the unity of i^l^: JL
the Spirit m the bond of peace.

Cyprian concludes in this nervous manner: " I
have veritten these things with a pure conscience, and
in the firm reliance on my God. — You have my let-
ters; I have yours; both will be recited in the day
of judgment before the tribunal of Christ*."

A controversy no\v arose among; Christians, while Controrer-
the pacific spirit of Valerian continued to protect lig ^^^
them, which reflects no honour on any of the parties
concerned in it. The question was, whether persons
returning from heresies into the Church ought to be
re-bapti^. The active spirit of Cyprian was em-
ployed, partly by a council in Africa, and partly by
his letters, in maintaining that the baptism of here-
tics was nul) and void; and that even Novatian
baptism ought t<if be looked upon in the same light.
Stephen, bishop of Rome, maintained, that, if per-
sons had been baptized in the name of the Fatiier,
the Son, and the Holy Ghost, imposition of hands
^ould then be sufficient for their reception into the
.Church: '^The point vras left undecided, because no
party had power to compel others; most Christians,
however, have long since agreed with Stephen ; and,
indeed, it is the voice of good sense as well as of Ae
Church of England, — that the efficacy of a Sacra-
ment, rightly administered, depends not on the cha-
racter of him that ministers it. But the respect
which Cyprian, not undeservedly, had acquired by
his labours, his sufferings, and his abilities, procured
him a much greater degree of strength than either
the importance of his cause or the weight of his iar-
euments merited. Even Firmilian of Cappadocia,
m a long letter, supported his side of the question.
— ^This bishop, occasionally, adverts to the case of a
woman, who, about twenty- two years before the date
t)f his tetter, had professed herself a prophetess, and
•Epis. 69.

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444 HIsn>]%T OF TH^ CHUflCH.

CHAP, far a 4ong turn had deceived the brethren with bar
^yjlji ecstatic raptures, till one of the exorcists confiited
her pretensions. It may be worthwhile just to have
mentioned this fiact, a& it shows that del vsicxis have
ever been raised by Satan to di^raoe the ^ork of
jGod, ' It appears by Ae same letter*, — that Ste-
phen behaved with much violence and asperity in the
contest ; — that be did not evei^ adpuk to atconibrenbe
the breUiren who cao>e to hka froo» dbtaot parte, if
they happened to be of Cyprian's opinion ;~biit
that be denied them the commonr^ts of bo^itality.
•^In the course of thi3 controver^ Cyprian decided^
and certainly with much jHopnel^, — that tbo8et>
3¥hase weak state of health did not permit tbem to
be washed in water, w^re yet sufficiently bapfi^ by
bein^ sprinkled: — He observ^^, tbfttth^ virtue of
bapbsm ought not to he eatimated^ in n caniid mai»-
ner, by the quantity of external apparatus*

How weak, alas, is man !— rA p6Ma<^ three yews
has set the members of the Chui^ ma flaiM among
themselves, — and ipr a matter of tri6iM importW
And one of the best and wisest men of bis day, by
^ for unity, and by caution against innovation;)^
is.betrajed into the support ^ an i^de^sn^ible, powt
of mere ceremony^ wtueh tends to the encoiiri^e^
ment of superstidoo and the weakening of brotb^y
iove! — How soon do we forgel that '^ the kingdom
of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, mid
Joy in the Holy Ghopt !''^ — With jp^hat difficulty ia the
veal love of Jesus and its fruits preserved amof^
professors of Christianity! AU this proves in tbe
strongest manner, — how m%hty and ^tracioiis the
Lord is in still preaevviag a Chuiteh in Uie earth; —
how dark and corrupt is man;— how actiw aod
subtile is Satan;— how precbus is that blood which
cleanses from all sm ;— and how true is tfaat book
which contains these salutary dootr ines and fmthfuUy
^iescribes the misery of man!— How sf^My SMy vt
• Epis. 75* t Epi»* 7^

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ifdy Oft the nay of solvation which it ^eaeto; «d
haw pteMB^ ia the prospect which it cmhibits of the
Church kil^i^ca!

The reader would justly think the time iil-aafr^
ployed m unntvdting the niceties of this trifling
controversy. — Beeidas^ our attention is called to
raoife koportsttt matter:— <jrod prepares a scourge
far his fix>Ward diildren : Persecution lowers again
with rtoewed strength ; and Christians are called
on — to forget their idle internal squabbles, — ^to
hnmble themselves before him, — and to prepare for
fresh scenes of horror and des^tion.

CHAP. XIV;

THE LAST ACTS AND MABTTRBOK OS
CYPRIAN.

1 HE dutnge in the disposition of Valerian to- viiia
wards Ac Christians^ which took pface about the ^^^
year of our Lord two hundred and fifty-seven,
is one of the most memorable instances of the ^* ^*
instabfnty of human diameters. In kittdhess to ^^^*
them he had surpassed all his predecessors. Even
from Philip they had not experienced so much cour-
te^ and ftiendship. Hispsdacehad, usually, been
fan of the folio wei^ of Jesus, and was looked on as a
^anrtaary. But now, after he had reigned three years^
he was induced, by his favourite Macrianus to com-
mence a deadly persecution. This man dealt largely
in magteal enchantments and abominable sacrifices;
lie slaughtered children, and tore out the intestines
of new-born babes **• The persecution of Christians
^asacrud employment, worthy of a mind so fascinated
^9aA diabolical wickedness and folly ; and he found
ID Valerian but too prompt a disciple. This fresh
attack on the servants of Christ began in the year two
hundred and fifty-seven, and continued during the
itMaander of the rdgn of this emperor; — namely,
♦ Dionysius of Alex.— Euicb. B. 7. C. io»

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BISTORV OF THE CHUECIT*

three years and a half. Stephen of Roooe afipears t^
have died a natural death about the begkming of it:
For, there is no evidence of hb martyrdom ; and,
therefore, we want the proofs which might, in that
case, have been afforded, whether bis turUilent and
aspiring spirit was really combined with .genuine
Christian affections. — He was succeeded by Sixtus.
. Cyprian, who bad escaped two persecutions, was
now made the victim of the third, — though by slow
degrees, and with circumstances of comparative
lenity. Every thing relating to him is so interesting,
that it may not be amiss to prosecute bis story, in a
connected manner, to his death ; and to reserve the
narrative of other objects of this persecution till
afterwards. i

He was seized by the servants of Patemus the
proconsul of Carthage, and brought into his council-
chamber. ** The sacred emperors. Valerian and
Gallienus/' says Paternus, "havedone me the honour
to direct letters to me, ia which they have decreed,
that all men ought to adore the gods whom the Ro-
mans adores and on pain of being slain with the
sword if they refuse. I Iftiv^ heard that rou despise
the worship of the gods ;— whence I advise you to
consult for yourself and to honour them." ^^ I am a
Christian," replied the prelate, ^^ and know no god
but the one true God, who created heaven and eartl^
the sea, and all things in them. This God we Chris-
tians serve: To him we pray night and day for ^
men, and even for the emperors.** " You will die
the death of a malefactor, if you persevere in this
disposition of mind *." ^^ That is a good dispo^tioD
which fears God," answered Cyprian, " and therefore
it must not be changed." " It is the will, then, of
the princes, that, for the present, you should be
banished." " He is no exile," replied the bishop^
'^ who has God in his heart, for the earth is the
Lord's, and the fulness thereof." Patemus said,

* The passioD of Cyprian in Pam. Edit. — ^Fleuiyi UuuB^J*

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MAfiTTBPO^ OP C7i»IAir«r 447^

V Be&fte you^^ tell me^-r-wher^ are your ptesby*^ cent.
ter3 : Th^ arewid to be in thisdty ?**— With much .^^''; ^
presence of mind, Cyprian ranmded him of the
edicts made by the best Roman princes against the
practice of informers: '^ They ou^t not, Uierefore,
to be discovered by me; and you yourselves dp not
approve of men^ ni^o offer themselves voluntarily to
you.** " I will make you discover them by torments."
^' By me," the intrepid bishop rejoii^, " they shall
not be discovered.'" ^' Our princes have ordered that
Christians should hold no convaiticles; and whoever
breaks this rule shall be put to death.'' ^^ Do what
you are ordered," Cyprian calmly replied

Patemus, however, was not disposed to hurt
Cvprian. Most probably he respected the character
of the man, who, by this time, must have been highly
esteemed hi Africa on account of a shining series of
good works. ' After havbg made some ineffectual at-
tempts to work on his fears, he sent him into banish^
ment to Curubis, a little town fifty miles from Car-
thage, situate by the sea, over against Sicily. The
place was healthy, the air good, and, by his own
desire, he had private lodj^ngs. The citizens of
Curubis, during the eleven months which he lived '
among uiem, treated him with great kindness; and
he was repeatedly visited by the Christians. — In this
short interval Patemus died.
[ While the exiled prelate remuned by the sea-side
serving hb divine Master in holy meditations and
useful actions to the best of his power and opportu*
nity, he was informed that the persecutors had seized
nine bishops, with several priests and deacons, and a
great number of the frdthful, even virgins and children;
and, after beating them with sticks, had sent the^i
to work in the copper-mines among the mountains.
Every one of these bishops had been present at the
last council of Carthage ; their names were Nemesian, .
Felix, Lucius, a second Felix, litteu^, Polus, Victor,
Jader^ and Dativus. I cannot account for the milder

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trmtamit wh|eh Cyprian received ftoti Cbe ItoriMui
govemdrs in any other \ray than by ^opposing, tiM;
8ti eifitraordin&ry and reverential redpeet wad paid tiy
his si3peri<»* qoaMty, labours, and Yirtoes. Be ihttt
as it m6£ff Providence <^rtainly fevotrred him itt ^
peculiar manner. But bis sympathising spirit cooNt
net but be witti his brethren :— His sentiments dind
liis feelings are strongly expressed in a letter to
Namesidd and the rest.

•* Your glory requires, blessed and beloved
brethren, that I ought to come and emfatace yoo,
vrerei it not that the eonfiession of die same name
has confined me also to this plac^ : but i^ it be fyt-^
bidden me to come to you in body, I am present
with you in spirit and afiectbn ; and I endeavour to
express my very soul to^ you in letters.— How do I
exult itiyour honours^ and reclton myself a partiter
wfcb you, — tfiough not in 8uflFeriftg,-**yet in the ftJ-
lo«rship of love ! — How can I hold my peace, wheir
I hefitr sitch glorious thmgs of dearest breAren ? Horr
hath the Divine dispensations honoured you ! Part of
y»u have eiveady finished the course of martyrdom^
and are now receiving cmwns of righteousness fhntt
Uie Lord ; and the rest, as yet in prisons, or in mine^
and bonds, exhibit, in the tedioushes&r of their affile^
tliMis, still greater examples of patience and perse-
verance, which will arm and strengthenthe brethren,
at the same time that these long-continued torments
witt advance the sufferers to a higher proficiency to
€liri9Cia& glory, aild ensure to them a proportion^
mv^rd in heaven.

^ In truth, — that the Lord has thus honoured yOo,
affords^ me no surprise when I reflect ort your blime*
less liv>es and faithfulness ; your firm adfaerencetothe
divine ordnance ; your integrity, concord, homillt^v
<iiKgence; mercy in cherishing the poor; constant
.ijrt ch^nee of the truth ; and strictness: of Christian
'' dtsdipline : — And, that nothing might be wantiifg' iit
jtouas' patterns dfgoodworfc^ cvextriow, bycoii-

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M^RTYEDOM OF CYPJEIIAN. 449

le^sipn with the mouth and by suffering vvitii the body, cent.
you stir up the minds of the brethren to divine mar- , }^^
tyrdom, and distinguish yourselves as leaders of
eminent goodness; nor do I doubt, but that the
■flock will imitate their pastors and presidents, and
be crowned, in like manner, by our common Lord. —
That you have been grievously beaten with clubs,
imd have been initiated, by that punishment, in
Christian confession, is a thing not to be lamented.
The body of a Christian trembles not on account of
clubs: All his hope is in wood*. The servant of
Christ acknowledges the emblem of his salvation :
Redeemed by a cross of wood to eternal life, by this
wood he is advanced to liis crown. O happy feet !
shackled indeed at present with fetters; ye wilj
quickly finish a glorious journey to Christ ! — Let
mcdice and cruelty bind you as they please, ye will
soon pass from earth and its sorrows to the kingdom
of heaven. — In the n^ines ye hijivc not a bed on w hich
the body may be refreshed ; — nevertheless, Christ is
your rest and consolation : Your limbs are fatigued
with labour and lie on the ground : but, so to lie
down, -wheu you have Christ with you, is no punish-
ment.— Filth and dirt defile your linjbs, and ye have
no baths at hand ; but, remember, ye are inwardly
washed from all uncleanness. — Your allowance of
bread is but scanty ; be it so, — man doth not live by
bread alone, but by the word of God. Ye have no
proper clothes to defend you from the cold ; — but he,
who has put on Christ, is clothed abundantly."

He afterwards comforts them, by suitable argu-
ments, under the loss of means of grace and of
public fvorship ; and speaks of the Lord as rewaading
the patience and fortitude of his saints, which virtues

^ I observe* OBce fur all, — that the want of a just classical
U&te like tl^at of the Augustan age, and the excess of false
rhetorical ornaments, appear every where in Cyprian's writings.
This was not the defect of the man, but of the times : asd &e
fDcavV^ess of the pun in this place will be forgiven by ail, who
relish the juieciattsness of the doctriiM connecud wiih it.

VOL, 1. G G

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XIV.

45^ HISTORY OF THE CHUR'^H.

CHAP, are indeed his own work in their hearts. ** For it
is of him that we conquer; it is not ye that speak,
but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."
— He shows, hence, tlie great sin of unbelief — in
not trusting him who promises his aid to those who
^ confess him, and in not fearing him who threatens

eternal punishment to those who deny him. In con-
clusion, he begs their earnest prayers, — that he and
they may be freed from the snares and the darkness
of the world ; and that those, who, in the bond of
love and peace, had stood together against the in-
juries of heretics and the pressures of the heathen,
might together rejoice in the celestial mansions*,

Nemesian and the other bishops returned hiih an
answer full of affection and gratitude, from three
different places in which they were confined ; and
they acknowledge the pecuniary assistance which he
had sent them.

Cyprian wrote also to Rogatian the younger, and
to other confessors who were in prison, — most pro-
bably, at Carthage: — He animates them in his usual
manner, " to despise present afflictions through the
hope of future joys;" and he speaks with much plea-
sure of some women and boys who were partners of
their sufferings. He recommends to them the ex-
ample of the elder Rogatian, and of the ever peace-
able and sober Felicissiujusf, who had consum-
mated their martyrdom already.
Cyprian re- Jn the year two hundred and fifty-seven, Cyprian
wile. *^ was permitted to return from exile ; and he lived in
A. D. a gaixien near Carthage, which was now providen-
957 • tially restored to him, though he had sold it at bis first
conversion. His liberal spirit would have inclined
him once more to sell it for the relief of the needy,
if he had not feared lest he should excite the envy
of the persecutors. Here he regulated the affairs ot

* Epis. 7S, 79, 80.

t ,He thus distinguishes this humble, patient martyr, from
the factious character of the same name. £pi8. 8i.

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III.

MART¥^DOM OF CYPRIAN* 45 1

the Church and dfetriboted to the poQrwbat he had cent.
left He sent messengers to Rome for the purpose
of clearing up certain indistinct information which
bad been. received concerning the persecution having
broken out afresh; and he immediately communi-
cated to the brethren* tlie following facts, namely —
That Valerian had given orders that bishops, presby*
ters, and deacons should be put to death .witliout
delay ; — that senators, noblemen, and knights should
be degraded and deprived of their property;, and,
that if they still persisted in bemg Christians, they
shouldlose their lives; — thatwomen of quality should
be deprived of their property and banished ; — and
that all Caesar's freedmen, who should have con-
fessed, should be stripped of their goods, be chained,
and sent to work on his estates. These were Vale-
rian s directions to the senate ; and he sent letters,
to the same effect, to the govemprs of provinces :
" These letters," said Cyprian, " we daily expect to
arrive. We stand, however, in the firmness of faith,
in patient expectation of suffering, and in humble
hope of obtaining, from the Lord's help and kind^
ness, the crown of eternal life." He mentions also
the daily ferocity with which, — he understood, — the
persecution was carried on at Rome in all its hor*
rors : and, he gives a particular instance of it, in the
martyrdom of Xystus the bishop. — He begs that
the intelligence may be circulated through Africa ;
*' That we may all think of death; but not more of
death than of immortality ; and, that, in the iulnesi
of faith, we may, rather with joy than with fear, ex-
pect the approaching events."

Galerius J\faximus had succeeded Paternus in
the proconsulate and Cyprian was daily expected
to be sei^ for. In tins awful crisis a number of
senators and o^rs, considerable for their offices
or tb(ji)r quality, came to him. Ancient friendship
nelted the mii^ds of some of them towards him;

G G 2

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XIV.

iii HlfttOlit 0» THE CHUftCH.

mAP. ^tnd they dfl^ed to ccmceal bkn ki countiy^-plaees ;
but his Soul was now thirsting for martyrdom.
The uncertainty of tedious banishment could not
be agreeable to one, who had had so much experi-
ence of that kind ; and, Valerian s law being express*
ly levelled at men of his character, there seemed little
probability left of his being long concealed. Further,
I believe the g^nerotjus temper of this prelate wouM
have been hurt, if the safety of his former pagan
iriends had been endangered on bis account He
might, therefore, hesitate to accept their ofiera,
though, according to the steady maxims of his con-
scientious prudence, he would, by no means, do
any thing to accelerate his own death. Pontius
bis deacon tells us, — that in opposition to the intern*
perate zeal of thosQ who were for giving themselves
up to the martyrdom^ Cyprian had always on this
head consdentious fears, lest he should displease God
by throwing away his life. In fact, he continued still
at Carthage, exhorting the faithful, and wishing, tlutt
when he should suflFer martyrdom, death might find
him tiius employed in the service of his God. Being
Informed, however, that the proconsul, then at Utica,
had sent soldiers for him, he was induced to comrply,
for a season, with the advice of his friends, by re-
tiring to some place of concealment, that he might
not suffer at Utica, but, — that if he was called to
jJMTtyrdom, — he mi^t finish his life among his own
people at Carthage : So he stales the matter m the
last of his letters to the clergy and the people.
^ Here in this concealment, I wait for the retara
of the proconsul to Carthage, ready to appear be-
fore him, and to say what shall be given me at the-
hour. Do you, dear brethren, — Do you, agreeably
to the instructions you have always received from tM,
continue still and quiet : Let none of you excite tmy
tumult on account of the bretfiren, or ofifer hhnself
voluntarily to the Gentiles. — He, who is seized an*
delivered up, ought to speak : The Lord, wlio dwells

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MAETITRDOM 07 CTFftlAlf. 45S

mos^ triH speak at that hour: Confession ra&er
than profession is our duty."

The proconsul returned to Carthage^ and Cy-
prian returned to his garden. There he was seized
by two officers, who had been^eut with soldiers for
that purpose. They obliged him to sit between
themselves in a diariot ; and they conv^ed him to
a place named Sextus, six miles from Cartht^e, by
the sea-side. The proconsul lodged there on account
of indisposition; and be gave orders that Cyprian
9boa\d be carried back to the house of the chief
officer, about the distance of a stadium* irom the
prsetorium ; and— that the consideration of the bu-^
siness should be deferred till the next day.-n^Tbe
news spread tiirough Carthage : The celebrity <^tba
bishop, on account of his good wbrks, drew prodi4

fious crowds to the scene ; not only of Christians^
ut of infideb, who reverkl eminent virtue in dis^
tress.

The chief officer guarded him,**-'but, in a cour-
teous manner; so that he was permitted to have
his friends about him as usual. The Christians
passed the night in the street before his lodgings;
and the benevolence of Cyprian moved hhn to direct
a particular attentbn to be paid tothe young women
who were anK)ng the multitude. The next day the
proconsul sent for Cyprian, who walked to the pne^
torium attended by a vast concourse of people. The
proconsul not yet appearing, be was ordered to wait
for him in a private place. He sal down, and being
in a great perspiration, a soldier, who had been a
Christian, offered him fi^esh clothes : ** Shall we," says
Cyprian, ** seek a remedy for that which may last
no longer than to-day?" The arrival of the pro-
consul was announced, and this venerable servant
of Christ was brought before him into the judgment-
hall. — '* Are you Thascius Cyprian?'' ^ " I am,"
" Are you he whom the Christians call their

• A kimdrtod and twenfty-fiv« paces,
OG 3

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454 HMTOETjOFoTHR CIWBCltf^

CHAi*. bishop ? " " I am.": *^ Our prioote^btv* ordered
^^^Jl_r you to worship the goda." " That I Will not do."
"' Y6u wpuld judge better to consult your safety,
and not to despise the gods." " My safety and
my strength is Christ the Lord, whom I desire to
serve, for ever." " I jpity your case," 3ays ^the pro-
consul^ /* and, could wish to conault for you.'* '*!
have no; desire^" says the prelate, " that things
should he otherwise with me, than that I n^y adore
my God, and hasten to him mth all the ardour of
my souh-r-rfor the afflictions of this present time
are not worthy to ba. compared with the glory which
shall be revealed in us.': The proconsul grew red
witfi anger;, and imniedia^ly pronounced sentence
of jdieath; in tiie following teareas :— " You. have lived
sacrilegicmsly a long time ; you have formed a so-
cietjrof iixi{Hous conspirators ; you hj«ve shown your-
self an enemy to. the gods and their religion, and
have not hearkened to the equitable counsels of our
princes ; yojii have.evier been a father and a ringlead-
er of the impious* sect. — You shall, therefore, be an
example to the rest, — that, by the shedding of your
blood> they may learn their duty. Let Thascius
Cyprian, who refuses. to sacrifice to the gods, be
put to death by the sword.' "God be prabed!"
said the martyr; and while they were leading him
•away, a multitude of the, .people followed and cried,
'* I^t us die with our holy bishbp."
^'^c ''^riwi ^ troop of soldiers ^attended the martyr ; and th^
* A^^iir offic^^s marched on each side of himi They led him
258* into a plain surrounded with trees, and many climb-
ed up to the top of (hem, to see him at a distanca
Cyprian took off his mantle, and fell on his knees
and worshipped his God : then he put off his inner
garment and remained in his shirt. — The execu-
tioner being come, Cyprian ordered twenty-five gol-
den denarii to be given to him : lie himself bound
.the napkin over his own eyos ; and a presbyter and
a deacon tied his hands, and the (Jbris^aos placed

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MARTYRDOM OF CYPRIAN.

before him napkins and handkerchiefs to receive bis
blood. — His head was then severed from his body
by the SAvord*.

His biographer Pontius represents himself as
wishing to have died with him ; and, as divided be-
tween the joy of his victorious martyrdom, and sor-
row, that himself was left behind.

Thus, — after an eventful and instructive period
of .about twelve years since his conversion, — after a
variety of toils and exercises among friends, and open
foes and n6minal Cljristians, by a death more gentle
than commonly ffell to the lot of martyrs, rested at
l^igth in Jesus the truly magnanimous and benevo-
lent spirit of Cyprian of Carthage. — An extraordi-
nary personage, surely ! And one, whose character
calls for the most distinct review and illustration in
our power. — An attempt of this sort we would make
in the next chapter, however imperfect, or inadequate
it may prove. — Let writers, whose views are secular,
celebrate their heroes, their statesmen, and their
philosophers ; but let us, — even though a Christian's
taste be derided, — at least take advantage of the rare
felicity of the present times of civil liberty, and, en-
deavour, in employing the press, to do some justice
to the virtues of men, who, while they lived, " set
their affections on things above," and who, after
death, — according to modern sentiments of worth
and excellence, — are, almost, assigned to con-
temptuous oblivion. And, may their memorial

be blessed for ever ! !

CHAP. XV.

CYPRIAN COMPARED M'lTH ORIGEN.

1 UE east and the west beheld at the same time these
two men, in talents, activity, and attainments much
superior to the rest of the Cl^fistian world. The

* Acts of his Martyrdom. Passiou of Cyprian in Pam.
Pontius's Life of Cyprian, and Fleury's History.
G G 4

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HISTORY Of THE CHURCH.

Hdmah seems, beyond contradiction, to Imve much
e?tcelled the Grecian in those things in which true
Christian virtue consists ; yet, as the latter, by thd
FRUITS of his life, — thoug^h they were miserably tar-
nished and clouded by a depraved philosophy, — still
claims a just place among saints, it may ai^wer
some valuable purpose, not impertinent to the de*
liigh of this History, to compare, in several particu-
lars, the respective endowments, defects, and excel-
lencies of these extraordinary men.

1 . There may have been as pious and holy men
as Cyprian, in the interval df time between thd
Apostles and him, but we have no opportunity of
knowing any other Christian so well. The distinct
particularity of the accounts concerning him makes
his character remarkably deserving of our atten-
tion. The dealings of God with a sinner, at bis
first conversion, often give a strong tincture to the
whole future life. Cyprian was intended for very
rreat and important services in the Church; and^
niose — of an active nature, and attended with an
almost uninterrupted series of sufferings; — such ai
no man could perform to the glory of God, but
one, who knew assuredly ihe ground on which he
ttodd, by a strong work of liie Divine Spirit on hi^
»oul. His experience in convtsrsion he himself de-
scribes in his letter to Donatus. — His reception of
Christianity was not the effect of mere reasoning
dr speculation. It was not carried on in a scho-
lastic or philosophical manner, but may truly be
said to have been " in the demonstration of the
Spirit and of power." He felt the doctrines of the
Gospel, — namely, the gr^ce of , God ; forgiveness of
sins by Jesus Christ; and the influence of Uie
Hojy Ghost, — powerful, exuberant, and victorious.
Mis soul was brought into tlie love of God, and
that of the purest kind, tempered ever with hu-
mility and godly fear : and it is evident — that
he always saw tlie work to be of God, and beheld
nothing in himself as wise, holy, and glorious ; and

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CYPRIAN AND OBI0BN*

tiiat a Spirit of thankfulness for recteeibing hnre^ of
simple dependence on the divine promises^ and|
of steady charity to God and man^ was the result
His race was of no long duration ; only about twelve
years; and byfiEur the greater part of the time he waA
iMshop of Carthage. He lived a Christian life ; and
no part of it was exempt frotn much labour or ibuch
affliction. He seems never to have known what it
was to settle into a lukewarm state. The fire wbidi
was first kindled in him, burnt serene BXtd steady ta
the end of his days.— rl am aware that Mosheim
chaises him with an ambitious, domineerii^ spirit^
tiiat invaded the rights of the lower clergy «id peo^
pie*. But I take the liberty of assuring the cautious
reader, that this excellent smd very judicbus 8£C«^
hAK historian, is dot to be trusted in bis aecoin^ of
men of real holiness. From the most attei^ve
review which I have been able to mafce of th^ cim*
rpcter of tl)e African prelate^ by a repeated perusal
of the existing evidence, especially bis epistles, I
cannot see any thing on which to ground sodi a cen^
sure. He did notlun^ in general^ without the der^
gy^and people. He wlia ever sedulous in promoting
the good of the whole. The episcq)al aothority was^
in bis time, at no very blomeable height in tbe
Church: nevertheless, through the gradual growth of
sup^stition, it was, naturally, advancing to an ex*
cess of dignity ; and itis not to bedeniied thatsomefevT
expres^ons savouring of haughtiness and asperity
are to be found in the writings of Cyprian. — But
these few expressbns were evidently the effect of
particular provocation ; — nor is there the least evi-
dence that ambition was his vice. Candour would
rather say, he was, in general, influenced by a very
fervent zeal, supported in its exertions by a temper
remarkably active and sanguine. But, whoever looks
into the original records with an expectation of find-
ing any thing selfish, proud, or domineering in his
• Eccles. Ilistory, Geotury III. Ghap. ».
7

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

general conduct, wiH be disappointed ; and, on the
contrary, will be struck i^ith tlie steady tenor of
f^ntleness, charity, and humility. In fine, it he bad
not been a Christian, one might have held him
forth to the world as a great man; — if it be tb«
part of a great man to unite, in a large and capacious
mind, many viitues, and each of them in a high de-
gree of perfection ;— ^virtues too, which are opposite
in thehr nature, and ^^ hich rarely meet in firm con*
ststencem the same subject ;---for example, vigpur
and mildness, magnanimity and mercy, fortitude and
prudenoe^ warmth of temper and accuracy of judg-
ment, wad, above all, — zeal and discretion.

In Origin's conversion we see nothing remarkable.
He received Christianity in a way of education,
rather than by quick, lively, and decisive operations
of the Holy Spirit. It is not usual with God to make
use of SUCH persons for extraordinary services, like
those for which Cyprian, in the prime of life, ap«
pears to have been selected firom the world. Origen 8
views> of the peculiar truths of Christianity were, —
to say no more, too feint and general,* — nor ever
SUFFICIENTLY distinguished from moral and phi-
losophical religion. He bore persecution, when
young, w ith much zeal and honesty ; but he lived
many years in peace and prosf^erity. Much re^
spected: and sought after by philosophers, hi^ly
esteemed and honoured by courts and by the great,
he lived a scholastic rather than an active life in the
Church; always fully employed indeed, but more
like a man of letters Uian a minister of the Gospel ;
ever bent on promoting truth and holiness so fer
as he knew ilieui ; but always leaving one s mind
dissatisfied on account of the defectiviyiess of his
views. His last scenes are the most satisfactory
and the most decisively Christian* He suffered per-
secution with the patience and honesty of u martyr;
and proved indeed whose disciple he was cm the
whole. Moshemi charges him with dishonesty in

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CYFEIANAND ORIGEK.

his argiimeotB gainst Celsib; and says, fhat "sny
oce that has penetration and judgment may discern
it*. It would have been more to the purpose to
have pointed out the instances of dishcniest argu-
mentation, wlBch he alludes to. My examination
of tbe tract in question induces me to dissent ^om
this learned hisloiian ; and further, I am convinced
that ^Feat upiigbtDess of mind was a ruling feature
in Origen s cki^mdier. — But it is. not the practicex)f
modem writers to be candid in their judgment of
the ttocient Christian^

• After .this genec^Krevaew of these two. men,, and,
after it has been admitted ithat integrity and fiiimess
of mind were possessed t^botii in a very great de-
jjrefe, it may be natural* itd ask — In what consisted
the superior excillecice : of Gyprian ? — ^The genercd
answer to such an ^iquiry is — Tht manner of their
first conversion has appeared to have been strikitigly
different in i the two cases ; and still more so— The
work of God upon thdr heai^ afterwards. — But
besides tbiS) —

2; Cyprian was possessed of a simplicity erf t a ste
to which Origen seems ever to have beena stranger.
By simplicity of taste I mean here a genuine and
unadnherated relish for the doctrine and sjMrit of
the Christian religion, just as it stands in its real
nature* It is possible for a person very eminent in
this gift, — which is purelj divine and spiritual, — ^to
be, in no way, remarkable for hi^ knowle^^ of
evangelkral truth : In respect of knowledge he may
not muehtexceedt another who is far his inferior in
the former graoaof the Spirit : The light and means
of information iure .very diflferient in different ages of
the Church ; and,it<isreArident that the third century
suffered a decline in illumination. But where a man
IS deticient in knowledge, yet if his simf^ity of
Christian taste be very great, he will be silent on
those subjects which he does not understand, or at
* Moeheun's Eccl. History, Century III, Chap. 3.

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HISTOBT OF 7BE CH0ACB.

leftit be tvill be extremely cautious in i^ppomgmty
part of divine truth. This was Cyprian's case. He
appears not, for instance, to have understood the
doctrine of the election of grace. Smce Justin's
liays the knowledge of that article of &ith was de*
fiartii^ froni the Church. — But, he opposed it not
•'-^Origeni less humUe and less submissive to divine
kistruetion, and feeling more resources in his reason-
ing powers, dares to oppose it by a contrary state^
Ifcient**

In Cyprian this simplicity appears in a supreme
degree.— He never trifles with Scriptmre, or sets up
Us reason against it Uniencumbcned wkb the ap-
paratus of Grecian f^osophy, and possessed of
ivhat is much better, — ^plain good fletise, be takes,
Always, the words of Scripture in tfaeir obvious, and
■MMt natural meaning ; and thinks he has sufficiently
ptonred his point, when he has supported it by an
apposite quotation. His humble spirit bows to the
divkie word: and hence fiuth« patience, charity^
heavenly-mindedness, have full dominion in his soul :
and faeace c^, bis senttmenis have a strength,
a purity^ a perspicuity, peculiarly the property of
those whose rel^ous taste is altogether scripturaL
Here it is that Cyprian and Origen are diametrically
opposite to each o\b&r. The latter is full of endless
a]3^cnical inter[Mretations, and c^ platonic notioos
^coHcektiing the soul of the world, the transmigratioil
ef sfHrits, free-will, and the pre^exislence of souls^.
Tbe first and simple sense of Sciipture be too often
ventures to rgect entirely f* David's sin in the
affitir of Uriah he cannot admit It seems, be had
not such stroi^ and palpable proof of bis own innate
depravity, as to suppose it possible for so good a
man lo iall so foully. He has recourse, therefore,
to a hidden and abstruse sense. His numberless
oonimeats on Scripture constitute a system of fonct'-
ful allegory, which pervades the whole of the sacred
* Phllocalia xxi. f PliiIoc.Cb«^ i^ psge^o.

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CTPRIAW AND ORIGEN.

orades : The just and pbin sense is much neg-
lected ; and the whole is covered with thick clouds
of mysticism and chimerical philosophy. He kbours,
it is true, to support the faith, which was once de-
Kvered to the saints ; but, like his platonic master
Ammonius, he introduces large quantities of figura-
tive trash, which will not incorporate with Christian
doctrine. — ^Thus, by accommodating his interpreta-
tions to the then reignitig literary taste, he gained
to himself, indeed, a celebrity of character among
lihe heathen, even among the great and noWe, but
threw all things into inextricable ambiguity. — His
quickness of parts and his superior ingenuity served
mily to entangle him more effectually, and to eniMe
bim to move in the chaos of his own formation
with an ease ai)d rapidity that rendered him un-
conscious of the difficulties in which he bad involved
himself.

One remarkable consequence of this difference of
character was, that while Origen, among the pagans,
succeeded in gaining the favour of the great,
and was heard by them with patience, Cyprian
could not be endured in his preaching or writings, —
except by real Christians. — Another consequence is
tfiis, — It is no easy thin^ to vindicate the soundness
of the former in Christian principles : — The latter
challenges the severest scrutiny. — He is chrisdan
throughout.

Such is the difference between a man of simplicity
and a man of philosophy in religion ; and the mind,
on this occasion, is led to compare the eflfect of a
philosophical and of a philological spirit. Origen
had the former, Cyprian the latter. Eloquence was
it IS distinguishing accomplishment; and he pos-
iessed dt the powers of it in a very high degree, ac^
cording to the taste of the age, — which was far from
being the best. And here, I would humbly submit
to the consideration of the pious and well-disposedf
—whether the knowledge of gratnmar, history, criti-

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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

cism, and of oratory, theoretical and practical, pro-
perly regulated by common sense and in subordi-
nation to divine grace, be not much less dangerous^,
and, in their way. more useful endowments for a
minister of Christ, thati deep researches into philo-
sophy of any kind ? — Far, very far, fi^om meaning
to insinuate that thcstudies of metaphysics and ^
natural philosophy should be entirely excluded from,
the education of persons, who mean to be pastors,
— I would be understood to suggest, — that a les^
proportion of THESE, and a greater proportion of
THOSE than what agrees with, the present fashionable
taste, might be more advantageous to the Church.
The reasoning powers might nnd in the former aa
useful exercise and improvement, without the same
danger of presumption which so strongly adheres
to the latter *.

3. Having compared the lives and the tempers of
these men, let us now view the PRrxciPLEs of each.
Of Cyprian, after the many quotations already givea
from his writings, little needs be added- Neverthe-
less, as it has lain more in our way to consider him
as addressing Christians than pagans or infidels, I
shall select a letter.of his to Demetrian, a persecutor
of Christians in Africa, in which his manner of
preaching to men altogether profane and uncon-
verted is observablci.

He denounces to them the plain threatenings of
eternal punishment '* There remains hereafter f
an eternal prison, constant flame, and perpetual
punishment There the groans of supplicants will
not be heard, because here they disregajcded the ter-
ror of God's indignation." He bids them solemnly
look into themselves, and appeals to the conscience
as aftbrding full proof of guilt before God. And

\* These sentiments are certainly ^vonred l^ the coo^^
•on of C>prian and Origen.— It is true, this is only a sii^
instance of such comparison:— but, I believe, it will be ver/
difficult to find examples of a contrary tendency.
'•4 P^in^ad Depietrian. ,, . -

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CYFEIAN AKD ORIGEK.

be aggravates the charge of condemtiation, because,
amidst the miseries of tiie times, men did not re*
pent- After exposing the folly 6f idolatry, and ex-*
hibiting, in lively colours, the all-iniportant scenes
of the last judgment, he concludes with this Chris-
tian exhortation, which is introduced in the true taste
and order of things, after he had first denounced
the terroi's of the law. " Provide then for* your se-
curity and life, while you may. We offer you the
most salutary counsel ; and because we are for-
bidden to hate you or to requite evil, to exhort you,
while there is time, to please God and to emerge
from the profound night of superstition into the
fair light of true religion. We envy not your ad-
vantages, nor db we hide the divine benefits. We
return good will for your hatred ; and, for the tor-
ments and punishments, which are inflicted upon
us, we show you the paths of salvation. — 'Believe,
and live ; and do ye, who persecute us for a time,
rejoice with us for ever. When you depart hence,
there will be no room for repentance : no method
of being reconciled to God : hare, eternal life is
either lost or secured ; here, by the worship of God
and the fruit of taith, provision is made for eternal
salvation : — ^and let no man be retarded, either by
his sins or by his years, ftom coming to obtain it.
No repentance is too late, while a man remains io
this world.

" An access lies opai to the grace of God ; and, td
those, who seek and understand the truth, the access
is easy. Even, in the very exit of life, pray for re-
mission of sins, and implore the only living and true
God with confession and fiuth ; Pardon is granted
to him who confesses his sin ; and saving grace
from the divine goodness is conferred on tiie believer ;
and, thus may a man pass from death to immortality
in his very last moments. By subduing death
tfaifoui^ tbe trophy of his dross, by redeeming the
believer with tbe.price df his blood) by peconciling

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HISTORY OF THE CHVMH.

man to God the Father, and by quickeraog the dead
with celestial regeneratkm, Christ imparts to us these
great mercies. Him, if it be possible^ let us all
follow ; — let us be baptized in tm name. He opens
to us the way of life ; he brings us back to paradise.
He leads us to the heavenly kingdom : and we ahaU
always live with him. By him made sons of God>
we shall rejoice with him for ever : Redeemed by his
Mood, we shall be Christians with Christ in glory^:
we shall be the blessed of God the Father ; and
^11 give him thanks to all ^bemity.-^Tbe man, who
was ^Snqoxious to death, and has been made a sure
partaker ^ immortality, cannot but be filled with
joy and gratiiude for evermore."

With such an affectionate spirit, and with such
deamess of doctrine did Cyprian preadi justification,
0T FAITH ONLY, to the uncouverted. It must not be
dfinied,' — that, in his address to men, who had ^ready
^^ lasted that the Lord is gracious," there is not the
^ame degree of evangelical purity. In his treatise
on Good Works, be says very exedlent things on the
duty of alms-giving : but he sometimes uses lan*^
. guage that might easily be construed into the Ian*
guage of merit; and as he had not learnt to distin-
guish the Apocrypha from the Old Testament, he
supports his ideas with quotations fi'om Tobit and
Ecelesiasticus. We have had, — what he had not, —
an experience of the evil tendency of any expres-
sk>ns which, in the smallest degree, countenance
the wpposition of tlie efficacy of human works in
wasliing away the pollution of sin^ whether contracted
before or after baptism. We know too, ftx>m the
^peoftence on divine grace and on the Spirit's illu*
pimntioD, which Cyprian and many other fathers of
the same stamp habitually exercised, — ^besides the
testiniony of their holy lives, — that the same ex-
pressions mean not with them what they do in the
mouths of modern^, full of self-righteoasness asd
of contempt bo^ of the gniu^e of Christ and of the

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work of the Hdy Ghost We arc sure, that the cent.
former meao no opposition to the free gift of God,
liecause they are hamble : whereas, it is but too evi-
dent that the latter do, — because they are proud,
and scorn th« whole wonk of the Spirit of God in
the New Birth. It had been well, however, if saints
had never given a handle to the profime to adulter
fate the doctrines of the Gospd, But J have b^ore
observed that Cyprian^s views of (y^race were not
equally clear wilh those of the first Qiristians : Yet,
in every fundaanontal pcincipie, he speaks as the
Oracles of God : and in bis addcesses to Pagans,
Cfaristtaas^ or Jews, be is always fervent and zealous,
tiis tract on Palience, as a practical per&rma^eet^
and Uiat on the Lord s Prayer, as n doctrinal cme^
^kservp the highest praise. In general, bis works
are excellfflit in their kind, and he must have % poor
taste indeed in godliness who will not find the pera-
sal of them refreshing to bis soul. Nevertheless, Cy-
prian shines much more in pnacdcal than in specu*
lative divinity. The shortness of his Christian lite
and the pressure of liis employtncnts will easHy ac*
tount for this. .

I wiah It were ais easy to clear the doctrinal cha-
racter of Origen from reproach. The ancients
Ihemsdvies were moch divided in their views of hb
opinion concerning the Son of God. It is certaiti
that the Arians of the fourth century seemed to Re-
ceive some conatenaiKre fipom him ; and m^n, wlio
had so wry littk atsistatiQe from precedents, were
1^ to oitdi at the shadow of an argument drawn
Seem his iUnstrious name. — But what, if his Arianisaa
were indeed full and confessed on all hands, — What
H'oald such a fact avail as an argument, — I say, not
aK|ainst£^ Scripture^;— but against the joint consent
«t' the whole Chuvch for three huodr^ years? £v^
the very opposition made against his character by
many, A^ows how zealous theChmxh had ever been
in the defence of the doctrine of the Trinity.-*- Henr

VOL. 1. a H

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4^6 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH,

CHAP, is open a wide field of controversy; but litde profit
^^'* is to be expected from traversino; it. — The writings
of Origen against Celsus, in M'hich he ably defends
Christianity against philosophy and paganbm, and'
the Philocalia of the same author, furnish sufficiently
decisive passages against Arian tenets, — if they were
not embarrassed by others of a more doubtful cast.

It is probable, however, that one, who thought so
rapidly, wrote so much, and had his eyes so steadily
fixed on his philosophy, must have dropped many-
tilings, which he would not have seriously main-
tained if he had ever carefully reviewed them. I'hat
he never meant to hold any thing different from the
general creed, may be inferred from the pains which
he took against heretics, as well as from his general
character. His erroneous sentences, therefore, ought
to be considered as containing queries and conjec-
tures rather than settled opinions. Athanasius must
be allowed to have been a judge of this matter ; and
HK believed him to be sound, and quoted his writings
to prove our Lord's co-eternity and co-esseniiality
with the Father. And he, likewise, observes — tliat
what things Origen wrote by way of controversy and
disputation are not to be Jooked on as liis own * sen-
timents.

After all, the best defence of this great man con-
sists in the general holiness of his lite, and iri his
patient sutFering for the faith of (/hrist in old age:
And I rejoice that, amidst all the trash with which
his writings abound, we have yet this unquestionable
testimony — that he kept the commandmei^ of God,.
and had the faith of Jesus. The loss of his voluminous
commentaries, and of his other numerous works, is,
perhaps, not much to be regretted. There are two
sentences t in them which mem particular ffitentioD^
He thus speaksT on tlie words, Kom* iil " we con-

• Cave's Lije of Origen.

t See Bishop Beverid^e on tlie Articles of the dttrch of
England.

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CYPRIAN AND ORIGEN.

tludfe, tliat a man b justified by faith," &c. " the

JUSTIFICATION OF FAITH ONLY IS SUFFICIENT;
^O THAT IF ANY PERSON ONLY BELIEVE, WE
MAY BE JUSTIFIED, THOUGH NO GOOD WORK
HATH BEEN FULFILLED BY HIM;" — and Bgain^

on the case of the penitent thief, " he was justified
by faith without. the works of the law; because^
concerning these, the Lord did not enquire what he
had done before; neither did lie stay to ask what
work he was purposing, to perform after he had be-
lieved ; — but, the man being justified by his confes-
sion only, Jesus, who was going to paradise, took
liim as a companion, and carried him there."

Thus, the precious doctrine of justification, though
much sullied and covered with rubbish, was yet
alive, in tl)e third centuiy, even in the faith of the
most dubious cliaracters among the Ante-Nicene
fathers. This it was that kept Origen, with aU
'* his hay and stubble,'" firm on Christian founda-
tions, and distinguished, him radically from an ad-
versary of Christ.

4. If we compare the public life of these two
men, the Grecian shines in a scliolastic, the Roman
in a pastoral capacity. Oirige n appears as an author,
and moves in a sphere calculated for the learned,
Cyprian is a preacher, and, like the Apostles, ad-
dresses equally all sorts of men. The latter, on ac-
count of the |)ride of cocrupt natui*e, was most
likely to be regarded by the poor : He valued not
refinement of composition : His aim was to reach
the heart and the conscience, and to reduce every
religious consideration to real practice. Origen^
however, was usefully employed in untying knotty
speculations, in refuting heresies, and in recom-
mending Christianity, or something like Christi-
anity^ to the learned world. No doubt, bis labours
would be of some advantage amidst the mischief,
which the accommodating scheme produced ; btit
the |>astoral. exhortations of Cyprian, a3 tiiey would

' M\X2

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468 ^ HISTORY or TB% CEITtbCII^

CHAP, not b6 received at eill'by pr^iidiocd ph9i>sbpliefi|
'80, where tbey ^ere received, Irfl effedts «f udfldul^
terated piety, through ^ divine mAudtce tbait iDb*
tended them. As let Chrii^ian bishop, cicafeely Mjr
age has seen his superior — in activity, disitilemstdi*^
bess, and orteady att^tion to ^iscipHAe : He was
equally remote Irom the leisetretnos of negr^&nt re»
missnees, wnd impracticable Beterity : and he pos«-
Bessed a charity and a patience unwearied, and ever
consistent. He noay safety he necommiended as a
•model to all pastors^ and particularly to those of
rank and dignity tbHToughoutChristendotD. Whoever
feels a desire to serve God in the ^Ktmtmdfticm&vki
the most important of all profeesiow, tnay pro*
titably, — next after the study of tte sacred orac(es>
:give days and nights to Cypiian\3 writings. — Ail bis
genuine compositions, — if you exjccpt his come-
ispondence and controversy with Stephen of ftome,
— deserve a diligent perusal ; yet no man mast bfc
-expected to relish them thoroughly, miless he hind-
self has experienced the new-birth unto »ri]^*eoos-
»ness : A truly regenerated person u-ill not only relish
them, but also will not fail to 'be efi^ted with a
»generoQs glow ofthe purest godliness, upon reading
them with care and attention. — ^The frequency cff
-such bishops in Europe is devoutly to be viished !
What avail good sense, taste, learning, without
Christian simplicity — and a heart above tiie world,
its flatteries or its frouns! — Contemplate — study
the character of Ae prelate of Carthage, and you
will learn what Christiiai bMiops onoe were, and
what they still ought to be.

5. But the chief point of view in vilvich thfe
contrast betn^een these two persons is most striking,
is in the consequences and fruits of their ia(i>oa«s
and their writhigs. Before Cyprian's time, Atirica
appears to have been in no very flourishuig state
with respect to Christianity. Within twelve yearft,
he was the instrument or most^natarial service ib

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Mcoveriag oiany sipeatBtes, m reforming diseiplme,, cent.
i|nd m r^invkig tbe essence o^ godliaessk. His ex- . 1"^ i
4in|^ w%» most po^^ulf wd effi^md among
^m fior tige$. Tbe heoours paid to his memopy
4eqfK0nstnJ:e thk : Moreov^ it is certain, theit hm
diocese, oi|g« (be ^ei^ cf Futpc gr^atpe^s^ cooitv-
nued, long a£t:er, one oif the most precious gardens
of Christianity, u^ I shaU have abundant occasion
to show in the cpuffse of this History, — if I should
be permitted to coptinue it — Rut the mischiefe of
Orige^'s taste $inci spirit in rdigion were inexpres- .
«ible. — Talents and learning are coveted by man-
kind ; he« however, who possesses much of them,
kfis the more abundunt need tp learui humiUty and
divine cwition. F(H*» if he dio not evideotly benefit
gMmkJBKt by them, he is in danger of doing muchi
MlcUttf. — No man^ not altogether unsomd aiidi
4i37pocritica)y ever injured the Church of Christ
iKote than Origen did. Fr^m the faqeiful mode ^
aikgory^ iatr^xluced fay hiin and uncontiolled by
^iptural rule and order^ arose a vitiated naethod
4if commenting Qa tbe saered ptgfs ; wliich has heeq
succeeded by the contrary extreme — naipely, a con^
lemot of types and figures altogeth^: and» in i(
similar way, nisfancifiil ideas of letter and spiriy
tended to remove firom men s minds all Just concepr
tkms of genuine spirituality.-^A thick n^ist for agea
pervadeo the Christian world, supported and
strengthened by^ his absurd ^legoarical manner of
interpretatioa^ The learned alone were considered
as guides impliditty to be followed ; apd the vul^, .
— when the liters^l sense was hissed off the stagey
— had nothing to do but to follow their authority
wherever it might conduct tliem.^ — It was npt tiH
tlie days of Luther and Melancthon, that this evil
was fairly and successfully opposed.

If I have carried the parallel to a greater length ^
than tlie Just la^vs of history allow, the importance
pi the case is my apology. Let the whole be atten-

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47^ I HISTORY OF THE CHURCH

lively weighed by the serious reader, in connection
with two passages of St. Paul : the first of which
is, — ** I am jealous over you with a godly jealoasy,
lest your minds be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in Christ;"— and the second—" Hath not
God made foolish the wisdom of this world?**

C H A P. XVL

OTHER PARTICULARS OF VALERIANS
PERSECUTION".

xvi.* It has been already mentioned, that Cyprian
heard of the death of Sixtus, bishop of Rome, a
little before his own martyrdom. In pursuance of
the cruel orders of Valerian, for carrying on the
persecution, that prelate had been seized with some
of his clergy. While they Mere carrying him to
execution, Laurentius, bis chief deacon, followed
him weeping, and said, " Whither goest thou.
Father, without thy son?" Sixtus said, "You
shall follow me in three days." We may suppose
him to have been possessed with the spirit of pro-
phecy in saying this, because we are certain that
miraculous gifts uere as yet by no means extinct
in the Church : But, perhaps, the declaration was
not out of the reach of common sagacity from the
circumstances of affairs.

After Sixtus s death*, the Prefect of Rome,
moved by an idle repoit of the immense riches of
tlie Roman Church, sent for laurentius, and or*
dered him to deliver them up. Laurentius replied,
" (live me a little time to set eveiy thing in order,
and to take an account of each particular.'* 1 he
Prefet t granted him three days time. In tlmt space
Laurentius collecti*d all the Poor who were sup-
ported by tlie Roman Church, and going to the
♦ Aug. VoL p. p. 52.-^See Fleur;-, B. 7,

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HI.

' ^U^BEtt VALERIAN. '4P

Prefect, said. "Come, behold the riches of oiir -CRjfv.
God; you shall see a large court full of golden ves-, ,
seis," The Prefect followed him, but seeing all the
poor people, he turned to Laurentius with looks fidl
of anger. " What are you displeased at?" said the
martyr;— r" The gold, you so eagerly desire, is but
a vile metal taken out of the earth, and serves as an
incitement tso all sorts of crimes : the true gold is
tliat Light whose disciples these poor men are. The
n)isery of their bodies is an advantage to their souls :
Sin is the real disease of mankind : The great ones
of 'the earth are the truly poor and contemptible.
These are the treasures which I promised you ; to
which I will add precious stones. — Behold these vir-
gins and widows, they are the Church's crown ; make
nse of these riches for the advantage of Rome, of the
emperor, and of yourself."

Doubtless, if the Prefect's mind had been at all
disposed to receive an instructive lesson, he would
have inet with one here. The liberality of Chris-
tians in maintaining a great number of objects, and
in looking fof no recompence but that which shall
take place at the resurrection of the just, while they
patiently bore affliction, and humbly rested on an
iinseeu Saviour, was perfectly agreeable to the mind
of HIM, who bids his disciples, in a well-known
parable, to relieve those, who cannot recompense
them*. How glorious was this scene! at a time
when the rest of the world were tearing one another
in pieces, and when philosophers made not the slight-
est attempts to ajleviate the miseries of their fellow-
creatures! — But, as the persecutors would not hear
the doctrines explained, so neither would they see the
precepts exempUfied with patience. " Do ye mock
me?" cries tlie Prefect; *' I know, ye value your'-
:^lves for contemning death, and therefore ye shall
pot die at once/' Then he caused Laurentius to be
fftrippeil, extended, and fastened to a gridiron, and*
* J-uJtf xiv. 12—15.

liH4

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47^ HisTomr of thb cuvhch

cfi^. in that manner^ to be brdiled to death b]^ a riowfim.
^.\Lj . When be had continued a considerable tkae with ode
side to the fire> he said to the Prefect, *^ Let fue be
turned, I am sufficiently broiled on one side.'' And
«hdn they had turned him, he looked up to heaven
and prayed fcH* the conversion of Rome; asd then
gdkve up the ghost !

I give tilts story at some lengtfi, because k has
sufficient marks of ci^ibility, and is auf^portckl by
Ibe evidence of Augustine. — I am not disposed to
follow Floury in various other narrates. In sub-
jects of martyrology this author seems directly oppo-
site to our countryman Gibbon. Whatever judgment
these historians possested, remained, in this matter,
equally unexercised by both. Indiscriminate iocre-
duliiy is as blind as indiscriminate belief — I may not
always succeed, but I certainly endeavour to separate
truth 6rotn fiction, and nddber to- impose on my
rcadci^ nor mysclfl

At Ccesarea in Cappadocia, a child, named Cyril,
rix>wed uncommon Ibrtitude. He called on the name
of Jesus Christ tonthbually, nor could threats or blows
prevent him from openly avowing Chrisliaiiity. —
Several children of the same age perseiOQted him ; and
liis own father, with tlie app&uses of many pereons
for his 2eal in the suppoit of paganiscn^ drove him
out ^f his bouse. The judge ordered him to be
brought before bitn, and said, '^ My chHd, I will par-
don your ft^ults ; and your ^tber shfdl receive yoo
again : It is in your pon-er toenjoy your ftither*s estate,
provided you are wise, and take care of your own
interest*" " I rejoice to bear your reproaches," re-
plied the child ; — " God will receive me : I am not
sorry that lam expelled out of our house : I shall
have a better mansion : I tear not death, because it
wiH introduce me into a better life." Divine Grace
having enabled him to witness this good contesskiOi
he was ordered to be bound and led, as it were^ Vol
execution. Ttie judge had ^ven scarct oitlers to

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jntjyzR. TALXEiAir. 473

bring him bade again, boping that die si^t of the ciarr.
fire mi^ overcome his reaolution. Cyru reaiained ^^^
inflexiUe. The hamanky of the judge induced him
8tiU to continue his remonstrances. ^' Your fire and
your sword," saya the yoong martyr, *^ are insiguifi*
cant I go to a better house ; I go to more exoei*-
lent riches : Dispatch me presentiy, that I may enjoy
them.'' The spectators wept tbrougb com|Midsioa
^^ Ye should rather rejoice,'' says he, '^ in conducting
me to punishment Ye know not what a city I am
going io inhabit, nor what is my hope.** Thus he
^ent to. his death, and was the admiration of thr
whde city. — Such an example illustrates well that
Scripture, — " Out of the mouths of babes and suck^
lings thou bast ordained strength."

There were at Antiocb a pi-esbyter and a layman,
the former named Sapricius, the latter Nicephorus^
who through some misundarstandmg, after a remark*
able intimacy, became so completely estranged, tiiat
they would not even salute each other in the street
Kicephoms after a time relented, b^ged forgiveness
of his fault, and took repeated measures to procure
reconciliation, — but in vain. He even ran to the
house of Sapricius, and throwing himself at bis feet»
entreated his forgiveness for the Lord's sake : — the
presbyter continued obstinate.

In this situation of things the persecuUonof Vale*
rian reached them suddenly. Sapricius ^vas carried
before the governor, and ordered to sacrifice in obe*
dience to the edicts of the emperors. " We Chris-
tians," replied Sapricius, ^'acknowledge for our King
Jesus Christ, who is the true God, and ttie Creator
of heaven and eartb^. — Perish idols, which can do
neither good nor harm !" The Prefect tormented him
a long time, and then commanded that be should be
beheaded. Nicephorus, hearing of this, runs up to
him, as he is led to execution, and renews in vain
(be same supplications. The executioners deride bis
humility as perfect foll^. Jim he perseveres, and

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RCltUt9w

474 HISTORY OF THE CHOTRCH

CHAP* attends Sapriciiis to the place of execution/ Therfe
^^^b^ i be says further, It is written, " Ask, and it sbaH
•be given you."-— Dut, not even the mention of the
urord of God itself^ so suitahle to Sapricios's own
circumstances, could affect his obstinate and unfor-
giving temper.
ftipriciiis Sapricius, however, suddenly forsaken of God^
recants, and prcKXHses to sacrifice. Nicephorus,
amazed, exhorts him to the contrary, but ki vain.
He, tl>en, says to the executioners,' ** I believe in
the name ol the Lord Je^us Christ whom he hath
renounced." The officers return to give an account
to the governor, who ordered Nicephorus to be
bcbeuded*.

The account ends here: — but if Sapricius lived
to re)xnit, as I hope he did, he might learn what
a danirerous thing it is for a miserable mortal, whose
sufficiency and perseverance rest entirely on Divine
Grace, to despise, condemn, or exult over his bro-
ther. The LAST became the first: — and God
sliowed his people wonderfully by this case, tliat he
will support them in their sufferings for his name;
l>at that, at the same time, he would have tliem to
be humble, nieek, and forgiving This is the 6rst
instance I have seen of a man attempting to suffer
for Christ on philosophical grounds; — and it
tailed : SeFf-sufficieiKy and pure Christianity 'are, in
their nature, distinct and opposite: — Let no man
attenipt to unite or mix together such heteroge-
neous and Jarriog principles.

It appears, that Christian fortitude is a very dif-
ferent thing from the steady pride of a philosopht^r,
or the sullen patience of an Indian; and, that k
Cimnot even subsist in tJie absence of Christian
nicekness and cliarity, — ]^hiloso|)liei*s und savages
without tlic least supernatural help, have frequently
nhiintained a hardy and unconquerable spirit lint,
the event of this story may teach the infidel, — th^
• i'kury. Book 7. Acta siopcra 253, 254.

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^ UKDER VALERIAN. 473.

he has no reason to exult in such instances, — feat cknt.
the spirit of suffering for Christ is, in its kind, a ^^'
quite different thing,^— that it is above mere human ""
nature, — that it is wrought in the heart by divine
grace, — and, that it cannot subsist if the Spirit of
God be provoked to leave the sufferer.

Dionysius oif Alexandria, whom Divine Provi-
dence had so remarkably preserved in tlie Decian
persecution, lived to suffer much also in this-^— but
not to death. Eusebius has preserved some extracts
of his writings, which not only prove this fact beyond
dispute, but also throw considerable light on the
effects of Valerian's persecution in Efzypt*.

This bishop, with his presbyter Maximus, three
deacons, and a Roman Christian, was brought before
-Slmilian the Prefect, and was ordered to recant:
At the same time, it was observed, that his doing so
might have a good effect on others.— He answered,
" We ought to obey God rather than man ; I
worship God, who alone ought to be worshipped."
** Hear the clemency of the emperor," says ^Emilian:
** You are all pardoned, provided you return to
a natural duty: — Adore the gods who guard the
empire, and forsake those things which are contrary
to nature-"* Dionysius answered, " All men do not
worship the same gods, but men worship variously
according to their sentiments. But we worship tlie
One God, the maker of all things, who gave tlie
empire to the most clement emperors Valerian and
Gallienus ; and to him we pour out incessant prayers
for their prosperous administration." *' VVhat can
be the meaning," says iEmilian, " why ye may not
still adore that God of your's, — on supposition that
he is a god — in conjunction with our gods ? " I^iony*
ejus answered, — ** We worship no other God."

From this remarkable question of the Prefect, it
is evident, that n^en might have been tolerated in
^e worship of Jesus, if they had allowed idolatei's
♦ Book 7. Chap. X.

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HISTOJtT OF WR CHVftCH

nh6 to be right m tHe iiab» Vy fMssociBtii^ i<Mfl
wtb the true God- The firvdiieaA of CtifiaHpaAs, im
thb respect, provoked their eoes^Keu Th^ 4islikey
nt tbia ^y, of the pure Qq^pei «f Cbfist» arisen frong^
9 similar cduae : >len nre emden^ied w bi)$(]it9|
because they c2iDfiQt allow ^ worliA ai la^ tn ^
ip^bt io the eyes of Ckxi

JEmilian banUhed tbeoi a{l lo a tillage near th%
desert, called CQ)>hrow AihI thkber Diwy<wS||
thougbsickly, iras wostraimd lo depatt immeiMMdly*
^ And truly/' aaya Dioo^may " wo 9^ opt ah(ien|
from the Church; for I stiU gftthof «u€^ as ate »
tlie City aa if 1 weve fwaaapt: — abeent indeed k^
bodjr, bot preaent in spirit And th^ eoDtaiued
with us» in Cephro, a greal congi^tion, partly oC
the brethren which foUowed us from Alexandrif^ an4
partly of them wHich came firoa^ Kgypt- And tbert
God cqpened a door to me to apeclk )m word- Yet,
at ihe beginning we suffered persecution and were
i^tooQd; but atlengd)> not a few of the pag^ms larsook
their idols and wei^ conv^ted. For, bere» we b»d
aa opportunity to preach the word of God to 8
people ii^bo hm never heard it before. And God^
that brought us among thenit removed m to anptbeff
place, titer our nuoistry was there completed. A«
«oon as I heard that iEmilian had ontiered us to
depart from Cepbro, I undertook my journey eb©er»
fully, though I did nol know whither we were to go}
butt upon being informed that Colluthio was the
place, I felt much diatresa ; because it was reported
to be a situation destitute ^ all the coo^forta oi ao*
ciety, exposed to the tumults c^ traveliers ai|d in?
fested by thieves. My cofnpaniona well renieinber
4he effect this had on my mind. 1 proclnimi my
own shame; At first I grieved tmnKHierati4y« It
M;aB a consolation, however, that it waa uigh to a
f^ity. I was in hopes from the neamesa of the city»
that we^jghtetyoy the company of dear brethren;
and that particular assemblies iof divine worship
4

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«r)Cf>t:ft VALERtAl^.

MMt^ be tetablidhed in tiie suburbs, which indeed
cftme fo pass.*'

AmM^ this seatitiiiess of Mformation comreyed
in «rd great perspicuity or bemity of styfe, it appears,
however, that tbe Lord was with Dionysius, and
eaoded his offerings to ttend to the fuitherance of
tiie GrOBpel. — tiis confession of liis own heaviness
*f tnind does honour to his ingemiousQiss : and
^K «tr6nglh of Christ was made perfect in bis
weakness. •

In another episde, he pvts a brief account of the
affiictioils oC others. — It deserves to be transciibed
as a monument of the greatness and the violence of
ValeriAo's persecution.

** it may seem superfluous to recite the namei
tef our people : for they were many, and to me un^
fcnown. Take this however for certain : There were
men aud wotnen, young men and old men, virgtnf^
iind ok) women, soldiers and vulgar persons, of all
feorts and agte. Some, after stripes and fire, were
crowned victets^: ^some, immediately by the sword,
«nd others, stfter a short but severe torture, became
• Mceptable sacrifices to the Lord. You all heard
*ow I,«ndCaius, and Fausttis, and Peter, and Paul,
when we were led bound by tiic centurion and his
ftoldielrs, were sei2^d by certahi men of Mareota, and
"drawn away by violence. I, and Caius, and Peter,
*were separated from the other brethren, and were,
confined in a dreary part of Libya, distant tlivee days
journey fixwn PanBtoninm."— Atterwards he says,
•* There hid themselves in the city, some good men,
^^ho visited the bnrthren secretly: Among these,
Maximus, Dioscorus, Demetrius, and Lucius, were
ministers. Two others of greater note, Faustitius
-and Aquila, now wander, 1 know not where, in
EgjTrt. All tbe deacons died of diseases, except
Faustinu\ Eusebius, and Cha?remon. God instruct-
ed Eusebius and strengtliened him, fix)m the begin*'*
tring, to minister diligently to the confessors in prison^

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478' HrSTORY* OF THE CHHHCH

uiAF. and ta bury the bodies of the holy martyrs :— ^whidiy
-"^y^ however, he could not do without great danger..
'"' The president, to this day, ceases not his cruelty,
killing some instantly, and tearing in pieces others
by torments, or consuming them by bonds and im-
prisonments : He forbids any persons to come nigh
them; and inquires daily whether his orders be
obeyed. — Yet our God stilL refreshes the afflicted
with consolation and with the attendance of the
brethren."

This Eusebius, — here honourably mentioned, —
was some time after bishop of Laodicea in Syria ;
and Maximus the presbyter was successor to Dio-
nysius in Alexandria. Faustus was reserved to the
days of Dioclcsian — again to suffer, — even to blood.
At Caesarea in Palestine, Priscus, Malcus, aod
Alexander, were devoured by wild beasts. These
persons led an obscure life in the country; but
hearing of the multitude of executions, they blamed
themselves for their sloth ; they came to Caesarea;
went to the judge, and obtained tlie object of their
ambition. — Our divine Master, both by precept
and example, condemns such forward zeal ; — which
however in these inj>tances, we trust, was not without
a real love of his name. — We have seen abundantly
how much like a true disciple of Christ, Cyprian of
Carthage conducted hiinself in these respects. — la
this sauie city, there likewise suffered a woman, who
was said to be inclined to the heresy of Marcioo ;
but, probably, tlicre was not much ground for the
re{}ort.
Vat<:nait After thrce years employed in persecution, Va-
^y%a^T^ lerian was taken prisoner by Sapor king of Persia,
' A.D. ^^ho detained him the rest of his life, and made use
260. of his neck when he mounted his . horse ; and at
length commanded him to be flayed and sailed.
'Jliis event belonss to secular rather than Church-
history : But as it is pert'ectly well attested, and a^
no one that I know ot^ except Mr.' Gibbon, ev^

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UNDER VALERtArf; 479

atFccted to disbelieve the fact, it cannot but strike the- cent.
mind of any one who fears God. — Valerian had . "^i ^
known and respected the Christians : His perseoition
must have been a sin against the light; and it is
common with Divine Providence to punish such
daring offences in a very exemplary manner.

After Valerian's captivity the Church was restored
to rest. About the year two hundred and sixty-two, a. d.
Gallienus his son and* successor proved a sincere 262.
friend to the Christians, though, in other respects,
no reputable emperor. By edicts be stopped the
persecution ; and he had the condescension to give
the bishops his letters of licence to return to their
pastoral charges. One of these letters, as preserved
by Eusebius, runs thus ; — *' The emperor Ca?ear
Gallienus, to Dionysius the bishop of Alexandria,
and to Pinna and Demetrius, with the rest of ttic
bislK>ps. The benefit of our favour we command
to be published through the world: and 1 have,*
tliereforc, ordered every one to withdraw from such
places as were devoted to religious uses; so that,
you may make use of the authority of my edict
'against any molestation ; for 1 have, some timesirire,
glinted you my protection : — wherefore, Cyrenius
the governor of the province will observe the rescrij^t
which 1 have sent" He directed also another edict
to certain bisho[)s, by which he restored to tliem the
places in which they buried their dead.

Were it needful at this dny to r^^fule the rash
calumnies of Tacitus anO of others against the Chris-
tians, one might ai>[)eal to tliese two edicts of Gal-
lienus. It is iinposbibic that eitlier of thcrii cotild
have taken place, if it had not been undeniable, that
tl)e Christians, even to the time Uyond the «uid<lle
of the tliird century, uere men of [)j obity and w^orthy
of tlie pjotectiQn of government. As it is im-
possible to avoid this conclusion, the tieepest stain
rests on the characters of Traj«n, Decius, and \'a-
ierian, men highly respected in jjccular hiotory, for

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48o msToRir w the cytiftCH.

trettattg (heir M^jectB of the best cbaradeTs whh
savige ferocity- — But God, who has the hearts of
all men in his hand, provided for his servants a pro*
lector in Gailienus, sufter an unexampled course of
heavy persecution during the three test reigns.— Gal-
lienus himself seems to have been more like a mo^
dem than an uicient sovereign ; — a man of taste^
indolence, and philosophy ^--disposed to cberbh
every thing that looiced like knowledge and libeity of
thinking ;---by no means so kind and generous in hia
constant practice as his profession -might seem to
promise; — the slave of his passbns, and led away
by every sudden feeling thnt seised his imagination.
The Christians appear to have been considered by
him as a sect of new philoSDphei^ ; and, as bs
judged it improper to pereecute philosophers of any
sort, they found a complete toleratibn under a piince,
whose conscience seems to have been inAueiioed by
no religious attachmont whatevar.

CHAR xvn.

FROM THE REIGN QV «AI.LI£NUS TO THE EN^
OF Tft« CENTURY*

J HE general history of the Chorch of Cterist, for
the T^mainini; forty years of this century, affords no
great quantity of materials. After iiaving collected
them into this chapter in order, it may be proper to
reserve, to a distinct considemtbn, the lives of some
particular persons, and other miscrilaneous matters^
which belong not to the thread of the naiTadve.

We now behold a new scene ; — Christians legally
tolerated under a pagan government for forty years!
— The example of Gallienus was, follow^ by tb«
successive emperor^ to the end <rf the century : — It
was violated only in one instance; — the effect of
^kkh was presently dissipated by the hand of Pi^

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HEIG-N OF -GALLIENUS. 48 1

^ridence. — This new scene did not prove favourable cent.
to the growth of grace and holiness. In no period ,^^^}' jf
since the Apostles was tlierc ever st> great a general
decay as in this; — not even in particular instances,
can we discover, during this interval, much of lively
Christianity.

Jliose, however, are not well informed in the
nature ol the religion of Jesus, who suppose, that;
literally, there was no persecution all this time :
' — ^True Christians are never without some share of
it ; nor is it in the power of the best and the mildest
governments to protect men of godliness from the '
malice of the world in all cases. We saw an exam-
ple of this when Commodus was emperor: — Observe
another under the government of Gallienus. — At
Ca?sarea in Palestine, there was a soldier— of bra-
very,— of noble family, — and of great opulence;
who, upon a vacancy, was called to the office of
centurion. His name was Marinus. — But, another
soldier came before the tribunal, and urged, — that,
by the laws, Marinus was incapacitated, because he
was a Christian and did not sacrifice to the emperors ; ,
-^and that he himself, as next in rank, ought to be
preferred. — Achaeus the governor asked Marinus ,
what was his religion ; — upon which he confessed
himself a Christian. * The governor gave him the
space of three hours for deliberation.- — Immediately
Theotecnes, bishop of Caesarea, called Marinus from
the tribunal, — toot him by the hand, — led him to
the Church, — showed him the sword that hung by
his side, and a New Testament which he pulled out
of his pockety — and he then bid him choose which
of the two he liked best. — Marinus stretched out his
hand ; and took up the Holy Scriptures. — ** Hold
fast, then,** said Theotecnes ; " Cleave to God : and
HIM whom you have chosen, you shall enjoy: you
shall be strengthened by him, and shall depart in
peace."* — ^After the expiration of the three houra^
upoQ the crier ft summons, he appeared at the bar,

VOL. t. I i

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489 HISTORY OF THE CHUECH.

CHAP, mai^ully confessed the &ith of Christ, beard At

I ^-^^L_f 8^^"^^ ^f condemnation, and was beheaded.

^ Without more acquaintance with the particular*

institutes of Roman law on this subject, it is not

€asy to reconcile this proceeding with the edict of

Gallienus. — Perhaps the act of Achaeus was ill^^

I — or, perhaps some particular military law might

be in force against the martyr. The fact, however,

rests on the best authority ; and the profession of

arms appears to have bad still among tiiem, sbce the

days of Cornelius, those who loved Jesus Christ

The greatest luminary in the Church at this time

^ was Dionysius of Alexandria. His works are lost:

A few extracts of them, preserved by Eusebius, have

already been given; — and some few more may be

Sabdr ^^^ introduced. — He speaks of the Sabellian

HerJj" heresy, which had now made its i^peanmce, — as

•ppears. foUoWS :—

^^ As f many brethren have sent their books and
disputations in writing to me, concerning the impious
doctrine lately propagated at Pentapolis in Ptoleinais,
which contams many blasphemies against the Al-
mighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and also much infidelity respecting his only-b^olt&i
Son, the FfRST begotten of every creature,
and THE Word incarnate; and, lastly, much
senseless ignorance relative to IbeHoly Ghost; —
some of tl^m I have transcribed, and sent the copies
to you."

This is the first account in existence of the ori^
of Sabellianism; — a plausible corruption, no doub^
— perhaps the most so of all those which oppose the
mastery of the Trinity. But, like all the rest, it
fails for want of Scripture*evidence,*and dbows itself
to be only a weak attempt to lo^^r and submit to
human reason that, which \v9tB never noeant t9 be
amenable to its tribunal. The earful distioctioiis
of Dionysius, in recounting the persons of Ibe Triaily,
* ^VL»A. Book 7, Chap. 14, f B^ok 7» Chap. 5*

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RtteK OF 0ALLI£NIJS.

were very proper in speaking of a heresy wliich
confounds the persons, and leaves them nothing of
tliose distinct characters, on which the nature of the
doctrines of the Gospel so much depends.

Tliis bishop also delivers his sentiments in the con-
troversy concerning the re-baptizing of heretics: He
is against that practice ; and, at the same time, h^
condemns with great severity the Novatian schism ;
— because, says he, "it charges tlie most loving
and merciful God with unmercifulness *." Yet, on
the subject of baptism, he confesses hims/elf to have
been,. for some time at least, staggered in opinion by
a remarkable case. — " When the brethren were ga-
thered together, and when there was present one who
had been, before my time, an ancient mbister of the
clergy, a certain person, allowed to be sound in the
faith, — ^upon seemg our form and manner of baptism,
and hearing the interrogatories and responses, came
to me weeping and wailing, falling prostrate at my
feet, and protesting — that the baptism which he had
received was heretical, — could not be the true bap-
tbm, — fu:id, that it had no agreement with that
which was in use among us, but, on the contrary,
was full of impiety and blasphemy. He owned,
that the distress of hb conscience was extreme, —
that he durst not presume to lift up bis eyes to God,
because he had been baptized with profane worda
and rites. He begged therefore to be re-baptized;
with which request I durst not comply; but I told
him tiJ9/t frequent communion, many times admi-
iHstered, would sutHoe. This majti had heard thanks^
^ifig sounded in the Church, and had sung to it,
*^ Amen;'' he had been present at tlie Lord's table;
Jbad stretched forth Ins hand to receive the }ioly food ;
imA actually communicated ; and, indeed for a long
time, had been partaker of the body and blood of
owr Lord Jesus Christy — therefore, I duret not re-
.bi^tiK bkoj but bade him beof good clieer and of
♦ Book 7i CJbap. 7.

liii

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484 HISTORY Ot THE CHURCH.

CHAP, a sure faith, and boldly approach to the communioft

J*^^^ , of saints. — Notwithstanding all this, the man mourns

continually; and his horror keeps him from the

Lord's table; and he iscarce, with much intreaty,

can join in the prayers of the Church."

We have no farther account of this matter : but,
surely there is good reason to believe that the God erf
Grace would, in due time, relieve such a character.

The detestation of heresy, .end the marked dis-
tinction of true Christianity were, in some circum-
stances, carried to an extreme, during this century :
disfcipline, however, was not neglected in the Church;
. but, as I have already observed, was carried some-
times to excess — even to superstition. — Satan's
temptations are ever ready to drive to despair truly
penitent and contrite spirits. This story, as it re-
spects all the parties concerned, breathes throughout
a spirit the very opposite to the licentious boldness
of our own times, and marks the peculiar character
of the piety of the age of Dionysius ; — ^which was
sincere, but mixed with superstition*.

The celebration of the feast of Easter and of
other holy days forms tlie subject of another of
Dionysius's epistles.

Dionysius, now returned from exile to Alexandria,
found it involved in the hoiTors of a civil war. On
the feast of Easter, as if he was still in banishment,
he wrote to his people, who were in another part of
the city, with which he could have no personal in-
tercourse. In a letter to Hierax. an Egyptian bishop
at some distance, he says, *' Itis not to be wondered
at, that it is difficult for me to converse by epistles
with those at a distance, when I find myself here
precluded from having any intercourse with my most
intimate friends and tenderest connexions. — Even
"with THEM I have no intercourse but by writing,
though they are citizens of the same Church ; atrf I
find it very difficult to procure a safe convcyance'of
• Euseb. Book 7, Chap. 8.— SceGi'eek.

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in."

ItEIGN OF GALLIENUS. 485

ftoy letters which I would send to them. A man may ceot.
paore easily travel from the east to the west than from ^"
Alexandria to Alexandria. The middle road of this
city is more impassable than that vast wilderness
which the Israelites wandered tlirough in two gene-
rations."— He goes on to describe the miseries of war
and bloodshed, of plagues and diseases, which, at
that time, desolated Alexandria; — and he complains
that the people still repented not of their sins.

To the brethren he says, " Now every thing is
full of lamentation ; — every one does nothing but
mourn and howl thr6ugh the city, H^ecause of the
multitude of corpses and the daily deaths. — Many
of our brethren, through their great love and bro-
therly affection, spared not themselves, but clave
one to another, and attended upon the sick most
diligently; and, in doing so, they brought the sor-
rows of others upon themselves; they caught the
infection, and lost their own lives. In this manner
the best of our brethren departed this life ; — of
whom some were presbyters, and some deacons,^—
highly reverenced by the common people." He then
goes on to observe with what affectionate care the
Christians attended tlie funeralp of their friends,
while the pagans, in the kame city, through fear of
receiving the contagion, deserted and neglected theirs.
Undoubtedly he describes here a strong picture of
the benevolence of Christians, and of the selfishness
of other men. — It belongs to true Christianity to
produce such fruits, though, in some respects, they
might be carried farther than real Christian prudence
would vindicate. — But every lover of Jesus is re-,
freshed to 'find the certain marks of his Spirit and
uis presence among his people.

An Egyptian bishop, named Nepos, taught that
the Millennium was to commence after the resur^
rection ; and described the happiness of saints as
much consisting in corporeal enjoyments. Dionysiua
thought the notion dan^rous; — yet, his caiidoiic

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486 HIStORT OF THE CHUHCtt,

CHAP, inclined him to entertain a good opinion of Nepos on
I j^-)^-^ » the whole. He commends his feith, his diligence,
his skin in the Holy Scriptures ; and, particularly,
his agreeable psalmody, with which many aS the
brethren were delighted : But, as he thought his
opinions not safe, he opposed them. When he was
at Arsenoita, he spent three days with the brethren
who bad been infected with the notions of Nepos,
and explained the subject. He speaks with much
commendation of tlie candour and docility of the
peonle, particularly of Coraeion their leader, who
Owned himself brought over to the sentiments of
Dionysius. — -The authority of Dionysius seems to
have quashed the opinions of Nepos in the bud. — '
The consequence of an injudicious and unscriptural
view of the Millennium, thus rejected and refuted
by a bishop of candour, judgment, and authority,
was, — that the doctrine itself, for ages, continued both
much out of sight and out of repute. — ^The learned
reader need not be told, with how much clearer light
H has been revived and confirmed in our days.

Dionysius finding how much use had been made
of the Revelation of St. John in supporting the
doctrine of the Millennium, gives his thoughts on
that sublime and wonderful book : With much mo*
desty he confesses, that though he reverenced its
contents, lie did not understand their scope.

The subtilty and ttie restless spirit of those, who
corrupt the doctrine of the Trinity, have ever had
this advantage, — that while they, without fear or
Scruple, can say what they please, its defenders arp
reduced to the necessity either of leaving tlie field
to them entirely, or of exposing themselves to the
specious charge of maintaining some human inven-
tion, or even heresy, — contrary to that which they
are opposing. This last was the case of Dionysius
in his attack on Sabellianism. The scantiness of our
ideas, and the extreme difficulty of cloathing, with
proper expressions, those very inadequate onea whicb
3

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REIGN OF GALLI£NUS. 487

^e have on a subject so profound, naturally lay us cent.
open to such imputation, from which, however, iJ"^
faithful zeal will ne?er be disposed to shrink on a
proper occasion;— I mean, the faithful zeal of those,
who see through the designs of heretic^ and who pre-
fer truth, thouf^h veiled in unavoidable ftiystery, to
specious error disguised in an affected garb of sim-
plicity.— Sabellius had taken pains to confound the
persons of the Father and the Son. Dionysius showtjd,
by an unequivocal testimony, that the Father was
]K>t the same as the Son, nor the Son the same as the
Father. — Dionysius, bishop of Rome, being informed
of these things, assembled a council, in which certain
expressions attributed to his namesake of Alexandria
were disapproved ; and he wrote to him with thd
view of furnishing an opportunity for explanation.

The bishop of Alexandria with great clearness,
candour; and moderation, explained himself at large
in a work which he entitled a Refutation and Apolo-
gy *. In the small remidnsof this work, it appears
that he held the consubstantiaKty of the Son with the
Father: He describes the Trinity in Unity, and steers
equally clear of the rock of Sabellianism, which
confounds the persons, and that of Arianism, which
divides the substance. His testimony, therefore,
may be added to the uniform judgment of the primi*
tive ftithers on this subject.

" The Father,** says he, ** cannot be separated from
the l^on, as he is the Father; for that name, at
the same time, establislies the relatiok. Neither
can the Son be separated from the Father ; for the
word Father ichplics the union : moreover, the Spirit
is united with the Father and the Son, because it
cannot exist separate either from him who sends it^
er from him who brines it. Thus we understand
tii6 indivisible Unity without any diminution." Thb
account nas satisfactory to the whole Church; and
♦ Anth, de Scnt-^See Fleury,' L, it. Book 7«
1 i4

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488 HISTORY or THE CHURCH.

CHAP, was allowed to contain the sense of Cbristbns on the

^^^ , doctrine.

In the year two hundred and sixty-four the heresy
of Paul of Samosata began to excite the genei'aJl
attention of Christians ; and, about the same time,
a degeneracy both' in principle and practice, hitherto
very uncommon within the pale of Christianity, at-
tracted the particular notice of all who wished well
to the souls of men. Paul was the Bishop of An-
tioch. It gives one no very high idea of tlie state
of ecclesiastical discipline in that renowned Church,
that such a man should ever have been placed at its
head: — But it is no new thing for even sincere
Christians to be dazzled with the parts and elo-
quence of corrupt men. The ideas of this man seem
to have been perfectly secular. Zenobia of Palmyra,
who, at that time styled herself Queen of the f-ast,
and reigned over a large part of the empire which
had been torn trom the mdolent hands of Gallienus,
desired his instructions in Christianity *. It does
not appear that her motives had any thing in them
beyond philosophical curiosity. Tlie master and the
scholar were well suited to each other ; and Paul
taught her his own conceptions of Jesus Christ, —
namely, that he was, by nature, a common man like
others. The irregularities of Paul's life and the he-
terodoxy of his doctrine CQuld no longer be endured.
There is, in fact, more necessary connexion between
principle and practice than the world is ready to
believe; — for pure practical holiness can only be the
effect of Christian truth. — The bishops met at
Antioch, to consider his case : Among these, were,
particularly, Firmilian of Caesares^ in Cappadocia,
Gregory f Thaumaturgus, and Athenodorus, who
were brethrenand bishops in Pontus; andThoptecnes
♦ A than, torn, ii, p. 857. — Fleury, Euaeh. vii.Cbap. 6, &c-
j\ See his life in Chap, below.

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KEI^N OF GALLIENUS, 4%^

of Csesarea in Palestine. A number of ministers cent.
and deacons besides met together on the occasion. ^ " V #
In several sessions the case of Paul was argued. Fir-
miiian seems to have presided. — ^Paul was induced
to recant; and with such appearances of sincerity
that Firmilian and the council believed him. The
matter slept, therefore, for the present, and Paul
continued in his bishopric.

It was in the same year two hundred and sixty- a. d,
four, the eleventh of Gallienus, that Dionysius of 264,
Alexandria died, after having held the See seventeen
years. He had been invited to the council ; but
pleaded in excuse his great age and infirmities : he,
liowever, sent a letter to the council, containing his
advice, and addressed the Church of Antioch, with-
out taking any notice of lier bishop. This was the ^
last service of this great and good man to the Church
pf Christ, after having gone through a variety of
hardships, and distinguished himself by his steady
piety in the cause of religion. His having be«i a
pupil of Origen in his younger years was no great
advantage to his theological knowledge: It is to be
regretted that our materials concerning him are so
detective; but, the few fitigments, which remain,
afford the strongest marks of unquestionable good
sense and moderation, as well as of genuine piety.

Gallienus having reigned about fifteen years, Clau*
dius succeeded ; and, after a reign of t^^'o years, in
which he continued the protector of Cl^ristians,
Aurelian became emperor. Under him a second .
council was convened concerning Paul of Samosata.
He dbsembled egregiously ; nevertheless, the into-
lerable corruption both of his doctrine and of his
morals was proved in a satisfactory manner ; inso-
much that the servants of Christ felt themselves
called upon to show openly that all regard to the
person and precepts of their divine Master was
pot lost in the Christian world *. — Seventy bishopg
* Aihan. dc Sjn. E^ueb. 3d, ^c

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49«> HIOTOET or THE CBVUCR.

CHAP^ appeared at the synod, among M-bom Th^oiectie^ &t

i_ -M- _" Cffisarea in Palestiiie was still one of the principal.

They waited sooie time for the arrival of Firmilian

^i Cappadocia, who had been invited, and was on

l^is way, notwithstanding his great age; but be died

A. r* at Tarsus in the year two hundred and sixty-nine*

269. He had been one of the greatest luminaries of tbe

day, and so had Gregory Thaumaturgus of Pontus,

who also died in the interval between the first and

^cond council. The loss of these great men was,

no doubt, the more severely felt on this occasion,

because it was not in tbe power of every one, who

really believed and loved the truth as it is in Jesus,

to confute and expose, m a proper manner, tbe

' wrtifices of Paul.

Whoever has seen the pains taken irt this day,
by many persons of Pauls pers^tasion, to cover
their id€^ under a cloud of ambiguous expressions,
and to represent themselves, when attacked, as
ineamng the same thing with real (^Imstians, wbiley
at other times, they take all possible pains, and in
the nk)st open way, to undermine tbe fundamental
doctrines of the Gospel, will not be surprised that
Paul, — art&l, eloquent, and deceitful as he was,—
should be able to give a specious cobnr to bis
ideas. But, there was in the council a presbyter,
Ranged Malchion, who added to tbe socindness of
Chrjstain^ilh great skill in the art o( reasoning:
He had been, a long time, governor of the school
of humanity at Antioch : and his talents and expe-
rience were of great service in this business: — ^He
80 pressed the ambiguous, equivocating Paul, that
he compelled him to declare himself and to disclose
bis most secret meanings. There needed no more
to condemn him. All the bishops agreed to bia
depo^tion and exdosion from the Christian Church.
— Malcbion's disputation agaimt Paul was preserved
in. niTitkig to the thne of Eusebius.
No fact in Chuiich history is xfio» certain than

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BEIOK aF GALLIEKUi.

tfie depositioD and exclusion of Paul; — and tiie
inference i% thence, demonstrativdy clear, — that
Socinianisro in the year two hundred and sixty-nine^
was not suffered to exist within the pale of the
Christian Church. — I use that term, because it is
now well understood; and because it fairly ex*
presses the ideas of Paul. In truth; — no injury 269,
was done to the man : He had certainly no more or
right to Christian preferment than a traitor has to 270.
bold an office of trust under a legal government;
and to oblige him to speak out what he really held,
was no more than what justice required : Truth and
openness are essential to the character of all
teachers : He, who is void of them, deserves to be
without scholars or hearers. At the same time I
eannot but further conclude — that the doctrine,
usually called Trinitarian, was universal in the
Church in those times: — Dionysius, Firmilian, Gre-
gory, Theotecnes, seventy bishops, the whole Chris-
tian world, were unanimous on this head ; — and this
unanimity may satis&ctorily be traced up to tho
Apostles.

Paul b^ng deposed, and a new bbhop being
ehoeen in his room, an epistle was dictated by thd
council and sent to Dionysius of RcHne and to
Maximus of Alexandria, and also dispersed through
the Roman world, in which they explained tb^
own labours in this matter, — the perverse duplicity
of Paul,— and the objections against him. — The
chief part of this will deserve to bc^ transcribed-—
from Eusebius — as the most authentic account of
the whole transaction *.

" To Dionysius and Maxunus> and all our fellow
bishops, elders, and deacons throughout the world,
and to the whole universal Church, — Helcyiu^
HymensBus, Tbeopbilus, Theotecnes, &c. with all
the other bishops who with us inhabit^ and pre*
$ide over the neighbouring cities and provinces ;—
• Book 7, Chap. »9,

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XVII.

49 2 HISTORY* OF THB CRUROH.

CHAR together with the presbyters and deacons and hdy
Churches of God, — ^to the beloved brethren in the
Lord, send greeting: —

" For the purpose of healing this deadly and poi-
sonous mischief, we have called many bishops from
far, as Dionysius of Alexandria, and Firmilian of
Cfesareain Cappadocia, — men blessed in the Lord;
— the former of whom, writing hither to Antioch,
vouchsafed not so much as once to salute the author
of ihe heresy; for he wrote not specifically to him,
but to the whole congregation; — the copy of which
we have annexed. Firmilian came twice to Antioch,
and condemned this novel doctrine. — He wished
to have come the third time, for the same purpose;
but be only reached Tarsus ; and, while we were
assembling, sending for him, and expecting his
coming, be departed this life. — This man* was
formerly indigent : He derived no property fhwn
his parents, nor acquired any either by a trade or a
profession; yet he is grown exceedingly rich by sa-
crilegious practices and by extortions.^ — He deceived
the brethren and imposed on their easiness : He
entangled them in law suits : pretended to assist
the injured; took bribes on all sides, and thus
turned godliness into gain. — Vain, and foi^l of se-
cular dignity, he preferred the name of Judge to
that of Bishop : He erected for himself a tribunal
and lofty throne, after the manner of tuvil magi-
strates, and not like ^ disciple of Clirist. — He was
accustomed to walk through the streets, with a nu-
merous guard, in great state, receiving letters and
dictating answers ; insomuch that great scandal has.
accrued to the faith through his pride and haughti-
ness. In church assemblies he used th^trical
artifices, to amaze, surprise, and procure applause
from weak people : — such as striking his thi^ with
his htod, and stamping with his feet — ^Tben, if
there were any, \vho did not applaud hicq, nor sb^
* Paul of Samosata« .

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REIGN OF GALLlENUS-

their handkerchiefs, nor make loud acclamations aS
is usual in the theatre, — nor leap up and down as
his partizans do, — but behaved with decent and
reverent attention as becomes the house of God, he
reproved — and even reviled such persons. — He
openly inveighed against the deceased expositors of
Scripture in the most impudent and scornful terms;
and magnified himself exactly in the manner of
sophists and impostors. He suppressed the psalms
made in honour of Jesus Christ, and called them
modem compositions ; — and he directed others to
be sung in the Church in his own commendation,
— ^which very much shocked the hearers : — He also
encouraged similar practices, as far as it was in his
power, among the neighbouring bishops. — He re-
fused to acknowledge the Son of God to have come
down from heaven; and affirmed positively that he
was of the earth. — These are not mere assertions,
but shall be proved by the public records of the
synod. — Moreover, this same man kept women in
his house under the pretence of their being, poor :
His priests and deacons did the same ; but he tole-
rated and concealed this and many other of their
crimes^ in order that they might remain in a state
of dependence ; and that, standing in fear on their
own account, they might not dare to bring accu-
sations against him for his wicked actions. He also
frequently gave them money ; — and in that way, \m
engaged covetous and worldly dispositions very
strongly in his interests — We are persuaded, brethren,
that a bishop and till his clergy are bound to give
the people an example of all good works ; and we
are not ignorant, that many, by the dangerous and
evil custom of introducing single and unprotected
women into their houses, have fallen into sin ; — and
how many, also, are subject to suspicion and slander
on the same account. If, therefore, it should be
admitted, that he hath committed no actual crime,
yet the very suspicion arising from such a conduct

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494 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

citAp. ought to be guarded against, for fear of givii^ offence
■,^^-"!_r ^ setting a bad example to any. For how can he
reprove another, or admonish another — not to con-
verse frequently and privately with a woman, — and
to take heed, as it is written, lest he fall, — he who,
though he has sent away one, still keeps two women
in Im house; — both of them handsome and in the
flower of their age : Besides, wherever he goes, he
carries them about with him ; and at the same time
indulges himself in high living and luxuries. — On
account of these things all sighed in secret indigna-
tion, but trembled at his power, and did not dare
to accuse him.

" Doubtless he would deserve severe censures,
■even if he were our dearest friend, and perfectly or-
thodox in his sentiments ^ — but as he has renounced
Christian mysteries, — We have felt ourselves under
the necessity of expelling from the Church this con-
tumacious adversary of God : we have, accordingly,
placed in his room Domnus — a person adorned with
all the gifts required in a bishop : He is the son of
Demetiian, of blessed memory — the predecessor
of Paul."

It is fashionable, at present, to despise all rel^ious
councils whatever : and probably, this contempt does
notarise from an EXTaAoRDiNART regard to rel^on
Itself. For, on all subjects, which are esteemed of
moment and of general concern, common sense hath
ever dictated to mankind the propriety and advan-
tage of holding councils, by which the wisdom of
THE MANY m^ht bc coUectcd, concentrated and
directed to bendicial purposes. Let the reader re-
flect, how much this has ever been the case in r^ard
to politics, agriculture, commerce, and the fine arts.
— Against religious councils, however moulded^ or
however conducted, the torrent of the present times^
unquestionably, runs violent: And tjie mind of a
historian is strongly tempted to give way to this tor-
j^ent; tor by so doing, he much inore easily acquirw

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REIGN OF 30ALLIENU8. '

a reputation for good sense and discernment, than
by any exercises of learning, industry, or reflection,
if these should lead him to oppose opinions, which
happen to be prevalent But it is, also, to be re-
membered, that a temporary reputation, which net*
tber consists with truth, nor with the deliberate judg-
ment of the writer, is of very little value ; — and wito
this sentiment in view, I venture to affirm, that re-
ligious councils ought not to be universally despised
and rejected, because some of them have been use-
less or hurtful. — ^The council at Jerusalem * was in-
trinsically of more value dian all the wealth and
power of the Roman empire : It was by a council,
also, that Cyprian w as enabled to serve the Church
substantially, thou^ in one instance he failed : And,
again, the council, which dictated the letter concern-
ing Paul of Samosata, will deserve the thanks of
the Church of Christ to the end of the world. Cir-
cumstanced as Paul was, — superior in artifice, elo-
quence, and capacity; — supported by civil power,
and uncontrolled in liis own diocese, nothing seemed
so likely to weaken his influence and encourage the
true disciples of Christ as the concurrent testimony
of the Christian world assembled against him. And
though it may be diflicult for the insincere mildness
of polite scepticism to relish the blunt tone of the
council, tliere seem to me, in their proceedings,
evident marks of the fear of God, of Christian gra-
vity, and of conscientious r^ard to trutii. No
doubt, the reports of Paul's actual lewdness must
have been very comnK)n in Antioch; — Init, for want
of specific proof,— the hardest thing in the world to
be obtained in such cases, — ^they check the smallest
disposition to exaggerate: they assert no more than
what th^ positively knew ; and thus they convince
posterity that they were, in no way, under the do-
minion of intemperate passion or resentment This
is the first instance of a Christian bishc^ having
* Seethe AcU of the Apostle*.

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496

CHAP.

XVII.

DionjMos
of Rome
dies.

A. D.

270.

Anrelian

begins a

IXth Per.

tecatioQ.

A. D.

272.

ftlSTOEY OP THE CH0RCH.

been proved so shamefully secular ; — and that, oit
the most authentic evidence; — a grievous fact !-—
The mind is however considerably relieved by ob-
serving, that there existed at the same time a be^
coming zeal for truth and holiness*

Dionysius of Rome died, also, in the year 270.
His successor Felix wrote an epistle to Maximus of
Alexandria, in which, — probably on account of
Paul's heresy, — he speaks thus : — " We believe that
our Saviour Jesus Christ was born of the Virgin
Mary : we believe that he himself is the eternal God
and the Word, and not a /mere man, whom God
4ook into himself) in such a manner, as that the man
should be distinct from him : For the Son of God
is perfect God ; and was also made perfect man, by
being incarnate of the Virgin *."

By the favour of Zenobia, Paul for the space of
two or three years supported himself in the posses-
sion of the mother-church of Antioch, and of the
episcopal house, and, of course, of so much of the
revenues as depended not on voluntary contributions
of the people. A party he, doubtless, had among
tlie people; but the horror, which Socinianism then
excited through the Christian world, as well as tbe
flagitiousness of his life, render it impossible that
be should have had, in general, the hearts of the
Chriatians of Antioch. Zenobia was conquered by
the emperor Aurelian, and then a chemge took place:
The Christiaaas complained ; and Aurelian, consider*
ing Rome and Italy as, in all things, a guide to the
rest of the world, ordered, — ^that the controversy
should be decided according to tlie sentiments of the
bishops. Of course Paul was fully and effectually
expelled ; and we hear no more of him in history*

Aurelian, hitherto, had been the friend of Chris-
tians : but pagan superstition and its abettors drove
him at length into measures of persecution. The
Christians were in full expectation of sanguinary
• Cone. Eph.— See Fleury, Book 8, Chap. 4.

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ItEIGN OF GALLIENUS. ^7

treatment, when his death prevented bis designs, in Aurenaa
the year two hundred and seventy-five. ^'"*"^

Tacitus, the successor of Aurelian, after a short ^'
reign, left the empire to Probus; in whose second '^*
year, and in the year of our Lord two hundred and
seventy-seven, appeared the monstrous heresy of
Manes, of which the fundamental principle was the a.p.
admission of two first causes independent of each 277.
other, for the purpose of explaining the origin of
evil. But I write not the history of heresies : That
has been performed with sufficient accuracy by many,
while we have very scanty infonnation of the pro-
gress of teue religion. — I'iiis heresy continued long
to infest the Church ; and necessity will o' )lige me
hereetfter, if this work be continued, to take notice
of it more distinctly.

After Probus, Carus and his two sons, Dioclesicui
began to reign in the year two hundred and eighty- A.D.
four, For the space of dghteen years this emperor 2^4.
was extremely indulgent to the Christians, iliswife
Pxisca and his daughter Valeria were Christians, in
some sense, secretly. The eunuchs of his palace
and his most important officers were also Christians ;
and their wives and families openly professed the
Gospel. Christians held honourable offices, in vari-
ous parts of the empire ; innumerable crowds at-
tended Christian worsliip : the old buildings could
no longer receive them ; and, in all cities, wide and
large edifices were erected *.

If Christ's kingdom had been of this woild; and,
if its strength and beauty were to be measured by
secular prosperity, we should here fix tlie sera of its
greatness. But, on the contrary, tlie ffira of its
actual declension must be dated in tlie pacific part of
Dioclesiai^s reign. During tliis whole century the
work of God, in purity and power, had been tending
to decay : The connexion with philosophers was one
of the principal causes : Outward peace and secular
* Eoseb. Book 8. C)iap. 1.

VOX. Is K.K.

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XVII.

4^ HlSTORy* OF tHE CHl/RCH.

C^p. advantages completed the corrtrption: Ecclesfasttcei'^
discipline, which had been too strict, was now re-
laxed exceedingly: bishops and people were in a
state of malice: Endles* quarreb were fomented'
dmong contending parties j and ambition and covc-
toiisness had, in general, gained the ascendency in
the Christian Chui-ch. Some there, donbtless, were,
who mourned in secret, and strove in vain to stop
the abounding torrent of the evih The truth of this
account seems much confirmed by the extreme dearth
of real Christian excellencies after the deatbof Dio-
ftysius^ For the space of thirty years, no one seems
fo have arisen like Cyprian, Ilrmilian, Gregory, or
Dionysius ; — No bishop or pastor, eminent for piety,
zeal, and labour. — Eusebius, indeed, mentions the
name$ and characters of several bishops ; but he
extols only their learning and philosophy, or their
moral quahties. .He speaks mih all the ardcrar of
affection concerning a minister in Caesarea of Pales-' '
fine, named Pamphilus, — but, in this case abo, the
best thing he asserts of him is, . ^ that he suffered
mueh persecution and was martyred at hist." — ^his
event must have happened in the time of the perse-
^tion by Dioclesian, which begins just after the li-
mits prescribed to this vohraie. — NotwithstancRng
this decline both of zeal and of principle ; — notwith-
standing this scarcity of evangelical graces and fruits,
still Christian worship was constantly attended ; and
the number of nominal converts wa^ increasing; —
but the faith of Christ itself appeared now an ordi-
nary business; and here TERMrNAxirD, or nearly
so, as far as appears^ that great first EflRisioft of the
Spirit of God, which began at the ciay of Pentecost;
Human depravity eflecttS throughout a general cte-
cay of godliness ; and one generation of men^elapsed
with very slender proofs of tbesphrituaj preseAce of
Christ with his Church.

The observation of Eusebius^ who honestly coiK
fesscs this declension, is judicious. " 31ie hc^avy
hand of God's judgnsents began softly, by fittfc^knd

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III.

ftklGIC OF GAtLIENOS. , 4^

little, to visit us aft^r his wonted manner: The per- ^eni*.
>secutiton, which was raised against us, took place
first among the Christians who were in military ^
service; but, we were not at all moved with h&
hand, nor took any pains to return to God: We ,
heaped sin upon sm, judging, like careless Epi-
cureans, that God cared not for our sins, nor would
ever visit us on actount of them. And our pre-
tended shepherds, laying aside the rule of godliness,
practised amonj» themselves contention and division.''
— He goes on to observe, — that the " dreadful per-
secution of Dioctesian was then inflicted on the
Church, as ct just punishment and as the most pr6pet
chastisement for thehr iniquities.''

Totvard the end of the cetitury, while DioclesiaA
ivas practising the superstitious rites of divination,
he became persuaded that the ill succcfss of his at-
tempts to pry into futurity, were owing to the pre-
sence of a Christian servant, who had made, on his
forehead, the sign of the cross: and he immediately,
in great atnger, ordered not* only those who were
present, birt all in his palace, to sacrifice to the gods,
or, in case of reftisal, to be scourged with whips*.
He commanded also the oflficers of his armies to
constrain all the soldiers to do the same, or to dis-
charge the disobedient fi*om the service. Eusebius
allu(fes to this in the foregoing passage. — Christian
truth, however, had not so universally decayed, but
that many chose rather to resign their commissions,
than to do violence to their consciences. — Very few
were put to death on this account. — ^The stbry of
Marcelhis is remarkable f. Mr. Gibbon has undep^
taken to justify his execution, by representing him
«s punished purely for desertion and military diso-
bedience. But, it is no unusual thirtg for this histo-
rian to suppress or to disguise facts, wheu (he credit

* trfwtafatim, de morttf pertecat.

t A^ta skcera, Fleuiy, Book ft. Gbi^^.

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5Q0 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, of religion is concerned : and I might have added
1^^^!^ * this instance to the list of his perversions, which I
formerly submitted to the judgment of the public*.
The truth is, the death of Marcellus was the effect
of* a PARTIAL persecution: New military rules,
subversive of Christianity, were introduced : Chris-
tian soldiers were ordered to sacrifice to the gods ;
and they could not do this without renouncing their
religion: — Otherwise, it was, in those times^ not
uncommon for the followers of Jesus to serve in
the armies.

Marcellus, It was iu the year two hundred and ninety-eight,
siln? at Tangier in Mauritania, while every one was em-

Marceiiirt, ployed iu feasting and sacrifices, that Marcellus the
j^^ ' centurion took off his belt, threw down his vine-
208 branch and his arms, and added, ^* I will not fight
any longer under the banner of your emperor, or
serve your gods of wood and stone. If the condi-
tion of a soldier be such that he is obliged to sacri-
fice to gods and emperors, I abandon thevine-brancli
and the belt, and quit the service." " We plainly
see the cause," says Fleury, " that forced the Chris-
tians to desert: — They were compelled to partake
of idolatrous worship." The centurion was ordered
to be beheaded : And Cassianus, the register, whose
business it was to take down the sentence, cried out
aloud, that he was shocked at its injustice. Marcellus
smiled for joy, foreseeing that Cassianus would be
his fellow-martyr : In fact, he was actually martyred
about a montli after.

When 1 first read Mr. Gibbon's account of this
transaction, I concluded tlmt Marcellus had suffered
on mere principles of modern quakerism. — Quite
unnecessary, are any further remarks, on a subject^
which b not in the smallest degree obscure or
uncertain,

These preliminaries to the persecution, with
which the next century opens, did; not, it sectos, duly
* Se&;^il]»6r't Gibbon.

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III.

• REIGN OF CALLIENUS. * 501

affect the minds of Christians in general ; nor was the cent.
spirit of prayer stirred up among them ; — a certain
sign of long and obstinate decay m godliness! There
roust have been, in secret, a lamentable depslr-
ture from the lively faitli of the Gospel. Origenism,
and the learning and philosophy connected with it,
were extremely fashionable: And we conjecture,
that the sermons of Christian pastors had more, in
genera], of a merely moral and philosophical cast,
than of any thing purely evangelical. In truth,
justification by faith, — hearty conviction of sin, —
and the Spfrit's influences, are scarcely mentioned
in all tiiis season. Moral duties, I doubt not, were
inculcated, — but professors of Christianity continued
immoral and scandalous in their lives. The state of
the Church of England from the time of Charles II.
down to the middle of the last reign, — full of party,
faction and animosities, and love of the world, yet in
its public ministrations adorned with learning, and
abounding in external morality, — seems very much
to resemble that of the Christian Church in manners
and in piety, from the death of Diouysius to the end
6f the. century. — In one instance there was a great
difference : Superstition was much stronger in the
ancient Church ; but as it was enlisted in the service
of self-righteousness, and as the faith of Christ and
tiie love of God was, in a great measure, buried
under it, such a diversity does not affect the general
likeness.

God, who had exercised long patience, declared
at length in the course of his providence, ** Because
I have purged thee, and thou wast not purged, thou
3halt not be pftrged from thy filthiness any more, till
I, have caused my furv to rest upon thee*."

But this scene, which introduces quite a new face
On the Church, and was quickly followed by several
surprising revolutions, belongs to the next century,

♦ p^. 3fxiv. 13.

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5P9 HISX0B7 OF THjB CJ»UBCff«

CHAP. XVIII.

SOME ACCOUNT OF G&EGORT TRAUM4t0EQiri^
THfOGNOSryS^ AND DION76IU6 07 ROMS.

CHAP. Thesj: three persons are tU, w)iom I can fiiwj
^via b^ejonging to the third century, to wbooa, ^coorduig
to my plan, sufficient justice' has not b^a done alt-
ready. Of the ty^o last» indeed, I have littl<! to say.
Of tjie first more is recorded. Eusabiqs * has given
a short account of him ; and his life is written, ^
length, by Gregory of Nyssen. Cave and Fleury
have collected the most material things concerning
him; but the former is more to be depeaikd on. —
I wish to fumbh tlie reader with every information
that may appedr valuable concerning this great t?ian ;
I wish to separate truth from fiction. Considerable
allowance, no doubt, must l>e made for tl)e growth
of sqperstitious credulity:— I dare pot, however,
rjBJect ^11 that part of Gregory's narrative, in which
niu*aculous powers are ascribed to Th^^umaturgii^. —
Bb very namef admonishes the historian .to be
cautiousin this n^atter ; and tliough no great f tres%
perhaps, oug)it to be laid on such a circumstance
^lone, it behoves us to remember tliat the same ide§
i^ supported by the concurrent t^timony of an^
tjquity.

He was bom at Neoca?sar^, the metropolis of
Cappadocia. His father, Ecalous for paganism, took
care to educate him in idolatry, and in the learning of
the Gentile world.— He died when hisson was only
fourteen years of age. — The mother of Tbaqmaturgus
took care, however, to complete his education and
that of his brother Athenodorus, who wag afterwards
a Christian bisliop, as well as himself. — He travelle4
to Alexandria to loarn the Platonic philosophy, wljerq.
he was equally remarkable for strictness of life ao4
• Book 6. C^iap. 49, t Wowkrworkcr.'

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for d^w attention to his studies. The rendwoed gent.
Origeo, at that tiaie^ gave lectures io religioa and
philosophy, at Ciesarea in Pale^tii^. Tlnaumatur*
gus, his brother Athenodorus, and Firtiiiliani a Cap«
padocian gentleman, with whom he had contribcted
W intimate friendship, put themselves under liig
tuition. This same Firmilian is the Cappadpciaa
bishop, whom we have, repeatedly, had occasion to
mention. The two brothers continued five years
widi Origcn, and were persuaded by him to study
the holy Scriptures ; and no doubt is to be mad^
but that the most assiduous pains were exerted by
that zealous teacher to ground them in the belief of
Chriifdanity.-^On his departure he delivered au
eloquent speech in praise of Origen, before a nu«
meroos auditory t-^a testimony at once of his gratis
tude and of his powers of rhet(n*ic.

There is still extant a letter written by Origeo t#
Qregory Thaumaturgus^, in which ht exhorts him
to apply his knowledge to the promotion of Chris^
tlanity* The best thing in it is, that be advisee him
to pray tervcntly and seriously for the illuminattoo
of the Holy Spirit

, Being now returned to Neocaesarea, he gave bim«
^If much to prayer and retirement; and, doubtless^
was, in secret, prepared and disciplined for the im#
portant work to which he was soon after called.
Neocoesarea was a large and populous city, — full
of idolatry, — the very seat of Satan ; so that Chris-
tianity could scarcely gain any entrance into it Phc^-
dimus, bishop of Amasea, a neighbouring city, was
grieved to see its profoneoess; and hoping much
from the piety and capacity of young Gregory, he
took paios to cngagp him tliere in tlie work of the
ministry. Gregory, from pure modesty, endeavoui-
ed to dude his desi$rps ; but was at length prevailed
OP to accept (1^ (luurge.

7 he scene wf^ arduous* He teui a Church to

• Origen PhilocaL C- <a- - - *

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XVIII.

3^4 HIStORT OF THE CtfURfcH.

CHAP, found, before he could govern H. There were net
above seventeen professors of Christianity in the
place. His name-sake of Nyssen seems to have
been imposed on by the superstitious spirit, tlien
too prevalent, when he tells us that Gregory Thau-
maturgus received, in a vision, a creed from John
the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary. But, as he
assures us, that the original, written with his own
hand, was preserved in the Church of Neocaesarea
in his time; and,— as this is a matter of fact of which
any person might judge;— as the creed itself contains
nothing but what is verj' agreeable to the language of
the fathers of the third century ; — and, as we have
already seen the exact and steady pains with which
they guarded the doctrine of the Trinity against he*
resies, — I do not hesitate to conclude that he either
actually composed the creed in question, or received
it as his own;— at the same time the intelligent
reader, when he has considered its contents, and the
consequences deducible from them, need not be in
the least surprised at the industry* with which, in
our times, its credit has been impeached. The
whole creed is as follows, and merits our attention
the more, — because the orthodoxy of Gregory has
been unreasonably suspected, against the express
t^timony of l^'usebius, — who, we have seen above,
— represents him as one of the opposers of Paul of
Samosata, at the first couiKil,

** There is one GocI, — ^The Father of the living
AV'ord, of the subsisting wisdom and power, and of
HIM, who is his eternal express Image: The perfect
Father of Flim that is perfect ; 1 he Father of the
only-b^otten Son. There is One Lord, the only Son
of the only Father; God of God ; the Character and
•iniage of the (iodhead; the energetic Word; the
^comprehensive Wisdom hy which all things were
made ; and the Power that gave Being to all crca*
ttion: The true Son of tlje trtie Father: The Iqy^

♦ See Lardaer's CredHiiliry,

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IIL

' tHAUMATURGUS, &C. SOjf

Sble of the Invisible : The Incorruptible of the In- cent;
corruptible :, The Immortal of the Immortal: The
Eternal of the Eternal. There is one Holy Ghost,
having his subsistence of God ; who was raartifested
through the Son to men : The perfect image of the
perfect Son : The Life, and the source of Life : The
Holy Fountain : Sanctity, and the Author of Sancti-
fication ; By ^\ hoai is made maniibst God the Father,
who is above all and in all, and God the Son, whd
is through all. A perfect Trinity, which, neither
in Glory, Eternity, or Dominion, is separated or
divided."

Notwithstanding the prejudices, i^hich his ido-
latrous countrymen must have had against him, he
was received by Musonius, a person of consequence
in the city ; and, in a very little time, his preaching
was so successful that he was attended by a nume-
rous congregation. The situation of Gregory, so like
that of the primitive Christian preachers, in tlie
midst of idolatry, renders it exceedingly probablfe
that he was, as they were, favoured witti miraculous
gifts: for THESE the Lord bestowed intjtbundance,
where the name of Jesus had as yet gained no ad-
mission; and, it is certain that miracles had not
then ceased in the Church:

Gregory Nyssen himself lived within less than a
hundred years after Gregory Thaumaturgus; and
both he and his brother, — the famous Basil, — speajc
of his miracles u ithout the least doubt. Their aged
grandmother, Macrina, who taught them in their
youth, had, in her younger years, been a hearer of
Gregory. Basil particularly observes, that she told
them the very words which she had heard from him ;
and assures us that the Gentiles, on account of the mi-
racles which he performed, used to call him a second
Moses. The existence of his miraculous powers,
with reasonable persons, seems tlien unquestionable.
It is only to be regretted that tlie few particular in^r
stances which h^ve wpae down \q us arc not the beiit

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505 msXpfLY. OF TUP X^RVMCB.

CHAT^. chosen :— but, that Jje cured the $ick,r-hMled Om
J^^^y* , diseased, — and expelled devils; and,— tliat thi»
God wrou^it by him fipr the good o£ spuls, and
paved the way for the propagatioa of the Go^pd,— «►
aa it is, in itself, very credible, so has it the testi«
mooy of men wprthy to be believed.

Gr^ory continued successfully employed at Nep«-
ccesoi^ea till the persecution of Decius. Swords and
axes, fire, wild beaists, stakes, and engines for dis-^'
tending the limbs, iron chairs made red hot, fmtncs
of timber set up straight, in which the bodies of the
tortured were racked with nails that tore off the
Hesb ; these, and a variety of other inventions, were
used, — But the Decian persecution, in general, was
before described. — Pontus and Cappadwia seem to
have bad tljeir full share. Near relatives, in the
most unnatural manner, betrayed one another : the
woods were iull of vagabonds : tbe. towns were
empty: tlje public prisons were found too sn>all;
and the private houses, deprived of their Christiaa
inhabitants, became gaols for the reception of prir
soner^. \

In this terrible situation of things, Gregcay con»
^idjBred, that his new converts could scarce be strong
enough to stand their ground and be faithful ; He,
therefore, advised them to flee; and he encouraged
them to that step by his example. Many of his peor
pie endured much affliction, but God restored them
at length to peace : Their bishop returned again, and
refreslied and exhilarated their minds with his pas.
toral labours.

In the rei^n of Gallienus, the Christians suffered
iDxtremeiy from the ravages of barbarous nations^
which gave occasion to Gregory's Canonical Epistle^
^till extant,— in which, rules of a wholesome, peni.
tcniial, and disciplinarian nature are delivered.

Tb^ last service which is recorded of him, is tha
part which he took in the first council cgncemini
^aul of Samosata* li^ dji^d not long, aii^^ AJ^Vk
4 ' . •

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before hk death he made a strict enquiry, whether cent«
there were any persons in the city and neic^ibour* ^^^^
hood still ^rangeis to Christianity : And beirig told
thene were ahoqt seventeen in all, he sighed ; aod^
lifting up his eyes to heaven, appealed to God, how
much it troubled him that any of his fellow-towns-
fumn should stiil remain unacquainted with salvation :
At the same time he expressed great thankfulness^-*
that, whereas at first, he had found only seventeen .
ChrifStians, he should now only leave ttmt same num*
her of idolaters. — Having piayed tor the conversion
of infidels and for the edification of the faithful, he
peaceably gave up his spul to the Almighty.

He was an evangelical man, says Basil, in bb.
whole life: In his devotion he showed the gmatest
reverence: Y5:a and nay — were the usual measures
of bis communication. — How desirable is it tb^d;
those, wlio profess to love Jesus, should uniformly:
practise the ^ame ! He never allowed himself to caU
his brother fool : No anger or bitterness proceeded
out of liis mouth : iSlancJer and calumny, as directly
opposite to Christianity, he peculiarly hated and
avoided. Lies and falsehood, envy and pride, he
abhorred. He was zealous against all corruptions ;
ond Sabellianism, which, long after in Basils time,
reared up its head, was silenced by the remembrance
of what he had taught and left among them, — So.
]3asil tells us.

On the whole, the reader will with me regret, that
antiquity has left us such scanty memorials of a man ; .
so much honoured of God, so eminently holy, and
so little inferior, in utility aniong mankind, to any,
with which the Church of CKrist was hlessed, from,
the Apostles' days 10 his own times. For it is not
to be conceived, that so great and almost universal*
a change in the religious profession of the citizens
of NeociBsarea could have taken place without a
Wiwvellous EFFUsroN of the Holy Spirit in thab
pla9e. ^pd how instructive and edifyioj would the

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xmi.

508^ HISTOftY 6F THi: XTHURtH.

CHAP, narrative be, if we were distinctly informed of ite
rise and progress ! Certairily, — the essentials of the
Gospel must have been preached in much clearness
and purity. In no particular instance was tlie Di-
vine influence ever mol'e apparent since the aposto*
He age.

' It is not easy to fix with precision, the time when
Theognpstus of Alexandria lived ; though it is cer-
tain timt be is later than Origen ; and, that he must
belong to the third century. He platonizes, after
the manner of Origen, in some parts of his writings ;
yet, he is cited by Athanasius as a witness of the
Son's consubstantiality with the Father. " For, as
the Sun is not diminished," says he, "though it pro-
duces rays continually, so likewise the Father is not
diminislied in begetting the Son, who is his image."
It is ceitain that this is Trinitarian language; and,
though neither Theognostus nor Gregory, nor some
others of the ancient fatliers, spake always of the
Persons of the blessed Trinity, with so much exact-
ness as afterwards wa$ done, it would be an extreme
want of candour to rank them with Arians, Sabel-
lians^ or the like, when there is the clearest proof
that the foundation of their doctrine was really Tri-
nitarian. Before this important article of hith bad
been contradicted, nien did not perceive the necessity
of being constantly on th^ir guard respecting it : but
when the heresies were formed, they felt themselves,
urgently, called upon to express themselves with the
most diligent precision. The want of attending to
this just distinction has nursed several unreasonable
cavils in the minds of those who eagerly catch at
every $traw to support heretical notions. — Nothing
is known of the life of Tlieognostus. — -The proofs
of his eloquence and capacity are clear and
strong*.

The injustice of the late attempts made to invalid
date the evidences of the antiquity and of the un|q«
• Du Pin, 3d Century,

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THAUMATUR^GUSj &C» •

terrupted preservation of the doctrine of die Trinity
within the three first centuries, requires me to men-
tion one instance more, which, added to the many
ah-eady mentioned, will, I think, authorize me to
draw this conclusion, — that during the first three
hundred years after Christ, though the doctrine of
tlie Trinity in Unity was variously opposed, yet the
whole Christian Church constantly united in preserv-
ing and nmintainingit^ even from the Apostles' days,
as the proper sphere, within which all the truth,
and holiness, and consolation of genuine Christianity
lie ; and, one may defy its boldest enemies to pro-
duce a single instance of any real progress in Chris-
tian piety, made in any place, where this doctrine wa^
excluded.

We have before observed, that Dionysius of
Alexandria, tlirough his zeal against the sentiments
of Sabellius, became suspected of Arianisra; and,
that he fully exculpated himself. A Roman synod
had been convened on that account ; and Dionysius
of Rome*, in the name of the Synod, wrote a letter,
in which he proves, that the Word was not created,
but begotten of tRe Father from all eternity ; and
distinctly explains the mystery of the Trinity. Such
extreme nicety of caution in steering clear of two
rocks like those of Sabellianism and Arianism, be-
tween which, it must be confessed, tlie passage is
parrow and strait, demonstrates, — that the true doc-,
tiine of the Trinity in Unity, which, with so much
clearness, as to the existence of the thing itself
thougli, necessarily, with perfect obscurity as to the
MANNER of the existence, discovers itself every
where in the Scriptures, was even then understood
with precision, and maintained with firmness through-
out the Church of Christ.

• Du Pin, ibid.

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Sfd faistaRir of TtfE itticu^

C P A P. XIX.

XUt, FUBtHEtt EXTENSION OF THE GOSPEL IJ|
THIS CENTURY*

^xi'x** The power of rea! Christianity is always the
u— yi-j strongest and the clearest in ite begimringg or in its
revivals. — Exactly contrary to the process in secular
arts and sciences, the improvements of fallowing
ages, imless they be fevoured with fresh effu^ons of
tte Holy Spirit, are, in reality, so many deprava-^
tions of what was excellent in rtB infancy. For these
reasons, the object of this chapter would fall exactly
within the design of the author 6f this Hfetory ; and
ft would be a great satfefectioD to bis mind, to bei
able to explain, at large, the esetension of the
Gospel in the third century.— But we must be con-
tent with such materials as we hare,- and let the
reader supply, from his own meditations, as niacht
as he can, whatever he may think defective in the
following scanty aecomit
^^ jy In the reign of Decius, and in the n>idst of ht^

250! persecotion, about the yeai* two hundred and fifty,
the Gospel, which had hitlierto been chiciy confined
to the neighbourhood of Lyons and Vienne, wasf
considerably extended in France. Satuminos was^
the first bisliop of Toulouse, and at the same tiine
several other Churches were founded; — as at Tours^
Aries, Narbonne, and Paris. The bishops of Tou-
louse and Paris afterwards suffered for the faith of
Christ; but they left Churches, in all probability,
tery flourishing in piety*. And France, in general,
was blessed with the light of salvation.

Germany was also, in the course of this contury,
favoured with the same blessing, especially those
parts of it which are in the neighbourhood of France.
* Book L Greg. Tours France, C. 30. Fleury 13, B. 6.

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EXtENSIOy or THE GOi^Et.

Cologne, Treves, and Metz, particularly, wcfteetati-
gelized *.

Of the British isles little is recorded; and that
fittle is obscure and uncertain : It is rather from the
natural course of things and from analogy, than
from any positive unexceptionable testimony, that we
are induced to conclude that the Divine Light must
have penetrated into our country.

During the miserable confusions of this century,
^me teachers from Asia went to preach the GosfKl
among the Goths who were settled in Thrace. Tlieif
holy lives and miraculous powei-s were much rc-
ilpected by these barbarians ; and, many of them,
from a state perfectly savage, were brought into the.
Hgtit and comfort of Christianity f.

The wisdom and goodness of God so ordered
events, that the temporal miseries, wliich affiicted
mankind m the reign of Gallienus, were made sub-
tfer\iieat to the eternal interests of his^cruel, blind,
and infatuated creatures, 'flie barbarians, who ra-
vaged Asia, carried away with them into captivity
several bishops, who healed diseases, expelled €vil.
spirits in the name of Christ, and preached Clicisti-
aiiity. — They Were heard^ in some places, with re-
spect and attention ; and became the instruments of
the conversion of numbers :J. This is alt that I can
collect of tlie extchsioi\ of the Gospel among the
barbarian favagers.

CHAP. XX.

▲ SHORT VIEW 0^ THE £XTERKAt STATE OF
THE CHURCH 1^ THE THIRD CENTURY.

Jt is the duty of Christians to shine as lighta in th#
worid, in the midst of a crooked axd PERVERSft
KATiox. That this was actually ttie case, eve^ ia

♦ S«e Mosk ^d.Ccntury.

f Sosomeo, B. 13. ai. } Ibid. B. 2. C. 5#

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BISTORT OF THE CHURCH. ,

the third century, — though much less so than in the
two former, and toward the latter end of It with a
very rapid diminution of the glorious brightness of
the Gospel, — the course of the foregoing narrative
has, I trust, made apparent.

Those, with whom the real condition of the rest
of mankind in those times, is familiar, w ill see this
in the strongest light For three centuries, luxurj^,
attended by every abominable vice that can be con-
ceived, had been increasing in the Roman empire.
There want not lamentable proofs that the severe
satires of Juvenal were but too well founded. All

FLESH HAD CORRUPTED THEIR WAV. With the

loss of civil liberty, even the old Roman virtues, of
public spirit and magnanimity, — though no better,
as Augustine says, than splendid sins in their nature,
— had vanished. Civil broils and distractions conti-
nually prevailed for the greatest part of this period,
and increased the quantity of vice and mbery. The
best time was, doubtless, during the feigns of Trajan,
Adrian, and the Antonines : But, even under those
princes, the standard of virtue was extremely low.
The most scandalous and unnatural vices were prac-
tised without remorse. Men of rank either lived
atheistically, or were sunk in the deepest supei*stition.
The vulgar were perfectly ignorant : The rich do-
mineered over the poor, and wallowed in iipmense
opulence ; while the provinces groaned under their
tyranny: Pliilosophers, with mcessant loquacity,
amused their scholars with harangues concerning
virtue, — but they neither practised it themselves, nor
understood its real nature: By far the largest jiart
of mankind, — namely, the slaves and the poor, were
in remediless indigence : No methods whatever were
devised for their convenience or relief: In the mean
time, the pleasurable amusements of men, — as the
stage and the amphitheatre, — were full of obscenity,
'^avageness, and cruelty.

This was the Roman world. We know much

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vtK THE THJRP CFKtuRT.

ibsa of the re$t of the dobe i which, however, Ih
•ferocious wickedness ana ignorance, was sunk much ^
dee]:^r thai» the nations tliat bowed under the ^yoke ^
of theCiesars,

Behold! — In the midst of all this cbaos^ this
corruption, and Uib ^orance, arose out of Judea a
light of ddetrine a^d of practice singularly distiuot
ffo^i any thing that was then in existencei — A num-
ber of persons, — chiefly of low life, — the disciples
iof Je^m of Nazareth, live as men ought to do, —
with a proper contempt of this vain life,'^uith the
sincei^est add most steady ambition for another:
.They prove themselves to be true philosophers, if
real love of wisdom be allowed to consist in the
Justest vi^ws and worship of their Maker, and in
actual acquaintance with his character^— in real
iQodeFation of tfieir passions acvl fik*sires,i— and in
unfeigned bi^nevolence to ^1 [mankind, even to
• their enemies.

No sound niies of philosophising will direct us
to conclude all this to have been of man.— The
WORK was of God: and this ^fusion of bk Holy
4^pirit lasted for three centuries,- — debased indeed
towmnl the ^nd of that period, but not endrely
extinguished*

It wa3 neceasary, th^t this people, — diverse from
all others,^— the followers of the same Jc$ms of Na-
. zareth,— should have among themselves son^ exter- ^
nal order, — or, in other wwds, some ecclesiastical
governnpent- — An endless maze of controversy pre-
sents itself here; nor does there appear to be any
certain divine rule on this subject Men may serve
God acceptably under very different modes of
Church-government; and» in point of fact, these
modes were different in different places during the
primitive ages of Christianity. This variety, hoAV-
ever, does not appear to h%ve been either so great,
or so extreme, as to have excluded all j^neral
principles in the regulation of the external Church :

VOL. I. ' L L

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514 Risqro&r or vhe CHUiKb

CH\t. Histoty enables us to discover^ — at letst the nitfe
^^ , outlines of an uvual — of a i^revailiko prac-
TirK»--*-«»iMch maleritUy diSeted from most, if oot
froin all the ecclesiastical forms of government, v/bkk
tiow exist in the Ckristian workl.

Tlie Apostles, tiiio were the first teachers, md,
urbo planted the first Churches, ordained saceessors,
— ^as liatr as appears, — without any consultation of
Ae respective flocks over which they were about to
preside. But, as it was neither reasonable nor
probable that any set of peraoos after theni shoald
be regarded as their equals, ^s method of appoint-
ing ecclesiastical rulers did not continue ; — and, an-
doubtedly, the elecdon of bishops devoured on the
people *. Theh' appearance to vole on these oc-
casions, their constraining of persons sometimes to
accept the office against their wiU, and the deta^
' minaiion of Pope Leo^ long after, against forcing a
bishop on a people against their consent, dembti^trate
this. The characters of mm to be dec!ted to this
office were very strictly examined. Public notice
was given, that any one mi^t infidrm against tbm,
if they were vicious and immoral The decision c|
their moral conduct was left to the people;—
that on their doctrine belonged chiefly to the bi-
shops who tn"dained them. For the power ef or-
dination brionged properly to bishops alone, thoa^
presbvters — a second order of men, who appear to
me ail along distinct, from them, — concurred witih
them and with the body of the people. Hic same
power of electing, was, in some degree and in some
instances, exercised by the people in the appointajertt
of these very presbyters ; but the case is by no means
so uniformly clear: and, infilling up the lowto
offices of the Church the bishop acted stiM more
•according to his discretion.

The use of deacons, the tfiird order in the Church,

^ Bingham, Book 4. Chap. ti. Autiquities.— Du Pio. ead
of tbird Centucy. '

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III.

in THE THIRI> CEKTUtt^r. '51 5

,18 well known. These three orders obtained vety cent.
early in the primitive Churches. The epistles of^
Ignatius, — I build on those parts only that are un-
doubtedly genuine, — demonstrate this : and, in
general, tiie distinction of these oflkes was admitted
Sirough the Christian world.

Yet, if a Christian people were grown very here-
tical, the bishops thought themselves bound in duty
to provide for the instruction of the smcdler number,
who, in their judgment, loved the tmith as it is in
Jesus ; and for this peculiar service they were ac-
customed both to elect and consecrate a bishop.
Likewise in sending missionarijes to the barbarous
nations, it would be absurd tb suppose Aat they
waked for the bhoice of the people. They deputed
and ordained whom they approved of for that ^nd. '

Besides those, which have been mentioned, t!here
mppear, in the third century, b nunrtber of lowi^r
officers, as door-keepers, sub-dfecoAs,'> acoiyths dr
attendants, who. by degrees, hadgm^n upiri the
Christian Qiuriwi. A tnuch morfe <!andid and true
account of jtbem may be given, thin what Ha,3 been
■imposed on us, with sufficient malignity. It could
not be to administer to the pride and ^sloth of the
higher clergy, that such offices ii'ere instituted.
Christians HKreased in number, and more labourers
were required. Besides,' as they had not then any
seminaries of learning, the serving of the Church ih
these lower offices was made an introductory step
to the higher ones : And this was their most im-
portant use*.

The authority of the bishop was by no means un-
limited;— but it was very great. Nothing could be
done in the Church without his consent. The extent
of his diocese was cidled na(oixi». Some of these
DIOCESES had a greater, others a less number 0f
iCburches which belonged to thetn. The diocese 6f
Rome, before the end of the third century, had

^ Biog. Book 5. Chap. i.-CaW. IptUtutct, Book th« lAst.
X L 2

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r5^6 ^ BISTORT OF THE CHURCH

CHAP, above forty Churches^— ras Optatus observes ; — ^ani
thi3 af^rees very well with the account befiare stated^
namely, — that under Cornelius the bishop, there
were forty-six priests *. — Cornelius, according to th«
usual practice in those times, must, himself, have
ministered — particularly at the chief or mother-
church : and the priests, of course, must have taken
care of the other Churches. But, distinct parishes,
with presbyters allotted to them, were not yet known
in cities t.*-It appears that the bishop sent them
successively to minister according to his discretion.
The neighbourii^ villages, however, which were
annexed to bishoprics, could not be supplied in
that manner: And they had, — ev^i then, — stated
parish priests, — who acted under the authority of
the bishop.

That bishops were not merely congregational pas-
tors, seems evident from the nature of things, as
well as from the cmicurrent testimony of all anti-
quity. There were seven bishops who bdonged to
the seven churches of Asia, called Angds in the Book
of the Revelation. It is absurd to suppose that the
great Church of Ephesus, in the decline of St John s
life, should be only a single congregation; and, most
probably, the same is true of all the rest Supposing
the Christian brethren to consist of only five hundred
men; these, with their families and servants, and
occasional hearers, would make an assembly large
enough for any human voice. But, it is more pro-
.bable that the number of Christians at Ephesus
amounted to many thousands. This was tlie case at
Jerusalem J; And, inChrysostoms time, the Church
of Anuoch consisted of a hundred thousand. Per-
-haps it might comprise half that number in the latter
end of the third century. — Nevertheless, it is- still
certain, that dioceses werie then much smaller than
in after tim«5 : arni the vast extension of them proved

• ♦ See' Chap. IX. of this Volume — towards the end.

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I|f «IB. THIEP CENTVUT;

fery ioavivenieiit to the cause pf ^liness. Arch*
bishop CraniDer wished to correct this evil in our
national Church: and u£ wanted neither zeal nor
jad^ent« — But that and many other good things
slept with the English Reformers.
, The choice of bishops and, — in part at least —
of presbyters by the people^ is a custom which seems
to have.grown naturally out of the circumstances of
t^ Church at that time' The first bishops and pres*.
byters were appointed by the Apostles themselves*;
nor could I ever discover the least vestige in Scrip-
ture* of their appointment by the people. There was
DQt a sufficient judgment in any of them for tliis
trust; the world being, at that time, Fagan, or Jew-
ish, or at least, infant in Christianity. Apostolical wis-
dom and authority, under God, supplied the wcmt in
tlie next succession of bishops. As the judgment of
tlie people matured, and, especially, as the grace of
Cod was powerful among them, Uiey were render-
ed better qualified to be tlie electors of their eccle-
siastical governors. Precedents, not Scriptural in-
deed, but of very high antiquity, were set ; and the
practice continued during at least the three iirst cen-
turies. On the other hand I do not find tliat the
people had any power in deposing a bishop : The
co^^uiiance of th^ crunes of bishops was left to a
council or synod of neighbouring bishops and pres-
byters ; and in that, as well as all material affairs
whici) concerned the Church in general, the autho-
rity of such councils was held very grea^ from early .
times ; nor does it appear that the Christian laity
bad any direction hi them.— ^-The well-authenticated
case of Paul of Samosata is veiy instructive here*

In furnisliing tins rough sketoh of primitive eccle»
siastical government, I would be understood, neither
to provoke nor to invite any controversy on thb con-
temious subject I have given my own sentiments,
-7-but, at the same time, I confess, tliat I feel no
• Acts, xiv. aj.

lit S

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rarpme that controversies ebould have bM& ttetteif
hi a matter, where something may be said-— for ^to*
copacy, — for presbytery, — and for independency.
To me it seems an unhappy prejudice, to look ott .
any one of the forms as of Divike RiOHt, of of'
Scriptaral authority. — Circumstances will make dif-
ferent modes more proper, in one place> and at one
time, than at another. — And, whoever rests in thi^
conclusion, will be in no danger of bijtofipy,— but,
On the contrary, will see much reason for modera-
tion and latitudinarian indifference in judging of va»
tious methods, which have been pix>p6sed or made
use of for the external regulation of the Church.
—Let zeal be employed by all sincere Christians in
what is really divine and scriptural; — in what b IN-
liRN AL, and truly essential to the immortal intereaCs
of mankind. — ^The arguments for the three forms of
Ghurch-govemment, as supported by experience,
may be briefly stated thus : — In no one instance
does the independent plan appear to have a solid
foundation either in Scripture or antiquity; yet, the
interference of the people, and the shai-e of autliori^
otercFsed by them, — though never on the plan of
ifidependent congregations,— gives some plausible
Colour to iNDEi»ENDEKCv. The presbyterian sys-
tem seems to be scriptural and primitive, so iar as
the institution of the clergy is concerned, but defec-
tive for want of a bishop. The episcopal form, no
doubt, obtained in all the primitive Churches without
exception ; but — what effectually checks the pride of
those who are fond of the pomp of hierarchy, — it
must be confessed, that ancient episcopacy had
no secular mixtures and appendages : and, further,
the pastoral character of bishops, together with the
sinallness of their dioceses, always adapted to pas*
toral inspection, made them more similar to the
presbyterian hierarchy. — ^Wben facts are actually
balanced in this way, or nearly so, though violent
party or prejudice may lead men to view even his-
torical evidence in opposite li^ts; nevertbclesSj men

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IK TH£ THIftB CiyTVEY^

of 00^ ahd ledBlejiHleamt iviU ikit difiiMr quk;^ In

Tbe ^dpUae of the prhnitive Church wi^ very
Mrkt; it even dtegeoarmted, m ba4 bem observed,
ioKiexetsibe severitj« A dergysmn, onee deposed
for flu^tiottsQess upm never restored to his orden
This M lOHT be ri^t.^-r Another custoai, which pre*
vttled aft length, cannot be vindicated. A person
once ejected for his vices from the Church might be
rtsloied^; — oo a relapee, being again ejectedi he
could never be &voured with Church^communioi^
—though by no means supposed to be necessarily
excluded from the mercy of God in Christ — Their
jeakMs care against heresies has been abundantly
shown ; and t&ir zeal against viciousness of pnu>
tice was fqanl to this. Suppose it be allowed, that
this ze^ was carried to too great a length ; and, even^
that it was mixed with superstition; yet, — ^in com*
parison of the licentiousness of our times, — how
beautiful does it appear! and how demonstrative of
the power and reality of godliness among them !

Christian assemblies were then frequented with
great constancy, and the Eucharist was generally
administered whoever thc^ met for public worships
But stiti greater proofs of their superior regard to
God and to every thing that is really good, remain
yet to be mentioned.

Their liberality to the indigent was wonderful :
^re was nothing like it at that time in the world,
llie Jews were a very selfish, hard*hearted people :
the Gentiles lived in luxury and splendor, if they
could ; — but, care for the poor Seems to have made
no part of their jurisprudence, nor to have been at
• all a fashionable virtue. I never could learn that
plulosophers, though they harangued incessantly
roiioeming virtue, either much recommended, or
practised Uny kindness to the bulk of mankind, —
that is, the slaves and the vulgar. Indeed their

* Dtt Pin.

XX 4

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5id HtSTOR^'^F THE CHtmCR

chaP. precepts are particularly directed tx>tbe h^^r riolaq
]^^' J and they seem to forget that the lower orderB bo*

"' ' longed to the hliman specif- AfihoB(»^; an altna*
house, or any similar provision ibr tbof poor, wis
unknown in the pagan and phHosopbic.world.' Bot^
when the religion of him, who is no.reapwter of
persons, began to gain ground, the barbarotaa spirit
of aristocracy lost its dbminion amof^.CbruAiaiiSv
though it still prevailed in the manners of the rest of
mankind. Christmns felt themselves all sinners:
All, in the sight of God, oaalevd. — Thiis tha
Christian master, though bomid to preserve a due »
subordination of mnks, and whatever is wbolesooM
in government, Considered his slave as his equal in
the sight of God, and as redeemed by the same
atoning blood of his Saviour. The prides of birth;
station, and quality, was crushed: The obedient
disciple of Christ, tbilowed the example of big com*
passionate Lord, and made it his business to rdiev^
the miserable. — W^ have seen above a thousand
and fifty widows and impotent persons maintained
by the liberality of the Ronian Church under Cor-
nelius ; we have seen also the active clrarity of the
archdeacon I^urentius, in finding out and assistii^
miserable objects, punished with a fiery deatli : The
very spirit aqd taste of Christians, witli the frugality
and simplicity of their lives and manners, enabled
them abundantly to help tiie necessitous; wtnlethe
rest of the world persecuted tliem, and while phibr
sophers them8el>^es, dependent on the greaC, and
despising the poor, vainly babbled against them.

' - O God ot* all grace, whose tender mercies art
over all tiiy works, — this must be thy religion,-^
which humbled and sweetened the hearts of men,,
which taught them practically to regard all m&t at
brethren, and to delight in doing good to all, widiout
distinction of persons ! " — The pagans ttiemselv^
admired this brotherly love,
liut the mqst singularly striking cbaFacteHstic qf

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nr THi; THIED CEWTUKY. 5fl

tins p^Gfjilrhas Dot yet been noticed. — ^Tbou^ they cem.
bftda regular polity, gufurded by gieat strictness of ^^^*
diseq>line, distinguish^ into a number of comndu-
nities, each administered by a bishop^ presbytersi
and deacons; and concentrated by general councib
held from time to time ; they nether had, nor strove!
to obtain tte lei^t secular support of any kind.
They lay exposed to the rc^ of the whole world
around them, incited by its natural enmity against
God and by the love of sin ; and exaspemted on
finding itself condemned by -these upstarts as de-
sarvedly obnoxious to tlie Divine displeasure. The
whole Roman world comprehended thousands of
discordant sects and parties,— *which all tolerated
one another, because all agreed to treat sin with
lenity, and to allow one another s religion to be right.
It was impossible for Christians to do this : Hence
the spirit of persecution ^-as excited ; and, whoever
at this day lives in the same sincere hostility againsi
all sin, and in the exercise of the same charky, pa-
tience, and heavenly-mindedness as they did, will
undesignedly* yet assuredly, excite, in a similar
manner, the displeasure of the rest of mankind. —
Kow, it is very' easy to understand, how precarious,
on this account, their situation in society must tiave
been ! — ^Tbey had not tlie least legal or secular aid
a^nst f)ersecution. Obliged, like the rest of the
subjects of the lioman empire, to contribute to tlie
general defence, and to serve in the lioman armies,
when called on, they had no civil privileges : — If
an emperor chose to persecute them, they were per-*
fectly defenceless ; they had no political resource
against oppression.

What could be the reason of tliis ? Shall we say
f their circumstances, during the first three hundred
years, were too low, and tbeii* means too weak, to
encourage them to attempt resistance or innovation
of any kmd ?**• — This has been said — inconsiderately
k dbould d»f»2--by those who are not willing to allow

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HICTOttT OF TRX CStTKCtt^

tiMtttbeir passiveiies» under injuriei pvoceed^ frMit
principle. Let us suppose, ttMcrefore, for a mMMrt,
tbftt tiiey had tbougbt it ri^t to resial the fovkm
THAT BE, aod itmt those who resist j^ vot bk*

CBIYE TO TUEMBELVE8 DAJCNATIOK, fattt UOIt

Ihe iribitte of apfriause for sapportiog the natund
rigiits of man; then, as no people <hs eeirth were e^^er
ttiore unjufitly treated, tbey would naturally ieel tbek
injuries as other men do; and adnutUDg them to
have been too M-eak and inconsidenibk, in the first
century, to have resisted with effect; — $urely, in
Ihe second, and much more m the third, their thou-
sands and tens of thousands must have been capable
of shakifig the very foundations of the empire. —
So far from beiD^ without means, they seem to have
had nuKrh greater than many who have disturbed
the repose of kingdoms.

Here is, *' imperium in impebxo," — a rtgat*
)ar well-uqited phalanx of men, inured to fh^
habits and to a variety of hardships; not a mere
mob of levellers, but men taught to obey tbdr
religious governors, and submitting to great strict*
ness of discipline. Among ^heir governors, if his*
tory had not informed us so, we are sure there must
have been some men of genius, fortitude, and ca«
pacity, who already had exercised their talents in
the art of government, and who possessed that elo*
quence which can inflame the passions, especially
of the lower sort Cyprian of Carthage is un-
doubtedly one of these, llie same courage, capo*
city, discretion, and activity, which made him an
oracle over half the Uoman empire among the
Christians, would, — if it had been exerted in a mili«
Cajry line, — have been formidable to the throne of the
Csssars. Their brethren in the Roman armies could
have taught them military discipline : The ncfaes^
which a number of them possessed, n^it haw pur*
chased arms and militai*y stores: '^ose captiva
3^ who gained so stroi^ an atOBrKJant over

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Iff THX THIBD CEVTOET. 5SJ:

ibe ^norimt mid barbaroiis natkms, might bare easily ctmr.
efie^ed alliances between them and others of the ,. J^L
Christian name.

Let the reader mark the inferrace to be drawn
from these considerations. — We pretend not to say^
who would have prevailed in the end of such a con-
test because nothing is more uncertain than the issue
of arms: but supposing the Christians to have
tbought resistance lawful, we maintain that, amidst
the distractions of the Roman empire from within
and from without, they had botli temptations and
probabilities sufficiently strong to bavo induced them
to excite seditions and rebellions against their per-*
secutors and oppressors. — In knowledge and civi**
lization they were not inferior to those among whom
they lived : It cannot be denied that they were very
unjustly treated ; and that they possessed the pro^
bable means of redressing themselves by force : and
further, — we are now areuing on the supposition
that they tbought it lawful to use tliose means, — I
afiinn then, that which ever way we turn, we must
be presented with the same conclusion,— namely,
that, under such circumstances, resistance would
infallibly have taken place ; — whereas, on the con-
trary, it appears — not from a few scattered passages^
but from the wiiole tenour of the writings of tlje
Christians — and, what is still more, from their uni-
form practice^ without any exception, tliat they
tbought it UNCHRistiAN to seek this mode of relief.
Patience, and prayer, and charity, were their only
arms: Nor is it possible to find a single instance of
a Christian intermeddling with the politics of uis
time.

Must we not then conclude — That they under-
stood the rules laid down in tfie thirteenth chapter
to the Romans,, and other parts of the New Tes-
tament of like import, in their plain and literal sense?
— ^That they thought it wrong to revenge injuries^
(Hiblic as well as private^ and referred themselvea

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HisTOBT OF TBX cnwBcm:

wlkdly to Him who bath said, ^^ Vengeftiice is miae! '^
— ^I believe we have no otW alternative : This wfi»
the sum of Christian politics; and^ in this way of
understaoding the Gospel-rules of submission and of
suffering) — it is not hard to conceive^ what an ad-
vantage soch a spirit of patience and of abstraction
from secular poUtk» proved to them, in making
them feel themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth,
in causing them to long for the heavenly state, icr
deadening their affections to the world, and in exer-
cising them in faith and charity : And, whenever
leal Christians, in our times, shall more fully eman-
€Mp9/te themselves from the ambitious notions^ witb
which the present habits and prejudices of men
infect them, and, through Divme Grace, shall catch
tliis same spirit of the primitive Believers, they will
llien see a beauty in the New Testament principlea
on this subject, of which they have now UttleJdea.
— Tlie love of the world wHl then cease to entangle
. them ^ strongly; and primitive apostolic fiutb and
practice will again visit the earth in its genuine
siinplicity. -

Tl)e monastic spirit, I have ah^ady observed, had
begun to appear during the Decian persecution.
A. D. Ai^ut the year two hundred and seventy lived
.270. Anthony the Egyptian, the first founder ctf these
/ communities. Atbanasius has written his life ; and,
I doubt not, but many moderns may judge the em*
ployment to be a proof of >veakt^s of mind. Pos-
terity will, probably, requite them by being equally,
rash and uncandid in passing a similar censure on
present characters. — In trutli, Atbanasius was a
man of solid sense and great capacity; but these
endowments are not always a defence against iiishion*
able errors; and unhappily, the Monkish super*
stition was, in his time, growing up into high admi-
ration.— It is much to be wished tha,t men adverted,
tnore closely to the " sins which easilV beset them-
selves'' in then: own days; for ti^u, they would \»

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T£ftTi(HONf£94 &C r

less qbick-^igldied in discovering thtf. absurdkies of
: former ages,, and al$o less disposed to form ostenh
itadous andpharisaiGal ccHnparisons beticeen v^liat
tliey term modern excellencies and ancient defects.
— ^Anthony, it seems, perverting a few texts of
, Scripture, took upon himself to live in solitude.
His austerities were excessive : and the most ridi-
culous stories are told of bis contests with the devil :
They merit not the least attention: I observe in
them, however, a dangerous spirit of self-righteous
.pride and vainglory, by which thi^ same Anthony
,was encouraged in his progress, aM which will lead
a map very far in external shows of holiness, while
there is little of the reality. It is probable that his
life, as it is recorded by Athanasius, might, as super-
stition grew ^ore and more reputable, appear eair
mirable in the eyes of many pensons, who wer^nwich
.better men than this celebrated Monk bimsplf.

We shall, for ti)e presents leave Anthony pro-
pagating the mona^c disposition, and extending
Jts influence not only into the next century, but for
many ages after, and conclude this view oV/tl^e state
. of the fliird century, with expressing Our regret—
." that the faith and love of the Gospel received,
toward the close of it, a dreadful blow from the
.encouragement of this unchrbtian practice." . t

CHAP. XXL

fESTIBIOXIES TO THE CHURCH OF CHRIST FROfc
• ITS ENEMIES.

rp .... ^

1 HE fastidbus indifference at least, if not tlic

virulent enmity, shown to the Gospel by the goeat
:nieu of Greece and Ronie, during the tliree,fidt

centuries, leaves one little reason to expect mych
'^account of Christians through the channel of thki^i

uTitings. Nor is the case materially different in our

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$^ Hirnmr of the church.

CHAP, own days. — ^A few cursory^ earcastic, mid iS-iiu
J^^^J;^ formed reflections are all that, in writers of potiie
estimation, can be found, concerning more modem
revhrals and propagation of CTangelical truth and
godliness. Something, however, which may throw
fight on the state of religion in the second and third
centuries, is to be gleaned from the hostile contem-
porary writers, and, perhaps, Celsus will be more
to our purpose than all the other aathors together;
particularly, if we attend to the extracts from his
writings preserved by Origen. — My views in pre-
senting the reader with the following few quotations
from heathen authors, is, not merely to establish the
general credibility of the Gospel, but «itber, to illus-
trate the character of real Christians, and to point
out some of the effects of the work of the Holy
Spirit upon their minds. •

In ttie former part of the second century flou-
risbed the Stoic Philosopher Epictetus*. — Arrian
•has published his discourses. In one passage be oc-
casionally speaks of '^the Galikeans, as indifi^^ent to
fiufferings, — from madness or from habit"

These Galilceans are obviously Christians.—
Through the operation of what cause they were in-
different to sufferings, we shall be willing to learn
trotn those who better understand the subject. Id-
deed they took joyfully the spoiling of their goods,
because they were convmced that they had in heaven
a better and an enduring substance. Christian faith
and hope afford motives truly deserving a better
name than madness or habit. But the feet b at-
tested by this prejudiced philosopher, — namely, that
Christians were Uien exposed to singular sufferings,
•«nd that they bore tlieni with a composure arid
serenity so astonishing, that philosophers knew not
how to account for their patience. — They did not

• When Domitian banibhed the Fliibsopbers from Rome,
about the year 94, Epictetus retired to NicopoliB, and (M
Ibtreaboot the )ear 161*

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TESTIMONIES, Sec,

understand, that they were strcn^ened liith might,
l>y the glorious power of their God, to all patience
and long-suffering with joyfulness.

In the same century, Apuleius, a ludicrous ao-
thor, in his Metamorphosis speaks of a baker, a good
sort of man, tioubied with a Ijad wife,— who was
possess^ of every vice ; — perverse, a drunkard, lewd»
— a ftllower of vwn observances, — and a woman,
who pretended that the Deity was only one-

I fcbnjiScture that Apuleiiis would have taken no
notice of her other crimes, if she had not been guilty
of this kst Mark the revolution hi senfiraent,
whichChristianky hfiw madein the worid. Through-
out Europe the diaractfer of any man's understand-
ing would, at present, be much impeached, who
diK>uld seriously assert a pluralky: of Gods. — ^iri the
second century, the belief of the Divine Unity 15,
by a polite author classed with an assemblage of
vices. — What have ye been doing, pHloso^eri,
thai ye never could rid mankind Of that polytheism,
which every philosopher now despises? — ^Open tJie
eyes of your understandings, and learn that God' has
•effected this mighty change by the Gospel. — ^Thifi
woman was, doubtless; a Christian by profession ;
but we cannot how tell, whether she merited tlie
reproaches with which her memory is loaded ; nor
can we say, in what sense her husband, who w^as
plainly a pagan, desen^ed the appellation of a good
' sort of nmn ;-— but we know that the world, without
much scruple, denominates iis followers to be good
sort of men ; — and we also know wlio said, — " If
ye were of the world, the world would love its

own.**

The extracts from Cdsus, — who wrote in the
latter end of the second century, — preserved in
Origen's work against him, are very valuable in the
light which I have stated. 1 shall select a few pas-
. sages, partly from the collections of otber% «nd
partly from such as I have noticed inyseU;~^Tke

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XXI.

5^ HlStORTOF THE CHVRetf.

cttAP. reader must be prepared to bear Utter tbiags* A
more spiteful calumniator hwnily ever existed;- but
he may serve a pyrpose which he never intended: —
When the following extracts have been seriously
considered) the just inferences ^.to be drawn from
them, concerning ^e natpre of the Gospel, and the
characters of its profe^ors, ^9a2>HQt fail to present
themselves to the mind of every candid enquire
after truth. .-•,..

"When they say,— Do not j;x a mine, a^dthe
like» in their usual mamier, sorely, it js incumbent
on them to teach whatthoae thin^ are i^Thich they
assert, and whence they ^p deriyal.'^ ^ ,

*' They say, — Wisdom iftli&^ii a bad thing, but
folly 19 |5ood.'' . ^

'^ Christ was privately educat^^ and served for
hire: . in Egypt * : he got acquainted w^th miraculous
arts tfaiec^; he returned ; and, relying on his power
of workii^ miracles, dec^red him^lf GpfL"

'' The Apostles were in&mous men, pkublicant,
and abandoned mariners." . ,

'* Why should you, whew an!infi^)t, be^qarried
into Egypt, Jest you should be murdered?. God
should not fear bemg put to death.'\

•' Ye say that GcNd was sent to sinners ; but why
not to those, who were free from sin ; What harm
is it not to have sinned ? "

•* Ye encourage sinners, because ye are not able
to per;siiade any really good men ;. therefore ye opea
the doors to the most wicked and abandoned.''

** Some of them say, do not examine, but
fiSLisvE, and thy faith shall save thee."

With a sneer he makes tlie Christians say, —
^ These are our institutions: Let not any man of
learning come hei'e, nor any wise man, nor any man
of prudence ; for these things are reckoned c^ by
us. But whoever is unlearned, ignorant, and silly,

* Tb« auUienticity of St. Matt, ad chap, wbich has beta
i aoraaigiMtUbir 4eaied» is supported by ibis passage.

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I'ESTlMOSriES, kc.

let him come without fear." — " Thus, they own ihat
they can gain only the foolish, the vulgar, the stupid
slaves, women and children. — They, who convmed
with him when alive, and heard his voice, and fol-
lowed hkn as their master, when they saw him under
punishment and dying, wci'e so far from dying with
him or for him, or from being induced to despise
sufferings, that they denied that they were his disct^
pies : — but now ye die with him."

*^ He had no reason to fear any mortal now^
after he had died, and, h& ye say, was a God; —
therefore, he should have shown himself to all, and
paiticularly, to him tlmt condemned hun."

" He persuaded only twelve abandoned sailors^
and publicans, and did not persuade even all these."

^* At first, wh«n they were but tew, they agreed i
Eat when they beccune a multitude tliey were rent
again and again ; and each will have their own factions|
for they had factious spirits from the be^nning/'

^* They are now so split inta different sects, that
thej have only the name left them in common."

* * All wise men are excluded from the doctrine of
their iaith : They call to it only fools and men of a
j3ervile spirit"

He frequentiy upbraid;^ Cliristiaiis for reckoning
him, who had a mortal body, to be God; and look-
ing on themselves as pious on that account.

" The preachers of their Divine Word only at>
tempt to persuade fools, — mean and senseless per*
sons, — slaves, — women and children. — ^^What harm
can there be in learning, or, — in appearing a man of
knowledge? What obstacle can this be to the know*-
ledge of God?"

*' We see these itinerants showing readily their
tricks to ^e vulgar, but not approaching the assem-*
blies of wise men ; not daring to show themselves
there: but where they see boys,— a crowd, of
slaves, — and ignorant men, — there they thrust in
themselves and puff off their doctrine."

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53<> HISTORV OF THX CHORCH.

CTAP* '^ You may see weavers, taylors, and fullera,
illiterate and rustic men, in their houses, — but not
daring to litter a word before persons of age, expe-
rience, and respectability : it is, when they get hold
of boys, and of silly women, privately, that they
recount their wonderful stories; it is then that they
teach tlieir young disciples that they must not mind
tkeir fathers or their tutors, but obey them : Tlieir
fathers and guardians, they tell them, fire quite ig«
norant and in tlie dark, but themselves alone have
the true wisdom. And if the children take this
ddvice, they pronounce tiiem happy; and direct
them to leave their fathers and tutors, and to go^
with the wonaen and their play-fellows, into tne
chambers of the females, or into a taylor's orfuller'*
shop, that they may learn perfectico."

" In other mysteries, the cryer uaed to say. Who-
ever has clean hands, and a good coni^toce, and
a good life, let him come him. But let us bear whom
THEY call. ^ Whoever is a sinner, a fool, an in-
fant, a lost wretch, — the kingdom of God will receive
Wm.'-— An UNJUST man, ii' he humble himself
for his crimes, God will reoeive him; but a just
man, who has proceeded in a course of virtue from
the beginning, if he look up to him, he will not
be received."

He compares a Christian teacher to a quack, who
f)romises to heal the sick, on condition that they
•keep from intelligent practitioners, lest his ignorance
be detected

" Ye will hear them, — though diflfering so widely
from one another, and abusing one anotha* so foully,
— making that boast, — The world is crucified to
aae, and I to the world*."

'^ The same things are better said by the Greeks^
and without the imperious denunciatk>n of God» or
the Son of God."

" If one sort introduce one doctrine, another

• Galvi.

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tinotber, and all join in $aying, * BeKeve, if yfc cent.
'Would be saved, or depart;' what are they to d6,
who de&ire really to be saved ? Are they to deter-
mine by the throtv of a dye? Where are they to turA
thanseives, or whom to believe ? "

^' I>o ye not see, that any man thaf irt^ill, Aiay
carry you away and crucify you and your demon:
•~The Son of God gives yon no help?" '

But enough of Celsus.--He would not deserVfe
a moment's attention, if i|,were not for the light
which he throws on the history of the Christians of
his own times, — ^that iS) — of the second century.

It appears evident that there was th^n a singular
scwrt of persons, subject to all manner of 111 treat^
ment fix)m the rest of the world; and who might
be hui^d down at pleasure by violence or by ca^
lumny.— Gelsus insnlts them on account of tJieit
defenceless conditibn. If they bad resisted' evil
with evil, hb malignity would heive induced ^im to
veproach them on accodfit of their turbul^f e and
seditimisness. Undoubtedly then, they were a^nftefc;
quiety peaceable, inoffensive people. It appiSari
dso,^ — that they worshipped a persori, named Jestw,
who had been crucified at Jerusalem, and, — that
they worshipped him as Gop; and Cdsus dendejl
their folty in so doing : In his view of things, fliat
the same person should be both God and man, was
tiie greatest incon^stency. Then* doctrine concern-
ing Christ appears to him foolish beyond measure i
fit only for the understanding of fools, and beneath
the regard of wise men. £ven from his loose and
sarcastic views of it one niay conclude, that they
kid great stress oft faith : — and that the exefcise
of it was considered as connected with salvation ; but
that this exercise, in its whole nature, was contrary
to all that is esteemed wise and great in the world.
It was also a great stumbling-block to Celsus, — that
men the i^ost wicked and abandoned might be saved
by faith ia Jesus, and, — that men's confidence ift

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532 HISTOBt O^ THE CtaUKCH.

CHAP, moral virtues was a bar to their salvittido. Nor doef
^'^'* it appear tliat the number of converts among the
learned or the great was considerable :r— The lower *
ranks of men were best disposed to receive it; and
the bulk of Chiistian professors coQ»ste4 of these.

From* these premises, with a careful study of
at^e sacred volunap, any maoi possessed of a hum*
ble spirit, may see what thb beligiox was^
which Celsuf so vehemently I'cprobates. It could
not be the dpctrine of coilimon morality. He owns,
indeed, they taught this, though he says that the
philosophers taught it better. One may appeal to
any person almost at this day, whether Christian
morals be not immensely superkx to any thing that
h to be leanU from Plato, Tully, or Seneca. It
has been the fashion to extol the moral part of Scrip-
ture,— I fear^ witli c^n insidious eye to . the doc-
trftiNAi*. What this Ifist was ia CeUus's days, be
Jiinwelf, in a measure,. tell9/U3.;r-Namaly, ** Christ
crucified, the living and tru^ Gop^the onfy Saviour
of sii^ul mep;-rtiie necje^ity of renouncing our
owt^ wisdom avid rightepum^s ; — salvation through
failii alone;— dependence on Qnr supposed goodoesa^
ruinous and fatal''— It is ,certain, that mere moral
trutlfs, ijf ttiey had formjed. the .main pturt of the
Christian scheme, ;W'ould dbt so much have provoked
the enmity of (i^lsus.- «

In other, words, — the pecuUat doeSrinea of the
Gospel, w^i}^ fallen state, justification by Jesus
Christ aloi^ divine iUuminaU<Ha and influence, these,
which excite tlie ill-will qf man in his natural state
now as much as they di<J then ; — these were plainly
the doctrines which occasiqned such misrepresenta-
tion and abuse a^ that, which we have seen.

If the serious reader would take the trouble to
examine a variety of controversial writings published
against the revival of godliness in our own times, he
could not fail to be. struck with a remarkable con-
formity of taste and sentiment between Cdsus and

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many who call themselves Christian pastors. Cir- cent.
. cumstauces vary : The dresses of religious pro-
fession alter according to the course of things in this
world; and hence, the undisceming will be liable to
form a wrong estimate. But, in reality, there is no
" NEW thing under the sun." — That which, in our
times, has been derided as enthusiasm, was
treated in the manner we have just described, by
Celsus and others, in the third century ; and he,
who pleases, niay now see in England the same sort
of persons, living by the faith of the Son of God,
and held in contempt by persons of the same stamp
as Celsus. — It has frequently been well observed,
that this adversary of Jesus Christ gives a good testi-
mony to the miracles and facts of the Gospel ; — and
I add, with much satisfaction, that he is also an
excellent witness to the work of the Spirit of God
in bis day, by showing us what sort of doctrine was
preached and professed by Christians at that time.

Lucian of Samosata was a contemporary of Celsus. Lucimi
He has already been mentioned, as throwing consi- ,/fhe
derable light on the history of Christians, in the age of 90,
story of Peregrinus. The delusion into which this -A.d.
hypocritical professor was suffered to fall, after his } 80.
apostasy, deserves to be noticed as a warning to ^'^*'*'*
those, who use the name of Jesus for a cloak to
sinister pursuits.

He publickly burnt himself in the sight of all
Greece, soon after the Olympic games were over*.
He did it to gain himself a name, and ^* he had his
reward." — Heathen authors speak honourably of
him. The lustre of his philosophic life, and hb
ostentatious suicide, expiated, in tlie eyes of men of
this world, the guilt and infamy of his juvenile pro-
fession of the Gospel. — A statue was erected to him
at Parium in Mysia, which was supposed to be
oracular.

That which in a Christian view is the depth of
^ Lardner 8 Collect. Chap, xix*
M M 3

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^34 HISTORY OP THE CHURCH.

CHAP, iniquity, may seem, to misguided and vain philoso
^^^' phers, the perfection of virtue. " The Lord seeth

NOT AS MAN SEETH." '

Lucian tells us also of a pei-son, named Alexan*
der, who deluded mankind bv oracular falsehoods.
Some Epicureans detected ancf exposed his fallacies,
which made him declare that Pontus was full of
Atheists and Christians, who had the assurance
to raise slanderous stories against him : And he ex-
cited the people to drive them away with'stones. He
instituted mysterious rites, like those of Athens;
and, on the first day of the solemnity, proclamation
was made, — as at Athens, — to the following effect ;
" If any Epicurean, Christian, or Atheist, be
come hither as a spy upon these mysteries, let him
depart with all speed ; but I promise a happy ini-
tiation to those, who believe in God." Then they
thrust the people away,-7-he going before and saying,
** Away with the Christians ! " then the multitude
cried out again, " Away with the Epicureans ! "

We see here again that there is nothing " new
under the sun." A fervent or artful supporter of old
pagan superstitions finds himself opposed by two
sorts of people, the most opposite to one another,
ivhich can possibly exist, — Epicurean sceptics or
men of no religious principle, — and Christian be*
lievers. So at this day, — Christians and Sceptics
will unite in discountenancing Papal superstitions;
>— but with how different a spirit ! — The one with
compassion and gravity, — the other with carelessness
and levity : — and, with how different a design ! — The
former to establish the true worship of God, — the
latter to spread universaLinfidelity.

The Greek author, Lucian, was himself an Epi-
curean,— abounding in wit and profaneness. His

, Dialogues ai-e lull of sarcastic insinuations against
the fashionable idolatry. — He was not aware, that

V he was co-operating with Christians in subverting
the abominations, which had subsisted for sd many
3

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ages. His writings were, doubtless, of use in this
respect: And, who can foresee how serviceable,
under God, the present iisbionable spirit of depre-
ciating and lowering Popery may be to the future
general establishment of Cbristianity,— rthough no-
thing be farther from the thoughts or wishes of our
present political sceptics and infidels?

There is a dialogue, called Philopatris, ascribed to
Lucian, but probably written by some other person
somewhat later. No doubt, it is of high antiquity.
It ridicules the doctrine of the Trinity. " One
THREE, THREE ONE. The Oiost high God ; Son of
the Father ; the Spirit proceeding from the Father."
Such are the expressions in the dialogue. The author .
speaks also of ^^ a beg^ly, sorrowful company of
people." He insinuates their disaffection to govenv-
ment ; — that they wished for bad news, and delighted
in public calamities ; — and that sonHB of them &sted
ten whole days without eating, and spent whole nights
in singing hymns. — Who does not see in all this ther
misrepresentation of an enemy, describing men of
holy lives and nuMtified affections, who worshipped
ihe Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; and who,,
in their desires and temper, were elevated above
the world ?

Aristides the Sophist, another contemporary of
Celsus, speaks with indignation against certain per«
sons of his day, whom, he observes, in manners to
be not unlike the impious people in Palestine ; for
they acknowledge not the gods: they differ from the
Greeks and all gpod men, are dexterous in subvert-
ing houses and disturbing families: they contributd
nothing to public festivals, but dwell in corners, and
are wcmderfully *' wise in their own conceits*."

Thus, when men were out of humour with any

persons, tl)ey canpared them to Christians, who, in

this way, were made the ^'off'-scouringof all thin^J'

• — By such evidences as these, however, their wn*

* isniMr s CoUcct Cba|^. xj^

HM 4

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536 HISTORY or the chukch.

CHAP, gular abstinence from all reigning vices and follies,
■-^^1^ r their steady adherence to the worship of the livbg
Qod, and the strength of the divine operations on
thoir minds, are proved b^ond contraidiction.
Galen Much about the same time, Galen, the fiunous
»t Ac physician, gave testimony to the firmness and per-
•gcofro, severance of Christians: " It is easier," says be,
-^- ^* *' to convince the disci[)les of Moses and Christ than
^ 92' physicians and philosophers who are addicted to par-
ticular sects." Thus it appears that their fortitude
or their obstinacy was at that time pboveubial;
andf moreover, tliat they were a people then well
known in the world.

Plotinus was, in this century, one of the most
celebrated disciples of the new Platonic school, the
genius of which, as formed by Ammoniiis, has been
before described. He had studied under Ammonius
himself; and, by the strength of his parts, the mul-
tiplicity of his literary acquisitions, and the gravity
of his manners, he attained a very high reputation in
the world. He imitated Socrates in his pretensbns
to a communion with a demon; and was, by his dis-
t:iples, looked on as something celestial. Persons
of the greatest quality revered him : The emperor
Gallienus was> once, on the point of giving liim a
ruined city m Campania, in which he might settie
a Platonic republic. — ^The man seems, to his dying
day, to have supported his philosophical leveries. —
When he was actually dying, he said, ^^ I am endea-
vouring to rejoin that, which is divine in us, to the
divine part of theT universe*." Undoubtedly be al-
luded to the NOTION of " God being the soul of the
universe," — that Pantheistic compound of pride
and atheistic absurdity, which was the propar creed
of most of the ancient Philosophers, and was
even more impious than all the fables of vulg^
Paganism f •

* Fleury,

t See tbit point ably discussed in Warbnrton's Legation o(
Moses, Book ill. Sect. 4. [VoLiiL Svo. edit 1811.]

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' TESTIMONIES, &C.

The orardc of Apollo, we are told, after his death,
iirformed his admirers that his soul was in the ^lysian'
fields with Phito and Pythagoras. — Such were the
aititi^ es by which Satan and his human followers
endeavoured to raise up rivals to the Christians. In a
work professedly illustrating theoperations of the Spi-
rit of God, it fteenied proper to take notice of the con-
trasts, or rather of the counterfeits by which the spirit
of falselH>od endeavoured to support the declining
cause of idolatry. — Its vulgar and gross scenes were,
in part abandoned^ and a more refined habit was
given to it by philosophy, which pretended to wisdom
and virtue iu a high degree. But human philosophy
could not produce holiness, because humility and
tlie faith of Jesus were not there: Pride was its *
predominant feature ; and while thousands found,
even m this life, the salutary benefits of Christianity,
vain philosophers prated concerning virtue, but
effected nothing either for the honour of God, or tlie
good of mankind.

One of the most studious and laborious disciples Piotimw
of Plotinus was Ainelius. It is evident, from a ? pas- age Jlr 66,
sage of Eusebius, that he made attempts to unite a. d.
something of Christianity with Platonism, justas we 270.
have seen Origen, — ^who was of the same school, —
mix something of the latter with the former, to the
great prejudice of the Gospel. " This was the
Word," says he, " by whom, he being himself eternal,
all tilings that exist were made ;— the same whom
the barbarian affirms to be with God, and to be God :
the word by whom all things were made, and in
whom every thing that was made has its life and
being ; who, descending into body and putting on
flesh, took the form of man ; though he even then
gave proof of the riaajesty of his nature ; nay, and
after his dissolution he was deified again, and is God,
the same he was before he descended into body, and
flesh, and man."

♦ Euscb. Pr. Ev.— See Lordner's Colbctions, Cbap. xxxiiu

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53? HISTOBY OF THE CHURCH.

CKAP.* This may be called no mean testknooy to the
Gospel of St. John, — for he is, doubtless, the barba*
rian here mentioned: — ^The ideas erf Christianity,
it seems, in some loose ambigoous manner, were
admitted by these philosophers, and incorporated
into their system : and so, in modern times, Swe-
denburgh, Rousseau, or Bolingbroke, have not beea
unwilling to ennoble their compositions with sublime
sentiments taken froni the sacred writings, but con*
ftisedly understood ; while yet, they stood aloof trom
the society of Christians, affected to think them little
better than barbarians, and made not, in their own
case, the least approach to the faith and love of
Jesus.

Thus also LoQginus, a scholar of the same school,
and well acquainted with Plotinus, in his treatise oa
the Sublime, produces a fine quotation from the first
chapter of Genesis, and calls Moses, a man of no
mean genius*. Likewise, a fragment of this same
writer, which has been preserved ; — and of which I
see no reason to doubt the authenticity, — speaks of
Paul of Tarsus, as one of the greatest of orators;
and also, as the first suppoiter of a doctrine by no
means proved to be true.

This passage is exactly in the style of Longinos,
•^rather nervous than elegant. — It is found in a
numuscfipt of the Gospels of very good authority ;r^
and no sufficient reason has been given for suspectmg
its genuineness. — The internal evidence is all against
such a suspicion. The supposed author was a most
judicious critic, — if ever there was a person in the
world, who deserved that character; — and therefore
he was very capable, by the excellency of bis taste,
of seeing and relishing the beauties of St Pftuls
compositions : He possessed a very candid tempar^
-^which would dispose him to acknowledge tbem ;
and he was perfectly indiiferent in regard to religion,
—which accounts for his overlooking what ouj^t^j

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principally, to have fixed his attention. For these ^^*
reasons, I reject the gratuitous and improbable y -^- j
assertion, which has b^n made, — that this clause
concerning St. Paul was forged by some Christian *.

We see, hence, how well Christians were known
in the third century ; — and what respect their doc-
trine, even then obtained in the world from those,
who, as far as their own personal interests might be
affected, were either averse to embrace the Gospel,
or at least quite careless concerning it.

Porphyry is the last unwilling witness for Chris- ^^^^\^^^
tiaQs whom I shall mention within the third century, ageofabout
Th^ is a work, indeed, bearing his name, entitled '^)^^^
the Philosophy of Oracles, in which there are very Diociciian't
Btrong testimonies in favour of the Gospel : but as '*'*"*
it appears to have been written in the time of Con-
stantine, or, after the civil establishment of Chris-
tianity, the consideration of it properly belongs to
the history of the next century.

This man was born at Tyre in Phoenicia,— was a
scholarofPlotinus, and, — hke the rcist of that school,
— maintained a gravity of manners, and entered
vigorously into Platonic refinements. — In acrimony
against Christians he far exceeded them all. He
took much pains to overturn the Gospel; and it
must be confessed his learning and acutcness were
considerable. The very few fragments extant of his
works afford us no great opportunity to judge of the
extent of his capacity, or of the depth of his Judg-
ment : but, from the serious pains taken by the an-
cient Christians to confute him, we may conclude
that his abilities were of a far higher order than
those of Celsus.

In a passage, preserved by Eusebius f, he censures
the famous Origen for leaving Gentilism and em-
bracing the barbarian temerity, — that is, the Gospel.
That he states the fact erroneously, is certain : for

* LongiDus is said to ba\e been put to death bj Aurejiao,
A.D. 273.
t Euseb. Book 6, Chap. i8.

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540 HlStORY OF THE CHURCH.

atAP. Origen was brought up under Christian parents;
but I had almost said, that that great man merited
such a reproach on account of the extravagant re-
spect, which he paid to the enemies of Christianity.
Porphyry allows him to have been a great proficient
in philosophy; and says, — that he was very conver-
sant with Plato, I^nginus, and the works of the
Pythagoreans and Stoics ; — and, that he learnt from
these the allegorical method of explaining the Greek
mysteries, and by forced interpretations, inconsistent
in themselves, and unsuitable to those writings, ap-
plied it to the Jewish Scriptures.

Fas est et ab hoste doceri. — ^The fandful
mode of Origen in interpreting Scripture is here justly
condemned by Porphyry : or, which is the same thing,
: — the Ammonian scheme is allowed by him to be
unsuitable to those writings. Origen did much mb-
chief by making such attempts : I^et the word of
God stand simple and alone ; and let philosophers
be left to their onn inventions : — ^The enmity of Por-
phyry was not abated by tlie complaisance of pWlo-
^ophizing Christians ; nor did their concessions make
any converts to evangelical truth.

His captious reasonings against the book of Daniel
show him to be a bitter, but ineffectual adversary to
Christianity: The consideration of these, however,
fall not within our design. — ^I'he same may be said
of various cavils which he made to many passages
in the Gospel : — VVe have seen a suflScient specimen
of the same spirit in Celsus.

Ingenuity and male\'olence, when united, seldom
fail in forming plausible obje^ctions, wherever oppor-
tunities offer. The censure which St Paul, in the
Epistle to the Galatians, has left upon St Peter,
engaged the attention of Porphyry, and induced him,
from an occasional difference between tlie Apostles,
to form an* argument against the whole of^ their
religion. I have, already, in the former part of this
volume, stated my deliberate judgment on this 3ub-
* Lardner's CoUtfctions, Chap* xxxvii.

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TESTIMONIES, &C.

Ject;— and, I may here add, — that the very deal*
testimony which St. Peter, toward the coticlusion of
his second epistle, gives to the inspired character of
St. Paul, at the same time that it demonstrates the
iiarmony of the Apostles, remains one of the fairest
monuments of St. Peter's humility and candour.—^
On examination, then; it appears, that these attacks
of enemies are, in fact, so many evidenced of the
virtues and graces of the Christians. Surely tiruth,'
and wisdom^ and goodness may w ell be presuiii(id to
be with those, whom their adversaries assault with
-such frivolous objections. - *

On account of an epidemical disorder raging iti
* certain city. Porphyry observes, " >ren woiider
now that distempers have seized the city so many
years : they forget that iEsculapius and the othet
gods no longer dwell among them : fpr, since Jesusf
mas honoured, -no one has received any public bene--
fitifrottlbe* get is."

What a. testimony is- this to the great progress of
Christianity in his day! Malevolence confesses,
at tlie pkcy tirfie that it impiously and absurdly
complains. . •

" Matr^s^arnJ women," s^s Porphyry, " com-
pose? their i^emte, and rule in the churches ; and the
priestly order is disposed of according to tlieir good
pleasure f."

The falsity of all this is notorious ; bnt the testi-
mony here given, by the mouth of an enemy, to tho
piety of the fertile Christians, is perfectly agreeable
to the accounts of the New Testament, and to the
history i>f all revivals of godliness in every age ; —
in none of which women had the government; but,
in all a great personal concern by their pious exertions.
** There is neither male nor female, but ye are
ALL ONE IN Christ Jesus."
• " If Christ be the way of salvation, the truth,
and the life ; and if they only, who believe in him,
* Eusebius. f Ibid.

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XXT.

542 HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAJ' shall be saved, what became of the men who lived
before his coming* ? "

The reader has often heard similar objections
made in our days. The Christians preached then
tiie same doctrine of salvation— only by Christ^
which is now stigmatized as uncharitable.

^^ A person asked Apollo how to make iiis wife
relinquish phristianity ? It is easier perhaps, replied
the ^facle, to write on water, or to fly into the air^
th£^i.,tp reclaim her. Leave her, in her foUy, to
bymn in a famt mournful voice the dead God, who
publicly suffered death from judges of singular wis*
^omf."

This story, told by Porplwij, is a memorable
testimony of the constancy of Chrietiatts.-^It ala#
hence appears, that they were accustomed to worshi]^
Jesus as God ; and, that they were n€»t ashamed of
this^ notwithstanding the ignomir^ of . his jcropA.
The attestation, however, here giyea of the wisdowi
of Caiaphas and of Pontius Pilale^ wiU mt^9t readily
be admitted , ;n ! ' •

The enemies of vital godliness, in. our 4ftys,^«iay
see from the various cavils and misrepresentations
contained in these jextraOts, that tbeii? aacieot bre-
thren in infidelity have been be£orehaiiid with tiiem
in all their most material objections. Thedottriaei
the spirit, and the conduct of real Christians, ap-
pears from these evidences : And the work of the
Spirit of God on the hearts of men, in attachiog
them to Jesus, and in divcM'cing them from all that
the world delights in, is no le^ manitest than the
malignity of our depraved nature in hating and
opposing it.

* Eusebdas. f Bullet's Historj.

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mtMITIVS CHRISTIAKS. $43.

CHAP. XXIL

tONXEXION BETWEEN THE DOCTRIKE ANft
PaACTlCE OF PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANS.

I AM sensible that many parts of the foregoing
history may appear to several |)ersons defective in
point of candour. — •" Why such solicitude to prove
men Trinitarians. iti opinion ? — Why so strict an ey©
k^pt, all along, oo t^ doctrines commonly called
Evangelical, by aiUiufciasjts and sectaries ? — Of what
importance are opinions/ if men's practice be right?
— Why is not all the stress of commetidation laid
on holiness of life, on integrity, and on charity? "

This language is. specious, but is chargeable with
Jhe follo>vingi errc^ieous notion : — It supposes that
^ere is : no peal coanexion between doctrine and
practice. Now^ a sound Christian cannot admits —
however fashionable th^ sentiment may be, — that all
sorts of i:eligious opinions are equally influential, or
equally ineffective in the production of virtuous con-
duct The Scripture connects sanctification with
J^dief of the truth *. Our lx)rd himself prays that
his disciples may be "sanctified through the truth f:'*
'* The blood ;Of Christ purges the conscience from
-dead works to serve the living God J:: " And a right
faith in J^sus " overcomes the world." — St. John
cliallenges men to prove that they can overcome the
world by any other way § : and, in the ctiapter now
alluded to, he is very particular in describing wh^
that faith is. In fine, Christ " gave himself for us,
that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and
purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good
.works(|." — If then this zealfor good works be the
EFFECT of HIS redemption, — how is it possible that
a person, who disbelieves the impoitant doctrines

• Jobft, xvii. 19, fa Thes. ii. 13. t Heb. ix. 14.
J X Joiin, v. 5, II Titus, ii. 14.

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XXII.

544 HISTORY OF THE CHl^ltCH.

I^AP. essentially concerned in diat redemption, should
have any true zeal for good works. By the suppo-
sition, the man never uses, but has an aversion to,
the means, which God has expressly appointed and
made necessary for the attainment of this end. — Let
this concise argument be well considered.

The peculiar doctrines of the Gospel are,— Ori-
ginal sin, — ^Justification by the grace ot Jesus Christ,
— His Godhead and atonement, — the Divinity and
the efficacious influences of the Holy Ghost We
appeal to the Scriptures for file proof ^f this asser-
tion. If it cannot be proved 'i hence, it is not to
be proved at all. The tradition of the Church, if it
were more uniform than it is, can never sufficiently
demonstrate it. But still, an authentic history of
the chamcter of the first Christians is very instruc-
tive,— and as such, merits our moM: serious- attention.
We have found that the doctrines just stated, were,
in the primitive times, constantly beid by knen al*
lowed to be the most wise and upright. Sorely, so
remarkable a fact might well induce those, who, in
our times, qppose these doctrines u'ith all their power,
— to hesitate a little, — to entertain doubts whether
their own sentiments fee right ; and lasdy— no lon-
ger to call their adversaries zealots in spegulatiye
religion. — One would think, that when the Scripture
itself affirms thei existence of a connexion between
Seath and practice, aiid when the history of Christian
antiquity exemplifies that connexion, neither the
articles of belief themselves ought to be coldly de-
nominated SPECULATIVE, uor the zeal used in sup-
porting them be reproached with the contemptuous
name of enthusiasm. — Such reflections as these,
it is hoped, may remove from the mind of the reader
;any unfavourable idea of the historian^s disposition
in regard to candour. — True candour consist — BOt
in endeavouring to render an adversary contemptible
by using the hard terms, enthusiast, fenatic, bigot,
and such like ; but in fairly bringing forward and

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^dgestiog evidence, and in drawing warrantable in- CExr,
lances from it -lJ^I J

Two things have been shown to have uniformly
taken place during the three first centuries ; — first,
timt there existed, all along, a number of persons
bearing the Christian name, wliose lives proved them
to be " the excellent of the earth.*' And secondly,
that, as £af as appears, the character of genuine
virtue belonged exclusively to men who espoused
the peculiar doctrines of the Gospel. From the
Apostles down to Ignatius, Polycarp, and Irenaeus ;
aiMl, from them, to the age of Origen, both these
assertions are demonstrable by t\\e clearest evi«
dence.

Origen alone, of all persons of superior reputation
in the Church, has been suspected as deficient in*
point of orthodoxy. If the suspicion were swelled
into a certain prooi^ the discredit, which his phHo-
flK>phic mixtures have brought on his character, and
the censures, which so many wise and good mea
have so fiieely passed on him, as unsound in the
feith, would rather prove our assertion of the uni*-
formity of Christian belief in these articles than the
contrary. But, that Origra, on the whole, believed
these doctrkiesi, is suffic^ntty proved by express^
passages of his works :-*-a!nd lus welt-known ctmousr
and adventurous spirit of enquiry in subjects on
which he nevei* meant to be positive, will account
for his ambiguities.

I cannot altow Dionymus ol^ Alexandria, merely
because he was once suspected to be heretical, to be
m\ exception to my position. Hw weH-khow n ex-
planation of himself sufficiently eonfutes the surmise.
The age of Cyprian is full of the most lua>inous
proois. Even the treatise of Novatiarf on the Tri-
raty is itself a strong argument on the same side of
the question. An eiabofate, eopious, and distinct
treatise on such a subject written by an innovator,—
and the first ©issewteb,— -against whom I have

VOL. I. N N

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XXII.

54^ HISTOHY OF THE CHUBCH.

<^p. freely owned the best men of those times were much
too censorious, — would doubtless have been branded
with peculiar infamy in the Church, if it had con-
tained any sentiments contrary to the apostolic faiths
Its deviation from truth would liave been marked
with peculiar asperity. But it is universally allowed^
that the Novatians h^ld the same doctrines as the
general Church, and differed only in point of dis"
cipline. What greater proof can be desired than
such an uniformity ?

Perhaps the cas? of Paul of Samosata may illus-
trate the subject still more forcibly. -r-A bishop was,
bv the concurrent voice of the whole Christian
Church, degraded and expelled, because he opposed
these, doctrines. — ^The excellent lives of men of
ortho<}t^x views are evident in these times of true
goodness. I cannot find any proofs of such excel-^
lence in other persons who called themselves Chris-
tians. I acknowledge the scantiness of historical
materials: I make dlowance for the prejudices of
writers ; and, I do not forget, that the compositions
of none, but of the orthodox of those times, have
come down to us. But, after all, it seems impossible
to reject the repeated testimony of such a man as
Irenaeus ; to the wickedness of the heretics. — ^The
immoral character of Paul of Samosata is well
knoAvn ; and men of real holiness and virtue can
scarce be entirely hid in any age in which they exist
We have been told indeed great things of the
Ebionites ; and they,have been set up as the true
standard of primitive orthodoxy. But it seems
scarcely possible for any man of learning, who has a
disposition to examine things fairly and candidly, to
lay weight on such a wild and groundless opinion. —
Who is this Ebion? — " Who is this uncircumcised
Philbtine, that he should defy the annies of the
living God?" — Let it be admitted that he and his
party believed and thought of St Paul and of Chris-
tian doctrines, and of Christ himseh^ exactly as

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111.

. PRIMITIVE C«RISTIANS, ' 547

wme persons do, who at this day call themselves ^f}f^'
RATIONAL Christians. — Will it thence follow that ,
the holy Scriptures will be. best interpreted by con-
sulting the opinions of an obscure person, of whom
all we know is contained in only a few lines, and
who^e very existence is but faintly proved; and
whose sect also, though it had certainly an eably,
if any, existence, was condemned in the Christian
churches, and even by Origen himself, as heretical*?

It must be admitted that the Ebionites, in not re-
ceiving St. Paul's Epistles, as Origen tells us, acted
CONSISTENTLY. Their scntimcnts, and those of
St. Paul, are in direct opposition tor each other. —
But, what are we to think of men who rejected
tiiirteen epistles of the New Testament, of whose
divine authority there never was any doubt among
yeal Chrbtians ?

And, though the Epistle to the Hebrews has abun-
dant proofs of Divine inspiration, yet, if one were to
allow, for a moment, that it was only the work of some
pious person of very high antiquity in the Church,
and held in very great estimation, who, that soberly
examines the balance of evidences, would hesitate to
decide that its authority greatly exceeded any pos-
sible respect due to the opinions of the Ebionites ?
Then, — in this regular argumentative composition
we find certain doctrines enlarged on very much, and'
supported by the united voices of the Old and New
Testament, — which ^ifdoctrines, by an obscure sect,
of whom we, literally, know next to nothing, are
barely denied. — A chain of close reasoning on thQ
one hand ; — mere positive assertions on the other !

In judging of historical evidence, no rule can be
better founded, than tliat the concurrent testimony
of the best writers ought always to outweigh tlie
single affirmation of any particular person, — It is on
this ground that the relation of Persian affairs by
Ctesias is looked on as romantic. The account of
• See Origen ad Cdsuin, Book 5, towards the c«^(J,

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548 HisTORF or the CHtJUCfr.

CHAP* Ae death of Cyros^lso, as slain by Tomyris, fhi
Scythian Queen, has no credit, because of the su-
perior credibility of Xenophon, and of other his*
toriads. And he would be thought a weak critic in
Justory, who should in our days assert, thirt

^ CbarlemagDe, with all his peerage, fell by FontarabfJ^?'

Milton, as a poet, may be allowed to say this oq
the evidence of romances : But sober history^ which
asserts in general the contrary, must be believed. —
On such weak foundations seems to me to stand tho
authority of the Ebionites in matters of Christian
doctrine.

Let not the reader forget, that the object of this
whole argument is to establish the indissoluUe COQ^
oexion, which subsist;^ between principle and prac-
tice.— For this purpose it may be useful to attend a
little to the iNTEEKAL NATURE of Christian prin-
^ples«

If there be a favourite point in Scripture, it is the
recommendation of humility. The truly bumUe,
with all their imperfections, will be admitted into
heaven ; tlie proud, with all the virtue cc»npatible
with pride, will be excludexl. Those doctrines,
therefore, which support humility must be divine :
those, which nourish pride must be " earthly, sen-
sual, devilish*." Now the evangelical doctrinea,
just mentioned, are all of the former aoit. The
more they are relished and admired, the more do
they direct the mind to honour (lod, to feel even
infinite obligation to him, to entertain the lowest
ideas of ourselves, to confound the pride of intellect»
of riches, of virtue, of every thing human. To sing
salvation to God and the Lamb, to confess our
desert of destruction, and to ascribe our deliverance
from it to the atoiiing blood of Jesus, — this-is the
employment of heaven. The tastes and tempers
ad0ptcd to such employment must be formed here
♦ James iii. J 5.

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TRIMITIVE CHRISTIANS. 549

<m «crtfi by grace ; and the whole work of the c^nt.
Spirit, which we have seen exemplified in three cen-
turies, is to produce and support these dispositions :
And, in the words and actions of holy men, we have
seen this effect They believed besirtily the truth
of doctrines the most humiliating. They were poor
in spirit, and patient under the severest treatment
and the most crud injuries, because they were
conscious of deserving much worse : they were con-
tented in the meanest circumstances, because they
felt the beauty of his condescension, who thoum
HE was rich became poor for their sakes, and who
has provided for them sure and eternal riches.
They were serene and confident in God, because
they viewed him as their Father through the grace
of Christ ; they were full of charity, because they
knew the love of God in Christ : and, in . honour
they preferred others to themselves, because they
were ever conscious of their own depravity: — in fine,
— ^they gladly endured reproach for Christ's sake,
because they knew his kingdom was not of this
world.

Now take firom these men the peculiar doctrines
of the Gospel, and all the motives and springs within
them of those actions, which are peculiar Christian,
are annihilated. — Mere moralS, as taught by sensible
heathens, and whatever was by them esteemed re-
putable in social life, ipay remain; but that, which
is properiy of a pious and humble nature, is no
more.

For, whoever daily feels himself to be helpless,
corrupt, and unworthy; the man, whose bope of
divine fevour cannot exist for a moment, but under
the belief of the most stupendous grace; the man,
who is compelled to pray by the sense of hb constant
wants, and who experiences the answer of prayer by
repeated supernatural aids, such a one must be
habituated to the perpetual exercise of cultivating
humbling reflections concerning himself, and c,jiat£-

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XXI I.

550 H15T0ET OF THE CHURCH.

CHAP, ruL feelings towards his Maker. It is easy to sec
uhat a foundation is Iiere laid of meekness, gentle^
ness, modesty, submission to the will of God, and
of genuine compassion for the most wicked and most
injurious, — the truly humbled Christian always re-
membering that he himself, by nature, is a cliild of
wrath, as well as others. — Nor is there one among
the numerous virtues, for which the primitive Chrb-
tians were so ipuch renowned, but it may be travel
up to these principles.

It has been said, indeed, — that the sense of gra-?
titude to God may be as strong in the minds of thosq
who thiqk better of human nature, in its present state,
because tliey must own. they are indebted to God
for their natural pow ers and faculties. But the very
feelings of the same human nature itself contradict
the position. Sometliing like gratitude and humility
may be produced, where men are ev^ry momept, by
experience, made sensible of their dependent con-
dition : not so, where they only adqait it in general
theory, but are not led, experimentally, to an ha^
bitual sense of their real state. Do parents expect
to find a more grateful and more humble conduct
in thoir children, by making them completely indcT
pendent at once, or, by supplying them liberally
indeed, but still in sucj;i a way as to keep theip con-s
thiually sensible of their dependence ?

The influence of anti-evangelical doctrines on the
practice is but too evident.

— ^Those, who espouse them, if preserved, by pro-r
vidence, in the practipe of a decent moral conduct,
ore, among ourselves at this day, the proudest of
men. Even when they attempt to be fumble, the
power of pride breaks forth and bears down all before
it. They feel and discover great self-sufficiency ;
No subject of religion is too hard for their under-
standings : and in all disputable questionsj they arc^
sure to decide in that way w hich most gratifies vain-*
glory and self-conceit The tee^ch^rs of t^i? staippj.

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PRIMITIVE CHRIStlANS. 551

however low ahd limited In capacity and education,
^re continually exercising the most unbounded, and
often the most ridiculous arrogance. They arc apt
to wonder that the common people have no ears
for them : They do not consider that they themselves
have no voice for the people. The views of God,
of Christ, and of human nature, which they exhibit,
Suit not the unsophisticated taste of the common
people, but rather accord with the pert and vain
notions of dabblers in theology and metaphysics.
In a word, they contradict experience ; and it is not
to be wondered at, that those of their hearers, who
have any reasonable modesty, and the least tincture
of humility, cannot relish their discourses, because
the only food which is adapted to the taste of a
miserable sinner is not ministered to them. De-^
serted by the populace, such ministers as these
usually betake themselves to the higher classes :
The favour of a few persons of rank compensates to
them the want of regard from the multitude ; and if
they cannot boast of numerous congregations, they
console themselves at least with the thought, that
theirs are genteel. — Their own account of them is
** that they are both genteel and rational."

Politics, — the aflfairs of nations, — the reformation
of states; these are to them the grand scenes
which agitate their passions. To instruct mii)isters
of STATES is their ambition : To bring souls to
Christ is left to those, whom they, contemptuously,
denominate Enthusiasts. Nor does th& least true
pathos appear in any of their writings and orations,
except in the support of civil liberty, — a subject,
most important and most valuable, no doubt; but,
with them, ever carried to excess, and, even when
treated in its best manner, belonging rather to the
province of statesmen and of legislators than to that
of divines. — Whoever has attended to the demeanour
of these men, (cannot fail to have marked them, as
evidently haughty, over-bearing, impatient of con-

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XXIL

552 fiMTOBY or TH£ cHUKcnr;

CTAP. tradiction ; and, of all others, the least fitted, m
their tempers, to suffer for the cross of Christ : They
arc, however, exceedingly prone, — to* represent
themselves as actually persecuted ; — to enlarge oa
the iniquity of aU restrs^ing or^exclnding laws ia
ecclesiastical concerns ; — wid, lastly, with much ar-
rogatice, to boast of their sincerity and soundness in
matters of religion, — in en age, when every one
knows that there is not the least probability of their
being compelled to undergo any fiery trial tliat might
be the test of true Christian zeal, fortitude, and
patience.

Are THESE the Chrfetians of the three first cen-
turies?— Or, were those, whom Celsus scorned, sucb
men as these? — ^The facte presented to the reader^
in this volume, forbid the conclusion. — ^For, if in-
deed they were men of this class, their worldly and
ambitious spirit might easily have found some of the
many pretenders to the Roman empire, with whom
tliey might have united. We should have seen Chris-
tians active in politics, bargaining with different
competitors for the empire, and insisting on some
communication of temporal powers and privileges
to themselves. IVIen, so void of heavenly ambidon,.
would have displayed that which is of the earth ;
and if Ebion's religjious sentiments had been thea.
as prevalent as they are now, the humble, meek,
charitable, passive Christians would not have adorned
the historic page ; but, on the contrary, the predo-
minant characters .of the foregobg narrative, must
have much more resembled the turbulent, aspiring,
political sons of Arius and Socinus m our owa
limes. I

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.*

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