Edward. Yet, ultimately, Paganism was suppressed by the emperors.

Mr. B. It was not so much suppressed by them, as it was left by them, to its own strength, for defence, and sunk, in consequence, gradually, as might have been expected. The countenance, afforded by the emperors, to Christianity, was, undoubtedly, of the greatest consequence to it; but, it must be remembered, it was not they, who made the new religion powerful in the first instance; the first, and great steps, had already been made by the new faith; it had been found invincible, before the state joined its strength to it. Indeed, it is very questionable, whether some of the emperors ever would have advocated it, had they not felt its influence to be irresistible.

Maria. You regard, then, the patronage given to Christianity, as the effect, not the cause, of its general reception?

Mr. B. Certainly; though I am willing to allow, that the countenance, thus given to it, materially contributed to its universal reception afterwards.

Maria. But, do you think, had the court continued Pagan, that Christianity would have supplanted Paganism?

Mr. B. In reality, it would, though not in appearance; arguing from the state in which the two religions were, at the commencement of the third century; the nominal change of the religion of the state, might have been retarded, but it could not have been prevented: the principles, on the side of Christianity, had proved themselves too powerful for any weapons, which Paganism was able to produce.

Edward. The light, which is thrown on the subject, by the quotations you have produced, appears to me calculated to give great interest to a further investigation

57 What is said, by Mr. B., in reply to the remark of Edward, that Paganism was suppressed?-58 What is said of the countenance of the emperors to Christianity?-59 What may have induced them first to favour it ?-60 How does Maria remark upon this ?-61 Would Christianity have supplanted Paganism, had the latter continued to be the religion of the court?-62 What does Edward say of the quotations made?

of the causes, which could have led to so remarkable a result.

Maria. One would naturally suppose, there must have been great strength in Christianity or great weakness in Paganism; since, whatever advantage the protection of the state afforded to the first, after its establishment, appears, by the statement of Libanius, to have been afforded to the other, previously, with the addition of severe suffering being inflicted on those, who professed Christianity.

Mr. B. The statements of the heathen writers, who lived subsequently to the establishment of Christianity, appear fully to bear out the truth of the Christian statements, so far as they go. We find in them, no trace of Christianity having arisen, at a different time, or under different circumstances, from those alleged; no intimation of there being any doubt then entertained upon this subject. It appears certain, also, that the avowed tenets of the Christians, as to persecution, were the same, as what its apologists now state; and, from all that we can collect, from the remaining documents of their enemies, we have every reason to believe, Christianity, at the time of its nominal establishment, was received by great numbers, throughout the whole extent of the empire, and had not attained that general reception, by any other means, than the strength derived from the very principles of the religion itself.

Edward Do you, then, think, the majority of the inhabitants of the Roman empire had embraced Christianity, before the declaration of Constantine in its favour?

Mr. B. By no means; for, the embracing it was attended with penalties, too terrible for such a general reception, among those, who were indifferent, as to religion: but, it appears to me certain, that there was so general a reception of it. among those, who did feel an interest in

63 What does Maria say, on the relative strength of the two religions? 64 What is found, from the statements of heathen writers, who lived subsequently to the establishment of Christianity?-65 What question does Edward ask, in relation to the spread of Christianity?—66 How does Mr. B. reply to him?

religion, as to give it the greater force. You must measure the strength of a religious party, not by mere names, or appearances, but by the numbers of those, who really are attached to it, and the degree, to which they are attached. Considered in this point of view, there can be no doubt, that the Christians were, decidedly, the most powerful religious party in the empire; for, their numbers are sufficiently attested, both by friends, and foes; and, their attachment to their faith, not only withstood the most violent attacks, but wearied out their persecutors. The result proved, that the means employed for its subversion, were wholly ineffectual. The ease, with which Paganism was supplanted by Christianity, in the first instance, under Constantine, and the readiness, with which the empire reverted to this religion, after all the labours of Julian, to overthrow it, immediately upon that emperor's death, prove, decidedly, that the Gospel, which, in its commencement, had been but as a grain of mustard seed, had struck deep root, and spread forth its influence through all lands.

CONVERSATION V.

Mr. B. In our last conversation, we satisfied ourselves as to the existence of Christianity, up to the time of the emperor Julian, and found no evidence of its having had any other origin, than what is commonly assigned. In further tracing the vestiges of this religion, you must be aware, from the very nature of the case, that we cannot reasonably expect such strong evidence as we have had, in the preceding part of our inquiry.

Edward. Certainly; if Christianity was originally pro

67 How must the strength of a religious party be measured ?-68 What circumstances prove the deep root, which Christianity had taken, and the rapidity, with which it spread?

1 What was done in the fourth conversation?-2 What does Edward say, as to the amount of evidence to be expected in favour of Christianity, in its infancy?

fessed, only by an obscure and despised sect, in a remote province of the Roman empire, it would be unreasonable to expect it should attract that attention, which it afterwards obtained when it became the religion of a material portion of the whole people.

Mr. B. It is, also, probable, that if such were its origin, in the first instance, it would "be every where spoken against;" for, we know, that there was a general prejudice against the Jews; and, the Christian statement, as to the death of its Founder, was not likely to allure the votaries of the established superstitions. From the testimony of Libanius, it appeared, that the Christians, previously to their obtaining the ascendency, had been cruelly persecuted; and, it hence becomes by no means improbable, that they were also calumniated; and, the more so, if the hatred of the Christians to idolatry, which we have already seen, was manifested, during the period, in which the power remained in the hands of its abettors. But, let us now turn from conjecture to examination, and we shall find the truth of these observations confirmed by facts. During the latter part of the period under consideration, Christianity was an object of the greatest interest, and its opposers were equally anxious to overthrow its principles, and intimidate its professors, into a renunciation of them. During the second century, it was by no means so much the object of general attention; for, its success was not then so decided, as to threaten the subversion of the established creed; and, in the first, we only find such traces of it, as might have been expected would remain, of a sect, which had its origin in a country, the inhabitants of which, were generally disliked, and the religion of which, was not understood.

Maria. But, does the increased knowledge of Christianity, which the Pagans had, in consequence of its universal dissemination, prove favourable to it?

3 What else is also probable ?-4 What appears, from the testimony of Libanius-5 What is said of Christianity, in the latter part of the period under consideration?-6 And in the second century -7 And in the first?

Mr. B. It does; inasmuch as accusations of horrible crimes, practised by the Christians, at secret meetings, were afterwards laid aside, as untenable, although the disposition of its enemies yet remained unchanged.

Maria. And, is there no trace of any other origin, than the one commonly assigned to Christianity, perceptible in their writings?

Mr. B. Not the least; but, abundant confirmation of the Christian statements on the subject.

Maria. But, what sort of writers are those, which thus corroborate them?

Mr. B. The works, in question, may be divided into three classes. Imperial edicts, relative to the Christians; the works of professed antagonists of Christianity; and, lastly, those of writers, who incidentally allude to it.

Maria. Have the first come down to us entire?

Mr. B. Unfortunately, they have not. Lactantius relates, that Ulpian, who flourished at the beginning of the third century, made a collection of the edicts against them, which he inserted in his work, on the Duty of a Proconsul; but, this being no longer extant, we are forced to content ourselves with the fragments, which yet remain, interspersed in the writings of contemporary

authors.

Edward. But, can we rely on such evidence, if transmitted only through the medium of Christians?

Maria. According to the conclusions drawn, in a former conversation, we must (provided there is no internal evidence militating against them), since the facts must have been matters of public notoriety; and, it is not likely, in such a point, the Christians would run an unnecessary risk of exposure.

Mr. B. And, in this case, the testimony of Pagans, already adduced, is greatly in favour of their accuracy;

8 What is said of the favourable change towards Christians, which took place?-9 What are the three classes, into which the writers are divided, who corroborate the Gospel history?—10 Maria asks, if the first of these classes have come down to us entire-what reply does Mr. B. make to her?-11 On what account does she say, that we may rely on such evidence?-12 What does Mr. B. say, of its genuineness?