Lampridius, who flourished about the same time, informs us, that "Alexander Severus tolerated the Christians; that he designed the building a temple to Christ, and receiving him into the number of the deities, which Adrian also is supposed to have thought of before, who ordered temples without images to be erected in all cities; which temples, at this very time, because they have no deities in them, are called Adrian's. And he is said to have prepared them for that purpose, but was forbid by those who consulted the oracles; they having found, that, if that was done, all men would become Christians, and the other temples would be forsaken."-Lardner, c. xxv.

Again, speaking of Alexander-" When he was about to appoint any to the governments of provinces, or to other like offices, he published their names, inviting the people, if they had any crime to lay to their charge, to produce their evidences; at the same time declaring, that if any charged what he could not prove, he should be put to death. And he said, 'It was a miserable thing,

that when the Christians and Jews observed this method of publishing the names of their priests before they were ordained, the like care should not be taken about the governors of provinces, with whom the lives and fortunes of men were entrusted.'

"When the Christians had seized a spot of ground, which was public, and, on the other hand, the victuallers said it ought to be granted to them, he gave this rescript, That it was better that God should be worshipped there, in any manner, than that the ground should be granted to the victuallers.'

"He would often use a saying, which he had heard from some Jews or Christians, and which he well remembered; and when any one was corrected, he ordered the crier to proclaim, 'What you would not have done to yourself, that do not you to another:' which saying he so highly esteemed, that he ordered it to be engraved upon his palace, and upon public buildings."-Lardner,

C. XXV.

57 What is the statement of Lampridius?-58 What does he say of an usage of Alexander in appointing persons to office?-59 What saying is he represented as often to have used?

Maria. These circumstances, though interesting, are however related by authors who lived subsequently to the events.

Mr. B. We will ascend, then, to a more remote period. Galen, blaming a person for not giving a demonstration of certain things which he had advanced, says, "So that we seem rather to be in a school of Moses, or Christ, where we must receive laws without any reason assigned, and that in a point where demonstration ought not by any means to be omitted."—Lardner, c. xxi.

And elsewhere, "It is easier to convince the disciples of Moses and Christ, than physicians and philosophers, who are addicted to particular sects."-Lardner, c. xxi. Contemporary with Galen, were Ælius Aristides, and Dion Chrysostom, who are supposed to allude to the Christians in passages expressive of contempt and dislike to a new sect at variance with the philosophy and religion of the times. Much more important than their testimony is that of Lucian, who appears to have been acquainted, not only with the Christians, but also with the book of Revelation. In one place he speaks of them along with atheists and Epicureans, and says that Pontus was full of them. In another, we have the following passage, speaking of a person named Peregrinus "At which time he learned the wonderful doctrine of the Christians, by conversing with their priests and scribes near Palestine: and in a short time he showed they were but children to him, for he was prophet, high priest, ruler of a synagogue, uniting all offices in himself alone. Some books he interpreted and explained, others he wrote, and they spoke of him as a god, and took him for a lawgiver, and honoured him with the title of master. They therefore still worship that great man who was cru cified in Palestine, because he introduced into the world this new religion. For this reason Proteus was taken up and put into prison, which very thing was of no small

60 Under what circumstances is Galen introduced?-61 What remarks of his are quoted?-62 Who are named as contemporary with Galen, being witnesses in this matter?-63 What is related of Lucian?-64 In a long quotation respecting Peregrinus, what is said of his becoming a Christian? 65 In this quotation, what is related of Proteus?

service to him afterwards, for giving reputation to his impostures, and gratifying his vanity. The Christians were much grieved for his imprisonment, and tried all ways to procure his liberty. Not being able to effect that, they did him all sorts of kind offices, and that, not in a careless manner, but with the greatest assiduity: for even betimes in the morning there would be at the prison old women, some widows, and also little orphan children; and some of the chief of their men, by corrupting the keepers, would get into prison, and stay there the whole night with him, and there they had a good supper together, and their sacred discourses. And this excellent Peregrinus (for so he was still called) was thought by them to be an extraordinary person, no less than another Socrates: even from the cities of Asia some Christians came to him, by order of the body, to relieve, encourage, and comfort him; for it is incredible what expedition they use, when any of their friends are known to be in trouble. In a word, they spare nothing upon such an occasion, and Peregrinus's chain brought him a good sum of money from them: for these miserable men have no doubt they shall be immortal, and live for ever; therefore they contemn death, and many surrender themselves to sufferings. Moreover, their first lawgiver has taught them, that they are all brethren, when once they have turned and renounced the gods of the Greeks, and worship that master of theirs who was crucified, and engage to live according to his laws. They have also a sovereign contempt for all the things of this world, and look upon them as common, and trust one another with them, without any particular security: for which reason any subtle fellow, by good management, may impose upon these simple people, and grow rich among them. But Peregrinus was set at liberty by the governor of Syria, who was a favourer of philosophy; who, perceiving his madness, and that he had a mind to die in order to get a name, let him out, not judging him

66 In what manner is it said that the Christians administered to Peregrinus?-67 How are Christians in this quotation represented as viewing death? 68 In what manner is it said that Peregrinus was released from prison?

so much as worthy of punishment."-"Then," as our author says, "Peregrinus returned to his native place, Parium, in hopes of recovering his father's estate; but meeting with difficulties, he made over to the Parians all the estate he might expect from his father, who then extolled him as the greatest of philosophers, a lover of his country, and another Diogenes, or Crates. He then went abroad again, well supplied by the Christians with all travelling charges, by whom also he was accompanied, and he lived in great plenty. Thus it went with him for some while. At length they parted, having given them also some offence, by eating, as I suppose, some things not allowed of by them."—Lardner, c. xix.

To ascend yet higher; in the beginning of the second century we have the following supposed allusions to the Christians in Epictetus: "When we see a man inconstant to his principles, we say he is not a Jew, but only pretends to be so; but when he has the temper of a man dipped and professed, then he is indeed, and is called a Jew."-Lardner, c. x.

The second is more decisive: "Is it possible that a man may arrive at this temper, and become indifferent to those things, from madness or from habit, as the Galileans, and yet that no one should be able to know, by reason or demonstration, that God made all things in the world?"-Lardner, c. x.

Edward. This confirms the received account of the sufferings of the Christians to a very early period, for Epictetus lived in the time of Trajan.

Mr. B. The two next testimonies are still more important; for they are those of Trajan himself, and the younger Pliny. They have often been referred to; and it is not easy to evade the conclusion, in favour of the truth of the Christian statements, to which they evidently lead.

"Pliny to Trajan.

"It is my constant custom, sir, to refer myself to you,

69 What account is subsequently given of him?-70 What two passages in Epictetus are supposed to relate to Christians?-71 When did Epictetus live?-72 What is stated of the testimony of Trajan and the younger Pliny?

in all matters concerning which I have any doubt. For who can better direct me when I hesitate, or instruct me when I am ignorant? I have never been present at any trials of Christians, so that I know not well what is the subject matter of punishment or of inquiry, or what strictness ought to be required in either. Nor have I been a little perplexed to determine whether any difference ought to be made on account of age, or whether the young and tender, and the full grown and robust, ought to be treated all alike; whether repentance should entitle to pardon, or whether all who have once been Christians ought to be punished, though they are now no longer so; whether the name itself, although no crimes be detected, or crimes only belonging to the name, ought to be punished. Concerning all these things I am in doubt.

"In the mean time, I have taken this course with all who have been brought before me, and have been accused as Christians. I have put the question to them, whether they were Christians? Upon their confessing to me that they were, I repeated the question a second and a third time, threatening also to punish them with death. Such as still persisted, I ordered away to be punished; for it was no doubt with me, whatever might be the nature of their opinion, that contumacy and inflexible obstinacy ought to be punished. There were others of the same infatuation, whom, because they are Roman citizens, I have noted down to be sent to the city.

"In a short time, the crime spreading itself, even whilst under persecution, as is usual in such cases, divers sorts of people came in my way. An information was presented to me, without mentioning the author, containing the names of many persons, who, upon examination, denied that they were Christians, or ever had been so; who repeated after me an invocation of the gods, and with wine and frankincense made supplication to your image, which for that purpose I had caused to

73 Concerning what particulars does Pliny desire information from Trajan, respecting Christians?-74 How is it represented that he treated all that were brought before him?-75 What does he state of another class of persons brought before him, who denied that they had ever been Christ. ians?