182

PRINCE OF THE CAPTIVITY.

their temporal power and magnificence at the close of the Parthian monarchy, and under the mild rule of the first Persian kings. The Prince of the Captivity resided at Babylon, and had a luxurious court there, with attendant officers, counsellors, and cupbearers. He had also the power of appointing different rabbins as governors of the communities under his jurisdiction, and occasionally visited the native ruler of Bagdad to talk with him in a friendly manner about any grievances done to his people. When the prince died, the heads of the people and the masters of the learned schools placed his appointed successor on the throne, arrayed in cloth of gold. He was then addressed by one of the wise men, and admonished that he was only the prince of a captive people; and that he must be careful not to abuse his power, as he was called to slavery rather than to sovereignty. On the first Sabbath that he attended the synagogue, he addressed the assembled Jews; and prayer was then made, in a low voice, for the restoration of the kingdom to Israel, and for the termination of all their troubles under this new prince.

From that day he lived chiefly in retirement, to prevent any jealousy or suspicions of the native kings.

Whilst all the eastern Jews acknowledged the Prince of the Captivity as their head, all throughout the Roman empire submitted to the rule of the patriarch of Tiberias; and in the reign of Alexander Severus this rabbi obtained almost kingly authority. He had the power of inflicting corporal punishment, and probably even death; but his chief influence arose from his power to pronounce the dreaded sentence of excommunication, the object of which was considered as an outcast from society, a moral leper whom no one dared to approach except his own wife and children. Though the rabbins in many cases abused this power, and it was, humanly speaking, a barrier against the conversion of the Jews, it had certainly a great moral influence over them, and their general conduct appears to have been far less criminal than that of the Pagans among whom they dwelt. The tribute formerly raised in support of the temple worship was now levied for the maintenance of rabbinism; and the patriarch of Tiberias sent his legates to all the synagogues throughout the Roman world to deliver his commands and to collect this yearly revenue. These messengers were doubtless commissioned to steel the hearts of the Jews against the reception of the Gospel; for the Christians assert that they were gene

DOMINION OF RABBINISM.
A

183

rally anathematized in all the synagogues, and the very name of their blessed Master cursed.

In the meanwhile, never was more apparent honour paid to the books of Moses than by the rabbins of Tiberias; for every letter was counted, and every dot esteemed of the greatest importance. But these subtle teachers took care to affirm that the Scriptures were dark oracles, not to be understood by common people; and they did not suffer any thing but their own interpretations and traditions to be used. The dominion of rabbinism was thus as firmly established over the minds of the apostate Jews as that of the popedom, in later times, over apostate Christians. In giving up the clear revelation of God, both were left in the darkness wherewith the god of this world blinds the minds of those that believe not.

CHAP. XXXII.

MAXIMIN, EMPEROR.—THE GORDIANS.—PUPIENUS, BALBINUS,
AND
PHILIP THE ARABIAN.

GORDIAN. STATE OF THE CHURCH.-DEATH OF PHILIP.-CAUSES OF THE DECLINE OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE.

MAXIMIN (A.D. 235) was originally a shepherd, the son of a Thracian peasant; and it is said that he was nearly eight feet high, with strength proportioned to his stature. Severus was attracted by the display of his extraordinary bodily powers, and gladly engaged such a man in his service. In the succeeding reigns he had gradually risen till he attained the highest rank in the army; and it was easy for him to take the place of the despised Alexander in the midst of the semi-barbarous legions on the frontiers. Yet, as he was aware that he should appear to great disadvantage at Rome, in contrast with the late refined and educated monarch, he would not even visit Italy; but made his camp on the banks of the Rhine, or the Danube, the seat of his government. From thence he issued the most tyrannical commands, and numbers of the Roman nobles were summoned thither and cruelly put to death, under the false pretence that they were plotting against his life. Four thousand persons were executed during his reign, and most of them in that barbarous manner which showed the utmost contempt for the laws.

184

MAXIMIN.-THE GORDIANS.

Some were sown up in the skins of newly-slaughtered animals, and thrown to the wild beasts, and many were actually beaten to death. The cruelties of Maximin were tolerated while they affected only a few of the rich and noble : but when he sent his officers to plunder all the cities throughout the empire of the independent revenues usually set apart for the provision or entertainment of the people at large, the general indignation was excited. Still more, when the tyrant commanded that the temples should be stripped of their offerings, and had the statues of the gods melted down to satisfy the avarice of the soldiers who were his companions in crime. In many places the superstitious people died in defending their altars; but in a small town of Africa the messengers of Maximin were effectually resisted. The inhabitants made their rebellion generally acceptable by choosing as emperors, Gordian, the pro-consul of Africa, and his son. Gordian was eighty years of age, and so fond of study and of peace that he accepted the purple with real sorrow. His son was of the same tastes and disposition, and it is said, his library contained many thousand volumes: yet they were both able commanders, and the younger Gordian had long served with his father. The Gordians held their court at Carthage; and the Africans, who had never had the presence of an emperor since the visit of Adrian, were full of joy and pride. But their rejoicing was short; for after a reign of only thirty-six days both the emperors were slain in a battle with the Mauritanian barbarians, who were assisted by troops in Maximin's interest. The news of their death caused great distress in Italy, as all were preparing to support them; but in the general confusion one of the senators observed, that though the Gordians had been cut off there were others of their number equally fit to reign. After some tumult, Pupienus and Balbinus were chosen, and a boy of the Gordian family was appointed Cæsar, in remembrance of the late emperors. Nothing could exceed the fury of Maximin on hearing of these events: it is said, he beat his head against the wall, and raged liked a wild beast, so that even his son was afraid to approach him. He quickly prepared his armies to enter Italy; and having crossed the Alps besieged the strong city of Aquileia, as the first that resisted his advance. But his soldiers being discouraged by the obstinacy of its defence, the disease and famine spreading among them, and still more by the fierce tempers of Maximin, resolved to get free by destroying the tyrant and his son.

PUPIENUS, BALBINUS, AND GORDIAN.

185

The strength of Maximin was not even put forth in selfdefence; for he was killed with his son as they lay asleep at noon-day in their tent, A.D. 238.

Upon the announcement of the death of Maximin the gates of Aquileia were opened, and the whole army consented to obey Pupienus and Balbinus. But these emperors were, in the meantime, weakening themselves by disunion. Pupienus was a rough soldier, distinguished for his military talents and strict justice; and Balbinus was an orator and a poet, beloved for his amiable character and generous disposition. The former despised the latter as a studious nobleman, and was in his turn held in contempt as an uneducated, low-born soldier. The guards did not like the severe Pupienus, nor fear the gentle Balbinus; and taking advantage of their discord, slew them both as they were in distant parts of the same palace, while the people were celebrating the public games. Under the rule of the young Gordian, who was only sixteen years of age, they expected to be without control: but at the age of eighteen he escaped from the evil guidance of worthless ministers, and proved his wisdom by committing the direction of public affairs to Misitheus, a prudent and able counsellor. He studied the people's happiness at Rome, while Gordian was victorious abroad in a war with the Persians. It was on this occasion that the temple of Janus was opened for the last time.

In A.D. 241, Misitheus died, and Philip, an Arab by birth, and in his earlier life a robber, succeeded him as prefect, an officer only second in authority to the emperor himself. But not satisfied with this measure of power, he caused Gordian to be murdered whilst he was in the East. He had been generally beloved, and the mourning army raised a funeral monument in his honour on the banks of the Euphrates, A.D. 244.

The Prætorians were quite willing to raise their prefect to imperial power, and the senate were obliged to recognise Philip as the lawful emperor.

The Christians had enjoyed a long season of peace, which was only interrupted by the execution of some of the pastors by the command of Maximin, simply because they had been favoured by Alexander.

During this stormy period of frequent political changes, religious differences seemed to pass unheeded; and it also appears that the lukewarmness or worldliness of the Christians

did not expose them to persecution. Nothing can more clearly prove the low standard of Christianity than the fact of the profession of Philip himself. Origen remarks, at this period, that many Christians only came to the assemblies on solemn festivals, and then more for amusement than instruction. Some would not stay till the end of the lecture, others did not hear a word of it, but entertained themselves in a corner; and the ancient custom of staying to speak to the pastors, or ask questions expressive of interest in spiritual things was quite out of fashion. At the same time he speaks of the haughty manners and ambition of the bishops, and the wrong steps they took to get into places of honour or profit.

In A.D. 247, a thousand years after the foundation of Rome, the emperor celebrated the grandest idolatrous games: on this occasion of festivity two thousand gladiators shed their blood in the amphitheatre, for the entertainment of the gazing multitudes; and day after day these shocking exhibitions were witnessed' with the same delight.

In A.D. 249, a rebellion took place in one of the northern provinces, and Philip sent thither Decius, one of his ablest generals. The unruly legions left him no choice but death or the empire; and in such circumstances it was not surprising that Decius accepted the purple, and led them into Italy. He professed indeed that it was his intention to restore the army to obedience; but Philip was slain in the first battle that took place, and his son and associate in the empire was murdered at Rome by the Prætorians. It has been remarked, that during the first four centuries of their existence the Romans were learning the arts of war and government in the school of poverty; that in the next three centuries, by the use of these arts, they obtained such a vast extent of empire: and in the next three hundred years, which close our present period, there was apparent prosperity but inward decay. The causes of this decay have been thus explained. The small, but warlike people, who originally bore the name of Romans, were now confounded with the millions of provincials who had the name without preserving the spirit or the interest of Roman citizens. The people at large, burdened with taxes, were in a state of slavery; and the soldiers, who were the only free men, made the worst use of their independence. They had learned, by frequent experience, they could raise to the empire whomsoever