be brought and set before them, together with the statues of the deities; moreover, they reviled the name of Christ: none of which things, it is said, they who are really Christians can by any means be compelled to do. These, therefore, I thought proper to discharge. Others were named by an informer, who at first confessed themselves to be Christians, and afterwards denied it. The rest said they had been Christians, but had left them; some three years ago, some longer, and one or more above twenty years. They all worshipped your image, and the statues of the gods: these also reviled Christ. They affirmed, that the whole of their fault, or error, lay in this; that they were wont to meet together on a stated day, before it was light, and sing among themselves, alternately, a hymn to Christ, as a god, and bind themselves by an oath, not to the commission of any wickedness, but not to be guilty of theft, or robbery, or adultery, never to falsify their word, nor to deny a pledge committed to them, when called upon to return it. When these things were performed, it was their custom to separate, and then come together again to a meal, which they eat in common, without any disorder: but this they had forborne since the publication of my edict, by which, according to your commands, I prohibited assemblies. After receiving this account, I judged it more necessary to examine, and that by torture, two maid-servants, which were called ministers; but I have discovered nothing besides a bad and excessive superstition. Suspending, therefore, all political proceedings, I have recourse to you for advice; for it has appeared unto me a matter highly deserving consideration, especially on account of the great number of persons who are in danger of suffering. For many of all ages and every rank, of both sexes likewise, are accused, and will be accused; nor has the contagion of this superstition seized cities only, but the lesser towns also, and the open country. Nevertheless, it seems to me that it may be restrained 76 What others are named as having been brought before him?-77 In what did one portion of those accused say that their fault consisted?-78 What does he relate of two maid-servants?-79 Why was Pliny induced to suspend legal proceedings, and apply to Trajan for advice? and corrected. It is certain that the temples, which were almost forsaken, begin to be more frequented; and the sacred solemnities, after a long intermission, are revived. Victims, likewise, are every where bought up; whereas for some time there were few purchasers; whence it is easy to imagine that numbers of men might be reclaimed, if pardon were granted to those who shall repent." "Trajan to Pliny wishes health and happiness. You have taken the right method, my Pliny, in your proceedings with those brought before you as Christians; for it is impossible to establish any one rule, that shall hold universally. They are not to be sought for. If any are brought before you, and are convicted, they ought to be punished. However, he that denies being a Christian, and makes it evident in fact, that is, by supplicating to our gods, though he be suspected to have been so formerly, let him be pardoned, upon repentance. But in no case of any crime whatever may a bill of information be received without being signed by him who presents it; for that would be a dangerous precedent, and unworthy of my government."-Lardner, c. ix. Maria. This indeed, is testimony ! Mr. B. As we are now advancing to the termination of this part of our inquiries, I shall not stop to make observations on these letters at present; but give you the last testimonies which I purpose to adduce, viz. those of Suetonius and Tacitus. The first of these says, that in the reign of Nero, "The Christians were punished; a sort of men of a new and magical superstition. And, speaking of Claudius, " He banished the Jews from Rome, who were continually making disturbances, Chrestus being their leader."-Lardner, c. viii. Edward. The inaccuracy as to name and fact here shows that the Christians had not yet excited great attention from their religion. say 80 How does Trajan to Pliny?-81 What does Maria to this testimony?-82 Who are the last two authors here to be given by Mr. B. as witnesses?-83 What does Suetonius say?-84 What does he say of Claudius? Mr. B. We now come to the more important testinony of Tacitus :- "But neither all human help, nor the liberality of the emperor, nor all the atonements he of fered to the gods, availed to abate the infamy he lay under of having ordered the city to be set on fire. To suppress, therefore, this common rumor, Nero procured others to be accused, and inflicted exquisite torments on those people who were in abhorrence for their crimes, and were commonly known by the name of Christians. They had their denomination from Christus, who in the reign of Tiberius was put to death as a criminal, by the procurator Pontius Pilate. This pernicious superstition, though checked for a time, broke out again, and spread not only over Judea, the source of this evil, but reached the city also, whither flow from all quarters all things vile and shameful, and where they find shelter and encouragement. At first, they only were apprehended who confessed themselves of that sect; afterwards, a vast multitude discovered by them: all which were condemned, not so much for the crime of burning the city, as for their enmity to mankind. Their executions were so contrived as to expose them to derision and contempt. Some were covered over with the skins of wild beasts, and torn to pieces by dogs; some were crucified; others, having been daubed over with combustible materials, were set up as lights in the night time, and thus burned to death. Nero made use of his own gardens as a theatre upon this occasion, and also exhibited the diversions of the circus; sometimes standing in the crowd as a spectator, in the habit of a charioteer; sometimes driv-. ing a chariot himself: till at length these men, though really criminal, and deserving exemplary punishment, began to be commiserated, as people who were destroyed, not out of a regard to the public welfare, but only to gratify the cruelty of one man."—Lardner, c. v. To these sufferings of the Christians the two poets, 85 On what account did Nero accuse Christians?-86 What account does Tacitus give of the origin of Christians?-87 Why does he say so many of them were condeinned to death?-88 What description does he give of their executions?-89 What led to a suspension of these persecutions? Juvenal and Martial, are generally supposed to allude. The former says Now dare To glance at Tigellinus, and you glare In that pitch'd sheet in which such crowds expire, The latter, in an epigram, compares the fortitude of the Christians with that of Mucius. You will now, I think, not refuse to acknowledge the truth of the following conclusions: but if you have still any doubts upon them, I would refer you for full proof to Lardner. First. It appears a notorious and undeniable fact, that there really did exist, at the time he is said to have exited, an extraordinary character, known by the name of Jesus Christ; that it was commonly reported that he had performed many miracles; and that in consequence of his attaching numerous followers to him, he was put to death; that these followers, instead of being intimidated by that event, asserted that he had arisen from the dead, and, in defiance of all opposition, propagated this new faith throughout the Roman empire with singular success. Secondly. That the Romans in general hated and despised this new sect, and oppressed it to a great degree; but that they were also in a great degree ignorant of its origin, its Founder, and its doctrines; and that, consequently, though their testimony, as far as it goes, is of great importance in confirming the statements of the Christian writers, yet the want of their testimony in other particulars cannot militate against, nor materially weaken those statements. Thirdly. The opinion entertained by men thus prejudiced against the Christians, does not in any measure lead us to believe that the latter had any secular views of advantage, directly or indirectly; they represent them 90 What two poets are supposed to allude to these sufferings of the Christians?-91 To what does Martial compare their fortitude?-92 What is the first drawn by Mr. B. from the foregoing representations?-93 What is the second one?-94 What is the third and last one thus draw? as numerous, but not learned, polite, or prudent. A readiness to meet death, an obstinate perseverance in their opinions, and a devoted zeal in the propagation of their faith, appear to have characterised their public conduct. Their private character appears to have been blameless, and even high, but their doctrines and general spirit utterly contrary to the opinions then prevalent; and that, consequently, however desirous they might be to increase their numbers, they did not do it by an appearance of agreement with any of the numerous sects and parties then existing, or by a willingness to blend their own sentiments, or compromise their own principles with those of others. CONVERSATION VI. Maria. I HAD no idea, previously to our last conversation, that so many important facts, relative to the history of the Christian religion, could have been established solely by the testimony of adversaries. Has it ever been attempted before? Mr. B. There is a very good French work, by ȧ learned man of the name of Bullet, which was translated into English by a Mr. Salisbury; but unfortunately both the original and the translation are very scarce, and their authors little known, except to those who make a point of inquiring into works of this kind. Edward. Your references were commonly made to Lardner. Mr. B. They were so, as being better adapted for immediate reference than any other, and on account of the reputation that author has justly acquired for correctness. Edward. It seems, however, that the same facts made a different impression upon the mind of Gibbon. Mr. B. They did;. and there is something very re 1 With what remarks does Edward commence the sixth Conversation? -2 What does Mr. B. say of a French work taking a similar view of the subject?-3 Why does he so much refer to Lardner? |