was called the Dead Sea, for that it is not moved by the winds, (which are resisted by the bitumen by which it is rendered stagnant) nor does it endure navigation, because all things which are without life sink into the deep, so that it does not sustain any matter unless what is smeared with alum.

Justin concludes his account with observing, that the Jews were first subdued by Xerxes, king of the Persians; that they afterwards surrendered themselves to Alexander, and that they were long subject to the Macedonian empire in the kingdom of Syria; that when they revolted from Demetrius, and sought the friendship of the Romans, they first among the Orientalists, obtained freedom, the Romans then easily conceding what did not belong to them *.

The whole sketch of history which Justin has transmitted with regard to the Jews, preserves, amidst palpable misrepresentations, the most clear and unequivocal proofs of an original foundation in truth.

* Lib. xxxvi. c. 2, 3. p. 528. Edit. Wetsten.

1.

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CHAP. LIX.

Ammianus Marcellinus.

MARCELLINUS was of a noble family, and lived under successive Emperors, from the reign of Constantius to that of Theodosius the elder. He wrote a Roman history, in thirty-one books, of a period extending from the reign of Nerva to the death of Valens. Of this history, the first thirteen books, which brought down the work to the time of Constantius, are lost. He was a contemporary of, and often an agent in the concerns described in the history which remains. He was sent with Ursicinus by Constantine into the east, and afterwards into Gaul, and other parts of the empire; and being distinguished for his military talents, he enjoyed the favour of Julian, and accompanied him in his expedition against the Persians, in which the Emperor lost his life *.

* Lib. xxiv. c. 1. Lib. xxv. c. 2. Lib. xiv. c. 9.

Ammianus was a native of Antioch *. a city, as he observes, "known throughout the "world," and in which the disciples of Christ, probably from the number of converts there, were first called Christians. Chiffletius, and Petrus Pythæus, have conceived, from some passages in the history of Marcellinus, that he was a proselyte to the Gospel. He certainly speaks with great respect of that religion, since in summing up the character of Constantius, he observes, that "the Em66 peror mixed a doting superstition with the "perfect and simple religion of the Chris"tians." Amidst subjects also of commendation on Jovian, he describes him as observant of the Christian law. He remarks likewise of George, Bishop of Alexandria, that he forgot his profession, which persuaded nothing but what was just and mild §. It is probable, however, as Valesius contends, that Ammianus adhered to the religion of his ancestors; he speaks of the Heathen deities

* Valesius Præfat.

Chiffletius de Vit. Ammian.

+ Acts ii. 26.

Lib. i. c. 16. p. 236. Edit. Gronov. 1693. Vide GreNazianz. p. 380. Ambrose Epist. ad Philip. p. 520. § Lib. xxii. 11. See also lib. xviii. c. 10.; lib. xxix.

gor.

as of objects of his reverence* and attachment; his candour, however, led him to acknowledge the beneficial tendency of the Christian religion, and to admire the fortitude and glorious death of its martyrs +. He could not behold the intolerant measure of Julian, without intimating disapprobation of his want of clemency; neither could he contemplate the character of those barmless men, who were subjected to persecution, without feeling that they were entitled to esteem; and he expressly indeed remarks on some provincial chief priests, that is, Christian Bishops, whom he mentions, that" by spare diet, coarse dress, and down"cast eyes, they were approved by the eter“nal Being, and by his true worshippers as "prudent and modest men."

Ammianus Marcellinus is a writer of distinguished veracity, his history is to be noticed particularly, as it exhibits a contemporary and unimpeachable record of the remarkable circumstances which defeated the attempt of Julian to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem, A. D. 363.

* Lib. xiv. c. 11. p. 46. Lib. xxii-xxv.

+ Lib. xxii. c. 12. p. 252.

The learned Warburton thus translates the passage relating to this attempt :-"The Em

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peror being desirous to eternise his reign by "the greatness of his atchievements, projected "to rebuild, at an immense expence, the proud "and magnificent temple of Jerusalem, which (after many combats, attended with much "bloodshed on both sides, during the siege, by Vespasian) was, with great difficulty, “taken and destroyed by Titus. He com "mitted the conduct of this affair to Alypius, "of Antioch, who formerly had been lieute"tenant in Britain*. When therefore this

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Alypius had set himself to the vigorous ex"ecution of his charge, in which he had all "the assistance that the governor of the pro"vince could afford him, horrible balls of fire "breaking out near the foundations with fre

quent reiterated attacks, rendered the place "from time to time inaccessible to the scorch"ed and blasted workmen, and the victorious "element being obstinately and resolutely "bent as it were, to drive the men to a distance, Alypius thought it best to give over "the enterprise."

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This account is confirmed by the writings

Julian Epist. 29, 30.

+ Warburton's Julian, p. 57.