and there seems reason likewise to believe, that Macrobius, writing long after the events described, blended the two accounts, erroneously supposing that Herod's son was killed in the massacre *. The relation, however, sufficiently shews, that the massacre of the children was a transaction well known in the time of Macrobius.

1

It has been considered as remarkable, that the slaughter of the innocents is not noticed by Josephus; but it should be remembered, that Herod died eighty years before Josephus wrote his history of the Jewish War, and one hundred years before he published the Antiquities; and that Nicholaus of Damascus, from whom Josephus sometimes derived his accounts, and from whom he might be expected to draw the knowledge of events of which he was not a witness,' was particularly attached to Herod, and wrote his history under the eyes of the king, with a view to whose favour he might have suppressed a transaction so dishonourable to him. The event recorded by Macrobius, seems to be alluded to in a Rabbinical work, called

66

Toldoth Jeshu," where it is said, " and the king gave orders for putting to death

* See Huet. Prop. ix. c. 15. p. 396. et Grot, in Matth. ii. 16.

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every infant to be found in Bethlehem, and "the king's messengers killed every infant "according to the royal order *."

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Cedrenus styles Herod

66 σε Παιδοκτονος,” slayer of children." The massacre is mentioned also by Justin Martyr† and Irenæus, who lived in the second, and by Origen §, who lived in the third century. Upon the whole it appears with respect to this cruel sovereign, and others of his name, that as Peter and John declared, "The kings of the earth stood up, and the "rulers were gathered together against the "Lord and against his Christ, for of a truth "against his holy child Jesus, whom he had "anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, "with the Gentiles and the people of Israel

were gathered together, for to do what66 soever his hand and his counsel determined "before to be done ."

Harper's First Defence of Christianity. + Dialog. par. ii. p. 307. Edit. Thirlb. Contra Hær. lib. iii. c. 16. § 4. al. c. 17.

§ Lib. i. p. 47.

Acts iv. 26-28.

CHAP. LXI.

Miscellaneous.

THERE are many other Latin writers, besides those whose works have been considered, who might have afforded materials for the enlargement of the present publication. Particulars, which corroborate the truth, or illustrate the records of sacred history, are discoverable in works of less prominent and distinguished character than those from which extracts have been produced; these, however, may be left to the investigation of those persons who may be disposed to carry on an enquiry; which, while it leads men to contemplate the ruins of superstition and fable, cannot fail to enable them to discover the proofs of an original foundation in truth. Literature and religion flourish together, and it will appear remarkable to persons who investigate the circumstances connected with such an examination, that of the productions

of antiquity, of which we have any account, those for the most part, have been the best preserved, which relate to periods most important, in a general view of the progress of religion, and which are the best calculated to throw light upon historical and prophetical books.

It deserves also to be considered, that the raising up of distinguished men, at periods in which their testimony was most valuable; and the appointment of circumstances which secured the preservation of evidence, and gave weight to its impression, exhibit what may be reasonably deemed unequivocal proofs of a providential regard to the interests of religion. Thus, for instance, the fragments of the earlier writers, who confirm the statements of the Old Testament, were industriously collected and published, by persons, who lived before or immediately after the promulgation of Christianity; while many of the writers, who attest the accomplishment of prophecy, were themselves either unacquainted with the existence, or denied the authority of our religion. It may be added, that though considerable interruptions and breaks in the chain of ancient history are to be regretted,

yet that a sufficient detail of connection is kept up to demonstrate the truth of almost every statement, on which the claims of Christianity seem to rest. The losses which we bewail, are chiefly those in which our taste and curiosity, rather than our essential interests, are concerned; and certain it is, that the memorials of human learning are every where inscribed with titles in Greek and in Latin, as well as in Hebrew, attesting the validity of our Saviour's pretensions, and the truth of that religion which brought life and immortality to light.

It is related by Elius Lampridius, that the Emperor Alexander Severus wished to erect a temple to Christ, and that Adrian had entertained the same intention, directing buildings to be raised in every city, without images, but had been prevented from executing his design, by those who upon consulting the sacred auspices, had collected, that if what the Emperor required were to take place, all would become Christians, and the heathen temples would be deserted *.

No structure, however, which imperial

See Ælius Lampridius de Alexan. Sever. inter Histori. August. Scriptor. vol. I. p. 994. Edit. Lugd. Batav. 671. Huet. Dem. Evang. § 23. p. 37.