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CHAP. IV.

OF LEARNING AND LEARNED MEN.

Acceffion of learned Perfons to the Church-Justin MartyrPolycarp-Irenæus-Clement of Alexandria-HegefippusAquila-Theodotion-Symmachus-Dionyfius-Theophilus -Tertullian.-Pagan Writers-Plutarch, Epietus, Antoninus, Lucian.

ORE confiderable with respect to fituation,

MOR

to numbers, to rank and influence, than their predeceffors, the Chriftians of the fecond century acquired an important ftation in the republic of letters, and diffufed or defended the truths of Chriflianity in compofitions, which, if not eminently correct, were rhetorical, and, if not peculiarly elegant, were learned, forcible, and manly.

Succeeding ages have beheld with veneration the spirit, integrity, and inartificial eloquence of Juftin Martyr. This eminent perfon was born at Sichem, in Palestine; and after wandering in purfuit of truth through every known philofophical fyftem, he at length embraced Christianity, and, without laying afide his philofopher's habit, taught the doctrines of the Gospel at Rome. His faith, as we have already feen, endured the fevere teft

of

CENT. 2.]

Polycarp, Ireneus, &c.

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of perfecution, and he received the crown of martyrdom at Rome.

Of the venerable and excellent Polycarp we have alfo already fpoken. There is an epiftle of his to the Philippians inferted among those of the Apoftolic Fathers. Its objects are to enforce the moral duties, and to controvert the opinions of the Gnoftics. It is generally allowed to be genuine.

Irenæus, the difciple of the illuftrious Polycarp, fuffered martyrdom about the year 202. This pious and diligent prelate compofed feveral works, of which, however, few remain. Some of the performances of Clement of Alexandria have reached pofterity, from which we are juftified in believing that his erudition was very extenfive, though he is frequently obfcure. Hegefippus is placed by Eufebius in the time of Adrian. He was a Jewish convert, and wrote a continuation of the Acts of the Apostles.

The Old Teftament was tranflated from the Hebrew into Greek during this century, by Aquila, a Jewish profelyte, by Theodotion, and by Symmachus, a native of Palestine, from whom the Nazarenes were frequently called Symmachians.

Dionyfius, bishop of Corinth, wrote feveral epiftles to the different Chriftian churches; but they are no longer extant. The fame fate attended the voluminous works of Melito, bifhop

of

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Tertullian, Plutarch, &c.

[CENT. 2. of Sardis. Three books against paganism, written by Theophilus the feventh bifhop of Antioch, and which appear to have been intended as an introduction to a larger work, were more fortunate. Apolinaris, bishop of Hierapolis, alfo wrote in defence of the Chriftian religion. But a ftill more able defender was Athenagoras, an Athenian philofopher, whofe Prefbia (or miffion) in favour of Christianity, addreffed to Marcus Antoninus, is ftill read and admired.

The most voluminous Chriftian author of this period was Tertullian, who lived in the latter end of the second and the beginning of the third century. He was by birth a Carthaginian, and poffeffed all the conftitutional fervour natural to the fons of the warm climate of Africa. Difgufted with fome affronts he had met with from the ecclefiaftics at Rome, and incited by his own vehement and rigid difpofition, he embraced the opinions of Montanus, and attacked his adverfaries with rather more warmth of temper than strength of argument. He was however learned, acute, and ingenious; but fevere, enthufiaftical, and rather credulous.

Among the Pagan writers of this century were Plutarch, Epictetus, Marcus Antoninus, and Lucian; the latter of whom, if he did not favour Chriftianity, was at least a fceptic with refpect to the popular religion of his country. In this age the Sibylline verfes were probably forged.

THE

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THE THIRD CENTURY.

CHAP. L

GENERAL STATE OF THE CHURCH IN THIS
CENTURY.

Rapid Succeffion of the Roman Emperors-State of Chriftianity under Severus-Perfecution-Alexander Severus➡ Maximin-Philip, and Decius-Decian PerfecutionGallus and Gallienus-Valerian-Perfecution-Virtues of Chriftians.

A

MONG feveral caufes favourable to the diffusion of Christianity, we are, perhaps, not a little indebted to the quick fucceffion of the Roman emperors. The events attending their lives, their deaths, and the artifices of their fucceffors, to obtain the imperial purple, naturally engaged much of the public attention, and fufpended the execution of thofe fanguinary edicts intended for the deftruction of the Chriftians. Several among the mafters of the Roman world were also entirely unconnected with their predeceffors, unbiaffed by their prejudices, and averse. to their purfuits. In a race of princes, many of whom were accomplished, benevolent, candid,

there

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Perfecutions under Severus.

[CENT. 3. there could fcarcely fail to be fome who would refpect the abilities and virtue even of the men whofe "religious opinions they did not approve.

A confiderable part of the reign of Severus proved fo far favourable to the Chriftians, that no additions were made to the fevere edicts already in force against them. For this lenity they were probably indebted to Proculus, a Christian, who, in a very extraordinary manner, cured the emperor of a dangerous diflemper by the application of oil. But this degree of peace, precarious as it was, and frequently interrupted by the partial exe cution of fevere laws, was terminated by an edict which prohibited every fubject of the empire, under fevere penalties, from embracing the Jewish or Christian faith. This law appears, upon a firft view, defigned merely to impede the further progress of Christianity; but it incited the magiflracy to enforce the laws of former emperors, which were ftill existing against the Chriftians, and during feven years they were expofed to a rigorous perfecution. in Palestine, Egypt, the reft of Africa, Italy, Gaul, and other parts. In this perfecution Leonides the father of Origen, and Irenæus bishop of Lyons, fuffered martyrdom. On this occafion Tertullian compofed his Apology.

The violence of Pagan intolerance was moft feverely felt in Egypt, and particularly at Alexandria; and among many inflances of fuff virtue in that city, Eufebius relates