64

Writings of the early Chriftians.

[CENT. 1. in the fingular. He is mentioned by Irenæus as the third bishop of Rome. The epiftle which is accounted genuine is written in a truly apoftolic fpirit, and with great fimplicity of style. Several fpurious compofitions were falfely attributed to Clemens. Among others, it was afferted that he affifted the twelve Apostles in compiling what are called the Apoftolic Conftitutions, and in fact acted as their amanuenfis. The Conftitutions however are, in the judgment of the acute and able Jortin, and in that of other learned men, a defpicable forgery.

The epiftle ascribed to Barnabas was probably written by an unknown author, who affumed the name of that apostle. Of the writings of Papias, the difciple of the Evangelift John, and the firft propagator of the doctrine of a Millennium, nothing remains but the fragments of an historical performance.

The Paftor of Hermas is generally allowed to be genuine, and it is also probable that it was the work of that Hermas who is fpoken of by St. Paul, though fome have afcribed it to a certain Hermas, or Hermes, brother to Pius bishop of Rome, who lived in the fucceeding century. The work is entirely allegorical, confifting of visions and fimilitudes. Like all works of this nature, it is extremely unequal as a compofition, and I con

*Iren. lib. iii. c. 3.

fefs

CENT. I.]

The virtuous Ignatius.

65

fefs but little fatisfactory to my judgment. It was however in high eftimation in the early ages, and is spoken of as Scripture both by Irenæus and Tertullian*.

One of the moft excellent and valuable characters in the latter part of this century was St. Ignatius, the second bishop of Antioch, who, as he is confidered as one of the apoftolic fathers, is claffed in this century, though in reality he did not fuffer martyrdom till 107. It is to the difgrace of the otherwife moderate and upright Trajan, that by his fentence this venerable man was condemned to be thrown to the wild beafts at Rome; a fentence which he received without difmay and even with fatisfaction. He has left behind him feveral epiftles to the different churches. It has been thought that the shorter epiftles bear ftronger marks of authenticity than the larger. They were written in his journey from Syria to the Roman capital, with a fpirit and force which never deserted him under the infolent treatment of the band appointed to conduct him, and in the profpect of thofe cruel fufferings which terminated his exift

ence.

* De Pud. 10.

+ See fome excellent critical remarks on the Epistles of Clement, Barnabas, and Ignatius, and the Paftor of Hermas, in Mr. Wakefield's "Inquiry into the Opinions of the Christian Writers, &c."

VOL. I.

F

In

66

Philo and Jofephus.

[CENT. 1. In our account of authors in this century it would be improper to omit noticing two, who however cannot ftrictly be claffed with the Chriftian writers. The firft was Philo, a Jew, who applied the philofophy of Plato to the illuftration of Scripture, and was in high repute with his country

men.

The other was of the fame nation, and, outwardly at leaft, of the fame religion, but ftill more illuftrious as an author. The reader will anticipate the name of Jofephus, whofe hiftory of the Jews is fo univerfally popular. Being taken prifoner by Vefpafian, he was treated with great kindness by that emperor, and feems to have returned the favour by a profufion of flattery. From fome flight but refpectful allufions to Chriftianity, however, which appear in his works, Mr. Whifton and other learned perfons have conjectured that he was in reality an Ebionite Chriftian, but cautiously concealed his religion both from the jealoufy of his own nation and that of the Romans *.

Foundations for fecuring a fucceffion of advocates for the truth, were very early established. Public fchools were erected for inftructing children in the Chriftian faith; and several feminaries, upon ftill more extenfive plans, were founded in

* See Mr. Whifton's very fatisfactory defence of the disputed paffage of Jofephus in which mention is made of Jefus Chrift.

feveral

CENT. I.]

Chriftian Seminaries.

67

feveral cities; in which thofe who were advanced in years, particularly thofe who were intended for the miniftry, were inftructed both in divine and human erudition. One was erected at Ephefus by St. John; another by Polycarp, at Smyrna; and a third, which far furpaffed the reft in reputation, at Alexandria, is fuppofed to have been founded. by St. Mark.

THE SECOND CENTURY.

CHAP. I.

GENERAL STATE OF THE CHURCH IN THIS CENTURY.

Caufes affigned for the rapid Progress of Chriftianity-Tranflation of the Scriptures into Latin-Trajan—PlatonismAlexandrian Chriftians-Origin of Monkery-Perfecutions-Adrian-Antoninus- Rebellion of the JewsMartyrs-Inquiry concerning the ceafing of miraculous

Powers.

TH

extent.

HE Chriftian religion, during the first century, had acquired confiderable ftability and In the fecond, its conquefts became ftill further expanded. Far from being confined to the poor, the illiterate, or the wretched, who fought in the belief of immortality a refuge from the miferies of life, its truths were received and acknowledged by the rich, the accomplished, and the learned. Paganifm lamented the defertion of her temples, the neglect of her victims,

Plin. Epift. x. 97.

† Ariftides.

Juftin Martyr. Clemens Alexandrinus.

and