^14
[Footnote11:AllthatrelatestotheJewishproselyteshasbeenveryablybyBasnage，Hist。desJuifs，l。vi。c。6，7。]
[Footnote12:SeeExod。xxiv。23，Deut。xvi。16，thecommentators，andaverysensiblenoteintheUniversalHistory，vol。i。p。603，edit。fol。]
[Footnote13:WhenPompey，usingorabusingtherightofconquest，enteredintotheHolyofHolies，itwasobservedwithamazement，\"NulliintusDeumeffigie，vacuamsedemetinaniaarcana。\"Tacit。Hist。v。9。Itwasapopularsaying，withregardtotheJews，\"Nilpraeternubesetcoelinumenadorant。\"]
[Footnote14:AsecondkindofcircumcisionwasinflictedonaSamaritanorEgyptianproselyte。ThesullenindifferenceoftheTalmudists，withrespecttotheconversionofstrangers，maybeseeninBasnageHistoiredesJuifs，l。xi。c。6。]
Underthesecircumstances，Christianityoffereditselftotheworld，armedwiththestrengthoftheMosaiclaw，anddeliveredfromtheweightofitsfetters。Anexclusivezealforthetruthofreligion，andtheunityofGod，wasascarefullyinculcatedinthenewasintheancientsystem:andwhateverwasnowrevealedtomankindconcerningthenatureanddesignsoftheSupremeBeing，wasfittedtoincreasetheirreverenceforthatmysteriousdoctrine。ThedivineauthorityofMosesandtheprophetswasadmitted，andevenestablished，asthefirmestbasisofChristianity。Fromthebeginningoftheworld，anuninterruptedseriesofpredictionshadannouncedandpreparedthelong—expectedcomingoftheMessiah，who，incompliancewiththegrossapprehensionsoftheJews，hadbeenmorefrequentlyrepresentedunderthecharacterofaKingandConqueror，thanunderthatofaProphet，aMartyr，andtheSonofGod。Byhisexpiatorysacrifice，theimperfectsacrificesofthetemplewereatonceconsummatedandabolished。Theceremoniallaw，whichconsistedonlyoftypesandfigures，wassucceededbyapureandspiritualworship，equallyadaptedtoallclimates，aswellastoeveryconditionofmankind；andtotheinitiationofbloodwassubstitutedamoreharmlessinitiationofwater。Thepromiseofdivinefavor，insteadofbeingpartiallyconfinedtotheposterityofAbraham，wasuniversallyproposedtothefreemanandtheslave，totheGreekandtothebarbarian，totheJewandtotheGentile。Everyprivilegethatcouldraisetheproselytefromearthtoheaven，thatcouldexalthisdevotion，securehishappiness，orevengratifythatsecretpridewhich，underthesemblanceofdevotion，insinuatesitselfintothehumanheart，wasstillreservedforthemembersoftheChristianchurch；butatthesametimeallmankindwaspermitted，andevensolicited，toacceptthegloriousdistinction，whichwasnotonlyprofferedasafavor，butimposedasanobligation。Itbecamethemostsacreddutyofanewconverttodiffuseamonghisfriendsandrelationstheinestimableblessingwhichhehadreceived，andtowarnthemagainstarefusalthatwouldbeseverelypunishedasacriminaldisobediencetothewillofabenevolentbutall—powerfulDeity。
ChapterXV:ProgressOfTheChristianReligion。
PartII。
Theenfranchisementofthechurchfromthebondsofthesynagoguewasawork，however，ofsometimeandofsomedifficulty。TheJewishconverts，whoacknowledgedJesusinthecharacteroftheMessiahforetoldbytheirancientoracles，respectedhimasapropheticteacherofvirtueandreligion；buttheyobstinatelyadheredtotheceremoniesoftheirancestors，andweredesirousofimposingthemontheGentiles，whocontinuallyaugmentedthenumberofbelievers。TheseJudaizingChristiansseemtohavearguedwithsomedegreeofplausibilityfromthedivineoriginoftheMosaiclaw，andfromtheimmutableperfectionsofitsgreatAuthor。Theyaffirmed，thatiftheBeing，whoisthesamethroughalleternity，haddesignedtoabolishthosesacredriteswhichhadservedtodistinguishhischosenpeople，therepealofthemwouldhavebeennolessclearandsolemnthantheirfirstpromulgation:that，insteadofthosefrequentdeclarations，whicheithersupposeorasserttheperpetuityoftheMosaicreligion，itwouldhavebeenrepresentedasaprovisionaryschemeintendedtolastonlytothecomingoftheMessiah，whoshouldinstructmankindinamoreperfectmodeoffaithandofworship:^15thattheMessiahhimself，andhisdiscipleswhoconversedwithhimonearth，insteadofauthorizingbytheirexamplethemostminuteobservancesoftheMosaiclaw，^16wouldhavepublishedtotheworldtheabolitionofthoseuselessandobsoleteceremonies，withoutsufferingChristianitytoremainduringsomanyyearsobscurelyconfoundedamongthesectsoftheJewishchurch。ArgumentsliketheseappeartohavebeenusedinthedefenceoftheexpiringcauseoftheMosaiclaw；
buttheindustryofourlearneddivineshasabundantlyexplainedtheambiguouslanguageoftheOldTestament，andtheambiguousconductoftheapostolicteachers。Itwaspropergraduallytounfoldthesystemofthegospel，andtopronounce，withtheutmostcautionandtenderness，asentenceofcondemnationsorepugnanttotheinclinationandprejudicesofthebelievingJews。
[Footnote15:TheseargumentswereurgedwithgreatingenuitybytheJewOrobio，andrefutedwithequalingenuityandcandorbytheChristianLimborch。SeetheAmicaCollatio，itwelldeservesthatname，oraccountofthedisputebetweenthem。]
[Footnote16:Jesus……circumcisuserat；cibisutebaturJudaicis；vestitusimili；purgatosscabiemittebatadsacerdotes；
Paschataetaliosdiesfestosreligioseobservabat:Siquossanavitsabbatho，ostenditnontantumexlege，sedetexceptissententiis，taliaoperasabbathononinterdicta。GrotiusdeVeritateReligionisChristianae，l。v。c。7。Alittleafterwards，c。12，heexpatiatesonthecondescensionoftheapostles。]
ThehistoryofthechurchofJerusalemaffordsalivelyproofofthenecessityofthoseprecautions，andofthedeepimpressionwhichtheJewishreligionhadmadeonthemindsofitssectaries。ThefirstfifteenbishopsofJerusalemwereallcircumcisedJews；andthecongregationoverwhichtheypresidedunitedthelawofMoseswiththedoctrineofChrist。^17ItwasnaturalthattheprimitivetraditionofachurchwhichwasfoundedonlyfortydaysafterthedeathofChrist，andwasgovernedalmostasmanyyearsundertheimmediateinspectionofhisapostle，shouldbereceivedasthestandardoforthodoxy。^18
ThedistantchurchesveryfrequentlyappealedtotheauthorityoftheirvenerableParent，andrelievedherdistressesbyaliberalcontributionofalms。Butwhennumerousandopulentsocietieswereestablishedinthegreatcitiesoftheempire，inAntioch，Alexandria，Ephesus，Corinth，andRome，thereverencewhichJerusalemhadinspiredtoalltheChristiancoloniesinsensiblydiminished。TheJewishconverts，or，astheywereafterwardscalled，theNazarenes，whohadlaidthefoundationsofthechurch，soonfoundthemselvesoverwhelmedbytheincreasingmultitudes，thatfromallthevariousreligionsofpolytheismenlistedunderthebannerofChrist:andtheGentiles，who，withtheapprobationoftheirpeculiarapostle，hadrejectedtheintolerableweightoftheMosaicceremonies，atlengthrefusedtotheirmorescrupulousbrethrenthesametolerationwhichatfirsttheyhadhumblysolicitedfortheirownpractice。Theruinofthetempleofthecity，andofthepublicreligionoftheJews，wasseverelyfeltbytheNazarenes；asintheirmanners，thoughnotintheirfaith，theymaintainedsointimateaconnectionwiththeirimpiouscountrymen，whosemisfortuneswereattributedbythePaganstothecontempt，andmorejustlyascribedbytheChristianstothewrath，oftheSupremeDeity。TheNazarenesretiredfromtheruinsofJerusalemtothelittletownofPellabeyondtheJordan，wherethatancientchurchlanguishedabovesixtyyearsinsolitudeandobscurity。^19TheystillenjoyedthecomfortofmakingfrequentanddevoutvisitstotheHolyCity，andthehopeofbeingonedayrestoredtothoseseatswhichbothnatureandreligiontaughtthemtoloveaswellastorevere。Butatlength，underthereignofHadrian，thedesperatefanaticismoftheJewsfilledupthemeasureoftheircalamities；
andtheRomans，exasperatedbytheirrepeatedrebellions，exercisedtherightsofvictorywithunusualrigor。Theemperorfounded，underthenameofAeliaCapitolina，anewcityonMountSion，^20towhichhegavetheprivilegesofacolony；anddenouncingtheseverestpenaltiesagainstanyoftheJewishpeoplewhoshoulddaretoapproachitsprecincts，hefixedavigilantgarrisonofaRomancohorttoenforcetheexecutionofhisorders。TheNazareneshadonlyonewaylefttoescapethecommonproscription，andtheforceoftruthwasonthisoccasionassistedbytheinfluenceoftemporaladvantages。TheyelectedMarcusfortheirbishop，aprelateoftheraceoftheGentiles，andmostprobablyanativeeitherofItalyorofsomeoftheLatinprovinces。Athispersuasion，themostconsiderablepartofthecongregationrenouncedtheMosaiclaw，inthepracticeofwhichtheyhadperseveredaboveacentury。Bythissacrificeoftheirhabitsandprejudices，theypurchasedafreeadmissionintothecolonyofHadrian，andmorefirmlycementedtheirunionwiththeCatholicchurch。^21
[Footnote17:PaeneomnesChristumDeumsublegisobservationecredebantSulpiciusSeverus，ii。31。SeeEusebius，Hist。
Ecclesiast。l。iv。c。5。]
[Footnote18:MosheimdeRebusChristianisanteConstantinumMagnum，page153。Inthismasterlyperformance，whichIshalloftenhaveoccasiontoquoteheentersmuchmorefullyintothestateoftheprimitivechurchthanhehasanopportunityofdoinginhisGeneralHistory。]
[Footnote*:Thisisincorrect:allthetraditionsconcurinplacingtheabandonmentofthecitybytheChristians，notonlybeforeitwasinruins，butbeforetheseigehadcommenced。
Euseb。loc。cit。，andLeClerc。—M。]
[Footnote19:Eusebius，l。iii。c。5。LeClerc，Hist。
Ecclesiast。p。605。Duringthisoccasionalabsence，thebishopandchurchofPellastillretainedthetitleofJerusalem。Inthesamemanner，theRomanpontiffsresidedseventyyearsatAvignon；andthepatriarchsofAlexandriahavelongsincetransferredtheirepiscopalseattoCairo。]
[Footnote20:DionCassius，l。lxix。TheexileoftheJewishnationfromJerusalemisattestedbyAristoofPella，apudEuseb。l。iv。c。6，andismentionedbyseveralecclesiasticalwriters；thoughsomeofthemtoohastilyextendthisinterdictiontothewholecountryofPalestine。]
[Footnote21:Eusebius，l。iv。c。6。SulpiciusSeverus，ii。31。
Bycomparingtheirunsatisfactoryaccounts，Mosheimp。327，&c。
hasdrawnoutaverydistinctrepresentationofthecircumstancesandmotivesofthisrevolution。]
WhenthenameandhonorsofthechurchofJerusalemhadbeenrestoredtoMountSion，thecrimesofheresyandschismwereimputedtotheobscureremnantoftheNazarenes，whichrefusedtoaccompanytheirLatinbishop。TheystillpreservedtheirformerhabitationofPella，spreadthemselvesintothevillagesadjacenttoDamascus，andformedaninconsiderablechurchinthecityofBeroea，or，asitisnowcalled，ofAleppo，inSyria。^22ThenameofNazareneswasdeemedtoohonorableforthoseChristianJews，andtheysoonreceived，fromthesupposedpovertyoftheirunderstanding，aswellasoftheircondition，thecontemptuousepithetofEbionites。^23InafewyearsafterthereturnofthechurchofJerusalem，itbecameamatterofdoubtandcontroversy，whetheramanwhosincerelyacknowledgedJesusastheMessiah，butwhostillcontinuedtoobservethelawofMoses，couldpossiblyhopeforsalvation。ThehumanetemperofJustinMartyrinclinedhimtoanswerthisquestionintheaffirmative；andthoughheexpressedhimselfwiththemostguardeddiffidence，heventuredtodetermineinfavorofsuchanimperfectChristian，ifhewerecontenttopractisetheMosaicceremonies，withoutpretendingtoasserttheirgeneraluseornecessity。ButwhenJustinwaspressedtodeclarethesentimentofthechurch，heconfessedthattherewereverymanyamongtheorthodoxChristians，whonotonlyexcludedtheirJudaizingbrethrenfromthehopeofsalvation，butwhodeclinedanyintercoursewiththeminthecommonofficesoffriendship，hospitality，andsociallife。^24Themorerigorousopinionprevailed，asitwasnaturaltoexpect，overthemilder；andaneternalbarofseparationwasfixedbetweenthedisciplesofMosesandthoseofChrist。TheunfortunateEbionites，rejectedfromonereligionasapostates，andfromtheotherasheretics，foundthemselvescompelledtoassumeamoredecidedcharacter；andalthoughsometracesofthatobsoletesectmaybediscoveredaslateasthefourthcentury，theyinsensiblymeltedaway，eitherintothechurchorthesynagogue。^25
[Footnote22:LeClercHist。Ecclesiast。p。477，535seemstohavecollectedfromEusebius，Jerome，Epiphanius，andotherwriters，alltheprincipalcircumstancesthatrelatetotheNazarenesorEbionites。Thenatureoftheiropinionssoondividedthemintoastricterandamildersect；andthereissomereasontoconjecture，thatthefamilyofJesusChristremainedmembers，atleast，ofthelatterandmoremoderateparty。]
[Footnote23:SomewritershavebeenpleasedtocreateanEbion，theimaginaryauthoroftheirsectandname。ButwecanmoresafelyrelyonthelearnedEusebiusthanonthevehementTertullian，orthecredulousEpiphanius。AccordingtoLeClerc，theHebrewwordEbjonimmaybetranslatedintoLatinbythatofPauperes。SeeHist。Ecclesiast。p。477。
Note:TheopinionofLeClercisgenerallyadmitted；butNeanderhassuggestedsomegoodreasonsforsupposingthatthistermonlyappliedtopovertyofcondition。Theobscurehistoryoftheirtenetsanddivisions，isclearlyandrationallytracedinhisHistoryoftheChurch，vol。i。partii。p。612，&c。，Germ。
edit。—M。]
[Footnote24:SeetheverycuriousDialogueofJustinMartyrwiththeJewTryphon。TheconferencebetweenthemwasheldatEphesus，inthereignofAntoninusPius，andabouttwentyyearsafterthereturnofthechurchofPellatoJerusalem。ForthisdateconsulttheaccuratenoteofTillemont，MemoiresEcclesiastiques，tom。ii。p。511。
Note:JustinMartyrmakesanimportantdistinction，whichGibbonhasneglectedtonotice。***ThereweresomewhowerenotcontentwithobservingtheMosaiclawthemselves，butenforcedthesameobservance，asnecessarytosalvation，upontheheathenconverts，andrefusedallsocialintercoursewiththemiftheydidnotconformtothelaw。JustinMartyrhimselffreelyadmitsthosewhokeptthelawthemselvestoChristiancommunion，thoughheacknowledgesthatsome，nottheChurch，thoughtotherwise；oftheotherparty，hehimselfthoughtlessfavorably。
TheformerbysomeareconsideredtheNazarenestheattertheEbionites—GandM。]
[Footnote25:OfallthesystemsofChristianity，thatofAbyssiniaistheonlyonewhichstilladherestotheMosaicrites。Geddes\'sChurchHistoryofAethiopia，andDissertationsdeLaGrandsurlaRelationduP。Lobo。TheeunuchofthequeenCandacemightsuggestsomesuspicious；butasweareassuredSocrates，i。19。Sozomen，ii。24。Ludolphus，p。281thattheAethiopianswerenotconvertedtillthefourthcentury，itismorereasonabletobelievethattheyrespectedthesabbath，anddistinguishedtheforbiddenmeats，inimitationoftheJews，who，inaveryearlyperiod，wereseatedonbothsidesoftheRedSea。
CircumcisionhadbeenpractisedbythemostancientAethiopians，frommotivesofhealthandcleanliness，whichseemtobeexplainedintheRecherchesPhilosophiquessurlesAmericains，tom。ii。p。117。]
WhiletheorthodoxchurchpreservedajustmediumbetweenexcessivevenerationandimpropercontemptforthelawofMoses，thevarioushereticsdeviatedintoequalbutoppositeextremesoferrorandextravagance。FromtheacknowledgedtruthoftheJewishreligion，theEbioniteshadconcludedthatitcouldneverbeabolished。Fromitssupposedimperfections，theGnosticsashastilyinferredthatitneverwasinstitutedbythewisdomoftheDeity。TherearesomeobjectionsagainsttheauthorityofMosesandtheprophets，whichtooreadilypresentthemselvestothescepticalmind；thoughtheycanonlybederivedfromourignoranceofremoteantiquity，andfromourincapacitytoformanadequatejudgmentofthedivineeconomy。TheseobjectionswereeagerlyembracedandaspetulantlyurgedbythevainscienceoftheGnostics。^26Asthosehereticswere，forthemostpart，aversetothepleasuresofsense，theymoroselyarraignedthepolygamyofthepatriarchs，thegallantriesofDavid，andtheseraglioofSolomon。TheconquestofthelandofCanaan，andtheextirpationoftheunsuspectingnatives，theywereatalosshowtoreconcilewiththecommonnotionsofhumanityandjustice。
Butwhentheyrecollectedthesanguinarylistofmurders，ofexecutions，andofmassacres，whichstainalmosteverypageoftheJewishannals，theyacknowledgedthatthebarbariansofPalestinehadexercisedasmuchcompassiontowardstheiridolatrousenemies，astheyhadevershowntotheirfriendsorcountrymen。^27Passingfromthesectariesofthelawtothelawitself，theyassertedthatitwasimpossiblethatareligionwhichconsistedonlyofbloodysacrificesandtriflingceremonies，andwhoserewardsaswellaspunishmentswereallofacarnalandtemporalnature，couldinspiretheloveofvirtue，orrestraintheimpetuosityofpassion。TheMosaicaccountofthecreationandfallofmanwastreatedwithprofanederisionbytheGnostics，whowouldnotlistenwithpatiencetothereposeoftheDeityaftersixdays\'labor，totheribofAdam，thegardenofEden，thetreesoflifeandofknowledge，thespeakingserpent，theforbiddenfruit，andthecondemnationpronouncedagainsthumankindforthevenialoffenceoftheirfirstprogenitors。^28TheGodofIsraelwasimpiouslyrepresentedbytheGnosticsasabeingliabletopassionandtoerror，capriciousinhisfavor，implacableinhisresentment，meanlyjealousofhissuperstitiousworship，andconfininghispartialprovidencetoasinglepeople，andtothistransitorylife。InsuchacharactertheycoulddiscovernoneofthefeaturesofthewiseandomnipotentFatheroftheuniverse。^29TheyallowedthatthereligionoftheJewswassomewhatlesscriminalthantheidolatryoftheGentiles；butitwastheirfundamentaldoctrine，thattheChristwhomtheyadoredasthefirstandbrightestemanationoftheDeityappeareduponearthtorescuemankindfromtheirvariouserrors，andtorevealanewsystemoftruthandperfection。Themostlearnedofthefathers，byaverysingularcondescension，haveimprudentlyadmittedthesophistryoftheGnostics。Acknowledgingthattheliteralsenseisrepugnanttoeveryprincipleoffaithaswellasreason，theydeemthemselvessecureandinvulnerablebehindtheampleveilofallegory，whichtheycarefullyspreadovereverytenderpartoftheMosaicdispensation。