^30
[Footnote26:Beausobre，HistoireduManicheisme，l。i。c。3，hasstatedtheirobjections，particularlythoseofFaustus，theadversaryofAugustin，withthemostlearnedimpartiality。]
[Footnote*:Onthe\"warlaw\"oftheJews，seeHist。ofJews，i。
137。—M。]
[Footnote27:Apudipsosfidesobstinata，misericordiainpromptu:adversusamnesalioshostileodium。Tacit。Hist。v。4。
SurelyTacitushadseentheJewswithtoofavorableaneye。TheperusalofJosephusmusthavedestroyedtheantithesis。
Note:FewwritershavesuspectedTacitusofpartialitytowardstheJews。ThewholelaterhistoryoftheJewsillustratesaswelltheirstrongfeelingsofhumanitytotheirbrethren，astheirhostilitytotherestofmankind。ThecharacterandthepositionofJosephuswiththeRomanauthorities，mustbekeptinmindduringtheperusalofhisHistory。PerhapshehasnotexaggeratedtheferocityandfanaticismoftheJewsatthattime；
butinsurrectionarywarfareisnotthebestschoolforthehumanervirtues，andmuchmustbeallowedforthegrindingtyrannyofthelaterRomangovernors。SeeHist。ofJews，ii。254。
—M。]
[Footnote28:Dr。BurnetArchaeologia，l。ii。c。7hasdiscussedthefirstchaptersofGenesiswithtoomuchwitandfreedom。^!
Note:Dr。Burnetapologizedforthelevitywithwhichhehadconductedsomeofhisarguments，bytheexcusethathewroteinalearnedlanguageforscholarsalone，notforthevulgar。
WhatevermaybethoughtofhissuccessintracinganEasternallegoryinthefirstchaptersofGenesis，hisotherworksprovehimtohavebeenamanofgreatgenius，andofsincerepiety。—
M]
[Footnote29:ThemilderGnosticsconsideredJehovah，theCreator，asaBeingofamixednaturebetweenGodandtheDaemon。
Othersconfoundedhimwithanevilprinciple。ConsultthesecondcenturyofthegeneralhistoryofMosheim，whichgivesaverydistinct，thoughconcise，accountoftheirstrangeopinionsonthissubject。]
[Footnote*:TheGnostics，andthehistorianwhohasstatedtheseplausibleobjectionswithsomuchforceasalmosttomakethemhisown，wouldhaveshownamoreconsiderateandnotlessreasonablephilosophy，iftheyhadconsideredthereligionofMoseswithreferencetotheageinwhichitwaspromulgated；iftheyhaddonejusticetoitssublimeaswellasitsmoreimperfectviewsofthedivinenature；thehumaneandcivilizingprovisionsoftheHebrewlaw，aswellasthoseadaptedforaninfantandbarbarouspeople。SeeHistofJews，i。36，37，&c。—
M。]
[Footnote30:SeeBeausobre，Hist。duManicheisme，l。i。c。4。
OrigenandSt。Augustinwereamongtheallegorists。]
Ithasbeenremarkedwithmoreingenuitythantruth，thatthevirginpurityofthechurchwasneverviolatedbyschismorheresybeforethereignofTrajanorHadrian，aboutonehundredyearsafterthedeathofChrist。^31Wemayobservewithmuchmorepropriety，that，duringthatperiod，thedisciplesoftheMessiahwereindulgedinafreerlatitude，bothoffaithandpractice，thanhaseverbeenallowedinsucceedingages。Asthetermsofcommunionwereinsensiblynarrowed，andthespiritualauthorityoftheprevailingpartywasexercisedwithincreasingseverity，manyofitsmostrespectableadherents，whowerecalledupontorenounce，wereprovokedtoasserttheirprivateopinions，topursuetheconsequencesoftheirmistakenprinciples，andopenlytoerectthestandardofrebellionagainsttheunityofthechurch。TheGnosticsweredistinguishedasthemostpolite，themostlearned，andthemostwealthyoftheChristianname；andthatgeneralappellation，whichexpressedasuperiorityofknowledge，waseitherassumedbytheirownpride，orironicallybestowedbytheenvyoftheiradversaries。TheywerealmostwithoutexceptionoftheraceoftheGentiles，andtheirprincipalfoundersseemtohavebeennativesofSyriaorEgypt，wherethewarmthoftheclimatedisposesboththemindandthebodytoindolentandcontemplativedevotion。TheGnosticsblendedwiththefaithofChristmanysublimebutobscuretenets，whichtheyderivedfromorientalphilosophy，andevenfromthereligionofZoroaster，concerningtheeternityofmatter，theexistenceoftwoprinciples，andthemysterioushierarchyoftheinvisibleworld。^32Assoonastheylaunchedoutintothatvastabyss，theydeliveredthemselvestotheguidanceofadisorderedimagination；andasthepathsoferrorarevariousandinfinite，theGnosticswereimperceptiblydividedintomorethanfiftyparticularsects，^33ofwhomthemostcelebratedappeartohavebeentheBasilidians，theValentinians，theMarcionites，and，inastilllaterperiod，theManichaeans。Eachofthesesectscouldboastofitsbishopsandcongregations，ofitsdoctorsandmartyrs；^34and，insteadoftheFourGospelsadoptedbythechurch，^!thehereticsproducedamultitudeofhistories，inwhichtheactionsanddiscoursesofChristandofhisapostleswereadaptedtotheirrespectivetenets。^35ThesuccessoftheGnosticswasrapidandextensive。^36TheycoveredAsiaandEgypt，establishedthemselvesinRome，andsometimespenetratedintotheprovincesoftheWest。Forthemostparttheyaroseinthesecondcentury，flourishedduringthethird，andweresuppressedinthefourthorfifth，bytheprevalenceofmorefashionablecontroversies，andbythesuperiorascendantofthereigningpower。Thoughtheyconstantlydisturbedthepeace，andfrequentlydisgracedthename，ofreligion，theycontributedtoassistratherthantoretardtheprogressofChristianity。TheGentileconverts，whosestrongestobjectionsandprejudicesweredirectedagainstthelawofMoses，couldfindadmissionintomanyChristiansocieties，whichrequirednotfromtheiruntutoredmindanybeliefofanantecedentrevelation。Theirfaithwasinsensiblyfortifiedandenlarged，andthechurchwasultimatelybenefitedbytheconquestsofitsmostinveterateenemies。^37
[Footnote31:Hegesippus，ap。Euseb。l。iii。32，iv。22。
ClemensAlexandrinStromat。vii。17。
Note:TheassertionofHegesippusisnotsopositive:itissufficienttoreadthewholepassageinEusebius，toseethattheformerpartismodifiedbythematter。Hegesippusadds，thatuptothisperiodthechurchhadremainedpureandimmaculateasavirgin。Thosewholaboredtocorruptthedoctrinesofthegospelworkedasyetinobscurity—G]
[Footnote32:IntheaccountoftheGnosticsofthesecondandthirdcenturies，Mosheimisingeniousandcandid；LeClercdull，butexact；Beausobrealmostalwaysanapologist；anditismuchtobefearedthattheprimitivefathersareveryfrequentlycalumniators。
NoteTheHistoireduGnosticismeofM。Matterisatoncethefairestandmostcompleteaccountofthesesects。—M。]
[Footnote33:SeethecataloguesofIrenaeusandEpiphanius。Itmustindeedbeallowed，thatthosewriterswereinclinedtomultiplythenumberofsectswhichopposedtheunityofthechurch。]
[Footnote34:Eusebius，l。iv。c。15。Sozomen，l。ii。c。32。
SeeinBayle，inthearticleofMarcion，acuriousdetailofadisputeonthatsubject。ItshouldseemthatsomeoftheGnosticstheBasilidiansdeclined，andevenrefusedthehonorofMartyrdom。Theirreasonsweresingularandabstruse。SeeMosheim，p。539。]
[Footnote!:M。HahnhasrestoredtheMarcioniteGospelwithgreatingenuity。HisworkisreprintedinThilo。Codex。Apoc。
Nov。Test。vol。i。—M。]
[Footnote35:SeeaveryremarkablepassageofOrigen，Proem。adLucam。Thatindefatigablewriter，whohadconsumedhislifeinthestudyoftheScriptures，reliesfortheirauthenticityontheinspiredauthorityofthechurch。ItwasimpossiblethattheGnosticscouldreceiveourpresentGospels，manypartsofwhichparticularlyintheresurrectionofChristaredirectly，andasitmightseemdesignedly，pointedagainsttheirfavoritetenets。
ItisthereforesomewhatsingularthatIgnatiusEpist。adSmyrn。
Patr。Apostol。tom。ii。p。34shouldchoosetoemployavagueanddoubtfultradition，insteadofquotingthecertaintestimonyoftheevangelists。
Note:BishopPearsonhasattemptedveryhappilytoexplainthissingularity。\'ThefirstChristianswereacquaintedwithanumberofsayingsofJesusChrist，whicharenotrelatedinourGospels，andindeedhaveneverbeenwritten。WhymightnotSt。
Ignatius，whohadlivedwiththeapostlesortheirdisciples，repeatinotherwordsthatwhichSt。Lukehasrelated，particularlyatatimewhen，beinginprison，hecouldhavetheGospelsathand?Pearson，VindIgn。pp。2，9p。396intom。ii。
PatresApost。ed。Coteler—G。]
[Footnote36:Faciuntfavosetvespae；faciuntecclesiasetMarcionitae，isthestrongexpressionofTertullian，whichIamobligedtoquotefrommemory。InthetimeofEpiphaniusadvers。
Haereses，p。302theMarcioniteswereverynumerousinItaly，Syria，Egypt，Arabia，andPersia。]
[Footnote37:Augustinisamemorableinstanceofthisgradualprogressfromreasontofaith。Hewas，duringseveralyears，engagedintheManichaearsect。]
ButwhateverdifferenceofopinionmightsubsistbetweentheOrthodox，theEbionites，andtheGnostics，concerningthedivinityortheobligationoftheMosaiclaw，theywereallequallyanimatedbythesameexclusivezeal；andbythesameabhorrenceforidolatry，whichhaddistinguishedtheJewsfromtheothernationsoftheancientworld。Thephilosopher，whoconsideredthesystemofpolytheismasacompositionofhumanfraudanderror，coulddisguiseasmileofcontemptunderthemaskofdevotion，withoutapprehendingthateitherthemockery，orthecompliance，wouldexposehimtotheresentmentofanyinvisible，or，asheconceivedthem，imaginarypowers。ButtheestablishedreligionsofPaganismwereseenbytheprimitiveChristiansinamuchmoreodiousandformidablelight。Itwastheuniversalsentimentbothofthechurchandofheretics，thatthedaemonsweretheauthors，thepatrons，andtheobjectsofidolatry。^38Thoserebelliousspiritswhohadbeendegradedfromtherankofangels，andcastdownintotheinfernalpit，werestillpermittedtoroamuponearth，totormentthebodies，andtoseducetheminds，ofsinfulmen。Thedaemonssoondiscoveredandabusedthenaturalpropensityofthehumanhearttowardsdevotion，andartfullywithdrawingtheadorationofmankindfromtheirCreator，theyusurpedtheplaceandhonorsoftheSupremeDeity。Bythesuccessoftheirmaliciouscontrivances，theyatoncegratifiedtheirownvanityandrevenge，andobtainedtheonlycomfortofwhichtheywereyetsusceptible，thehopeofinvolvingthehumanspeciesintheparticipationoftheirguiltandmisery。Itwasconfessed，oratleastitwasimagined，thattheyhaddistributedamongthemselvesthemostimportantcharactersofpolytheism，onedaemonassumingthenameandattributesofJupiter，anotherofAesculapius，athirdofVenus，andafourthperhapsofApollo；^39andthat，bytheadvantageoftheirlongexperienceandaerialnature，theywereenabledtoexecute，withsufficientskillanddignity，thepartswhichtheyhadundertaken。Theylurkedinthetemples，institutedfestivalsandsacrifices，inventedfables，pronouncedoracles，andwerefrequentlyallowedtoperformmiracles。TheChristians，who，bytheinterpositionofevilspirits，couldsoreadilyexplaineverypreternaturalappearance，weredisposedandevendesiroustoadmitthemostextravagantfictionsofthePaganmythology。ButthebeliefoftheChristianwasaccompaniedwithhorror。Themosttriflingmarkofrespecttothenationalworshipheconsideredasadirecthomageyieldedtothedaemon，andasanactofrebellionagainstthemajestyofGod。
[Footnote38:TheunanimoussentimentoftheprimitivechurchisveryclearlyexplainedbyJustinMartyr，Apolog。Major，byAthenagoras，Legat。c。22。&c。，andbyLactantius，Institut。
Divin。ii。14—19。]
[Footnote39:TertullianApolog。c。23allegestheconfessionofthedaemonsthemselvesasoftenastheyweretormentedbytheChristianexorcists]
ChapterXV:ProgressOfTheChristianReligion。
PartIII。
Inconsequenceofthisopinion，itwasthefirstbutarduousdutyofaChristiantopreservehimselfpureandundefiledbythepracticeofidolatry。Thereligionofthenationswasnotmerelyaspeculativedoctrineprofessedintheschoolsorpreachedinthetemples。Theinnumerabledeitiesandritesofpolytheismwerecloselyinterwovenwitheverycircumstanceofbusinessorpleasure，ofpublicorofprivatelife；anditseemedimpossibletoescapetheobservanceofthem，without，atthesametime，renouncingthecommerceofmankind，andalltheofficesandamusementsofsociety。^40Theimportanttransactionsofpeaceandwarwerepreparedorconcludedbysolemnsacrifices，inwhichthemagistrate，thesenator，andthesoldier，wereobligedtopresideortoparticipate。^41ThepublicspectacleswereanessentialpartofthecheerfuldevotionofthePagans，andthegodsweresupposedtoaccept，asthemostgratefuloffering，thegamesthattheprinceandpeoplecelebratedinhonoroftheirpeculiarfestivals。^42TheChristians，whowithpioushorroravoidedtheabominationofthecircusorthetheatre，foundhimselfencompassedwithinfernalsnaresineveryconvivialentertainment，asoftenashisfriends，invokingthehospitabledeities，pouredoutlibationstoeachother\'shappiness。^43Whenthebride，strugglingwithwell—affectedreluctance，wasforcedintohymenaealpompoverthethresholdofhernewhabitation，^44
orwhenthesadprocessionofthedeadslowlymovedtowardsthefuneralpile；^45theChristian，ontheseinterestingoccasions，wascompelledtodesertthepersonswhowerethedearesttohim，ratherthancontracttheguiltinherenttothoseimpiousceremonies。Everyartandeverytradethatwasintheleastconcernedintheframingoradorningofidolswaspollutedbythestainofidolatry；^46aseveresentence，sinceitdevotedtoeternalmiserythefargreaterpartofthecommunity，whichisemployedintheexerciseofliberalormechanicprofessions。Ifwecastoureyesoverthenumerousremainsofantiquity，weshallperceive，thatbesidestheimmediaterepresentationsofthegods，andtheholyinstrumentsoftheirworship，theelegantformsandagreeablefictionsconsecratedbytheimaginationoftheGreeks，wereintroducedastherichestornamentsofthehouses，thedress，andthefurnitureofthePagan。^47Eventheartsofmusicandpainting，ofeloquenceandpoetry，flowedfromthesameimpureorigin。Inthestyleofthefathers，ApolloandtheMusesweretheorgansoftheinfernalspirit；HomerandVirgilwerethemosteminentofhisservants；andthebeautifulmythologywhichpervadesandanimatesthecompositionsoftheirgenius，isdestinedtocelebratethegloryofthedaemons。EventhecommonlanguageofGreeceandRomeaboundedwithfamiliarbutimpiousexpressions，whichtheimprudentChristianmighttoocarelesslyutter，ortoopatientlyhear。^48
[Footnote40:Tertullianhaswrittenamostseveretreatiseagainstidolatry，tocautionhisbrethrenagainstthehourlydangerofincurringthatguilt。Recogitasylvam，etquantaelatitantspinae。DeCoronaMilitis，c。10。]
[Footnote41:TheRomansenatewasalwaysheldinatempleorconsecratedplace。AulusGellius，xiv。7。Beforetheyenteredonbusiness，everysenatordroppedsomewineandfrankincenseonthealtar。Sueton。inAugust。c。35。]
[Footnote42:SeeTertullian，DeSpectaculis。ThisseverereformershowsnomoreindulgencetoatragedyofEuripides，thantoacombatofgladiators。Thedressoftheactorsparticularlyoffendshim。Bytheuseoftheloftybuskin，theyimpiouslystrivetoaddacubittotheirstature。c。23。]
[Footnote43:Theancientpracticeofconcludingtheentertainmentwithlibations，maybefoundineveryclassic。
SocratesandSeneca，intheirlastmoments，madeanobleapplicationofthiscustom。Postquamstagnum，calidaeaquaeintroiit，respergensproximosservorum，additavoce，libareseliquoremillumJoviLiberatori。Tacit。Annal。xv。64。]
[Footnote44:SeetheelegantbutidolatroushymnofCatullus，onthenuptialsofManliusandJulia。OHymen，HymenaeeIo!QuishuicDeocompararierausit?]
[Footnote45:TheancientfuneralsinthoseofMisenusandPallasarenolessaccuratelydescribedbyVirgil，thantheyareillustratedbyhiscommentatorServius。Thepileitselfwasanaltar，theflameswerefedwiththebloodofvictims，andalltheassistantsweresprinkledwithlustralwater。]
[Footnote46:TertulliandeIdololatria，c。11。
Note:TheexaggeratedanddeclamatoryopinionsofTertullianoughtnottobetakenasthegeneralsentimentoftheearlyChristians。GibbonhastoooftenallowedhimselftoconsiderthepeculiarnotionsofcertainFathersoftheChurchasinherentinChristianity。Thisisnotaccurate。—G。]
[Footnote47:SeeeverypartofMontfaucon\'sAntiquities。EventhereversesoftheGreekandRomancoinswerefrequentlyofanidolatrousnature。HereindeedthescruplesoftheChristianweresuspendedbyastrongerpassion。
Note:AllthisscrupulousnicetyisatvariancewiththedecisionofSt。Paulaboutmeatofferedtoidols，1Cor。x。21—
32。—M。]
[Footnote48:TertulliandeIdololatria，c。20，21，22。IfaPaganfriendontheoccasionperhapsofsneezingusedthefamiliarexpressionof\"Jupiterblessyou，\"theChristianwasobligedtoprotestagainstthedivinityofJupiter。]