SulpiciusSeverus，l。ii。WithregardtoAfrica，seeTertullianadScapulam，c。3。ItisimaginedthattheScyllitanmartyrswerethefirst，ActaSinceraRumart。p。34。OneoftheadversariesofApuleiusseemstohavebeenaChristian。Apolog。
p。496，497，edit。Delphin。]
[Footnote172:TumprimumintraGalliasmartyriavisa。Sulp。
Severus，l。ii。ThesewerethecelebratedmartyrsofLyons。SeeEusebius，v。i。Tillemont，Mem。Ecclesiast。tom。ii。p。316。
AccordingtotheDonatists，whoseassertionisconfirmedbythetacitacknowledgmentofAugustin，Africawasthelastoftheprovinceswhichreceivedthegospel。Tillemont，Mem。Ecclesiast。
tom。i。p。754。]
[Footnote173:Raraeinaliquibuscivitatibusecclesiae，paucorumChristianorumdevotione，resurgerent。ActaSincera，p。130。
GregoryofTours，li。c。28。Mosheim，p。207，449。Thereissomereasontobelievethatinthebeginningofthefourthcentury，theextensivediocesesofLiege，ofTreves，andofCologne，composedasinglebishopric，whichhadbeenveryrecentlyfounded。SeeMemoiresdeTillemont，tomvi。parti。p。
43，411。]
[Footnote174:ThedateofTertullian\'sApologyisfixed，inadissertationofMosheim，totheyear198。]
[Footnote175:Inthefifteenthcentury，therewerefewwhohadeitherinclinationorcouragetoquestion，whetherJosephofArimatheafoundedthemonasteryofGlastonbury，andwhetherDionysiustheAreopagitepreferredtheresidenceofParistothatofAthens。]
[Footnote176:Thestupendousmetamorphosiswasperformedintheninthcentury。SeeMariana，Hist。Hispan。l。vii。c。13，tom。
i。p。285，edit。Hag。Com。1733，who，ineverysense，imitatesLivy，andthehonestdetectionofthelegendofSt。JamesbyDr。
Geddes，Miscellanies，vol。ii。p。221。]
TheprogressofChristianitywasnotconfinedtotheRomanempire；andaccordingtotheprimitivefathers，whointerpretfactsbyprophecy，thenewreligion，withinacenturyafterthedeathofitsdivineAuthor，hadalreadyvisitedeverypartoftheglobe。\"Thereexistsnot，\"saysJustinMartyr，\"apeople，whetherGreekorBarbarian，oranyotherraceofmen，bywhatsoeverappellationormannerstheymaybedistinguished，howeverignorantofartsoragriculture，whethertheydwellundertents，orwanderaboutincoveredwagons，amongwhomprayersarenotofferedupinthenameofacrucifiedJesustotheFatherandCreatorofallthings。\"^177Butthissplendidexaggeration，whichevenatpresentitwouldbeextremelydifficulttoreconcilewiththerealstateofmankind，canbeconsideredonlyastherashsallyofadevoutbutcarelesswriter，themeasureofwhosebeliefwasregulatedbythatofhiswishes。Butneitherthebeliefnorthewishesofthefatherscanalterthetruthofhistory。Itwillstillremainanundoubtedfact，thatthebarbariansofScythiaandGermany，whoafterwardssubvertedtheRomanmonarchy，wereinvolvedinthedarknessofpaganism；andthateventheconversionofIberia，ofArmenia，orofAethiopia，wasnotattemptedwithanydegreeofsuccesstillthesceptrewasinthehandsofanorthodoxemperor。^178Beforethattime，thevariousaccidentsofwarandcommercemightindeeddiffuseanimperfectknowledgeofthegospelamongthetribesofCaledonia，^179andamongtheborderersoftheRhine，theDanube，andtheEuphrates。^180Beyondthelast—mentionedriver，Edessawasdistinguishedbyafirmandearlyadherencetothefaith。^181
FromEdessatheprinciplesofChristianitywereeasilyintroducedintotheGreekandSyriancitieswhichobeyedthesuccessorsofArtaxerxes；buttheydonotappeartohavemadeanydeepimpressiononthemindsofthePersians，whosereligioussystem，bythelaborsofawelldisciplinedorderofpriests，hadbeenconstructedwithmuchmoreartandsoliditythantheuncertainmythologyofGreeceandRome。^182
[Footnote177:JustinMartyr，Dialog。cumTryphon。p。341。
Irenaeusadv。Haeres。l。i。c。10。Tertullianadv。Jud。c。7。
SeeMosheim，p。203。]
[Footnote178:SeethefourthcenturyofMosheim\'sHistoryoftheChurch。Many，thoughveryconfusedcircumstances，thatrelatetotheconversionofIberiaandArmenia，maybefoundinMosesofChorene，l。ii。c。78—89。
Note:Mons。St。MartinhasshownthatArmeniawasthefirstnationthatembracedChristianity。Memoiressurl\'Armenie，vol。
i。p。306，andnotestoLeBeae。Gibbon，indeedhadexpressedhisintentionofwithdrawingthewords\"ofArmenia\"fromthetextoffutureeditions。Vindication，Works，iv。577。HewasbitterlytauntedbyPersonforneglectingordecliningtofulfilhispromise。PrefacetoLetterstoTravis。—M。]
[Footnote179:AccordingtoTertullian，theChristianfaithhadpenetratedintopartsofBritaininaccessibletotheRomanarms。
Aboutacenturyafterwards，Ossian，thesonofFingal，issaidtohavedisputed，inhisextremeoldage，withoneoftheforeignmissionaries，andthedisputeisstillextant，inverse，andintheErselanguage。SeeMr。Macpherson\'sDissertationontheAntiquityofOssian\'sPoems，p。10。]
[Footnote180:TheGoths，whoravagedAsiainthereignofGallienus，carriedawaygreatnumbersofcaptives；someofwhomwereChristians，andbecamemissionaries。SeeTillemont，MemoiresEcclesiast。tom。iv。p。44。]
[Footnote181:ThelegendsofAbgarus，fabulousasitis，affordsadecisiveproof，thatmanyyearsbeforeEusebiuswrotehishistory，thegreatestpartoftheinhabitantsofEdessahadembracedChristianity。Theirrivals，thecitizensofCarrhae，adhered，onthecontrary，tothecauseofPaganism，aslateasthesixthcentury。]
[Footnote182:AccordingtoBardesanesap。Euseb。Praepar。
Evangel。thereweresomeChristiansinPersiabeforetheendofthesecondcentury。InthetimeofConstantineseehisepistletoSapor，Vit。l。iv。c。13theycomposedaflourishingchurch。
ConsultBeausobre，Hist。CristiqueduManicheisme，tom。i。p。
180，andtheBibliothecaOrietalisofAssemani。]
ChapterXV:ProgressOfTheChristianReligion。
PartIX。
FromthisimpartialthoughimperfectsurveyoftheprogressofChristianity，itmayperhapsseemprobable，thatthenumberofitsproselyteshasbeenexcessivelymagnifiedbyfearontheoneside，andbydevotionontheother。AccordingtotheirreproachabletestimonyofOrigen，^183theproportionofthefaithfulwasveryinconsiderable，whencomparedwiththemultitudeofanunbelievingworld；but，asweareleftwithoutanydistinctinformation，itisimpossibletodetermine，anditisdifficulteventoconjecture，therealnumbersoftheprimitiveChristians。Themostfavorablecalculation，however，thatcanbededucedfromtheexamplesofAntiochandofRome，willnotpermitustoimaginethatmorethanathemselvesunderthebannerofthecrossbeforetheimportantconversionofConstantine。Buttheirhabitsoffaith，ofzeal，andofunion，seemedtomultiplytheirnumbers；andthesamecauseswhichcontributedtotheirfutureincrease，servedtorendertheiractualstrengthmoreapparentandmoreformidable。
[Footnote183:OrigencontraCelsum，l。viii。p。424。]
Suchistheconstitutionofcivilsociety，thatwhilstafewpersonsaredistinguishedbyriches，byhonors，andbyknowledge，thebodyofthepeopleiscondemnedtoobscurity，ignoranceandpoverty。TheChristianreligion，whichaddresseditselftothewholehumanrace，mustconsequentlycollectafargreaternumberofproselytesfromthelowerthanfromthesuperiorranksoflife。Thisinnocentandnaturalcircumstancehasbeenimprovedintoaveryodiousimputation，whichseemstobelessstrenuouslydeniedbytheapologists，thanitisurgedbytheadversaries，ofthefaith；thatthenewsectofChristianswasalmostentirelycomposedofthedregsofthepopulace，ofpeasantsandmechanics，ofboysandwomen，ofbeggarsandslaves，thelastofwhommightsometimesintroducethemissionariesintotherichandnoblefamiliestowhichtheybelonged。Theseobscureteacherssuchwasthechargeofmaliceandinfidelityareasmuteinpublicastheyareloquaciousanddogmaticalinprivate。Whilsttheycautiouslyavoidthedangerousencounterofphilosophers，theyminglewiththerudeandilliteratecrowd，andinsinuatethemselvesintothoseminds，whomtheirage，theirsex，ortheireducation，hasthebestdisposedtoreceivetheimpressionofsuperstitiousterrors。^184
[Footnote184:MinuciusFelix，c。8，withWowerus\'snotes。
Celsusap。Origen，l。iii。p。138，142。Julianap。Cyril。l。vi。
p。206，edit。Spanheim。]
Thisunfavorablepicture，thoughnotdevoidofafaintresemblance，betrays，byitsdarkcoloringanddistortedfeatures，thepencilofanenemy。AsthehumblefaithofChristdiffuseditselfthroughtheworld，itwasembracedbyseveralpersonswhoderivedsomeconsequencefromtheadvantagesofnatureorfortune。Aristides，whopresentedaneloquentapologytotheemperorHadrian，wasanAthenianphilosopher。^185JustinMartyrhadsoughtdivineknowledgeintheschoolsofZeno，ofAristotle，ofPythagoras，andofPlato，beforehefortunatelywasaccostedbytheoldman，orrathertheangel，whoturnedhisattentiontothestudyoftheJewishprophets。^186ClemensofAlexandriahadacquiredmuchvariousreadingintheGreek，andTertullianintheLatin，language。JuliusAfricanusandOrigenpossessedaveryconsiderableshareofthelearningoftheirtimes；andalthoughthestyleofCyprianisverydifferentfromthatofLactantius，wemightalmostdiscoverthatboththosewritershadbeenpublicteachersofrhetoric。EventhestudyofphilosophywasatlengthintroducedamongtheChristians，butitwasnotalwaysproductiveofthemostsalutaryeffects；knowledgewasasoftentheparentofheresyasofdevotion，andthedescriptionwhichwasdesignedforthefollowersofArtemon，may，withequalpropriety，beappliedtothevarioussectsthatresistedthesuccessorsoftheapostles。\"TheypresumetoaltertheHolyScriptures，toabandontheancientruleoffaith，andtoformtheiropinionsaccordingtothesubtilepreceptsoflogic。
Thescienceofthechurchisneglectedforthestudyofgeometry，andtheylosesightofheavenwhiletheyareemployedinmeasuringtheearth。Euclidisperpetuallyintheirhands。
AristotleandTheophrastusaretheobjectsoftheiradmiration；
andtheyexpressanuncommonreverencefortheworksofGalen。
Theirerrorsarederivedfromtheabuseoftheartsandsciencesoftheinfidels，andtheycorruptthesimplicityofthegospelbytherefinementsofhumanreason。\"^187
[Footnote185:Euseb。Hist。Eccles。iv。3。Hieronym。Epist。83。]
[Footnote186:ThestoryisprettilytoldinJustin\'sDialogues。
Tillemont，MemEcclesiast。tom。ii。p。384，whorelatesitafterhimissurethattheoldmanwasadisguisedangel。]
[Footnote187:Eusebius，v。28。Itmaybehoped，thatnone，excepttheheretics，gaveoccasiontothecomplaintofCelsus，ap。Origen，l。ii。p。77，thattheChristianswereperpetuallycorrectingandalteringtheirGospels。
Note:Origenstatesinreply，thatheknowsofnonewhohadalteredtheGospelsexcepttheMarcionites，theValentinians，andperhapssomefollowersofLucanus。—M。]
Norcanitbeaffirmedwithtruth，thattheadvantagesofbirthandfortunewerealwaysseparatedfromtheprofessionofChristianity。SeveralRomancitizenswerebroughtbeforethetribunalofPliny，andhesoondiscovered，thatagreatnumberofpersonsofeveryorderofmeninBithyniahaddesertedthereligionoftheirancestors。^188Hisunsuspectedtestimonymay，inthisinstance，obtainmorecreditthantheboldchallengeofTertullian，whenheaddresseshimselftothefearsaswellasthehumanityoftheproconsulofAfrica，byassuringhim，thatifhepersistsinhiscruelintentions，hemustdecimateCarthage，andthathewillfindamongtheguiltymanypersonsofhisownrank，senatorsandmatronsofnobles\'extraction，andthefriendsorrelationsofhismostintimatefriends。^189Itappears，however，thataboutfortyyearsafterwardstheemperorValerianwaspersuadedofthetruthofthisassertion，sinceinoneofhisrescriptsheevidentlysupposes，thatsenators，Romanknights，andladiesofquality，wereengagedintheChristiansect。^190
Thechurchstillcontinuedtoincreaseitsoutwardsplendorasitlostitsinternalpurity；and，inthereignofDiocletian，thepalace，thecourtsofjustice，andeventhearmy，concealedamultitudeofChristians，whoendeavoredtoreconciletheinterestsofthepresentwiththoseofafuturelife。
[Footnote188:Plin。Epist。x。97。Fueruntaliisimilisamentiae，civesRomani——Multienimomnisaetatis，omnisordinis，utriusquesexus，etiamvocunturinpericulumetvocabuntur。]
[Footnote189:TertullianadScapulum。YetevenhisrhetoricrisesnohigherthantoclaimatenthpartofCarthage。]
[Footnote190:Cyprian。Epist。70。]
Andyettheseexceptionsareeithertoofewinnumber，ortoorecentintime，entirelytoremovetheimputationofignoranceandobscuritywhichhasbeensoarrogantlycastonthefirstproselytesofChristianity。Insteadofemployinginourdefencethefictionsoflaterages，itwillbemoreprudenttoconverttheoccasionofscandalintoasubjectofedification。
Ourseriousthoughtswillsuggesttous，thattheapostlesthemselveswerechosenbyProvidenceamongthefishermenofGalilee，andthatthelowerwedepressthetemporalconditionofthefirstChristians，themorereasonweshallfindtoadmiretheirmeritandsuccess。Itisincumbentonusdiligentlytoremember，thatthekingdomofheavenwaspromisedtothepoorinspirit，andthatmindsafflictedbycalamityandthecontemptofmankind，cheerfullylistentothedivinepromiseoffuturehappiness；while，onthecontrary，thefortunatearesatisfiedwiththepossessionofthisworld；andthewiseabuseindoubtanddisputetheirvainsuperiorityofreasonandknowledge。
[Footnote*:ThisincompleteenumerationoughttobeincreasedbythenamesofseveralPagansconvertedatthedawnofChristianity，andwhoseconversionweakensthereproachwhichthehistorianappearstosupport。Suchare，theProconsulSergiusPaulus，convertedatPaphos，Actsxiii。7—12。Dionysius，memberoftheAreopagus，convertedwithseveralothers，alAthens，Actsxvii。34；severalpersonsatthecourtofNero，Philip。iv22；Erastus，receiveratCorinth，Rom。xvi。23；
someAsiarchs，Actsxix。31Astothephilosophers，wemayaddTatian，Athenagoras，TheophilusofAntioch，Hegesippus，Melito，Miltiades，Pantaenus，Ammenius，alldistinguishedfortheirgeniusandlearning。—G。]
Westandinneedofsuchreflectionstocomfortusforthelossofsomeillustriouscharacters，whichinoureyesmighthaveseemedthemostworthyoftheheavenlypresent。ThenamesofSeneca，oftheelderandtheyoungerPliny，ofTacitus，ofPlutarch，ofGalen，oftheslaveEpictetus，andoftheemperorMarcusAntoninus，adorntheageinwhichtheyflourished，andexaltthedignityofhumannature。Theyfilledwithglorytheirrespectivestations，eitherinactiveorcontemplativelife；
theirexcellentunderstandingswereimprovedbystudy；Philosophyhadpurifiedtheirmindsfromtheprejudicesofthepopularsuperstition；andtheirdayswerespentinthepursuitoftruthandthepracticeofvirtue。YetallthesesagesitisnolessanobjectofsurprisethanofconcernoverlookedorrejectedtheperfectionoftheChristiansystem。Theirlanguageortheirsilenceequallydiscovertheircontemptforthegrowingsect，whichintheirtimehaddiffuseditselfovertheRomanempire。
ThoseamongthemwhocondescendedtomentiontheChristians，considerthemonlyasobstinateandperverseenthusiasts，whoexactedanimplicitsubmissiontotheirmysteriousdoctrines，withoutbeingabletoproduceasingleargumentthatcouldengagetheattentionofmenofsenseandlearning。^191
[Footnote191:Dr。Lardner，inhisfirstandsecondvolumesofJewishandChristiantestimonies，collectsandillustratesthoseofPlinytheyounger，ofTacitus，ofGalen，ofMarcusAntoninus，andperhapsofEpictetus，foritisdoubtfulwhetherthatphilosophermeanstospeakoftheChristians。ThenewsectistotallyunnoticedbySeneca，theelderPliny，andPlutarch。]
ItisatleastdoubtfulwhetheranyofthesephilosophersperusedtheapologieswhichtheprimitiveChristiansrepeatedlypublishedinbehalfofthemselvesandoftheirreligion；butitismuchtobelamentedthatsuchacausewasnotdefendedbyableradvocates。TheyexposewithsuperfluouswithandeloquencetheextravaganceofPolytheism。Theyinterestourcompassionbydisplayingtheinnocenceandsufferingsoftheirinjuredbrethren。ButwhentheywoulddemonstratethedivineoriginofChristianity，theyinsistmuchmorestronglyonthepredictionswhichannounced，thanonthemiracleswhichaccompanied，theappearanceoftheMessiah。TheirfavoriteargumentmightservetoedifyaChristianortoconvertaJew，sinceboththeoneandtheotheracknowledgetheauthorityofthoseprophecies，andbothareobliged，withdevoutreverence，tosearchfortheirsenseandtheiraccomplishment。Butthismodeofpersuasionlosesmuchofitsweightandinfluence，whenitisaddressedtothosewhoneitherunderstandnorrespecttheMosaicdispensationandthepropheticstyle。^192IntheunskilfulhandsofJustinandofthesucceedingapologists，thesublimemeaningoftheHebreworaclesevaporatesindistanttypes，affectedconceits，andcoldallegories；andeventheirauthenticitywasrenderedsuspicioustoanunenlightenedGentile，bythemixtureofpiousforgeries，which，underthenamesofOrpheus，Hermes，andtheSibyls，^193wereobtrudedonhimasofequalvaluewiththegenuineinspirationsofHeaven。Theadoptionoffraudandsophistryinthedefenceofrevelationtoooftenremindsusoftheinjudiciousconductofthosepoetswholoadtheirinvulnerableheroeswithauselessweightofcumbersomeandbrittlearmor。