PartII。
History，whichundertakestorecordthetransactionsofthepast，fortheinstructionoffutureages，wouldilldeservethathonorableoffice，ifshecondescendedtopleadthecauseoftyrants，ortojustifythemaximsofpersecution。Itmust，however，beacknowledged，thattheconductoftheemperorswhoappearedtheleastfavorabletotheprimitivechurch，isbynomeanssocriminalasthatofmodernsovereigns，whohaveemployedthearmofviolenceandterroragainstthereligiousopinionsofanypartoftheirsubjects。Fromtheirreflections，orevenfromtheirownfeelings，aCharlesV。oraLewisXIV。mighthaveacquiredajustknowledgeoftherightsofconscience，oftheobligationoffaith，andoftheinnocenceoferror。ButtheprincesandmagistratesofancientRomewerestrangerstothoseprincipleswhichinspiredandauthorizedtheinflexibleobstinacyoftheChristiansinthecauseoftruth，norcouldtheythemselvesdiscoverintheirownbreastsanymotivewhichwouldhavepromptedthemtorefusealegal，andasitwereanatural，submissiontothesacredinstitutionsoftheircountry。Thesamereasonwhichcontributestoalleviatetheguilt，musthavetendedtoabatethevigor，oftheirpersecutions。Astheywereactuated，notbythefuriouszealofbigots，butbythetemperatepolicyoflegislators，contemptmustoftenhaverelaxed，andhumanitymustfrequentlyhavesuspended，theexecutionofthoselawswhichtheyenactedagainstthehumbleandobscurefollowersofChrist。Fromthegeneralviewoftheircharacterandmotiveswemightnaturallyconclude:I。Thataconsiderabletimeelapsedbeforetheyconsideredthenewsectariesasanobjectdeservingoftheattentionofgovernment。II。Thatintheconvictionofanyoftheirsubjectswhowereaccusedofsoverysingularacrime，theyproceededwithcautionandreluctance。III。Thattheyweremoderateintheuseofpunishments；and，IV。Thattheafflictedchurchenjoyedmanyintervalsofpeaceandtranquility。
NotwithstandingthecarelessindifferencewhichthemostcopiousandthemostminuteofthePaganwritershaveshowntotheaffairsoftheChristians，^24itmaystillbeinourpowertoconfirmeachoftheseprobablesuppositions，bytheevidenceofauthenticfacts。
[Footnote24:InthevariouscompilationoftheAugustanHistory，apartofwhichwascomposedunderthereignofConstantine，
therearenotsixlineswhichrelatetotheChristians；norhasthediligenceofXiphilindiscoveredtheirnameinthelargehistoryofDionCassius。
Note:ThegreaterpartoftheAugustanHistoryisdedicatedtoDiocletian。ThismayaccountforthesilenceofitsauthorsconcerningChristianity。ThenoticesthatoccurarealmostallinthelivescomposedunderthereignofConstantine。Itmayfairlybeconcluded，fromthelanguagewhichhehadintothemouthofMaecenas，thatDionwasanenemytoallinnovationsinreligion。SeeGibbon，infra，note105。Infact，whenthesilenceofPaganhistoriansisnoticed，itshouldberememberedhowmeagreandmutilatedarealltheextanthistoriesoftheperiod—M。]
1。BythewisedispensationofProvidence，amysteriousveilwascastovertheinfancyofthechurch，which，tillthefaithoftheChristianswasmatured，andtheirnumbersweremultiplied，servedtoprotectthemnotonlyfromthemalicebutevenfromtheknowledgeofthePaganworld。TheslowandgradualabolitionoftheMosaicceremoniesaffordedasafeandinnocentdisguisetothemoreearlyproselytesofthegospel。Astheywere，forthegreaterpart，oftheraceofAbraham，theyweredistinguishedbythepeculiarmarkofcircumcision，offereduptheirdevotionsintheTempleofJerusalemtillitsfinaldestruction，andreceivedboththeLawandtheProphetsasthegenuineinspirationsoftheDeity。TheGentileconverts，whobyaspiritualadoptionhadbeenassociatedtothehopeofIsrael，werelikewiseconfoundedunderthegarbandappearanceofJews，^25andasthePolytheistspaidlessregardtoarticlesoffaiththantotheexternalworship，thenewsect，whichcarefullyconcealed，orfaintlyannounced，itsfuturegreatnessandambition，waspermittedtoshelteritselfunderthegeneraltolerationwhichwasgrantedtoanancientandcelebratedpeopleintheRomanempire。Itwasnotlong，perhaps，beforetheJewsthemselves，animatedwithafiercerzealandamorejealousfaith，perceivedthegradualseparationoftheirNazarenebrethrenfromthedoctrineofthesynagogue；andtheywouldgladlyhaveextinguishedthedangerousheresyinthebloodofitsadherents。ButthedecreesofHeavenhadalreadydisarmedtheirmalice；andthoughtheymightsometimesexertthelicentiousprivilegeofsedition，theynolongerpossessedtheadministrationofcriminaljustice；nordidtheyfinditeasytoinfuseintothecalmbreastofaRomanmagistratetherancoroftheirownzealandprejudice。Theprovincialgovernorsdeclaredthemselvesreadytolistentoanyaccusationthatmightaffectthepublicsafety；butassoonastheywereinformedthatitwasaquestionnotoffactsbutofwords，adisputerelatingonlytotheinterpretationoftheJewishlawsandprophecies，theydeemeditunworthyofthemajestyofRomeseriouslytodiscusstheobscuredifferenceswhichmightariseamongabarbarousandsuperstitiouspeople。
TheinnocenceofthefirstChristianswasprotectedbyignoranceandcontempt；andthetribunalofthePaganmagistrateoftenprovedtheirmostassuredrefugeagainstthefuryofthesynagogue。^26Ifindeedweweredisposedtoadoptthetraditionsofatoocredulousantiquity，wemightrelatethedistantperegrinations，thewonderfulachievements，andthevariousdeathsofthetwelveapostles:butamoreaccurateinquirywillinduceustodoubt，whetheranyofthosepersonswhohadbeenwitnessestothemiraclesofChristwerepermitted，beyondthelimitsofPalestine，tosealwiththeirbloodthetruthoftheirtestimony。^27Fromtheordinarytermofhumanlife，itmayverynaturallybepresumedthatmostofthemweredeceasedbeforethediscontentoftheJewsbrokeoutintothatfuriouswar，whichwasterminatedonlybytheruinofJerusalem。Duringalongperiod，fromthedeathofChristtothatmemorablerebellion，wecannotdiscoveranytracesofRomanintolerance，unlesstheyaretobefoundinthesudden，thetransient，butthecruelpersecution，whichwasexercisedbyNeroagainsttheChristiansofthecapital，thirty—fiveyearsaftertheformer，andonlytwoyearsbeforethelatter，ofthosegreatevents。Thecharacterofthephilosophichistorian，towhomweareprincipallyindebtedfortheknowledgeofthissingulartransaction，wouldalonebesufficienttorecommendittoourmostattentiveconsideration。
[Footnote25:AnobscurepassageofSuetoniusinClaud。c。25
mayseemtoofferaproofhowstrangelytheJewsandChristiansofRomewereconfoundedwitheachother。]
[Footnote26:See，inthexviiithandxxvthchaptersoftheActsoftheApostles，thebehaviorofGallio，proconsulofAchaia，andofFestus，procuratorofJudea。]
[Footnote27:InthetimeofTertullianandClemensofAlexandria，thegloryofmartyrdomwasconfinedtoSt。Peter，St。
Paul，andSt。James。Itwasgraduallybestowedontherestoftheapostles，bythemorerecentGreeks，whoprudentlyselectedforthetheatreoftheirpreachingandsufferingssomeremotecountrybeyondthelimitsoftheRomanempire。SeeMosheim，p。
81；andTillemont，MemoiresEcclesiastiques，tom。i。partiii。]
InthetenthyearofthereignofNero，thecapitaloftheempirewasafflictedbyafirewhichragedbeyondthememoryorexampleofformerages。^28ThemonumentsofGrecianartandofRomanvirtue，thetrophiesofthePunicandGallicwars，themostholytemples，andthemostsplendidpalaces，wereinvolvedinonecommondestruction。OfthefourteenregionsorquartersintowhichRomewasdivided，fouronlysubsistedentire，threewerelevelledwiththeground，andtheremainingseven，whichhadexperiencedthefuryoftheflames，displayedamelancholyprospectofruinanddesolation。Thevigilanceofgovernmentappearsnottohaveneglectedanyoftheprecautionswhichmightalleviatethesenseofsodreadfulacalamity。TheImperialgardenswerethrownopentothedistressedmultitude，temporarybuildingswereerectedfortheiraccommodation，andaplentifulsupplyofcornandprovisionswasdistributedataverymoderateprice。^29Themostgenerouspolicyseemedtohavedictatedtheedictswhichregulatedthedispositionofthestreetsandtheconstructionofprivatehouses；andasitusuallyhappens，inanageofprosperity，theconflagrationofRome，inthecourseofafewyears，producedanewcity，moreregularandmorebeautifulthantheformer。ButalltheprudenceandhumanityaffectedbyNeroonthisoccasionwereinsufficienttopreservehimfromthepopularsuspicion。Everycrimemightbeimputedtotheassassinofhiswifeandmother；norcouldtheprincewhoprostitutedhispersonanddignityonthetheatrebedeemedincapableofthemostextravagantfolly。Thevoiceofrumoraccusedtheemperorastheincendiaryofhisowncapital；andasthemostincrediblestoriesarethebestadaptedtothegeniusofanenragedpeople，itwasgravelyreported，andfirmlybelieved，thatNero，enjoyingthecalamitywhichhehadoccasioned，amusedhimselfwithsingingtohislyrethedestructionofancientTroy。^30Todivertasuspicion，whichthepowerofdespotismwasunabletosuppress，theemperorresolvedtosubstituteinhisownplacesomefictitiouscriminals。\"Withthisview，\"continuesTacitus，\"heinflictedthemostexquisitetorturesonthosemen，who，underthevulgarappellationofChristians，werealreadybrandedwithdeservedinfamy。TheyderivedtheirnameandoriginfromChrist，whointhereignofTiberiushadsuffereddeathbythesentenceoftheprocuratorPontiusPilate。^31Forawhilethisdiresuperstitionwaschecked；butitagainburstforth；andnotonlyspreaditselfoverJudaea，thefirstseatofthismischievoussect，butwasevenintroducedintoRome，thecommonasylumwhichreceivesandprotectswhateverisimpure，whateverisatrocious。Theconfessionsofthosewhowereseizeddiscoveredagreatmultitudeoftheiraccomplices，andtheywereallconvicted，notsomuchforthecrimeofsettingfiretothecity，asfortheirhatredofhumankind。^32Theydiedintorments，andtheirtormentswereimbitteredbyinsultandderision。Somewerenailedoncrosses；otherssewnupintheskinsofwildbeasts，andexposedtothefuryofdogs；othersagain，smearedoverwithcombustiblematerials，wereusedastorchestoilluminatethedarknessofthenight。ThegardensofNeroweredestinedforthemelancholyspectacle，whichwasaccompaniedwithahorse—raceandhonoredwiththepresenceoftheemperor，whomingledwiththepopulaceinthedressandattitudeofacharioteer。TheguiltoftheChristiansdeservedindeedthemostexemplarypunishment，butthepublicabhorrencewaschangedintocommiseration，fromtheopinionthatthoseunhappywretchesweresacrificed，notsomuchtothepublicwelfare，astothecrueltyofajealoustyrant。\"^33Thosewhosurveywithacuriouseyetherevolutionsofmankind，mayobserve，thatthegardensandcircusofNeroontheVatican，whichwerepollutedwiththebloodofthefirstChristians，havebeenrenderedstillmorefamousbythetriumphandbytheabuseofthepersecutedreligion。Onthesamespot，^34atemple，whichfarsurpassestheancientgloriesoftheCapitol，hasbeensinceerectedbytheChristianPontiffs，who，derivingtheirclaimofuniversaldominionfromanhumblefishermanofGalilee，havesucceededtothethroneoftheCaesars，givenlawstothebarbarianconquerorsofRome，andextendedtheirspiritualjurisdictionfromthecoastoftheBaltictotheshoresofthePacificOcean。
[Footnote28:Tacit。Annal。xv。38—44。SuetoninNeron。c。38。
DionCassius，l。lxii。p。1014。Orosius，vii。7。]
[Footnote29:Thepriceofwheatprobablyofthemodius，wasreducedaslowasterniNummi；whichwouldbeequivalenttoaboutfifteenshillingstheEnglishquarter。]
[Footnote30:Wemayobserve，thattherumorismentionedbyTacituswithaverybecomingdistrustandhesitation，whilstitisgreedilytranscribedbySuetonius，andsolemnlyconfirmedbyDion。]
[Footnote31:ThistestimonyisalonesufficienttoexposetheanachronismoftheJews，whoplacethebirthofChristnearacenturysooner。Basnage，HistoiredesJuifs，l。v。c。14，15。
WemaylearnfromJosephus，Antiquitat。xviii。3，thattheprocuratorshipofPilatecorrespondedwiththelasttenyearsofTiberius，A。D。27—37。AstotheparticulartimeofthedeathofChrist，averyearlytraditionfixedittothe25thofMarch，A。D。29，undertheconsulshipofthetwoGemini。Tertullianadv。Judaeos，c。8。Thisdate，whichisadoptedbyPagi，CardinalNorris，andLeClerc，seemsatleastasprobableasthevulgaraera，whichisplacedIknownotfromwhatconjectures
fouryearslater。]
[Footnote*:Thissinglephrase，Repressainpraesensexitiabilissuperstitiorursuserumpebat，provesthattheChristianshadalreadyattractedtheattentionofthegovernment；andthatNerowasnotthefirsttopersecutethem。IamsurprisedthatmorestresshasnotbeenlaidontheconfirmationwhichtheActsoftheApostlesderivefromthesewordsofTacitus，Repressainpraesens，andrursuserumpebat。—G。
Ihavebeenunwillingtosuppressthisnote，butsurelytheexpressionofTacitusreferstotheexpectedextirpationofthereligionbythedeathofitsfounder，Christ。—M。]
[Footnote32:Odiohumanigenerisconvicti。ThesewordsmayeithersignifythehatredofmankindtowardstheChristians，orthehatredoftheChristianstowardsmankind。Ihavepreferredthelattersense，asthemostagreeabletothestyleofTacitus，andtothepopularerror，ofwhichapreceptofthegospelseeLukexiv。26hadbeen，perhaps，theinnocentoccasion。MyinterpretationisjustifiedbytheauthorityofLipsius；oftheItalian，theFrench，andtheEnglishtranslatorsofTacitus；ofMosheim，p。102，ofLeClerc，HistoriaEcclesiast。p。427，ofDr。Lardner，Testimonies，vol。i。p。345，andoftheBishopofGloucester，DivineLegation，vol。iii。p。38。Butasthewordconvictidoesnotuniteveryhappilywiththerestofthesentence，JamesGronoviushaspreferredthereadingofconjuncti，whichisauthorizedbythevaluableMS。ofFlorence。]
[Footnote33:Tacit。Annalxv。44。]
[Footnote34:NardiniRomaAntica，p。487。DonatusdeRomaAntiqua，l。iii。p。449。]
ButitwouldbeimpropertodismissthisaccountofNero\'spersecution，tillwehavemadesomeobservationsthatmayservetoremovethedifficultieswithwhichitisperplexed，andtothrowsomelightonthesubsequenthistoryofthechurch。
1。Themostscepticalcriticismisobligedtorespectthetruthofthisextraordinaryfact，andtheintegrityofthiscelebratedpassageofTacitus。TheformerisconfirmedbythediligentandaccurateSuetonius，whomentionsthepunishmentwhichNeroinflictedontheChristians，asectofmenwhohadembracedanewandcriminalsuperstition。^35Thelattermaybeprovedbytheconsentofthemostancientmanuscripts；bytheinimitablecharacterofthestyleofTacitusbyhisreputation，whichguardedhistextfromtheinterpolationsofpiousfraud；
andbythepurportofhisnarration，whichaccusedthefirstChristiansofthemostatrociouscrimes，withoutinsinuatingthattheypossessedanymiraculousorevenmagicalpowersabovetherestofmankind。^362。NotwithstandingitisprobablethatTacituswasbornsomeyearsbeforethefireofRome，^37hecouldderiveonlyfromreadingandconversationtheknowledgeofaneventwhichhappenedduringhisinfancy。Beforehegavehimselftothepublic，hecalmlywaitedtillhisgeniushadattaineditsfullmaturity，andhewasmorethanfortyyearsofage，whenagratefulregardforthememoryofthevirtuousAgricolaextortedfromhimthemostearlyofthosehistoricalcompositionswhichwilldelightandinstructthemostdistantposterity。AftermakingatrialofhisstrengthinthelifeofAgricolaandthedescriptionofGermany，heconceived，andatlengthexecuted，amorearduouswork；thehistoryofRome，inthirtybooks，fromthefallofNerototheaccessionofNerva。TheadministrationofNervaintroducedanageofjusticeandpropriety，whichTacitushaddestinedfortheoccupationofhisoldage；^38butwhenhetookanearerviewofhissubject，judging，perhaps，thatitwasamorehonorableoralessinvidiousofficetorecordthevicesofpasttyrants，thantocelebratethevirtuesofareigningmonarch，hechoserathertorelate，undertheformofannals，theactionsofthefourimmediatesuccessorsofAugustus。Tocollect，todispose，andtoadornaseriesoffourscoreyears，inanimmortalwork，everysentenceofwhichispregnantwiththedeepestobservationsandthemostlivelyimages，wasanundertakingsufficienttoexercisethegeniusofTacitushimselfduringthegreatestpartofhislife。InthelastyearsofthereignofTrajan，whilstthevictoriousmonarchextendedthepowerofRomebeyonditsancientlimits，thehistorianwasdescribing，inthesecondandfourthbooksofhisannals，thetyrannyofTiberius；^39andtheemperorHadrianmusthavesucceededtothethrone，beforeTacitus，intheregularprosecutionofhiswork，couldrelatethefireofthecapital，andthecrueltyofNerotowardstheunfortunateChristians。Atthedistanceofsixtyyears，itwasthedutyoftheannalisttoadoptthenarrativesofcontemporaries；butitwasnaturalforthephilosophertoindulgehimselfinthedescriptionoftheorigin，theprogress，andthecharacterofthenewsect，notsomuchaccordingtotheknowledgeorprejudicesoftheageofNero，asaccordingtothoseofthetimeofHadrian。3Tacitusveryfrequentlytruststothecuriosityorreflectionofhisreaderstosupplythoseintermediatecircumstancesandideas，which，inhisextremeconciseness，hehasthoughtpropertosuppress。WemaythereforepresumetoimaginesomeprobablecausewhichcoulddirectthecrueltyofNeroagainsttheChristiansofRome，whoseobscurity，aswellasinnocence，shouldhaveshieldedthemfromhisindignation，andevenfromhisnotice。TheJews，whowerenumerousinthecapital，andoppressedintheirowncountry，wereamuchfitterobjectforthesuspicionsoftheemperorandofthepeople:nordiditseemunlikelythatavanquishednation，whoalreadydiscoveredtheirabhorrenceoftheRomanyoke，mighthaverecoursetothemostatrociousmeansofgratifyingtheirimplacablerevenge。