PartIII。
TheanswerofTrajan，towhichtheChristiansofthesucceedingagehavefrequentlyappealed，discoversasmuchregardforjusticeandhumanityascouldbereconciledwithhismistakennotionsofreligiouspolicy。^59Insteadofdisplayingtheimplacablezealofaninquisitor，anxioustodiscoverthemostminuteparticlesofheresy，andexultinginthenumberofhisvictims，theemperorexpressesmuchmoresolicitudetoprotectthesecurityoftheinnocent，thantopreventtheescapeoftheguilty。Heacknowledgedthedifficultyoffixinganygeneralplan；buthelaysdowntwosalutaryrules，whichoftenaffordedreliefandsupporttothedistressedChristians。Thoughhedirectsthemagistratestopunishsuchpersonsasarelegallyconvicted，heprohibitsthem，withaveryhumaneinconsistency，frommakinganyinquiriesconcerningthesupposedcriminals。Norwasthemagistrateallowedtoproceedoneverykindofinformation。Anonymouschargestheemperorrejects，astoorepugnanttotheequityofhisgovernment；andhestrictlyrequires，fortheconvictionofthosetowhomtheguiltofChristianityisimputed，thepositiveevidenceofafairandopenaccuser。Itislikewiseprobable，thatthepersonswhoassumedsoinvidiuousanoffice，wereobligedtodeclarethegroundsoftheirsuspicions，tospecifybothinrespecttotimeandplace
thesecretassemblies，whichtheirChristianadversaryhadfrequented，andtodiscloseagreatnumberofcircumstances，whichwereconcealedwiththemostvigilantjealousyfromtheeyeoftheprofane。Iftheysucceededintheirprosecution，theywereexposedtotheresentmentofaconsiderableandactiveparty，tothecensureofthemoreliberalportionofmankind，andtotheignominywhich，ineveryageandcountry，hasattendedthecharacterofaninformer。If，onthecontrary，theyfailedintheirproofs，theyincurredthesevereandperhapscapitalpenalty，which，accordingtoalawpublishedbytheemperorHadrian，wasinflictedonthosewhofalselyattributedtotheirfellow—citizensthecrimeofChristianity。Theviolenceofpersonalorsuperstitiousanimositymightsometimesprevailoverthemostnaturalapprehensionsofdisgraceanddangerbutitcannotsurelybeimagined，thataccusationsofsounpromisinganappearancewereeitherlightlyorfrequentlyundertakenbythePagansubjectsoftheRomanempire。^60
[Footnote59:Plin。Epist。x。98。TertullianApolog。c。5
considersthisrescriptasarelaxationoftheancientpenallaws，\"quasTrajanusexpartefrustratusest:\"andyetTertullian，inanotherpartofhisApology，exposestheinconsistencyofprohibitinginquiries，andenjoiningpunishments。]
[Footnote60:EusebiusHist。Ecclesiast。l。iv。c。9haspreservedtheedictofHadrian。Hehaslikewisec。13givenusonestillmorefavorable，underthenameofAntoninus；theauthenticityofwhichisnotsouniversallyallowed。ThesecondApologyofJustincontainssomecuriousparticularsrelativetotheaccusationsofChristians。
Note:ProfessorHegelmayerhasprovedtheauthenticityoftheedictofAntoninus，inhisComm。Hist。Theol。inEdict。Imp。
Antonini。Tubing。1777，in4to。—G。
Neanderdoubtsitsauthenticity，vol。i。p。152。Inmyopinion，theinternalevidenceisdecisiveagainstit。—M]
[Footnote*:Theenactmentofthislawaffordsstrongpresumption，thataccusationsofthe\"crimeofChristianity，\"
werebynomeanssouncommon，norreceivedwithsomuchmistrustandcautionbytherulingauthorities，asGibbonwouldinsinuate。
—M。]
Theexpedientwhichwasemployedtoeludetheprudenceofthelaws，affordsasufficientproofhoweffectuallytheydisappointedthemischievousdesignsofprivatemaliceorsuperstitiouszeal。Inalargeandtumultuousassembly，therestraintsoffearandshame，soforcibleonthemindsofindividuals，aredeprivedofthegreatestpartoftheirinfluence。ThepiousChristian，ashewasdesiroustoobtain，ortoescape，thegloryofmartyrdom，expected，eitherwithimpatienceorwithterror，thestatedreturnsofthepublicgamesandfestivals。Onthoseoccasionstheinhabitantsofthegreatcitiesoftheempirewerecollectedinthecircusorthetheatre，whereeverycircumstanceoftheplace，aswellasoftheceremony，contributedtokindletheirdevotion，andtoextinguishtheirhumanity。Whilstthenumerousspectators，crownedwithgarlands，perfumedwithincense，purifiedwiththebloodofvictims，andsurroundedwiththealtarsandstatuesoftheirtutelardeities，resignedthemselvestotheenjoymentofpleasures，whichtheyconsideredasanessentialpartoftheirreligiousworship，theyrecollected，thattheChristiansaloneabhorredthegodsofmankind，andbytheirabsenceandmelancholyonthesesolemnfestivals，seemedtoinsultortolamentthepublicfelicity。Iftheempirehadbeenafflictedbyanyrecentcalamity，byaplague，afamine，oranunsuccessfulwar；iftheTyberhad，oriftheNilehadnot，risenbeyonditsbanks；iftheearthhadshaken，orifthetemperateorderoftheseasonshadbeeninterrupted，thesuperstitiousPaganswereconvincedthatthecrimesandtheimpietyoftheChristians，whoweresparedbytheexcessivelenityofthegovernment，hadatlengthprovokedthedivinejustice。Itwasnotamongalicentiousandexasperatedpopulace，thattheformsoflegalproceedingscouldbeobserved；itwasnotinanamphitheatre，stainedwiththebloodofwildbeastsandgladiators，thatthevoiceofcompassioncouldbeheard。TheimpatientclamorsofthemultitudedenouncedtheChristiansastheenemiesofgodsandmen，doomedthemtotheseveresttortures，andventuringtoaccusebynamesomeofthemostdistinguishedofthenewsectaries，requiredwithirresistiblevehemencethattheyshouldbeinstantlyapprehendedandcasttothelions。^61Theprovincialgovernorsandmagistrateswhopresidedinthepublicspectacleswereusuallyinclinedtogratifytheinclinations，andtoappeasetherage，ofthepeople，bythesacrificeofafewobnoxiousvictims。Butthewisdomoftheemperorsprotectedthechurchfromthedangerofthesetumultuousclamorsandirregularaccusations，whichtheyjustlycensuredasrepugnantbothtothefirmnessandtotheequityoftheiradministration。TheedictsofHadrianandofAntoninusPiusexpresslydeclared，thatthevoiceofthemultitudeshouldneverbeadmittedaslegalevidencetoconvictortopunishthoseunfortunatepersonswhohadembracedtheenthusiasmoftheChristians。^62
[Footnote61:SeeTertullian，Apolog。c。40。TheactsofthemartyrdomofPolycarpexhibitalivelypictureofthesetumults，whichwereusuallyfomentedbythemaliceoftheJews。]
[Footnote62:TheseregulationsareinsertedintheabovementioneddocumentofHadrianandPius。SeetheapologyofMelito，apudEuseb。liv26]
III。Punishmentwasnottheinevitableconsequenceofconviction，andtheChristians，whoseguiltwasthemostclearlyprovedbythetestimonyofwitnesses，orevenbytheirvoluntaryconfession，stillretainedintheirownpowerthealternativeoflifeordeath。Itwasnotsomuchthepastoffence，astheactualresistance，whichexcitedtheindignationofthemagistrate。Hewaspersuadedthatheofferedthemaneasypardon，since，iftheyconsentedtocastafewgrainsofincenseuponthealtar，theyweredismissedfromthetribunalinsafetyandwithapplause。Itwasesteemedthedutyofahumanejudgetoendeavortoreclaim，ratherthantopunish，thosedeludedenthusiasts。Varyinghistoneaccordingtotheage，thesex，orthesituationoftheprisoners，hefrequentlycondescendedtosetbeforetheireyeseverycircumstancewhichcouldrenderlifemorepleasing，ordeathmoreterrible；andtosolicit，nay，toentreat，them，thattheywouldshowsomecompassiontothemselves，totheirfamilies，andtotheirfriends。^63Ifthreatsandpersuasionsprovedineffectual，hehadoftenrecoursetoviolence；thescourgeandtherackwerecalledintosupplythedeficiencyofargument，andeveryartofcrueltywasemployedtosubduesuchinflexible，and，asitappearedtothePagans，suchcriminal，obstinacy。TheancientapologistsofChristianityhavecensured，withequaltruthandseverity，theirregularconductoftheirpersecutorswho，contrarytoeveryprincipleofjudicialproceeding，admittedtheuseoftorture，inordertoobtain，notaconfession，butadenial，ofthecrimewhichwastheobjectoftheirinquiry。^64Themonksofsucceedingages，who，intheirpeacefulsolitudes，entertainedthemselveswithdiversifyingthedeathsandsufferingsoftheprimitivemartyrs，havefrequentlyinventedtormentsofamuchmorerefinedandingeniousnature。Inparticular，ithaspleasedthemtosuppose，thatthezealoftheRomanmagistrates，disdainingeveryconsiderationofmoralvirtueorpublicdecency，endeavoredtoseducethosewhomtheywereunabletovanquish，andthatbytheirordersthemostbrutalviolencewasofferedtothosewhomtheyfounditimpossibletoseduce。Itisrelated，thatfemales，whowerepreparedtodespisedeath，weresometimescondemnedtoamoreseveretrial，^!andcalledupontodeterminewhethertheysetahighervalueontheirreligionorontheirchastity。Theyouthstowhoselicentiousembracestheywereabandoned，receivedasolemnexhortationfromthejudge，toexerttheirmoststrenuouseffortstomaintainthehonorofVenusagainsttheimpiousvirginwhorefusedtoburnincenseonheraltars。Theirviolence，however，wascommonlydisappointed，andtheseasonableinterpositionofsomemiraculouspowerpreservedthechastespousesofChristfromthedishonorevenofaninvoluntarydefeat。Weshouldnotindeedneglecttoremark，thatthemoreancientaswellasauthenticmemorialsofthechurchareseldompollutedwiththeseextravagantandindecentfictions。^65
[Footnote63:SeetherescriptofTrajan，andtheconductofPliny。Themostauthenticactsofthemartyrsaboundintheseexhortations。
Note:Pliny\'stestwastheworshipofthegods，offeringstothestatueoftheemperor，andblasphemingChrist—praetereamaledicerentChristo。—M。]
[Footnote64:Inparticular，seeTertullian，Apolog。c。2，3，
andLactantius，Institut。Divin。v。9。Theirreasoningsarealmostthesame；butwemaydiscover，thatoneoftheseapologistshadbeenalawyer，andtheotherarhetorician。]
[Footnote!:Themoreancientaswellasauthenticmemorialsofthechurch，relatemanyexamplesofthefact，oftheseseveretrials，whichthereisnothingtocontradict。Tertullian，amongothers，says，NamproximeadlenonemdamnandoChristianam，potiusquamadleonem，confessiestislabempudicitiaeapudnosatrocioremomnipoenaetomnimortereputari，Apol。cap。ult。
Eusebiuslikewisesays，\"Othervirgins，draggedtobrothels，havelosttheirliferatherthandefiletheirvirtue。\"Euseb。Hist。
Ecc。viii。14。—G。
Themiraculousinterpositionsweretheoffspringofthecoarseimaginationsofthemonks。—M。]
[Footnote65:SeetwoinstancesofthiskindoftortureintheActaSincereMartyrum，publishedbyRuinart，p。160，399。
Jerome，inhisLegendofPaultheHermit，tellsastrangestoryofayoungman，whowaschainednakedonabedofflowers，andassaultedbyabeautifulandwantoncourtesan。Hequelledtherisingtemptationbybitingoffhistongue。]
Thetotaldisregardoftruthandprobabilityintherepresentationoftheseprimitivemartyrdomswasoccasionedbyaverynaturalmistake。TheecclesiasticalwritersofthefourthorfifthcenturiesascribedtothemagistratesofRomethesamedegreeofimplacableandunrelentingzealwhichfilledtheirownbreastsagainstthehereticsortheidolatersoftheirowntimes。
Itisnotimprobablethatsomeofthosepersonswhowereraisedtothedignitiesoftheempire，mighthaveimbibedtheprejudicesofthepopulace，andthatthecrueldispositionofothersmightoccasionallybestimulatedbymotivesofavariceorofpersonalresentment。^66Butitiscertain，andwemayappealtothegratefulconfessionsofthefirstChristians，thatthegreatestpartofthosemagistrateswhoexercisedintheprovincestheauthorityoftheemperor，orofthesenate，andtowhosehandsalonethejurisdictionoflifeanddeathwasintrusted，behavedlikemenofpolishedmannersandliberaleducation，whorespectedtherulesofjustice，andwhowereconversantwiththepreceptsofphilosophy。Theyfrequentlydeclinedtheodioustaskofpersecution，dismissedthechargewithcontempt，orsuggestedtotheaccusedChristiansomelegalevasion，bywhichhemighteludetheseverityofthelaws。^67Whenevertheywereinvestedwithadiscretionarypower，^68theyuseditmuchlessfortheoppression，thanforthereliefandbenefitoftheafflictedchurch。TheywerefarfromcondemningalltheChristianswhowereaccusedbeforetheirtribunal，andveryfarfrompunishingwithdeathallthosewhowereconvictedofanobstinateadherencetothenewsuperstition。Contentingthemselves，forthemostpart，withthemilderchastisementsofimprisonment，exile，orslaveryinthemines，^69theylefttheunhappyvictimsoftheirjusticesomereasontohope，thataprosperousevent，theaccession，themarriage，orthetriumphofanemperor，mightspeedilyrestorethem，byageneralpardon，totheirformerstate。Themartyrs，devotedtoimmediateexecutionbytheRomanmagistrates，appeartohavebeenselectedfromthemostoppositeextremes。Theywereeitherbishopsandpresbyters，thepersonsthemostdistinguishedamongtheChristiansbytheirrankandinfluence，andwhoseexamplemightstriketerrorintothewholesect；^70orelsetheywerethemeanestandmostabjectamongthem，particularlythoseoftheservilecondition，whoseliveswereesteemedoflittlevalue，andwhosesufferingswereviewedbytheancientswithtoocarelessanindifference。^71ThelearnedOrigen，who，fromhisexperienceaswellasreading，wasintimatelyacquaintedwiththehistoryoftheChristians，declares，inthemostexpressterms，thatthenumberofmartyrswasveryinconsiderable。^72Hisauthoritywouldalonebesufficienttoannihilatethatformidablearmyofmartyrs，whoserelics，drawnforthemostpartfromthecatacombsofRome，havereplenishedsomanychurches，^73andwhosemarvellousachievementshavebeenthesubjectofsomanyvolumesofHolyRomance。^74ButthegeneralassertionofOrigenmaybeexplainedandconfirmedbytheparticulartestimonyofhisfriendDionysius，who，intheimmensecityofAlexandria，andundertherigorouspersecutionofDecius，reckonsonlytenmenandsevenwomenwhosufferedfortheprofessionoftheChristianname。^75
[Footnote66:TheconversionofhiswifeprovokedClaudiusHerminianus，governorofCappadocia，totreattheChristianswithuncommonseverity。TertullianadScapulam，c。3。]
[Footnote67:Tertullian，inhisepistletothegovernorofAfrica，mentionsseveralremarkableinstancesoflenityandforbearance，whichhadhappenedwithinhisknowledge。]
[Footnote68:Nequeeniminuniversumaliquidquodquasicertamformamhabeat，constituipotest；anexpressionofTrajan，whichgaveaverygreatlatitudetothegovernorsofprovinces。
Note:GibbonaltogetherforgetsthatTrajanfullyapprovedofthecoursepursuedbyPliny。Thatcoursewas，toorderallwhoperseveredintheirfaithtobeledtoexecution:
perseverantesducijussi。—M。]
[Footnote69:InMetalladamnamur，ininsulasrelegamur。
Tertullian，Apolog。c。12。TheminesofNumidiacontainedninebishops，withaproportionablenumberoftheirclergyandpeople，towhomCyprianaddressedapiousepistleofpraiseandcomfort。
SeeCyprian。Epistol。76，77。]
[Footnote70:Thoughwecannotreceivewithentireconfidenceeithertheepistles，ortheacts，ofIgnatius，theymaybefoundinthe2dvolumeoftheApostolicFathers，yetwemayquotethatbishopofAntiochasoneoftheseexemplarymartyrs。HewassentinchainstoRomeasapublicspectacle，andwhenhearrivedatTroas，hereceivedthepleasingintelligence，thatthepersecutionofAntiochwasalreadyatanend。
Note:TheactsofIgnatiusaregenerallyreceivedasauthentic，asaresevenofhisletters。EusebiusandSt。Jeromementionthem:therearetwoeditions；inone，thelettersarelonger，andmanypassagesappeartohavebeeninterpolated；theothereditionisthatwhichcontainsthereallettersofSt。
Ignatius；suchatleastistheopinionofthewisestandmostenlightenedcritics。SeeLardner。Cred。ofGospelHist。Less，uberdisReligion，v。i。p。529。Usser。Diss。deIgn。Epist。
Pearson，Vindic，Ignatianae。Itshouldberemarked，thatitwasunderthereignofTrajanthatthebishopIgnatiuswascarriedfromAntiochtoRome，tobeexposedtothelionsintheamphitheatre，theyearofJ。C。107，accordingtosome；of116，accordingtoothers。—G。]
[Footnote71:AmongthemartyrsofLyons，Euseb。l。v。c。1，
theslaveBlandinawasdistinguishedbymoreexquisitetortures。
OfthefivemartyrssomuchcelebratedintheactsofFelicitasandPerpetua，twowereofaservile，andtwoothersofaverymean，condition。]
[Footnote72:Origen。advers。Celsum，l。iii。p。116。Hiswordsdeservetobetranscribed。
Note:Thewordsthatfollowshouldbequoted。\"Godnotpermittingthatallhisclassofmenshouldbeexterminated:\"
whichappearstoindicatethatOrigenthoughtthenumberputtodeathinconsiderableonlywhencomparedtothenumberswhohadsurvived。Besidesthis，heisspeakingofthestateofthereligionunderCaracalla，Elagabalus，AlexanderSeverus，andPhilip，whohadnotpersecutedtheChristians。ItwasduringthereignofthelatterthatOrigenwrotehisbooksagainstCelsus。—
G。]
[Footnote73:IfwerecollectthatallthePlebeiansofRomewerenotChristians，andthatalltheChristianswerenotsaintsandmartyrs，wemayjudgewithhowmuchsafetyreligioushonorscanbeascribedtobonesorurns，indiscriminatelytakenfromthepublicburial—place。Aftertencenturiesofaveryfreeandopentrade，somesuspicionshavearisenamongthemorelearnedCatholics。Theynowrequireasaproofofsanctityandmartyrdom，thelettersB。M。，avialfullofredliquorsupposedtobeblood，orthefigureofapalm—tree。Butthetwoformersignsareoflittleweight，andwithregardtothelast，itisobservedbythecritics，1。Thatthefigure，asitiscalled，ofapalm，isperhapsacypress，andperhapsonlyastop，theflourishofacommausedinthemonumentalinscriptions。2。ThatthepalmwasthesymbolofvictoryamongthePagans。3。ThatamongtheChristiansitservedastheemblem，notonlyofmartyrdom，butingeneralofajoyfulresurrection。SeetheepistleofP。Mabillon，ontheworshipofunknownsaints，andMuratorisopraleAntichitaItaliane，Dissertat。lviii。]