Thecauseofhisstrangeandfatalapostasymaybederivedfromtheearlyperiodofhislife，whenhewasleftanorphaninthehandsofthemurderersofhisfamily。ThenamesofChristandofConstantius，theideasofslaveryandofreligion，weresoonassociatedinayouthfulimagination，whichwassusceptibleofthemostlivelyimpressions。ThecareofhisinfancywasintrustedtoEusebius，bishopofNicomedia，^4whowasrelatedtohimonthesideofhismother；andtillJulianreachedthetwentiethyearofhisage，hereceivedfromhisChristianpreceptorstheeducation，notofahero，butofasaint。Theemperor，lessjealousofaheavenlythanofanearthlycrown，contentedhimselfwiththeimperfectcharacterofacatechumen，whilehebestowedtheadvantagesofbaptism^5onthenephewsofConstantine。^6Theywereevenadmittedtotheinferiorofficesoftheecclesiasticalorder；andJulianpubliclyreadtheHolyScripturesinthechurchofNicomedia。Thestudyofreligion，whichtheyassiduouslycultivated，appearedtoproducethefairestfruitsoffaithanddevotion。^7Theyprayed，theyfasted，theydistributedalmstothepoor，giftstotheclergy，andoblationstothetombsofthemartyrs；andthesplendidmonumentofSt。Mamas，atCaesarea，waserected，oratleastwasundertaken，bythejointlaborofGallusandJulian。^8Theyrespectfullyconversedwiththebishops，whowereeminentforsuperiorsanctity，andsolicitedthebenedictionofthemonksandhermits，whohadintroducedintoCappadociathevoluntaryhardshipsoftheasceticlife。^9Asthetwoprincesadvancedtowardstheyearsofmanhood，theydiscovered，intheirreligioussentiments，thedifferenceoftheircharacters。ThedullandobstinateunderstandingofGallusembraced，withimplicitzeal，thedoctrinesofChristianity；whichneverinfluencedhisconduct，ormoderatedhispassions。Themilddispositionoftheyoungerbrotherwaslessrepugnanttothepreceptsofthegospel；
andhisactivecuriositymighthavebeengratifiedbyatheologicalsystem，whichexplainsthemysteriousessenceoftheDeity，andopenstheboundlessprospectofinvisibleandfutureworlds。ButtheindependentspiritofJulianrefusedtoyieldthepassiveandunresistingobediencewhichwasrequired，inthenameofreligion，bythehaughtyministersofthechurch。Theirspeculativeopinionswereimposedaspositivelaws，andguardedbytheterrorsofeternalpunishments；butwhiletheyprescribedtherigidformularyofthethoughts，thewords，andtheactionsoftheyoungprince；whilsttheysilencedhisobjections，andseverelycheckedthefreedomofhisinquiries，theysecretlyprovokedhisimpatientgeniustodisclaimtheauthorityofhisecclesiasticalguides。HewaseducatedintheLesserAsia，amidstthescandalsoftheAriancontroversy。^10ThefiercecontestsoftheEasternbishops，theincessantalterationsoftheircreeds，andtheprofanemotiveswhichappearedtoactuatetheirconduct，insensiblystrengthenedtheprejudiceofJulian，thattheyneitherunderstoodnorbelievedthereligionforwhichtheysofiercelycontended。InsteadoflisteningtotheproofsofChristianitywiththatfavorableattentionwhichaddsweighttothemostrespectableevidence，heheardwithsuspicion，anddisputedwithobstinacyandacuteness，thedoctrinesforwhichhealreadyentertainedaninvincibleaversion。Whenevertheyoungprincesweredirectedtocomposedeclamationsonthesubjectoftheprevailingcontroversies，JulianalwaysdeclaredhimselftheadvocateofPaganism；underthespeciousexcusethat，inthedefenceoftheweakercause，hislearningandingenuitymightbemoreadvantageouslyexercisedanddisplayed。
[Footnote4:NicomediaeabEusebioeducatusEpiscopo，quemgenerelongiuscontingebat，Ammian。xxii。9。JulianneverexpressesanygratitudetowardsthatArianprelate；buthecelebrateshispreceptor，theeunuchMardonius，anddescribeshismodeofeducation，whichinspiredhispupilwithapassionateadmirationforthegenius，andperhapsthereligionofHomer。Misopogon，p。
351，352。]
[Footnote5:Greg。Naz。iii。p。70。Helaboredtoeffectthatholymarkintheblood，perhapsofaTaurobolium。Baron。Annal。
Eccles。A。D。361，No。3，4。]
[Footnote6:JulianhimselfEpist。li。p。454assurestheAlexandriansthathehadbeenaChristianhemustmeanasincereonetillthetwentiethyearofhisage。]
[Footnote7:SeehisChristian，andevenecclesiasticaleducation，inGregory，iii。p。58，Socrates，l。iii。c。1，
andSozomen，l。v。c。2。Heescapedverynarrowlyfrombeingabishop，andperhapsasaint。]
[Footnote8:TheshareoftheworkwhichhadbeenallottedtoGallus，wasprosecutedwithvigorandsuccess；buttheearthobstinatelyrejectedandsubvertedthestructureswhichwereimposedbythesacrilegioushandofJulian。Greg。iii。p。59，60，61。Suchapartialearthquake，attestedbymanylivingspectators，wouldformoneoftheclearestmiraclesinecclesiasticalstory。]
[Footnote9:ThephilosopherFragment，p。288，ridiculestheironchains，&c，ofthesesolitaryfanatics，seeTillemont，Mem。
Eccles。tom。ix。p。661，632，whohadforgotthatmanisbynatureagentleandsocialanimal。ThePagansupposes，thatbecausetheyhadrenouncedthegods，theywerepossessedandtormentedbyevildaemons。]
[Footnote10:SeeJulianapudCyril，l。vi。p。206，l。viii。p。
253，262。\"Youpersecute，\"sayshe，\"thosehereticswhodonotmournthedeadmanpreciselyinthewaywhichyouapprove。\"Heshowshimselfatolerabletheologian；buthemaintainsthattheChristianTrinityisnotderivedfromthedoctrineofPaul，ofJesus，orofMoses。]
AssoonasGalluswasinvestedwiththehonorsofthepurple，Julianwaspermittedtobreathetheairoffreedom，ofliterature，andofPaganism。^11Thecrowdofsophists，whowereattractedbythetasteandliberalityoftheirroyalpupil，hadformedastrictalliancebetweenthelearningandthereligionofGreece；andthepoemsofHomer，insteadofbeingadmiredastheoriginalproductionsofhumangenius，wereseriouslyascribedtotheheavenlyinspirationofApolloandthemuses。ThedeitiesofOlympus，astheyarepaintedbytheimmortalbard，imprintthemselvesonthemindswhicharetheleastaddictedtosuperstitiouscredulity。Ourfamiliarknowledgeoftheirnamesandcharacters，theirformsandattributes，seemstobestowonthoseairybeingsarealandsubstantialexistence；andthepleasingenchantmentproducesanimperfectandmomentaryassentoftheimaginationtothosefables，whicharethemostrepugnanttoourreasonandexperience。IntheageofJulian，everycircumstancecontributedtoprolongandfortifytheillusion；themagnificenttemplesofGreeceandAsia；theworksofthoseartistswhohadexpressed，inpaintingorinsculpture，thedivineconceptionsofthepoet；thepompoffestivalsandsacrifices；thesuccessfulartsofdivination；thepopulartraditionsoforaclesandprodigies；andtheancientpracticeoftwothousandyears。Theweaknessofpolytheismwas，insomemeasure，excusedbythemoderationofitsclaims；andthedevotionofthePaganswasnotincompatiblewiththemostlicentiousscepticism。^12Insteadofanindivisibleandregularsystem，whichoccupiesthewholeextentofthebelievingmind，themythologyoftheGreekswascomposedofathousandlooseandflexibleparts，andtheservantofthegodswasatlibertytodefinethedegreeandmeasureofhisreligiousfaith。ThecreedwhichJulianadoptedforhisownusewasofthelargestdimensions；and，bystrangecontradiction，hedisdainedthesalutaryyokeofthegospel，whilsthemadeavoluntaryofferingofhisreasononthealtarsofJupiterandApollo。OneoftheorationsofJulianisconsecratedtothehonorofCybele，themotherofthegods，whorequiredfromhereffeminateprieststhebloodysacrifice，sorashlyperformedbythemadnessofthePhrygianboy。Thepiousemperorcondescendstorelate，withoutablush，andwithoutasmile，thevoyageofthegoddessfromtheshoresofPergamustothemouthoftheTyber，andthestupendousmiracle，whichconvincedthesenateandpeopleofRomethatthelumpofclay，whichtheirambassadorshadtransportedovertheseas，wasendowedwithlife，andsentiment，anddivinepower。^13
Forthetruthofthisprodigyheappealstothepublicmonumentsofthecity；andcensures，withsomeacrimony，thesicklyandaffectedtasteofthosemen，whoimpertinentlyderidedthesacredtraditionsoftheirancestors。^14
[Footnote11:Libanius，Orat。Parentalis，c。9，10，p。232，&c。
Greg。Nazianzen。Orat。iii。p61。Eunap。Vit。Sophist。inMaximo，p。68，69，70，editCommelin。]
[Footnote12:Amodernphilosopherhasingeniouslycomparedthedifferentoperationoftheismandpolytheism，withregardtothedoubtorconvictionwhichtheyproduceinthehumanmind。SeeHume\'sEssaysvol。ii。p。444—457，in8vo。edit。1777。]
[Footnote13:TheIdaeanmotherlandedinItalyabouttheendofthesecondPunicwar。ThemiracleofClaudia，eithervirginormatron，whoclearedherfamebydisgracingthegravermodestyoftheRomanIndies，isattestedbyacloudofwitnesses。TheirevidenceiscollectedbyDrakenborch，adSiliumItalicum，xvii。
33；butwemayobservethatLivyxxix。14slidesoverthetransactionwithdiscreetambiguity。]
[Footnote14:IcannotrefrainfromtranscribingtheemphaticalwordsofJulian:Orat。v。p。161。Julianlikewisedeclareshisfirmbeliefintheancilia，theholyshields，whichdroppedfromheavenontheQuirinalhill；andpitiesthestrangeblindnessoftheChristians，whopreferredthecrosstothesecelestialtrophies。ApudCyril。l。vi。p。194。]
Butthedevoutphilosopher，whosincerelyembraced，andwarmlyencouraged，thesuperstitionofthepeople，reservedforhimselftheprivilegeofaliberalinterpretation；andsilentlywithdrewfromthefootofthealtarsintothesanctuaryofthetemple。TheextravaganceoftheGrecianmythologyproclaimed，withaclearandaudiblevoice，thatthepiousinquirer，insteadofbeingscandalizedorsatisfiedwiththeliteralsense，shoulddiligentlyexploretheoccultwisdom，whichhadbeendisguised，bytheprudenceofantiquity，underthemaskoffollyandoffable。^15ThephilosophersofthePlatonicschool，^16Plotinus，Porphyry，andthedivineIamblichus，wereadmiredasthemostskilfulmastersofthisallegoricalscience，whichlaboredtosoftenandharmonizethedeformedfeaturesofPaganism。Julianhimself，whowasdirectedinthemysteriouspursuitbyAedesius，thevenerablesuccessorofIamblichus，aspiredtothepossessionofatreasure，whichheesteemed，ifwemaycredithissolemnasseverations，farabovetheempireoftheworld。^17Itwasindeedatreasure，whichderiveditsvalueonlyfromopinion；andeveryartistwhoflatteredhimselfthathehadextractedthepreciousorefromthesurroundingdross，claimedanequalrightofstampingthenameandfigurethemostagreeabletohispeculiarfancy。ThefableofAtysandCybelehadbeenalreadyexplainedbyPorphyry；buthislaborsservedonlytoanimatethepiousindustryofJulian，whoinventedandpublishedhisownallegoryofthatancientandmystictale。Thisfreedomofinterpretation，whichmightgratifytheprideofthePlatonists，exposedthevanityoftheirart。Withoutatediousdetail，themodernreadercouldnotformajustideaofthestrangeallusions，theforcedetymologies，thesolemntrifling，andtheimpenetrableobscurityofthesesages，whoprofessedtorevealthesystemoftheuniverse。AsthetraditionsofPaganmythologywerevariouslyrelated，thesacredinterpreterswereatlibertytoselectthemostconvenientcircumstances；andastheytranslatedanarbitrarycipher，theycouldextractfromanyfableanysensewhichwasadaptedtotheirfavoritesystemofreligionandphilosophy。ThelasciviousformofanakedVenuswastorturedintothediscoveryofsomemoralprecept，orsomephysicaltruth；andthecastrationofAtysexplainedtherevolutionofthesunbetweenthetropics，ortheseparationofthehumansoulfromviceanderror。^18
[Footnote15:Seetheprinciplesofallegory，inJulian，Orat。
vii。p。216，222。Hisreasoningislessabsurdthanthatofsomemoderntheologians，whoassertthatanextravagantorcontradictorydoctrinemustbedivine；sincenomanalivecouldhavethoughtofinventingit。]
[Footnote16:Eunapiushasmadethesesophiststhesubjectofapartialandfanaticalhistory；andthelearnedBruckerHist。
Philosoph。tom。ii。p。217—303hasemployedmuchlabortoillustratetheirobscurelivesandincomprehensibledoctrines。]
[Footnote17:Julian，Orat。viip222。Heswearswiththemostferventandenthusiasticdevotion；andtrembles，lestheshouldbetraytoomuchoftheseholymysteries，whichtheprofanemightderidewithanimpiousSardoniclaugh。]
[Footnote18:SeethefifthorationofJulian。ButalltheallegorieswhicheverissuedfromthePlatonicschoolarenotworththeshortpoemofCatullusonthesameextraordinarysubject。ThetransitionofAtys，fromthewildestenthusiasmtosober，patheticcomplaint，forhisirretrievableloss，mustinspireamanwithpity，aeunuchwithdespair。]
ThetheologicalsystemofJulianappearstohavecontainedthesublimeandimportantprinciplesofnaturalreligion。Butasthefaith，whichisnotfoundedonrevelation，mustremaindestituteofanyfirmassurance，thediscipleofPlatoimprudentlyrelapsedintothehabitsofvulgarsuperstition；andthepopularandphilosophicnotionoftheDeityseemstohavebeenconfoundedinthepractice，thewritings，andeveninthemindofJulian。^19ThepiousemperoracknowledgedandadoredtheEternalCauseoftheuniverse，towhomheascribedalltheperfectionsofaninfinitenature，invisibletotheeyesandinaccessibletotheunderstanding，offeeblemortals。TheSupremeGodhadcreated，orrather，inthePlatoniclanguage，hadgenerated，thegradualsuccessionofdependentspirits，ofgods，ofdaemons，ofheroes，andofmen；andeverybeingwhichderiveditsexistenceimmediatelyfromtheFirstCause，receivedtheinherentgiftofimmortality。Thatsopreciousanadvantagemightbelavisheduponunworthyobjects，theCreatorhadintrustedtotheskillandpoweroftheinferiorgodstheofficeofformingthehumanbody，andofarrangingthebeautifulharmonyoftheanimal，thevegetable，andthemineralkingdoms。Totheconductofthesedivineministershedelegatedthetemporalgovernmentofthislowerworld；buttheirimperfectadministrationisnotexemptfromdiscordorerror。Theearthanditsinhabitantsaredividedamongthem，andthecharactersofMarsorMinerva，ofMercuryorVenus，maybedistinctlytracedinthelawsandmannersoftheirpeculiarvotaries。Aslongasourimmortalsoulsareconfinedinamortalprison，itisourinterest，aswellasourduty，tosolicitthefavor，andtodeprecatethewrath，ofthepowersofheaven；whoseprideisgratifiedbythedevotionofmankind；andwhosegrosserpartsmaybesupposedtoderivesomenourishmentfromthefumesofsacrifice。^20Theinferiorgodsmightsometimescondescendtoanimatethestatues，andtoinhabitthetemples，whichwerededicatedtotheirhonor。Theymightoccasionallyvisittheearth，buttheheavensweretheproperthroneandsymboloftheirglory。Theinvariableorderofthesun，moon，andstars，washastilyadmittedbyJulian，asaproofoftheireternalduration；
andtheireternitywasasufficientevidencethattheyweretheworkmanship，notofaninferiordeity，butoftheOmnipotentKing。InthesystemofPlatonists，thevisiblewasatypeoftheinvisibleworld。Thecelestialbodies，astheywereinformedbyadivinespirit，mightbeconsideredastheobjectsthemostworthyofreligiousworship。TheSun，whosegenialinfluencepervadesandsustainstheuniverse，justlyclaimedtheadorationofmankind，asthebrightrepresentativeoftheLogos，thelively，therational，thebeneficentimageoftheintellectualFather。^21
[Footnote19:ThetruereligionofJulianmaybededucedfromtheCaesars，p。308，withSpanheim\'snotesandillustrations，fromthefragmentsinCyril，l。ii。p。57，58，andespeciallyfromthetheologicalorationinSolemRegem，p。130—158，addressedintheconfidenceoffriendship，tothepraefectSallust。]
[Footnote20:JulianadoptsthisgrossconceptionbyascribingtohisfavoriteMarcusAntoninus，Caesares，p。333。TheStoicsandPlatonistshesitatedbetweentheanalogyofbodiesandthepurityofspirits；yetthegravestphilosophersinclinedtothewhimsicalfancyofAristophanesandLucian，thatanunbelievingagemightstarvetheimmortalgods。SeeObservationsdeSpanheim，p。284，444，&c。]
[Footnote21:Julian。Epist。li。Inanotherplace，apudCyril。
l。ii。p。69，hecallstheSunGod，andthethroneofGod。
JulianbelievedthePlatonicianTrinity；andonlyblamestheChristiansforpreferringamortaltoanimmortalLogos。]
Ineveryage，theabsenceofgenuineinspirationissuppliedbythestrongillusionsofenthusiasm，andthemimicartsofimposture。If，inthetimeofJulian，theseartshadbeenpractisedonlybythepaganpriests，forthesupportofanexpiringcause，someindulgencemightperhapsbeallowedtotheinterestandhabitsofthesacerdotalcharacter。Butitmayappearasubjectofsurpriseandscandal，thatthephilosophersthemselvesshouldhavecontributedtoabusethesuperstitiouscredulityofmankind，^22andthattheGrecianmysteriesshouldhavebeensupportedbythemagicortheurgyofthemodernPlatonists。Theyarrogantlypretendedtocontroltheorderofnature，toexplorethesecretsoffuturity，tocommandtheserviceoftheinferiordaemons，toenjoytheviewandconversationofthesuperiorgods，andbydisengagingthesoulfromhermaterialbands，toreunitethatimmortalparticlewiththeInfiniteandDivineSpirit。
[Footnote22:ThesophistsofEunapiasperformasmanymiraclesasthesaintsofthedesert；andtheonlycircumstanceintheirfavoris，thattheyareofalessgloomycomplexion。Insteadofdevilswithhornsandtails，Iamblichusevokedthegeniioflove，ErosandAnteros，fromtwoadjacentfountains。Twobeautifulboysissuedfromthewater，fondlyembracedhimastheirfather，andretiredathiscommand，p。26，27。]
ThedevoutandfearlesscuriosityofJuliantemptedthephilosopherswiththehopesofaneasyconquest；which，fromthesituationoftheiryoungproselyte，mightbeproductiveofthemostimportantconsequences。^23JulianimbibedthefirstrudimentsofthePlatonicdoctrinesfromthemouthofAedesius，whohadfixedatPergamushiswanderingandpersecutedschool。
Butasthedecliningstrengthofthatvenerablesagewasunequaltotheardor，thediligence，therapidconceptionofhispupil，twoofhismostlearneddisciples，ChrysanthesandEusebius，supplied，athisowndesire，theplaceoftheiragedmaster。
Thesephilosophersseemtohavepreparedanddistributedtheirrespectiveparts；andtheyartfullycontrived，bydarkhintsandaffecteddisputes，toexcitetheimpatienthopesoftheaspirant，tilltheydeliveredhimintothehandsoftheirassociate，Maximus，theboldestandmostskilfulmasteroftheTheurgicscience。Byhishands，JulianwassecretlyinitiatedatEphesus，inthetwentiethyearofhisage。HisresidenceatAthensconfirmedthisunnaturalallianceofphilosophyandsuperstition。