An obftinacy, an infuperable obftinacy, which feems to him worthy of punishment. I have judged it neceffary (he adds), to wreft the truth by force of tortures. I have discovered only an evil fuperftition carried to excess.

"was" the tum.

Here the governor views things in a different light from the hiftorian. An evil fuperftition!-it is no longer facts, or manners, this deduct which the governor blames; it is a doctrine; + on fai? and to fee this doctrine in a right point of Plings ide view, required more practice in this kind of off of offence obfervation than the governor could boast, ples are defert pay great attention alfo to the fortunate les the fara contraft, in this place, between the two hiffress neglecter the Vilimstorians; it contributes, as much as the reft, un purchato bring out and difplay the truth in its In other wagenuine colours.; It is not as a secret faIt interferes yourer of the new fect that the governor wt the religi on establish forms his judgment; it is in defiance of all ugg by his prejudices of birth, education, philosothe alphy, politics, &c. I am pleased to be in-

formed by him of this infuperable obftinacy!·

What then is the caufe of this obftinacy, which defies the force of torture? Is it any particular, any private opinion? No.-It is

facts,

facts, and facts fubmitted to the judgment of every fenfe.

I difcover another evidence in favour of the new fociety, which does not strike me lefs than that of the governor of Bithynia; I mean the teftimony of the fatirical and ingenious (x) Lucian, one of the best writers, and wittiest men of the age, and one of the chief magiftrates of a great province of the empire. The legislator of the Chriftians (he fays), perfuades them that they are all bre-· thren. They fecede from us; they abjure the gods of the Grecians. They adore their crucified teacher, and conform their lives to his laws; they defpife riches; every thing among ft them is in common; and they are conftant in their faith. To this day they adore their great man crucified in Paleftine. I particularly paufe at that remarkable expreffion, perfuades them they are all brethren; and I instantly recall to my mind thofe incomparable words of their mafter, By this fhall all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye have love one

(x) Lucian de morte Peregrini,

to another. Brotherly love, therefore, was the criterion of the first disciples of that mild religion, one of the principal laws of which is charity; and the Pagan writers themfelves confirm a fact, which affords fo clear an evidence in favour of the celestial origin of this admirable doctrine (y).

(y) Were it confiftent with the nature of this work, I could quote many other favourable teftimonies, given by Pagan authors, to the virtues and manners of the primitive Chriftians. They may be feen in moft apologifts, Colonia Bullet, &c. may be confulted,

CHAP.

THIS

HIS rifing fociety increases in strength every day, it spreads itself, and, whereever it is established, I behold corruption, fanaticifm, fuperftition, prejudices, and idolatry, proftrate before the crofs.

The capital of the world is foon peopled with these Neophytes; it is overrun with them, multitudo ingens (z); they overflow the largest provinces of the empire: and I learn all this from the fame governor (a), the ornament of his country, and of his age; he was governor of two extensive provinces, Bithynia and Pontus. He writes thus to his prince:-"This affair feemed to "me worthy of your confideration, on ac

(z) Tacitus Hift. of Nero.

(a) Pliny the Younger, in the fame letter.

"count of the multitude of those who are "involved in this danger; for a confider"able number of perfons, of all ages, orders, "and fexes, are, and will be every day in"cluded in this accufation. This contagion has not only infected the towns; it

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fpreads into the villages, and into the country. This is most certain, that the temples are almoft deferted, the facrifices neglected, and the victims without pur"chafers."

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Corinth, Ephefus, Theffalonica, Philippi, Coloffus, and a number of towns, more or lefs confiderable, exhibit crowds of citizens who embrace this new doctrine. I find the hiftory of the foundation of these particular focieties, not only in the hiftorian of the great fociety of which they were a part, but alfo in the letters of that indefatigable difciple who founded them.

I fee the oral and written tradition correfpond in this refpect perfectly together, and both of them concur to preferve and ftrengthen the evidence. I fee the difciples of the fecond century go hand in hand with thofe