salem, the way may have been prepared even then, for the distinction which
became so decided and general in the first ten years of the next century, (c)
The officers of each churcli were chosen by the peoi)le, or with the consent
of the peojile were installed over them by those who organized them into a
church. Although the olllce of a public teacher must have seemed most im-
portant, and the necessity of well qualified instructors must have been
urgent, (tZ) it does not appear that any persons were at first set apart, exclu-
sively for that duty, (e) and every thing like a hierarchy was excluded by
the universal acknowledgment that all believers were members of a general
priesthood. (/) It was looked upon as a matter of conscience, that all civil
suits sliould be settled by arbitrators selected from the churcli itself, (g) After
the excitement of the first establishment of the church had subsided, women
once more returned to a silent submission to the word of God, and to the
performance of their proper duties in the domestic circle. But in addition
to the Deaconesses^ who were employed in charitable offices among the women,
there were probably, even then, some female preshyters or tcidotcs, for the
supervision and instruction of the younger persons of their own sex. (Ji)
Every one who applied for admission to the Church was immediately re-
ceived, but those who were subsequently found guilty of gross offences were
excluded by the action of the congregation. In the management of its pub-
lic affairs each congregation was an independent society, but by spiritual fel-
lowship, and the influence of distinguished travelling teachers, all the con-
gregations were so connected together, as collectively to form one great king-
dom of God, of which even in the time of Paul, Jerusalem was regarded as
the centre. The supreme law was love, and the sovereign power was exer-
cised by the Holy Ghost.
§ 43. Ecclesiastical Life.
ArntiiJ, er.«te Liebe d. i. wabro Abbildung d, ersten Cbristen. Frnkf. 1096. f. & oft. ; Sticl^el et
Bogenharil, Biga coinmentt. de niorali primaevorum Christianoruin conditione, Neost. ad O. IS'26.
As the Church at Jerusalem grew up out of the original company of the
apostles, the common fund which had existed in the latter, suggested the
bold thought of a community of goods. Although such a project was much
facilitated by the enthusiastic brotherly love then prevalent, and an expecta-
tion that all existing relations were soon to be overtlirown, it was never com-
pletely carried out, and this congregation was soon in need of the charities
of Christians in foreign countries, (a) A hypocritical vanity which occurred
in a form not very uncommon in religious circles, was visited with a terrible
c) Cic. a<l Attic. VII, 11; Acts 2n, 17. 2S; Phil. 1, 1 ; 1 Pet. 5, Is.; Otem. Rmn. ad Cor.
c. 42. 44; Ifermae Past. 1.2. 4;~lilondel, Apologia pro scntcniia Ilicr. de Episc. Amut 161G. 4;
Gdbler, de Episcopis primae ecc. Jen. 1SU5. 4. d) Acta 6, 2 ;— /. Tim. 3, 2. .'5, 17; //. Tim. 2. 24.
e) Forhiger, Ds. de muncrib. ecc. tempore App. Lps. 1776. 4; Gahler, cxaminatur Forbi-
geri sent de Prosb. Jen. 1S12. 4. 2 Pgg. /) /. Pet. 2, 9. 5, 3, cf. Rom. 12, 1. g) T. Cor. 6, 1-8.
cf. Matt. 18, 15ss. /() Acts 2. 17. 21, ^.—Rom. 16, \.— Tit. 2, 3; /. Tim. 5, 9 ; Cone. Laod. can. 11 ;
(_3fami, Tli. II. p. 566,.— //(/»<■, Streitecbrr. P. 2, p. 35ss.
a) Acts 4, 32ss. cf. 12, 12.— Jfosheim, de vera natura coiiimuniorii.s bonormn in Eco. Ilier. (Dss.
40 ANCIEXT CrrrECH history, vet.. I. DIT. I. till a. D. 100.
divine retribution, (h) The ordinary mode of life in each congregation pre-
sented many points of comparison with that which existed among the
Essenes. (c) Christians regarded themselves, in contrast with the world, as
the consecrated people of God. Every intellectual faculty, according to its
peculiar nature, was enlisted in the service of the kingdom of God, and when
exalted by the common spirit of the Church, was looked upon as a gracious
gift of the Holy Ghost. Hence, while there were many gifts, there Avas but
one Spirit. The most i-emarkable of these gifts was the power of miracu-
lously healing the sick, at first more especially exercised by Peter, but after-
wards supposed to be a permanent possession of the Church. The Holy
Ghost was regarded as the common spirit of the whole Church, proceeding
directly from Christ, awakening and appropriating to its use the sacred en-
thusiasm of each individual. The external manifestations of this spirit were
sometimes genuine exhibitions of divine poAver, but were sometimes con-
founded with the fanatical irruptions of a high religious excitement, and in
all cases were regarded as fulfilments of a prophetic metaphor of Messianic
prophecy, (d) The sincere piety which generally prevailed, however, did not
always prevent the pride which flatters itself on account of its external ser-
vices, nor did the extraordinary brotherly love which the great body of
Christians exhibited, entirely suppress some manifestations of envy and party
spirit. When persecution was expected, it was not uncommon for some
among the Jewish Christians to save themselves by apostacy, and among the
Gentile portion of the Church sins were sometimes committed which were
regarded as unpardonable, (e) Even when Christian morality had been in-
fluenced by Jewish views of personal purity, it had much to contend with in
the sensuality of the Greeks. Fastings and abstinences, which had been re-
garded from a period of great antiquity, as conducive to a pious disposition,
together with some festivals, were very soon introduced into the Christian
Church. Paul, it is true, rejected them when any attempted to enforce them
as a matter of legal obligation, or of personal merit, but he looked upon vir-
ginity as a very desirable condition, and expressed an inferior regard for the
married state. (/) N"o change was required in the social relations of life, but
they were exalted by higher motives and principles, (g) AU hope of an
earthly theocracy was apparently destroyed by the death of Jesus, but Chris-
tians generally believed that Christ was to return to the world a second time,
and many indulged the hope that they would live to witness his advent. This
faith gave birth to the boldest expectations, partaking generally of a sensuous
character, and while it seemed a national necessity, and a religious consola-
tion to the Jewish, it was a source of anxiety and perplexity to the Greciau
congregations, (h)
§ 44. ITode of Worship.
The devotional exercises of the Christian assemblies, like those of the
Jewish synagogues, consisted principally of prayers, singing of hymns, and
ad H. ecc. Altou. 1743. Th. IL) b) Acts 5, 1-11. c) Comp. Gfrorer, Gesch. d. Urchr. III. p. a559s.
d) AcU 2, 15-18; / Cor. 12, 4. 14, Iss. e) Ueb. 6, 4ss. 10, 253S.— /. Jo. 5, IC. /) /. Cor. 7, Is. 82s3.
fir) Ep. ad Philemon. A) After the Apoc-alypso, MaUh, 16, 2S ; /. Cor. 15, 52 ; Phil. 4, 6 ; Beb. 10, 37 ;
/. Jo. 2, IS ; JameH 5, S ; /. Pet. 4, 5.—//. The»». 2.
CHAP. II. APOST. CnURCIT. § 44. WORSniP. § 45. POCTEINES. 41
sacred discourses, founded upon portions of tlie Old Testament. Apostolic
epistles were read in the congregation, to which they had been originally di-
rected, but after a single reading they were generally laid aside. Every one
who had the power and the inclination to speak in public, was allowed to do
so with freedom. Baptism as an initiatory rite was ]ierfornied simply in the
name of Jesus, (n) The love-feast, in which were combined the ordinary
meal and the religious service of the primitive Christians, was originallj' cele-
brated in Jerusalem every day. At its conclusion ihe broken bread and the
consecrated cup was passed around to every one at the table, (b) In the Jew-
ish Christian congi-egations the Jewish Sabbath and festivals were observed.
Paul denied that any one was bound by positive law to show a preference of
one sacred day above another, (c) Only in congregations composed princi-
pally of Greeks, could the members be induced to observe Sunday in com-
memoration of our Lord's resurrection, ((T) and among them no interest could
be awakened in those Jewish festivals, which were not connected with some
event of the Christian history, to give them additional importance. It is,
however, not easy to explain why even Paul and John should have discon-
tinued in such congregations the eating of the paschal lamb, according to the
asage of their forefathers, (e)
§ 45. Doctrines of the Churcli.
No public sentiment upon definite articles of Christian faith had yet been
formed, but in addition to those generally received maxims of piety, which
in some instances had been handed down from the lips of Jesus, and in othei*s
had been gradually developed in the course of free discussion, the whole sys-
tem of Jewish faith passed over into the Christian Church, and was received
as divine. The only condition of admission to the Church, was a promise to
live a new life, and an acknowledgment of Jesus as the Messiah. In this ac-
knowledgment free scope was given to all those views of the nature of the
Messiah, which prevailed among the people, from a simple recognition of hiia
as the Son of David, and a man filled with the Spirit of God, to a belief iu
him as an angel, and an impersonation of some one of the attributes of
Jehovah. In the view of the Greeks the Messianic office had no special sig-
nifi(!ance, and Christ was to them simply the Lord, and the Son of God. As
far as the reception of the doctrine of the Holy Ghost may bo regarded as au
indication of the development of Christianity at this period, the views of the
Church may be inferred from the baptismal formula, wliich was a simple ex-
pression of faith in the divine Father, Son, and Spirit (Matth. 28, 19). This
whole transaction was a thoroughly practical matter, and admitted of a great
variety of views,
a) AcU 2, as. S, IG. 10, 4S; Horn. 6, 3. I) J. T. F. Dreachei; de vott. Chrlstianorum Agapis. Gieas.
B'24. c) Gal. 4, Oss. ; Col. 2, IG ; Rom. 14, 5 ; coinp. L Cor. 5, 6s3. ; Uomi). Jmtin. c. Tiypli. c. 10,
12. d) AcU 20, T; /. Cor. 16, 2; liev. 1, 10; liarnah. c. 15,— C. C. L. Franke, do dlol domlnloi
npud vott. Christ, celobratlono, Hal. 1S26; (Commtt sal. ed. Volheding, 1S4C, Th, I. P, I.) e) Acta
20, 5s, ; Fuseb. H, ecc. V, 24.
42 ANCIENT CUUKCn IIISTOEV. TLR. I. DIV. II. A. I). 100-312.
DIVISION II.-FOIIMATION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.
CHAP. I.— STRUGGLE OF THE CHURCH FOR ITS OWN EXIST-
ENCE.
Ltictmititii', do mortib. persecutormn, ed. Itdiihh-i, Traj. nd. Rli. 160.3. nnd often. [This work
is trniisl. by J>j). liiiniet. Loml. ITl.'!. S.] — C. Kort/ioU, di- porsoquutionib. ccc. priiiinovno (Jen. 1C60),
Kilon. IGSO. 4; Transl. into Germ.; Hesolir. d. 10 grossen Verfolfrg. Il.imb. 160S; Giljhv>i,l'>ec\Um
and Fall of the lloin. Einp. Lond. 177Gss. 6 vols. 4, and often. [With notes by Milnum and
Giiisot. New Yi>rk. 1S4S. 4 vols. S.] Tnmsl. into Germ, by Weill:, and otliers. Lps. ITSSss. 19 vols.;
the 16lh chap, respcctinp tlic prop, of Clir. by natural causes, transl. by A. F. v. Wiilterstern, Ilainb.
17SS; G. A. Oniii/rdfi; Ausbrcit. d. Christenth. (Stiuidlin's u. Tzscliirner's Arch. vol. 4. sect. 2); //.
6. T^schirner, der Fall des Ilcidenth. Lps. 1S29. 1 vol. ; A. Ikugnot, Hist do hi destruction du pa-
gauisiiio en Occident. Tar. 1S35. 2 vols. [.4. NiUcld, d. Entsteli. der Altkath. K. IJonn. 1850.]
§ 4G. The Jars.
Zun:, die Gottesdienstl. Yortr. d. ,Tud. hist, cntwickelt. Brl. 1S32. comp. § 40.
Uninstruotcd by tlic past, and iinliuinbled by defeats, the Jews contonded
against tbeir fato (after 115), and from "Western Africa to Asia Minor, insurrec-
tions rolled over the land, always to be quelled in Jewish blood. That he
might not bo compelled to put tho whole nation to death, Hadrian resolved
to destroy its nationality. Tlie jjcoplo were forbidden to observe their Sab-
baths, and circumcision was punished as a crime probably as emasculation, (a)
and on the ruins of Jerusalem a city consecrated to Jujiitcr was built, and in
honor of that divinity and of the emperor was called Aelia Capitolina.
When reduced to extremity, tho nation was called to arms (132) by Bar
Cochha^ i. c. the Son of a Star, Qi) who professed to be the promised Messiah,
and was acknowledged to be such bj* the distinguished Rabbi Akiba. Ho
succeeded in conquering Jerusalem, and in consequence of his heroic but
sanguinary exploits, Palestine became once more free. But after all the hor-
rors and vicissitudes of a three years' war, Julius Sever us got i)o.ssession, by
storm, of Ikthar^ the last fortress of this ^Messiah's kingdom. The impostor
himself fell in tho battle. The whole of Palestine had become a desert.
Every Jew was forbidden, under penalty of death, to set foot within the holy
city. Those Christians who remained in Palestine suffered much during this
struggle, not only from the Romans, by whom they were frequently treated
as Jews, but still more from the followers of the false Messiah, because they
refused to follow him in his etforts to save their common country, (c) These
natioiuil misfortunes were regarded by the Jews as divine judgments for their
indifi'crenco to the law of their fathers, and had no influence in diminishing
their assurance of future success. Schools of learning were established, to
serve as spiritual courts, and centres of influence for tho nation in its general
dispersion! Genuine liahhinism Avas formed on the ruins of the older sects
a) Spartiani, lladr. c. 14. comp. Digest. XLVIII. tit 8. fr. 11 ; Not. Just 142. c 1. V) Num.
24,17. After his failure ho was called : X2^Ti3 13, Alius mendacii. c) I. Dio Cass. LXVIII,
82; LXIX, 12ss. ; Eimeb. II. ccc. IV, 2. 6; Jiinlini, Ap. I. c. 81.— II. Dei/Ung, Aeliae Cap. Ori-
ginos et Hist Lps. 1743; Mihitet: der Jfid. Krieg untcr Trajan u. lladr. Altona u. Lps. 1S21.
ciiAi'. 1. HTur(i(ii.i; or (MiiMsTiANnv. s m. .hwjaism. j it, icomanh. /13
at 'J'iliiriiis^ ill lll(^ hcIkioI of Ililld, in wliicli tlio Miisuic, liiw, in itn iiliiioHt
extoiit, IIioiikIi imrliull)' iicooiiiiiiodatc!*! to tlii! tiiiitm, wuh taiiKlit hy u cIiihh
of tearliiTH ]ic-i'iiiaiic-iitly Hut u|mrt to tliiH work. Tiio trailitioHH of tlio HcrlhcH
Jici'o reduced to writiiij^ (MinluKi, al>oiit 220), willi oxplaiiatioiiM {(/fnuini, in
tlic 4tli cunt.), coiiHtilMted, in Hiil)HO(|iioMt tiinoM, tiio |iriiici|)nl book tor in-
Htriiction and rcli^'ioii.s law {'liihiniil). A Htiil jfrcalc-r iiilliioiici! wiih nl'li!!'-
wiinlH iu'(iiiiri'il hy I ho hcIiooIh on I Iks Kn|)lirat<'M, in wliicli tiio IJaliy Ionian
'ralniiid WIIH c.oinitoMcd of tiio Haiiio (general inaturials (I!i0 till 521), ami lic-
canio iiiont ((cnoraily cHtooinud, on tliu (^roiiiid tliat it wan ii more diHiinct
form of iiiodcrn .ImlaiHrn. Tim Jowh, wIkj wcro tliu Hoiirc(;H of all tlio ciiliim-
nit'H licii|icd ii|)on (IliriHt ami tliti ('linrcli, knew very well liow to cxcitii tlic
Haiiio lint red ii;,(ainHt. tliu (/liriHtiaiiH of wliicli tlioy woro llioinsclvon the vic-
tirnH. ('/) Tlic fccliiiKH of (y'lirintianH with rcMpcct to tlu) .Jews wtill rcinaimid
of a contradictory (diaractcr. In a. dialo/jjiu) of JuhHii, in wlii(di tlio antlior
rcplicH to tlm olijiu^tionH of a (Mtidid .lew a^^aiiiHt tliu vo(tiition of .Ichuh, ami
tlio traiiHitory naturo of I lie (liviiio law, tlio poHition in iiHHiimcil, tliat tlu; Mo-
Haic pre(!cptH and iiiHtitntionH were only prclij^nrationH and HymbolH oitlKT of
what (/'liriHt <lid, or of what ha|»iH;n(;d to him and liin I'oIlowcrH. (i^ It wiih
even then aHwrtcd, that OhriHtiaiiily had hccn rcjcc'icd by tlio pcdjdc among
whom it originated, ami that the few who had cmhraccd it wore; hy no meaiiM
the most faithful ami coiiMiHttjiit (IhristiaiiH. (./') The proolk adduced hy
Cj/primi are a (!olle<!tion of perlincnl uiid imprrtimiil, paHsagCH of Kcrijitiire,
to mIiow that the .lews were to ho cast oil', and that all the prophecies cither
had 1m( 11 oi- WDiiM ho fiillillod by Chrint. (//)
§ 'IT. '/'/ii' li'iiiiKiii I'liijilr mill iliuji'in',
KorthoU, I'liKiiniiM oljtructnlor, Klloii. lOUS. 4; ./. J, lluhlerlvl, (ii'iillllH oldrcctfltDr, TlKiir. \1U;
I'diml, di' I'lilpii ClirlHlliiiuir. In viixiiU, iiiolln u Itimi. JCrl. 17M). U I'nv,. 4; Mimtei; dlii (/'hrlntlii liii
IioIiImIm'Ik'II Iliiiii-c vor Coiinlnntlii, Kopnili. WiH.
J''ronitli(^ time of Trajan, tJio T'oinan jicojilo had he(;n acciistotmrd inn
tnimill lions miinner to ihMiiand that (christians Hhoiild bo jmt. to death. This
jiroceeded ori(,'inally from jiorsotiH who eillu'r dc'rived their .siipjiort fnjin Homo
coiine(^tion with idolatry, or found their principal honor or pleasure in tlio
cultivation of |)a(^aii literature. Hut intornally <lecayod, as heathenism thou
wiiH, it could never have awakened hucIi a powerful opjioHition, and, in tlio
courrto of the Htrnj^glo, have won for itHulf om;*; more a hi^fli dofj^roo of attach-
ment, merely hy a[)peals in hcdialf of the old idolatry. Tlio whole common
feeling of the iinciiint world, and the chief K''"'y "' ••''*' I'rcHent lite, was UH-
Hailed by (yhristiniiily, and the pcMipIo saw nothing proposed in return but u
Hovere and cheerless Hysteni of virtu<i, hi wlii<;li the world was rendered u
doMorl, that an un(;erlain heiiveii migliL be won. The hatred thuH awakened
endeavored to justify itsolf by HUHi)icioiis. The H|>iritnal worHliip of an in-
vimhle (jiod was donouiKted as atheihiri ; jiarticipation in the Ha(!reil body of
d) JiitUii, V. Trypl). c. ICii, ; Terlul, od nation. I, 14. e) AiaKoyoi wpht Titu'ltaiva, 'Xuuhaiuv.
VA.JfUi, \Mni\. nil): i)\,\t. tw. J. (I. T. OHi>,Ao\\. 1SJ2«. '\'\t. V\.\—.'HlinHoher,un Dliil. o. Trypli.
.limlino ri'ctn iwlKiTllnitiir? (Oimiiiicntt. i\\i:<>\. od. ItoKiimiiKOlnr, I^jm. l^iJO. Tli. 1. 1'. 'i, j). 1*»4«».)
/) JitHllni, A|i<il. I. c. M. y) 'I'uHtltiiiiriliiniiii mlv. .hvV.w.im, I. III.
44 ANCIENT ClIUECU HISTOKT. PEK. I. DIV. II. A. D. 100-313.
Christ was represented as a Thyestean feast ; the privcacy of tlie Christian as-
semhlies was looked upon as a cloak for conspiracy, and for secret crimes ;
and the fraternal fellowship which generally prevailed among Christians, was
suspected as the result and the occasion of unnatural laseiviousness. The re-
proaches heaped upon each other by the Church and the various Christian
sects, (a) and the confessions wrung by torture from heathen slaves, with re-
spect to their Christian masters, (h) appeared to confirm the suspicions of
those who were anxious to find evidences of guilt. The public misfortunes
in which that age abounded, were all regarded as divine judgments for the
dishonor done to the ofl:ended gods. But to persons of distinction, and to
those who had been educated in the spirit of the times, Christianity appeared
to be a dark superstition of an infatuated rabble. The magistrates were, in-
deed, frequently induced to persecute Christians, by the clamors of the mul-
titude, and by their OAvn passions ; but the true reason for it was to be found
in motives of state policy. Christians looked upon it as dangerous to take
the oath of allegiance which the soldiers were obliged to receive, or to per-
form the duties of any public or civil office, (c) although many overcame
their religious scruples from a regard to personal advantages or feelings of
duty. Although they generally submitted to every outrage inflicted upon
them by the magistrates, whom they regarded as appointed by God, their
vast number and mutual fellowship rendered them formidable to the civil
authorities. Indeed, this consciousness of their own power, and their con-
viction that the empire was destined to a speedy overthrow were so openly
expressed, (d) that their assurances of fidelity and loyalty appeared quite sus-
picious. At all events, the State was torn by dissensions, and as long as
any hope remained of overcoming Christians by terror, sanguinary measures
were looked upon as likely to result in good. The fate of Christians was, it
is true, determined by the imperial edicts in every part of the empire, but it
was rendered mild or severe according to the popular sentiment in each pi"0-
vinco and the personal feelings of the local magistrate.
§ 48. Conduct of the Individual Binjjerors during the Second and Third Cen-
turies.
Franc. Balduinl, Commtr. ad edlcta vett, prince. Kom. de Chilstliinls, Hal. 1T27. 4; CD. A,
Martini, P*rsecutiones Chrtstlanorum sub Impp. Eom. Eostoch. 1802s. 8 Comiii. 4; Schumann
V. ManseoQ, die Verfolgungen d. ersten chrlstl. Kirolie. Tien. 1521 ; G. S. Kopke, de statu et oondit.
ChrlstlanormB sub Impp. Kom. alterlus post Chr. Baec. Bar. 1828.
1. A noble race of emperors, in whom the Greek and Roman spirit was
once more revived, were, in the old Roman style, either indifferent or severe
in their treatment of Christianity. A rescript of Trajan (98-117), in reply
to some inquiries of Pliniun (about 110) respecting the conduct to be pursued
towards Christians, directed that they should not be sought after by the civil
authonties, but that all legally arraigned by accusers before the courts, were
a) Tortnl, de Jejun. c. IT ; Clsm. Strom. III. p. 511 ; Euneb. H. oca IV, 7. b) Euseh. H. ooo, VI,
1. c) Tertul. de cor, c, 11 J Apolof;et c. 33; de Pallio, c. 6; Ruinart, Acta Martyr, cd, 2. p. 299a
d) Tertul. Apoloset, o. 8T. Tiio Apocftlypse of John, and many things in the Sibylline bonks, had
already announced tliosa,
CHAR I. STKUGGLES OF CHRISTIANITY. § 4S. ROMAN KMrEEOKS. 45
either to be })ardonecl if they ileiiicd the charge or repented, or given over
to death if they continued obstinate. lie however allowed, tliat no uniform
rule could be prescribed in this matter. So many of them in Bithynia and
Pontus were induced to invoke the gods, to anathematize Christ, and to honor
the statue of the emperor with ofierings of wine and incense, that Pliny in-
dulged the hope that, by a skilful combination of mildness and severity, lie
would soon be able to put an end to this superstition, (o) The aged Si/mco)i,
the son of Cleopas, and the successor of James at Jerusalem, being accused
before Atticus, the governor of the city, of being a Christian, and of the
family of David, was crucified (107), {f>) and Jc/natiui'^ Bishop of Antioch,
after a personal audience with the emperor, was torn to pieces by lions in
the Coliseum, for the amusement of the Roman people (116). (c) About
this time, the people began at their festivals, or in time of public calamity,
to demand the blood of Christians. Ilailrian (117-138) and Antoninus Phis
(138-161) therefore checked these tumultuous proceedings, by directing that
the strict forms of law belonging to the usual trials should be observed. {(T)
The stoical repugnance which Marcus Aurdius (lGl-180) felt toward the en-
thusiasm of the Christians, induced him to allow the popular hatred in south-
ern Gaul and Asia Minor to have its full career of blood, {e) Polycarp^
Bishop of Smyrna, the last living relic of Apostolic days, died (169) at the
stake, because he refused to curse the Lord whom he had faithfully served
for 8G years. (/) The miracle of the Legio fulminatrix (17-1) was either not
important enough, or not sufficiently authenticated, to turn the philosophic
emperor from his course. Qj) 2. Until some time in the middle of tlie third
century, the emperors were either indifferent or favorable to Christianity ;
but as the ancient laws still remained unrepealed, its adherents were depend-
ent upon the caprice of the municipal governors. The wanton cruelty of
Com/nodus (180-192) was softened to mildness with respect to Christians,
by the influence of his paramour Marria, and yet A])oUonlus was put to
death, principally, however, on account of his eloquent apology for Christian-
ity before the Senate. Ilis accuser was executed at an earlier period, per-
haps as his slave. (A) Septimins Severits (192-211) merely prohibited the
further propagation of Christianity. (/) The enmity Avhich Caracalla
(211-217) bore toward the whole human race, amounted only to indifference
with respect to the Church. {Ic) The effeminate pleasure which Ucliogahalus
(218-222) took in oriental .systems of religion, operated f;ivorably in behalf
of Christianity. (/) "With a nobler appreciation of its spiritual nature, Alcx-
a) Plinii, Epp. X. p. 96s. (al. 978.); Teriul. Apologet c. 2; Euseb. H. ecc. Ill, IS;— Haver-
eaat, Vertheidlgung dcr PUn. Uriefc ii. (1. Cliristen, Oott 17SS. I) Euseb. H. ecc. Ill, 32, comp. 11.
after Ilegesippus. c) Eiiseb. II. ecc. Ill, 26 ; Acta inartyrii Ignat. in liuinart, p. Sss. d) Justini,