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procedure. It is perhaps the only trial recorded in hiftory where both the accufer and the accufed fuffered judicially. Eufebius obferves, that the laws were still in force, commanding Chriftians to be put to death, who had been prefented before the tribunal. But Adrian, or certainly Antoninus Pius, had abrogated this iniquitous edict of Trajan. Under Marcus it might be revived,—as what feverity against Christians was not be expected from that cruel perfecutor? Now Commodus, by menacing accufers with death, probably fuppofed he had fufficiently fecured the Chriftians. Yet, if a formal abrogation of the law against Christians did not actually taken place, one may fee how Apollonius came to fuffer as well as his adverfary. In truth, if he had been filent, it is very likely he would have faved his own life. Infidious artifices, under the pretence of much refpect and defire of information, seem to have drawn him into a measure which coft him fo dear: He died, however, in the best of caufes !

There is, in the work of Lucian, a remarkable ftory of a perfon named Peregrinus, which, as it falls in with this century, and throws light on the character of the Chriftians who then lived, deferves to be here introduced." In his youth," fays this author," he fell into thameful crimes, for which he was near lofing his life in Armenia and Asia. I will not dwell on thofe crimes; but I am perfuaded that what I am about to fay is worthy of attention. There is none of you but know, that being chagrined because his father was still alive after being upwards of fixty years of age, he ftrangled him. The rumour of fo black a crime being fpread abroad, he betrayed his guilt by flight. He wandered about in divers countries to conceal the place of his retreat, till, upon coming into Judea,

Judea, he learnt the admirable doctrine of the Christians, by converfing with their priests and teachers. In a little time he fhewed them that they were but children compared to himfelf: for he became not only a prophet, but the head of their congregation: in a word, he was every thing to them: he explained their books, and compofed fome himself, infomuch that they spoke of him fometimes as a god, and certainly confidered him as a lawgiver and a ruler. However, thefe people, in fact, adore that great perfon who had been crucified in Palestine, as being the firft who taught men that religion. While thefe things were going on, Peregrinus was apprehended and put in prifon on account of his being a Chriftian. This difgrace loaded him with honour: it was the very thing he ardently defired: it made him more reputable among thofe of that perfuafion, and furnifhed him with a power of performing wonders. The Chriftians, grievoufly afflicted at his confinement, ufed their utmost efforts to procure him his liberty; and as they faw they could not compass it, they provided abundantly for all his wants, and rendered him all imaginable fervices. There was feen, by break of day, at the prifon-gate, a company of old women, widows, and orphans, fome of whom, after having corrupted the guard with money, paffed the night with him there they partook together of elegant repafts, and entertained one another with religious difcourfes. They called that excellent man the New Socrates. There came even Chriftians, deputed from many cities of Afia, to converfe with him, to comfort him, and to bring him fupplies of money; for the care and diligence which the Chriftians exert in these junctures is incredible: they spare nothing in fuch cafes. They fent, therefore,

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therefore, large fums to Peregrinus; and his confinement was to him an occafion of amaffing great riches; for these poor creatures are firmly perfuaded they fhall one day enjoy immortal life; therefore they despise death with wonderful courage, and offer themselves voluntarily to punishment. Their firft lawgiver has put it into their heads that they are all brethren, Since they feparated from us, they perfevere in rejecting the gods of the Grecians, and in worshipping that deceiver who was crucified: they regulate their manners and conduct by his laws; they defpife, therefore, all earthly poffeffions, and ufe them in common. Therefore if any magician or juggler, any cunning fellow who knows how to make his advantage of opportunity, happens to get into their fociety, he immediately grows rich; because it is eafy for a man of this fort to abuse the fimplicity of these filly people. However Peregrinus was fet at liberty by the prefident of Syria, who was a lover of philofophy and of its profeffors; and who, having perceived that this man courted death out of vanity and a fondness for renown, released him, defpifing him too much to have a defire of inflicting capital punishment on him. Peregrinus returned into his own country, and as fome were inclined to profecute him on account of his parricide, he gave all his wealth to his fellow-citizens, who, being gained by this liberality, impofed filence on his accufers. He left his country a fecond time in order to travel, reckoning he thould find every thing he wanted in the purfes of the Chriftians, who were punctual in accompanying him wherever he went, and in fupplying him with all things in abundance. He fubfifted in this manner for a confiderable

time; but having done fomething which the Chriftians abhor,-they faw him, I think, make ufe of fome meats forbidden amongst them, he was abandoned by them; infomuch that having not any longer the means of fupport, he would fain have revoked the donation he had made to his country."

The native place of this extraordinary man was Parium in Myfia. After his renunciation of Christianity he affumed the character of a philofopher. In that light he is mentioned by feveral heathen authors; and this part he acted till the time of his death; when, in his old age, he threw himself into the flames, probably because fuicide was honourable in the eyes of the Gentiles, and becaufe Empedocles, a brother philofopher, had thrown himself into the vulcano at mount Etna.-A remark may here be made on the writer, on the hero, and on the Chriftians of thofe times.

It will not be neceffary to give an anxious answer to the railleries, cavils, and infinuations of Lucian in this narrative. Whoever knows any thing of real Chriftianity, and the ufual obloquy thrown upon it, will cafily make juft deductions, and feparate what is true from what is falfe. Lucian was one of the most facetious authors of antiquity: He doubtlefs poffeffed the talents of wit and fatire in a fupreme degree. But truth and candour are not ufually to be expected from writers of this fort: Lucian, like others of the fame vein, had his eyes turned malignantly towards all objects but himfelf: He was intolerably felf-conceited, and may be ranked with Voltaire, Rouffeau,

Lardner's Collect. Vol. 11. C. 19.-Bullet's Establishment

of Christianity.

Rouffeau, Hume, and other modern writers of that stamp: He was farcaftic, unfeeling, and fufpicious of evil every where except in his own heart. The common confequence of fuch a temper, indulged without reftraint, is a fceptical indifference to all forts of religion, a contempt of every mode of it without diftinction, and fupercilious felf-applaufe on account of fuperior dif cernment. Such men, of all others, feem most to fall under the cenfure of the wife man, Hɛ

THAT TRUSTETH HIS OWN HEART IS A FOOL.

They take for granted the fincerity, humanity, and benevolence of their own hearts, with as much pofitiveness as they do the obliquity and hypocrify of other men's. Antiquity had ONE Lucian; and, it must be confeffed the abfurdities of paganifm afforded him a large field of fatire, which, eventually, was not unferviceable to the progrefs of Christianity: Our times have ABOUNDED with writers of this ftamp; and it is one of the most ftriking characteristics of the depravity of modern tafte, that they are so much read and efteemed.

Peregrinus is no very uncommon character, On a lefs extended fcale, men of extreme wickednefs in a fimilar way may frequently be noticed : Men, whofe early life have been devoted to nothing but vices: Then, afterwards, fomething of the garb and mode of real Chriftians is affumed by thefe deceivers. But it is not every one who has the abilities of Peregrinus to wear the hypocritical garb fo affumed with confummate address, and to impofe on genuine Chriftians of undoubted dif cernment. The unfeeling heart of Lucian appears to rejoice in the impofitions of Peregrinus; and particularly, that he was able to impofe on Chrif tians fo long and fo completely. A philanthropic

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