The Journal of Sacred Literature Volume 3 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1853 edition. Excerpt: ... of a wise man, not from mere obstinacy, as is the case with the Christians. He adds, that it becomes a man to depart out of this life with consideration and gravity, and so as to persuade others to this constancy of mind by his example, not in a tragic or theatrical manner; which words seem to refer to the fact that the Christians, when led to execution, often boasted of their hope and the joyfulness of their spirit, or sang a hymn to Christ, or exhorted their brethren to constancy and contempt of death. In the judgment, therefore, of M. Antoninus, the Christians, of whom many were put to death during his reign, were men whose contempt of death, which some of them are said to have even courted, in their desire to reap the honours of martyrdom, proceeded not from wisdom but from a perverse obstinacy, departing out of life as from a stage, like ranting players.? In this place only has M. Antoninus mentioned the Christians, nor have we anything further to produce which would give a more precise view of his sentiments concerning them. For the two epistles written in his name, one of which is said to have been addressed to the Senate of Rome, the other to the General Council of the cities of Asia, we conceive to be spurious, and think that they were forged by some Christians, with the design of recommending to the emperors of their times a lenient policy towards themselves, from the example of the most admired princes of the preceding age. As to the first of these epistles, in which Marcus announces to the Senate of Rome his wonderful victory over the Marcomanni near the river Graiiua, through the prayers of the ' thundering legion, ' the thing admits of no dispute. For the authenticity of the other some things not unplausible have been alleged, both...