INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.

It is well known that though Christianity was persecuted by the Jews from the very outset of its promulgation, it was some time before this religion provoked the wrath or the intolerance of the Romans. The truth is, that on the part of the government at Rome, there was a very general connivance at religion in all its numerous varieties. And the reason of this was, that under the system of Paganism no one variety, or modification, was thought to exclude another. Each country was conceived to have its local deity—and each element of Nature to have its own pervading spirit-and each new god of the provinces over which they extended their power, offered no disturbance to the habits of their previous theology, but was easily disposed of, by the bare addition of another name to the catalogue. rate there was no conflict, and no interference. learning the religion of another country, they simply extended their acquaintance with the world of supernatural beings; just as by the conquest of that country, they extended their acquaintance with the visible and the peopled world around them. In such a capacious and elastic creed as that of Paganism,

At this

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INTRODUCTORY ESSAY.

It is well known that though Christianity was persecuted by the Jews from the very outset of its promulgation, it was some time before this religion provoked the wrath or the intolerance of the Romans. The truth is, that on the part of the government at Rome, there was a very general connivance at religion in all its numerous varieties. And the reason of this was, that under the system of Paganism no one variety, or modification, was thought to exclude another. Each country was conceived to have its local deity-and each element of Nature to have its own pervading spirit-and each new god of the provinces over which they extended their power, offered no disturbance to the habits of their previous theology, but was easily disposed of, by the bare addition of another name to the catalogue. At this rate there was no conflict, and no interference.

By

learning the religion of another country, they simply extended their acquaintance with the world of supernatural beings; just as by the conquest of that country, they extended their acquaintance with the visible and the peopled world around them. In such a capacious and elastic creed as that of Paganism,

there was room enough for all the superstitions of all people. The sincerest possible homage for the gods of one territory, admitted of an homage equally sincere for the gods of another territory. Nay, by the same solemn act of worship, they may, each and all of them, have been included, at one time, in one general expression of faith and reverence. And this is the whole amount of the boasted tolerance of antiquity.

It

We e may easily perceive, how, in exception to this general spirit, Christianity, from being the object of lenity, and even of occasional protection by the Roman power, soon became the victim of its fiercest persecutions. For a few years, its character and pretensions were not distinctly understood. seems in truth, to have been regarded as a mere speciality of Judaism, and even though it had partaken of all the narrowness of the parent religion from which it sprung, yet would it have continued to share in the same immunities, had it maintained the same indolent contempt for the idolatry of the surrounding nations. But when it made a farther development of its spirit; when it began to be felt in the force of its active proselytism; when it was seen, that it not only admitted of no compromise with the articles of another faith, but that it aimed at the overthrow of every religion then in the world; when men at last perceived, that instead of quietly taking its place among their much-loved superstitions, it threatened the destruction of them all; then, though truth and argument were its only weapons, did the success with which they were wielded as much offend and terrify the world, as if they had been the weapons of ordinary warfare; and though Jesus Christ