12 Destruction of Jerusalem. Cent. 1. The writer of this article was usually renowned for bis caution and gravity in historical detail; but here he gives way to prejudice, even to an intemperate heat of expression; and though he exculpates the Christians from the charge of burning the city, yet he pronounces them so mischievous as to deserve the most exemplary punishment, and the public abhorrence. If such a sobermiuded man as Tacitus could thus write, no wonder such a bloody wretch as Nero could murder and destroy them. This persecution, not confined to the capital, raged, by the edicts of the tyrant, through the empire; and most probably continued, though with some abatement of its fury, to the end of Nero's reign, A. D. 68, when this unhappy man laid violent hands upon himself, and 80 "delivered the world from the monster, and the Christians from this bloody scourge." The reigns of his three several successors were short, and so occupied in wars as that their attention was diverted from the contemptible Christians. The time is now come in which God shall begin to reckon with his enemies, and to verify the predictions of his dear Son, whom they slew and hanged upon a tree, A. D. 70. Titus, son of the reigning emperor Vespasian, directed his arms against the Jewish capital, and brought destruction upon it to the uttermost. The church of Jesus there, before the dreadful catastrophe, it is said, were warned by some divine communication to flee from Jerusalem, which they did, and so escaped the calamities which fell on that devoted city. The death of Nero, and the political engagements of his successors, gave the church rest for about fifteen years; at least during this time persecution was not general; many cruelties no doubt were practised upon the followers of Christ, but the emperors had too much upon their hands to attend to the accusations brought by priests and philosophers. A. D. 81, Domitian acceded to the imperial dignity; the first part of his reign was not marked with that fury which distinguished it afterwards, for a while his conduet was reserved and doubtful. From the circumstance of Christ's regal elaims, a jealousy had prevailed in the minds of some of the Roman emperors, for fear of succeeding claims in the same family, especially as some of the relations of Jesus were reported to be upon the watch. The grandsons of Jude the apostle were brought before the sovereign. He demanded their parentage; they acknowledged themselves to be of the same family as Christ: he inquired also of their possessions and influence, but found them poor and neglected. Domitian then entertered into an investigation of the claims of Jesus, and his kingdom. Their Master had furnished them with an answer, "My kingdom is not of this world." They affirmed that their expectations related to a spiritual, not a temporal, establishment: they looked for that glory which should appear at the end of the world, when he should judge the quick and the dead, and render to every man according to his works. Upon such a testimony the fears of the emperor subsided, he saw no danger likely to arise from such pretensions as these, and the sons of Jude were dismissed. But alas for the church! matters finished not thus. Domitian, about A. D. 94, commenced a most cruel persecution, and many were put to death upon the charge of atheism, a common accusation brought against Christians in those days, because they refused to worship the pagan gods. Among those that fell victims to his rage, were the consul Flavius Clemens, his own consin, and .44 Clement. Cent. 1. Domitilla, wife of the consul; the former he put to the sword, and the latter he banished to the island of Pandataria. By an edict of banishment also, was the apostle John exiled to Patmos, where he had that divine communication recorded in his book of Revelation. At this time John must have been far advanced in life. In the year 96, Domitian was slain by his own relations, and Nerva, his successor in empire, concluded the persecution by releasing those who were condemned, and recalling the banished. This happy interval restored the beloved disciple John again to the church. John, at this period, in all probability, was the only surviving apostle; it is generally acknowledged he finished his days at Ephesus. Tradition has preserved some fragments concerning this venerable man. "Being now very old, and unable to say much in public, Children, love one another, was his constantly-repeated sermon. Being asked why he told them only one thing, he answered nothing else was needed. He lived three or four years after his return to Asia, having been preserved to the age of an hundred years, a pattern of charity and goodness greater than we can describe." first century preserve The epistle ascribed The uninspired records of the little worthy of credit or detail. to Barnabas is a libel upon the character of an apostle. And the work of Hermas (Rom. xvi. 14) is such a farrago, that, had it been sent to Paul, he would have committed it to the flames, and have been no persecutor. The Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians is an execption. Paul calls him his fellow-labourer, and adds, whose name is written in the book of life. He is believed to have been bishop of Rome, from whence his epistle is addressed, in which all the leading truths of the gospel are recognised, and that sound purity, so peculiar te Chap. 6. Review of the Century. 46 Christianity, strongly recommended. "His epistle was read in many primitive churches, and was admired exceedingly by the ancients." It bears a strong resemblance to the apostolic writings, but nothing is urged therein as divine, nor any thing calculated to cherish an unholy and proud principle of lordly rule in the pastoral office. It breathes the true spirit of a servant of the lowly Jesus. Some extracts will be given in the review of the century. The heresies propagated in this age cannot, congenially with our design, be delineated here. Suffice it to say, that they were principally classed under three denominations; the Gnostics, the Doceto, the Ebionites, and indeed to one class they might be reduced, inasmuch as they agreed to deny the proper divinity or real humanity of our adorable Lord. CHAPTER VI. REVIEW OF THE FIRST CENTURY. A MORE important period in church history cannot be reviewed, it is in this age we shall find whatever is dear to the Christian, and whatever is essential to Christianity. It will be admitted that the documents of this age, after the close of scripture eanon, are in many instances very doubtful guides: the best and perhaps the only way in which to try them is to compare them with the testimony of Holy Writ; as far as they bear a resemblance to it they may be considered as genuine. Hereties in after ages would not forge, nor originate writings in confirmation of seripture doctrines: and these doctrines 46 Epistle of Clement. Cent. 1. being already to be found in sacred writ, could afford but a very feeble motive to believers in those doctrines to practise deceit in attempts to confirm them. The most authentic, and therefore the most valuable writing of this century is Clement's Epistle to the Church of Corinth. It is stated by Mr. Milner (from whose valuable work we shall extract) to have been written about the year 94. The occasion of this letter seems to have been the prevailing spirit of sectarianism, and separation, ecclesiastically called schism. He refers to the matter, declared to the apostle Paul by the house of Chloe, in which there had been divisions severally in favour of Paul, and Apollos, and Cephas. He condemns the same spirit as prevailing at the time he wrote. "Do take up the writings of the blessed apostle, what did he say to you in the beginning of the gospel? Truly by divine inspiration he gave you directions concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, because even then ye were splitting into parties. But your party-spirit had then less evil in it, because it was then exercised towards apostles of eminent holiness, and towards one much approved of by them. But now consider who they are that have subverted you, and broken the bonds of brotherly love. They are shameful things, brethren, very shameful: Oh tell it not on Christian ground, that the ancient and flourishing church of Corinth has fallen out with their pastors, from a weak partiality for one or two persons. This rumour hath not only reached us Christians, but is spread among infidels, so that the name of God is blasphemed though your folly, and your own spiritual health is endangered indeed." He refers to some historical facts. "Set before your eyes the holy apostles. Through envy Peter underwent a variety of afflictions, and having suffered martyrdom, went to the due place of |