A Philosophical Dictionary. FROM THE FRENCH OF M. DE VOLTAIRE. BIBLY Without Philosophy, we should be little above the animals that dig Article ANTIQUITY, Vol. 1. p. 177. How charming is divine Philosophy! And a perpetual feast of nectar'd sweets, Where no crude surfeit reigns. MILTON'S COMUS, Scene 2. VOLUME V. LONDON, 1824: PRINTED FOR JOHN AND HENRY L. HUNT, TAVISTOCK STREET, COVENT GARDEN. A PHILOSOPHICAL DICTIONARY. MARTYRS. SECTION I. MARTYR, 'witness;' martyrdom, 'testimony.' The early christian community at first gave the name of 'martyrs' to those who announced new truths to mankind, who gave testimony to Jesus, who confessed Jesus; in the same manner as they gave the name of saints' to the presbyters, to the supervisors of the community, and to their female benefactors; this is the reason why St. Jerome, in his letters, often calls his initiated Paul, Saint Paul. All the first bishops were called saints. Subsequently, the name of martyrs was given only to deceased christians, or to those who had been tortured for punishment; and the little chapels that were erected to them, received afterwards the name of martyrion.' It is a great question, why the Roman empire always tolerated in its bosom the Jewish sect, even after the two horrible wars of Titus and Adrian; why it tolerated the worship of Isis at several times; and why it frequently persecuted christianity. It is evident, that the Jews, who paid dearly for their synagogues, denounced the christians as mortal foes, and excited the people against them. It is moreover evident, that the Jews VOL. V. B |