-

of godlinefs. His example was most powerful and effectual among them for ages. The honours paid to his memory demonftrate this: Moreover it is certain, that his diocefe, once the fcene of Punic greatness, continued, long after, one of the most precious gardens of Christianity, as I fhall have abundant occafion to fhew in the courfe of this hiftory,-if I fhould be permitted to continue it. But the mifchiefs of Origen's tafte and spirit in religion were inexpreffible.-Talents and learning are coveted by mankind; he, however, who poffeffes much of them, has the more abundant need to learn humility and divine caution. For, if he do not evidently benefit mankind by them, he is in danger of doing much. mifchief.-No man, not altogether unfound and hypocritical, ever injured the Church of Chrift more than Origen did. From the fanciful mode of allegory, introduced by him and uncontrouled by Scriptural rule and order, arofe a vitiated method of commenting on the facred pages; which has been fucceeded by the contrary extremenamely, a contempt of types and figures altogether: and, in a timilar way, his fanciful ideas of LETTER and SPIRIT tended to remove from men's minds all juft conceptions of genuine fpirituality.-A thick mift for ages pervaded the Chriftian world, fupported and ftrengthened by his abfurd allegorical manner of interpretation. The learned alone were confidered as guides implicitly to be followed; and the vulgar,-when the literal fenfe was hiffed off the ftage,-had nothing to do but to follow their authority wherever it might conduct them. It was not till the days of Luther and Melanthon, that this evil was fairly and fuccefsfully oppofed.

If I have carried the parallel to a greater length than the just laws of hiftory allow, the importance

LL 2

of

of the cafe is my apology. Let the whole be attentively weighed by the ferious reader, in connection with two paffages of St. Paul: the firft of which is,-"I am jealous over you with a godly jealoufy, left your minds be corrupted from the fimplicity that is in Chrift;"-and the fecond-" Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"

CHAP.

CHA P. XVI.

OTHER PARTICULARS OF VALERIAN'S

PERSECUTION.

T has been already mentioned, that Cyprian heard of the death of Sixtus, bishop of Rome, a little before his own martyrdom. In purfuance. of the cruel orders of Valerian, for carrying on the perfecution, that prelate had been feized with fome of his clergy. While they were carrying him to execution, Laurentius, his chief deacon, followed him weeping, and faid, "Whither goest thou, Father, without thy fon?" Sextus faid, "You fhall follow me in three days." We may fuppofe him to have been poffeffed with the fpirit of prophecy in faying this, because we are certain that miraculous gifts were as yet by no means extinct in the Church: But, perhaps, the declaration was not out of the reach of common fagacity from the circumstances of affairs.

After Sixtus's death *, the Prefect of Rome, moved by an idle report of the immenfe riches of the Roman Church, fent for Laurentius, and ordered him to deliver them up. Laurentius replied, "Give me a little time to fet every thing in order, and to take an account of each particular." The Prefect granted him three days time. In that space Laurentius collected all the poor who were fupported by the Roman Church, and going

• Aug. Vol. 9, p. 52.-See Fleury, B. 7.

going to the Prefect, faid, "Come, behold the riches of our God; you fhall fee a large court full of golden veffels." The Prefect followed him, but, feeing all the poor people, he turned to Laurentius with looks full of anger. "What are you

difpleafed at?" faid the martyr;-" The gold, you fo eagerly defire, is but a vile metal taken out of the earth, and ferves as an incitement to all forts of crimes: The true gold is that Light whofe difciples thefe poor men are. The mifery of their bodies is an advantage to their fouls: Sin is the real difeafe of mankind: The great ones of the earth are the truly poor and contemptible. These are the treasures which I promifed you; to which I will add precious ftones.-Behold thefe virgins and widows, they are the Church's crown; make ufe of thefe riches for the advantage of Rome, of the emperor, and of yourself."

Doubtless, if the Prefect's mind had been at all difpofed to receive an inftructive leffon, he would have met with one here. The liberality of Chriftians in maintaining a great number of objects, and in looking for no recompenfe but that which thall take place at the refurrection of the juft, while they patiently bore affliction, and humbly rested on an unfeen Saviour, was perfectly agreeable to the mind of HIM, who bids his difciples, in a wellknown parable, to relieve thofe, who cannot recompenfe them. How glorious was this fcene! at a time when the rest of the world were tearing one another in pieces, and when philofophers made not the flighteft attempts to alleviate the miferies. of their fellow-creatures !-But, as the perfecutors would not hear the doctrines explained, fo neither would they fee the precepts exemplified with patience. "Do ye mock me?" cries the Prefect;

Luke xiv. 12-15.

"I know,

"I know, ye value yourselves for contemning death, and therefore ye fhall not die at once." Then he caufed Laurentius to be ftripped, extended, and faftened to a gridiron, and, in that manner, to be broiled to death by a flow fire. When he had continued a confiderable time with one fide to the fire, he faid to the Prefect, " Let me be turned, I am sufficiently broiled on one fide." And when they had turned him, he looked up to heaven and prayed for the converfion of Rome; and then gave up the ghoft!

I give this ftory at fome length, because it has fufficient marks of credibility, and is fupported by the evidence of Auguftine.-I am not difpofed to follow Fleury in various other narratives. In fubjects of martyrology this author feems directly oppofite to our countryman Gibbon. Whatever judgment thefe hiftorians poffeffed, remained, in this matter, equally unexercifed by both. Indifcriminate incredulity is as blind as indifcriminate belief. I may not always fucceed, but I certainly endeavour to feparate truth from fiction, and neither to impofe on my readers or on myself.

At Cæfarea in Cappadocia, a child named Cyril, fhewed uncommon fortitude. He called on the name of Jefus Chrift continually, nor could threats or blows prevent him from openly avowing Chriftianity. -Several children of the fame age perfecuted him; and his own father, with the applaufes of many perfons for his zeal in the fupport of paganifm, drove him out of his houfe. The judge ordered him to be brought before him, and faid," My child, I will pardon your faults; and your father fhall receive you again: It is in your power to enjoy your father's eftate, provided you are wife, and take care of your own interest." "I rejoice to bear your reproaches," replied the child," God will re