trines resembled those of the modern Unitarians. Tertullian.} not appear that this sect separated from the ordinary assemblies of Christians. Artemon, Noetus, Beryllus, Sabellius, and Paul of Samosata supported this heresy ; and Tertullian, Hippolytus, Origen, and Dionysius of Alexandria opposed it. 113. Towards the end of the second century appeared that celebrated Christian author, Tertullian. He was born at Carthage, and educated there in the Pagan religion, which, however, he forsook in the beginning of the reign of Severus, and was made a Presbyter of the Church of Carthage. In his writings he showed himself a rigid censor and nice asserter of the severities of religion; until at length, disgusted with some affronts he met with at Rome, and incited by his own yehement and austere disposition, he embraced the errors of Montanus about the year 200, and continued in them until his death about 218 or 220.* He was the first of the Latin fathers in point of time, and his works were very voluminous;† the most famous of them was his Apology for the Christians against the Heathen, addressed to the magistrates and governors of the Roman empire. In this work he complains of the unjust and illegal proceedings against the Christians; demonstrates the falsehood of the charges of crime brought against them; shows their tem * It is placed as late as 246 by some writers, who say that he became an Heresiarch, and founded a sect at Carthage called Tertullianists. thirty short treatises, and are nearly all of a polemic cast, argumentative, vituperative, and severe. For information concerning them, see Bishop Kaye's + His works consist of about | Ecclesiastical History. 113. Give a brief history of Tertullian, and of his opinions at different periods of his life. What was his most famous work? Give a short account of its contents. [Note,] How many works did he write? SEVERUS. perance, piety, obedience, soundness of principle, and the unreasonableness of laying national calamities at their doors; and asserts the superiority of Christian virtues over those of the Pagan philosopher. Doctrine, Govern- 114. Although the genius of heathen philosophy had in the second century made some progress even in the body of the Christian Church, still the established creed remained in a great measure uncorrupted, and no open secession from the whole body of Christians had yet taken place. The doctrine of the Trinity was strongly asserted by the Fathers, who were strenuous also in maintaining the other articles of the faith. Attempts, however, were made in some instances to accommodate the text of Scripture to the corrupt practices of the heathen. The Bishops and Presbyters, according to Mosheim, (whose opinion on this point is controverted) were chosen by the people, and subsisted upon a portion of the voluntary offerings which were paid by every believer. At first each Christian society formed within itself an independent republic, unconnected with its neighbouring state by any other alliance than that of a common faith: yet peculiar respect was paid to Churches founded by the Apostles, and in time the Bishops of a province met together in the capital in spring and autumn, forming what was called a Synod by the Greeks and a Council by the Latins, whose decrees, styled Canons, regulated controverted points of faith and discipline. The Bishop of the city where the Synod was held was eventually called Metropolitan, or 114. What was the general state of Christianity in the second century? Did any open secession take place in the course of it? Give a short account of the government and practices of the Church at this period. What practice ་ 1 Primate. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was cele- SEVERUS. brated at every meeting for Divine worship, and administered alike to old and young. Baptism was publicly performed at Easter and Whitsuntide,* by three immersions, and succeeded by confirmation. The earliest records testify that infant baptism was usual in the Church: one sponsor only was required, which was usually the parent of the child. Prayers for the dead were offered up: this practice, which led to the doctrine of purgatory, was not instituted from any belief of that state, but to implore the Almighty to deal with the departed in mercy, not in justice, and as a testimonial of belief in the immortality of the soul, the consciousness of which they conceived to be suspended till the general resurrection. The feast of Whitsuntide possibly took its rise in this century, as well as that of Christmas; and the fifty days between Easter and Whitsuntide were observed as a festival, and the weekly fasts, which were observed till the ninth hour (i.e. three in the afternoon), were intermitted. Offenders who had relapsed into idolatry, or fallen into gross sin, were excluded from the assemblies of the faithful, till they were humbled by a public confession, and gave undeniable proofs of their sincere repentance. Number of Christians in the Second Century. 115. The tale of the Thundering Legion shows that in the second century the ranks of the Imperial army were filled with * Whit-Sunday, or White-Sun- | neophytes or candidates for bapday, because on this day the tism wore white garments. led to the Roman doctrine of purgatory? With what view were prayers for the dead offered up? What festivals took their rise in this century. 115. What means have we of ascertaining the number of Christians in the SEVBRUS. Christians; and we learn from Tertullian that they held various offices in the state, not excepting that of Senator, as we have also seen in the case of Apollonius, the martyr in the reign of Commodus. Indeed, their number had now become so great that to have excluded them from public stations would have been attended with much public inconvenience.* The heathen priests and philosophers were alarmed by this increase of Christianity, and opposed it as well by setting up imaginary rivals to Christ and His Apostles, as by exciting the people to demands of blood. Persecution by Severus. J 116. The early part of the reign of Severus was so far favourable to the Christians, that no additions were made to the severe edicts in force against them. Probably they were indebted for this lenity to Proculus, a Christian, who cured the emperor of a dangerous distemper. But this precarious peace, interrupted by the partial execution of severe laws, was terminated in the year 202, by an edict+ more intolerant than any which had preceded it. This edict prohibited every subject of the empire, under the penalties of death and confiscation of property,‡ from embracing the Jewish or Christian faith. The persecution A.D. 202. *Tertullian says if the Christians had unanimously retired to any other country, the empire would have become a mere desert and solitude. Dr. Burton suggests that the unwillingness of Jews and Chris tians to serve in the army gave rise to this edict. The express terms ofthe edict are lost, but we know from other sources that these were the penalties. second century? *[Note.] What is Tertullian's testimony upon this point? How did the heathen priests and philosophers oppose the increase of Christianity? 116. To what were the Christians indebted for lenity in the early part of the reign of Severus? What was the nature of the edict subsequently issued against them. Note.] What is supposed to have given rise to this edict? raged violently for seven years, in various parts of the SEVERUS. empire; but nowhere was it felt more bitterly than at Alexandria, which was visited by the emperor about this time. Among the sufferers were Leonides, father of the renowned Origen; and Potamiæa, a woman not less distinguished for chastity than for beauty, who, with her mother, Marcella, was burned to death, boiling pitch being poured over their naked bodies. These calamities induced Tertullian to compose his Apology and some other works. Life and Writings) of Origen. 117. The industry, erudition, and accomplishments of Origen justly entitle him to the most distinguished place amongst the Christian writers of the third century. He was born in the year 185, of Christian parents, in Egypt, and his education, commenced under a learned and devout father, was completed under Clemens Alexandrinus, and the philosopher Ammonius Saccas. When his father Leonides suffered martyrdom under Severus, the urgent entreaties of his mother were barely sufficient to prevent her son, then only a youth of seventeen, from suffering in the same cause. He wrote, however, to his father in prison, exhorting him to steadfastness in the faith, although the support of his wife and seven children depended upon his life. The property of the family having been confiscated, Origen supported them for a short time by teaching languages; but upon the retirement of Clemens in 203, although only 18 years old, he was ad How long did the persecution rage? Where was it most severe? Name some of the chief sufferers. 117. Give a detailed account of the life and literary labours of Origen. |