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fled, accompanied by Symeon, their Bishop, to Pella,* a little Gentile city beyond Jordan, belonging to Agrippa's dominions. During their residence here, the Church was vexed by the two sects of the Nazarenes† and Ebionites.‡ The former were most likely not heretics, but Christians, who adhered too rigorously to Mosaic ceremonies, and were consequently somewhat slightingly spoken of by their brethren, now that the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple had weakened the respect for the law, and diminished the number of Judaizing Christians. The Ebionites, on the other hand, were decidedly heretical, entertaining certain Gnostic errors. They denied the divinity of our Saviour, believing that he was born of human parents, and that Christ decended upon Jesus at his baptism; enjoined the observation of the law as necessary to salvation; received part of the Old Testament, but utterly rejected the New Testament, except St. Matthew's Gospel, from which, however, they expunged every thing relating to the miraculous conception and birth of Christ; and condemned Paul as an apostate, for having proved the dissolution of the Mosaic law. 67. About the time of the destruction of Jerusalem, or perhaps a little later,§

Menander. }

* After the war, when things were quieted in Judæa, it is believed that they returned to Jerusalem, where they built a little oratory upon Mount Sion.

+ Although first applied to the disciples of Christ, by way of reproach, the term was afterwards given to Judaizing Christians.

The origin of the name is the subject of controversy: some derive it from the supposed founder of the sect, Ebion; others from a Hebrew word signifying poor.

§ The chronology of the latter half of the first century is very obscure.

Into what two sects were the Jewish Christians divided who remained in the neighbourhood of Pella after the destruction of Jerusalem; and what was the difference between their doctrines? Explain the origin and tenets of the Nazarenes and Ebionites.

67. Give an account of Menander and his religious system. Was he properly a heretic? By whom were his doctrines opposed?

NBRO.

NERO.

there flourished at Antioch Menander, a Samaritan, who, like Simon Magus, was a notorious impostor and magician. He was one of those who arrogated to themselves the character of Saviours of mankind, and ought, therefore, rather to be ranked among madmen and lunatics than among heretics proper. As he erected his religious system upon the same fundamental principles as Simon Magus did his, the ancients supposed he must have been a disciple of Simon. Irenæus, Justin Martyr, and Tertullian opposed the doctrines of Menander; and it is from their testimony we learn that he gave himself out to be one of the Eons sent from the pleroma to succour souls, and save them from the demons that rule in this sublunary world.

TITUS.

Titus, eleventh

Emperor of Rome.

A.D. 79.

68. Vespasian was succeeded in the year 79 by his son Titus, who had a bad reputation on account of his severity and voluptuous life. But when he became charged with the burden of the empire his virtues displayed themselves, and he ruled with moderation and advantage to the people. Although Linus, first Bishop of Rome, is said by some to have suffered in Nero's persecution, others assign his martyrdom to the reign of Titus. It does not appear, however, that the Christians were generally molested, either in this or the preceding reign.

DOMITIAN. Domitian, twelfth
Emperor of Rome.

}

69. After a reign of little more than two years, Titus was succeeded by Domitian, not inferior

68. What was generally the conduct of the emperor "Titus towards the Christians?

69. To what may we attribute the freedom from persecution which the

to Nero in baseness of character. In the DOMITIAN A.D. 81. early part of his reign Domitian was probably too much engaged in cruelties against his heathen subjects to allow of much consideration being bestowed upon the Christians; but about the year 94

A D. 94.
he began to exact with great severity the tax
levied upon the Jews (with whom the Christians were
confounded) towards the maintenance of the Capitol at
Rome. Moreover, in addition to the general causes of
persecution mentioned in a former paragraph, he was
excited to acts of cruelty against the Christians by poli-
tical motives, for he had heard that a person would come
from the line of David, who would attempt a revolution
and produce a commotion in the empire. He particularly
commanded, therefore, that the posterity of David should
be sought out and put to death. In pursuance of his
command, two grandchildren of the Apostle Jude were
brought before him. Their poverty and humility, to-
gether with their declaration that Christ's kingdom was
not of this world, convinced him that he had nothing to
fear from them, and consequently they were dismissed.
Hegesippus and Tertullian assert that Domitian imme-
diately published a decree, terminating the persecution;
but others are of opinion that the persecution was con-
tinued until the Emperor's death in the 96.
It raged
throughout the Roman empire against both Jews and
Christians. The principal Christian martyrs named are
Flavius Clemens, uncle to the Emperor, and Consul the

Christians enjoyed in the early part of Domitian's reign? When did his persecutions commence? What political motives excited him to acts of cruelty against the Christians? Did the Jews suffer from this persecution? Mention some of the principal Christian martyrs under Domitian. What

DOMITIAN preceding year, and Acilius Glabro, who were put to death on a charge of atheism, with which Christianity was sometimes confounded. Flavia Domitilla, the wife of Flavius Clemens, was also banished. But the most memorable incident in the Domitian persecution was the suffering of the Apostle John, at that time residing at Ephesus, whither he went to oppose the spread of the Gnostic heresy. Charged as a disturber of the public peace, he was sent bound to Rome, where he was treated with all the cruelty that rage could suggest. Tertullian relates that he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil,* from which he came unhurt. This tale is, however, discredited; but John was banished to Patmos, an island in the Ægean sea, there to be employed in digging mines. In this place God gave him a prospect of the future state of Christianity in those Revelations which are transmitted to us in the book of that name.

The Nicolaitan
Heresy.

70. In the reign of Domitian there appeared the sect of the Nicolaitans, who are said to have derived their name

from Nicolas, the deacon. They are mentioned in the Revelations of St. John (ii. 6, 14, 15), where the angel of God reproaches the Church of Pergamos with harbouring persons of this denomination. It is true they are not there taxed with errors in matters of faith, but only with licentious

*

Hence, the ancients gave him | the title of a martyr; for though martyrdom had no power over

him, yet he yielded his body to all its torments, and was willing to die for Christ.

treatment did St. John receive in the Domitian persecution?

Why was he called a martyr?

*[Note.]

70. When did the sect of Nicolaitans appear? Is any mention made of them in the New Testament? Did they err in matters of faith? Who accuses them of partaking of Gnostic opinions?

coduct, and a disregard of the injunction of the Apostles DOMITIAN. to abstain from meats offered to idols. But Irenæus, Tertullian, Clemens Alexandrinus, and others accuse them of partaking of the Gnostic opinions concerning two principles, the Eons, and the origin of this present world. It is doubtful, however, whether on this point there be not some confusion between the Apocalyptical Nicolaitans, and a Gnostic sect of the second century, founded by a man named Nicolaus.

Nerva, thirteenth

71. Domitian, who was stabbed by Stephanus, in the year 96, was sucEmperor of Rome. ceeded by Nerva. One of the earliest acts of the new Emperor was to rescind the deA.D. 96. crees of his predecessor, particularly recalling the banished Jews and Christians, and permitting them the practice of their religion. The Church increased greatly during his reign; nevertheless it was not without martyrs. Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus, suffered in the

A.D. 97.

early part of the year 97. He is said to have opposed the celebration of a festival by the votaries of Diana, which so enraged the people that they attacked him with clubs and stones, two days after which he died of his wounds.

Apollonius of Tyana.

72. About this period Apollonius of Tyana is said to have died. Our means of information concerning him are very imperfect; but

*The Revelation of St. John is called also the Apocalypse, from

άπокαλÚπт, to make manifest,
or reveal.

NERVA.

71. What was the conduct of the emperor Nerva towards the Jews and Christians? Give a short account of the death of Timothy in this reign. 72. State what is known concerning Apollonius of Tyana. What arguments were drawn from his life during the second and third centuries?

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