Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-12-23


Religion, was cruci6ed in Palestine /;
that he was the Master of the Christians, and
the first author of the principles received by
them; that they still worship that great man,
who as crucIhed, because he introduced into
The world new religion; that those men cal
lei Christians, had peculiarly strong hopes
of immortal life, and great contempt for this
world and its cnjoymenls that they courage
ously endured many Affections, on account OF
their principles, and sometimes surrendered
themselves as Martyrs. Honour and problty
so much prevailed among them, that they
trusted each other without security; that their
master had earnestly recommended TO all his
followers mutual love by which they were
much distinguished, and that their assiduty in
relieving and comfortng one another was
known to all men.
In Lucian's letter 10 CELSIUS, be gives an ac-
count of an impostor by The name OF Alexan-
der, who gave out OracIes in Papbagonia and
had great success in his design. :" But says
Lucian, 8 when some Of the Epicurian sect
who had more wit than the rest, made head
against Alexander, and the secret arts OF his
continuance began 10 be known, he endeaV-
cured 70 arike terror among them by saying,
that Ponus was full OF Atheists and Christians,
" ho were attempting TO raise slanderous sto-
ries concerning him" : And he excited the
people not 10 spaie them, but to drive them
away with stones" He also appointed " rites
of initiation, and holy feast of three days
continuance and made proclamation, that if
any Atheist or Christian or Epicurean be come
hither as a spy upon these mysteries, let him
depart with all speed, Then tie multitude
would cry out, oapay uith the christians"
From what here appears, it is evident, that
The followers of Jesus were at this early peri
cd, well known in the world by The: name of
Christians, and that they were then numerous
10 Pontus and Paphlagonia, and the neigh
bouring Countries Another important fact
also appears, viz that The Christians were in
those days very formidable enemies 10 all
cheats and impostors, the assertions Of Tom.
Paine to the contrary notwithstanding.
In another work Of Lucian which he calls
the 6 True History" although he expressly
says 1t is all fiction, there is passage, which
it is supposed was intended as satire on a
part of The book of Revelations. II is as fol-
lows
:" He and bis followers, having travelled a
great way, came TO the Island of the Blessed
where Rhadamanthus of Crete reigned.. Soon
after they came ashore, they we're teken into
custody, and bound with roses, there being no
other chains in that Country which too fell
off of themselves when they were set at liberty.
There were there several causes TO be tried
before the King of the country-theirs was
the fourth in order. When their. cause came
on, they were asked how they came to be
there, when they were yet living As soon
as they had related their voyage, they were
ordered 10 withdraw. The judge, having
consulted with his counsellors, determined,
that after death they should be punished for
their curiosity and presumption for the pres
emf they might converse with The heroes of the
country but the term Of their sojourning
there might not exceed seven months
Then they were conducted into the City
which is all gold, surrounded by 1eau of en-
erald, (see Rev. xx9 There are seven gates,
made vi the wood of Cinnamon the pave
ment of the city and The ground within the
wall, is ivory; the Temples Of the Gods are
built Of the berry l-stone the affairs ID them
are very large consisting Of one stone only,
which is the Amethyst, upon which they Of
fer hecatombs. Round the city flows a river
Of the finest oil, the breadth Of which is an
hundred royal cubits, the depth such as is
most convenient for swimming in. Their
baths are large houses cf glass, kept warm
with fires made Of cinnamon instead of wa.
ter they have warm dew in basons; their dress
is purple made Of the finest spiders webs.
None grow old here, but they remain as they
were when they arrived. They have no
night, nor altogether bright Cay but such
light as precedes the rising sun nor have they
more than one season Of the year for
it is always spring, and the west is the only
wind The country abounds with all sorts of
flowers and plants, which are always flourish
ing their vines bear twelve times in the
year yielding fruit every month, (see Rev.
xxi, 2) Instead of corn, the stalks have rea-
dy prepared loaves at their tops like mush-
rooms. There are in The city, three hundred
and sixty five fountains Of water, and as many
Of honey, and five hundred fountains Of oil
seven rivers Of milk and eight of wine.
Here we have specimen of Lucian's Wit
and sarcasm, but in the description of this
island and the CHIEF city, he falls far short Gin
&c. o,l Laonfx, y or O. Tob,9,