Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-11-06

: was far from being of that active or adVen-
turous kind, which could alarm the Ro-
man government for the safety of any ex-
istlng institutions. Their high and exclu-
sive veneration for their own system gave
an unsocial disdain to the Jewish charac-
ter, which was not at all inviting to for
lelgners; but still, as it led TO nothing mis-
chlevous in point of effect, it seems to have
been overlooked by the Roman govern
ment as piece OF impotent vanity.
] But the case was widely different with
the Christian system. 1t did not confne
itself to the denial or rejection of every
other system. 1t was for imposing its
own exclusive authority over the con-
sciences all. and for detaching as many
as it could from their allegiance to the re-
hglon OF their own country. 1t carried
on It's forehead all the offensive characters
OF monopoly, and not merely excited re-
sentiment by the supposed arrogance of its
pretenslons, but from the rapiditv and ex-
tent OF its innovations, spread an alarm
over the whole Roman empire for the Sc
curlty OF all Its establishments. Accord
flngly, at the commencement of its pro-
gress, SO long as it was confined to Judea
and the immediate neighborhood, it seems
to have been in perfect safety from the per-
seeutlon OF the Roman government. 1t
was at trst looked upon as mere modifi-
cation OF Judaism, and that the first Chris
tlans differed from the rest of their coun-
trymen only IN certain questions of their
oaon superstition. For few years after
the crucifixio1 of our Savior, it seems to
have excited no alarm on the part of the
Roman emperors, who did not depart from
their usual maxims of federation, till thew
began to understand the magnitude of its
lprelensions, and the unlocked for success
which attended them.
In the course of very few years afer
It's first promu cation, it drew upon it The
hostility OF the Roman government; and
the fact IS undoubted, that some of its FIRST
teachers, who announced themselves to be
the companions Of our Savior, and the
Ieye-wltnesses of the remarkable events in
ms history, suffered martyrdom for their
adherence to the religion which thew
taught.
The disposition of the Jews to the rel-
glon OF Jesus was no less hostile; and it
manifested itself at still earlier stage of
the business. The causes of this hostili-
ty are obvious to all who are in the slight
est degree conversant with the history of
those times. II is true, that the Jews did
not at all times possess the power of life
and death; nor was it competent for them
TO bring the Christians io-execution by the
exercise Of legal authority SILL, howev-
er, their powers of mischief were consd-
cradle. Their wishes had always GER
tam control over the measures of the Ro-
man governor; and we know, that it was
this control which was the means of ex-
tortlng from Plate the uarighteous SEN
tence by which the very first teacher of
our religion was brought to a cruel and
Ignominious death. We also know, that
under Herod Agrippa the power of life
ana death was vested in a Jewish sove-
reign, aud that this power was actually
; exerted against the most distinguished
Christians of that time: Add to this. that
the Jews had, at all times, the power of
nf1cting the lesser punishments They
could whip, they could hnprison. Be
sides all this, the Christians had to brave
the frenzy of an enraged multitude; and
some of them actually suffered martyr
} dom in the violence OF the popular COM
t motions.
Nothing is more evident than the utter
disgrace which was annexed by the world
: al large 10 the profession Of Christianity
/ at that period. Tacitus calls it '.super-
I Statao erltoabltls,' and accuses the Chris
q tlans OF enmity to mankind. By Epcte-
: tus and Others their herosm is termed OBJ
$ sIinacy, and it was generally treated bv
n the Roman governors as the infatuation
II ola miserable and despised people. There
i was none of the glory annexed to it which
# blazes around the martyrdom of patriot
i or philosopher. That constancy, which
# in another case, would have made them
n illustrious, was held to be contemplate
e folly, which only exposed them to the de
n rision and inso!ence of the multitude. A
h name and a reputation in the world nigh
l. sustain the dying moments of Socrates OF
G Regulus; but what earthly principles Car
Of account for the intrepidity of those poo
E. and miserable outcasts, who consigned
t themselves TO voluntary martyrdom il
re the cause oflheir religion?
Il Having promised these observations, w
er offer the following alternative to The mini
d. ofevery candid inquirer. The first Chris
N tians either delivered sincere testimony
,r or they imposed story upon the worl
lie which they knew 10 be fabrication.
n The prosecutions to which the frs
in Christians voluntarily exposed themselves
IN compel usto adopt the fist part of the a
" tentative. 1t is not 10 be conceived, ths
man would resign fortune, and charac
VS. ter, and life, in the assertion OF what b
o. knew to be a falsehnod. The first Chi