The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-09-01

first three centuries Of our era was not only the
result OF process OF decomposition in tho popu-
lar religion under Oriental influences. but also a
natural outgrowth oithc Observation-Disclosures
OF tho State. But Of course tho monotheism
contemplated and finally prescribed by Roman
jurists was very different from that incucated
by tho Christian teachers In HIS analysis oi
the imperial system Mpmmsen has demon
stratod that from it's legal side The development
OF C,csarism led 10y Inherent necessity to tho
unlimited sovereign ldominus). and from the
side Of religion to the hypothesis Of an En-
poror as n god ldeusi born in human form. Ac-
cordingy the formula Deus ct Dominus" tGol
and Lord soon came into vogue IA an imperial
title, and so remained up 10 tho date OF the COM
promise effected under Constantine, appearing
oven upon tho coins as an official designation.
Mommsen goes on 70 remind ia that OUths
were taken by the names Of the ompcrors and
their predecessors in the same way as by the
names II the gods. while an oath 10y the name
Of any private person tand such in the eye Of
Roman legists was Jesus Of Nazareth was con-
sdoroi rs high treason. Again the birthdays
~ tho ompcrors were religious festivals. and on
these occasions votyc offerings by way Of sup
plication or of thanksgiving were presented Ia
the genius Of the Caesar On the other hand. it
was a crimi al offence 90 celebrate the birthday
'l any pIl'"t FcIN'n' Hhu ru'h' We IT,
p'nt CHRIST was hcld 20 be by INC imperial
lawyers. sun more Sharply, ndds Momm-
sen. was it resented II divine attributes
or power worc nscribed to any other human
being except the Emperor BY tho end Of tho
second century when tho prccec purpon NJ the
Christian doctrines had come to be- generally
understood. whoever fell under the last-named
charge could expect nothlnS less man dr"th' or
AZ least slavery. Nheh Marcus Nureuus N'-
came master OF the homhh Worh IN A. - lbl
inc exact scope am bearing "i INC new i"lih
could not pe mistaken, ana we can now account
Tor inc seeming paradox mat the most romire-
h"nsive, resolute' and pitlcss attempt 10 tram
pe out the worship OF the goldman jesus
should nave received lhe sah' tlon AMI personal
Impulse oil ono OF tnc wisest anu most vrtuous
ruierr known to history.
but' as We nave seem II was too late oven
WIN inc resources OF the most ubiquitous nni
irreslstlOie despotism' TO annihilate a religion
which had gained lodgment IN every vein and
hbre OF the BODY polite. To world pcopled
with alien subjects Possessed OF very nude
puate rights ana OF slaves possessed OF almost
none ana In which the number OF persons in
vested win the privileges OF citizenship formed
mn lhs'ghlncah' minority. gospel whose eth
iral teachings rested on tho broad principle OF
me pi"uorhooi OF humanity was iraught with
mimic seductions. To the poor the message
OF the eVangeli-ts took tho practical form Of
almsgivlng ana friendly contribution. sys-
tematically pushed in many quarters
during the first century to tho extreme
OF moro or less complete community OF goods.
for tue needy theretore-and every decade Of
hscal eNiorton swellcd the multitude OF tho
destltute-admlssIon to tho so-callcd love fcasts
OF the e"'y Christians was substantial bless
ing On the slave population. which consti-
tut"d according to the most reasonable compu-
lation' nj least tour-hiths OF CTsars subjects.
lhe guSpel urought from Palestine conicrreda
ih"i" r'haplli'o'ph' ah" without demanding
III terms emancipation nrf"re tnc law power
'",' i"'inertu 'na' result 10 the poor hclp
anu .ohso'''.oh 10 'he SihNr' Tue revocation oil
'nc nlEhuy oil MANHOOD ana the nope OF liberty
such wore 'he mlEliy levers when Tor l3o years
inc ministers oi 'he new mum were suffered TO
WORK IN shehee' unchecked ov any deliberate.
,Ar -''aehihE persistent purpose oil repression
II '1e eulhce oil Cas"risin had been begun
Jury c"'"er' II " h"u kNheu ny inc nm" OF
Npio Une s'in'netry' conosioh' ana sohultI
"nlch u iossessed under the second Anlon-
nus " II h"'u 10 see Win view 10 mere hu-
man "s'h'i's' no" inc now reHsipn could haVo
grown up "h'",h us ahhd'W rs IL was the
s'r" "' u' einI'r' ana 'H' germ "i CHRISTIAN
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