Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-02-14
For the Democrat.
CHRISTIAN RELIGION.
FRYxBuRG, Jan, 1882.


paper some testimony in relation to the
truth and authenticity OF the New Tesla.
meut. The Christian religion is the most
perfect system instituted since the intro
duction Of man on earth. Its belief aud
practice eleyates society to the highest
state OF civilization, and enables indiyidu-
ais to surmount the trials of life by the as
surance of happy Immortality beyond
the grave.
Clement, one of the historians of Paul's
day. and mentioned by him in his epistle
to the Thessalonians, bears testimony OF
the suferings Of Peter and Paul who were
executed under the prosecutions Of Nero,
tyrsnt Of Rome. lie speaks Of many
other people who Joined his sect, endured
prosecutions, yet finished their course OF
faith with frmnesS." H,rmas, Christian
writer. saluted BY the apostle Paul in his
epistle 10 the Romans, speaks OF certain
class OF Christians "who had believed and
suffered death for the name Of Christ"
Polyclrp a disciple OF John, also bears
testimony OF Paul and other apostles ''who
had not run in vain, but in faith and right
eousneSS, and had gone to the place due
them from the Lord with whom they
suffered"
Iyauags was Bishop OF Antioch \. Il.
SO, was condemned by Traian to be thrown
10 the Wild beasts in the Roman Amphi-
theatre. lie also confirms the testimony
of preceding writers.
QHl3r1tuS Of the same age, teStihes OF
the miracles Of Christ and the Apostles.
Justin Vlrnr, another writer thirty
wears later. makes allusion 10 the perform
srce OF miracles by Christ as certified in
the Gospels
IIritts, pagan historian, writing about
seventy years alter the crucidxion, speak
iug Of the burning OF Rome about thirty
wears AFTER the ascension of Christ-says
Nero charged the Christians Of being the
author OF the calamity, in order to divert
suspicion from himself who was accused
OF setting Rome on fire lie therefore
commenced one Of the most barbarous
and cruel prosecutions ever recorded on
the page Of history. They died in tor
mentS emblttered by deriSion and insults
from their unfeelinS prosecutors. Some
were uailed upon crosses, others were
sewej up in skins OF wild beasts, then ex-
posed TO the ferocity OF dogs; others
ssain were Smesred over with cOmbustible
materials and used IS torches to illuminate
the darkness OF night.
Tr--.es also further relates that they
derived their name and origin from
Christ who in the time OF Tiberius had
suffered death under the sentence OF Pom
thus Plate. >HstouisS s Roman histo-
rian Of about the same age, fully confirms
the foregoing narrative. Pliny the younger,
a consul under the Emperor TrljIR, wrote
letter about my years after 81. Pauls
day and requested instructions in what
manner 20 execute laws against the Chris
tians. In that epistle he informed the
Emperor that the pagan temples were
almost entirely deserted" showing that
the christian religion had almost sup
planted psganiSm, so early as the latter
part OF the first century.
These pagan writers confirm the fact
that Jesus Christ, the great founder Of the
Christian religion, according to the proph-
ecy OF Isaiah, seven hundred years before
his advent, was crucided and slain, and
that his doctrine spread so rapidly that in
about thirty-fye years after his ascension
there were multitudeS of processing Chris
tisns scattered throughout the provinces
Of the Roman Empire II Is most probable
that some Of the apostles were living al
that day, If not, il is certain that the sect
known as Christians embraced that relig-
ion directly from their preaching
Justin Martyr, an esrly Christian writer,
born in Ssmaria 4. u. los, makes quota
tons from the GoSpeIS-as the testimony
OF chose who had written the history OF
our Savior Jesus Christ"
Or'g.s, another early writer, born in
Alexandria in the second century, e1-
presSly asserts that the four Gospels are
received as genuine without dispute by
the whole Church OF God under heaven. "
CELSIUS, heather philosopher, wrote a
treatise against Christianity about one
hundred years after the Gospels were
published, making numerous quotations
therefrom, which 81 this period Of the
world Is very important 20 establish the
fact that certain Books called the Gospels
were held in high estimation IS guide OF
faith aud practice by the primitive Chris
tians There are other authors whose
testimony proves the authenticity of the
Gospels, whom are Theophilus,
bishop Of Antioch, Clement Of Alexandria
and Tertulllan Christian writer who was
born in Carthage, and fourished in the
second century.
J0SepbuS. 3 Jewish historian, born
shortly after the ascension, was an eye
witness 20 the destruction OF Jerusalem,
a. predicted by our Saviour. He relates
that 1900 were taken captiyes and LOO,
600 miSerably persisted during the siege,
and that the calamity exceeded al the
distinctions which either man or God had
brought upon the world. The historian
gives a brief account Of John the Baptist,
the forerunner OF Christ, and mentions the
names OF Felix, Herod, Tiberius, Festus
and James. whom he calls the brother Of
Jesus who IS Christ" lie also says
"There was about this time one Jesus. 9