The sun., 1892-12-11
kind Ia attributed to Tiberlus. He IL alleged to

kind Ia attributed to Tiberlus. He IL alleged to
have sent message to tho Senate requesting
that Christ should be included among the
gods. on the strength OF the Official report
written by Pontlus Pintus regarding the pas
sion aud death Of Jesus Malala says that Nero
made inquiries about the new religion. and
that ut first he showed himsclf rather favor
able toward It; report which Lanciani con-
siders not improbable in view Of Paul's appeal
and OF his nbs olution. and OF his relations
with Seneca and with converts de domo Grsd-
ri,ts. " OF the house Of CTsar." Lampridius.
speaking OF tho religious sentiments OF Alex.
ander Sevorus. says: "lIe was determined to
raise a temple to Christ. and to enlist him
among the gods q project also ascribed to
1Iadrian. There Ia no doubt" Lamrridius
adds that HGdrian ordered temples
to bo erected in every city to an
unknown god. and. because they have no
statue. We still call them tho temples Of
Hadrnn. He is said to have prepared them
for Christ: but to have been deferred from
carrying ont his plan by the consideration
that the temples OF tho old gods would be
deserted and the whole population become
Christian" 1t is further pointed out that
Septimius Sevcrus and Caracalla issued a
constitution, which opened to Jews tho way to
tho highest honors making optional with them
the performance Of such ceremonies us were
incompatible with their principles. Now.
although by this tmo tho Jcws had managed
to sharply diircrentiate themselves from the
Christians in the eyes OF the Roman authori-
ties 1t seems probable that privileges granted
to tho Jews by law may from time to timo
have been extended to tho Christians BY the
personal indulgence OF certain Emperors.
1t Is certain that when Elagabalus en-
deavored to collect in his private chapel all the
gods and holy relics OF the universe he did
not leave out Christ. Alexander Scverus. one OF
the best Of the Roman rulers allowed full free.
dom to Christian Worship. and once. when tho
Christians had taken possession OF a public
place to which the tavern keepers laid claim.
he gave judgment IN favor OF the former. pro-
nouncinE 1t better that the place should servo
for divine worship than for tho sale OF drinks.
In Lancinnfs Judgment there Is scarcely any
doubt that tho Emperor Philip tho Arab. his
wife. and his son. Philip the younger. were
Christians. STILL it is acknowledged that In
spite OF the intervals Of peace and freedom
which the Church enjoyed. a young patricinn
would find hms greatly impeded in politi-
cal career by profession OF Christianity. Tho
fact. however. brought out with emphasis
by recent excavations Is that tho trans nsiorma-
tion OF Rome under Constantine and his sue
cessors from a pagan into a Christian city was
10y no means II sudden and unexpected event
1t was the natural and inevitable outcome OF
the work OF three centuries brought to ma
turity undor Constantine by the sharp reao-
ton against the violence Of Diocletian's per-
sacution. 1t was not a revolution or conver-
sion in tho TRUE sense OF those words: it was
but the official recognition of q state Of things
which had long ceased to be secret. Tho
moral superiority OF the new doctrines over
the old religions was 80 patent and overpow-
cring that the ultimate result OF the struggle
had been forcscon since the age OF the first
apologists.