Mr. Moyle (vol. i. p. 378-398). The former refers the first construction of them to the peace of Alexander Severus z the latter, to the peace of Gallienus. Us Euseb. Hist. Ecclesiast. 1. vi. c. 21. Hieronym. de Script. Eccles. c. 54. Mammaea was styled a holy and pious woman, both by the Christians and the Pagans. From the former, therefore, it was impossible that she should deserve that honourable epithet. "5 See the Augustan History, p. 123. Mosheim (p. 465.) seems to refine too much on the domestic religion of Alexander. His den sign os building a public temple to Christ (Hish August. p. 129.), and the object which was suggested either to him, or in similar circumstances to Hadrian, appear to have no other foundation than r an improbable report, invented by the Christians, and creduloufly ss adopted by an bistorian of the age of Constantine. > '_!7 Euseb. l. vi. c. 28. It may be presumed, that the success of 'the Christians had exasperated the/increasing bigotry of the Pagans. Dion Caffius, who composed his history under the former reign, had most probably intended for the use of his master those counsels of persecution, which he ascribes to a better age, and to' the sad 'ourite of Augustus. Concerning this oration of chenas, or rather os Dioh, I may refer to my own unbiassed opinion (voL i. p. 55. Notn, 5.), and to the Abbe de la Bleterie '(Mcmoires de l'Academie, tom. xxiv. p. 303. tom. xxv. p. 432.). its Orofius, l. vii. c. 19. mentions Origen as the object of Max imisss resentment; and Firmilianus, a Cappadocian bishop of that ' age, gives ajust and confined idea ofthis persecution (apud Cyprian. i Epist. 75.). 119 The mention of those princes who were publicly supposed to i "be Christians, as we find it in an epistle of Dionysius of Alexandria (ap. Euseb.]. vii. c. 10.), evidently alludes to Philip and his samily; and forms a contemporary evidence, that such a report had prevailed ; but the Egyptian bishop', who lived at an humble distance from the conrt of Rome, expresses liimsclfwith a becoming diffidence concerning the truth ofthe fact, The epistles of Origen : . - G g a (which CHAR siOf Maxi min, Phi- . lip,and Decius. A. D. 244. Cilglv? P. some grounds for a fable which was afierwards A. D. 249. invented, that he had been purified by confession and penance from the guilt contractedby the murder of his innocent predecessor "0. The fall of Philip introduced, with the change of masters, a new system of government, so oppresiive to the Christians, that their former condition, ever since the time of Domitian, was represented as a state of perfect freedom and security, if compared with the rigorous treatment which they experienced under the short reign of Decius "'. The virtues of that prince will scarcely allow us to suspect that he was actuated by a mean resent 'and it is more reasonable to believe, that in the prosecution of his general design to restore the purity of Roman manners, he was desirous of delivering the empire from what he condemned as a recent and criminal superstition. The'bishops 0£the most considerable cities were removed by exile or death: the vigilance of the magistrates prevented the clergy of Rome during sixteen months from proceeding to a new election; and it was the opinion of the Christians, that the |