(1.) When the envious and the wicked one, the adversary of the race of the just, says the Epistle of the Church of Smyrna, saw the greatness of

natural purpose of christian burial in the seat of his bishopric; and I make no doubt, that, in the fourth century, fruitful as it was after the conversion of Constantine in imaginary relics, the chair of St. James was as duly shewn to the curious in such matters as the true cross of Christ so happily discovered by Helena and so ingeniously distinguished from the two concomitant crosses of the two thieves (Socrat. Hist. Eccles. lib. i. c. 13. Ruffin. Hist. Eccles. lib. i. c. 7.); but I see not, how all this is to prove the apostolical origin of relic-worship.

II. Dr. Trevern moreover assures us, on the authority of Justin Martyr, who flourished before and after the year 150 and who had been instructed in the faith by the contemporaries of St. John, that Christians, even at that early period, were wont to turn to the east and to sign themselves with the indispensable sign of the cross. Discuss. Amic. vol. ii. p. 378.

Truly, the diligent reader of Justin will hugely marvel, from which of his writings Dr. Trevern learned this notable piece of information. With astonishing ignorance or with resolute dishonesty (I pretend not to determine which) the Bishop of Strasbourg refers his english laic friend to a Work, which he liberally gives to Justin, but which in good sooth was written by some unknown author at least a full century after Justin was dead and laid in his grave. The book, entitled Questions and Answers to the Orthodox, is printed, indeed, among the Works of Justin: but, as every person acquainted with the writings of the Fathers well knows, Justin had no more concern in its manufactory than Dr. Trevern himself. A production, which the criticism of that Prelate ascribes to Justin and the middle of the second century, actually no less than twice refers to Origen who flourished about the middle of the third century. See Quæst. et Respons. lxxxii, lxxxvi. in Oper. Justin. p. 342, 344.

Polycarp's martyrdom;-he laboured industriously, that his remains might not be taken away by us— Hence he suggested to Nicetas to intercede with the governor, that his body should not be delivered for sepulture: lest, said he, leaving him that was crucified, they should begin to worship this person. And these things they said at the suggestion and instigation of the Jews, who also watched us when we were about to take him from the fire: inasmuch as they were ignorant, that neither can we ever forsake Christ who suffered for the salvation of the saved throughout the whole world, the sinless for sinners, nor that we can ever worship any other. For him, being the Son of God, we adore: but the martyrs, as disciples and imitators of the Lord, we worthily love on account of their special affection to their own king and master; with whom may we be partakers and fellow-disciples! But the centurion, beholding the contention excited by the Jews, threw him into the midst of the fire and burned him. And thus we, afterward gathering up his bones more honourable than precious stones and more tried than gold, deposited them where it naturally followed that we should deposit them. To us assembling in this place so far as lies in our power, with triumph and with joy, the Lord will grant to celebrate the birth-day of his martyrdom, both in memory of those who have completed their wrestling, and for the exercise and preparation of those who are about to wrestle'.

· 'Ο δὲ ἀντίζηλος καὶ βάσκανος καὶ πονηρὸς, ὁ ἀντικείμενος τῷ

(2.) As Eve, says Ireneus, by the discourse of a fallen angel, was seduced to apostatise from God, disobeying his word: so Mary, by the discourse of a good angel, was evangelised, that she should bear God in her womb, obedient to his word. And, as the former was seduced to disobey God: so the latter was persuaded to obey God; in order that the

γένει τῶν δικαίων, ἰδὼν τὸ μέγεθος αὐτοῦ τῆς μαρτυρίας,—ἐπετήδευσεν, ὡς μηδὲ τὸ λείψανον αὐτοῦ ὑφ ̓ ἡμῶν ληφθείη-Υπέβαλε γοῦν Νικήτην ἐντυχεῖν τῷ ἄρχοντι, ὥστε μὴ δοῦναι αὐτοῦ τὸ σῶμα ταφῇ· μὴ, φησὶν, ἀφέντες τὸν ἐσταυρωμένον, τοῦτον ἄρξωνται σέβεσθαι. Καὶ ταῦτα εἶπον, ὑποβαλλόντων καὶ ἐνισχύοντων Ἰουδαίων, οἳ καὶ ἐτήρησαν, μελλόντων ἡμῶν ἐκ τοῦ πυρὸς λαμβάνειν' ἀγνοοῦντες ὅτι οὔτε τὸν Χριστόν ποτε καταλιπεῖν δυνησόμεθα, τὸν ὑπὲρ τῆς τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου τῶν σωζομένων σωτηρίας παθόντα, ἄμωμον ὑπὲρ ἁμαρτώλων, οὔτε ἕτερόν τινα σέβεσθαι. Τοῦτον μὲν γὰρ, υἱὸν ὄντα τοῦ Θεοῦ, προσκυνοῦμεν· τοὺς δὲ μάρτυρας, ὡς μαθητὰς καὶ μιμητὰς τοῦ Κυρίου, ἀγαπῶμεν αξίως, ἕνεκα εννοίας ανυπερβλήτου τῆς εἰς τὸν ἴδιον βασιλέα καὶ διδάσκ καλον· ὧν γένοιτο καὶ ἡμᾶς κοινωνούς τε καὶ συμμαθητὰς γενέσθαι. Ἰδὼν οὖν ὁ ἑκατόνταρχος τῶν Ἰουδαίων γενομένην φιλονεικίαν, θεὶς αὐτὸν ἐν μέσῳ τοῦ πυρὸς ἔκαυσεν. Οὕτω τε ἡμεῖς ὕστερον ἀνελόμενοι τὰ τιμιώτερα λίθων πολυτελῶν καὶ δοκιμώτερα ὑπὲρ χρυσὸν ὀστᾶ αὐτοῦ, ἀπεθέμεθα ὅπου καὶ ἀκόλουθον ἦν. Ενθα ὡς δυνατὸν ἡμῖν συναγομένοις, ἐν ἀγαλλιάσει καὶ χαρᾷ παρέξει ὁ Κύριος ἐπιτελεῖν τὴν τοῦ μαρτυρίου αὐτοῦ ἡμέραν γενέθλιον, εἴς τε τὴν τῶν ἠθληκότων μνήμην, καὶ τῶν μελλόντων ἄσκησίν τε καὶ ἑτοιμασίαν. Epist. Eccles. Smyrn. § 17, 18, in Patr. Apost. Cotel. vol. ii. p. 201, 202.

Mr. Berington rightly understands the Smyrnèans to have buried the bones of Polycarp: Dr. Trevern, more ingenious, learns from Acts viii. 2, that the early believers, under the very sanction of the Apostles, preserved and revered the relics. of the protomartyr? Stephen. For an account of this remarkable discovery, see Discuss. Amic. vol. ii. p. 311.

Virgin Mary might thence become the advocate of the virgin Eve. Thus, as the human race was doomed to death through a virgin: so the human race might be delivered also through a virgin; the balance being equally held, between the disobedience of one virgin, and the obedience of another'.

(3.) You may begin, says Tertullian, from parables: where there is the lost sheep, sought for by the Lord and carried back upon his shoulders. Let the very pictures of your cups be produced: if, even in them, the interpretation of that animal will clearly shine forth 2.-In all our movements, whether we come in or whether we go out, whether we put on our raiment or whether we bind on our sandals, in the bath, at the table, while using either lights or beds or couches, in whatever fashion we may be employed, we wear our forehead with the

1 Quemadmodum enim illa per angelicum sermonem seducta est, ut effugeret Deum prævaricata verbum ejus: ita et hæc per angelicum sermonem evangelizata est, ut portaret Deum, obediens ejus verbo. Et, sicut illa seducta est ut effugeret Deum: sic hæc suasa est obedire Deo, uti virginis Evæ virgo Maria fieret advocata. Et, quemadmodum adstrictum est morti genus humanum per virginem: solvatur per virginem, æqua lance disposita virginalis inobedientiæ per virginalem obedientiam. Iren. adv. hær. lib. v. c. 16. p. 340, 341.

For a right understanding of this tasteless tissue of unmeaning antitheses, compare Iren. adv. hær. lib. iii. c. 33. p. 221.

A parabolis licebit incipias, ubi est ovis perdita, a Domino requisita, et humeris ejus revecta. Procedant ipsæ picturæ calicum vestrorum, si vel in illis perlucebit interpretatio pecudis illius. Tertull. de pudic. Oper. p. 748.

sign of the cross. If, for these and the like points of discipline, you demand scriptural authority: truly you will find none. Tradition will be alleged to you, as their voucher: custom, as their confirmer: faith, as their observer 1.

(4.) Let us, says Cyprian, be mindful of each other in our prayers: let us be concordant and unanimous let us always mutually pray for one another let us, by mutual charity, relieve our troubles and distresses. And, whosoever, through the celerity of the divine favour, shall first depart, let our love persevere with the Lord: for our brethren and for our sisters, let not our prayer cease with the mercy of the Father 2.-Bravely endure: spiritually advance: happily arrive. Only remember us then, when in you virginity shall begin to be honoured3.

1 Ad omnem progressum atque promotum, ad omnem aditum et exitum, ad vestitum et calceatum, ad lavacra, ad mensas, ad lumina, ad cubilia, ad sedilia, quacunque nos conversatio exercet, frontem crucis signaculo terimus. Harum et aliarum ejusmodi disciplinarum si legem expostules scripturarum, nullam invenies: traditio tibi prætendetur autrix; consuetudo, confirmatrix; et fides, observatrix. Tertull. de coron. milit. § 3. Oper. p. 449.

1 Memores nostri invicem simus, concordes atque unanimes: utrobique pro nobis semper oremus: pressuras et angustias mutua caritate revelemus. Et quis istinc nostrum prior divinæ dignationis celeritate præcesserit, perseveret apud Dominum nostra dilectio: pro fratribus et sororibus nostris, apud misericordiam Patris, non cesset oratio. Cyprian. Epist. Ix. Oper. vol. ii. p. 143.

'Durate fortiter: spiritaliter pergite: pervenite feliciter.