Part 10 (1/2)

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Datia.n.u.s the praetor in Prudentius*, where speaking to the Christians he gives them the name of Nazarens. Some** think the Christians at first were very free to own this name, and esteemed it no reproach, till such time as the heresy of the Nazarens broke out, and then in detestation of that heresy they forsook that name, and called themselves Christians.

Acts xi. 26. But whether this be said according to the exact rules of chronology, I leave those that are better skilled to determine.

Another name of reproach was that of Galilaeans, which was Julian's ordinary style, whenever he spake of Christ or Christians. Thus in his Dialogue with old Maris a blind Christian bishop, mentioned by Sozomen***, he told him by way of scoff, ”Thy Galilaean G.o.d will not cure thee.” And again, in his epistle**** to Arsacius high-priest of Galatia, ”The Galilaeans maintain their own poor and ours also.” The like may be observed in Socrates(v), Theodoret (vi),

* Prudent. ---------]. Carm. 5. de S. Vincent.

Vos Nazareni a.s.sist.i.te, Rudemque ritum spernite.

Id. Hymno 9. de Rom. Mart.

** Junius, Parallel, lib. 1. c. 8. G.o.dwyn, Jew.

Rites, lib. 1. c. 8.

*** Sozom. lib. 5. c. 4.

**** A p. Sozom. lib. 5. c. 16.

(v) Socrat. lib. 3. c. 12.

(vi) Theodor. lib. 3. c 7. & 31.

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Chrysostom*, and Gregory n.a.z.ianzen**, who adds, that he not only called them Galilaeans himself, but made a law that no one should call them by any other name; thinking thereby to abolish the name of Christians.

They also called them Atheists, and their religion the Atheism or Impiety, because they derided the wors.h.i.+p of the heathen G.o.ds. Dio***

says, Acilius

Glabrio was put to death for atheism, meaning the Christian religion.

And the Christian apologists, Athenagoras**** Justin Martyr(v), Arn.o.bius(vi), and others, reckon this among the crimes which the heathens usually lay to their charge. Eusebius says(vii) the name was become so common, that when the persecuting magistrates would oblige a Christian to renounce his religion, they bade him abjure it in this form, by saying among other things, [--------] 'Confusion to the atheists, Away with the impious,' meaning the Christians.

To this they added the name of Greeks and Impostors. Which is noted by St. Jerome(viii) who says

* Chrys. Horn. 63. torn. 5.

** Naz. i. Invectiv.

*** Dio in Domitian.

**** Athen. Legat. pro Christ.

(v) Just. Apol. i. p. 47.

(vi) Arn.o.b. lib. i.

(vii) Euseb. lib. iv. c. 15.

(viii) Hieron. Ep. 10. ad Furiara. Ubicunque viderint