❝ple in us, which is more prevalent than compassion; and pride excites our indignation when we see a 66 body of persons who think differently from us, and "who assume the liberty to dispute against those "truths of which we judge ourselves to be in posses"sion. Humanity speaks first, and pleads for gen "tleness and forbearance; but pride bids her be silent, and hardens the heart against these softer impressions. Thus persecutions arise in every religion whilst the teachers are inclined to look upon "all opposition made to the doctrines of which they 66 66 66 66 are the expounders and the defenders, as so many "personal attacks upon themselves. Hence councils "often authorise and begin those oppressions, which "princes afterwards carry to the utmost rage and ex"cess." Basnage Hist. des Juifs, vi. 14. The council of Toledo, A. D. 633. made a cruel decree, that all the children of Jews should be taken away from their parents and put into monasteries, or into the hands of religious persons, to be instructed in Christianity. Fleury H. E. viii. 367. "The first event to be found in the life of Con“stantine, relating to the Jews, is reported by Zona"ras. This historian informs us that they had a con 6.6 ference at Rome with Helena (the mother of Con stantine) who was not yet converted. They repre"sented to this princess, that if her son had done "well in abolishing Paganism and its idols, he was "not much nearer to salvation, since, instead of worshipping the heroes of Pagan antiquity, he adored "a man who had been crucified in later times. He"lena, who was religious, and disquieted on account of her son, obliged the Jewish doctors to hold a .. "conference "conference with Pope Silvester, who soon triumph"ed over these enemies of Christianity. But whilst "they were disputing, a magician called Zambres, "whom the Rabbins had brought with them, caused "an ox to fall down dead at the foot of Silvester. "The miracle disconcerted not the prelate, for he "raised the ox to life; and then all the persons pre"sent, acknowledging in the pope a power superior "to that of the magician, received baptism, and He"lena also desired to be instructed in the faith. "This is the story of a monk; but as there are in the "world persons of all sorts, and understandings of all sizes, if any should be found credulous enough to digest this conference, this miracle, and the sudden' "conversion that followed it, he may have recourse "to the authority of an Arabian historian, who as"sures that twelve thousand Jews and Pagans, with"out counting women and children, received bap"tism at Rome under the reign of Constantine. "Abulpharagius indeed speaks not of the miracle; "but by tacking together the account of the Arab, "and that of the Greek monk, the latter event may "be looked upon as the consequence of the former, "and the conversion of so great a number as a proof "and an effect of the resurrection of the ox.' Basnage Hist. des Juifs vi. 14. § 2. It is to be supposed that the magician whispered in the ear of the ox the ineffable name, which struck him dead; and it is a wonder that Zonaras did not think of it. Perhaps the name of this magician should be not Zambres, but Jambres, who must have been an old man indeed, if he was the same that contended with Moses. See the Remarks of S. Basnage on this fable. Ann. ii. 660. The The zeal which Constantine had for Christianity set him against the Jews, as they were enemies to the gospel. He subjected to punishment those who should become proselytes to Judaism, and he ruled the Jews with a strict and heavy hand. He ordered churches to be built, not only where they were necessary, but in those towns and villages which were inhabited almost only by Jews, which must have been a great mortification to that people. He made a law, as an ancient author tells us, which condemned those who should speak evil of Christ, to lose half their estate. In his time, as some relate, the Jews endeavoured, not by arms and violence, but in a silent and quiet way, to steal a settlement at Jerusalem, and to build themselves a temple, or some little edifice, which they would have called a temple: of which Constantine being apprized, he is said to have cut off the ears of those who had been the forwardest in this attempt; and to have ordered them to be sent to their several abodes with this mark of his displeasure. "It is affirmed that Constantine persecuted the "Jews, and Chrysostom assures us, that they assem"bled to rebuild Jerusalem, and that this prince, of"fended at their rashness and impudence, cut off their "ears, and dispersed them as fugitive slaves through "all the provinces of the empire. Eutychius adds, "that Constantine obliged them all to be baptized, "and to eat pork at Easter. Persecution can hardly "be carried further than this: but I doubt whether "the facts be true. St Chrysostom hath great autho rity in the church, yet it is not always safe to trust "him as an historian; and indeed the Jews them"selves say, and Abulpharagius confirms it, that it "was the emperor Adrian who cut off their ears, and "sold them as slaves in the markets. Besides, Je"rusalem was rebuilt in the reign of Constantine, its 66 * bishop had assisted at the Nicene council; and the emperor adorned it with such magnificent structures, that Eusebius told him, in a profane manner, "that he had built the new Jerusalem foretold by the prophets. How then could the Jews mutiny and "assemble there to do what was already done? Last"ly, In the Theodosian Code, although there be many laws, under the name of Constantine, against the Jews, there is not one which orders them to "have their ears cut off, to be baptized, and to eat "swine's flesh. "But this prince published several edicts, which "shew the condition and the unquiet temper of the "Jews in his time. The first is one of the most im portant. It was made, if I mistake not, on account "of Joseph, who had abandoned the synagogue, to "embrace Christianity. The Jews, vexed at his con"version, persecuted him even in his own house; "and having found him reading the gospel, they "took the book from him, loaded him with insults "and blows, and dragged him to the synagogue, "where they scourged him cruelly. Not content "with these outrages, they flung him into the river "Cydnus, whose current carrying him out of their sight, they had the joy to think that he was drown"ed: but God preserved his life. He received bap"tism, and made himself known at court, and obtain 46 " ed * A man must be in a quarrelsome humour to treat Eusebius so roughly for such a trifle. "ed leave from the emperor to build churches in di 66 vers places where there never had been any before. "The Jews were then settled at Diocæsarea, Tiberias, "Nazareth and Capernaum, and had so engrossed "those cities that they would suffer no strangers "there, not even the Samaritans. Joseph undertook "to introduce Christianity into these cities, and began to build churches in them. At Tiberias he "met with an opposition which procured him the fa"your of a miraculous assistance. There was in that "town a large edifice, which had been intended for "a temple to Adrian: as it had not been finished, "there was a design to use it for a bagnio. Joseph "was resolved to make it a church, and wanting "lime, he built some furnaces without the city for "that purpose. The Jews, irritated at his attempt, had recourse, as Epiphanius relates it, to magic "arts, and they were so successful that the fire could not be kindled, nor any lime be made. Joseph, "vexed at such an unforeseen incident, went out "from the city, followed by a great number of people, "whose curiosity led them to see what he would do. When he came to the place, he made the sign of "the cross, and invoking the name of Jesus over "some water which he had brought in a large vessel, "endowed it with a power to dissipate the inchant"ment, and to kindle the fire: and flinging some of "it into each of the furnaces, the wood instantly took fire, and the flames appeared. This miracle con"verted a great number of the Jews; but the rest "remained hardened, and ceased not to oppose 66 the building of the temple, so that only a part of it was finished, in which a small church was erected. |