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Simon's fabulous combat with St Peter
167
A forged Sibylline oracle cited in the Constitutions 178
An emendation of a fault in it
179
The apostolical canions considered
180-183
The Sibylline oracles examined, and rejected as for-
geries and impostures
Homer's prophecy concerning Æneas and his posteri-
· ty
185–187
Virgil's fourth Eclogue considered
187—192
Fabricius, his account of the Sibylline oracles 187
Orphic verses, and fragments of Greek poets, &c.
which are cited by the fathers, examined and correc-
183—209
ted
192—209
212
Eusebius not to be charged with defending the Sibyl-
line oracles
201
Justin Martyr not the forger of them
204
Sibylline oracles which were made by Pagans 207—209
Barnabas. The antiquity and the dubious authority
of the epistle ascribed to him
209–212
Some remarks on Clemens Romanus
213
On Hermas and Polycarp
214
The Recognitions of Clemens a wretched romance.
A passage in them explained
215, 216
The Epistle to Diognetus the work of an uncertain
and inconsiderable writer
216_-220
Tillemont. Observations on his sentiments and writ-
220_223
Justin M. and Clemens Alex. had favourable opinions
of the future condition of the virtuous pagans 222-223
Clemens Alex. explained and corrected
223
Ignatius. Remarks on his epistles and his martyrdom 223-233
A reading in one of his epistles defended
224-227
Remarks on a tax instituted by Augustus
234, 235
Appendix
237
Dedication
247
Remarks upon miracles in general
247, 248
Notions of Van Dale and Le Clerc concerning them 247
a 2
The
ings
The opinion that God alone can work miracles, not
probable
248
The miracles of our Saviour and of his Apostles de- fended
349–264
Quadratus, his testimony concerning miracles 250
A passage in Tertullian corrected
251
The miracles of Christ were of a prophetic nature,
and represented future events
256–264
One of St Paul's miracles of the same kind
263
Difference between the writers of the N. T. and the
writers of Legends
262
Reasons for which our Saviour cast out evil spirits 256
Remarks on the Dæmoniacs
161
St Paul, an emblem perhaps of the Jewish nation 263
An answer to the objection made from the miracles of
false Christs
264–266
The Apostles seem to have wrought miracles only
when they were moved by the Holy Spirit 267
Recapitulation of the arguments in behalf of Chris-
tianity
267-270
General remarks on the miracles said to have been
wrought after the Apostolical days, in the second
and third centuries
271–286
These miracles not to be compared, in point of evidence,
with the miracles of Christ and the Apostles 271
The arguments which may be alledged in favour of
them
273
Objections which may be made to them
274
Some of them not improbable
276
Constancy of the martyrs may be ascribed to a divine
assistance :
The doctrine of à particular providence maintained by
Woolaston and Le Clerc
277–281
The miracles after Constantine deserve no credit 281
Van Dale, Moyle, and Le Clerc; their notions of the
miracles after the days of the apostles
282---285
Middleton not singular in rejecting these miracles 282
Le
' 287
293
Le Clerc's character of Van Dale and Moyle 284
The Christian miracles of different ages : how far
credible, or not
285
The improbable story of Abgarus
286
The conversion of the inhabitants of Edessa : 287
The Ethopians instructed by the Eunuch
Miracles wrought by apostolical men
288—299
Justin M, of opinion that miraculous gifts had been
continued down to his time
290
St John ; his being put in a vessel of boiling oil a du-
bious story
290, 291
Whence it might arise
291
Oil not used in baptism till after the days of Justin 291
Tertullian very credulous
292
His character
294
Papias an injudicious man. Whether an Ebionite
" bionite 292
The epistle of Tiberianus to Trajan a forgery
Remarks on the apologists and their writings 293-300
Quadratus, Aristides, Athenagoras, Melito 293, 294
Christians not forbidden to read certain books 295
The apologies seen in all probability by scme emper-
ors, and serviceable to the Christian cause
The character of Adrian
296
The account which he gives of the Egyptians 296
His rescript to Minucius
297
He was no enemy to the Christians
Severus Alexander a friend to the Christians 297
No images in Christian churches till after Constantine 298
The miserable state of the Jews under Adrian 300
Aquila. The account given of him by Epiphanius: 300
Fabulous miracles related by Epiphanius
300
The character of this father
301
Orosius relates a false miracle
303
A wonder recorded by Josephus which happened be- .
fore the destruction of Jerusalem
Plutarch. His silence concerning Christianity 303
Quintilian censures the Jews
Polycarp
295
302
306
312
309
311
316
Polycarp. Remarks on his martyrdom, &c. 303-322
The epistle of the church of Smyrna probably genuine,
tho' possibly interpolated
322
Polycarp's vision
The arching of the flames over Polycarp
The voice from heaven
The sweet smell which came from the pile
310
Many miracles of this trifling kind -
Nliracles ascribed to monks of the fourth century 311
The Hirpi walked barefoot over the fire
313
Trials by fire and water
314
The story of the dove, &c.
Stories of the same kind
317
Conjectures concerning σεριςερα
Eusebius mentions it not
318
Omits a story of the same kind in Josephus
319
Le Clerc's opinion concerning the dove
A mistake of Valesius
Polycarp's reply to the Proconsul not blameable
The city of Smyrna ruined by an earthquake 321
Polycarp's age
321
His martyrdom well attested
The constancy of the martyrs to be ascribed to a di-
vine assistance
322—331
The constancy of persons who were, or were called,
heretics
325.
Mark of Arethusa his sufferings,' and the remarks of
Tillemont upon them
Martyrologies usually romantic
Acts of perpetua ancient, but perhaps adulterated 329
The increase of Christianity in times of persecution 331
The alteration for the Better which Christianity pro-
duced in those who received it
333
The obstacles which it overcame
334
Justin Martyr, his character and writings
331-340
His account of the statue of Simon seems to be a mis-
take
Obscure
320
325
328
337
339
340
tion
342
344
Obscure and worthless men deified by the Pagans even
in his time
Aurorty of the fathers. It is better to defer too lit-
tlc • an too much to it
Justin's D'alogue genuine
Heges us, a writer of smal credit
Encratiies, their errors
Alcibiauts, the martyr, reproved for an erroneous no-
341
The story of the Thundering Legion improbable 341
Forged re:cripts in favour of Christianity
341-344
Marcus Aurelius, no friend to the Christians
The martyrdo.n of Apolonius
Roman Senate not favourable to Christianity
Remarks on Luciai, Apuleius, Porphyry, and the Pla-
tonic philosophers
345–349
Lucian not an apostate
346
Augustin, his doubts concerning the transformation of
Apuleius
Mysteries of heretics and philosophers
347
Vigilantius ill used by Jerom
Remarks on Jerom
290—348
Porphyry, his concessions in favour of Christianity 348
His writings suppressed
Plotinus, his attempt to establish Plato's Republic
Smyrna overthrown by an earthquake,
349
The generosity of Marcus Aurelius and of others on
that occasion
Bardesanes, his character and sentiments
333-350
Melito, whether a propliet
351
State of the Christians in the reign of Commodus 352
The Montanists
252
Tertullian
352
Proculus is said to have cured Severus with oil. Facts
relating to that story
354-357
Severus, his behaviour towards the Christians 356
Rutilius the martyr. His prudent and picus beha-
yioyr
Theophilus
.346
348
357