138 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAP, faint resemblance, betrays, by its dark colouring and " distorted features, the pencil of an enemy. As the with regard humble faith of Christ diffused itself through the °' world, it was embraced by several persons who de- rived some consequence from the advantages of nature or fortune. Aristides, who presented an eloquent apo- logy to the emperor Hadrian, was an Athenian philo- sopher ^ Justin Martyr had sought divine knowledge in the schools of Zeno, of Aristotle, of Pythagoi*as, and of Plato, before he fortunately was accosted by the old man, or rather the angel, who turned his at- tention to the study of the Jewish pro])hets. Clemens of Alexandria had acquired much various reading in the Greek, and Tertullian in the Latin language. Ju- lius Africanus and Origen possessed a very consider- able share of the learning of their times ; and although the style of Cyprian is vei'y different from that of Lactantius, we might almost discover that both those writers had been public teachers of rhetoric. Even the study of philosophy was at length introduced among the christians ; but it was not always productive of the most salutary effects : knowledge was as often the parent of heresy as of devotion ; and the descrip- tion which was designed for the followers of Artemon, may with equal propriety be applied to the various sects that resisted the successors of the apostles : " They presume to alter the holy scriptures, to abandon the ancient rule of faith, and to form their opinions ac- cording to the subtile precepts of logic. The science of the church is neglected for the study of geometry, and they lose sight of heaven while they are employed in measuring the earth. Euclid is perpetually in their hands. Aristotle and Theophrastus are the objects of their admiration ; and they express an uncommon reverence for the works of Galen. Their errors are derived from the abuse of the arts and sciences of the
- Euseb. Hist. Eccles. iv. 3 ; Hieronym. Epist. 83.
- > The story is prettily told in Justin's dialogues. Tillemont (Mem.
Ecclesiast. torn. ii. p. 334.) who lelates it after him, is sure that the old man was a disguised angel.
