In order to repel some charges of Celsus, against the Christians, as subjects, and citizens, Origen appeals to the evidence of facts; institutes a comparison between the Christians and the heathens, { 36a} under the same government, at Athens, Corinth, and other cities. “Their religion,” says he, “teaches, that union with God, and each other, is supreme happiness.”
Celsus charges them with holding secret assemblies. { 36b} His opponent, whilst he invites enquiry into the nature and conduct of these meetings, asks if their actual circumstances did not debar them from meeting in any other manner.
He objects to them also, that they have no temples of worship; { 36c} but is at once refuted, by a statement of the impossibility of erecting them. The error also is stated, of imagining that God can dwell in temples made with hands; and the sublime article { 37a} of our creed avowed, that the “heaven of heavens cannot contain him!” { 37b}
While therefore, the paucity and weakness of the charges alleged by the enemies of Christianity, against its followers, is established by this work, much is incidentally advanced, which substantiates the superiority of the character of Christians. They had indeed degenerated even in the days of Celsus. The stream had not flowed even thus far, without being tinged with many impurities. But enough virtue was left to vindicate the religion; enough to enable her champions to demonstrate the superior efficacy of the faith, because it made the best citizens and the most useful men.
The allegations of Celsus, and the defence of Origen, alike prove the extent of the sufferings to which the Christians were subjected. And it may be truly said, that the best defence of Christianity is written with the blood of its persecuted followers. It is not credible, that those should either be deceived, or conspire to deceive others, whose lives were almost necessarily to pay the forfeit of their mistake, or of their stratagem.
CHAP. VI. DOCTRINES _of the_ EARLY CHRISTIANS.
IT would be a material defect in an Essay purporting to state the contents of the reply of Origen to Celsus, and the evidence supplied by it in favour of Christianity, not to notice the doctrines of the early Christians, as they may be collected from the work before us.