69. To Minucius Fundanus, Proconsul of Asia^ I Judg.
Letters of Adrian and Antoninus.
that we ask what is just.
I have, however, subjoined a A pot.. copy of Adrian's letter, that you may know that we speak L2M1L* truth in this also.
The copy is as follows.
69. To Minucius Fundanus, Proconsul of Asia^ I Judg. received the letter written to me by your predecessor, the ™ jri'^an^ most illustrious Serenius Granianus, and it is not my pleasure to pass by without enquiry the matter referred to me, lest both the inoffensive should be disturbed, and an opportunity afforded to slanderous informers of practising their vile traffic.
Now, if our subjects of the Provinces are able to sustain by evidence this their demand against the Christians, so as to answer before a Court of Justice, I have no objection to their taking this course.
But to mere clamorous demands and outcries^ for this purpose, I do not allow them to have recourse.
For it is much more equitable, if any one wishes to accuse them, for you to take cognizance of the matters laid to their charge.
If therefore any one accuses and proves that the aforesaid men do any thing contrary to the laws, you will also determine their punishments in accordance with their offences.
As on the other hand, by Hercules, have an especial regard ; that if any one demand a writ of accusation against any of these
Christians, merely for the sake of libelling them as such, you proceed against that man with heavier penalties, in proportion to his heinous guilt.
70.
^" The Emperor Caesar Titus Jj^lius Adrianus AntoJudg ment of Antoninus Augustus Pius, chief Pontiff, in the fifteenth year of Tribunicial power, the third time Consul ; Father of his ninus country ; to the States General of Asia, greeting.
I indeed should have thought that the gods would take care that such men should not escape discovery, for it is much more likely that they will punish, if at least they can, such persons as refuse to worship them ; yet on these men « Eusebius tells us, that S.
Justin that this word was used of the acclauiserted a copy of the original Latin mations made in the Theatres, ' The version of this Letter, which he himself
Christians to the lions,' &c.
See Tertranslated into Greek. (Euseb. book iv. tuUian, Apol. xl. De Spec. xxvi. chap. 8) This translUtion, with a c Ed. Ben. observes, that this Letter Latin version formed from it, is given is inserted from Eusebius, who gives in the Cologne and Benedictine' Ediit, Hist. Eccl. iv. 13. and quotes Melito tions; but we have preferred to follow in support of its genuineness.
There the original Latin as preserved by is no remark of St.
Justin upon it, as Rufinus, and given from him by Otto. there would have been had he inserted ^ ctliwo-eo-ii/.
Valesius observes, it himself.
Christians not to he punished as such.
Just, you bring trouble and arraign tbeir opinion, wbich they ^5^^^ hold, as that of Atheists, and lay to their charge certain other things which we are not able to prove.
But it must make for their cause to have the character of enduring even death for that of which they are accused, and they conquer you by lavishing their own lives rather than obey in what you require them to do.
Now touching the earthquakes that have happened, and are happening, it is not reasonable for you to remind us of them, you who despond whenever they take place, if you compare your own feelings with theirs, because they are far more trustful than you towards God.
And you indeed seem at such time to be ignorant of the gods, and you neglect the temples, and have no knowledge of the worship of God.
Hence you envy those who do serve Himj and persecute them even unto death.
Other Governors of Provinces also wrote to my 1 Lit. father of sacred memory' about these people; to whom he my most j.gp|-g^j^ that they should not disturb such persons, unless father, they were detected attempting any thing against the Roman government.
And many have communicated with me too about them, to whom I also have replied, adopting my father's opinion.
But if any one has any information to bring against a person of this class, merely because he is such, let the accused be absolved from the charge, even if he appear to be one of them, but the informer shall be amenable to justice."
Testi71.
"^"The Emperor Caesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus mony of Qermanicus Parthicus Sarmaticus, to the people and sacred
Marcus ' r r AntoSenate of Rome, greeting.
, I explained to you the magnitude of my design, and, when labouring and suffering in a strait from being surrounded on the confines of Germany, what results I achieved, when I was shut up in Carnutum by seventy-four battalions^, about nine miles off.
But the enemy being near us, the scouts informed us, and Pompeianus our general signified what we knew, (for I was hemmed in by a vast and indiscriminate host, whilst I had only a limited ** This Letter is not considered gebe at any rate later than this Apology, nulne, although there is early evidence '^ Lit.
' Dragons;' but the standards of the existence of a Letter of Marcus may be intended.
Scaliger would read Aurelius to the same purport.
It would 0/jov7k:w»/, as they were barbarians.
Marcus Antoninus delivered hy prayers of Christians.
draft of the 'first, tenth, and ^ double legion of our armies, Apol. and 3 the legion of the straits with me,) that a mingled fA^ multitude of the enemy to the number of 977000 was close ^ye^^Jms at hand.
When then I compared myself and the number '
'^''/''' ot my troops with the vast forces of the barbarians and enemy, I had instant recourse to putting up prayers to the gods of our countr3\ But being disregarded by them, and perceiving the strait to which my power was reduced, I called out those among us who are termed Christians, and on examination I discovered their multitude and strength: and I vented my rage at them, which was not right, for I subsequently learned their power.
Wherefore they begin their work not with a preparation of darts, or arms, or trumpets, for this is hateful to them, on account of the.
God Whom they bear in their conscience ; and hence it is probable, that those whom we take to be Atheists, may have
God of His own free will entrenched within their conscience ; but casting tliemselves on the ground, they prayed not for me alone, but also for the army that was present, *lhat God would relieve the hunger and thirst that oppressed them ; for we had had no water for five days, because none could be found, we being in the middle of Germany, and on the enemy's confines.
But as soon as they cast themserves"'on' the ground, and invoked a God whom I knew not, immediately water followed from Heaven.
Upon us indeed jt was most cool, but upon the enemies of the Romans it was a fiery hail.
And moreover immediately [we recognised] the presence of God consequent on this prayer, as of One Invincible and Indestructible.
Beginning then from hence, let us allow such to be Christians, lest by their prayers they obtain some similar weapon against us.
With regard to such an one, I decide that he shall not be accused because he is a Christian ; but if any be found to accuse a Christian because he is one, with regard to that Christian who is delated and confesses that such is the fact, I wish it to be made plain that he is accused of nothing else but this only, that he is a Christian, but that the accuser shall be burnt alive.
And the Christian who confesses and certifies this, the officer entrusted with the government of the Province is not to compel to retractation and loss of his
5G PuhUcatlon of the Letter of Marcus Jfitoninus.
Just, freedom.
I desire that this be confirmed by a decree of the ^^^^'^' Senate also, and I command that this edict of mine be published in the forum of Trajan, that all may be enabled to read it.
The Prefect Vetrasius Pollio will take care that it is sent into the Provinces round about, and that no one who wishes to use and possess [a transcript of] it, be prevented from obtaining it from the documents now published by us."