PART IV

I

(_a_) HADRIAN--HIS POLICY TOWARDS CHRISTIANITY

_Hadrian_--His life of travel--His character--Early policy towards Christians--He insults Christianity in his building of Aelia Capitolina on site of Jerusalem--The great Jewish war--Its two results--(_a_) Complete change in the spirit of the Jews--(_b_) A new conception of the Christian sect on part of Roman Government--It was now recognized that the Christian was no mere Jewish dissenter, but a member of a distinct sect, dangerous to Roman policy 75

II

(_b_) HADRIAN--HIS ENMITY TOWARDS CHRISTIANITY GRADUALLY INCREASED

Last years of Hadrian--Persecution of Christians more pronounced--Undoubted authorities for this graver position of Christians throughout the Empire--Table showing succession of Antonines to the Empire 81

III

ANTONINUS PIUS AND MARCUS ANTONINUS--THEIR IDEALS

Character of Antoninus Pius--His intense love for Rome--His determination to restore the old simple life to which Rome owed her greatness--His devotion to ancient Roman traditions, and to the old Roman religion--Antoninus Pius and his successor Marcus lived themselves the simple austere life they taught to their court and subjects 84

IV

INTENSE ANTIPATHY OF THE ANTONINES TO CHRISTIANITY

Reason of the Antonines’ marked hostility to the Christian sect--The Christians stood resolutely aloof from the ancient religion which these two great sovereigns believed was indissolubly bound up with the greatness of Rome--With such views of the sources of Roman power and prosperity, only a stern policy of persecution was possible--This policy, pursued in days of Pius, was intensified by his yet greater successor Marcus--The common idea that the Christians were tolerated in the days of the Antonines must be abandoned--Their sufferings under the rule of these great Emperors, especially in the days of Marcus, can scarcely be exaggerated 91