4/25 * Note: Professor Hegelmayer has proved the authenticity of the edict of Antoninus, in his Comm.Hist.Theol.in Edict.Imp.Antonini. ----Neander doubts its authenticity, (vol.i.p. 152.) In my opinion, the internal evidence is decisive against it .-- M] [Footnote 60a: The enactment of this law affords strong presumption, that accusations of the "crime of Christianity," were by no means so uncommon, nor received with so much mistrust and caution by the ruling authorities, as Gibbon would insinuate. --M.] The expedient which was employed to elude the prudence of the laws, affords a sufficient proof how effectually they disappointed the mischievous designs of private malice or superstitious zeal. |