And as for the Jews, the origin and early propagation of Christianity was so very obscure, that those who lived nearest the times of the apostles, do not seem to have known any thing about them, or their doctrines.
Though a little out of place, yet I will here adduce a fact which illustrates and exemplifies the power of enthusiasm, to make people believe they saw what they did not see.

Lucian gives an account of one Peregrinus, a philosophist very famous in his time, who had a great number of disciples.

He ended his life by throwing himself, in the presence of assembled thousands, into a burning pile.

Yet such was the enthusiastic veneration of his followers, that some of his disciples did solemnly aver, that they had seen him after his death, clothed in white, and crowned; and they were believed, insomuch that altars and statues were erected to Peregrinus as to a demi-god.

See Lucian's account.
APPENDIX B.
See Cotelerius "Patres Apostolic," Tom.