Establishment of Christianity in the Empire.
A TAOROUGH acquaintance with the history of the world and the state of mankind at the time of our Savior's birth has led the wisest and most enlightened inquirers to conclude, that the Almighty having designed to illuminate the world by a revelation, there was no period at which it was more certainly required than that in which it was actually sent; nor could any concurrence of circumstances have been more favorable for its extensive dissemination, than that which took place at the time of our Savior's mission. A great part of the known world was at this time under the dominion of the Romans, and subject to all those grievances which are the inevitable result of a system of arbitrary power. Yet this circumstance of the union of so many nations into one great Empire was of considerable advantage for the propagation and advancement of Christianity: for that spirit of civilization which nations, hitherto sunk in barbarism, derived from an intercourse with a refined and liberal people, was favorable to the diffusion of a religion which was founded in an extension of the social feelings; that is to say, in universal charity and benevolence. These nations were, previous to this, sunk in the grossest superstition. The pagan religion had no influence towards refining or improving the morals of mankind. The only attributes which distinguished the heathen gods from the race of ordinary men were their power and their immortality. They were endowed with the same passions as human creatures, and those distinguishing attributes of power and immortality served, in general, only to extend the measure and the enormity of their vices. The example of their gods was, therefore, an incentive to vice instead of virtue; and