CONTENTS
[ THE ARGUMENTS OF CELSUS AGAINST THE CHRISTIANS ]
[ EXTRACTS FROM, AND INFORMATION RELATIVE TO, THE TREATISE OF PORPHYRY ]
[ A FRAGMENT OF THE THIRTY-FOURTH BOOK OF DIODORUS SICULUS. ]
[ FROM MANETHO RESPECTING THE ISRAELITES. ]
[ EXTRACTS FROM THE FIFTH BOOK OF TACITUS RESPECTING THE JEWS, AS ]
[ EXTRACTS FROM THE WORKS OF THE EMPEROR JULIAN RELATIVE TO THE ]
[ EXTRACTS FROM BINGHAM'S ANTIQUITIES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH*, ]
ILLUSTRATIONS
INTRODUCTION.
"I HAVE often wished," says Warburton in a letter to Dr. Forster, October 15, 1749, "for a hand capable of collecting all the fragments remaining of Porphyry, Celsus, Hierocles, and Julian, and giving them to us with a just, critical and theological comment, as a defy to infidelity. It is certain we want something more than what their ancient answerers have given us. This would be a very noble work*."
The author of the following Collectanea has partially effected what Dr. Warburton wished
* See Barker's Parriana, vol. ii. p. 48.
to see accomplished; for as he is not a divine, he has not attempted in his Notes to confute Celsus, but has confined himself solely to an illustration of his meaning, by a citation of parallel passages in other ancient authors.