[50] Matthew xx., 26 and 27.

[51] All Christians believe that Jesus was born in a stable, between an ox and an ass. There is, however, no mention of this in the gospels. It was imagined by Justin, and is mentioned by Lactantius, or at least the author of a bad Latin poem on the passions, which is attributed to Lactantius.

[52]

A time by fate appointed was to come,
When sea, and earth, and all the realm of heaven
Should flame, and ruin seize the world’s great mass.

J. M.

[53] See Revelation, Justin, and Tertullian.

[54] In Voltaire’s time, naturally, the relative priority of Indian, Egyptian, Babylonian, and Persian civilisations was quite unknown, and his idea of their relations to each other cannot hold to-day.—J. M.

[55] The famous “Dies iræ,” sung in Catholic funeral services to-day in England.—J. M.

[56] Justin and Tertullian.

[57] Apostolic Constitutions, Bk. II., ch. lvii.