CHAPTER III

THE AUTHORS THAT WROTE IN THE DEFENCE OF THE FAITH, IN THE REIGN OF ADRIAN

TRAJAN having held the sovereignty for twenty years, wanting six months, was succeeded in the imperial office by Ælius Adrian. To him, Quadratus addressed a discourse, as an apology for the religion that we profess; because certain malicious persons attempted to harass our brethren. The work is still in the hands of some of the brethren, as also in our own, from which any one may see evident proof, both of the understanding of the man, and of his apostolic faith.

This writer shows the antiquity of the age in which he lived, in these passages: “The deeds of our Saviour,” says he, “were always before you, for they were true miracles; those that were healed, those that were raised from the dead, who were seen, not only when healed, and when raised, but were always present. They remained living a long time, not only whilst our Lord was on earth, but likewise when he had left the earth: so that some of them have also lived to our own times.” Such was Quadratus. Aristides, also, a man faithfully devoted to the religion we profess, like Quadratus, has left to posterity a defence of the faith, addressed to Adrian. This work is also preserved by a great number, even to the present day.