literaryhistoryo02crut - Carmel Apologetics

—
340 THK APOLOGISTS.
career. Moroovor, his l)itter sense of the emptiness of pagan
culture \V(juld come most naturally at a time of life when
illusions
no longer satisfy, and pleasures no longer attract.
It is certain that he settled at Jiome and remained there
several years, investigating the principles of Christian truth,
and that he endjodied some of liis labours in a " Booh of
Qucstionji" ^ dealing with what was hidden and obscure in
the writings of the Old Testament. This important work is
lost. And all tliat remains of his orthodox days is the short
Ajxtlogy, known as the Oration to the Grccls- wliich is our
main authority for his views. Opinions differ as to where
it was written, l)ut probal)ility inclines to Home, either shortly
before or shortly after the death of Justin.
The first point to notice with regard to this striking work
is that it cannot rightly be called an Apology at all. Its tone
is not defensive, but aggressive.-^ It is a powerful onslaught
on heathenism, coupled with a terse exposition of the essentials
of Christianity. It professes to come from "one who
knows," not by hearsay, but by experience. Its first protest
is against the arrogance of Hellenism, wliieli llien claimed
for itself what its votaries claim for it now, viz., t