Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

RESURRECTION OF CULTURED HEATHENISM I 5 5three centuries at least Greeks and Orientals had beenthrown together under one government and in onef study. And Jews had been settled in allthe cities of the Roman Empire, and far beyond it inthe East, and probably in every place some male, andstill more some female proselytes were attracted eithero a complete or to a partial observance of their religion.Of Home in particular we know that since Pompey'conquest of Jerusalem Jews were in large numberthere, and reference to their peculiar rites is noinfrequent in Roman authors. Moreover, whatevereasons existed in the conditionof the -provinces subject to Rome for the rise of a philosophy which iscalled a revival of the Pythagorean or Platonic modeof thinking, had existed equally for several generationsof men, and this still more notably since the pacificationbrought about by the battle of Actium, and theestablishment of one empire embracing so many racesand religions. Now though certain philosophic tendenciesof Philo-doctrines which he imbibed fromPlatonic, Peripatetic, or Stoic sources-were in theair around him, and may be considered as the resultof the education which he received in the midst ofHellenic life, yet up to the time of Philo's visit toRome nothing comparable to his religious systemcould be found in the heathen life of Greeks orRomans. The Jews were bodily in every place, butheir nation and their religion kept them apart inipirit. They were looked upon with antipathy andtempt, and their bearing towards Polytheism wasthat of strong abhorrence and exclusion, not ofaggression. Their position was one of defence, not ofuest, and so they were allowed the open exercisef their worship throughout the empire. Wh