As an orator, a statesman, and a philosopher, Cicero must be regarded as the most accomplished character in the annals of Rome. His writings are very voluminous, and the greater part of them have happily been preserved. They may be classified generally, as follows:-1. Rhetorical works. II. Philosophical works, including political, moral, and speculative philosophy, and some theological treatises. III. Orations. IV. Epistles. These works, says Gray, afford not only invaluable treasures of eloquence and wisdom, but furnish also indirect homage to the cause of sacred truth: while they expose the vanity of heathen superstition and the errors of heathen philosophy, they offer also the tribute of reason and experience to many of the principles which religion has consecrated, and in some particulars illustrate the sacred accounts. There can be little doubt that Cicero entertained a firm conviction of the truth of the great principles of natural religion, particularly of the existence of the Supreme Being, and of the immortality of the soul.

C. JULIUS CÆSAR.
Born B.C. 100-Died B.C. 44.

This great military leader, who carried the Roman arms into Britain, and changed the republican government into a perpetual dictatorship, has left a record of his principal actions in his Commentaries. Cæsar was gifted by nature with the most various talents, and distinguished by the most extraordinary attainments. His expeditions into Gaul, Germany, and Britain gave him opportunities of observing the manners and customs of those nations, and the accounts which he has left are full of interest. The descriptions of the Druids and their sacrifices of human victims in groves remind us of similar practices in sacred history, and there are other circumstances recorded which argue an acquaintance with those nations of the East by whom the principles of the Patriarchal faith were perverted in the earliest ages.

C. VALERIUS CATULLUS.

Born B.C. 87-Died B.C. 47.

A celebrated poet, born at Verona. Having lived extravagantly in early youth and wasted his patrimony with immoral companions, he went to Bithynia in the train of the Prætor Memmius. His extant works consist of a great number of poems on various topics. Many of them are disfigured by extreme grossness and impurity, while others are full of grace and delicacy. The intimate acquaintance which Catullus possessed with Greek literature and mythology gained for him the surname of Doctus.

C. SALLUSTIUS CRISPUS.

Born B.C. 86-Died B.C. 34.

The author of the history of Catiline's conspiracy, Catilina, and of the Jugurthine war, Jugurtha. He lived in habits of intimacy with Cicero, whose divorced wife Terentia, he married. The writings of Sallust are remarkable for the principles of rectitude and virtue recommended; but which the author was far from putting into practice in his own life.

P. VIRGILIUS MARO.

Born B.C. 70--Died B.C. 19.

The "Prince of the Latin poets," born in the neighbourhood of Mantua, whence he repaired to Rome and attracted the notice of Maecenas and of the Emperor Augustus. His chief works are the ten Bucolics; the Georgics, a treatise on husbandry, and the most finished and perfect of all Latin compositions; and the Eneid, describing the adventures of Eneas, subsequent to the fall of Troy. The patronage of Augustus afforded great opportunities to the poet Virgil to obtain information upon subjects of sacred interest, and from the earliest ages his writings, especially the 4th Eclogue, have attracted attention on account of the similarity that appears to exist between them and parts of the inspired volume. Constantine argued the truth of the Christian religion from the correspondence which the above named Eclogue exhibited with the descriptions of Revelation. Gray remarks that the sense, the images, and the diction of this poem, conspire so remarkably with those of the prophets, and particularly with passages in Isaiah, that they clearly indicate some affinity. Bishop Lowth intimates a persuasion that some mysterious elevation had been produced on the mind of Virgil by a divine influence. The neid exhibits some of

the leading principles of truth originally revealed from heaven, as those of the unity, the omnipotence, and the omnipresence of the Deity, who is represented as nourishing and giving motion to all things, and as the Mind to the vast body of the universe. Virgil inculcates also a belief in a state of future rewards and punishments.

P. OVIDIUS NASO.

Born B.C. 43. Died A.D. 18.

Ovid, the Roman poet, was educated as a pleader, and at the age of sixteen went to Athens, where he made himself master of the Greek language. But nothing could deter him from indulging his natural poetical talent, and his works which have come down to us are very numerous. Ovid enjoyed for some time the favour of Augustus, till for some offence given to the Emperor he was banished into Scythia, where he died in exile, at the age of sixty.

His works afford a picture of heathen mythology, and in his fictions many traces of revealed truth may be discovered. His Fasti contains an account of the chief festivals of the Romans, with their origin; and shows that the writer entertained but little reverence for the gods of his countrymen. His Metamorphoses begins with the creation of the world, and ends with the death of Cæsar. Remains of a primitive creed in one supreme God, the Father of Gods and men, together with vestiges of traditional knowledge, if not of sacred history, appear in every part of this book. The writings of Ovid are for the most part of a very vicious and immoral character, and it was probably on this account that he incurred the virtuous indignation of Augustus, who banished him from Rome that the youth of that country might not be exposed to corruption.

TITUS LIVIUS PATAVINUS.

Born B.C. 59-Died A.D. 17.

This historian is celebrated by Tacitus for his distinguished eloquence and fidelity; and by Seneca as a most candid estimator of all good men. He was appointed by Augustus tutor to his son Claudius; but gave offence, by the freedom of his writings, to Caligula and Domitian, by the former of whom the statues which had been erected to his honour were removed.

The History of Livy consisted originally of 142 books, of which 35 only are extant. It contains many particulars with respect to the opinions and customs of the Romans on subjects of religious interest, which not only tend to prove the preservation of some of the main principles of natural religion, amidst the delusions which overshadowed the Pagan world, but also exhibit the observance of rites and ceremonies that were originally of divine institution. The detail which Livy supplies on these subjects is so full that he has been styled the ecclesiastical historian with regard to Roman antiquities.

Q. HORATIUS FLACCUS.

Born B.C. 65-Died B.C. 8.

Horace received his education at Rome, and subsequently at Athens. On the arrival of Brutus at Athens, after the death of Cæsar, Horace joined his army. He was present at the battle of Philippi, and shared in the flight of the republican army. On his return to Rome some of his poems attracted the attention of Virgil, who introduced him to Mæcenas, with whom he formed a close friendship.

Quintilian says of Horace that he is the only lyric poet among the ancient Romans who deserves to be read. The exquisite beauty of his Odes illustrates the effect of style in giving weight and ornament to sentiments which have but little real importance, and in conferring grace upon the merest trifles. In his Satires and Epistles he displays much wit and humour; but there is none of that burning indignation against vice which characterises the writings of Juvenal. His arrows are turned rather at the follies than at the vices of mankind, and these he satirises with a liberal censure, and a playful urbanity of manner.

There are many passages in Horace which indicate an acquaintance with traditions founded on truth. He alludes also to several points of Christian doctrine, as future rewards and punishments, the unity and supremacy of the Deity, and the care exercised by Divine Providence over the concerns of men.

AULUS PERSIUS FLACCUS.
Born A.D. 34. Died A.D. 62.

A Roman poet, born at Volterra, of good family. Persius was naturally of a mild and pleasing disposition, and his modesty and benevolence were remarkable. He distinguished himself by his satirical humour; and made the faults of the orators and poets the subject of his poems. He takes but little notice of the gross vices and immoralities of his age, a circumstance which may be attributed to the retirement and privacy in which his life was passed. He has left only six Satires: these abound with pointed and striking moral passages. He speaks of the prayers and sabbaths of the Jews; and there can be no doubt that at the period when he wrote, the practices and traditions of that people were well known at Rome. Some of his verses bear a marked resemblance to the language of holy writ, and his reflections appear in many instances to be derived from the lessons of Scripture.

L. ANNEUS SENECA.

Born B.C. 6 (?)-Died A.D. 65.

This great moralist devoted himself, from an early age, to rhetoric and philosophy. In the first year of the reign of Claudius he was banished to Corsica, but after his recall obtained a prætorship, and was made tutor to the young Domitius, afterwards the emperor Nero. On the accession of his pupil to the imperial throne, Seneca became one of the chief advisers to the young emperor, whose vicious propensities he endeavoured in vain to check; till, becoming obnoxious to the tyrant, he fell a sacrifice to his resentment, and was condemned to die by his own hand.

The writings of Seneca contain some of the best instructions of heathen morality after it had become, in some measure, conformed to the new principles introduced by contact with a pure and true religion. There can be little doubt that Seneca was acquainted with some of the communications of the Gospel; and it is natural to suppose that he may have met and conversed with Paul when that apostle came to Rome and converted some of the household of Nero. Some writers have maintained that he was himself persuaded to become a Christian, but there does not appear to be any ground for such a conclusion. Seneca's most remarkable work is a series of Epistles addressed to Lucilius, forming a collection of moral precepts and observations: these contain numerous passages which indicate an acquaintance with the instructions of Scripture. Several other treatises on various moral subjects are extant, and also ten Tragedies founded upon traditions from the Greek mythology.

M. ANNÆUS LUCANUS.

Born A.D. 39.-Died A.D. 65.

Lucan was the son of L. Annæus Mella, who was a brother of Seneca, the philosopher. He wrote various poems, of which one only is preserved, viz., the Pharsalia, the subject of which is the struggle between Cæsar and Pompey. It contains a few casual expressions which seem to argue a legendary acquaintance with some portion of the word of truth.

QUINTUS CURTIUS RUFUS.
Flourished A.D. 50 (?)

The author of a history of the life and wars of Alexander the Great. It consisted of ten books, two of which are lost, and the others somewhat imperfect. It is taken from good sources; and contains much that is confirmative of the fulfilment of prophecy, and illustrative of customs and practices referred to in sacred history.

C. PLINIUS SECUNDUS.

Born A.D. 23.-Died A.D. 79.

Pliny, the elder, was descended from a wealthy family and enjoyed all the advantages of a liberal education. At the age of twenty-three he went to Germany, and after his return practised for a time as a pleader at Rome. Being of very industrious and studious habits, he improved every moment of his time, and accumulated an immense mass of information, from which he composed his celebrated Historia Naturalis. It consisted of thirty-seven books, embracing astronomy, meteorology, geography, mineralogy, botany, and other subjects. From these may be

gathered very many facts and particulars illustrative of Scripture. Pliny speaks of the horrible custom of offering up human victims in sacrifice: he mentions Moses by name, in conjunction with Jamnes and Jotape, as magicians among the Jews; and notices many of the localities and cities of the East, in accordance with the description given of them in the Bible. He lost his life in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, A.D. 79, when Pompeii and Herculaneum were destroyed. Having approached too near to the scene of the catastrophe with a view to render assistance to those who were in danger, he was suffocated by the noxious vapours which arose from the earth on which he had reclined.

C. PLINIUS CÆCILIUS SECUNDUS.

Born A.D. 61-Died A.D. 100.

Nephew of the former, commonly called Pliny the younger. In his youth he served as a military tribune in Syria, and when pro-consul in Bithynia, wrote his celebrated letter to Trajan on the punishment of the Christians. In this most interesting epistle, which was composed about forty years after the death of St. Paul, he bears testimony to the virtuous lives, the unflinching fortitude, and pious resignation of the Christians. The profession of christianity was sufficient in those days to ensure condemnation, and the punishment appointed by law was death. See notes on Matt. xxiv. 8, 9, 10. Pliny complains in this letter that the contagion of this wide-spread superstition had infected the cities, the villages, and the country, that the temples of the gods were deserted, and that no purchasers could be found for the victims. The answer of Trajan commends the conduct of Pliny; but directs that the Christians should not be officiously sought for, but that if brought forward and convicted they should be punished. The extant works of Pliny are his Panegyric, or Eulogium of the Emperor Trajan, and the ten books of his Epistles.

D. JUNIUS JUVENALIS.
Flourished A.d. 82.

Juvenal was born in the reign of Claudius, and lived during the successive reigns of Domitian, Nerva, Trajan, and Adrian. His indignant satire displays the corruption of heathen manners so as fully to demonstrate that the Romans were given over at that time to a reprobate mind. He makes frequent mention of the Jews, of their sabbaths, of their rites, and of their lawgiver, Moses. He also notices the persecutions to which the Christians were exposed, and speaks of the pitched shirts in which they were burnt, fixed to the stake in the arena. The extant works of Juvenal consist of sixteen satires: the broad and offensive descriptions of which, however calculated to excite shame in those whose abominable practices they exposed, are totally unfit for perusal.

P. PAPINIUS STATIUS.

Born A.D. 61-Died A.D. 96.

Born at Neapolis; the son of a distinguished grammarian, who held the post of preceptor to Domitian. The works of Statius which have come down to us are,-Silva, a collection of occasional poems in five books; the Thebais, an heroic poem in twelve books, founded upon ancient legends of the expedition of the Seven against Thebes, and the Achilleis, which was interrupted by the death of the poet, and is incomplete.

M. VALERIUS MARTIALIS.

Born A.D. 43-Died A.D. 104.

The extant works of Martial consist of upwards of 1,500 epigrams, divided into fourteen books. Martial was a courtier and a flatterer in times the most depraved and corrupt. His writings are valuable on account of the vast fund of information which they convey on the customs and habits of the Romans; but they are defiled by the grossest impurities, and are for the most part unfit for translation.

M. FABIUS QUINTILIANUS.

Born A.D. 40. Died A.D. 118.

Quintilian, the most famous of Roman rhetoricians, was born in Spain, but received his education at Rome. His Institutes of Eloquence, in twelve books, written during the reign of Domitian, whose grand-nephews were under his tuition, comprises a complete system of oratory. The first book contains a treatise on the education of children from

their earliest years, and is remarkable for the soundness and wisdom of the principles inculcated. The tenth book is very interesting, on account of the outline of the history of Greek and Roman literature which it contains; and the whole work is characterised by sound judgment, pure taste, and graceful composition.

C. CORNELIUS TACITUS.

Born A.D. 61. Died A.D. 118. (?)

The exact date and place of this historian's birth are unknown. He was a great favourite of the emperor Vespasian, and of succeeding emperors also. His History of the Roman Emperors was written during the reign of Trajan; it began with the accession of Galba and ended with the death of Domitian; but four books only, with a fragment of the fifth, are extant, and these comprise the events of little more than one year. The Annals begin with the death of Augustus, and extend over a period of fifty-four years to the death of Nero. Many parts of this work also are lost. His Germany contains an account of the religion, customs, and political institutes of the Germans.

Tacitus has been sometimes accused of atheism; but there are passages which sufficiently demonstrate his belief in the government of a Supreme Being, and he speaks with reverence of Jupiter, "the best and greatest." Tacitus gives many particulars of the history of the Jews, derived, in part, perhaps, from Josephus: he mentions the Exodus and the giving of the law by Moses, and observes that the Jews worship only one God, who is to be conceived by the mind alone, and not represented by visible images. Many events of New Testament history are also confirmed by this writer; and the accounts he gives of the Christians afford the most striking testimony to the facts on which their religion rests, and furnish affecting evidence of the sufferings to which the early Christians were exposed under persecution.

C. SUETONIUS TRANQUILLUS.

Flourished A.D. 116.

Suetonius, who held for a time the office of private secretary to the emperor Hadrian, appears to have written many works; but the principal, and perhaps the only genuine one extant, is the Lives of the Twelve Caesars, beginning with Julius Cæsar, and ending with Domitian. It has been remarked with respect to this work that the historian described the lives of the emperors with as much freedom as they lived. He certainly does not appear to conceal anything; but enters into such particulars as to afford the most deplorproofs of the corruption which prevailed in high places, and probably throughout the whole of the Roman empire, in those days.

Suetonius relates the cure of blind and lame persons by the emperor Vespasian, in imitation, doubtless, of the miracles of Christ. He represents the Christians as a race of men addicted to a new and mischievous superstition; and makes frequent mention of events connected with the history of the first apostles.