Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1919 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II LETTERS ON PAGANISM1 In Augustine's correspondence with Pagans we have the advantage of possessing letters addressed to him as well as his replies. Of several of these letters the date cannot now be ascertained. Those whose dates we know range between 390 and 412. We are here enabled to see how Christianity appeared in the beginning of the fifth century to Pagans of culture and position; what were the lines of attack as well as what were the lines of apologetic defence. Augustine's earliest controversial reply to a Pagan writer dates in 390, that is just six years after the famous controversy in Milan between S. Ambrose and the Prefect Symmachus.2 The atmosphere is much the same in Africa as it was at Milan; only on the Catholic side there is a yet more serene assurance of victory. The Pagan consciously represents a religion no longer supported by the State. The Christian consciously possesses political influence as well as spiritual. The Pagan is sarcastic or deferential, mingling respect for the Church official with contempt for his principles, but always curbed by consciousness of dealing with a person in power. The Pagan's ideas of Christianity are often quite inadequate, and sometimes mere misrepresentation. But he has a high conception 1 Much help will be found on this subject in Gaston Iioissier, La Fin du Paganisme. Two vols. 1891. See also Leclercq, L'A/rique Chrctienne. Two vols. 1904. 2 Ambrose, Works. Migne, ii. 971; Augustine's Letter 18. of a bishop's function; and while he does not hesitate to use Christian terms in non-Christian senses, he can appeal to a bishop on the basis of episcopal ideals. Just a year before Augustine became a priest he received a letter1 from a Pagan grammarian of Madaura; a scornful...