The Arguments of the Emperor Julian Against the Christians. Re-
printed and edited by W. M. Nevins. (Williams and Norgate.)—This is an interesting little tract, which many readers will doubtless be obliged to Mr. Nevins for bringing to their knowledge. It was pub- lished, it seems, in 1809, by a certain Mr. Meredith, but was shortly afterwards suppressed, a few copies only escaping. Mr. Nevins, Who is a Roman Catholic, reprints it "in the interest and on behalf of Christi- anity." He is quite right in thinking it a " curiosity," and also right in
judging that it is well that people should know the source of many of the arguments which are still brought against Christianity. We should like to commend one passage to the attention of the Birmingham. School League. It is the conclusion of the epistle in which Julian embodied his edict "forbidding the Christians to teach the literature of the heathens." The League has not come to this yet, but we are not at all sure that it may not, if it wants to keep the schools of the future, really secular. Meanwhile let it note this,—" Let no youths be pre- vented from resorting to whatever schools they please. It would be as. unreasonable to exclude children who know not yet what path to take as the right path, as it would be to lead them by fear and with re- luctance to the religious rights of their country. And though it would. be just to cure such reluctance, like madness, even by force, yet let all be indulged with that desire. For I think it is requisite to instruct,. not to punish the ignorant."
Previous page
