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94 truth, and of that which naturally depends upon it—viz., literary authenticity—was but little understood. Much abuse has been needlessly lavished upon modern criticism because the same principle has been applied to several of the canonical books. And yet we must yield to evidence. All classes in those days, both Pagans and philosophers, orthodox Christians and Christians tainted with heresy, were guilty on a large scale, and without any scruples of conscience, of that offence which was afterwards to be named by the euphuismeuphemism [sic] of "pious fraud," but which, at the time we speak of, was so openly practised that we have not the heart to apply to it so offensive a name. When Philostratus drew an almost entirely imaginary picture of the character who was to stand as the ideal man of the traditional religion—when Porphyry and Iamblichus made up a legendary Pythagoras, can we say that they were impostors and men who were actuated by sinister or criminal motives? If we read their writings carefully, we shall be convinced of the contrary. With all deference, then,