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 world; this  is  an  historical  fact,  no  mere tradition, legend,  myth,  or  fable. Listen to some  proofs  of  this.

2. History  teaches  by  means  of  the  most reliable facts  that  from  the  beginning  the greatest and  most  noble  among  mankind have readily  accepted  the  Christian  faith, the holy  Gospel. Amongst these  we  find  a proconsul  of  raphos,  a  captain  of  the  Roman cohorts, Dionysius,  the  Athenian  sage,  Flavius  the  consul,  a  cousin  of  Emperor  Domitian;  the  most  learned,  moreover,  among  the men who  lived  in  those  times;  Justin,  Athenagoras,  Minutius,  and  many  others,  men prominent among  the  scientists  of  the  day, jurists, and  government  officials.

But it  can  not  be  supposed  that  all  these men accepted  the  new  doctrines,  the  new gospel, with  careless  indifference. On the contrary, they  thoroughly  examined  in  the first place  the  holy  Gospel  and  the  writings of the  apostles,  and  more  particularly  they convinced themselves  of  the  facts  relating  to the  life  of  Jesus.

3. Furthermore,  the  disciples  and  apostles of Jesus  bore  witness  to  the  truth  of  their convictions, to  the  facts  of  the  life  of  Jesus Christ, by  confessing  these  truths  with  their blood. When have  there  ever  been  impostors in  the  world,  especially  where  religion was concerned,  who  have  not  striven  either covertly or  openly  after  notoriety,  pleasure, dignities, and  riches? Did the  apostles,  per-