or Quintus Septimus Florens Tertullianus, a celebrated priest of Carthage, was the son of a centurion in the militia, who served as proconsul of Africa. He was educated in the Pagan religion; but being convinced of its errors, embraced Christianity, and became a zealous defender of the faith. He married, it is thought, after his baptism. Afterwards he took orders, and went to Rome; where, during the persecution under the emperor Severus, he published his Apology for the Christians, which is, in its kind, a masterpiece of eloquence and learning; and at the beginning of the third century he embraced the sect of the Montanists. He lived to a very great age, and died under the reign of Antoninus Caracalla, about the year 216. Many of his works are still extant, in all of which he discovers a great knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, a lively imagination, a strong, elevated, and impetuous style, great eloquence and strength of reasoning; but is somewhat fornicative. Teruncius sometimes obscure. His Apology and Prescriptions are most esteemed. The best editions of his works are those of Riault; especially that of Venise in 1746, folio. Pame- lius and Alix, Mr Thomas, and the Sieur du Foët, have written his life; and Rigault, M. de l'Abbe Epine, Father Petau, and other learned men, have published notes on his works.