the famous Roman emperor, styled the Apostate, because he professed the Christian religion before he ascended the throne, but afterwards openly embraced Paganism, and endeavoured to abolish Christianity. He made no use of violence, however, for this purpose; for he knew that violent measures had always rendered it more flourishing; he therefore behaved with a polite mildness to the Christians; recalled all who had been banished on account of religion under the reign of Constantius; and undertook to convert them by his carelessness, and by temporal advantages and mortifications covered over by artful pretences; but he forbade Christians to plead before courts of justice, or to enjoy any public employments. He even prohibited their teaching polite literature; well knowing the great advantages they drew from profane authors in their attacks upon Paganism and irreligion. Though he on all occasions showed a sovereign contempt for the Christians, whom he always called Galileans, yet he was sensible of the advantage they obtained by their virtue and the purity of their manners; and therefore incessantly proposed their example to the Pagan priests. At last, however, when he found that all other methods failed, he gave public employments to the most cruel enemies of the Christians, when the cities in most of the provinces were filled with tumults and seditions, and many of them were put to death:

Though it has been pleaded by Julian's apologists, that the behaviour of the Christians furnished sufficient pretence for most of his proceedings against them, and the animosities among themselves furnished him with the means; that they were continually prone to sedition, and made a merit of insulting the public worship; and, finally, that they made no scruple of declaring, that want of numbers alone prevented them from engaging in an open rebellion. Historians mention, that Julian attempted to prove the falsehood of our Lord's prediction with respect to the temple of Jerusalem; and resolved to have that edifice rebuilt by the Jews, about 300 years after its destruction by Titus: but all their endeavours served only the more perfectly to verify what had been foretold by Jesus Christ; for the Jews, who had assembled from all parts to Jerusalem, digging the foundations, flames of fire burst forth and consumed the workmen. However, the Jews, who were obstinately bent on accomplishing that work, made several attempts; but it is said, that all who endeavoured to lay the foundation perished by these flames, which at last obliged them entirely to abandon the work. Julian being mortally wounded in a battle with the Persians, it is said, that he then caught in his hand some of the blood which flowed from his wound; and throwing it towards heaven, cried, "Thou Galilean hast conquered." But notwithstanding this popular report, Theodoret relates, that Julian discovered a different disposition; and employed his last moments in conversing with Maximus the philosopher on the dignity of the soul. He died the following night, aged 32. For a particular account of his reign and exploits, see History of Constantinople, No. 7.

No prince was ever more differently represented by different authors; on which account it is difficult to form a true judgment of his real character. It must, however, be acknowledged, that he was learned, liberal, temperate, brave, vigilant, and a lover of justice; but, on the other hand, he had apostatised to Paganism; was an enemy to the Christian religion; and was, in fact, a persecutor, though not of the most fanatical class. We have several of his discourses or orations; some of his letters; a treatise intitled Mythopogon, which is a satire on the inhabitants of Antioch; and some other pieces, all written in an elegant style. They were published in Greek and Latin by Father Petavius in 1630 quarto; and of which Spanheimius gave a fine edition in folio in 1696. His most famous work was that composed against the Christians, of which there are some fragments in Cyril's refutation of it.