AMERICAN THEOLOGICAL REVIEW.
ART. I.-JULIAN THE APOSTATE.
By PHILIP SCHAFF, D.D., Prof. in Theol. Seminary, Mercersburg, Pa.
THE reign of Julian the Apostate is a brief but most interesting and instructive episode in the history of the Roman Empire and of the ancient Church. It was a systematic and vigorous effort to dethrone Christianity and to restore Paganism to its former supremacy. But in its entire failure it furnished an irresistible proof that Christianity had accomplished a complete intellectual and moral victory over the religion of Greece and Rome.
Julian, a nephew of Constantine the Great, was born in 331, and educated in the Arian court-Christianity of his despotic and suspicious cousin Constantius. He was even intended for the priesthood against his secret wish and will, and ordained a reader of the Scriptures in public worship. But the despotic and mechanical force-work of a repulsively austere and vio lently polemic type of Christianity roused the vigorous and