A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

Fourth and Fifth Centuries A.D. 323
converted to Christianity probably in the last persecution.
Among his numerous writings the sketch entitled
On the Manner in which the Persecutors died is of chief
interest to students of history. A doubt once raised as to
its authenticity seems to be groundless. To the same
generation belongs Eusebius, bishop of Cesarea, an inti- Eusebius.
mate friend and ardent admirer of Constantine. He
was a zealous Christian and a learned, prolific writer.
His Ecclesiastical History in ten books narrates in detail
the rise of Christianity and its relation to the empire.
A later age is represented by St. Jerome. He was a St. Jerome,
man of native abihty and broad deep learning, whose a.D.
ascetic temperament led him to pass five years in solitary
life among the hermits of the Syrian desert. He is especially
celebrated for his translation of the Scriptures
into Latin. This version is known as the Vulgate. He
was chiefly instrumental, too, in introducing monastic life
into the West. His Letters are a storehouse of information
on all aspects of social life of his age. Even more
distinguished is his younger contemporary, St. Augustine, St. Auguswhose
Confessions gives an account of his own life, and 430 'k.jy.
incidentally throws light on the times in which he lived.
A philosopher and teacher of rhetoric, he was converted
to Christianity, and baptized in his thirty-third year.
Thenceforth he was a most zealous supporter of the faith.
His various writings, filUng sixteen large volumes, have
contributed more than the works of any other man to the
final shaping of Catholic Christianity. Along with his
Confessions the work of greatest interest to the general
student of history is his City of God. A leading object of
this book is
to refute the charge of the pagans that the
misfortunes of Rome were due to Christianity. He
demonstrates accordingly the infinite superiority of his