Humanity itself seemed to be sunk beyond the possibility of restoration; but we see now how necessary it was that our nature should reach its lowest point of depression to give full force to the great reaction which Christianity introduced. Men were slavishly bending at the footstool of a despot, trembling for life, bowed down by fear and misery, when suddenly it was reported that a great teacher had appeared for a while upon earth, and declared that all men were equal in the sight of God, for that God was the Father of all. The slave heard this in the intervals of his torture--the captive in his dungeon--the widow and the orphan. To the poor the gospel, or good news, was preached. It was this which made the trembling courtiers of the worst of the emperors slip out noiselessly from the palace, and hear from Paul of Tarsus or his disciples the new prospect that was opening on mankind. It spread quickly among those oppressed and hopeless multitudes. The subjection of the Roman empire--its misery and degradation--were only a means to an end. The harsher the laws of the tyrant, the more gracious seemed the words of Christ. The two masters were plainly set before them, which to choose. And who could hesitate? One said, "Tremble! suffer! die!" The other said, "Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest!" SECOND CENTURY. Emperors. A.D. TRAJAN--(_continued._) Third Persecution of the Christians. 117. ADRIAN. Fourth Persecution of the Christians. 138. ANTONINUS PIUS. 161. MARCUS AURELIUS. 180. COMMODUS. 193. PERTINAX--DIDIUS, and NIGER--Defeated by 193. SEPTIMIUS SEVERUS. Authors. PLINY THE YOUNGER, PLUTARCH, SUETONIUS, JUVENAL, ARRIAN, ÆLIAN, PTOLEMY, (Geographer,) APPIAN, EPICTETUS, PAUSANIAS, GALEN, (Physician,) ATHENÆUS, TERTULLIAN, JUSTIN MARTYR, TATIAN, IRENÆUS, ATHENAGORAS, THEOPHILUS OF ANTIOCH, CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA, MARCION, (Heretic.) THE SECOND CENTURY. THE GOOD EMPERORS.