3. Testimony of Pagan Writers

3. Testimony of Pagan Writers

Notwithstanding all the care of the primitive Christians to conceal this sacred ordinance from their enemies, it was known, and the celebration of it was prohibited. by Roman magistrates, as appears from Pliny's Letter. Lucian of Samosata speaks of our Lord as the great magician who instituted new mysteries. Celsus, with reference to this sacred festival, as appears from Origen, also severely censures the Christians against whom he wrote, for holding certain secret assemblies, and celebrating unauthorized rites. The frequent charges alleged against them of sensuality, and incest, of offering human sacrifices, and of celebrating horrible orgies in secret, evidently relate to the same ordinance. See references. for a fuller view of this subject.