17
life he was crucified by the wicked Jews, which produced prodigious effects, attested as well by heathens Christians At his death there was a great darkness in the day-time, from three o'clock, at which time our Saviour gave up the ghost, till six and yet there was no eclipse of the sun, it being then full moon so that was only by the power of God, who deprived the sun of its light for that space of time. And Dyonysius being that day at Athens, and knowing by the course of the heavens, that this eclipse must be unnatural, cried out, "Either the world is at an end, or the God of nature suffers." And the wise men of Athens, being astonished at this prodigy, ordered an altar to be built, and dedicated it to the unknown God for which St. Paul reproved them, relating that Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, who had suffered death by the Jews, was the unknown God, whereby he converted many to the Christian faith.
Q. What account do the Romans give of Christ?
A. In the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Lentulus, the Roman governor of Judea, wrote the following letter to the senate: "There appeared in these our days a man of great virtue, called Jesus Christ, who is yet living among us, and of the people accepted as a prophet; but his own disciples call him the Son of God. He raiseth the dead, and cureth all manner of diseases; a man tall and comely of stature, with a very reverend countenance, such as the beholders may both fear and love: his hair of the colour of the chestnut full ripe, and plain down his ears, but from thence downwards more orient of colour, waving down his shoulders. In the midst of his lead goeth a seam or portion of his hair after the manner of the Nazarites, his forehead very plain and smooth; his face without spot or wrinkle,
