DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4372#0263
247
adopted country. Of course many would be prompted to exag-
gerate this circumstance, and the exemptions they would plead
must increase the weight of the burthens thrown upon their fel-
low-citizens.
Reiterated complaints upon this subject obliged the Eastern em-
perors to deprive them of many of their former privileges : and as
no people resisted with such obstinacy the establishment of the
Christian hierarchy, which took place at this crisis, an additional
reason presented itself for converting these privileges into acts
of persecution : and in one of the ordinances of Justinian, that
emperor expresses his surprise that the praetorian prefect had
not resorted to the most violent measures against the Jews, Sama-
ritans and Heretics, who should pretend to adduce their own
particular opinions, as giving them the right of exemption from
the duties of the Curio. Equally extraordinary too arc the terms
of another law, which prohibits any one from setting on fire the
abominable synagogues of the Jews.
About the same time also this nation, once so favoured, was
excluded from all the civil and military offices under the govern-
ment. They could legally purchase no Christian slave, nor inter-
marry with the Christians: and under these circumstances a
temptation was held out to them during some years, to become
Christians, and thereby to cancel their debts.
CHAP-
adopted country. Of course many would be prompted to exag-
gerate this circumstance, and the exemptions they would plead
must increase the weight of the burthens thrown upon their fel-
low-citizens.
Reiterated complaints upon this subject obliged the Eastern em-
perors to deprive them of many of their former privileges : and as
no people resisted with such obstinacy the establishment of the
Christian hierarchy, which took place at this crisis, an additional
reason presented itself for converting these privileges into acts
of persecution : and in one of the ordinances of Justinian, that
emperor expresses his surprise that the praetorian prefect had
not resorted to the most violent measures against the Jews, Sama-
ritans and Heretics, who should pretend to adduce their own
particular opinions, as giving them the right of exemption from
the duties of the Curio. Equally extraordinary too arc the terms
of another law, which prohibits any one from setting on fire the
abominable synagogues of the Jews.
About the same time also this nation, once so favoured, was
excluded from all the civil and military offices under the govern-
ment. They could legally purchase no Christian slave, nor inter-
marry with the Christians: and under these circumstances a
temptation was held out to them during some years, to become
Christians, and thereby to cancel their debts.
CHAP-