Joined with that of fire, which was held sacred as a symbol of the Divinity. Those celebrated circles of stones, which are still remaining at Stonehenge, and many other places, seem to have been temples of the sun, or of the moon, or probably of both. The Druids likewise adored a very considerable number of deified mortals, who substantially corresponded with the Greek. and Roman gods; they also held certain plants sacred especially the misletoe.

Their mode of worship consisted in sacrifices, prayers, and offerings. Their sacrifices were principally such. animals as they used for food; but on some occasions human victims were offered. These occasions, too, were more frequent than we may be willing to suppose; for it was a part of the Druid's creed, that "nothing but the life of man could atone for the life of man." In times of particular emergency or national calamity, or for persons of very high rank, not merely a single victim, but a great number, were sacrificed at once. It is well known that huge colossal figures, made of osier, were filled with men, and then set on fire and reduced to ashes. But the avarice of the priests encouraged the people to present offerings as well as sacrifices. These generally consisted of the most costly and excellent tnings that could be procured, and of course contributed much to the luxury and splendour both of the temples and of the priesthood.

Like other heathen nations, also, the Druids had their acts of divination, their auguries, and omens. With respect to their times of worship, it is probable that they had daily sacrifices, and other acts of religion; and from the authority of Lucan, they seem to have chosen the hour of noon for the worship of the sun and the celestial gods; and midnight for that of the moon and the infernal gods. They certainly knew the division of time into weeks, although it is doubtful whether one of the seven days was consecrated to religion. The sixth day of every lunar month, which by them was reckoned as the first day, was a religious festival. The first day of May was a great annual festival in honor of Belinus,

or the sun. There are some vestiges of this festival still remaining in Ireland, and in the highlands of Scotland. Midsummer day, and the first of November, were likewise annual festivals. All their gods and goddesses seem to have had similar festivals. The chief festival was, when the ceremony of cutting the misletoe from the oak was performed; the day was about the beginning of March. On these festivals, after the appointed sacrifices and acts of devotion were finished, the rest of their time was spent in feasting, singing, dancing, and other diversions.

The places in which the Druids performed their worship were always in the open air; for it was considered unlawful to build temples to the gods, or to worship them within walls or under roofs. Sacred groves, if possible of oak trees, were especially chosen. In the centre of the grove was a circular area, enclosed with one or two rows of large stones, placed perpendicularly on the earth. This was the temple; and within it stood the altar upon which the sacrifices were offered. It does not appear, though the Druids admitted a great number of gods, that they had any images. All the Celtic nations worshipped their principal deity under the symbol of an oak; and this seems to be the nearest approach to the worship of images.

The period at which the religion of the Druids took its rise cannot be well ascertained; but it seems to have been at its zenith at the time of the invasion of the Romans; after this it declined. The Druids both possessed and exerted a political as well as a religious influence upon the minds of the people; and the Romans, finding it inimical and dangerous to their authority, soon manifested a great animosity against the persons and the religion of these priests. They used every means to deprive them of their power, and showed them no mercy when they were found engaged in a revolt. At last, they pursued them into their sacred island of Anglesea; and Suetonius Paulinus, who was governor of Britain, having defeated the Britons who at tempted to defend it, made a cruel use of his victory

He cut down their sacred groves, demolished their temples and altars, and burnt many of the Druids in the fires they themselves kindled for sacrificing the Roman prisoners, had the Britons gained the victory. So great were the numbers who perished on this occasion, and in the unfortunate revolt of the Britons under Boadicea, which happened immediately after, that the Druids never after made any considerable figure. The Britons, however, clung long to their ancient superstitions; and so late as the eleventh century, Canute found it necessary to make the following law against them :-"We strictly charge and forbid all our subjects to worship the gods of the Gentiles; that is to say, the sun, moon, fires, rivers, fountains, hills or trees, or woods of any kinds."

16.

ALBAN, the first British Martyr.

ALBAN, from whom St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire, received its name, was the first British martyr. He was originally a pagan, and being of a very humane dispotion, he sheltered a Christian ecclesiastic, named Amphibalus, who was pursued on account of his religion. The pious example, and edifying discourses of the refugee, made a great impression on the mind of Alban; he longed to become a professor of a religion which charmed him; the fugitive minister, happy in the opportunity, took great pains to instruct him; and, before his discovery, perfected Alban's conversion.

Alban now took a firm resolution to preserve the sentiments of a Christian, or to die the death of a martyr. The enemies of Amphibalus, having intelligence of the place where he was secreted, came to the house of Alban, in order to apprehend him. The noble host, desirous of protecting his guest, changed clothes with him, in order to facilitate his escape; and, when the soldiers came, offered himself up as the person whom they were seeking. Being accordingly carried before the governor, the deceit was immediately discovered; and Amphibalus being absent, that officer determined

to wreak his vengeance upon Alban; with this view he commanded the prisoner to advance to the altar and sacrifice to the pagan deities. The brave Alban, however, refused to comply with the idolatrous injunction, and boldly professed himself to be a Christian. The governor, therefore, ordered him to be scourged, which punishment he bore with great fortitude, seeming to acquire new resolution from his sufferings; he was then beheaded.

The venerable Bede states, that upon this occasion the executioner suddenly became a convert to Christianity, and entreated permission either to die for Alban or with him. Obtaining the latter request, they were beheaded by a soldier, who voluntarily undertook the task. This happened on the 22d of June, A. D. 287, at Verulam, now St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire, where a magnificent church was erected to his memory, about the time of Constantine the Great. This edifice was destroyed in the Saxon wars, but was rebuilt by Offa, king of Mercia, and a monastery erected adjoining to it, some remains of which are still visible.

17. MARTYRDOM OF MAXIMILIAN, IN THE FOURTH
CENTURY.

ABOUT the fourth century, many Christians, upon mature consideration, thought it unlawful to bear arms under a heathen emperor. Their reasons were:

1st. They thereby were frequently under the necessity of profaning the Christian Sabbath. 2d. That they were obliged, with the rest of the army, frequently to be present at idolatrous sacrifices, before the temples of idols. 3d. That they were compelled to follow the imperial standards, which were dedicated to heathen deities, and bore their representations. Such reasons induced many to refuse to enter into the imperial army, when called upon so to do; for the Roman constitution obliged all young men, of a certain stature, to make several campaigns.

Maximilian, the son of Fabius Victor, being pointed out as a proper person to bear arms, was ordered by Dion, the proconsul, to be measured, that he might be enlisted in the service. Maximilian, however, boldly declared himself a Christian, and refused to do military duty. Being found of the proper height, Dion gave directions that he should be marked as a soldier, according to the usual custom. He, however, strenuously opposed this order, and told Dion that he could not possibly engage in the service. The proconsul instantly replied, that he should serve either as a soldier, or die for disobedience. "Do as you please with me," replied Maximilian; "behead me if you think proper; I am already a soldier of Christ, and cannot serve any other power.'

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Dion wishing, however, to save the young man, commanded his father to use his authority over him, in order to persuade him to comply; but Victor coolly replied, My son knoweth best what he has to do." Dion again demanded of Maximilian, with some acrimony, if he was yet disposed to receive the mark? To which the young man replied, he had already received the mark of Christ. "Have you!" exclaimed the proconsul in a rage, "then I shall quickly send you to Christ.". "As soon as you please," answered Maximilian; "that is all I wish or desire." The proconsul then pronounced this sentence upon him :-"That for disobedience in refusing to bear arms, and for professing the Christian faith, he should lose his head." This sentence he heard with great intrepidity, and exclaimed, with apparent rapture," God be praised."

At the place of execution, he exhorted those who were Christians to remain so, and such as were not, to embrace a faith which led to eternal salvation. Then, addressing his father with a cheerful countenance, he desired that the military habit intended for him might be given to the executioner; and after taking leave of him, said, he hoped they should meet again in the other world, and be happy to all eternity. He then received the fatal stroke, which separated his head from his

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