66 EEV. GEORGE MILLIOAX, D.D._, OX THE GKEEK PAPYKI. 



Closely connected with these retiuns, and ot still greater 

 interest for the Xew Testament scholar, as one of the many 

 proofs which are accimiulating from all sides to confirm the 

 accuracy of St. Luke as an historian, is an extract from a 

 rescript by a Eoman Piefect in Egypt in the year A.n. 104, 

 ordering all persons to return to theii^ homes in view of the 

 census about to be held in the seventh year of Trajan. Tl^e 

 original document,, which is now preserved in the British 

 Museum, is imfortimateiy much mutilated, but there can be 

 little doubt as to the correct reading of the passage which 

 concerns us. It runs as follows : — 



'* Seeing that the time has come for the house-to-house census, it 

 is necessary to compel all those who for any cause whatever are 

 residing out of their nomes to return to their own homes, that they 

 may both carry out the regular order of the census, and may also 

 attend diligently to the cultivation of their allotments." 



The analogy here presented to Luke ii, 1-4, is obvious, and 

 shows that Herod, when he issued his command, was acting 

 under Eoman ordei^. 



I can only refer to one other of the ntw finds as throwing 

 Hght on the history of early Christianity All have heard of 

 the great Decian Persecution in a,d. 250, in which, in order to 

 save their lives, certain recusant Christians obtained certificates, 

 or lihelli, as they were called, from tlie magistrates to the effect 

 that they had sacrificed in the heathen manner. Of these lih:Ui 

 no fewer than sLx have l>een found, and it is deeply touching to 

 be able to look upon these frail papyrus leaves, with their direct 

 e^'idence of the human weakness of those to whose acts they 

 bear witness. The one which I am about to quote has been 

 published by Dr. Hunt among the Eylands Papyri, and the 

 difierent handwritings of the different parties concerned are 

 still clearly discernible on the original document. Here it is 

 in Dr. Hunt's translation : — 



To the commissioners of sacrifices from the Aureha Demos, who 

 has no father, daughter of Helena and wife of Aurehus Iren^eus, 

 of the Quarter of the Helleneum. It has ever been my habit to 

 sacrifice to the gods, and now also I have in your presence, in 

 accordance with the command, made sacrifice and libation and 

 tasted the ofiering, and I beg you to certify my statement. 

 Farewell. 



(2nd hand.) I, Aureha Demos, have presented this declaration. 

 1. Aurelius Irenseus, wrote for her, as she is illiterate. 



