before his arrival, as an abettor of a new religion, the principal teacher and propagator of the doctrine of Jesus Christ, who was condemned by Pilate to the death of the cross. As the apostle was permitted to live in his apartments, guarded by a soldier, he was at liberty to receive all who applied to him for information and instruction; and hereby the gracious purpose of Divine Providence, in spreading Christianity through the world, was promoted. Disastrous as the fate of Caractaeus was to Britain at the time, says Roberts, HE, whose providence brings good out of evil, made his family, even in captivity, a blessing to their country. His family, captives in Rome, there learned the great Christian truths newly made known to mankind; and Bran, the father of the brave Silurian prince, returning to Britain, after seven years captivity, as an hostage for his son, first published them to his countrymen. Being converted by the gospel, he became a reformer of the manners of the people, and his name has the epithet of blessed annexed to it. This is fully recognized in Triad 35. "Bran the blessed, son of Llyr Llediaeth, who first brought Christianity among the Cymry from Rome, where he had been for seven years, as an hostage for his son Caractacus." The assertion that Bran was a Christian, and propagated the Christian faith among his countrymen, has not only the sanction of this Triad, but also is stated to be an historical fact, by Welsh authors of good credit in the present time. It is stated, that Bran did not return alone to this country, but mention is made of some Christians who accompanied him, to preach the gospel, and to form a Christian church in Britain, particularly among the Silurians in Wales: these were Ilid and Cynvan, who are said to be Israelites. There is also mention of one who is said to be a man of Italy, named Aristobulus, and who became the first bishop in this island. Hence it would appear, that Aristobulus was the person whom St. Paul delegated for the important and interesting purpose, in company with two other persons, to announce the glad tidings of salvation to the Britons. Thus we have sufficient evidence, besides the rational probability of the thing, that if St. Paul himself was not the apostle of Britain, it was through his interference, and his general anxiety for the salvation of the Gentile world, that the gospel was first brought to this country. a a Mr. Hughes says, "How pleasing it is to carry our views back into those remote ages, and imagine we see the first missionaries, and their disciples, assembled under the shade of the wide-spreading oak, instructing the people in the knowledge of the true God, and of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of mankind; disputing with the Druids, confuting their absurd notions, their gross conceptions, their confused and complex mythology. If, indeed, these men, whoever they were, went forth with the zeal and in the spirit of the apostles, the truth could not fail of carrying its own evidence, and of producing conviction, being accompanied with divine influence. The example of genuine purity and innocence displayed in the lives of such, and the happiness of their dispositions, would command esteem and reverence for the system of religion they professed." The tradition which has been most generally received by our ancient historians, and by the nations at large, says Dr. A. Clarke, is that which attributes the introduction of the Christian religion into Britain, to Joseph of Arimathea. The substance of this history is as follows: About 63 years after the incarnation of our Lord, and 30 after his ascension, Joseph of Arimathea, who had buried our Lord's body in his own tomb, was furnished by Philip the Evangelist, with eleven disciples, and sent into Britain to introduce the gospel of Christ in place of the barbarous rites of the Druids. With these rites, as well as with the character of the people, the Roman empire had become well acquainted, through the writings of Julius Cæsar. These holy men, on their landing, applied to Arviragus, a British king, for permission to settle in a rude and uncultivated spot, called Ynswytryn by the British, Avalonia by the Romans, and Glæsting-byrig by the Saxons, and is still known by the name of Glastonbury. Their petition was granted, and twelve hides of land were assigned for their support; and the place is to this day, denominated the twelve hides of Glastonbury. Here, according to this tradition, the standard of the cross was first erected; and a chapel made of wicker work, was the first church, or oratory, of God in Britain ! a The walls of this church, according to Malmsbury, were made of twigs twisted together. The length of it was 60 feet, and the breadth of it 26 feet. The roof, according to the custom of the Britons, was of straw, hay, or rushes. The extent of the yard was so large, as to contain, according to Melkinus, who lived in the year A. D. 550, a thousand graves. That this nation was converted to the faith of Christ by those who had been disciples of our Lord, was the early and constant belief of our forefathers. This runs through all our histories, and even through some of our regal acts. In the charter granted by Henry II. in the year of our Lord 1185, for the rebuilding of Glastonbury a See Dugdale's Monasticon, vol. i. |