Thedangeroustemptationswhichoneverysidelurkedinambushtosurprisetheunguardedbeliever，assailedhimwithredoubledviolenceonthedaysofsolemnfestivals。Soartfullyweretheyframedanddisposedthroughouttheyear，thatsuperstitionalwaysworetheappearanceofpleasure，andoftenofvirtue。SomeofthemostsacredfestivalsintheRomanritualweredestinedtosalutethenewcalendsofJanuarywithvowsofpublicandprivatefelicity；toindulgethepiousremembranceofthedeadandliving；toascertaintheinviolableboundsofproperty；tohail，onthereturnofspring，thegenialpowersoffecundity；toperpetuatethetwomemorableareasofRome，thefoundationofthecityandthatoftherepublic，andtorestore，duringthehumanelicenseoftheSaturnalia，theprimitiveequalityofmankind。SomeideamaybeconceivedoftheabhorrenceoftheChristiansforsuchimpiousceremonies，bythescrupulousdelicacywhichtheydisplayedonamuchlessalarmingoccasion。Ondaysofgeneralfestivity，itwasthecustomoftheancientstoadorntheirdoorswithlampsandwithbranchesoflaurel，andtocrowntheirheadswithagarlandofflowers。Thisinnocentandelegantpracticemightperhapshavebeentoleratedasamerecivilinstitution。Butitmostunluckilyhappenedthatthedoorswereundertheprotectionofthehouseholdgods，thatthelaurelwassacredtotheloverofDaphne，andthatgarlandsofflowers，thoughfrequentlywornasasymbolofjoyormourning，hadbeendedicatedintheirfirstorigintotheserviceofsuperstition。ThetremblingChristians，whowerepersuadedinthisinstancetocomplywiththefashionoftheircountry，andthecommandsofthemagistrate，laboredunderthemostgloomyapprehensions，fromthereproachesofhisownconscience，thecensuresofthechurch，andthedenunciationsofdivinevengeance。^50
[Footnote49:ConsultthemostlaboredworkofOvid，hisimperfectFasti。Hefinishednomorethanthefirstsixmonthsoftheyear。ThecompilationofMacrobiusiscalledtheSaturnalia，butitisonlyasmallpartofthefirstbookthatbearsanyrelationtothetitle。]
[Footnote50:Tertullianhascomposedadefence，orratherpanegyric，oftherashactionofaChristiansoldier，who，bythrowingawayhiscrownoflaurel，hadexposedhimselfandhisbrethrentothemostimminentdanger。Bythementionoftheemperors，SeverusandCaracalla，itisevident，notwithstandingthewishesofM。deTillemont，thatTertulliancomposedhistreatiseDeCoronalongbeforehewasengagedintheerrorsoftheMontanists。SeeMemoiresEcclesiastiques，tom。iii。p。384。
Note:Thesoldierdidnottearoffhiscrowntothrowitdownwithcontempt；hedidnoteventhrowitaway；hehelditinhishand，whileotherswereitontheirheads。Solusliberocapite，ornamentoinmanuotioso。—G
Note:Tertulliandoesnotexpresslynamethetwoemperors，SeverusandCaracalla:hespeaksonlyoftwoemperors，andofalongpeacewhichthechurchhadenjoyed。ItisgenerallyagreedthatTertullianbecameaMontanistabouttheyear200:hiswork，deCoronaMilitis，appearstohavebeenwritten，attheearliestabouttheyear202beforethepersecutionofSeverus:itmaybemaintained，then，thatitissubsequenttotheMontanismoftheauthor。SeeMosheim，Diss。deApol。Tertull。p。53。Biblioth。