Ossian Collection > Fingal, an ancient epic poem

viii A DISSERTATIONconccrningthc
of their fathers, and their own obfervations
on the works of nature, together with that fuper-
ftition which is inherent in the human frame, have
in all ages, ralfed in the minds of men fome idea
of a fuperior being. — Hence, it is, that in the
darkeft times, and amongft the moft barbarous na-
tions, the very populace themfelves had fome faint
notion, at leafl of a divinity. It would be doing in-
juftice to Oflian, who, upon no occafion, (hews a
narrow mind, to think that he had not opened his
conceptions to that primitive and greatcll of all
truths. But let Oflian's religion be what it will,
it is certain he had no knowledge of Chriftianity,
as there is not the leaft allufion to it, or any of its
rites, in his poems ; which abfolutely fixes him
to an aera prior to the introduction of that religion.
The perfecution begun by Dioclefian, in the year
303, is the moft probable time in which the firft
dawning of Chriftianity in the north of Britain can
be fixed. — The humane and mild chara<5^er o§
Conftantiu? Chlorus, who commanded then in
Britain, induced the perfecuted Chriftians t® take
refuge under him. Some of them, through a zjcal
to propagate their tenets, or through fear, went
beyond the pale of the Roman empire, and fettled
among the Caledonians ; who were the more rea-
dy to hearken to their doQirines, as the religion of
the Druids had been exploded fo long before.
These miffionaries, either through choice, or
to give more weight to the doQ:rIne they advan-
ced, took poITeiTion of the cells and groves of
the Druids j and it was from this retired life they
had