f the world.

The reliques of the forty Martyrs at _Antioch_ were distributed among the
Churches before the year 373; for _Athanasius_ who died in that year, wrote
an Oration upon them. This Oration is not yet published, but _Gerard
Vossius_ saw it in MS. in the Library of Cardinal _Ascanius_ in _Italy_, as
he says in his commentary upon the Oration of _Ephraem Syrus_ on the same
forty Martyrs. Now since the Monks of _Alexandria_ sent the reliques of the
Martyrs of _Egypt_ into all parts of the earth, and thereby acquired glory
to their city, and declared her in these matters the Metropolis of the
whole world, as we have observed out of _Chrysostom_; it may be concluded,
that before _Alexandria_ received the forty Martyrs from _Antioch_, she
began to send out the reliques of her own Martyrs into all parts, setting
the first example to other cities. This practice therefore began in _Egypt_
some years before the death of _Athanasius_. It began when the
miracle-working bones of _John_ the Baptist were carried into _Egypt_, and
hid in the wall of a Church, _that they might be profitable to future
generations_. It was restrained in the reign of _Julian_ the Apostate: and
then it spred from _Egypt_ into all the Empire, _Alexandria_ being the
Metropolis of the whole world, according to _Chrysostom_, for propagating
this sort of devotion, and _Antioch_ and other cities soon following her
example.

In propagating these superstitions, the ring-leaders were the Monks, and
_Antony_ was at the head of them: for in the end of the life of _Antony_,
_Athanasius_ relates that these were his dying words to his disciples who
then attended him. _Do you take care_, said _Antony_, _to adhere to
_Christ_ in the first place, and then to the Saints, that after death they
may receive you as friends and acquaintance into the everlasting
tabernacles, Think upon these things, perceive these things; and if you
have any regard to me, remember me as a father_. This being delivered in
charge to the Monks by _Antony_ at his death, A.C. 356, could not but
inflame their whole body with devotion towards the Saints, as the ready way
to be received, by them into the eternal Tabernacles after death. Hence
came that noise about the miracles, done by the reliques of the Saints in
the time of _Constantius_: hence came the dispersion of the miracle-working
reliques into all the Empire; _Alexandria_ setting the example, and being
renowned, for it above all other c