182. According to Bardesanes (ap Euseb. Praepar. Evangel.),
there were some Christians in Persia before the end of the
second century. In the time of Constantine (see his epistle
to Sapor [Euseb.], Vit. l. iv. c. 13) they composed a
flourishing church. Consult Beausobre, Hist. Critique du
Manicheisme, tom. i. p. 180, and the Bibliotheca Orientalis
of Assemani.