1. The date of the Divine Institutions of Lactantius has
been accurately discussed, difficulties have been started,
solutions proposed, and an expedient imagined of two
original editions - the former published during the
persecutions of Diocletian, the latter under that of
Licinius. See Dufresnoy, Praefat. p. v. Tillemont, Mem.
Ecclesiast. tom. vi. p. 465-470. Lardner's Credibility, part
ii. vol. vii. p. 78-86. For my own part, I am almost
convinced that Lactantius dedicated his Institutions to the
sovereign of Gaul, at a time when Galerius, Maximin, and
even Licinius, persecuted the Christians; that is, between
the years 306 and 311.