James William Johnson argues that A Modest Proposal was largely influenced and inspired by Tertullian's Apology: a satirical attack against early Roman persecution of Christianity.
dʒˈeɪmz wˈɪljəm dʒˈɑːnsən ˈɑːɹɡjuːz ðˌæɾə mˈɑːdɪst pɹəpˈoʊzəl wʌz lˈɑːɹdʒli ˈɪnfluːənst ænd ɪnspˈaɪɚd baɪ tɜːtˈʌliənz ɐpˈɑːlədʒi: ɐ sɐtˈɪɹɪkəl ɐtˈæk ɐɡˈɛnst ˈɜːli ɹˈoʊmən pˌɜːsɪkjˈuːʃən ʌv kɹˌɪstɪˈænᵻɾi.