02. BOOK IV, CHAPTER VIII

CHAPTER VIII.

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MORAL Courage in the Martyrs—Martyrdom of Cyrillus—Of Faustus—Martyrs in Palestine—In Carthage—Martyrdom of Fructuosus—Apparent Authenticity of the Narrative of Fructuosus—Beneficiarii—Case of Sapricius and Nicephorus—Sapricius is tortured—And apostatizes—Nicephorus suffers—Remarks on this Case—Milner the Historian—The Fall of Valerian—Principles of the Divine Government—Cruel Edict of Valerian against the Church—He is taken Prisoner—Reduced to servile Slavery—And dies a miserable Death—Lactantius—Unifilial Conduct of Gallienus—Dreadful Condition of the Roman Empire—Pestilence and Earthquakes—Swarm of Usurpers—Their general Character—Testimony of Gibbon—Conduct of Gallienus—Reason of his Edict in Favour of the Christians—Sanguinary Character of Macrianus—Persecution still existing—Neander and Townsend on the term “Religio Licita”—Fall of Macrianus—The Martyrdom of Marius—Remarks on the Death of the Centurion—Tranquil State of the Church—Death of Gallienus—Zenobia—Ascension of Claudius, and Death—Quintilius—Aurelian, Emperor—His History—His Character—The Sibylline Books—General Tranquility of the Church—His Treatment of the Christians—Paul of Samosata—Change of his Conduct towards the Church—Cause thereof—History of the Mother of Aurelian—Edict against the Christians—Quinquennalia—Martyrdom of Felix, Bishop of Rome—And of Agapetus—Aurelian undertakes an Expedition to the East—Is assassinated—Lactantius—Tacitus—His Character, and Death—Florianus and Probus—Quietude of the Church—Death of Probus—Carus—Carinus—Numerianus—State of the Christians—Arrius Aper—Death of Numerian—Its suspicious Character—Diocletian proclaimed Emperor—He slags Aper—Anecdote of Diocletian—Progress of Christianity—Theonas, Bishop of Alexandria—Dorotheus—General Decline of Piety in the Church—History and Character of Diocletian—Hercules raised to the Office of Caesar—And afterward of Co-Emperor—Diocletian an Enemy to the Christians, and why—Martyrs of this Period—Testimony of Mosheim—Hercules a Persecutor—Martyrdom of Primus and Felician—Of Marcus and Marcellianus—Of Zoe, Tranquillinus, and others—Tiburtius and Chromatius—Cams, Bishop of Rome—Christianity in the Army of Rome—The Theban Legion—Their Martyrdom—Caraucius—Constantius Chlorus and Galerius made Caesars—Helena, History of Division of the Government—Martyrdom of Faith, Capricius, and Quintin—Heresy of Manicheism—And of Hicrax—Oppression of the Christian Soldiers—Martyrdom of Maximilian—Persecuting Spirit of Diocletian—The Case of Marcellus—Remarks of Gibbon, examined—Cassianus—Galerius an inveterate Enemy of the Church—Character of Constantius Chlorus—Baths of Diocletian—State of the Church—Romula, the Mother of Galerius—Her Character—Active Measures contemplated against the Christians—Diocletian consents to them—His first Edict defined—Martyrdom of Sebastian—The Edict of Diocletian is executed—

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Nicomedia—Terminalia—Another Edict, and how executed—Arnobius—Conduct of the Christians—Martyrdom of Maximilian—The Edict is torn down—Heroism of the Faithful—Numerous Martyrs—Fire at the Palace—The Persecution is general—Prisca and Valeria are persecuted—Unheard of Tortures—Vivicomburation—Hierocles—Lactantius—Martyrdom of Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia—And also of Victor of Marseilles—Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, who he was—Account of Tarachus—Romanus and Eulalia—Political Storms prejudicial to the Church—Martyrdom of Authinus, Bishop of Nicomedia—Of Peter—George and Erasmus—Eusebius—Martyrdom of Agnes—This Persecution depreciated—Persecution in Rome—Marcellinus and others suffer—Persecution in Gaul and Spain—Many suffer—The Persecution extends to Britain—Albanus and others are martyred—Giraldus—Gildas the Historian—Case of Marcellinus, Bishop of Rome—Diocletian in the Capital—Porphyrius—Diocletian publishes another Edict—Persecution in Egypt, and neighbouring Districts—Cyprian, Justina, and other Martyrs—Theonas, Bishop of Alexandria—Agricola martyred—Mensurius of Carthage—Saturninus—Persecution in Syria and Palestine—Numerous Victims—Illness of Diocletian—Case of Applianus—Edesius—Remarks thereon—Diocletian abdicates—Hercules follows his Example—Constantius Chlorus and Galerian, Emperors—General Misery of the Empire—Severus and Maximin Cæsars—Character of the latter—Character of Constantius as an Emperor—Council of Cirta—Commemoration of Martyrs—Case of the Lapsed revived—Council of Illiberis—Cruelty of Maximin—Persecution in Egypt revived—It increases in Severity—Christians multiply—Number of Martyrs—Pantaleon, Julietta, and others noticed—Results of Christian Fortitude—The Martyrdom of Phileas—Remarks on Gibbon—Epistle of Phileas—Cruelties in Phrygia, Antioch, Pontus, &c.—Sufferings of Lucian, Procopius, and others—Also of Hesychius, Pachymius, and Theodorus—Meletius—Meletian Schism—Another Edict—Intemperate Rage of Persecutors—Paul, the Bishop of Cirta—Felix of Tibiura—Promising Character of Constantine—Death of Constantius—Character of Maxentius—His Death—Cruelties at Cæsarea—Agapius—Cruelty of Maximin—Death of Severus—Licinius—Alexander—Pamphilus—Persecution again in Palestine and in Egypt—Antony, the Monk—Marcellus, Bishop of Rome—Persecution revived in general—Ferociy of Urbanus—His subsequent Fate—Death of Pamphilus—Quirinus—Continued Cruelty of Maximin—Sufferings of the Christians—Peleus and Nidus, two Egyptian Bishops—Martyrdom at Tyre—Numerous Sufferers—Barbarous Conduct of Firmilian—Arnobius—State of the Church—Illness of Galerius—Edict of Galerius—Jealousy of Maximin—Death of Galerius—Various Plots against the Christians—Number of Martyrs—Maximin—Jealousy of Licinius—Licinius hostile to Christianity—Re-organization of Paganism—The Miletian Schism—Persecution continues in Egypt—Maximin and "Acts of Pilate"—Persecutions perpetrated by Maximin—The Arts and Tyranny of Maximin—Lucianus—Septuagint Version—Doctrines of Lucianus—State of the Church—Death of Lucianus—Refined Cruelties of Maximin—Death of Peter—Distressing State of the Empire—And of the Church—Carthage—The Donatists—Death of Diocletian, and of his Wife—Cæcilianus—Constantine marches to Rome—Vision of the Cross—Victory of Constantine—Edict of Constantine—His Conversion—War between Maximin and Licinius—Licinius defeats Maximin—Maximin retracts his persecuting Edicts—Death of Maximin—Edicts of Constantine—His Character—Constantine supports Cæcilian—Donatists defeated—Progress of Christianity—Persecution in Persia—Conversion of the Empire—Offensive Movements of Licinius—Fall of the New Paganism—Rebuilding of the Church at Tyre—Remarks vii

BOOK V.

PERSECUTIONS WHICH TOOK PLACE FROM THE ACCESSION OF CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, TO THE DEATH OF JOHN WYCLIFFE, THE MORNING-STAR OF THE REFORMATION.

CHAPTER I.

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THE general Aspect of Society—Insidious Introduction of Error and Corruption in the Church—Constantine assumes the Title of Pontifex Maximus—Severe Enactments against the Jews—Death by Fire—Retributive Providence exercised on the Jewish People—Effects of a Departure from Christian Simplicity—Evils resulting from worldly Associations—Arius, anterior to the Nican Council—Progress of the Arian Heresy—Christian Churches in Rome—Persecution of the Donatists—The Eastern Part of the World still Pagan—The Christian Hierarchy and the Pagan Priesthood contrasted—Martyrdom of Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste—Circumcelliones—Their Extravagances—Strong Passion for Martyrdom—Constantine strives zealously to promote Peace—Fatality of false Peace—On the Administration of the Christian Community—Effect of the imperial Authority—Its deleterious Tendency—Objects contemplated in the early Synods of the Church—Alleged Cause for assembling the First General Council—Ecumenical Councils—Assembly of the Council of Nice—By whom it was composed—Where it was convened—Is opened by Constantine—Splendour of his Appearance—Vain Attempts of certain Gentile Philosophers—Their Conversion—The Nicene Creed—The Homoousian Faith—Remarks on Newman's History of the Arians—Arius is deposed and banished—Constantia is inclined to Arianism—The vacillating Temper of the Emperor—Reports affecting his moral Character—Arius is restored—Eusebius, Bishop of Nicomedia—Arian Bishops recalled from Exile—Who become Oppressors—Eustathius—His Character foully calumniated—Considerable national Commotion—Athanasius—His Rise—The Emperor commands the Reception of Arius in the Church—It is disregarded—State of the Church—Heavy Crimes attributed by the Arians to Athanasius—Arsenius—Synod summoned to investigate Complaints against Athanasius—Base Conduct of the Arians—Anecdote recorded by Theodoret—Further Persecution of Athanasius by the Arians—Proceedings at Tyre—Banishment of Athanasius—Interview with the Emperor—Numerous Acts of Oppression and Persecution by the Arians—Dissimulation of Arius, and Weakness of Constantine, who insists on Arius being admitted into the Church—Pions and exemplary Conduct of Alexander—Awful Death of Arius—Remarks on his Character—Position of the Church at this Period—Ecclesiastical Canons made Law of the Empire—Heresy considered a criminal Act—The Power of the Emperors yields to the Church—All Parties indulge in gross Acts of Intolerance—The Council of Gaupra—Its Character—Apostolical Constitutions—Their intrinsic Value—Foundation of Constantinople—Erection of this City favourable to Christianity—Ceremonial of the Foundation—Dimensions of the City—William of Mahusbury quoted—Basilicas—Conduct of Constantine—Mainbourg quoted—Socrates—Suzomen—Theodoret—Philostorgius—Epiphanius—Hilary—Ruthinus—Sulpicius Severus—Constantine puts Crispus, his Son, to Death—His professed Repentance for this rash Act—Tragic End of Fausta—The Illness, Death, and Funeral of Constantine—His Character

How far was he a Christian—His Baptism, why delayed—Sanguinary Massacre of the Princes—Prospects of the Church—Paganism how far suppressed—Person, its Condition—Tiridates—His Death—Agitated State viii

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of Affairs in Armenia—Severe Persecutions inflicted on the Christians—Constantins makes War against Persia—Battle of Singara—And the Siege of Nisibis