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BOOK OF MAETYRS^^
A HISTORY OF THE LIVES, SUFFERINGS, AND TRIUMPHANT ^ DEATHS, OF MANY OF THE PRIMITIVE
^
PAGAN AND POPISH PERSECUTION.
'^ , PROTESTANT MARTYRS;
i 4M ^^-'^ TirB.CO:.IlfE\CEMENT OF CIIRISTIANlTy,
TO WniCH IS ADDED
AN ACCOUNT OF THE INQUISITION, THE BARTHOLO.-MEW MASSACRE IN FEANCB
THE GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER LOUIS XIV., THE MASSACRE
IN THE IRISH EECELLION IN THE YEAR 1641-
FOURTH SEDITION.
•* And when he had opened the 5tli seal, I saw under the altar the Boub of them that were slain for the word of God, aud lor the testimony which tlief *»eld." — Rev. vi. 9.
NEW YORK. CHARLES K. MOORE, 142, NASSAU STREET.
1846
Entered f.acconding^o^Act of'Qongress, in the yectr 1839, in the clerk's office of the district court of the Northern District of New York.
PREFACE.
The basis of the following work is a volume pub- lished as late as the year 1830. Beino^ too extensive for general use, the editor has attempted such selec- tion and abridgment, as, in his judgment, would adapt it to a more-general circulation. He has aim- ed to execute the work with fidelity, and to present such a volume to the public, as the true history of the times would justify. He has prefixed an intro- duction, designed to show to the reader, that the prin- ciples of the gospel do not justify persecution in any form or manner whatever ; and which may serve, at the same time, to display some of the causes which have led pagans and papists to evince a bitter hostili- ty to the true friends of Christianity.
No apology, it is thought, will be deemed necessary for bringing forward such a work at this time. The present depressed state of Popery, both in England and on the continent, is no proof that its leading principles have been abandoned. By means of vari- ous revolutions, its power has been shaken, and, from motives of policy, it has been compelled to cease from blood ; but, in the language of a distinguished divine of our own country, " not a principle of the system has been abandoned. All the wiles of ages are put in requisition now, to heal the fatal wounds which the
iV PREFACE.
beast has received, and to render the system still more powerful and terrific."
To the American people, this subject presents it- self with peculiar interest. Within a short period, the attention of the Pope of Rome lias been directed to North America, and systematic efforts are now making, under his immediate patronage, and at his expense, to introduce and estabhsh this corrupt sys- tem in various parts of our land. Already Catholic churches are erecting ; Catholic priests and emissa- ries are arriving by scores ; publications, designed to eulogize and recommend the system, are circulating abroad.
The question presents itself to the American peo- ple : " Shall this system find encouragement in the land of the pilgrims ?" Is it not to be feared, from all the movements of the pope at this day, influencing monarchs under his control or influence, to send large sums of money to Roman priests in this country, which priests have been but a short time from Eu- rope, to enable them to erect mass-houses, and school- houses, to establish popery — I say, is it not to be feared, that a deadly blow is aimed at the root of our civil and religious principles? May not the question be asked, — If such a thing was ever known in his- tory, of hundreds of thousands of idolaters going into a country, where the people professed to believe in the Bible, and w^orshipped the only true God, creator of heaven and earth, and making a stand, and build- ing temples for their idols, and immediately claiming all the privileges of citizens of the United States, in a short time, from the constitution, notwithstand-
PREFACE. V
ing all the blood of protestants that has been shed in the different awful massacres, the indescribable sufferings of the Waldenses and Albigenses, the fires at Smithfieldj and other parts of England ? Yet we see hundreds and thousands of Roman Catholics, from one part of our country to the other, who have emigrated from different parts of Europe. Some pa- rents have already begun to mourn their credulity in committing their children to the charge of Jesuit priests to receive an education, soon finding their love and affection blunted, and the most endearing ties severed, notwithstanding the most binding promise? to make no attempt to change their religion. Thus tender, unguarded youth and children, have been, by their own tender parents, g^iven over into the hands of their destroyers. But some have come away and exposed them. And shall such a root of bitterness be planted here ? A holy vigilance should guard v/ell the approaches of an enemy, whose triumphs here would be the ruin of that fair fabric which cost our fathers so much toil to erect. What friend of Zion does not tremble at only a possibility that papal dark- ness and papal thraldom may over:>pread even a part of our country? It can by no means be believed, that the wise men who framed our excellent consti- tution, meant by toleration to tolerate a band of rob- bers or murderers, (for an inquisition can be consid- ered no better,) who united together to murder and rob other people, however religious they might pre- tend to be ; but they intended to tolerate all persons in their religious opinions, that did not injure or mo- dest any other person in property or in person : so 1*
VI PREFACE.
that the constitution secures the privilege to any per- son to worship as he pleases, so long as he does not infringe on the privileges of others, to believe and worship as they think best. The constitution de- clares equal rights and privileges to all sects, to wor- ship and believe as they please, while they injure no other sects or persons. Then, most certainly, an in- quisition was not intended to be tolerated by our good and wholesome constitution ; since it will be seen at once, that if an inquisition was tolerated, no other sect could be tolerated ; and should papists get the ascendency, we should soon see what the conse- quence would be. The great question is before the American people, — Does our constitution tolerate an inquisition ? If it does not, whatever appears to ad- vocate it, or has any dangerous appearance to the liberty of any person, or are there suspicions that there are instruments of torture secreted in cells un- der mass-houses, have not the American people a good right to examine ? Have they not a right to search and investigate all these things? If it is an extraordinary thing for hundreds and thousands of Roman Catholic emigrants to be among us, should we not be on our watch? The question may be asked, — Have not tlie most powerful kingdoms and empires of Europe been shaken and brought into subjection by the intrigues and plots of Jesuit priests ? and emperors suffering their necks to be trodden upon by the pope, through fear of their lives, by the pope's declaring their subjects free from allegiance to their sovereigns ? And are they not aiming the blow at our republican institutions, to undermine our civil
PREFACE. VU
and religious rights and privileges ? Is it not time to be on our guard, before they shall gain the ascen- dency? and we should look around us — the beasts of prey all about us — and already beginning to seize their victims — and we should then exclaim with sor- row, how have we been asleep while surrounded by our enemies ! and now we cannot prevent the evil.
The following work, it is believed, will present an antidote to the insidious poison, attempted to be in- fused into the minds of the unestablished and igno- rant, by the professors of popery and its self-styled " liberal ahcttorsP It is only necessary that the vol- ume should be carefully and candidly read to con- vince us that the papal system is not that harmless, innocent thing, which some would represent. We wish not, indeed, that the papists should be perse- cuted ; we would say, protect them in their private capacity, wherever they exist in the land ; but beware of so encouraging them, as to bring the American people under their temporal and spiritual domination.
It may be said, indeed it is said, that the perse- cuting spirit of popery has passed away. But let it be remembered that persecution is inseparable from it — is its very essence. A Church, which pretends to be infallible^ will always seek the destruction of those who dissent from it. Until some further proof is given to the world, than has yet been given of the more mild and pacific spirit of popery, we shall be- lieve that it is still as intolerant as when it spread its desolating ravages through the unoffending valleys of Piedmont ; or, at a subsequent period, lighted up the consu miner fires of Smithfield.
INDEX.
A.
Abyssinia, persecutions in, 206.
Africa, persecutions in, 67, 81, 95.
Alban, first British martyr, 88.
Albigenses, persecutions of, 138, — success of, 148.
Alphage, account of, 125.
Apostles, lives, sufferings, and martyixioin of the, 46.
Arian heretics, persecutions by the, 112.
Arras, martyrdom at, 157.
Articles, act of the six, 281.
Askew, Anne, martyrdom of, 285.
Assassination plot, account of the, 427.
Auto da Fe at Madrid, 166, 169.
B.
Bax-bary, persecutions in the states of, 211, Bezieres, siege of, 141.
" courage of the earl of, 142. Bible, attempts to suppress the, 282. Bohemia, persecutions in, 190.
Boleyn, Anne, coronation of, as queen of England, 270. Bonner, bishop, scourging of Thomas Hinshaw by, 362. Boralli, avarice and injustice of, 134,
Calabria, persecutions in, 212,
Catherine, Infanta of Spain, marriage of, with Henry VIII., 266. — legality of her marriage doubted by that monarch, 267. — appeal of, to the pope, 2G8
Christians, a general sacrifice of, 90.
Constantine, vision of, 104, — victory of, 105, — letter of, to the king of Persia, in favour of Christians, 111.
Coo, Roger, martyrdom of, 336.
Coi-neford, John, and others, martyrdom of, 363.
Cranmer, Thomas, account of, 268, — made Archbishop of Canter- bury, 270, — designs against, 295,— character of, 349, — re- cantation of, 354— -death of, ib.
Crete, persecutions in, 75.
Cyprian, account of, 81.
Cyril, martyrdom of, 74.
X INDEX.
D.
Dauphiny, persecutions in, 135. Dominic, author of the inqviisition, 133,
Dominicans and Franciscans, the most zealous friends of the in- quisition, 159.
R
Earl Simon defeated by the Albigenses, 153.
Edward VI., progress of the Reformation in the reign of, 318 — sick- ness and death of, 321. Eliz'ibeth, princess, birth of, 271, — miraculous preservation of, 360. triiiand, prof^ress of the Reformation in, in the reign of Henry ^ yiIL,261. ' ° ^
F.
Fabian, martyrdom of, 72.
Ferdinand, emperor, persecution by, 192.
France, persecution in, 129, — horrible massacre in. A, D, 1572, 183 — persecutions in, in the sixteenth and seventeenth centu- ries, 242.
^'
George, St., martyrdom of, 103.
Georgia and Mingrelia, persecutions in, 211.
Germany, persecutions in, 190, 202, 253.
Gore, James, death of, 348,
Goths and Vandals, persecutions by, 119,
Grey, Lady Jane, declaration of, as queen, 323,
Gunpowder plot,.by the Papists, account of the, 392.
H. Henry IV., submission of; to pope Gi-egory, 251. Henry VIIL, history of his marriage with Catherine, 26(5, — with
Anne Boleyn, 269, — sickness and death of, 298. Hunt, John, condemnation of, 365. Huss, John, life, sufferings, and martyrdom of, 193.
I.
Ignatius, bishop of Antioch, martyrdom of, 57.
Images, impostures of, discovered, 279.
Inquisition, origin of, 133, 159, — mode of torturing in, 173, — bar- barities of, in Spain and Portugal, 178,
Inquisitor, horrid treachery of an, 179.
Ireland, rise and progress of the protestant religion, and account of the barbarous massacre in, 401.
Italy, martyrdoms in various parts of, 227.
J,
John, king, surrender of his crown to the pope, 252.
INDEX. XI
Julian, the apostate, persecutions under, 117. Justin, martyrdom of, G3.
L.
Lateran, council of, 152.
Latimer, Hugh, life, sufferings, and martyrdom of, 337, — burning
of, 342. Laurence, St., martyrdom of, 80. Lincolnshire, rebellion in, 279.
Lollards, persecution of, 263. :
Louis XIV., inhuman conduct of, 245, Luther, progress of the doctrines of, 264,
M.
Mahomet, account of, 206.
Mary, accession of, to the throne of England, 321, — coronation of, 326, — sanguinary proceedings of, ib. — death of, 367 — charae- ter of, 36S.
Massacre, horrible, of Christian soldiers, 86, — barbarous, of protest- ants in Ireland, 401.
Maximus and Licinius, death of, 105.
Molinos, Michael de, persecution of, 236, — sentence against, 24L
Monasteries, general visitations of the, 277.
N. Naples, martyrdom in, 102. Netherlands, persecutions in the, 203. Northumberland, duke of, beheaded, 327.
Orange, assassination of the prince of, 204. Origen, account of, 77.
P.
Paul, persecution of, 114.
Perpetua, singular fortitude of, 67.
Persecution, the first primitive, under Nero, 53, — second, imder Do- mitian, 54, — third, under the Roman emperors, 56, — fourth, under the same, 59, — fifth, 66, — sixth, 70, — seventh, 71, eighth, 78,— ninth, 84,— tenth, 89.
Persecutors, vengeance of God towards, 106.
Persia, persecutions in, 108.
Piedmont, persecutions in the valleys of, 217, — in the 17th cen- tury, 231.
Policy, Margaret, first female martyr in England, 333.
Polycarpus, martyrdom of, (>0.
Pope, power of, rejected by the English Parliament, 275.
Popes, causes of their great ascendency, 243.
Portugal, inquisition of, 170.
a.
Quietists, persecutions of the, 240.
Xll INDEX.
R.
Reformation, progress of the, in the reign of Henry VIII., 261, — advocates of, favoured by the English court, 27G, — progress of, in the reign of Edward VI., 318.
Rhodes, attack on, 208.
Ridley, Nicholas, martyrdom of, 337, — burning of, 342.
Rogers, John, martyrdom of, 328,
S. Saluces, persecutions in the marquisate of, 230. Saviour, history of, 41. Savoy, noble conduct of the duke of, 218. Schism in the Church of Rome, 255. Scotland, persecution in, 801. Simeon, martyrdom of, 109.
T.
Theodotus, martyrdom of, 97. Thomas Tomkins, martyrdom of, 331.
Toulouse, earl of, persecuted, 139, — excommunicated, 147, — treach- erously seized, 144, — surrender of, 149, — recovery of, 153.
V.
Valerian, emperor, fate of, 83. Venice, persecutions in, 22G. Vienna, siege of, 209.
W.
Waldenses, persecutions of the, in France, 129, — tenets of, 131,"
suffer mgs of, 136. Waldo, Peter, account of, 130.
Wickliffe, account of, 254, — translation of the Bible by, 257. Wickliffites, burning of, 259. Wiseman, William, death of, 348.
Wishart, George, life, sufferings, and martyrdom of, 301. Wolsey, cardinal, character of, 262, — disgraced, 269.
X.
Xist, St., affecting history of the inhabitants of, 213.
Y.
Yorkshire, rebellion in^ 279.
THE LIFE
REV. JOHN FOX
John Pox was born at Boston, in Lincolnshire, in 1517, where his parents are stated to have hved in respectable circnmstances. He was deprived of his father at an early age ; and notwithstanding his mo- ther soon married again, he still remained under the paternal roof. From an early display of talents and inclination to learning, his friends were induced to send him to Oxford, in order to cultivate and bring them to maturity. During his residence at this place, he was distinguished for the excellence and acuteness of his intellect, which was improved by the emulation of his fellow-collegians, united to an indefatigable zeal and industry on his part. -, These qualities soon gained him the admiration of all ; and as a reward for his exertions and amiable conduct, he was chosen fellow of Magdalen college ; which was accounted a great honour in the university, and seldom bestowed unless in cases of great distinction. It appears that the first display of his genius was in poetry ; and that he composed some Latin comedies, which are still extant. But he soon directed his thoughts to a more serious subject, the study of the sacred Scriptures : to divinity, indeed, he applied himself with more fer- vency than circumspection, and discovered his par- tiality to the Reformation, which had then commenc- ed, before he was known to its supporters or to those who protected them ; a circumstance which proved to him the source of his first troubles.
He is said to have often affirmed, that the first matter which occasioned his search into the popish
14 LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN FOX.
doctrine, was, that he saw divers things, most repug- nant in their nature to one another, forced upon men at the same time : upon this foundation his resokition and intended obedience to that church were some- what shaken, and by degrees a dishke to the rest took place.
His first care was to look into both the ancient and modern history of the church ; to ascertain its begin- ning and progress ; to consider the causes of all those controversies which in the mean time had sprung up, and diligently to weigh their effects, solidity, infirm- ities, &c.
Before he had attained his thirtieth year, he had studied the Greek and Latin fathers, and other learn- ed authors, the transactions of the councils, and de- crees of the consistories, and had acquired a very competent skill in the Hebrew language. In these occupations he frequently spent a considerable part, or even the whole of the night ; and in order to un- bend his mind after such incessant study, he would resort to a grove near the collage, a place much fre- quented by the students in the evening, on account of its sequestered gloominess. In these solitary wall{:s he has been heard to ejaculate heavy sobs and sighs, and with tears to pour forth his prayers to God. These nightly retirements, in the sequel, gave rise to the first suspicion of his alienation from the church of Rome. Being pressed for an explanation of this alteration in his conduct, he scorned to call in fiction to his excuse; he stated his opinions; and was, by the sentence of the college, convicted^ condemned as an heretic, and expelled*
His friends, upon the report of this circumstance, were highly offended, and especiall)^ his father-in- law, who was now grown altogether implacable, ei- ther through a real hatred conceived against him for this cause, or pretending himself aggrieved, that he might now, with more show of justice, or at least with more security, withhold from Mr. Fox his pa-
LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN FOX. 15
ternal estate ; for he knew it could not be safe for one publicly hated, and in danger of the law, to seek a remedy for his injustice.
"When he was thus forsaken by his own friends, a refuge offered itself in the house of Sir Thomas Lucy, of Warwickshire, by whom he was sent for, to in- struct his children. In this house he afterwards mar- ried. But the fear of the popish inquisitors hasten- ed his departure thence ; as they were not contented to pursue pubhc offences, but began also to dive into the secrets of private families. He now began to consider what was best to be done to free himself from farther inconvenience, and resolved either to go to his wife's iiither, or to his father-in-law.
His wife's father v/as a citizen of Coventry, whose heart was not alienated from him, and he was more likely to be well entertained, for his daughter's sake. He resolved to go first to him ; and, in the mean- while, by letters, to try whether his father-in-law would receive him or not. This he accordingly did, and he received for answer, '• that it seemed to him a hard condition to take one into his house whom he knew to be guilt3^ and condemned for a capital of- fence ; neither was he ignorant what hazard he should undergo in so doing ; he would however, shovvr him- self a kindsman, and neg-lect his own danorer. If he would alter his mind, he might come, on condition to stay as long as he himself desired ; bat if he could not be persuaded to that, he mast content himself with a shorter stay, and not bring him and his mother into danger."
No condition was to be refused ; besides, he was secretly advised by his mother to come, and not to fear his father-in-law's severity ; " for that, perchance, it was needful to write as he did, but when occasion should be offered, he would make recompense for his words with his actions." In fact, he was better received by both of them than lie had hoped for.
16 LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN F i.
By these means he kept himself concealed, for some time, and afterwards made a journey to London, in the latter part of the reign of Henry VIII. Here, hejpg unknown, he was in much distress, and was even reduced to the danger of being starved to death, had not Providence interfered in his favour, in the following manner:
One day as Mr. Fox was sitting in St. Paul's church, exhausted with long fasting, a stranger took a seat by his side, and courteously saluted him, thrust a sum of money into his hand, and bade him cheer up his spirits; at the same time informing him, that in a few days new prospects would present themselves for his fu- ture subsistence. Who this stranger was, he could never learn ; but at the end of three days, he receiv- ed an invitation from the duchess of Richmond to undertake the tuition of the children of the earl of Surrey, who, together with his father the duke of Nor- folk, was imprisoned in the Tower, by the jealousy and ingratitude of the king. The children thus con- fided to his care were, Thomas, who succeede'd to the dukedom ; Henry, afterwards earl of Northamp- ton ; and Jane, who became countess of Westmore- land. In the performance of his duties he fully satis- fied the expectation of the duchess, their aunt.
These halcyon days continued during the latter part of the reign of Henry VIII. and the five years of the reign of Edward VI. till Mary came to the crown^ who, soon after her accession, gave all power into thf hands of the papists.
At this time Mr. Fox, who was still under the pro tection of his noble pupil, the duke, began to excitf the envy and hatred of many, particularly Dr. Gar diner, then bishop of Winchesterj who, in the sequel became his most violent enemy.
Mr. Fox, aware of this, and seeing the dreadfu. persecution then commencing, began to thing of qui', ting the kingdom. As soon as the duke knew his ii, • tention, he endeavoured to persuade him to rem. 3jj
LIFE OP THE REV. JOHN FOX. 17
and his arguments were so powerful, and given with so much sincerity, that he gave up the thought of abandoning his asyhim for the present.
At that time the bishop of Winchester was very i^i- timate with the duke, (by the patronage of whose family he had risen to the dignity he then enjoyed,) and frequently waited on him to present his service ; when he several times requested that he might see his old tutor. At first the duke denied his request, at one time alleging his absence, at another, indisposi- tion. At length it happened that Mr. Fox, not know- ing the bishop was in the house, entered the room where the duke and he were in discourse ; and see- ing the bishop, withdrew. Gardiner asked who that was, the duke answered, " his physician, who was somewhat uncourtly, as being new come from the university." — " I like his countenance and aspect very well," replied the bishop, " and when occasion offers, I will send for him." The duke understood that speech as the messenger of some approaching danger ; and now he himself thought it high tim€ for Mr. Fox to quit the city, and even the country. He accordingly caused every thing necessary for his flight to be provided in silence, by sending one of his servants to Ipswich to hire a bark, and prepare all the requisites for his departure. He also fixed on the house of one of his servants, who was a farmer, where he might lodge till the wind became favoura- ble ; and every thing being in readiness, Mr. Fox took leave of his noble patron, and Avith his wife, who was pregnant at the time, secretly departed for the ship.
The vessel was scarcely under sail, when a most violent storm came on, which lasted all the day and night, and the next day drove them back to the port from which they had departed. During the time that the vessel had been at sea, an officer, despatch- ed by the bishop of Winchester, had broken 0})en the house of the farmer, with a warrant to apprehend 2*
18 LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN FOX.
Mr. Fox wherever he might be found, and bring him back to the city. On hearing this news, he hired a horse under the pretence of leaving the town imme- diately ; l)ut secretly returned the same night, and agreed with the captain of the vessel to sail for any place as soon as the wind should shift, only desiring him to proceed, and not to doubt but that God would prosper his undertaking. The mariner suffered himself to be persuaded, and within two days landed his passengers in safety at Nieuport.
After spending a few days at that place, Mr. Fox set out for Basle, where he found a number of Eng- lish refugees, who had quitted their country to avoid the cruelty of the persecutors ; with these he associ- ated, and began to write his " History of the Acts and Monuments of the Church," which was first pub- lished in Latin at Basle, and shortly after in English.
In the mean time the reformed religion began again to flourish in England, and the -popish faction much to decline, by the death of queen Mary ; which in- duced the greater number of the protesfant exiles to return to their native country.
Among others, on the accession of Elizabeth to the throne, Mr. Fox returned to England ; where, on his arrival, he found a faithful and active friend in his late pupil, the duke of Norfolk, till death defjriv- ed him of his benefactor : after which event, Mr. Fox inherited a pension bequeathed to him by the duke, and ratified by his son the earl of Suffolk.
Nor did the good man's successes stop here. On being recommended to the queen, by her secretary of state, the s^reat Cecil, her majesty granted him the prebendary of Shipton, in the cathedral of Salisbury, which was, in a manner, forced upon him ; for it was with difficulty that he could be persuaded to ac- cept of it.
On his resettlement in England, he employed him- self in revising and enlarging his admirable Martyr- ology. With prodigious pains, and constant study,
LIFE OP THE REV. JOHN FOX. 19
he completed that celebrated work in eleven years. For the sake of greater correctness, he wrote every line of this vast book with his own hand, and tran- scribed all the records and papers himself But, in consequence of such excessive toil, leaving no part of his time free from study, nor affording himself ei- ther the repose or recreation which nature required, his health was so reduced, and his person became so emaciated and altered, that such of his friends and relations as only conversed with him occasionally, could scarcely recognise his person. Yet, though he grew daily more exhausted, he proceeded in his studies as briskly as ever, nor would he be persuaded to diminish his accustomed labours. The papists, foreseeing how detrimental his history of their errors and cruelties would prove to their cause, had re- course to every artifice to lessen the reputation of liis work ; but their malice was of signal service, both to Mr. Fox himself, and to the church of God at large, as it eventually made his book more intrin- sically valuable, by inducing him to weigh, with the most scrupulous attention, the certainty of the facts which he recorded, and the validity of the authorities from which he drew his information.
But while he was thus indefatigably employed in promoting the cause of truth, he did not neglect the other duties of liis station : lie was charitable, hu- mane, and attentive to the wants, both spiritual and temporal, of his neighbours. With the view of being more extensively useful, although he had no desire to cultivate the acquaintance of the rich and great on his own account, he did not decline the friendship of those in a higher rank who proffered it, and never failed to employ his influence with them in behalf of the poor and needy. In consequence of his well known pro- bity and charity'', he was frequently presented witli sums of money by persons possessed of wealth, which he accepted and distributed among those v.dio were distressed. He would also occasionally attend the ta-
20 LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN FOX.
ble of his friends, not so much for the sake of plea- sure, as from civility, and to convince them that his absence was not occasioned by a fear of being expos- ed to the temptations of the appetite. In short, his character, as a man and as a Christian, was without reproach.
Of the esteem in which he was held, the names of the following respectable friends and noble patrons, will afford ample proof It has been already men- tioned that the attachment of the duke of Norfolk was so great to his tutor, that he granted him a pension for life ; he also enjoyed the patronage of the earls of Bedford and Warwick, and the intimate friendship of sir Francis Walsingham (secretary of state,) sir Thomas and Mr. Michael Hennage, of whom he was frequently heard to observe, that sir Thomas hadevery requisite for a complete courtier, but that Mr. Mi- chael possessed all the merits of his brother besides his own, still untainted by the court. He was on very in- timate and affectionate terms with sir Drue Drury ; sir Francis Drake ; Dr. Grindal, archbishop of Can- terbury ; Dr. Elmar, bishop of London ; Dr. Pilk- ington, bishop of Durham ; and Dr. Nowell, dean of St. Paul's. Others of his most intimate acquaintan- ces and friends were, Doctors Humphrey, Whitaker, and Fulk ; Mr. John Crowly, and Mr. Baldwin Col- lins. Among the eminent citizens, we find he was much venerated by sir Thomas Gresham, sir Thomas Roe, alderman Bacchus, Mr. Smith. Mr. Dale, Mr. Sherrington, &c. &c.
At length, having long served both the church and the world by his ministry, by his pen, and by the un- sullied lustre of a benevolent, useful, and holy life, he meekly resigned his soul to Christ, on the 18th of April, 1587, being then in the seventieth year of his age. He was interred in the chancel of St. Giles's, Cripplegate ; of which parish he had been, in the be- gimiing of Elizabeth's reign, for some time vicar.
The Lord had given him a foresight of his depart-
LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN FOX. 21
lire ; and so fully was he assured that the time was just at hand when his soul should quit the body, that (pro- bably to enjoy unmolested communion with God, and to have no worldly interruptions in his last hours) ho purposely sent his two sons from home, though he lov- ed them with great tenderness ; and, before they re- turned, his spirit, as he had foreseen would be the case, had flown to heaven.
His death occasioned great lamentations throughout the city, and his funeral was honoured with a great concourse of people, each of whom appeared to be wail the loss of a father or a brother.
INTRODUCTION.
That the introduction of Christianity into tho worjd, considering the character of its Divine Foun- der, and the nature and tendency of its doctrines and precepts, should have ever given birth to persectitioji, may well appear surprising. The Son of God is de- scribed to uSj as " meek and lowly," as " holy and harmless ;" never did any other on earth give so il- lustrious an example of benevolence, patience, and kindness. So far from manifesting a persecuting spirit himself, he suffered reproaches and indignities without a murmur. " When reviled, he reviled not again ;" but gave a high and noble exhibition of that self-denial, meekness, and fortitude, which he enjoin- ed his followers to practise after him. Nay, so far from encouraging any methods of persecution, he rebuked and put a stop to every appearance of them. Thus, when his disciples would have called down fire from Heaven, to consyime the Samaritans, who refused to receive him, he rebuked them, saying, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of; the Son of Man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them ;" and when one of those who were with Christ, cut off the ear of one of the high priest's servants, upon his laying his hands on him, he severe- ly reproved him : " Put up again thy sword into its place ; for all they that take tlie sword, shall perish with the sword." And, in order to cure his apostles of their ambition and pride, and to prevent their claiming undue power, he gave them an example of great humility and condescension, in washing and wiping their feet ; and forbid them imitating the '' Gentiles, by exercising dominion and authority ; but whosoever will be great amongst you, let him be
24 ' INTRODUCTION.
your minister ; and whosoever will be chief amongst yon, let him be your servant; even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life for many." And as the Jewish teach- ers took on them the name of Rabbi, to denote their power over the consciences of those they instructed, he commanded his disciples : " Be ye not called Rab- bi, for one is your master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren ; and call no man father, for one is your father which is in Heaven ; but he that is greatest among you, shall be your servant." And it is, more- over, certain, that were Christ's doctrines and pre- cepts regarded and practised as they should be, universal benevolence would be the certain effect, and eternal peace and union would reign amongst the members of the Christian Church. For if there be any commands of certain clearness, any precepts of evident obligation in the gospel, they are such as refer to the exercise of love, and the maintenance of universal charity. '^ Blessed are the meek^" we hear the Saviour proclaiming, " for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are the -peace-makers^ for they shall be called the children of God." And in another place, describing the nature of religion in general, he tells us, that the love of God is the first command- ment ; and the second like unto it — thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. This he enjoins upon his disciples, as his peculiar command : " This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as 1 have loved you." Nay, love was that by which his follow- ers were to bo distinguished from all others. "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another ; as I have loved you, that ye, also, love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." Thus it is evident, that there is nothing in the life of Jesus Christ, in his doctrines, or precepts, which gives any countenance to those wicked methods of propagat- ing and supporting religion, that some of his pretend-
INTRODUCTION. 25
ed followers have made use of. but the strongest di- rections to the contrary,
Christ commanded his disciples to love their ene- mies ; and to do good to them that hated them ; and to pray for them that despitefiilly used them. And he told them that some of them would be put to death for his name's sake. And when he himself was suffering on the cross, he gave his disciples this strik- ing example of his forgiving spirit toward his mur- derers, while he thus prayed: " Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And we see that his apostles possessed the same spirit. Stephen prayed for his murderers when they were stoning him to death; he made no resistance; and rJi the apostles manifested tlie same Christlike spirit toward their persecutors.
How inconsistent then, to pi'etend to the Christian name, and yet justify ]:>ersecution and bloodshed to promote Christianity, while we have both the precept and example both of Christ and his apostles, that they did not so much as resist in the least degree *hose who were murdering them.
The case of Annanias and Sapphira, adduced by Seza to justify the punishment of heretics, how im- pertinently alleged ! and that of Ely mas the sorcer- er equally so. Annanias and Sapphira were struck dead by the immediate hand of God. Peter gave them suitable reproof for their wickedness, but he laid no violent hands on them ; but God saw fit to make them an example for their wickedness, and struck them dead. Elymas was a Jewish sorcerer, who sought to turn the deputy from the faith that Paul was preaching to him and instructing him in : the sorcerer endeavoured to hinder his conversion. Paul therefore, in order to confirm his own mission, and to prevent the deputy's being deceived by the fraud and sorceries of Elymas, after severely rebuking him for his wickedness in opposing tlie gospel, tells him that God would decide the controversy by imme- 3
26 INTRODUCTION.
diately Striking the sorcerer blind, which came (o pasa immediately to the full conviction of the deputy, who then became established in the Christian faith. But there is nothing in all this to justify persecution, nor in any part of the New Testament.
To the candid and unprejudiced mind, the preced- ing view of the subject will be sufficient, it is believ- ed, to justify the conclusion, that neither the doctrines, precepts, nor conduct of Christ, nor those of his apos- tles, can in the remotest degree give any sanction to the spirit, nor to any of the forms of persecution. But to the omniscient eye of Christ, it was not con- cealed, that the promulgation of Christianity would lead to persecutions of the most grievous kind, both from opposers and pretended friends. To these ap- proachina^ persecutions ; to these most bitter and griev- ous days of trial and calamity to his faithful followers, Christ, as a true prophet of God, often alluded. He spoke of them as certain, as seasons which would try the faith, and sincerity, and patience of his followers ; at the same time, he bid them "put a heavenly cour- age on ;" since, by an exhibition of faith, fortitude, and constancy, they would give proof of the sustaining power of his gospel, and through such abundant tribu- lations would be prepared for a more abundant weight of glory. To his disciples, who would lead in " the noble arm]/ of Martyrs," lie strongly represented the dangers which would come upon them. " They will deliver you," says he, " up to councils ; they will scourge you in the synagogues ; you shall be hated of all men for rny salve ; nay, the time coineth, when they will think they are doing God service, by putting you to death." And alluding to a consequence of the promulgation of the gospel, viz. the prevalence of per- secution, the result of pride, envy, malice, and a love of power, he says, " Think not that I come to send peace, but a sword, for I am come to set a man at va- riance with his father, and the daughter against her mother," (fee. And again, " I am come to send fire on tiie earth : and what will I, if it be already kind-
INTRODUCTION. 27
led ? Suppose ye that I am come to send peace on earth ? I tell you nay, but rather division." How is it explained by Christ himself? Why in the very next words : " For from henceforth," i. e. upon the publication of my religion and gospel, " there shall be five in one house divided, three aguinst two, and two against three," (fee. Can any man need paraphrase and criticism to explain these passages of any thing but of that persecution which should befall the preach- ers and believers of the gospel ? or imagine it to be a prophetic description of a fire to be blown up by Christ to consume others, when the whole connection evidently refers it to a fire, that the opposers of his re- ligion should blow up, to consume himself and follow- ers ? Jesus knew it was such a fire, as would first consume himself. '• I am come to send fire on the earth ; and what will I, if it be ah-eady kindled ?" or, as the words should be translated, " How do I wish it was already kindled ? How do I wisli it to break out on my own person, that T might glorify God by my sufferings and death ?" For as it follows, " I have a baptism to be baptized Vv^ith," a baptism with my own blood ; '• and how am 1 straitened till it be ac- comphshed ?" After this account of his own suffer- ings, he foretels the same should befall his followers : "Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth ? I tell you nay, but rather division ;" i. e. as I myself must suffer to bear witness to the truth, so after my decease, such shall be the unreasonable and furious opposition to my gospel, as shall occasion divisions amongst the nearest relations, some of whom shall hate and persecute the other for their embracing my reli- gion.*
Agreeably to these predictions of our Saviour, soon after he had himself ascended to heaven, and while the apostles were yet publishing abroad the doctrine of Christianit}^, began those furious persecutions by the Romans, which for three hundred years, or to
* Chandler's History of Persecution, ^it mpra.
28 INTRODUCTION.
about the time of Constaiitine, carried thousands and tens of thousands by barbarities the most shocking, and by tortures the most excruciating and terrific, to their graves ; thus rendering a profession of the gos- pel ahiiost a sure passport to suffering and death.
As an account of these perilous days — of the deep- rooted mahce and blood-thirsty spirit of barbarians, urged on by the influence of the powers of darkness, will be found in the former part of the volume, they will not be noticed farther in this place. Yet a na- tural curiosity may lead us to inquire by what means it happened that the Romans, who were troublesome to no nation on account of their religion, and who suf- fered even the Jews to live under their own laws, and to follow tlieir own method of worship, almost imme- diately, on the promulgation of Christianity, began to persecnte its professors.
" One of the principal reasons," says Dr. Mosheim, "of the severity with w^hich the Romans persecuted the Christians, seems to have been the abhorrence and contempt with which the latter regarded the re- ligion of the empire, which was so intimately connect- ed with the form, and, indeed, with the very essence of its political constitution. For, though the Romans gave an unlimited toleration to all religions, which had nothing in their tenets dangerous to the common- wealth, yet they would not permit that of their ances- tors, which was established by the laws of the state, to be turned into derision, nor the people to be drawn away from their attachment to it. These, however, were the two things which the Christians were charg- ed with, and that justly, thoug-h to their honour. They dared to ridicule the absurdities of the Pagan super- stition, and tliey were ardent and assiduous in gaining proselytes to the truth. Nor did they only attack the religion of Rome, but also all the different shapes and forms, under which superstition appeared in the vari- ous countries, where they exercise their ministry. From hence the Romans concluded, that the Chris-
INTRODUCTION. 29
tian sect was not only unsupportably daring and ar- roo-ant, but moreover an enemy to the public tranquil- lity, and every way proper to excite civil wars and commotions in the empire. It is, probably, on this ac- count, that Tacitus reproaches them with the odious character oi haters of mankind^ and styles the religion of Jesus a destructive superstition ; and that Sueto- nius speaks of the Christians, and their doctrines, in terms of the same kind.
"Another circumstance that irritated the Romans against the Christians, was the simplicity of their wor- ship, which resembled in nothing the sacred rites of any other people. The Christians had neither sacri- fices, nor temples, nor images, nor oracles, nor sacer- dotal orders ; and this was sufficient to bring upon them the reproaches of an ignorant multitude, who imagined that there could be no religion without these. Thus, they were looked upon as a sort of atheists ; and, by the Roman laws, those who were chargeable with atheism were declared the pests of human society. But this was not all ; the sordid interests of a multi- tude of lazy and selfish priests, were immediately con- nected with the ruin and oppression of the Christian cause. The public worship of such an immense num- ber of deities was a source of subsistence, and even of riches, to the whole rabble of priests and augurs, and also to a multitude of merchants and artists. And, as the progress of the gospel threatened the ruin of this religious traffic, and the profit it produced, tliis raised up new enemies to the Christians, and arm- ed the rage of mercenary superstition against their lives and their cause."'^
To this explanation given by Mosheim, may be ad- ded, in substance, the explanation of bishop Warbur- ton, whch is still more lucid and satisfactory. Intel'* comnmnity of uwrsJup. accordins: to the latter, was a principle, which run through the whole pagan world. Every religion was tolerated, while its advocates claim-
♦ Mosheim, vol. i. p. 72. 3*
30 INTRODUCTION.
cd for it no exclusive superiority. Hence it was not until after the returp of the Jewg from captivity, that theyv/ere treated by their neighbonrs, and afterwards by the Greeks and Romans, with hatred and con- tempt; since they seem not so openly to have claim- ed that their religion was tlie only true one in the world. This pretension to superiority and to exclusive divine origin, was the grand cause of the general odium cast upon the Jews by the Pagan world.
When Christianity arose, though on the foundation of Judaism, it was at first received by Pagan nations with complacency. The gospel was favourably heard, and the superior evidence with which it was enforced, inclined men, long habituated to pretended revela- tions, to receive it into the number of the establish- ed. Accordingly we find one Roman Emperor in- troducing it among his closet religions ; and another proposing to the Senate to give it a more public en- tertainment. But, when it was found to carry its pretensions higher, and, like the .Jewish, to claim the title of the only true one, then it was, that it began to incur the same hatred and contempt with the Jewish. But, when it went still further, and urged tlie neces- sity of all men forsaking their own national religions and embracing the gospel, this so shocked the Pagans that it soon brought upon itself the bloody storm which followed. Thus you have the true origin of persecution for religion ; a persecution not committed, but undergone by the Christian church.'^
The Pagan persecutions appear to have continu- ed until about the time of Constantino, during whose reign the fall of Paganism began to take place, and was nearly consummated in that of Theodosius.
Having noticed the persecutions which occurred under the reign of Paganism, and assigned the causes which led those nations which were Pag:an, so pow- erfully to enlist themselves against Christianity, we shall next notice the persecutions which were com-
* Divine Legation of Moses, vol. ii. 6, 2, § 6, &c.
NTROUUCTION.
31
menced and carried forward under the influence of the Roman Hierarchy. These persecutions, the reader will notice, occupied by far the greater part of the vohune. As these persecutions are of a more recent date, as they were conducted by the jyretended friends of Christianity, and as the spirit of that system still prevails in nearly every country on the globe, no apology, it is thought, will be necessary, for occu- pying so large a space in the developement of the spirit and tendency of the papal system.
The rise of such a power is clearly predicted in the scriptures. Even in the days of the apostles, there were not wanting symptoms of the approaching wide-spread corruption.
When the Apostle Paul delivered to the elders of the church at Ephesus, a solemn warning to take heed to themselves, and to the flock over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers, he adds, as the reason of it, " for I know this, that after my de- parture shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock ; also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away dis- ciples after them." Acts xx. 2% 30. The jealousy and fear which he entertained relative to the influ- ence of false teachers, is manifest in the following passage. " But I fear, lest by any means, as the ser- pent beguiled Eve, through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For such are false apostles, deceitful work- ers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ : and no v>''onder, for Satan himself is trans- formed into an angel of light ; therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed into minis- ters of righteousness." (2 Cor. xi, 3, 13, 14, 15.) The same general caution against the effects which should proceed from false teachers, is very plainly given by the apostle Peter. " But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring
32 INTRODUCTION.
in damnable heresies, even denyincr the Lord that bought them, and bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make ixierchandise of you, whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." 2 Pet. ii. 1 — 3. To these passao-es, and many others that might be adduc- ed, as calculated to awaken the attention of Chris- tians to the dangers they should be exposed to from corrupt teachers, v/e may particularly add the follow- ing, as it not only foretels, but describes, the nature of the apostacy that should take place, and at a pe- riod remote from the time when the predictions were delivered. " Now the spirit speaketh express- ly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils ; speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their ton- sciences seared with a hot iron ; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them who believe and know the truth." 1 Tim. iv. 1 — 3. Again. " This knov/ also, that in the last days peril- ous times shall come, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, proud, blasphemers, disobedi- ent to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God ; — having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" 2 Tim. iii. 1 — 3. But of all the predictions contained in the New ^Testament, the most particular and express description of the anti- christian power that should arise under the Christian name, is the following : " Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled ; neither by
INTRODUCTION. 33
spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from ks, as tbat the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means : for that day shall not come ex- cept there be a falhng away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped ; so that he as God sitteth in the tem- ple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Re- member ye not, that when I was yet with you, I told you these things ? And now ye know what withhold- eth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work : only he who now lettetli \A\\ let, until he be taken out of the way ; and then shall that wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with tlie spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming : even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs and lying wonders ; and with all deceivableness of unrio^hteousness in them that perish, because they received not the love of the truth, that they mi2:ht be saved.'' 2 Thess. ii. 1—10.
" Li this representation of the apostacy from the purity of the Christian faith and its influence, which terminated in the man of sin sitting in the temple of God, we may notice the following particulars :
" 1. That the apostle describes its origin as taking place in his own day. ' The mystery of iniquity doth already work,' verse 7. The seed was then sown, idolatry was already stealing into the churches. 1 Cor. X. 14. A voluntary humility and worshipping of angels. Col. ii. 18. Men of corrupt minds, desti- tute of the truth, supposing that gain was godliness, and teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. Men of this class appear to have early abounded, and, as acting not wlwlly in direct oppo- sition to Clu'istianity, but corrupting it in the way of deceit and hypocrisy. Daring the whole progress towards the full revelation of the man of sin, there
34 INTRODUCTION.
was no direct disavowal of the truth of Christianity ; it was a form of godhnoss without tfie power of it.
" 2. There is an evident intimation in this passage, of an obstacle or hinderance in the way of this power being fnlly revealed. ' And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the inystery of iniquity doth already work, only he who now letteth will let, until he be talven out of the way. And then shall that wicked be revealed,' &c. ver. 6, 7. Without going into any minute and critical examination of these verses, it is obvious that the wicked power which is here the subject of the apostle's discourse, and denominated the man of sin, had not been fully displayed, and that there existed some obstacle to a complete revelation of the mystery of iniquity. The apostle uses a particular caution when hinting at it ; but the Thessalonians, he says, knew of it, probably from the explanation he had given them verbally, when he was with them. It can scarcely be questioned, that the hinderance or obstacle referred to in these words, was the heathen or Pagan Roman government^ which acted as a restraint upon the pride and domination of the clergy, through whom the man of similtimately arrived at his power and authority, as will afterwards appear. The extreme caution which the apostle manifests in spaeking of this restraint, renders it not improbable that it was somiething relating to the higher powers, for we can easily conceive hov/ improper it would have been, to declare in plain terms that the existing government of Rome should come to an end. There is a remark- able passage in Tertullian's Apology, that may serve to justify the sense Vv^hich Protestants put upon these verses ; and since it was v/ritten long before the ac- complishment of the predictions, it deserves the more attention. ' Christians,' says he, ' are under a par- ticular necessity of praying for the emperor, and for the continued state of the empire ; because we know that dreadful power which hangs over the world, and
INTRODUCTION. S5
the conclusion of the age, which threatens the most horrible evils, is restrained by the continuance of th& time appointed for the Roman empire. This is what we would not experience ; and while we pray that it may be deferred, we hereby show our good will to the perpetuity of the Roman state.' From this ex- tract, it is very manifest that the Christians, even in Tertullian's time, a hundred and twenty years before the Pagan government of Rome cam.e to an end, looked forward to that period as pregnant with ca- lamity to the cause of Christ ; though it is probable they did not accurately understand the manner in which the evils should be brought on the church. And this, indeed, the event proved to be the case. For while the long and harassing persecutions v/hich were carried on by the Pagan Roman emperors con- tinued, and all secular advantages were on the side of Paganism, there Vv^as little encouragement for any one to embrace Christianity, who did not discern somewhat of its truth and excellence. IMany of the errors, indeed, of several centuries, the fruit of vain philosophy, paved the way for the events which fol- lowed ; but the hinderance was not effectually remov- ed, until Constantino the emperor, on professing him- self a Christian, undertook to convert the kingdom of Christ into a kino:dom of this world, by exalting the teachers of Christianity to the same state of afflu- ence, grandeur, and influence in the empire, asiiad been enjoyed by pagan priests and secular officer in the state. The professed ministers of Jesus having now a wide field opened to them, for gratifying their lust of power, wealth, and dignity, the connection between the Christian fliith and the cross was at an end. What followed was the kingdom of the clergy, supplanting the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
" 3. It is worthy of observation, in what language the apostle describes the revelation of the man of sin when this hinderance, or let, should be removed.
"And then shall tliat wicked be revealed, whose
36 INTRODUCTION.
coming is after the working of Satan, with all power, and signs, and lying wonders, and with all deceiva- bleness of unrighteousness in them that perish. " He had before described this power, and personified him as " the son of perdition, who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God. or that is wor- shipped ; so that he as God, sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God."
" Every feature in this description corresponds to that of a religious power, in the assumption of divine authority, divine honours, and divine worship ; a pow- er which should arrogate the prerogatives of the MOST HIGH, having its seat in the temple or house of God, and which should be carried on by Satan's influence, with all deceit, hypocrisy, and tyranny ; and with this corresponds the figurative representa- tion given of the same power. Rev. xiii. 5 — 8.".*
Thus clearly predicted in the scriptures is this mystery of iniquity, and of which during the apostolic days there were indications of its havino^ begun to work. From the time of Constantino, however, the great obstruction, viz.. Paganism, which had hitherto operated against the full manifestation of the anti- christian power, being removed, the current of events brought matters to that state in which the man of sin was fully revealed, sitting in the temple of God, and showing himself to be God,
The corruption of Christianity, however, was not effected in a day. Under Constantino, Christianity became the religion of the state. In consequence of this, the power and wealth of the clergy were greatly augmented. Contests among bishops for pre-emi- nence became frequent, and were conducted with a spirit wholly at variance with the genius of the gos- pel. Power now became an engine of support to dif- ferent factions, ana the sword of persecution, which for three centuries had been drawn by the Pagans against the followers of Christ, the besotted ecclesi- * Jones. History of the Christian Church, p. 154, iStc.
INTRODUCTION. 37
astics employed against each other, in defence of what was now called the " Holy Catholic Church."
After a long and violent contest between the bish- ops of Rome, Constantinople, Antioch, and Alexan- dria, particularly the former two, the bishop of Rome at length succeeded in triumphing over all others, being in the year 606 invested with the proud title of universal bishop. This may be considered as the date of the establishment of the papal power, al- though this was not the period of its full growth.
The causes^ which contributed to the growth of this gigantic power, must be sought in the pages of Ecclesiastical History. It may not be amiss, how- ever, to notice some of the principal circumstances which contributed to the lordly sway and extended influence of the Roman pontilis, and their clergy, viz. : the pretended infallibility of the Pope — the de- crees ofcouticils — the preference given to human cof?i- 1)ositions over the Bible — the iniroduction of image- ivorship — the passion for relics and saints — the sale of indulgetices, and free absolution — the doctrine of purgatory — the establishment of the order of Jesuits ^ and the Inquisition. By these, and other means, the papal power continued for several centuries to gather strength, until, at length, it reached a point to which the annals of history furnish no parallel. Whoever ventured to lift his voice in opposition to the unwar- rantable claims of the sovereign pontiffs, or to decry the authority of their clergy, were sure to bring down upon them a tide of papal wrath and vengeance. Previously to the reformation, many had been cru- elly sacrificed for their honest opposition to papal usurpation : but during the pros^ress of that glorious revolution, and after its establishment, martyrs to the cause of truth and gospel simplicity were increased an hundred, if not a thousand fold.
In the following pages the reader will find a de- velopement of some of the works of Popish arro- gance, cruelty, and superstition. When he has at-
38 INTRODUCTION.
tentively gone through the volume, let him ask him- self, whether a s^^stem which authorizes and sanc- tions such cruelties, can he the offspring of, or com- patible with, the gospel of Christ Jesus ? " By their fruits," says our Saviour, "shall ye know them." It is not their words, but their works, we sliould con- sider. What quarter of the globe has escaped the ravages of their power ? If we look to the East, China and Japan, where they once bore rule, exhibit the most cruel and bloody massacres ever heard of, because their satellites aimed at jjolitical poirer, to the overthroiv of the lawful governments. If we look to America, where their power was supreme, we freeze with horror at the wanton barbarities inflicted upon the heathen. If we cast our eyes over Europe, the seat of their authority, we again see the like tragedies exhibited ; witness in France the massacre of St. Bartholomew, the revocation of the edict of Nantz, the extermination of the Waldenses and Albigenses, the cruel expulsions in Spain, and above all, the cruel and bloody inquisition, a court which they call holy, but surely the most accursed on earth. If we turn our eyes to England, we see the stakes in Smithlield, and the fires lis^hted to consume the bodies of those holy martyrs, who gave up their lives courageously in defence of their religion ; we see the vile myste- ries of iniquity discovered at the suppression of the monasteries, and the shameful practices exposed, by which the priests deluded the people. I will not recur to other persecutions, but ask; " Is this the religion of the meek Jesus, or is it not rather the tri- umph of Satan over fallen man ?"
We cannot more appropriately close this part of our subject, than with the following extracts from Mr. Goring's " Thoughts on the Revelations," in which he contrasts the character of our blessed Sa- viour, and of those men who presume to call them- selves his "substitutes on earth."
INTRODUCTION. 39
" Jesus Christ, as one of his last acts, left mankind this new law, ' Love one another, as I have loved you ; by this shall all men know that ye are my dis- ciples.' Popery hates all that are not of its com- munion, and condemns them soul and body to the pit. The blessed Saviour declared his kingdom was not of this world, being spiritual ; that he judged no man, but that the words he uttered should judge them in the last day. The Popes claim the dominion of the whole earth, spiritual and temporal ; they wear a triple crown, and pretend to judge all men. The Saviour, previous to his death, condescended to wash his disciples' feet, assuring them they should have no part in him unless they submitted to it. The Popes, so far from submitting to this lesson of humility, arrogantly permit them to kiss their feet. Our blessed Lord claimed not a spot upon earth, nor had he a place wliere to lay his head ; to him, sufficient for the day was the evil thereof, both with respect to food and raiment — not so the Popes ; from their votaries they extort the scanty gains of the sweat of their brows, go gorgeously attired, and feed sumptuously every day. Our Saviour freely pardon- ed the sins of his penitent creatures without fee or reward ; the Popes presume to pardon sins ; nay, grant indulgences for committing more ; but it is for money and the sordid lucre of gain.
" Can any man find a resemblance in these two diaracters ? Is not the counterfeit easily discovered; and will not men blush with shame when they see how grossly they have been deluded by this deceiv- er ? Let them but fairly read the gospel of .Tesus Christ ; they will there find he delegated his power to no man in the way the Popes claim it, and that he alone is the intercessor between God and man, and no man can approach God but through him."
We are convinced that there are no true chris- tians, who will not agree unequivocally in the justice of the above observations. They iiiust be convinced
40 INTRODUCTION.
that Popery is absurd, superstitious, idolatrous, and cruel ; that it darkens the understanding:, and en- slaves the consciences of its votaries, and is as much an enemy to virtue as to truth.
*#
FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS
BOOK I.
History of the first ten persecutions of tlie Primitive Church, from the year of our Lord G7, till the time of Constantine the Great ; detailing the lives and actions of the principal Chris- tian martyrs of iDOth sexes, in Europe and in Africa,
The dreadfiil martyrdoms which we are now about to describe, arose from the persecutions of the Ro- mans against the Christians, in the primitive ages of the church, during the space of three hundred years, or till the time of Constantine.
It is both wonderful and horrible, to peruse the descriptions of the sufferings of these sfodly martyrs, as they are described by the ancient historians. Their torments were as various as the ingenuity of man, urofed on by the mahcioas influence of Satan, could devise ; and their numbers were truly incred- ible.
The first martyr to our holy religion was its bless- ed Founder himself His history is sufficiently known, as it has been handed down to us in the New Testament ; nevertheless, it will be proper here to give an outline of his sufferings, and more partic- ularly as they will be followed by those of the apos- tles and evangelists. The persecutions by the em- perors took place long after the death of our Saviour.
Brief History of our Saviour.
It is known that in the reign of Herod, the angel Gabriel was sent by divine command to the Virgin Mary. This maiden was betrothed to a carpenter named Joseph, who resided at Nazareth, a city of Galilee. The angel informed Mary how highly she 4*
42 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
was favonrcd of Gocl, and that she should conceive a son by the Holy Spirit, which happened accord- ingly ; for travelling to Bethlehem, to pay the capi- tation-tax then levied, the town was so crowded that they conld only get lodgings in a stable, where Mary gave birth to our blessed Redeemer, which was an- nounced to tlie world by a star and an angel ; the wise men of the east saw the former, and the shep- herds the latter.
After Jesus had been circumcised, he Vv'as present- ed in the temple by his mother; upon which occa- sion Simeon exclaimed in the celebrated words re- corded by Luke : " Lord, now lettest thou thy ser- vant depart in peace, according to thy word, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation." Luke ii. 29, 30.
Jesus in his youth disputed with the most learned doctors in the temple, and soon after was baptized by John in the river Jordan, when the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove, and a voice was heard audibly to pronounce these words : " This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
After this, Christ fasted forty days and nights in the wilderness, Avhere he was tempted by the devil, but resisted all his allurements. He performed his first miracle at Cana, in Galilee ; he likewise con- versed with the good Samaritan, and restored to life a nobleman's dead child. While travelling through Galilee, he restored the blind to sight, and cured the lame, the lepers, &c. Among other benevolent ac- tions, he cured, at the pool of Bethesdaf a^ paralytic man who had been lame thirty-eight years, bidding him take up his bed and walk ; and he afterwards cured a man whose right hand was shrunk up and withered ; v/ith many acts of a similar nature.
When he had chosen his twelve apostles, he preach- ed the celebrated sermon upon the mount ; after which he performed several miracles, particularly the feeding of the multitude, and the walking on the surface of the sea.
OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR. 43
On the celebration of the Passover, Jesus supped with liis disciples : he informed them that one of them would betray him and another deny him, and preached his farewell sermon. A multitude of arm- ed men soon afterwards surrounded him, and Judas kissed him, in order to point him out to the soldiers, who were not acquainted with his person. In tho contention occasioned by the apprehension of Jesiis, Peter cut off the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest, for which Jesus reproved him, and, by touching the wound, healed it. Peter and John fol- lowed Jesus to the house of Annas, who, refusing to judge him, sent him bound to Caiaphas, where Peter denied Christ, as the latter had predicted ; but on Christ reminding him of his perfidy, Peter went out and v/ept bitterly.
When the council had assembled in the morning, the Jews mocked Jesus, and the elders suborned false witnesses against him ; the principal accusation being, that he had said, '•' 1 will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands." Caiaphas then asked him if he was the Christ, the Son of God, ov not : being answered in the affirmative, he was ac- cused of blasphemy, and condemned to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, who, though conscious of his innocence, yielded to the solicita- tions of the Jews, and condemned him to be crucifi- ed. His remarkable expression at the time of pass- ing senteiTK^ proved how much he was convinced that the Lord was persecuted.
Previous to the crucifixion^ the Jews, by way of derision, clothed Christ in a regal robe, pnt a crown of thorns upon his head, and a reed, for a sceptre, in his hand ; they then mocked him with ironical compliments, spit in his face, slapped his cheek, and taking the reed out of his hand, they struck him with it upon the head. Pilate would fain have released him, but the general cry was, Crucify him, crucify
44 BOOK OP MARTYRS.
him ; which occasioned the governor to call for a basin of water, and having washed his hands, he de- clared himself innocent of the blood of Christ, whom he termed a jnst person. Bat the Jews said, Let his blood be upon us, and our children ; and the gover- nor found himself obliged to comply with their wish- es, which wish has manifestly taken place, as they have never since been a collected people.
While leading Christ to the place of crucifixion, they obliged him to bear the cross, which being af- terwards unable to sustain, they compelled one Si- mon, a native of Cyrenia, to carry it the rest of the way. Mount Calvary was fixed on for the place of execution, where having arrived, the soldiers offer- ed him a mixture of gall and vinegar to drink, which he refused. Having stripped him, they nailed him to the cross, and crucified him between two male- factors. After being fastened to the cross, he utter- ed this benevolent prayer for his enemies : " Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." The soldiers who crucified him, being four in num- ber, now cut his mantle to pieces, and divided it be- tween them ; but his coat being without a seam, they cast lots for it. Whilst Christ remained in the ago- nies of death, the Jews mocked him and said, " If thou art the Son of God, come down from the cross." The chief priests and scribes also reviled him, and said, " He saved others, but cannot save himself." One of the criminals who was crucified with him, also cried out, and said, " If you are tfie Messiah, save yourself and us :" but the other malefactor, having great faith, exclaimed, " Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." To which Christ replied, " This day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
When Christ was upon the cross the earth was covered wath darkness, and the stars appeared a noon-day, which struck the people and even the Jews with terror. In the midst of his tortures Christ
THE APOSTLES, (fcc. 45
cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsa- ken me?" and then expressed a desire to drink; when one of the soldiers gave him, upon the point of a reed, a sponge dipped in vinegar, which, however, he refused. About three o'clock in the afternoon he gave up the ghost, and at that time a violent earth- quake happened, when the roclvs were rent, the mountains trembled, and the dead were thrown up from their graves. These signal prodigies attended the death of Christ, and such was the mortal end of the Redeemer of mankind.
THE LIVES, SUFFERINGS, AND MARTYRDOM OF THE APOSTLES, EVANGELISTS, (fcc.
/. Stephen,
Who was the first in the " noble company of mar- tyrs," was elected, with six others, as a deacon out of the Lord's seventy disciples. He was an able and successful preacher. The principal persons belong- ing to five Jewish synagogues entered into many al- tercations with him ; but he, by the soundness of his doctrine, and the strength of his arguments, overcame them all, which so much irritated them, that they bribed talse witnesses to accuse him of blaspheming God and Moses. On being carried before the coun- cil, he made a noble defence : but that so much ex- asperated his judges, that they resolved to condemn him. At this instant Stephen saw a vision from hea- ven, which represented Jesus, in his glorified state, sitting at the right hand of God. This vision so greatly rejoiced him, that he exclaimed, in raptures, " Behold I see the heavens open, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God." This caused him to be condemned, and, having drags^ed him out of the cit}^, they stoned him to death. On the spot where he was martyred, Eudocio, the empress of the emperor Theodosius, erected a superb church.
46 BOOK OF. MARTYRS.
"The death of Stephen was succeeded by a severe persecution at Jerusalem, in which 2000 Christians, with Nicanor the deacon, were martyred, and many others obhged to leave that country.
//. James tlte Great
Was a Galilean, and the son of Zebedee, a fisher- man, the elder brother of John, and a relation to Christ himself: for his mother Salome was cousin- german to the Virgin Mary. Being one day with his father fishing in the sea of Galilee, he and his bro- ther John were called by our Saviour to become his disciples. They cheerfully obeyed the mandate, and leaving their father, followed Jesus. It is to be ob- served, that Christ placed a greater confidence in them than in any other of the apostles, Peter ex- cepted.
Christ called these brothers Boanerges, or the Sons of Thunder, on account of their vigorous minds, and impetuous tempers.
When Herod Agrippa was made governor of Judea by the emperor Caligula, he raised a persecution against the Christians, and particularly singled out James as an object of his vengeance. This martyr, on being condemned to death, showed such an»in- trepidity of spirit, and constancy of mind, that even his accuser was struck with admiration, and became a convert to Christianity. This transition so enrag- ed the people in power, that they condemned him hkewise to death; when James the apostle and his penitent accuser were both beheaded on the same day, and with the same sword. These events took place in the year of Christ 44.
About the same period, Timon and Parmenas, two of the seven deacons, suffered martyrdom, the for- mer at Corinth, and the latter at Philinpi, in Mace- donia.
THE APOSTLES, <fec. 47
///. Philip,
The apostle and martyr, was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee, and was the first called by the name of Dis- ciple. He was employed in several important com- missions by Christ, and beins^ depnted to preach in Upper Asia, labonred very dilisfently in his apostle- ship. He then travelled into Phrygia, and arriving at Heliopolis, found the inhabitants so snnlc in idol- atry as to worship a large serpent. Philip, however, converted many of them to Christianity, and even procured the death of the serpent. This so enraged the magistrates, that they committed him to prison, had him severely scourged, and afterwards crucified. His friend Bartholomew found an opportunity of tak- ing down the body, and burying it ; for which, how- ever, he was very near suffering the same fate. His martyrdom happened eight years after that of James the Great, a. d. 52.
IV. Matthew,
The evangelist, apostle, and martyr, was born at Nazareth, in Galilee, but resided chiefly at Caper- naun>, on account of his business, which was that of a toll-gatherer, to collect tribute of such as had oc- casion to pass the sea of Galilee. On being called as a disciple, he immediately complied, and left every thing to foUov/ Christ. After the ascension of his master, he continued preaching the gospel in Judea about nine years. Intending to leave Judea, in or- der to go and preach among the Gentiles, he wrote his Gospel in Hebrew, for the use of his Jewish con- verts ; but it was afterwards translated into Greek by James the less. He then went to Ethiopia, or- dained preachers, settled churches, and made many converts. He afterwards proceeded to Parthia, where he had the same success ; but returning to Ethiopia, he was slain by a halberd, in the city of Nadabar, about the year of Christ 60.
48 BOOIC OF MARTYRS. ' '
F. Mark,
The evangelist and martyr, was born of Jewish parents, of the tribe of Levi. It is imagined that he was converted to Christianity by Peter, whom he served as an amanuensis, and whom he attended in all his travels. Being entreated by the converts at Rome, to commit to writing the admirable discours- es they had heard from Peter and himself, he com- plied with this request, and composed his gospel ac- cordingly, in the Greek language. He then went to Egypt, and afterwards proceeded to Lybia, where he made many converts. On returning to Alexandria, some of the Egyptians, exasperated at his success, determined on his death. They therefore tied his feet, dragged him through the streets, left him bruis- ed in a dungeon all night, and the next day burned his body.
VI. Jcnnes the Less,
The apostle and martyr, was called so, to distin- guish him from James the Great. He was the son, by a first wife, of Joseph, the reputed father of Christ ; he was, after tlie Lord's ascension, elected to the oversight of the church of Jerusalem : he wrote his general epistles to all Christians and converts what- ever to suppress a dangerous error then propaga- ting, viz. : " That a faith in Christ v/as alone suffi- cient for salvation, without good works." The Jews, being at this time greatly enraged that Paul had es- caped their fury, by appealing to Rome, determined to wreak their vengeance on James, who was now ninety-four years of age : they accordingly threw him down, beat, bruised, and stoned him ; and then dashed out his brains with a club, such as was used by fullers in dressing cloth.
VIL Mattliias, The apostle and martyr, was called to the apostle- ship after the death of Christ, to supply the vacant
THE APOSTLES, &C. 49
place of Judas, who had betrayed his master, and was Hkewise one of the seventy disciples. He was martyred at Jerusalem, being first stoned and then beheaded.
VIII. Andrew, The apostle and martyr, was the brother of Peter, and preached the gospel to many Asiatic nations. On arriving at Edessa, the governor of the country, named Egeas, threatened him for preaching against the idols there worshipped. Andrew persisting in the propagation of his doctrines, he was ordered to be crucified on a cross, two ends of which were transversely fixed in the ground. He boldly told his accusers, that he would not have preached the glory of the cross, had he feared to die on it. And again, when they came to crucify him, he said, that he co- veted the cross, and longed to embrace it. He was fastened to the cross, not with nails, but cords, that his death miglit be more slow. In this situation he continued two days, preaching the greatest part of the time to the people, when he expired.
IX. Peter,
The great apostle and martyr, was born at Beth- saida, in Galilee, being the son of Jonah, a fisherman, which employment Peter himself followed. He was persuaded by his brother to turn Christian, when Christ gave him the name of Cephas, implying, in the Syriac language, a rock. He was called, at the same time as his brother, to be an apostle ; gave un- common proofs of his zeal for the service of Christ, and always appeared as the principal speaker among the apostles. He had, however, the weakness to deny his master after his apprehension, though he defended him at the time. But after the death of Christ, the Jews still continued to persecute the Christians, and ordered several of the apostles, among whom was Peter, to be scourged. This pun«
60 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
isliment tliey bore with the greatest fortitude, an<> rejoiced that they were thought worthy to suffer for the sake of their Redeemer.
When Herod Agrippa caused James the Great to be put to deathj and found that it pleased the Jews, he resolved, in order to ingratiate himself with the people, that Peter should fall the next sacrifice. He was accordingly apprehended, and thrown into pri- son ; but an angel of the Lord released him, which so enraged Herod, that he ordered the sentinels who guarded the dungeon in Which he had been confin- ed, to be put to death. Peter, after various other miracles, retired to Rome, where he defeated all the artificers,and confounded the magic of Simon, the ma- gician, a great favourite of the emperor Nero ; he hkewise converted to Christianity one of the con- cubines of that monarch, which so exasperated the tyrant, that he ordered both Peter and Paul to be apprehended. During the time of their confinement they converted two of the captains of the gnards, and forty-seven other persons, to Christianity. Hav- ing been nine months in prison, Peter was brought out from thence for execution, when, after being se- verely scourged, he was crucified, with his head downwards ; which position, however, was at his own request.
X Paul,
The apostle and martyr, was a Jew of the tribe of Benjamin, born at Tarsus in Cilicia, and before his conversion was called Saul. He was at first a great enemy to, and persecuter of the Christians ; and a principal promoter of the death of Stephen. While on his way to Damascus, the glory of the Lord came suddenly upon him, he was struck to the earth, and was afflicted with blindness during three days ; on his recovery from which, he immediately became a professor, an apostle, and ultimately a martyr for the religion which he had formerly persecuted. Amongst
THE APOSTLES, &,C. 51
his labours in spreading the doctrine of Christ, he converted to the faith Sergius Paulus, the procon- sul of Cyprus, on which he took his name, and, as some suppose, was from thence called Paulus instead of Saulus. After his many labours he took to him Barnabas, and went np to Jerusalem, to Peter, James, and John, where he was ordained, and sent out with Barnabas to preach to the Gentiles. At Iconium, Paul and Barnabas were near being stoned to death by the enraged Jews ; upon which they fled to Ly- caonia. At Lystra, Paul was stoned, dragged out of the city, and left for dead. He, however, happily revived, and escaped to Derbe. At Philhppi, Paul and Silas were imprisoned and whipped ; and both were again persecuted at Thessalonica. Being af- terwards taken at Jerusalem, he was sent to Ca^sa- rea, but appealed to Cxsar at Rome. Here he con- tinued a prisoner at large for two years ; and at length being released, he visited the churches of Greece and Rome, and preached in France and Spain. Peeturning to Rome, he was again appre- hended, and, by the order of Nero, martyred, by be- ing beheaded.
XL Jiide,
The apostle and rnartyr, the brother of James, w^as commonly called Thaddseus. Being sent to Edessa, he wrought many miracles, and made many converts, which stirring up the resentment of the people in' power, he v/as crucified about the year 72.
XII. Barthohmev)^ The apostle and martyr, preached in several coun- tries, performed many miracles, and healed various diseases. He translated Matthew's gospel into the Indian language, and propagated it in that country ; but at length the idolaters, growing impatient with his doctrines, severely beat, crucified, and slew him, and then cut off his head.
52 BOOK OP MARTYRS.
XIIL Thomas
Was called by this name in Syriac, but Didymus in Greek ; he was an apostle and martyr, and preached in Parthia and India, where, displeasing the pagan priests, he was martyred by being thrnst through with a spear.
XIV. Luke the Evangelist^
Was the author of a most excellent gospel. He travelled with Paul to Rome, and preached to divers barbarous nations, till the priests in Greece hanged him oa an olive tree.
XV. Simon^
The apostle and martyr, was distinguished, from his zeal, by the name of Zelotes. He preached with great success in Mauritania, and other parts of Africa, and even in Britain, where, though he made many converts, he was crucified, A. D. 74.
XVI. John
Was distinguished for being a prophet, apostle, di- vine, evangelist, and martyr. He is called the belov- ed disciple, and was brother to James the Great. He was previously a disciple of John the Baptist, and afterwards not only one of the twelve apostles, but one of the three to v/hom Christ commimicated ^the most secret passages of his life. He founded churches at Smyrna, Pergamus, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira, to whom he directs his book of Revelation. Beino- at Ephesus, he was ordered by the emperor Domitian to be sent bound to Rome, where he was condemned to be cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. But here a miracle appeared in his favour ; the oil did him no injury, and Domitian, therefore, not being able to put him to death, ban- ished him to Patmos, to work in the mines. He was, however, recalled by Nerva, who succeeded Domi- tian ; but was deemed a martyr on account of his
FIRST PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION. 53
having undergone an execution, though it did not talie effect. He wrote his epistles, gospel, and revela- tions, all in a different style ; hut they are all equal- ly admired. He was the only apostle who escaped a violent death, and lived the longest of any of them, heing nearly 100 years of age at the time of his death,
XVII. Barnabas
Was a native of Cyprns, but of Jewish parents : the time of his death is uncertain, but it is supposed to be about the year of Christ 73.
THE FIRST PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION UNDER NERO
The first persecution, in the primitive ages of the church, was begun by that cruel tyrant Nero Domi- tins, the sixth emperor of Rome, a. d. 67. This monarch reigned, for the space of five years, with tolerable credit to himself, but then gave way to the greatest extravagance of temper, and to the most atrocious barbarities. Among other diabolical out- rages, he ordered that the city of Rome should be set on fire, which was done by his officers, guards, and servants. While the city was in flames, he went up to the tower of IMaccenas, played upon his harp, sung the song of the burning of Troy, and declared,' " That he wished the ruin of all things before his death." Among the noble buildings burnt was the circus, or place appropriated to horse-races. It was half a mile in length, of an oval form, with rows of seats rising above each other, and capable of receiv- ing with ease, upwards of 100,000 spectators. Many other palaces and houses were consumed ; and seve- ral thousands of the people perished in the flames, were smothered, or buried beneath the ruins.
This dreadful conflagration continued nine days ; when Nero, finding that his conduct was greatly
5*
54 BOOK OF MARTYllS.
blamed, and a severe odium cast upon him, deter- mined to lay the whole upon the Christians, at once to excuse himself, and to have an opportnnily of wit- nessing new cruelties. The barbarities exercised upon the Christians, during the first persecution, were such as excited the commiseration of the Ro- mans themselves. Nero even refined upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of punishments for the Christians. In particular, he had some sewed up in the skins of wild beasts, and then worried by dogs till they expired ; and others dressed in shirts made stiff with v/ax, fixed to axle-trees, and set on fire in his gardens. This persecution was general through- out the whole Roman empire ; but it rather increas- ed than diminished the spirit of Christianity In the course of it, Paul and Peter were martyred ; and to their names may be added Erastus, chamberlain of Corinth ; Aristarchus the Macedonian ; Trophimus, an Ephcsian, converted by Paul, and fellow-labour- er with him ; Joseph, commonly called Barsabas ; and Ananias, a preacher in Damascus.
THE SECOND PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION, UNDER DO]\];iTIAN.
Domitiaii came to the throne A. D. 81, having slain his brother Titus, the reigning emperor. In his temper he strongly resembled Nero ; yet he spar- ed the Christians until the 3^ear 95, when he com- menced the general persecution. His rage was such, that he even put to death many of the Roman sena- tors ; sometlirough malice, and others to confiscate their estates ; after which he commanded all the line- age of David to be extirpated. Two Christians were brought before him, accused of being of the tribe of Judah, and line of David ; but from their answers, he despised them as idiots, and dismissed them ac- cordingly. He, however, v/as determined to be more secure upon other occasions ; for he took away
SECOND PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION. 55
the property of maay Christians, put several to death, and banished others.
Amongst the numerous martyrs that suffered dur- ing this persecution was Simeon, bishop of Jerusa- lem, who was crucified ; and the apostle John, who was boiled in oil, and afterwards banished to Patmos. Fla,via, the daughter of a Roman senator, was like- wise banished to Pontus ; and a law was enacted, " That no Christian, once brought before an appro- priate tribunal, should be exempted from punishment, without renouncing his religon."
During this reign, there were a variety of tales composed in order to injure the Christians. Among other falsehoods, they were accused of indecent nightly meetings, of a rebellious, turbulent spirit ; of being inimical to the Roman empire ; of murdering their children, and even of being cannibals ; and at this time, such was the infatuation of the Pas^ans, that if famine, pestilence, or earthquakes, afflicted any of the Roman provinces, these calamities were said to be manifestations of the divine wrath, occasion- ed by their impieties. These persecutions increased the number of informers ; and many, for the sake of gain, swore away the lives of the innocent. When any Christians were brought before the magistrates, a test oath was proposed, when, if they refused it, death was pronounced against them ; and if they confessed themselves Christians, the sentence was the same. The various kinds of punishments and in- flicted cruelties were, imprisonment, racking, sear- ing, broilinof, burning, scourging, stoning, hanging, and worryino^. Many were torn piecemeal with red hot pincers, and others were thrown upon the horns of wild bulls. After having suffered these cruelties, the friends of the deceased were refused the privi- lege of burning their remains.
The following were the most remarkable of the numerous martyrs who suffered during this persecu- tion.
56 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
Dionysins, the Areopagite, an Athenian by birth, and educated in all the useful and ornamental litera- ture of Greece. From Greece, he travelled into Egypt, where he devoted himself to the study of astronomy, and made very particular ol:»servations on the great and super-natural eclipse, which happened at the time of our Saviour's crucifixion. On his re- turn to Athens, he became a convert to Christianity, and was appointed bishop of that city. This office he continued to discharge with great fidelity and ac- ceptance till Domitian's persecuting spirit brought him to the block.
Timothy, the celebrated disciple of Paul, and bishop of Ephesus, also suffered during this persecu- tion, about the year 97. During the celebration of a pagan festival, called Catagogion, this holy man, meeting a procession, composed of an idolatrous multitude, severely reproved them, for ridiculous and wicked conduct ; upon which, under a high wrought excitement, they fell upon him, with clubs, and beat him in so cruel a manner, that he expired of the bruises two days after.
Many other distinguished and pious men, under various tortures, were, during this persecution, brought to the grave, but brevity requires us to omit a partic-
wlar i-kif>ntir»n nf them.
THIRD PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION. 57
THE THIRD PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION, UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS.
Between the second and third Roman persecution was but one year. Upon Nerva succeeding Domi- tian, he gave a respite to the Christians ; but reign- ing only thirteen months, his successor Trajan, in the tenth year of his reign, and in a. d. 108, began the third persecution against them. While the per- secution raged, Plinius Secundus, a heathen philoso- pher, wrote to the emperor in favour of Christians, stating that he found nothing objectionable in their conduct ; and that " the whole sum of their error consisted in this, that they were wont at certain times appointed, to meet before day, and to sing certain hymns to one Christ their God ; and to confederate among themselves, to abstain from all theft, murder, and adultery ; to keep their faith, and to defraud no man : which done, then to depart for that time, and afterwards to resort again to take meat in companies together, both men aud women, one with another, and yet without any act of evil^ To this epistle Trajan returned this indecisive answer ; " That Christians ought not to be sought after, but when brought before the maoistracy they should be punish- ed.'' This reply of the emperor, vague as it was, oc- casioned the persecution in some measure to abate, as his officers were uncertain, if they carried it on with severity, how he might choose to interpret his letter. Trajan, however, soon after wrote to Jeru- salem and gave orders to exterminate the stock of David ; in consequence of which, ah that could be found of that race were put to deatii.
PnocAs, bishop of Pontus, refusing to sacrifice to Neptune, was, by the immediate order of Trajan, cast first into a hot lime-kiln, and being drawn from thence, was thrown mio a scalding bath till lie ex- pired.
Trajan likewise commanded the martyrdom of Ig-
B8 BOOK OP MAllTVRS.
natiiis, bishop of Aiitioch. This holy man, it is said, was the person whom, when an infant, Christ took into his arms and showed to his disciples, as one that wonld be a pattern of humility and innocence. He received the gospel afterwards from John the Evan- gelist, and was exceedingly zealous of his mission. He boldly vindicated the faith of Christ before the emperor, for which he cast him into prison, and was tormented in a cruel manner ; for, after being dread- fully scourged, he was compelled to hold fire in his hands, and at the same time, papers dipped in oil were put to his sides, and set alight. His flesh was then torn with red-hot pincers, and at last he was despatched by being torn to pieces by wild beasts.
Symphorosa, a widow, and her seven sons, were commanded by Trajan to sacrifice to the heathen deities. Refusing to comply with the impious re- quest, the emperor, greatly exasperated, ordered her to be carried to the temple of Hercules, where she was scourged, and hung up for some time by the hair of the head ; then a large stone was fastened to her neck, and she was thrown into the river. Her sons were fastened to seven posts, and being drawn up by the pulleys, their limbs Vv^ere dislocated ; these tor- tures not affecting their resolution, they were thus martyred. Crescentius, the eldest, was stabbed in the throat ; Julian, tbe second, in the breast ; Neme- sius, the third, in the heart ; Primitius, the fourth, in the navel; Justice, the fifth, in the back; Stacteus, the sixth, in the side ; and Eugenius, the youngest, was sawed asunder.
Trajan died in the year 117, and was succeeded by Adrian, during whose reign of 21 years, the con- dition of the church was, upon the whole, less dis- tressing than during the reign of his predecessor. Yet, in ihe first years of Adrian, the persecution went on, and many illustrious men, and more still hum- bler disciples of Christ, fell victims to his cruel laws
THIRD PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION. 59
which had been passed by Trajan, and which conti- nued unrepealed for several years.
At length Quadrat as, bishop of Athens, made a learned apology in favour of the Christians before the emperor Adrian, w^ho happened to be there ; and Aristides, a philosopher of the same city, wrote an elegant epistle, which caused Adrian to relax in his severities, and relent in their favour. He indeed went so far as to command, that no Christian should be punished on the score of religion or opinion only ; but this gave other pretexts to fhe Jews and Pagans to persecute them ; for then they beo'an to employ and suborn false witnesses, to accuse tliem of crimes against the state or civil authority.
Adrian died in the year 138, and w^as succeeded by Antoninus Pius, so amiable a monarch, that his people gave him the title of '• The Father of Vir- tues." Immediately upon his accession to the throne, he published an edict concluding with these v/ords : " If any hereafter shall vex or trouble the Christ- ians, having no other cause but that they are such, let the accused be released, and the accusers be punished." This stopped the persecution, and the Christians enjoyed a respite from their sufferings during this emperor's reign, though their enemies took every occasion to do them v/hat injuries they could. The piety and goodness of Antoninus were so great, that he used to say, that he liad rather save one citizen, than to destroy a thousand of his adver- saries.
THE FOURTH PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION UNDER THE ;R0]MAN EMPERORS, WHICH COMMENCED A. D. 162.
Antoninus Pius Vv^as succeeded by Marcus Au- relius Antoninus Verus, who began the fourth perse- cution, in which many Christians were martyred,
60 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
particularly in several parts of Asia, and in France. Such were the cruelties used in this persecution, that many of the spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at the intrepidity of the sufierers. Some of the martyrs were obliged to pass with their already wounded feet, over thorns, nails, sharp shells, &c-., others were scourged till their sin- ews and veins lay bare ; and after suffering the most excruciating tortures, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths.
Germanicus, a young and true Christian, being delivered to the wild beasts on account of his faith, behaved with such astonishing courage, that several pagans became converts, to a faith which inspired such fortitude. This enraged others so much, that they cried out he merited death ; and many of the multitude wondering at this beloved martyr for his constancy and virtue, began suddenly to cry out with a loud voice, saying, " Destroy the wicked men, let Polycarpus be sought for." And whilst *a great up- roar and tumult began to be raised upon those cries, a certain Phrygian, named Q,uintus, lately arrived from his country, was so afflicted at the sight of the wild beasts, that he rushed to the judgment-seat and upbraided the judges, for which he was put to death.
Polycarpus, bishop of Smyrna, the disciple and pupil of the apostle John, now in the 87th year of his age, 27th of his ministry, hearing that he was sought after, escaped, but was discovered by a child. From this circumstance, and having dreamed that his bed suddenly became on fire, and was consumed in a moment, he concluded that it was God's will that he should suffer martyrdom. He therefore did not attempt to make a second escape when h6 had an opportunity of so doing. Those who apprehended him were amazed at his serene countenance and gravity. After feasting them, he desired an hour for
Polycarpus. — Page 60.
• I. LawrtKC»'. — Page bl.
FOURTH PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION. 61
prayer, which being allowed, he prayed with sucti fervency, that his guards repented they had been in- strumental in taking him. He was, however, carried before the proconsul, condemned, and conducted to the market-place. Wood being provided, the holy man earnestly prayed to heaven, after being bound to the stake ; and as the flames grew vehement, the executioners gave way on both sides, the heat now becoming intolerable. In the mean time, the bishop sung praises to God in tlie midst of the flames, but remained unconsumed therein, and the burning of the wood spreading a fragrance around, the guards -were much surprised. Determined, however, to put an end to his life, they stuck spears into his body, when the quantity of blood that issued from the wounds extinguished the flames. After considerable attempts, howev'er, they put him to death, and burnt his body when dead, not being able to consume it while alive. This extraordinary event had such an effect upon the people that they began to adore the martyr ; and the proconsul was admonished not to deliver his body, lest the people should leave Christ, and begin to worship him. Twelve other Christians, who had been intimate with Polycarpus, were soon after martyred.
"•Felicitatas, an illustrious Roman lady of a con- siderable family, and great virtues, was a devout Christian. She had seven sons, whom she had edu- cated with the most exemplary piety. The empire having been about this time grievously troubled with earthquakes, famine, inundation, &c., the Christians were accused as the cause, and Felicitatas was in- cluded in the accusation. The lady and her family being seized, the emperor gave orders to Publius, the Roman governor, to proceed against her. Upon this Publius began with the mother, thinking that if he could prevail with her to change her religion, the example would have great influence with her sons. Finding her inflexible, he turned his entreaties to
62 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
menaces, and threatened her with destruction to Iier- self and family. She despised his threats as she had done his promises ; he then caused her sons to be brought before him, wliom he examined separately. They all, however, remained steadfast in their faith, and unanimous in then- opinions, on which the whole family were ordered for execution. .Tanuarius, the eldest, was scourged and pressed to death with weights ; Felix and Philip, the two next, had their brains dashed out with clubs; Sylvanus, the fourth, was murdered by being thrown from a precipice ; and the three younger sons. viz. Alexander, Yitalis, and Martialis, were all beheaded. The mother was beheaded with the same sword as the three latter.
Justin, the celebrated philosopher, fell a martyi in this persecution. He was a native of Neapohs, in Samaria, and was born a. d. 103. He had the best education those times could afford, and travelled into Egypt, the country where the polite tour of that age was made for improvement. At Alexandria he was informed of every thing relative to the seventy interpreters of the writings, and shewn the rooms, or rather cells, in which their work was performed. Justin was a great lover of truth, and an universal scholar ; he investigated the Stoic and Peripatetic philosophy, and attempted the Pythagorian system; but the behaviour of one of its professors disgusting him, he applied himself to the Platonic, in which he took great delight. About the year 133, when he was thirty years of age, he became a convert to Christianity. Justin wrote an elegant epistle to the Gentiles, to convert them to the faith he had newly acquired, and lived in so pure and innocent a man- ner that he well deserved the title of a Christian philosopher. He likewise employed his talents in convincing the Jews of the truth of the Christian rites, and spent much time in travelling, till he took np his abode in Rome, and fixed his habitation on the Viminal mount. He kept a public school, taught
FOURTH PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION. 63
many who afterwards became great men, and wrote a treatise to confute heresies of all kinds. As the Pagans began to treat the Christians with great se- verity, Jastin wrote his first apology in their favour, and addressed it to the emperor Antoninus, or two princes whom he had adopted as his sons, and to the senate and people of Rome in general. This piece, which occasioned the emperor to publish an edict in favour of the Christians, displays great learning and genius.
A short time after, he entered into frequent con- tests with Crescens, a person of a vicious life, but a celebrated cynic philosopher ; and his arguments appeared so powerful, yet disgusting to the cynic, that he resolved on his destruction, which, in the sequel, he accomplished. The second apology of Justin was occasioned by the following circumstances : a man and his wife, who were both bad Jivers, resided at Rome. The woman, however, becoming a convert to Christianity, attempted to reclaim her husband ; but not succeeding, she sued for a divorce, which so exasperated him, that he accused her of being a Chris- tian. Upon her petition, however, he dropped the prosecution, a.nd levelled his malice at Ptolemeus, who had converted her. Ptolemeus was condemned to die ; and one Lucius, with another person, for ex- pressing themselves too freely upon the occasion, met with the same fate. Justin's apology upon these severities gave Crescens an opportunity of prejudic- ing the emperor against the writer of it ; upon Avhicli Justin and six of his companions were apprehended. Being commanded, as usual, to deny their faith, and sacrifice to the pagan idols, they refused to do either ; they were, therefore, condemned to be first scourged, and then beheaded.
Some of the restless northern nations having risen in arms against Rome, liie emperor marched to en- counter them. He was, however, drawn into an ambuscade, and dreaded the loss of his wliole army.
64 HOOK OF MARTYRS.
Enveloped with mountains, surrounded by eLemies, and perishing with thirst, the pagan deities were in- voked in vain ; when the men belonging to the miU- tine, or thundering legion, who were all Christians, were commanded to call upon their Goa for succour. A miraculous deliverance immediately ensued ; a prodigious quantity of rain fell, which, being caught by the men, and filling the dykes, afforded a sudden and astonishing relief. It appears, that the storm which miraculously flashed in the faces of the ene- my, so intimidated them, that part deserted to the Roman army ; the rest were defeated, and the re- volted provinces entirely recovered. This affair oc- casioned the persecution to subside for some time, at least in those parts immediately under the inspec- tion of the emperor : but we find that it soon after raged in France, particularly at Lyons, where the tortures to which many of the Christians were put, almost exceed the powers of description.
The principal of these martyrs were Yetius Aga- thus, a young man ; Blandinia, a Christian lady, of a weak constitution ; Sanctus, a deacon of Vienna ; red-hot plates of brass were placed upon the tender- est parts of his body; Biblias, a weak woman, once an apostate. Attains, of Pergamus ; and Pothinus, the venerable bishop of Lyons, who was ninety years of age.
When the Christians, upon these occasions, re- ceived martyrdom, they were ornamented, and crowned with garlands of flowers ; for which they in heaven received eternal crowns of glory.
The torments were various ; and, exclusive of those already mentioned, the martyrs of Lyons were compelled to sit in red-hot iron chairs till their flesh broiled. This was inflicted with peculiar severity on Sanctus, already mentioned, and some others. Some were sewed up in nets, and thrown on the horns of wild bulls ; and the carcasses of those who died in prison, previous to the apointed time of ex-
FOURTH PRIMITIVE PERSECUTION. 65
edition, were thrown to dogs. Indeed, so far did the maUce of the pagans proceed, that they set guards over the bodies while the beasts were devouring them, lest the friends of the deceased should get them away by stealth ; and the offiiis left by the dogs were or- dered to be burnt.
The martyrs of Lyons, according to the best ac- counts we could obtain, who suffered for the gospel, were forty-eight in number, and their executions happened in the year of Christ 177.
Epipodius and Alexander were celebrated for their great friendship, and their Christian union with each other. The first v/as born at Lyons, the latter at Greece. Kpipodius, being compassionated by the governor of Lyons, and exhorted to join in their fes- tive pagan worship, replied, '• Your pretended ten- derness is actually cruelty ; and the agreeable life you describe is replete with everlasting death. Christ suffered for us, that our pleasures should be immortal, and hath prepared for his followers an eternity of bliss. The frame of man being composed of two parts, bo- dy and soul, the first, as mean and perishable, should be rendered subservient to the interests of the last. Your idolatrous feasts may gratify the mortal, but they injure the immortal part ; that cannot therefore be enjoying life which destroys the most valuable moiety of your frame. Your pleasures lead to eter- nal death, and our pains lead to perpetual happiness." Epipodius was severely beaten, and then put to the rack, upon which being stretched, his flesh was torn with iron hooks. Having born his torments with incredible patience and unshaken fortitude, he was taken from the rack and beheaded.
Valerian and Marcellus, who were nearly related to each other, were imprisoned at Lyons, in the year 177, for being Christians, The lather was fixed up to the waist in the ground ; in which position, aftei remaining three days, he expired, a. d. 179. Valeri an was beheaded.
6*
66 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
Apollotiius, a Roman senator, an accomplished gentleman, and a sincere Christian, snfFered under Commodus, because he would not worsliip him as Hercules.
Eusebius, Vincentius, Potentianus, Perc^^rinus and Julius, a Roman senator, were martyred on the same account.
THE FIFTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS.
The emperor Commodns, who had succeeded his father Antoninus in ISO, dying in the year 191, was succeeded by Pertinax, and he by Julianus, both of whom reigned but a short time. On the death of the last, Severus became emperor in the year 192. When he had been recovered from a severe fit of sickness by a Christian, he became a great favourer of Chris- tians in general ; and even permitted his son Cara- calla to be nursed by a female of that persuasion. Hence, during the reigns of the emperors already mentioned, who successively succeeded Commodns, and some years of the latter's reign, the Christians had a respite for several years from persecution. But the prejudice and fury of the ignorant multitude again prevailed, and the obsolete laws were put in execution against the Christians. The pagans were alarmed at the progress of Christianity, and revived the calumny of placing accidental misfortunes to the account of its professors. Fire, sword, wild beasts, and imprisonments, were resorted to ; and even the dead bodies of Christians were torn from their graves, and subject to every insult ; yet the gospel withstood the attacks of its boisterous enemies. Tertullian, who lived in this age, informs us, that if the Chris- tians had collectively withdrawn themselves from the Roman territories, the empire would have been great- ly depopulated.
FIFTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 67
Victor, bishop of Rome, suffered martyrdom in the first year of the third century, viz. a. d. 201, though the circumstances are not ascertained.
Leonidas, the father of the cele1:)rated Origen, was beheaded for being a Christian. Previous to the ex- ecution, the son, in order to encourage him, wrote to him in these remarkable words : " Beware, Sir, that your care for us does not make you change your resokition." Many of Origen's hearers hl^ewise suf- fered martyrdom.
Among those who suffered during this persecution was also the venerable Irenasus, bishop of Lyons, who was born in Greece, and received a Christian education. It is generally supposed that the account of the persecutions at Lyons was written by himself. He succeeded the martyr Pothynus as bishop of Ly- ons, and ruled his diocese with great propriety : he was a zealous opposer of heresies in general, and wrote a celebrated tract against heresy about a. d. 187.
Yictor, the bishop of Rome, wanting to impose a particular mode of keeping Easter there, it occasion- ed some disorders among the Christians. In parti- cular, Irenaeus wrote him a synodical epistle in the name of the Gallic churches. This zeal in favour of Christianity, pointed him out as an object of re- sentment to the emperor ; and he was acccordingly beheaded in a. d. 202.
Persecutions in Africa. The persecutions about this time extended to Af- rica, and many were martyred in that part of the globe ; but we must content ourselves with giving a particular account only of Perpelua, a married lady of about twenty-six years of age, with a young child at her breast ; she was seized for being a Christian, Her father, who tenderly loved her, went to console her during her confinemejit, and attempted to per- suade lier to renounce Christianity. Pcrpetua, how-
68 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
ever, resisted every entreaty. This resolution so mucli incensed her father, that he beat her severely, and did not visit her for some days after ; and, in the mean time, she and some others who were confin- ed, were baptized, as they were before only cate- chumens.
On being carried before the proconsul Minutius, she was commanded to sacrifice to the idols ; but re- fusing, she was ordered to a dark dungeon, and was deprived of her child. Two deacons, however, Ter- tius and Pomponious, who had the care of persecu- ted Christians, allowed her some hours daily to in- hale the fresh air, during Avhich time she had the sa- tisfaction of being allowed to nurse her child. Fore- seeing, however, that she should not long be per- mitted to take care of it, she recommended it strong- ly to her mother's attention. Her father at length paid her a second visit, and again entreated hev to renounce Christianity. His behaviour was now all tenderness and humanity ; but inflexible to all things but Christ, she knew she must leave every thing for his sake ; and she only said to him, '' God's will must be done." He then, with an almost bursting heart, left her.
Perpetua gave the strongest proof of fortitude and strength of mind on her trial. Her judge entreated her to consider her father's tears, her infant's help- lessness, and her own life ; but, triumphing over the softer sentiments of nature, she forgot the ideas of both mental and corporeal pain, and determined to sacrifice all the feelings of human sensibility, to that immortality offered by Christ. In vain did they at- tempt to persuade her that their offers were gentle, and her own religion otherwise. Avv^are that she must die, her father's parental tenderness returned, and in his anxiety he attempted to carry her off, on which he received a severe blow from one of the otRcers. Irritated at this, the daughter immediately declared, that she felt that blow more severely than
FIFTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 69
if she had received it herself. Being conducted back to prison, she awaited her execution with several other persons, who were to be executed at the same time ; one of tliese, Fehcitas, a married Christian lady, was big with child at the time of her trial. The procurator, when he examined her, entreated her to have pity upon herself and her condition ; but she replied, that his compassion was useless, for no thought of self-preservation could induce her to sub- mit to any idolatrous proposition. She was delivered in prison of a girl, which was adopted by a Christian woman as her own.
Revocatus was a catechumen of Carthage, and a slave. The names of the other prisoners, who v;ere to suffer upon this occasion, were Satur, Saturnius, and Secundulus. When the day of execution arriv- ed, they were led to the amphitheatre. Satur, Sa- turnius, and Revocatus, having the fortitude to de- nounce God's judgments upon their persecutors, were ordered to run the gauntelope between the hunters, or such as had the care of the wild beasts. The hunters being drawn up in two ranks, they ran betv\reen, and as they passed were severely lashed. Felicitas and Perpetua were stripped, in order to be thrown to a mad bull ; but some of the spectators, through decency, desired that they might be permit- ted to put on their clothes, which request was grant- ed. The bull made his first attack upon Perpetua, and stunned her : he then attacked Felicitas, and wounded her much ; but not killing them, the exe- cutioner did that office with a sword. Revocatus and Satur were destroyed by wild beasts ; Saturnius was beheaded ; and Secundulus died in prison. These executions took place on the 8th of March, A. D. 205.
70 BOOK OP MARTYRS.
THE SIXTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS.
The sixth i^eneral persecution occurred under Max- iminus. the son of a herdsman of Thrace, who by means of the army was made emperor a. d. 235. In Cappadocia, the president Semiramus made great ef- forts to exterminate the Christians from that kingdom. A Roman soldier who refused to wear a laurel crown bestowed on him by the emperor, and confessed him- self a Christian, was scourged, imprisoned, and put to death. Pontianus, bishop of Rome, for preaching against idolatry, was banished to Sardinia, and there destroyed. Anteros, a Grecian, who succeeded this bishop in the see of Rome, gave so much offence to the government by collecting the acts of the mar- tyrs, that, after having held his dignity only forty days, he suffered martyrdom himself Pammachius, a Roman senator, with his family and other Chris- tians to the number of forty-two, were, on account of their religion, all beheaded in one day, and their heads set up on the city gates. Simplicius, another senator, suffered martyrdom in a similar way. Cale- podius, a Christian minister, after being inhumanly treated, and barbarously dragged about the streets, was thrown into the river Tiber with a mill-stone fastened about his neck, duiritus, a Roman noble- man, with his family and domestics, were, on ac- count of their Christian principles, put to most ex- cruciating tortures and painful deaths. Martina, a noble and beautiful virgin, suffered martyrdom, be- ing variously tortured, and afterwards beheaded ; and Hippolitus, a Christian prelate, was tied to a wild horse, and dragged through fields, stony places, bushes, &c. till he died.
While this persecution continued, numerous Chris- tians were slain without trial, and buried indiscrimi- nately in heaps : sometimes fifty or sixty being cast into a pit together. Maximus died in a. d. 238 ; he
SEVETH GENERAL PKRSK^.U TiON. 71
was succeeded by Gordiaii, durino whose reign, and that of his successor Pliihp, the ciuirch was free from persecution for the space of more than ten years ; but in the year 249, a violent persecution broke out in Alexandria. It is, however, worthy of remarl^:, that this was done at the instigation of a pagan priest, without the emperor's privity. At this time the fury of the people being great amonsf the Christians, the mob broke open their houses, carried away the best of their property, destroyed the rest, and murdered the owners ; the universal cry being, " Burn them, burn them ! kill them, kill them !" The names of the martyrs have not been recorded, with the ex- ception of the three following : Metrus, an aged and venerable Christian, who, refusing to blaspheme his Saviour, was beaten with clubs, pricked with sharp reeds, and at length stoned to death. Q^uinta, a Chris- tian woman, being carried to the temple, and refus- ing to worship the idols there, was dragged by her feet over sharp flint stones, scourged with whips, and at last despatched in the same manner as Metrus. And Apolionia, an ancient maiden lady, confessing herself a Christian, the mob dashed out her teeth Avith their fists, and threatened to burn her alive. A fire was accordingly prepared for the purpose, and she fastened to a stake ; but requesting to be unloos- ed, it was granted, on a supposition that she meant to recant, when, to their astonishment, she immedi- ately threw herself into the flames, and was con- sumed.
THE SEVENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS.
In the year 249, Decius being emperor of Rome, a, dreadful persecution was begun against the Chris- tians. This was occasioned pardy by the hatred he bore to his predecessor PhiHp, who was deemed a Christian, and partly by his jealousy concerning the
72 BOOK OP MARTYRS.
amazing increase of Cliristianity ; for the heathen temples were ahiiost forsaken, and the Christian churches crowded with proselytes. Decius, provok- ed at this, attempted, as it were, to extirpate the name of Christian ; and, unfortunately for the cause of the gospel, many errors had about this time crept into the church ; the Christians were at variance with each other; and a variety of contentions ensued amongst them. The heathens, in general, were am bitious to enforce the imperial decrees upon this oc- casion, and looked upon the murder of a Christian as a merit to themselves. The martyrs were there fore innumerable.
Martyrdom of Fahian and others.
Fabian, bishop of Rome, was the first person of eminence wlio felt the severity of this persecution. The deceased emperor, Philip, had, on account of his integrity, committed his treasure to the care of this good man ; but Decius, not finding as much as his avarice made him expect, determined to wreak his vengeance on the good prelate. He was accord- ingly seized ; and on the 20th January, a. d. 250, suffered martyrdom, by decapitation.
Julian, a native of Cilicia, as we are informed by St. Chrysostom, was seized upon for being a Chris- tian. He was frequently tortured, but still remained inflexible ; and though often brought from prison for execution, ^was again remanded, to suffer greater cruelties. He, at length, was obliged to travel for twelve months together, from town to town, in order to be exposed to the insults of the populace. When all endeavours to make him recant his religion were found ineffectual, he was brought before his judge, stripped, and whipped in a dreadful manner. He was then put into a leather bag, together with a num- ber of serpents, scorpions, &c., and in that condition thrown into the sea.
SEVENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 73
Peter, a young man. amiable for the superior qua- lities of his body and mind, was apprehended as a Christian, at Lampsacus, and carried before Opti- mus, proconsul of Asia. On being commanded to sacrifice to Venus, he said, " I am astonished that you should wish me to sacrifice to an infamous wo- man, whose debauches even your own historians re- cord, and whose life consisted of such actions as youT laws would punish. — No ! I shall offer to the true God the sacrifice of prayer and praise."
Optimus, on hearing this, ordered him to be stretch- ed upon a wheel, by which all his bones were broken in a shocking maniier ; but his torments only inspir- ed him with fresh courage ; he smiled on his perse- cutors, and seemed, by the sereniiv of his counte- nance, not to upbraid, but to applaud his tormentors. At length the proconsul commanded him to be be- headed ; which was immediately executed.
Denisa, a young woman, only sixteen years of age, who beheld this terrible judgment, suddenly exclaim- ed, " O. unhappy wretch, why would 3^ou buy a mo- ment's ease, at the expense of a miserable eternity 7'' Optimus, hearing this, called to her, and asked if she was a Christian ') She replied in the affirmative ; and refused to sacrifice to the idols, Optim.us, enraged at her resolution, gave her over to two libertines, who took her to their home, and made many at- tempts upon her chastity, but without efiect. At midnight, however, they were deterred from their design by a frightful vision, which so amazed them, that they fell at the feet of Denisa, and implored her prayers that they might not feel the effects of divine vengeance for their brutality. But this event did not diminish the cruelty of Optimus ; for the lady was beheaded soon after by his order.
Trypho and Respicius, two eminent men, were
seized as Christians, and imprisoned at Nice. They
were soon after put to the rack, which they bore
with admirable patience for three hours, and uttered
7
74 ROOK OF MARTYRS.
the praises of the Ahnia^hty the whole time. They were then exposed naked in the open air, which be- numbed all their limbs. When remanded to prison, they remained there for a considerable time ; and then the cruelties of their persecutors were again evinced. Their feet were pierced with nails ; they were dragged through the streets, scourged, torn with iron hooks, scorched with lighted torches, and at length beheaded, on the 1st of February, a. d. 251. Agtha, a Cicihan lady, was remarkable for her beauty and endowments ; her beauty was indeed so great, that Uuintain, governor of Sicily, became ena- moured of her, and made many attempts upon her virtue. The governor being known as a great liber- tine, and a bigoted pa2:an, the lady thought proper to v\^ithdraw from the town, but was discovered in her retreat, apprehended, and brought to Catana; when, finding herself in the power of an enemy, both to her soul and body, she recommended herself to the protection of the Almighty, and prayed for death. In order to gratify his passion with the greater con- veniency, the governor transferred the virtuous lady to Aphrodica, an infamous and licentious woman, who tried every artifice to win her to the desired prostitution ; but all her efforts were in vain. When Aphrodica acquainted Quintain with the inefficacy oi her endeavours, he changed his desire into resent- ment ; and, on her confessing that she was a Chris- tian, he determined to gratify his revenge. He, therefore, ordered her to be scourged, burnt with red-hot irons, and torn with sharp hooks. Having borne these torments with admirable fortitude, she was next laid naked upon live coals, intermingled with glass, and being carried back to prison, she there expired on the 5th of February, a. d. 251:
Martyrdom of Cyril.
Cyril, bishop of Gortyna, was seized by order ot LuciuSj the governor of that place, who first exhort-
SEVENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 75
ed him to obey the imperial mandate, perform the sacrifices, and save his venerable person from de- struction ; for he was then eighty-four years of age. The good prelate replied, that he could not agree to any such requisitions ; but as he had long taught others to save their souls, that now he should only think of his own salvation. When the governor found all his persuasion in vain, he pronounced sen- tence ao-ainst the venerable Christian, in these words ; " I order that Cyril, who has lost his senses, and is a declared enemy of our gods, shall be burnt alive." The good worthy prelate heard this sentence with- out emotion, walked cheerfully to the place of exe- cution, and imderwent martyrdom with great resolu- tion.
Persecutions in Crete.
At the Island of Crete, the persecution raged with fury ; for the governor being exceedingl}'- active in executing the imperial decrees, that place streamed with the blood of many Christians. The principal Cretan martyrs, whose names have been transmitted to us, are as follow ; Theodulus, Saturnius, and Eu- ropus, were inhabitants of Gortina, who had been grounded in their faith by Cyril, bishop of that city; and Eunicianus, Zeticus, Cleomenes, Agathopas, Bastides, and Euaristus, were brought from diiferent parts of the island on accusations of professing Chris- tianity.
At the time of their trial, they were commanded to sacrifice to Jupiter, which declining, the judge threatened them with the severest tortures. To these menaces they imanimously answered, " That to suffer for the sake of the Supreme Being would, to them, be the sublimest of pleasures." The judge then attempted to gain their veneration for the hea- then deities, by descantins^ on their merits, and re- counting some of their mythological histories. This gave the prisoners an opportunity of remarking on
76 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
the absurdity of such fictions, and pointing out the folly of paying adoration to ideal deities, and real images. Provoked to hear his favourite idols ridi- culed, the governor ordered them all to be put to the rack; the tortures of which they sustained with sur- prising fortitude. They at length suffered martyr- dom, A. D. 251 ; being all beheaded at the same time.
Martyrdom of Babylas, Bishop of Antioch, and others.
Babylas, a Christian of liberal education, became bishop of Antioch in a. d. 237, on the demise of Ze- binus. He governed the church during those tem- pestuous times with admirable zeal and prudence. The first misfortune that happened to Antioch dur- insf his mission, was the siege of it by Sapor, kuig of Persia ; v/ho, having overrun all Syria, took and plundered this city among others, and used the Chris- tian inhabitants with greater severity than the rest. His cruelties, however, were not lasting, for Gor- dian, the emperor, appearing at the head of a pow- erful army, Antioch was retaken, the Persians driven entirely out of Syria, pursued into their own coun- try, and several places in the Persian territories fell into the hands of the emperor. On Gordian's death, in the reign of Decius, that emperor came to Anti- och, where, having a desire to visit an assembly of Christians, Babylas opposed him, and refused to let him come in. The emperor dissembled his anger at that time ; but soon sending for the bishop, he sharp- ly reproved him for his insolence, and then ordered him to sacrifice to the pagan deities as an expiation for his supposed crime. Having refused this, he was committed to prison, loaded with chains, treated with great severities, and then beheaded, together with three young men who had been his pupils. On go- ing to the place of execution, the bishop exclaimed, '•Behold me and the children that the Lord hath given me." They were martyred a. d. 251 ; and the chains worn by the bishop in prison were buried with him.
SEVENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 77
The emperor Decius having erected a pagan tem- ple at Ephesiis, in the year 251, he commanded all who were in that city to sacrifice to the idols. This order was nobly refused by seven of his own soldiers, viz. : Maximianas^ Martianus, Joannes, Malches, Dionysius, Constantinus, and Seraion. The empe- ror, wishing to prevail on the soldiers to prevent their fate by his entreaties and lenity, gave them a respite till he returned from a journey. But in the absence of the emperor, they escaped, and hid themselves in a cavern ; which he being informed of at his return, the mouth of the cavern was closed up and they were all starved to death.
Theodora, a beautiful young lady of Antioch, on refusing to sacrifice to the Roman idols, was con- demned to tlie brothel, that her virtue might be sa- crificed. Didymus, a Christian, then disguised him- self in the habit of a Roman soldier, went to the house, informed Theodora who he was, and prevail- ed, on her to make her escape in his dress. Thus being found in the brothel, instead of the lady, he was taken before the president, to whom confessing the truth, sentence of death was immediately pro- nounced against him. In the mean time Theodora, hearing that her deliverer was likely to suffer, came to the judge, threw herself at his feet, and begged that the sentence might fall only on her as the guilty person ; but the inflexible judge condemned both ; and they were executed accordingly, being first behead- ed and their bodies afterwards burnt.
78 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
Account of Origen.
Origen, the celebrated presbyter and catechist of Alexandria, at the age of sixty-four, was seized, thrown into a loathsome prison, loaded with chains, his feet placed in the stocks, and his legs extended to the utmost for several days. He was threatened with fire, and tormented by every means that the most infernal imagination conid suggest. But his Christian fortitude bore him through all ; indeed such was the risfour of his judge, thaf his tortures were ordered to be lingering, that death might not too soon put a period to 'his miseries. During this cruel temporizing the emperor Decius died, and Gallus, who succeeded him, engaging in a war with the Goths, the Christians met with a respite. In this in- terim Origen obtained his enlargement, and retiring to Tyre, remained there till his death, which happen- ed when he was in the sixty-ninth year of his age.
THE EIGHTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS.
After the death of Gallus, Tamilian, the general, having many enemies in the army, was slain, and Va- lerian was elected to the empire. This emperor, for the space of four years, governed v/ilh moderation, and treated the Christians with peculiar lenity and respect ; but in the year 257, an Egyptian magician, iiamed Macrianus, gained a great ascendency over him, and persuaded him to persecute them. Edicts were accordingly published, and the persecution, which began in the month of April, continued for three years and six months.
The martyrs that fell in this persecution were in- numerable, and their tortures and deaths as various. The most eminent were the following :
Rufma and Secunda were two beautiful and ac- complished ladies, daughters of Asterius, a gentleman of eminence in Rome. Rufina, the elder, was de-
EIGHTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 79
sji^ned in marriage for Armentarius, a young noble- man : and Secunda, the younger, for Verinus, a per- son of rank, and immense wealth. These suiters, at . the time the persecution commenced, were both Christians ; but when danger appeared, to save their fortunes, they renounced their faith. They took great pains to persuade the ladies to do the same, but failed in their purnose ; and as a method of safety, Rufina and Secunda left the kingdom. The lovers, findino^ themselves disappointed, informed against the ladies, who being apprehended as Christians, were brought before Junius Donatus, governor of Rome. After many remonstrances, and having undergone several tortures, they sealed their martyrdom with their blood, by being beheaded in the year 257.
In the same year, Stephen, bishop of Rome, was beheaded, and about that time Saturnius, bishop of Thoulouse, was attaclved and seized by the rabble of that place, for preventing, as they alleged, their ora- cles from speaking. On refusing to sacrifice to the idols, he was treated with many barbarous indigni- ties, and then fastened by the feet to the tail of a bull. On a certain signal the enraged animal was driven down the steps of the temple, by which the martyr's brains were dashed out ; and the small number of Christians in Thoulouse. had not for some time courage sufficient to carry off" the dead body: at length two women conveyed it away, and depo- sited it in a ditch. This martyr was an orthodox and learned primitive Christian, and his doctrines are held in high estimation.
Stephen was succeeded by Sextus as bishop of Rome. He is supposed to have been a Greek by birth, or extraction, and had for some time served in the capacity of a deacon, under Stephen. His great fidelity, singular wisdom, and coTirage, distin- guished him upon many occasions; and the fortunate conclusion of a controversy with some heretics, is generally ascribed to his prudence. Macrianus, who
80 BOOK OF MARTYR^
had the management of the Roman government in the year 258, having procured an order from the emperor Valerian, to put to death all the Christian clergy in Rome, and the Senate having testified their obedience to this mandate, Sextus was one of the first that felt its severity. Cyprian tells us that he was beheaded August 6, A. D. 258 ; and that six of his deacons suf- fered with him.
Martyrdom of St. Laurence.
Lanrentius, generally called St. Laurence, the principal of the deacons, who taught and preached under Sextus, followed him to tlie place of execu- tion ; when Sextus predicted that he should meet him in heaven three days after. Laurentius consi- dering this as a certain indication of his own ap- proaching martyrdom, at his return collected all the Christian poor, and distributed among them the trea- sures of the church, which had been committed to his care, thinking that the money could not be better disposed of, or less liable to fall into the hands of the lieathens. His conduct alarmed the persecutors, who seized on him, and commanded him to give an immediate account to the emperor of the church treasures.
Laurentius promised to satisfy them, but begged a short respite to put things in proper order ; when three days being granted him, he was suffered to de- part ; whereupon with great diligence, he collected together a great number of aged, helpless, and im- potent poor, and repairing to the magistrate, present- ed them to him, saying, " These are the true trea- sures of the church."
Provoked at the disappointment, and fancying the matter meant in ridicule, the scovernor ordered him to be immediately scourged. He was then beaten with iron rods, set upon a wooden horse, and had his limbs dislocated. He endured these tortures
EIGHTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 81
with such fortitude and perseverance, that he was ordered to be fastened to a large gridiron, with a slow fire under it, that his death might be the more tedious. But his astonishing constancy during these trials, and his serenity of countenance while under such excruciating torments, gave the spectators so exalted an idea of the dignity and truth of the Chris- tian religion, that many immediately became converts. Having lain for some time upon the gridiron, the martyr called out to the emperor, who was present, in a kind of jocose Latin distich, made extempore, which may be translated thus :
" This side enough is toasted,
Then turn me, tyrant, and eat ; And see, whether raw or roasted, I am the better meat."
On this the executioner turned him, and after hav- ing lain a considera.ble time longer, he had still strength and spirit enough to triumph over the tyrant, by telling him, with great serenity, that he was roast- ed enough, and only wanted serving up. He then cheerfully lifted up "his eyes to heaven, and with calm- ness yielded his spirit to the iVlmighty. This happen- ed on Auo-ust 10, A. D. 258.
Persecutions in Africa — Account of Cyprian.
Fourteen years previous to this period, the perse- cution raged in Africa with peculiar violence ; and many thousands received the crown of martyrdom, among whom the following were the most distin- guished characters ;
Cyprian, bishop of Carthage, was an eminent pre- late, and a great ornament of the church. His doc- trines were orthodox and pure ; his language easy and elegant ; and his manners graceful . He was said to be so perfect a master of rhetoric and logic, and
82 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
SO complete in the practice of elocution, and the principles of philosophy, that he was made professor of those sciences in his native city of Carthage, whera he taught with great success. He was educated in the principles of gentilism, and -having a considera ble fortune, he lived in great splendour and pomp. Gorgeous in attire, luxurious in feasting, vain of a numerous retinue, and fond of every kind of fash- ionable parade, he seemed to fancy that man was born to gratify all his appetites, and created for pleasure only. About the year 246, Ccscilius, a Christian min- ister of Carthage, became the instrument of Cyprian's conversion ; on which account, and for the great love that he always afterwards bore for his adviser, he was termed Coecilius Cyprian.
Before his baptism he studied the scriptures with care, and being struck with the beauties of the truths they contained, he determined to practice the virtues they recommended. He sold his estate, distributed the money among the poor, dressed himself in plain attire, and commenced a life of austerity and soU tude. Soon after his baptism he was made a pres- byter ; and being greatly admired for his virtues and his works, on the death of Donatus, in a. r>. 248, he was almost unanimously elected bishop of Carthage. The care of Cyprian not only extended over Car- thage, but to Numidia and Mauritania. In all his trans- actions he took great care to ask the advice of his clergy, knowing that unanimity alone could be of service to the church ; this being one of his maxims, '^ That the bishop was in the church, and the church in the bishop ; so that unity can only be preserv^ed by a close connexion between the pastor and his flock."
In the year 250, he was publicly proscribed by the emperor Decius, under the appellation of Coecilius Cyprian, bishop of the Christians ; and the univer- sal cry of the Pagans was, " Cyprian to the lions ! Cyprian to the beasts !"
EIGHTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 83
The bishop, however, withdrew from the rao;e of the populace, and his effects were immediately con- fiscated. During his retirement he wrote thirty pious letters to his flock ; but several schisms that then crept into the church gave him great uneasiness. The rigour of the persecution abating, he returned and did every thing in his power to expunge errone- ous opinions and false doctrines. A terrible plague now breaking out at Carthage, it was, as usual, laid to the charge of the Christians ; and the ma2:istrates began to persecute accordingly, which occasioned an epistle from them to Cyprian, in answer to which he vindicates the cause of Christianity.
Cyprian was brouglit before the proconsul Aspa- sius Paternus, a. d. 257, when being commanded to conform to the religion of the empire, he boldly made a confession of his faith. This, however, did not oc- casion his death, but an order was made for his ban- ishment, which exiled him to a little city on the Li- byan sea. On the death of the proconsul who ban- ished him, he returned to Carthage, but was soon after seized, and carried before the new governor, who condemned him to be belieaded : on the 14th of September, a. d. 25S, this sentence was executed.
Fate of the Efiiperor Valerian.
This tyrant, who had so long and so terribly per- secuted the Christians, was taken prisoner by Sa- pores, king of Persia, who carried him into his own country, and there treated him with the most unex- ampled indignity, making him kneel down as the meanest slave, and treading upon him as a footstool when he mounted his horse ; saying, in a vaunting manner, " This posture is a greater proof whicii way the victory went, than all the pictures the Roman artists can draw."
Having kept him, for the space of seven years, in this abject state of slavery, he at last caused his eyes
84 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
to be put out, though he was then eighty-three years of age : and his desire of revenge not being satisfied, he soon after ordered his body to be flayed aUve, and rubbed with salt, under which torments he expired. GalUenus, the son of Valerian, succeeded him a. D. 260, and during his reign, the empire suffered many commotions, particularly earthquakes, pesti- lence, inundations, intestine broils, and incursions of barbarians. This emperor reflecting, that when his father favoured the Christians he prospered, and that when he persecuted them he was unsuccessful, de- termined to relax the persecution ; so that (a few martyrs excepted) the church enjoyed peace for some years.
THE NINTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS.
In the year 274, the emperor Aurelian commeno ed a persecution against the Christians : the princi- pal of the sufterers was Felix, bishop of Rome. This prelate was advanced to the Roman see in 274, and was beheaded in the same year, on the 22d of De- cember. Agapetus, a young gentleman, who sold his estate, and gave the money to the poor, was seized as a Christian, tortured, and then brought to Prae- neste, a city within a day's journey of Rome, where he was beheaded. These are the only martyrs left upon record during this reign, as it was soon put a stop to by the emperor's being murdered by his own domestics, at Byzantium. Aurelian was succeeded by Tacitus, who was followed by Probus, as was the latter by Cams : this emperor being killed by a thun- der-storm, his sons, Carinus and Numerian, succeed- ed him ; and during all these reigns, the church en- joyed rest.
Diocletian mounting the imperial throne, a. r>. 274, at first showed great favour to the Christians. In the
NINTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 85
year 286, he associated Maximian with him in the empire ; and the following Christians were put to death before any general persecution broke out — ■ Felician and Primus, two brothers. They were seiz- ed by an order from the imperial court ; and own- ing themselves Christians, were accordingly scourg- ed, tortured, and finally beheaded. Marcus and Mar- cellianus were twins, natives of Rome, and of noble descent. Their parents were heathens, but the tu- tors to whom the education of the children was in- trusted, brought them up as Christians. Being ap- prehended on account of their faith, they were se- verely tortured, and then sentenced to be beheaded. A respite of a month was obtained for them by their friends, when their father, mother, and all their re- lations, attempted to bring them back to Paganism, but in vain. At last their constancy subdued their persuaders, and their parents and whole family be- came converts to a faith they had just before con- demned.
Tranquilinus, the father of the two young men, was sent for by the prefect, to give him an account of the success of his endeavours : when he confessed, that so far from having persuaded his sons to forsake the faith they had embraced, he was become a Chris- tian himself He then stopped till the magistrate had recovered from his surprise, and resuming his dis- course, he used such powerful arguments, that he made a convert of him, who soon after sold his es- tate, resigned his command, and spent the remainder of his days in a pious retirement.
The prefect who succeeded the above-mentioned convert, had nothing of the disposition of his prede- cessor : he was morose and severe, and soon seized upon the whole of this Christian race, who were ac- cordingly martyred by being tied to posts, and hav ing their feet pierced with nails. After remaining in this situation for a day and a night, their sufferings
8
8(3 BOOK OP MARTYRS.
were put an end to by thrusting lances through their bodies.
Zoe, the wife of the gaoler, who had the care of the before mentioned martyrs, being greatly edified by their discourses, had a desire to become a Chris- tian : this, as she was dumb with a palsy, she could only express by g'^ stures. They gave her instruc- tions in the faith, and told her to pray in her heart to God to relieve her from hor disorder. She did so, and was at length relieved : for her paralytic dis- order by degrees left her, and her speech returned again. This enforced her belief, and confirmed her a Christian : and her husband, finding her cured, be- came a convert himself These conversions made a great noise, and the proselytes were apprehended. Zoe was commanded to sacrifice to Mars, which re- fusing, she was hanged upon a tree, and a fire of straw lighted under her. When her body was taken down," it was thrown into a river, with a large stohe tied to it, in order to sink it.
Massacre of a lohole Legion of Christian Soldiers.
A very remarkable affair occurred in a. d. 286. A legion of soldiers, consisting of 6666 men, contain- ed none but Christians. This legion was called the Theban legion, because the men had been raised in Thebias : they were quartered in the East till the emperor Maximian ordered them to march to Gaul, to assist him against the rebels of Burgundy ; when passing the Alps under the command of Mauritius, Candidus, and Exupernis, they at length joined the emperor. About this time, MaxiiTiian ordered a gen- eral sacrifice, at which the whole army were to as- sist ; and he commanded that they should take oaths of allegiance, and swear, at the same time, to assist him in'the extirpation of Christianity in Gaul.
Terrified at these orders, each individual of the Theban legion absolutely refused either to sacrifice, or take the oaths prescribed. This so greatly enrag-
NINTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 87
ed Maximian, that he ordered the legion to be deci- mated, that is, every tenth man to be selected from the rest, and put to the sword. This cruel order having been put into execution, those who remained alive were still inflexible, when a second decimation took place, and again every tenth man of those liv- ing was put to the sword.
But this second severity made no more impression than the first ; the soldiers preserved their fortitude and their principles ; but, by the advice of their offi- cers, drew up a remonstrance to the emperor, in which they told him, " that they were his subjects and his soldiers, but could not at the same time for- get the Almighty ; that they received their pay from him, and their existence from God. While your commands (said they) are not contradictory to those of our common master, we shall always be ready to obey, as we have been hitherto ; but when the or- ders of our prince and those of the Almighty differ, we must always obey the latter. Oar arms are de- voted to the emperor's use, and shall be directed against his enemies ; but we cannot submit to stain our hands with effusion of Christian blood ; and how, indeed, could you, O emperor, be sure of our alle- giance and fidelity, should we violate our obligation to our God, in whose service we were solemnly en- gaged before we entered the army 7 You command- ed us to search out and to destroy the Christians : it is not necessary to look any farther for persons of that denomination ; we ourselves are such, and we glory in the name. We saw our companions fall without the least opposition or murmuring, and thought them happy in dying for the sake of Christ. Nothing shall make us lift up our hands against our sovereign ; we had rather die wrongfully, and by that .means preserve our innocence, than live under a load of guilt : whatever you command, we are ready to suffer : we confess ourselves to be Christians, and therefore cannot persecute Cliristians, nor sacrifice to idols."
8y BOOK OF MARTYRS.
Such a declaration, it might he presumed, would have softened the emperor, but it Iiad a contrary ef- fect ; for, enraged at their perseverance and unani- mity, he commanded that the whole legion should be put to death, which was accordingly executed by the other troops, who cut them to pieces with their swords.
This barbarous transaction happened on the 22d of September, a. d. 286 ; and such was the invete- rate malice of Maximian, that he sent to destroy every man of a few detachments that had been draft- ed from the Theban legion, and despatched to Italy.
Alban, the first British Martyr.
Alban, from whom St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire, received its name, was the first British martyr. He was originally a Pagan, and being of a humane dis- position, he sheltered a Christian ecclesiastic, named Amphibalus, who was pursued on account of his re- hgion. The pious example and edifying discourses of the refugee, made a great impression on the mind of Alban ; he lonsfed to become a member of a reli- gion which charmed him ; the fugitive minister, hap- py in the opportunity, took great pains to instruct him ; and, before his discovery, perfected Alban's conversion.
Alban now took a firm resolution to preserve the sentiments of a Christian, or to die the death of a martyr. The enemies of Amphibalus, having intelli- gence of the place where he was secreted, came to the house of Alban, in order to apprehend him. The noble host, desirous of protecting his guest, changed clothes with him, in order to facilitate his escape ; and when the soldiers came, oifered himself up as the person for whom they were seeking. Being ac- cordingly carried before the governor, the deceit was immediately discovered ; and Amphibalus being absent, that officer determined to wreak his ven- geance upon Alban : with this view he commanded
TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 89
the prisoner to advance to the altar, and sacrifice to the Pagan deities. The brave Alban, liowever, re- fused to comply with the idolatrous injunction, and boldly professed himself to be a Christian. The gov- ernor therefore ordered him to be scourged, which punishment he bore with great fortitude, seeming to acquire new resolution from his sufferings : he was then beheaded.
The venerable Bede states, that upon this occa- sion, the executioner suddenly became a convert to Christianity, and entreated permission either to die for Al])an or with him. Obtaining the latter request, they were beheaded by a soldier, who voluntarily undertook the task. This happened on the 22d of June, A. D. 287, at Verulam, now St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire, where a magnificent church was erect- ed to his memory, about the time of Constantino the Great. This edifice was destroyed in the Saxon wars, but was rebuilt by Offa, king of Mercia, and a monas- tery erected adjoining to it, some remains of which are still visible.
THE TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION UNDER THE ROMAN EMPERORS.
Notwithstanding the efforts of the heathens to ex- terminate the Christians, and abolish their mode of faith, yet they increased so greatly as to become for- midable by their numbers. They, however, forgot the precepts of their meek prototype, and instead of adopting his humility'", they gave themselves up to vanity, i3y dressing gayly, living sumptuously, build- ing stately edifices for churches, <fcc., which created a general envy, and particularly excited the hatred of Galerius, the adopted son of Diocletian, who, stim- ulated by his mother, a bigoted Pagan, persuaded the emperor to commence a persecution. It accord- ingly began on the 23d of February, a. d. 303, that
8*
90 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
beino^ the day on which the Terminalia were cele- brated, and on wliich, as the Paoans boasted, they hoped to put a termination to Christianity.
The persecution began in Nicomedia : the prefect of that city repaired, with a great number of officers and assistants, to the church of the Christians, where, having forced open the doors, they seized upon all the sacred books, and committed them to the flames. This transaction took place in the presence of Dio- cletian and Galerius, who also caused the church to be levelled with the ground. It was followed by a severe edict, commanding the destruction of all other Christian churches and books ; and an order soon succeeded, the object of which was to render Chris- tians of all denominations outlaws, and consequent- ly to make them incapable of holding any place of trust, profit, or dignity ; or of receiving any protec- tion from the legal institutions of the realm. An im mediate martyrdom was the result of the pubhcation of this edict ; for a bold Christian not only tore it down from the place to which it was affixed, but ex- ecrated the name of the emperor for his injustice and cruelty : he was in consequence seized, severely tor- tured, and then burnt alive. The Christian prelates were likewise apprehended and imprisoned ; and Ga- lerius privately ordered the imperial palace to be set on fire, that the Christians might be charged as the incendiaries, and a plausible pretext given for carry- ing on the persecution with the greatest severity.
A general sacrifice of the Christians.
A general sacrifice was then commanded, which occasioned various martyrdoms. Among others, a Christian, named Peter, was tortured, broiled, and then burnt ; several deacons and presbyters were seized upon, and executed by various means ; and the bishop of Nicomedia, named Anthimus, was be- headed. So great was the persecution, that there was no distinction made of age or sex, but all were
TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 91
indiscriminately massacred. Many houses were set on fire, and whole Christian families perished in the flames ; others had stones fastened about their necks, and were driven into the sea. The persecution be- came general in all the Roman provinces, but more particularly in the East ; and as it lasted ten years, it is impossible to ascertain the numbers martyred, or to enumerate the various modes of martyrdom : some were beheaded in Arabia ; many devoured by wild beasts in Phosnicia ; great numbers were broil ed on gridirons in Syria ; others had their bones bro- ken, and in that manner were left to expire in Cap- padocia ; and in Mesopotamia, several were hung Avith their heads downwards, over a slow fire, and suffocated. In Pontus, a variety of tortures were used ; in particular, pins were thrust under the nails of the prisoners, melted lead was poured upon them, but without eifect. In Egypt, some Christians were buried alive in the earth, others were drowned in the Nile, many were hung in the air till they perished, and great numbers were thrown into large fires, &c. Scourges, racks, daggers, swords, poisons, crosses, and famine, were made use of in various parts to despatch the Christians ; and invention was exhausted to de- vise tortures against them.
A town of Phrygia, consisting entirely of Chris- tians, was surrounded by a number of Pagan soldiers, to prevent any from escaping ; they then set the town on fire, and all the inhabitants perished in the flames.
Provincial Governors address the E7nj)eror to stop the persecution.
At last, several governors of provinces represent- ed to the imperial court, that " it was unfit to pollute the cities with the blood of the inhabitants, or to de- fame the government of the emperors with the death of so many subjects." Hence many were respited from execution ; but though not put to death, they were subjected to every species of indignity. Many
92 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
had their ears cut off, their noses sht, their right eyes put out, their Umbs dislocated, and their flesh seared in conspicuous places, with red-hot irons.
Account of some loho svffered.
Amonor those who forfeited their hves during: this bloody persecution, was Sebastian, a celebrated holy man, who was born at Narbonne in Gaul, instructed in the principles of Christianity at Milan, and after- wards became an officer of the emperor's guard at Rome. He remained a true Christian in the midst of idolatry ; unallured by the splendours of a court, and untainted by evil examples ; esteemed l)y the most eminent, beloved by his equals, and admired by his inferiors, he lived happily, and kept his faith and place, till the rigour of the persecution deprived him of life. He was informed against, and betrayed to Fabian the Roman pra3tor, by Torquatus, a pretend- ed Christian ; but being of a rank too considerable to be put to death without the emperor's express or- ders, Diocletian was made acquainted with the cir- cumstance.
The emperor, on hearing the accusation, sent for Sebastian, and charged him with ingratitude, in be- traying the confidence reposed in him, and being an enemy to the gods of the empire and to himself. To this he answered, that his religion was of a good, not a pernicious tendency, and that it did not stimu- late him to any thing against the welfare of the em- pire, or the emperor, and that the greatest proof he could give of his fidelity, was the praying to the only true God for the health and prosperity of his impe- rial person. Incensed at this reply, the emperor or- dered him to be taken to a field near the city, term- ed the Campus Martins, and there to be shot to death with arrows ; which sentence was accordingly exe- cuted. A few Christians attended at the place of execution, in order to give his body burial, perceiv- ed signs of life in him, and moved him to a place of
TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 93
security ; they in a short time effected his recovery, and prepared him for a second martyrdom ; for as soon as he was able to walk, he placed himself in- tentionally in the emperor's way as he was going to the temple. The unexpected appearance of a per- son supposed to be dead, gi'eatly astonished the em- peror, nor did the words of the martyr less surprise him : for he began with great severity to reprehend him for his various cruelties, and for his unreasona- ble prejudices against Christianity.
VVhen Diocletian had overcome his surprise, he ordered Sebastian to be seized, carried to a place near the palace, and beat to death ; and that the Christians should not either use means again to re- cover or bury his body, he ordered that it should be thrown into the common sewer. Nevertheless, a Christian lady named Lucina, found means to remove it from the sewer, and bury it in the catacombs.
A Pagan father seeks to sacrifice his own son.
Vitus, a Sicilian of a considerable family, was brought up a Christian ; his virtues increased with his years, his constancy supported him under all his afflictions, and his faith v/as superior to the most dangerous perils and misfortunes. Hylas, his father, who was a Pagan, finding^ that he had been instruct- ed in the principles of Christianity by the nurse who brought him up, used all his endeavours to bring him back to paganism ; but finding his efforts in vain, he forgot all the feelings of a parent, and informed against his son to Valerian, governor of Sicily, who was very active in persecuting the Christians at this period.
This youth, when apprehended upon the informa- tion of his father, was little more than twelve years of age ; Valerian, therefore, on account of his tender age, thought to frighten him out of his faith : he was accordingly threatened, and ordered to be severely scouro-ed.
94 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
After this, the governor sent him back to his father,
thinking that what he had suffered would make him
. change his principles ; but in this he was mistaken ;
« and Hylas, finding his son inflexible, suffered nature to sink under superstition, and determined to sacri- fice his son to the idols. On being apprized of his design, Vitus escaped to Lucania, where, being seiz- ed, he was by order of Valerian put to death, June 14, A. D. 303. His nurse Crescentia, who brought him up as a Christian, and Modestus, a person who
V escaped with him, were martyred at the same time, but the manner is unknown.
There was one Victor, a Christian of a good fami- ly at Marseilles, in France, who spent a great part ^of the night in visiting the afflicted, and confirming the weak, which pious vvqrk he could not, consistent- "^ ^ly ^vir^iis ow^ safety, peifGU'm in the day-time ; and his fortune^e spent in relieving the distresses of poor Christians. His actions becoming known, he was seized by the emperor's orders, and being carried before two prefects, they advised him to embrace pa- ganism, and not forfeit the favour of his prince, on ac- count of a dead man, as they styled Christ : in answer to this he replied, " That he preferred the service of that dead man, who was in reality the Son of God, and had risen from the grave, to all the advantages he could receive from the emperor's favour : that he was a soldier of Christ, and would therefore take care that the post he held under an earthly prince, should never interfere with his duty to the King of Heaven." For this reply, Victor was loaded with reproaches ; but being a man of rank, he was sent to the emperor to receive his final sentence. When brought before him, Maximian commanded him, un- der the severest penalties, to sacrifice to the Roman idols ; and on his refusal, ordered him to be bound, and dragged through the streets. During the execu- tion of this order, he was treated by the enraged po- pulace with all manner of indignities. Remaining,
-^ TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 95
however, inflexible, his courage was deemed obstina- cy ; to which he rephed, " That the ready disposi- tion of the disciples of Christ to undergo any suffer- ings on that score, and the joy with which they met the most ignominious and painful deaths, were suffi- cient proofs of their assurance of the object of that hope." He added, " That he was ready to give an example of what he had said in his own person." When stretched upon the rack, he turned his eyes towards heaven, and prayed to God to give him pa- tience ; after which he underwent the tortures with admirable fortitude. The executioners being tired with inflicting the torments, he was taken from the rack, and conveyed to a dungeon. During his con- finement, he converted the jailers, named Alexander, Felician, and Longinus. This affair coming to the knowledge of the emperor, he ordered them imme- diately to be put to death, and they were beheaded accordingly. Victor was afterwards again put to the rack, beaten with clubs, and then again sent to his dungeon. Being a third time examined concerning his religion, he persevered in his principles ; a small altar was then brought, and he was commanded to offer incense upon it immediately ; but at the request he boldly stepped forward, and with his foot over- threw both altar and idol. The emperor Maximian, who was present, was so enraged at this, that he ordered the foot with which he had kicked the altar to be immediately cut off", and Victor to be thrown into a mill, and crushed to pieces with the stones. This horrid sentence was put into execution ; but part of the apparatus breaking, he was drawn from the mill terribly bruised ; and the emperor not hav- ing patience to stay till it was mended, ordered his head to be struck oft', which was executed accord- ingly.
96 BOOK OP MARTYRS. * *'
Persecutio7is in Africa.
It was in the year 304 the persecution of Diocle- tian again began to prevail, and many Christians were put to cruel tortures, and the most painful deaths ; the most eminent of these were Saturninus, a priest of Albitina, a town of Africa : he used to preach and administer the sacrament to a society of Christians, who privately assembled at the house of Octavius Felix ; having l)een informed against, Sa- turninus, with four of his children, and several other persons, were apprehended : and that their punish- ment might be more exemplary and public, they were sent to Carthage, the capital of Africa, where they were examined before Anulinus, the proconsul of that quarter of the globe.
Saturninus, on the examination, gave such spirited answers, and vindicated the Christian religion with such eloquence, as showed that he was worrhy to preside over an assembly that possessed a faith of purity and truth. Anulinus, enraged at his argu ments, ordered him to be stopped from saying any more, by being put to a variety of tortures, such as scourging, tearing his flesh with hooks, burning with hot irons^&c. Having been thus inhumanly tortured, he was remanded to prison, and there starved to death. His four children, notwithstanding they were variously tormented, remained steady in their faith ; on which they were sent back to the dungeon in which their father was confined, and were also starv- ed to death in the same manner.
TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 97
Martyrdom of three Sisters.
Three sisters, Chionia, Agape, and Irene, were seized upon at Thessalonica. They had been edu- cated in the Christian faith, but had taken great pre- cautions to remain unknown. Tliey therefore re- tired to a sohtary place, and spent their hours in per- forming religious duties. Being, however, discover- ed and seized, they renounced their former timidity, blamed themselves for being so fearful, and begged of God to strengthen them against the great "trial they had to undergo.
When Agape was examined before Dulcatius, the governor, and was asked whether she was disposed to coniply with the laws of the land, and obey the man- dates of the emperor, she answered, •' That being a Christian, she could not comply with any laws which recommended the worship of idols and devils; that her resolution was fixed, and nothing could de- ter her from continuing in it." Her sister Chionia replied in the same manner ; when the governor, not being able to draw them from their faith, pronounced sentence of condemnation on them ; pursuant to which they were burnt, Marcli 25, a. d. 304.
Irene was then brought before the governor, who fancied that the death of her sisters would have an effect upon her fears, and that the dread of similar sufferings would engage her to comply with his pro- posals. He therefore exhorted her to acknowledge the heathen deities, to sacrifice to them, to partake of the victims, and to deliver up her books relative to Christianity. Bat she positively refused to com- ply with any of them : the governor asked her who it was that persuaded her and her sisters to keep those books and writings? She answered, it was that God who commanded them to love him to the last ; for which reason she was resolved to submit to be burn- ed alive, rather than give them up into the hands of his professed enemies.
98 ^ BOOK OP MARTVRS.
When the governor found that he could make no impression on her, he ordered her to be exposed naked in the streets : which shameful order having been executed, she was burnt, April, a. d. 304, at the same place where her sisters had suffered before her.
Martyrdom of Theodotits and others.
Theotecnus, the governor of Dahnatia, whose cru- elty could be equalled by nothing but his bigotry, re- ceived the mandate for persecuting the Christians with great satisfaction, and wrote the emperor word that he would do his utmost endeavours to root out Christianity from every place under his jurisdiction. Thus encouraged by the governor, the pagans began to inform against, abuse, and persecute the Christians. Great numbers were seized upon and imprisoned ; their goods were destroyed, and their estates confis- cated. Many fled into the woods, or retired to caves, where some supported themselves by feeding upon roots, and others perished by famine. Many were also starved in the city, by means of the following singular stratagem : The governor gave strict orders, that no provisions whatever should be exposed to sale in the markets, without having been first conse- crated to the idols : hence the Christians were com- pelled to eat what had been offered to the devil or to refrain from food and perish. The latter dread- ful alternative was chosen by many, who, to preserve the purity of their faith, heroically gave up their lives.
In these dreadful times Theodotus, a Christian inn-keeper of Ancyra, did all that he could to com- fort the imprisoned, and buried the bodies of several who had been martyred, though it was forbidden on pain of death. He likewise privately assisted many with food ; for having laid in a large stock of corn and wine, he sold it at prime cost.
Polychronicus, a Christian, being seized, forfeited
TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 99
his faith in order to preserve his Hfe, and informed against his friend Theodotus, who, hearing of his t*:eachery, surrendered himself to the governor of his own accord.
On his arrival in the court, he surveyed the in- struments of torture with a smile, and seemed totally regardless of their effects. When placed at the bar, the governor informed him, that it was still in his power to save himself, by sacrificing to the gods of the empire ; '• and," he continued, " if you renounce your faith in Christ, I promise you my friendship, and the emperor's protection, and will constitute you one of the magistrates of the town."
Theodotus displayed great courage and eloquence in his answer : he absolutely refused to renounce his faith, declined the friendship of the governor and protection of the emperor, and treated the idols with the greatest contempt. The pagans on this were in general extremely clamorous ao^ainst the prisoner, and demanded him to be immediately punished ; the priests in particular rent their clothes, and tore their chaplets, the badges of their offices, through rage. The governor complied with their desire, when Theodotus was scourged, torn with hooks, and then placed upon the rack. After this, vinegar was pour- ed into his wounds, his flesh was seared with burning torches, and his teeth were knocked out of their sockets. He was then remanded to prison, and as he went, pointing to his mangled body, he said to the people, " It was but just that Christians should suffer for him who suffered for us all." Five days after- wards he was brought from prison, tortured, and then beheaded.
Julitta, a Lycaonian of royal descent, was a Chris- tian lady of great humility, constancy, and integrity. When the edict for sacrificing to idols was published at Iconium, she withdrew from that city, taking with her only her young son Cyricns, and two female ser-
100 BOOK OP MARTYRS.
vants. She was however seized at Tarsus, and be- ing carried before Alexander, Ihe governor, she ac- knowledged she was a Christian. For this confes- sion her son was taken from her, and she was imme- diately put to the rack, and tortured with great seve- rity, which she bore with pious resignation. The child, however, cried bitterly to get at his mother ; when the governor, observing the beauty, and being melted at the tears of the inlant, took him upon his knee, and endeavoured to pacify him. Nothing, how- ever, could quiet Cyricus ; he still called upon his mother, and at length, in imitation of her words, lisped out, " I am a Christian." This innocent ex- pression turned the governor's compassion into rage ; and, throwina: the child furiously against the pave- ment, he dashed out his brains. The mother, who from the rack beheld the transaction, thanked the Almighty that her child was gone before her ; and she should have no anxiety concerning his future welfare. To complete the torture, boiling pitch was poured on her feet, her sides were tarn with hooks, and she was finally beheaded, April 1 6, a. d. 305.
Pantaleon, a native of Nicomedia, was instructed by his father in the learning of the pagans, and was taught the precepts of the gospel by his mother, who was a Christian. Applying to the study of medicine, he became eminent in that science, and was appoint- ed physician to the emperor Galerius. The name of Pantaleon in Greek signifies humane^ and the ap- pellation \^q\\ suited his nature, for he was one of the most benevolent men of his time ; but his ex- traordinary reputation roused the' jealousy: of the pagan physicians, who accused him to the emperor. Galerius, on finding him a Christian, ordered him to be tortured, and then belieaded, which sentence was accordingly executed on July 27, a. d. 305.
Hermolaus, an aged and pious Christian, and an intimate acquaintance of Pantaleon, suffered martyr-
TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. lOi
dom for his faith on the same day, and in the same manner.
Juitta, of Cappadocia, was a lady of distinguished abiUties, great virtues, and unoommon courage ; she was put to death in consequence of the accusation of a heathen who had usur|:)ed her estates, and bribed the judges in his favour. Refusing to offer incense to the' Pagan deities, she was burnt to deatli.
Dorothea, a Christian of Cappadocia, was, by the governor's order, placed under the care of two women, who had become apostates to the faith, in order that she might be induced to follow their ex- ample. But her discourses had such an effect upon the tw^o apostates, that they were reconverted, and put to death ; soon after which, Dorothea was tor- tured, and then beheaded.
Pancratius was a native of Phrygia, but being made a Christian, and brous^ht to Rome, by his uncle, he there suffered martyrdom.
Cyrinus, Nazarius, Nabor, and Basilides, four Christian officers, at Rome, were thrown into prison for their faith, scourged with rods of wire, and then beheaded.
Two Roman military officers, Nicander and Mar- cian, were apprehended on the same account. As they were both men of great abilities, the utmost en- deavours were made to induce them to renounce Christianity ; but being without effect, they were ordered to be beheaded. The execution was attend- ed by vast crowds of the populace, among whom were the wives of the two sufferers. The consort of Nicander was a Christian, and encouraged her husband to meet his fate with fortitude ; but the wife of Marcian being a Pagan, entreated her husband to save himself, for the sake of her and her child. Mar- cian, however, reproved her for her idolatry and folly, but tenderly embraced her and the infant Nicander likewise took leave of his wife in the most affectionate manner, and then both, with great reso- 9*
102 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
lution, received the crown of martyrdom. Besides these there were many others, whose names and suf- ferings are not recorded by the ancient historians.
Martyrdoms in Naples.
In the kingdom of Naples several .martyrdoms took place : in particular, Januarius, bishop of Beneven- tum ; Sosius, deacon of Misene ; Proculus, another deacon ; Eutyches and Acutius, two laymen ; Fes- tus, a deacon ; and Desiderius, a curate, were all condemned, by the governor of Campania, to be de- voured by wild beasts for professino- Christianity. The animals, however, not touching them, they were beheaded.
Marcellus, a centurion of the Trajan legion, was posted at Tangier, and being a Christian, suffered martyrdom, under the follov/ing circumstances :
While he was there, the emperor's birth-day was kept, and the sacrifices to the pagan idols made a considerable part of that solemnity. All the subjects of the empire were expected, on that occasion, to conform to the blind religion of their prince ; but Marcellus, who had been well instructed in the du- ties of his profession, expressed his detestation of those profane practices, by throwing away his belt, the bado:e of his military character, at the head of his company, declaring aloud,ijthat he v/as a soldier of Christ, the eternal king. He then quitted his arms, and added, that from that moment he ceased to serve the emperor ; and that he thus expressed his con- tempt of the gods of the empire, which were no bet- ter than deaf and dumb idols. " If," continued he, " their impeiial majesties impose the obligation of sacrificing^ to them and their gods, as a necessary con- dition of their service, 1 here throw up my commis- sion, and quit the army." This behaviour occasioned an order for his being beheaded. Cassian, secretary to the court which tried Marcellus, expressing his disapprobation of such proceedings, was ordered
TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. 103
into custody ; when avowing himself a Cliristian, he m€t with the same fate.
Martyrdom of St. George. George was born in Cappadocia, of Christian pa- rents; by whom he was instructed in the tenets of the gospel. His father dying when he was young, he travelled with his mother into 'Palestine, which was her native country, where she inherited an es- tate, which afterwards descended to her son. George, being active and spirited, became a soldier, and was made a tribune or colonel. In this post he exhibit- ed great proofs of his courage, and was promoted in the army of Diocletian. During the persecution, he threw up his command, went boldly to the senate- house, and avowed his being a Christian, taking oc- casion at the same time to remonstrate against pagan- ism. This conduct so greatly provoked tho senate, that he was ordered to be tortured, which he under- went with great constancy. He was afterwards, by the emperor's orders, dragged through the streets and beheaded.
Constantine becomes the champion of the Christians. Constantino the Great at length determined to re- dress the grievances of the Christians, for which pur- pose he raised an army of 30,000 foot and 8,000 horse, with which he marched towards Rome, against Maxentius, the emperor. But reflecting on the fatal miscarriages of his predecessors, who had maintain- ed a multiplicity of gods, and re}X)sed an entire con- fidence in their assistance ; and considering that while his own father adored only one God he continually prospered ; Constantine rejected the adoration of idols, and implored the assistance of the Almighty ; who heard his prayers, and answered them in a man- ner so siirprising and miraculous, that Eusebius ac- knowledges it would not have been credible, had he not received it from the emperor's own mouth, who pubhcly and solemnly ratified the truth upon his oath.
104 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
The vision of Constantine.
This vision of Constantine appears, upon the whole, to be entitled to little credit. Some ecclesiastical historians, indeed, and among them Milner, seem to admit the reality'- of the miracle ; but the weight of evidence is certainly against it. Dr. Haweis gives up the miracle altogetlier, and pronounces it " an imposition." '• The v^rhole story," says the transla- tor of Mosheim, " is attended with diihculties which render it, both as a miracle and a fact, extremely dubious." To this it may be added, that Eusebius, who has transmitted the account to us, and to whom Constantine related it, does not himself appear to have believed it. Neither the day nor the year, the time nor the place of the vision, is recorded. No evidence exists that any of the army saw the pheno- menon ; and, more than all, why, if Constantine be- lieved it himself, did he neglect to be baptized till on his death bed, many years after the occurrence is said to have happened ? In short, there is reason to believe it to have been a political fabrication — an artful contrivance to stimulate the army to greater zeal in the then approaching contest. — Ed.
The army being advanced near Rome, and the emperor employed in his devout ejacukitions, on the 27th day of October, about three o'clock in the af- ternoon, when the sun was declining, there suddenly appeared to him a pillar of light in the heavens, in the form of a cross, with this plain inscription on or about it, " In this overcome." Constantine was great- ly surprised at this strange sight, which was visible to the whole army, who equally wondered at it with himself The officers and commanders, prompted by the augurs and auspices, or sooth-sayers, looked upon it as an inauspicious omen, portending an un- fortunate expedition ; the emperor himself did not understand it, till at length our Saviour appeared to him in a vision, with the cross in his hand, command- ing him to make a royal standard, like that he had
TENTH GENERAL PERSECUTION. lOo
seen in the heavens, and cause it to be continually carried befoie his army, as an ensign both of victory and safety. Early the next morning:, Constantine informed his friends and officers of what he had seen in the night, and sending for proper workmen, sat down by them and described to them the form of the standard, which he then ordered them to make with the greatest art and magnificence ; and accordingly they made it thus ; a long spear, plated with gold, with a transverse piece at the top, in the form of a cross, to which was fastened a four-square purple banner, embroidered with gold, and beset with pre- cious stones, which reflected an amazing lustre : to- wards the top w^as depicted the emperor between his two sons ; on the top of the shaft, above the cross, stood a crown, overlaid with gold and jewels, within which was placed the sacred symbol, namely, the two first letters of Christ in Greek, X and P, struck, one through the other : this device he afterwards bore not only upon his shields, but also upon his coins, many of which are stiil extant.
Death of Maxinius and Licinius.
Afterwards engaging Maxentius, he defeated him, and entered the city of Rome in triumph. A law was now published in favour of the Christians, in which Licinius joined with Constantino, and a copy ofit was sent to Maximus in the East. Maximus, who was a bigoted pagan, greatly disliked the edict, but being afraid of Constantine, did not, however, openly avow his disapprobation of it. At length, he invaded the territories of Licinius; but being de- feated, put an end to his life by poison. The death of Maxentius has already been described.
Licinius was not really a Christian, but afiectcd to appear such, through dread of Constantino's power; for even after publishing several edicts in favour of the Christians, he put to death Blase, bishop of Se- baste, several bishops and priests of Egypt and Ly-
106 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
bia, who were cut to pieces, and thrown into the sea ; and forty soldiers of the garrison of Scbaste, who suf- fered martyrdom by fire. Tiiis cruelty and hypoc- risy greatly incensed Constantino ; he marched against Licinius. and defeated him, and that commander was afterwards slain by his own soldiers, tion.
REMARKS ON THE VENGEvVNCE OF GOD TOWARDS THE PERSECUTORS OF THE CHRISTIANS.
We caimot close our account of the ten persecu- tions under the Roman emperors, without calling the attention of the Christian reader to the manifestations of the great displeasure of the Almighty against the persecutors. History evidently proves, that no na- tion or individual can ultimately prosper, by whom Christ Jesus, the Son of God, is condemned. Du- ring the persecutions of ihe holy martyrs which we have related above, the Roman people were the vic- tims of the cruelty and tyranny of their rulers, and the empire was perpetually torn and distracted by civil wars. In the reign of Tiberius, five thousand were crushed to dea.th by the fall of a theatre, and on many other occasions the divine wrath was mani- fested against that cruel and merciless nation.
Neither did the emperors themselves escape with- out their just reward. Tiberius was murdered; as were his three immediate successors. Galba, after a reign of only seven months, was put to death by Otho, who, being vanquished by Vitellius, killed him- self. Vitellius, shortly after, was tortured, and his body thrown into the Tiber. Titus is said to have been poisoned by his brother Domitian, who was af- terwards slain by his wife. Commodus was stran- gled. Pertinax and Didius were put to death ; Se- verus killed himself; Caracalla slew his brother Geta, and was in his turn slain by Macrinus, who, with his son, was afterwards killed by his own soldiers. He-
VENGEANCE TOWARDS THE PERSECUTORS. 107
liogabalus was put to death by the people. Alexan- der Severus, a virtuous emperor, was ajurdered by Maximinus, who was afterwards s)airj by his own army. Pupienus and Balbinus were m.urdered by the Praetorian guards. Gordian and Phihp were slain. Decius was drowned, and his son killed in battle. Galkis and Volusianus were murdered by ^milia- nus. who within three months afterwards was him- self slain. Valerian was taken prisoner by the Per sians, and at length flayed alive, and his son GallicJ- ims was assassinated. Aurehan was murdered ; as were Tacitus, Florianus, and Probus. Galerius died in a miserable maimer, as did Maximinus of a horri- ble and loathsome disease. Maxentius, behig con- quered by Constantine, was drowned in his attempt to escape ; and Licinius was deposed, and slain by his soldiersi
The Jews, also, for their obstinacy and wicked- ness in rejecting the gospel so graciously offered to them by Jesus Christ,' were signally punislied. For- ty years had scarcely elapsed from the crucifixion of our Saviour, when Jerusalem was levelled with the S^round, and more than a million of the Jews killed ; innumerable multitudes sold for slaves ; and many thousands torn to pieces by wild beasts, or otherwise cruelly slain. Indeed, the nation may be said to have been annihilated — its political existence was termi- nated, and the descendants of that people, which was once peculiarly favoured of God, arc now scattered over the face of the earth — a by-word and a reproach amons: the nations.
Thus it is evident that wickedness and infidelity are certainly, though sometimes slowly, punished by Him who is just, although merciful : and if he has hitherto graciously refrained from visiting the sins of this nation with the punishment which they deserve, let us not be vain of that exemption ; let us not at- tribute it to any merit of our own ; but rather let it afford an additional motive to our orratitudc and
108 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
praise ; let us unfeignedly thank him for his tender mercies daHy vouchsafed to us ; and, while we bow before him in humble adoration, let us earnestly en- deavour to preserve our worship of him free from all ungodliness and superstition. So shall we not only secure our happiness in this world, but, in the end, attain everlasting joy and felicity, through the merits of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave up himself as a precious sacrifice for our trans- gressions.
BOOK 11.
An account of the persecutions of the Christians in Persia by Sa- poresll. ; in Egypt, &c. by the Arian heretics; by Julian the Apostate; by the Goths, Vandals, &c &c
SECTION I. PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PERSIA.
In consequence of the gospel having spread itself into Persia, the pagan priests became greatly alarm- ed, dreading the loss of their influence over the minds of their people. Sapores II., the grandson of Sa- pores I., at this time swayed the sceptre of Persia, A. D. 328. To him, therefore, the priests complain- ed of the Christians, representing them to be the ene- mies of Persia, and secretly carrying on a corres- pondence with the Roman government. Naturally averse to Christianity, the jealousy and hatred of Sa- pores were greatly increased by the above represen- tations of the priests, and orders were issued for the persecution of the Christians, throughout the Per- sian empire. Two other persecutions followed the above ; but the third, it is said, was more cruel and destructive than either of the others.
PERSECUTIONS IN PERSIA. 109
Martyrdom of Simeon and others.
In consequence of the above mandate of Sapores, Simeon, archbishop of Seleucia, with many other ec- clesiastics, to the number of 128, were apprehended and accused of having betrayed the affairs of Persia to the Romans. The emperor, being greatly exas- perated against them, ordered Simeon to be brouo;ht before him. The arclibishop in his presence boldly acknowledged his faith, and defended the cause of Christianity. The emperor, offended at his freedom, ordered him to kneel before him as he had hereto- fore done. To this Simeon answered, '• That being now brought before him a prisoner, for the truth of his religion, it was not lawful for him to kneel, lest he should be thought to worship a man, and betray his faith to his God." Whereupon the emperor told him, that if he did not kneel, he and all the Chris- tians in his dominions should be put to death ; but Simeon still rejected the command with disdain. The emperor then ordered him to be sent to prison.
A short time after, Simeon, with his fellow prison- ers, was again examined, and commanded to worship the sun, agreeably to the Persian custom; but this they unanimously refused. The emperor then sen- tenced them to be beheaded, which sentence was accordingly executed.
An aged eunuch, named Usthazares, who had been tutor to the emperor, and was in great estimation at court, meeting Simeon as he was led to prison, sa- luted him. Simeon, however, (as Usthazares had formerly been a Christian, and had apostatized to oblige the emperor,) would not return his salute, but reproved him for his apostacy. This so affected the eunuch, that he burst into tears, and exclaimed, " Ah ! how shall I hereafter look upon my God, whom I have denied, when Simeon, my old compa- nion and familiar acquaintance, disdains to give mo a gentle word, or to return my salute !" 10
110 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
The emperor, learning that his ancient tutor was greatly afflicted, sent for him, and asked him whether he desired any thing whicli could be procured for him; to which the eunuch replied, " That there was nothing that he wanted, which this earth could af- ford ; l3ut that his grief was of another kind, and for which he justly mourned, namely, that to oblige his Sovereign he had denied his God, and had dissem- blingly worshipped the sun, against his own con- science ; for which," continued he, " I am deserving of a double deatli ; first for denying of Christ, and secondly, for dissembling with my king."
The emperor, greatly offended at this speech, or- dered Usthazares to be beheaded ; who therefore re- quested that it might be proclaimed, " That Ustha- zares did not die for any crime against the emperor or state ; but pnly that being a Christian, he would not deny his God." This petition was granted, and was a great satisfaction to Usthazares, whose chief rea- son for desiring it was, because his falling off from Christ had caused many others to follow his exam- ple ; who now hearing that he died for no crime but his religion, might, like him, return to Christ, and the faith. Usthazares then cheerfully yielded his neck to the sword.
Soon after the above execution, an edict was pub- lished, ordering that all who confessed themselves Christians, should be put to death ; which caused the destruction of multitudes. About this time the empress of Persia falling sick, the sisters of Simeon, the archbishop, were accused by some of the magi of causing this calamity. This report being credit- ed, they were, by the emperor's orders, sawed in quarters, and their limbs fixed upon poles, between which the empress passed, as a charm to effect tlie restoration of her health.
Acepsimus, and many other ecclesiastics, w^ere seized, and ordered to adore the sun ; which refus- ing, they were scourged, and then tormented to death,
PERSECUTIONS IN PERSIA. Ill
or kept in prison till they expired. Athalas, a priest, though not put to death, was so miserably racked that his arms were rendered useless ; and he was ever after obliged to be fed like a child. In short, by this edict, above 16,000 persons either suffered horribly by torture, or lost their lives.
Constantine icrites to the king of Persia^ in favour of the Christians.
When Constantine the Great was informed of the persecutions in Persia, he was much concerned, and began to reflect in what manner he should redress their grievances, when an ambassador arrived from the Persian emperor, upon some political business. Constantine received him courteously, granted his demands, and wrote a letter to the Persian monarch in favour of the Christians, in which he alluded to the vengeance that had fallen on persecutors, and tlie success that had attended those who had refrain- ed from the persecution ; and then referring to the tyrants and persecuting emperors of his own time, he said, '• I subdued those solely by faith in Christ ; for which God wo.s my helper, who gave me victory in battle, and made me triumph over my enemies ; and hath so enlarged to me the bounds of the Roman empire, that it extends from the Western Ocean, al- most to the uttermost parts of the East : for which purpose I neither offered sacrifices to the ancient deities, nor made use of charm or divination'; but only offered up prayers to the almighty God, and followed the cross of Christ ; and how s^lad should I be to hear that the throne of Persia flourished, by embracing the Christians ! that so you with me, and they with you, may enjoy all the felicity your souls could desire ; as undoubtedly you would, God, the Almighty Creator of all things, becoming your pro- tector and defender. These men, therefore, I com- mend to your honour ; I commit tliem unto you, de- siring you to embrace them with humanity ; lor in so
112 BOOK OF MARTYRJ5.
doing, you will procure to yourself grace through faith, and bestow on me a benefit worthy of my thanks."
In consequence of this appeal, the persecution end- ed during the life of Sapores ; but it was renewed under his successors.
SECTION II.
PERSECUTIONS BY THE ARIAN HERETICS.
The sect denominated the Arian Heretics, had its origin from Arius,'' a native of Lybia, and priest of Alexandria, who, in a. d. 318, began to publish his errors. He was condemned by a council of Lybian and Egyptian bishops, and the sentence was confirm- ed by the council of Nice, a. d. 325. After the death of Constantino the Great, the Arians found means to ingratiate themselves into the favour of Constantius, his son and successor in the East ; and hence a per- secution was raised against the orthodox bishops and clergy. The celebrated Athanasius, and other bish- ops, were banished at this period, and their sees fill- ed with Arians.
In Ecrypt and Lybia, thirty bishops Y\rere martyr- ed, and many other Christians cruelly tormented ; and A. D. 336, George, the Arian bishop of Alexan- dria, under the authority of the emperor, began a per- secution in that city and its environs, which was continued with the utmost severity. He v/as assist- ed by Catophonius, governor of Egypt ; Sebastian, general of the Egyptian forces ; Faustinus, the trea- surer ; and a Roman ofilcer, named Heraclius. In- deed, so fierce was this persecution, that the clergy were driven from Alexandria, their churches were
* Arius, the founder of this sect of heretics, and the first cause of the persecutions which are related in this section, died misera- bly at Constantinople, just as he was about to enter the church in triumph
ARIAN PERSECUTIONS. 113
shut, and the severities practised by the Arian here- tics were as great as those which had been exercised by the pagan idolaters. If a man accused of being a Christian made his escape, his whole family were massacred, and his eifects forfeited. By this means the orthodox Christians, being deprived of all places of public worship in the city of Alexandria, used to perform their devotions in a desert at some distance from it. Having one Lord's day m.et for worship^ George, the Arian bishop, engaged Sebastian, the general, to fall upon them with his soldiers, while they were at prayers ; and many were sacrificed t^ the fury of the troops, while others were reserve<? for more cruel and lingering deaths ; some were bea ten on their faces till all their features were disfigur- ed ; or were lashed with twigs of palm-trees, with such violence, that they expired under the blows, or by the mortification of the wounds. Several, whose lives had been spared, were, however, banished to the deserts of Africa, where, amidst all their sufferings, they passed their time in prayer.
Secundus, an orthodox priest, differing in point of doctrine from a prelate of the same name, the bishop, who had imbibed all the opinions of Arianism, deter- mined to put Secundus to death, for rejecting opin- ions which he himself had embraced. He therefore went with one Stephen, an Arian also, sought out Secundus privately, fell upon and murdered him ; the holy martyr, just before he expired, calling upon Christ to receive his soul, and to Ibroive his enemies.
At this time, not satisfied with the cruelties exer- cised upon the orthodox Christians in Alexandria, the principal persecutors applied to the emperor for an order to banish them from Egypt and Lybia, and to give up their churches to the Arians : they obtain- ed their request, and an order was sent for that pur- pose to Sebastian, who sioiiified the emperor's plea- sure to all the sub-governors and officers. Hence a great mimber of the clerofy were seized and mipri- 10*
0
114 BOOK OF MARTYRS.
soned ; and it appearing that they adopted the opin- ions of Athanasiiis, an order was signed for their ba- nishment into the desert. While the orthodox cler- gy were thus used, many of the laity were condemn- ed to the mines, or compelled to work in the quar- ries. Some few, indeed, escaped to other countries, and several were weak enough to renoinice their faith, in order to avoid the severities of the persecu- tors.
Persecution of Paul.
Paul, the bishop of ConstantinopTe, was a Mace donian, and had been designed, from his birth, for a clerical hfe. When Alexander, the predecessor of Paul, was on his death-bed, he was consulted by some of the clergy on the choice of a successor ; when he told them, " That if they were disposed to choose a person of exemplary life, and thoroughly capable of instructing the people, Paul was the man ; but if they had rather have a man acquainted with worldly affairs, and fit for the conversation of a court, they might then choose Macedonius." This latter was a deacon in the church of Constantinople, in which office he had spent many years, and gained great experience ; and the dying prelate did both him and Paul justice in their different characters. Nevertheless, the Arians gave out, that Alexander had bestowed great commendations on Macedonius for sanctity, and had only given Paul the reputation of eloquence, and a capacity for business : after some struggle the orthodox party carried their point, and Paul was consecrated. Macedonius, oftended at this preference, did his utmost to calumniate the new bishop; but not gaining belief, he dropped the charge, and was reconciled to him. This, however, was not the case with Eusebius of Nicomedia, who accused Paul of having led a disorderly life before his conse- cration ; and of having been placed in the see of Constantinople without the consent of the bishops of
AKIAN PERSECUTIONS, 115
iVicomedia and Heraclea, two metropolitans, who ouo^ht to have been consulted upon that occasion.
Eusebius, to support these accusations, procured the emperor's authority, by representing that Paul having been chosen during the absence of Constan- tiuS; the imperial dignity had been insulted. This artifice succeeded, and Paul being deposed, Eusebius succeeded him.
Paul having thus lost all authority in the East, retired to the territories of Constans, in the west, where he was well received by the orthodox prelates and clergy. At Rome he visited Athanasius, and as- sisted at a council held there, by Julius, the bishop of that see. Letters being written by this council to the eastern prelates, Paul returned to Constantino- ple, but was not restored to his bishopric till the death of Eusebius. The Arians, however, constitu- ting Macedonius their bishop, by the title of bishop of "Constantinople, a kind of civil war ensued, in which many were put to death.
Constantius, the emperor, who was then at Anti- och, hearing of this schism, laid the whole blame upon Paul, and ordered that he should be driven from Constantinople. But Hermogenes, the ofiicer who had received the emperor's order, attempted in vain to put it into execution ; being slain by the or- thodox Christians, who had risen in defence of Paul. This event greatly exasperated the emperor, who left Antioch in the depth of winter, and returned to Constantinople, with a design to punish the Chris- tians. He, however, contented himself with banish- ing Paul, and suspending Macedonius, Paul then again retired to the territories of Constans, implored the protection of that emperor, and, by his interces- sion, was again vested in his see. His re-establish- ment exasperated his enemies, who made many at- tempts against his life, against which the affections of his people were his only security ; and being con- viuced that the emperor had no otlier motive for al-
116 BOOK OP MARTYRS.
lowing his stay at Constantinople, but the dread of disobliging his brother, Paul could not think himself wholly restored to his bishopric ; and being very much concerned at what the orthodox bishops suf- fered from the power and malice of the Arian fac- tion, he joined Athanasius, who was then in Italy, in soliciting a general council. This council was held at Sardica, in lllyrium, in the year 347, at which were present one hundred bishops of the western, and seventy-three of the eastern empire. But dis- agreeing in many points, the Arian bishops of the East retired to Philipopolis, in Thrace ; and form- ing a meeting there, they termed it the council of Sardica, from which place they pretended to issue an excommunication against Julius, bishop of Rome ; Paul, bishop of Constantinople ; Athanasius, bishop of Alexandria ; and several other prelates. In the year 350, the emperor Constans died, which gave the Arians fresh courage, and they applied to the emperor Constantius, who, being inclined towards the Arians, wrote an order to the prefect Philip, to rem.ove Paul from the bishopric of Constantinople, and to restore Macedonius. Paul was then exiled to Cucucus, confined in a dark dungeon for six days, without food, and then strangled. He met death with uncommon fortitude.
The Arian party now madeGregory of Cappadocia, a very obscure person, bishop of Alexandria, after having deposed Athanasius. In the accomplishment of this affair, they were assisted by Philagerius. the governor of Egypt, who was an apostate, and who authorized them to commit every outrage. Hence, arming themselves with swords, clubs, (fee. they broke into one of the principal churches of Alexandria, where great numbers of orthodox Christians were assembled at their devotions ; and falling upon them in a most barbarous manner, without the least re- spect to sex or age, butchered the greater number. Potamoj a venerable bishop of Heraclea. who had
PERSECUTIONS BY JULIAN. 117
formerly lost one of his eyes in Diocletian's perse- cution, fell a martyr upon this occasion ; being so cruelly scourged and beaten that he died of his wounds. The Arians also broke into many places, public and private, under a pretence of searching for Athanasius, and committed innumerable barbarities ; robbing orphans, plundering the houses of widows, draggino: virgins to private places to be the sacrifices of desire, imprisoning the clergy, burning churches and dwelling-houses belonging to the orthodox Chris- tians ; besides other enormous cruelties.
SECTION III.