and avowed his being a Christian, taking an inauspicious omen, portending an unfor occasion at the same time to remonstrate tunate expedition; the emperor himself di against Paganism. This conduct so greatly not understand it, till at length our Savio provoked the senate, that he was ordered to appeared to him in a vision, with the cros be tortured, which he underwent with great in his hand, commanding him to make a roya constancy. He was afterwards, by the em- standard, like that he had seen in the hea peror's orders, dragged through the streets, vens, and cause it to be continually carried and beheaded. The calendar commemorates before his army, as an ensign both of victor his martyrdom on the 23d of April; many and safety. Early the next morning, Con churches have been dedicated to him, and he stantine informed his friends and officers o is considered as the tutelar saint and patron what he had seen in the night, and sending of England.* for proper workmen, sat down by them an described to them the form of the standard THE CHRISTIANS. CONSTANTINE BECOMES THE CHAMPION OF which he then ordered them to make with th greatest art and magnificence; and accord Constantine the Great at length deter-ingly they made it thus: a long spear, plate mined to redress the grievances of the Chris- with gold, with a traverse piece at the to tians, for which purpose he raised ar army in the form of a cross, to which was fastene of 30,000 foot, and 8000 horse, with which a four-square purple banner, embroidere he marched towards Rome, against Maxen- with gold, and beset with precious stone tius, the emperor. But, reflecting on the which reflected an amazing lustre: toward fatal miscarriages of his predecessors, who the top was depicted the emperor betwee had maintained a multiplicity of gods, and his two sons; on the top of the shaft, abo reposed an entire confidence in their assist- the cross, stood a crown, overlaid with go ance; and considering that while his own and jewels, within which was placed th father adored only one God, he continually sacred symbol, namely, the two first lette prospered; Constantine rejected the adora- of Christ in Greek, X and P, struck of tion of idols, and implored the assistance of through the other: this device he afterwar the Almighty; who heard his prayers, and bore not only upon his shields, but also up answered them in a manner so surprising his coins, many of which are still extant." and miraculous, that Eusebius acknowledges it would not have been credible, had he not received it from the emperor's own mouth, who publicly and solemnly ratified the truth upon his oath. DEATH OF MAXIMUS AND LICINIUS. Afterwards engaging Maxentius, he d feated him, and entered the city of Rome triumph. A law was now published in fav of the Christians, in which Licinius join THE VISION OF CONSTANTINE. with Constantine, and a copy of it was se "The army being advanced near Rome, to Maximus in the East. Maximus, who w and the emperor employed in his devout a bigoted Pagan, greatly disliked the ed ejaculations, on the 27th day of October, but being afraid of Constantine, did not, hơ about three o'clock in the afternoon, when ever, openly avow his disapprobation of the sun was declining, there suddenly ap- At length, he invaded the territories of peared to him a pillar of light in the heavens, cinius; but being defeated, put an end in the form of a cross, with this plain in- his life by poison. The death of Maxent scription on or about it, TOYTO NIKA, 'In has already been described. this overcome.' Constantine was greatly Licinius was not really a Christian, surprised at this strange sight, which was affected to appear such, through dread visible to the whole army, who equally won- Constantine's power; for even after publi dered at it with himself. The officers and ing several edicts in favor of the Christia commanders, prompted by the augurs and he put to death Blase, bishop of Sebaste, s auspices, or soothsayers, looked upon it as eral bishops and priests of Egypt and Lyi who were cut to pieces, and thrown into *The Order of the Garter, instituted by Edward sea; and forty soldiers of the garrison III., is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the blessed Virgin, St. George, and St. Edward the Confessor. Sebaste, who suffered martyrdom by f In the badge of the order, St. George is represented This cruelty and hypocrisy greatly incen on horseback, tilting at a dragon, which is only alle- Constantine; he marched against Licin gorical, and implies that he had conquered the devil, and defeated him, and that commander or the dragon, by his faith in Christianity, and his afterwards siain by his own soldiers. fortitude in adhering thereto. Remarks on the Vengeance of God towards the Persecutors of the Christians. We cannot close our account of the ten per- ciously offered to them by Jesus Christ, were secutions under the Roman emperors, without signally punished. Forty years had scarcely calling the attention of the Christian reader elapsed from their crucifixion of our Savior, to the manifestations of the great displeasure when Jerusalem was levelled with the of the Almighty against the persecutors. ground, and more than a million of the Jews History evidently proves, that no nation or killed; innumerable multitudes sold for individual can ultimately prosper, by whom slaves; and many thousands torn to pieces Christ Jesus, the Son of God, is contemned. by wild beasts, or otherwise cruelly slain. During the persecutions of the holy martyrs, Indeed, the nation may be said to have been which we have related above, the Roman annihilated-its political existence was terpeople were the victims of the cruelty and minated, and the descendants of that people, tyranny of their rulers, and the empire was which were once peculiarly favored of God, perpetually torn and distracted by civil wars. are now scattered over the face of the earth' In the reign of Tiberius, five thousand per--a byword and a reproach among the nasuns were crushed to death by the fall of a tions." theatre, and on many other occasions the di- Thus it is evident that wickedness and vine wrath was evinced against that cruel infidelity are certainly, though sometimes and merciless nation. slowly, punished by Him who is just, alNeither did the emperors themselves es- though merciful: and if he has hitherto gracape without their just reward. Tiberius ciously refrained from visiting the sins of this was murdered; as were his three immediate nation with the punishment which they desuccessors. Galba, after a reign of only seven serve, let us not be vain of that exemption: months, was put to death by Otho, who, be- let us not attribute it to any merit of our ing vanquished by Vitellius, killed himself. own: but rather let it afford an additional Vitellius, shortly after, was tortured, and his motive to our gratitude and praise; let us body thrown into the Tiber. Titus is said to unfeignedly thank him for his tender mercies iave been poisoned by his brother Domitian, daily vouchsafed to us; and, while we bow who was afterwards slain by his wife. Com- before him in humble adoration, let us earnmodus was strangled. Pertinax and Didius estly endeavor to preserve our worship of were put to death; Severus killed himself; him free from that ungodliness and superstiCaracalla slew his brother Geta, and was in tion, of which it has been happily purged As turn slain by Macrinus, who, with his and cleansed by the blood of the holy maran, was afterwards killed by his own sol- tyrs. So shall we not only secure our hapders. Heliogabalus was put to death by the piness in this world, but, in the end, attain yoople. Alexander Severus, a virtuous em- everlasting joy and felicity, through the ror, was murdered by Maximinus, who was merits of our blessed Lord and Savior Jesus fterwards slain by his own army. Pupienus Christ, who gave up himself as a precious and Balbinus were murdered by the præto- sacrifice for our transgressions. a guards. Gordian and Philip were slain. If we be negligent in the defence of the Decius was drowned, and his son killed in pure religion which he has vouchsafed to imattle. Gallus and Volusianus were mur-part unto us; if we allow that glorious fabfered by Emilianus, who, within three ric, which cost so much blood to raise, to be Zoaths afterwards, was himself slain. Va- overturned by the open attack of the Infidel, ran was taken prisoner by the Persians, or the more dangerous sap and mine of the and at length flayed alive, and his son Gal- Catholic Emancipator; we alone are justly as was assassinated. Aurelian was mur-blamable for the consequences that will indered; as were Tacitus, Florianus, and Pro- fallibly ensue; and on our heads will rest Galerius died in a miserable manner, the dreadful responsibility of having surrendid Maximinus of a horrible and lothe-dered the citadel of our security to those kime disease. Maxentius, being conquered who await, in anxious expectation, the moby Constantine, was drowned in his attempt ment when the weakness of some, and the escape; and Licinius was deposed, and indifference of others, shall allow the power hi by his soldiers. to pass from their hands, under the deluThe Jews, also, for their obstinacy and sive hope of seeing it exercised with modeWekedness in rejecting the gospel so gra- ration. BOOK II. AN ACCOUNT OF THE PERSECUTIONS OF THE CHRISTIANS IN PERSIA BY SAPORES; I EGYPT, &c. BY THE ARIAN HERETICS: BY JULIAN THE APOSTATE; BY THE GOTHS, VAN DALS, &c. &c. SECTION 1 Persecutions of the Christians in Persia. In consequence of the gospel having spread affected the eunuch, that he burst into tears itself into Persia, the Pagan priests became and exclaimed, "Ah! how shall I hereafte greatly alarmed, dreading the loss of their look upon my God, whom I have denied influence over the minds of their people. when Simeon, my old companion and familia They therefore complained to the emperor, acquaintance, disdains to give me a genti that the Christians were enemies to the state, word, or to return my salute ?" and held a treasonable correspondence with The emperor learning that his ancien the Romans, the great enemies of Persia. tutor was greatly afflicted, sent for him, an The emperor, being himself averse to Chris- asked him whether he desired any thin tianity, gave credit to their accusations, and which could be procured for him; to whic issued orders for the persecution of the the eunuch replied, "that there was nothin Christians throughout his empire. MARTYRDOM OF SIMEON AND OTHERS. that he wanted, which this earth could afford but that his grief was of another kind, an for which he justly mourned, namely, that In consequence of this mandate, Simeon, oblige his sovereign he had denied his Go archbishop of Seleucia, with many other ec- and had dissemblingly worshipped the su clesiastics, to the number of 128, were ap- against his own conscience; for which,” eo prehended and accused of having betrayed tinued he, "I am deserving of a doub the affairs of Persia to the Romans. The death; first for denying of Christ; and se emperor being greatly exasperated against ondly, for dissembling with my king.". them, ordered Simeon to be brought before The emperor, greatly offended at th him. The archbishop in his presence boldly speech, ordered Usthazares to be beheade acknowledged his faith, and defended the who therefore requested that it might cause of Christianity. The emperor, offended proclaimed, "that Usthazares did not d at his freedom, ordered him to kneel before for any crime against the emperor or stat him as he had heretofore done. To this but only that being a Christian, he wou Simeon answered, "that being now brought not deny his God." This petition was grante before him a prisoner, for the truth of his re- and was a great satisfaction to Usthazar ligion, it was not lawful for him to kneel, whose chief reason for desiring it was, lest he should be thought to worship a man, cause his falling off from Christ had caus and betray his faith to his God." Whereupon many others to follow his example; w the emperor told him, that if he did not now hearing that he died for no crime b kneel, he and all the Christians in his domin- his religion, might, like him, return ions should be put to death; but Simeon still Christ, and the faith. Usthazares then che rejected the command, with disdain. The fully yielded his neck to the sword. emperor then ordered him to be sent to On the Good Friday after the above ex prison.. cution, an edict was published, ordering th A short time after, Simeon, with his fel- all who confessed themselves Christia low-prisoners, was again examined, and com- should be put to death; which caused t manded to worship the sun, agreeably to the destruction of multitudes. About this ti Persian custom; but this they unanimously the empress of Persia falling sick, the sist refused. The emperor then sentenced them of Simeon, the archbishop, were accused to be beheaded, which sentence was accord- some of the magi of causing this calami ingly executed. This report being credited, they were, An aged eunuch, named Usthazares, who the emperor's orders, sawed in quarters, a had been tutor to the emperor, and was in their limbs fixed upon poles, between wh great estimation at court, meeting Simeon the empress passed as a charm to effect as he was led to prison, saluted him. Simeon, restoration of her health. however, (as Usthazares had formerly been Acepsimus, and many other ecclesiasti a Christian, and had apostatized to oblige were seized upon, and ordered to adore the emperor) would not return his salute, sun; which refusing, they were scourg but reproved him for his apostasy. This so and then tormented to death, or kept SIA IN FAVOR OF THE CHRISTIANS. prison till they expired. Athalas, a priest, In consequence of this appeal, the persethough not put to death, was so miserably cution ended during the life of Sapores; but racked, that his arms were rendered useless, it was renewed under his successors. and he was ever after obliged to be fed like a child. In short, by this edict, above 16,000 DEGRADATION OF A CHRISTIAN NOBLEMAN persons either suffered horribly by torture, Hormisdas, a Persian nobleman, being or lost their lives. convicted of Christianity, was ordered to attend the emperor's elephants naked. This CONSTANTINE WRITES TO THE KING OF PER disgusting task he performed for some time, when the emperor one day standing at a winWhen Constantine the Great was inform-dow which overlooked the yard where the ed of the persecutions in Persia, he was elephants were kept, saw Hormisdas performmuch concerned, and began to reflect in ing his office. Determining to try him once what manner he should redress their griev-more, he gave orders that a shirt should be ances, when an ambassador arrived from the put on him, and that he should be brought Persian emperor, upon some political busi- into his presence. He then asked him if he ness. Constantine received him courteously, would now deny Christ. On which Hormisgranted his demands, and wrote a letter to das tore off his shirt, and said, "If you think the Persian monarch in favor of the Chris- I will deny my faith for the sake of a shirt, tians, in which he alluded to the vengeance take your gift again." The emperor then that had fallen on persecutors, and the banished him from Persia, and he died in success that had attended those who had re-exile. frained from the persecution and then re- Suenes, a Christian nobleman, refusing to ferring to the tyrants and persecuting em- deny Christ, his wife was taken from him, perors of his own time, he said, "I subdued and given to one of the meanest of the emthose solely by faith in Christ; for which peror's slaves; while he was ordered to wait God was my helper, who gave me victory in upon his wife and the slave, which broke his battle, and made me triumph over my ene-heart. mies; and hath so enlarged to me the Theodoret, a deacon, was imprisoned for bounds of the Roman empire, that it extends two years, and on being released, was orderfrom the Western Ocean, almost to the ut- ed not to preach the doctrine of Christ. He, termost parts of the East: for which pur- however, did his utmost to propagate the pose I neither offered sacrifices to the an- gospel; for which he was miserably torcient deities, nor made use of charm or di-mented, by having sharp reeds thrust under vination; but only offered up prayers to the his nails; and then a knotty branch of a tree Almighty God, and followed the cross of was forced into his body, and he expired in Christ and how glad should I be to hear the most excruciating agony. that the throne of Persia flourished, by em- Bademus, a Christian of Mesopotamia, bracing the Christians! that so you with me, gave away his fortune to the poor, and deand they with you, may enjoy all the felicity voted his life to religious retirement. He your souls could desire; as undoubtedly you was, however, with seven others, seized on would, God, the Almighty Creator of all and cruelly tortured. His fellow-prisoners things, becoming your protector and defend- immediately received martyrdom, though er. These men, therefore, I commend to the manner is not recorded; and Bademus, your honor; I commit them unto you, de-after having been four months in prison, was siring you to embrace them with humanity; beheaded by Narses, an apostate Christian, for in so doing, you will procure to yourself who acted as the executioner, in order to grace through faith, and bestow on me a convince the emperor that he was sincere in benefit worthy of my thanks." the renunciation of his faith. SECTION II. Persecutions by the Arian Heretics. THE sect denominated the Arian Heretics, death of Constantine the Great, the Arians had its origin from Arius,* a native of Libya, found means to ingratiate themselves into and priest of Alexandria, who, in A. D, 318, the favor of Constantius, his son and succesbegan to publish his errors. He was con- sor in the East; and hence a persecution demned by a council of Libyan and Egyptian was raised against the orthodox bishops and bishops, and the sentence was confirmed by clergy.t. The celebrated Athanasius, and the council of Nice, A. D. 325. After the Arius, the founder of this sect of heretics, and the first cause of the persecutions which are related in this section, died miserably at Constantinople, just as he was about to enter the church in triumph. + How humiliating is it to perceive that the Christians had scarcely escaped from the persecutions of their general enemy, ere they began to persecute each other with the most unrelenting fury! How could these men dare to arrogate to themselves the other bishops, were banished at this period, [plied to the emperor for an order to banish and their sees filled with Arians. them from Egypt and Libya, and to give up In Egypt and Libya, thirty bishops were their churches to the Arians: they obtained martyred, and many other Christians cruelly their request, and an order was sent for that tormented; and A. D. 336, George, the purpose to Sebastian, who signified the em. Arian bishop of Alexandria, under the author-peror's pleasure to all the sub-governors and ity of the emperor, began a persecution in officers. Hence a great number of the clergy that city and its environs, which was con- were seized and imprisoned; and it appeartinued with the utmost severity. He was ing that they adopted the opinions of Athaassisted by Catophonius, governor of Egypt; nasius, an order was signed for their banishSebastian, general of the Egyptian forces; ment into the desert. While the orthodox Paustinus, the treasurer; and a Roman offi- clergy were thus used, many of the laity cer named Heraclius. Indeed, so fierce was were condemned to the mines, or compelled this persecution, that the clergy were driven to work in the quarries. Some few, indeed, from Alexandria, their churches were shut, escaped to other countries, and several were and the severities practised by the Arian weak enough to renounce their faith, in heretics were as great as those which had order to avoid the severities of the persecubeen exercised by the Pagan idolaters. If tors. a man accused of being a Christian made his escape, his whole family were massacred, PERSECUTION OF PAUL. and his effects forfeited. By this means the Paul, the bishop of Constantinople, was a orthodox Christians, being deprived of all Macedonian, and had been designed, from places of public worship in the city of Alex- his birth, for a clerical life. When Alexanandria, used to perform their devotions in a der, the predecessor of Paul, was on his desert at some distance from it. On a Trini-death-bed, he was consulted by some of the ty-Sunday, when they had met, George, the clergy on the choice of a successor: when Arian bishop, engaged Sebastian, the gene- he told them, "That if they were disposed ral, to fall upon them with his soldiers, to choose a person of exemplary life, and while they were at prayers; and many were thoroughly capable of instructing the people, sacrificed to the fury of the troops, while Paul was the man; but if they had rather others were reserved for more cruel and have a man acquainted with worldly affairs, lingering deaths: some were beaten on their and fit for the conversation of a court, they faces till all their features were disfigured; might then choose Macedonius." This latter or were lashed with twigs of palm-trees, was a deacon in the church of Constantinowith such violence, that they expired under ple, in which office he had spent many years, the blows, or by the mortification of the and gained great experience; and the dying wounds. Several, whose lives had been prelate did both him and Paul justice in their spared, were, however, banished to the des- different characters. Nevertheless, the Arians erts of Africa, where, amidst all their suf- gave out, that Alexander had bestowed ferings, they passed their time in prayer. great commendations on Macedonius for Secundus, an orthodox priest, differing in sanctity, and had only given Paul the repupoint of doctrine from a prelate of the same tation of eloquence, and a capacity for businame, the bishop, who had imbibed all the ness: after some struggle, the orthodox opinions of Arianism, determined to put Se-party carried their point, and Paul was concundus to death, for rejecting opinions which secrated. Macedonius, offended at this prehe himself had embraced. He therefore ference, did his utmost to calumniate the went with one Stephen, an Arian also, new bishop: but not gaining belief, he dropsought out Secundus privately, fell upon and ped the charge, and was reconciled to him. murdered him; the holy martyr, just before This, however, was not the case with Eusehe expired, calling upon Christ to receive bius of Nicomedia, who accused Paul of his soul, and to forgive his enemies. having led a disorderly life before his conseAt this time, not satisfied with the cruel- cration; and of having been placed in the ties exercised upon the orthodox Christians see of Constantinople without the consent in Alexandria, the principal persecutors ap- of the bishops of Nicomedia and Heraclea, two metropolitans, who ought to have been exclusive title of Christians, when every part of consulted upon that occasion. their conduct was at direct variance with the pre- Eusebius, to support these accusations, cepts and practice of the Divine Founder of the procured the emperor's authority, by reprereligion which they professed? How absurd is the expectation of enforcing belief; and how criminal senting, that Paul having been chosen during .he attempt to effect conviction by the sword! How the absence of Constantius, the imperial digmuch more congenial to the mild and tolerant spirit nity had been insulted. This artifice sucof genuine Christianity, is the sentiment conveyed ceeded, and Paul being deposed, Eusebius in the following lines:" succeeded him. "Let not this weak, unknowing hand, And deal damnation round the land Paul having thus lost all authority in the East, retired to the territories of Constans, o the West, where he was well received by |