CENTURY IV.

CHAP. I.

THE PERSECUTION OF DIOCLESIAN.

THE laft Century concluded with fome fymp

toms of a storm ready to burst on the Church, which had long been in a state of ease and profperity, and was at the fame time deeply declined from the purity and fimplicity of the gofpel. Befides the martyrdom of Marcellus in Africa*, an attempt had been made in a more general, and yet in a covert manner, to corrupt the army. It was put to the option of Chriftian officers, whether they would facrifice and enjoy their dignity, or refuse and be deprived. And fo much pains were taken in this matter, that many foldiers were defirous of retiring into private life, to avoid the trial. Many however fhewed a fincere regard to the kingdom of Christ, and contentedly loft their preferment. Some few were put to death for a terror to the reft. But the general perfecution, which afterwards destroyed fuch numbers, was withheld for some time. In this prelude, which has been mentioned above, and of which we have only a dark and imperfect account, fomething of the political maneuvres of Dioclefian feems confpicuous. It is evident, that after he had fo long favoured the Chriftians, he had now contracted a prejudice against them, though at firft he made ufe of artifice rather than violence. This

* See C. XVII. of last Century, Vol. I

+ Eufeb. B. VIII. C. IV,

VOL. II.

A

This emperor had a partner called Maximian, and they had under them two Cæfars, Galerius and Conftantius. The laft mentioned alone of the four was a person of probity and humanity. The other three were tyrants, though the favagenefs of Galerius was the moft remarkable. He met Dioclefian at Nicomedia, where he usually kept his court, in the winter, in the nineteenth year of his reign, and in the year of our Lord 302, and determined, if poffible, to inftigate him to measures against the Chriftians, ftill more fanguinary and decifive*. This man had a mother extremely bigotted to paganifm, who almost every day employed herself in facrifices. The Chriftians about her refused to partake of the idolatrous feasts, and gave themselves up to fafting and prayer. Hence her mind was incenfed against the whole body, and she stimulated her fon, as fuperftitious as herself, to feek their deftruction. A whole winter Dioclefian and Galerius were engaged in fecret counfels. The latter propofed a general perfecution; the former remonftrated against the impolicy of fuch fanguinary meafures, and was for limiting the perfecution to the officers of the court and the foldiers. Finding himself unable to ftem the fury of Galerius, he called a council of a few judges and officers. Some gave it as their opinion, that the Chriftians should in general be put to death; others induced by fear or flattery affented. Still Dioclefian was averse, and through policy or fuperftition determined to confult the oracle of Apollo at Miletus. Apollo answered in a manner friendly to the views of Galerius, as it might be expected. Staggered with repeated importunities, the old emperor ftill hefitated, and could not be perfuaded to attempt the demolition of Chriftianity by bloodshed, whereas Galerius

*Lactantius de M. P.

Galerius was defirous to burn alive those who refused to facrifice.

The feaft of the Terminalia was the day appointed to commence the operations against the church. Early in the morning an officer with guards came to the great church at Nicomedia, and burfting open the doors, fought for the image of God. So fays my Author, though if this be not a mere flourish of Rhetoric, they must have been ftrangely ignorant of the fentiments of Chriftians. The Scriptures which were found were burnt; every thing was given to plunder. While all things were in this confufion, the two Emperors, looking at the fcene from the palace, were long in doubt, whether they fhould order the edifice to be burnt. The prudent opinion of Dioclefian at length prevailed, who feared the effect of a conflagration on the neighbouring buildings. The Prætorian foldiers were therefore fent with axes and other iron tools, who in a few hours levelled the whole building with the ground.

The next day an edict appeared, in which men of the Chriftian religion, of whatever rank or degree, were deprived of all honour and dignity; were expofed to torture; every one might have juftice against them; whilft they were debarred the benefit of the laws in all cafes whatever*. Thus was the Chriftian

*In a paffage, which feems to be misplaced by fome mistake, Eufebius obferves, that in the 19th year of Dioclefian, edicts were every where fuddenly published, by which it was ordered, that churches fhould be levelled with the ground, the facred books confumed by fire, perfons of dignity difgraced, common people made flaves, if they perfifted in Chriftianity. Not long after, fays he, other letters were published, by which it was enacted, that all the bishops every where fhould first be caft into bonds, and afterwards be compelled by every method to facrifice. Thefe meafures of the court increafing gradually in afperity and horror fhew, that it was not without reluctance,

Chriftian world at once expofed to all poffible infults with impunity. The fpirit of man naturally revolts against injuftice fo flagrant, and a Chriftian was found hardy enough, under the transports of indignation, to pull down and tear the edict. He was burned alive for his indifcretion, and bore his fufferings with admirable, and it is to be hoped, with Chriftian patience.

Sometime after a part of the palace was found to be on fire the Chriftians were charged with the fact and the eunuchs of the house were accufed. Dioclefian himself was present, and faw his fervants burnt in the flames. It is remarkable, that the fervants of Galerius were not put to the torture; while he himself took much pains to keep up the indignation of the old emperor. After fifteen days a fecond fire brake out, and Galerius left the palace in a hurry, expreffing his fear of being burnt alive. Lactantius without hesitation, charges all this to the artifices of Galerius.

Dioclefian now throughly in earneft, raged against all forts of men who bore the Chriftian name, and obliged among others his wife and daughter to facrifice. Doubtless he fufpected them at least of a fecret regard for Christianity. Prefbyters and deacons were feized, and condemned in a fummary way to death. Eunuchs of the greatest power in the palace were flain, and perfons of every age and sex were burnt. It was tedious to deftroy men fingly; fires were made to burn numbers together, and men with milftones faftened about their necks were thrown into the fea. Judges were every where at work in compelling men to facrifice. The prifons were full. Unheard of tortures were invented, and to prevent the poffibility of Chriftians obtaining

that Dioclefian was induced to confent to an univerfal carnage, though he too well agreed with Galerius in forming a fyftem for the extinction of the Chriftian name.