Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 1 · Book 1 · Persecution 5 – Persecution 6
The fifth Perſecution.
AFter the death of Commodus raigned Pertinax Pertinax.but few moneths: after whō ſuccéeded Seuerus, Seuerus.vnderunder whom was raiſed the fifth perſecution. He raigned 18. yéeres, and in the firſt ten was very fauourable, afterward through falſe accuſations and ſuggeſtions, he cauſed to be proclaimed, that no Chriſtian ſhould be ſuffered: wherevpon an infinite number were ſlaine, this was about the yéere 205. the crimes obiected, were rebellion againſt the Emperour, Sacrilege, murthering of Infants, inceſtuous pollutions, eating raw fleſh, libidinous cōmixture, worſhipping the head of an aſſe: which is thought to hauehave béene raiſed by the Iewes, alſo for worſhipping of the Sunne: which roſe becauſe eyther they vſed dayly to ſing vntounto the Lord, or bycauſe they vſed to pray toward the Eaſt. But the ſpeciall matter agaynſt them was, that they would not woorſhippe Idoles. The Preſidents and chiefe vnderunder the Emperour of this perſecution were, Hilarius, Hillarius &c.Vigellius, Claudius, Hermianus, ruler of Cappadocia. Celicius, Capella, Veſpronius, Demetrius mentioned of Cyprian, and Aquila Iudge of Alexandria. The places where theſe perſecutions raged were Africa, Alexandria, Cappadocia, and Carthage. The number infinite: of which the firſt was Leonides, Leonides.the father of Origen, who although he were but of the age of ſeuentéen yéers, greatly deſired to hauehave ſuffered with his father, had not his mother priuily in the night ſtollen away his garments and his ſhirt, and ſo for ſhame he was conſtrained to tarrie at home: yet he wrote to his father, Take héede to your ſelfe that you turne not your thought and purpoſe for our ſakes
Origen Origen.was ſo toward in knowledge of the ſcriptures, and all kinde of vertue, that his father would diuers times vncouer his breſt being aſléepe, and kiſſe it, giuing thankes to God that had made him ſo happie a Father of ſo happie a ſonne.
After the death of his father, all the goodes béeyng confiſcate to the Emperour, hée ſuſteined himſelfe, his mother, and ſixe brethren, by kéeping a ſchoole, till at length he applied himſelfe altogether to the ſcripture, and profited in the tongues, Hebrew & Gréeke, which he conferred with other tranſlations, as that of the 70. & found out alſo other tranſlations which we call the common tranſlations of Aquila, of Symmachus and Theodocian, with which he ioyned alſo foure other. He wrote to the number of vij. thouſand bookes,O rgens book the copies whereof he vſed to ſell for three pence a peece and a little more to ſuſtaine his liuing. He had diuers Schollers, as Plutarchus, Plutarchus.Serenus Serenus, &c.his Brother which dyed both martyrs: Serenus was burned, Heraclitus and Heron were beheadded. Alſo another Serenus which was beheaded, Rhais; and Potamiena, who was tormented with pitch powred vppon her, and martyred with her mother Marcella, and died in the fire. Shée was put to death by one Baſilides, Baſilides.a Captaine of the armie, who ſhewed her ſome kindneſſe in repreſſing the rage of the multitude: wherefore ſhe thanked him and ſaide, ſhe would pray for him. Now this Baſilides being required a while after to giuegive an oath in a matter by the Idols, and the Emperour (as the manner of the oath was) refuſed ſo to doe, confeſſing himſelfe to bée a Chriſtian, and was beheaded for the faith.
At that time, there was one Alexander, Alexand.who after great tormentes, eſcaped aliue, and was afterwarde Biſhoppe of Hieruſalem, together with Narciſſus, Narciſſus.who being thréeſcore and thrée yéeres olde, was vnweldy to gouerne alone. He continued Biſhop in Hieruſalem 40. yéeres, till the perſecution of Decius, and there erected a famous library, where Euſebius had his chiefeſt helpe in writing his eccleſiaſtical hiſtory. He wrote alſo diuers Epiſtles, and licenſed Origen to teach openly in his Church. At length being very aged was brought to Ceſarea vnderunder Decius, where after his conſtant confeſſion the ſecond time, he died in priſon.
VnderUnder Seuerus, ſuffered alſo Andoclus, Andoclus.whome Polycarpus had ſent before into Fraunce: who was apprehended of Seuerus, and firſt being beaten with bats, was afterward beheaded.
In that time Aſclepiades Aſclepiad.confeſſed alſo, and ſuffred much, and was after ordeined Biſhop of Antioch, and continued there 7. yéeres.
About the fourth or fift yéere Ireneus Ireneus.with a great multitude beſide, were martired. Hée was the ſcholler of Polycarpus. He was appointed Biſhop of Lyons: and there continued 23. yéeres. In his time, the queſtion of keeping of Eaſter was renued betwéene Victor Victor.Biſhoppe of Rome, and the churches of Aſia: and when Victor would hauehave excommunicated them as Schiſmatikes, Ireneus, with other brethren of the French Church, wrote vntounto Victor, to ſtaye his purpoſe therein, and not to procéede thereto, for ſuch a matter.
Not long after Ireneus followed Tertullian, Tertullian.about the time of this Seuerus and Antoninus Caracalla, who writte very learned Apologies for the Chriſtians, and confuted all the ſlaunders obiected againſt them. He writte alſo diuers bookes: whereof part remaine at this day.
Victor ſuccéeded Eleutherius in the biſhoprick of Rome, and died a Martir (as ſome ſay) after he had ſitten ten or xij. yeres. This Victor was earneſt in the matter of Eaſter, the yere of our Lord 260. and would hauehave excommunicated all of the contrarie minde, had not Ireneus diſſwaded him. With Victor ſtoode Theophilus, Theophil. &cBiſhop of Ceſarea: Narciſſus, of Ieruſalem: Ireneus, of Lyons: Palmas, of Pontus: Panthillus, of Corinth: the Biſhop of Oſtrena, and other more: who agréed to hauehave Eaſter vponupon the ſunday, becauſe they would differ from the Iewes in all things: and partly, becauſe the reſurrection of the Lorde fell on that day. On the other ſide were diuers Biſhops of Aſia. Among whom, the chiefe was Policrates, Policrat. &c.Biſhop of Epheſus, alledging the example of Philippe the Apoſtle, with his iij. daughters at Hierapolis: of Iohn the Apoſtle and Euangeliſt, at Epheſus: Polycarpus, at Smirna: Thraſeas, at Eumenia, Biſhop and Martir. Likewiſe the example of Sagaris at Laodicea, Biſhop and Martir: holy Papirius, & Melito, at Sardis: beſide diuers others. Notwithſtanding, Victor procéeded to excommunication, yet by the wiſe handling of Ireneus & other, the matter was ſtaied: who ſhewed, that variāce and difference of Ceremonies, was no ſtrange thing in the Church of God, not only in the day of Eaſter, but alſo of faſting, and diuers other vſages among the Chriſtians, and yet kept the vnitie of faith and concord among themſelues: and brought forth examples of Teleſphorus, Pius, Anicetus, Soter, Eleutherius, and ſuch other.
After Victor, ſuccéeded in the Sea of Rome zephyrinus, Zephyrinus.in the dayes of Seuerus, about the yere 203. Euſebius ſaith, he died in the raign of Caracalla, and ſate xvij. yeres. Platina ſaith that he died vnderunder Seuerus, and ſate viij. yeres. And ſo, Nauclerus. Damaſus ſaith, that he ſate xvi. yeres, and ij. Moneths.
VnderUnder this Seuerus ſuffered alſo Perpetua, Perp. &c.Felicitas, and Rouocatus her brother. Alſo, Saturninus and Satyrus, brethren, & Secundulus, which were throwen to wild beaſtes, and of them deuoured, in Carthage, and in Africa: ſauing that Saturninus (being brought againe from the beaſts) was beheaded, and Secundulus died in priſon, about the yere 202 Seuerus raigned xviij. yeres, and was ſlaine at Yorke by the Northerne men and Scots, the yere 214. Leauing behinde him two ſonnes, Baſsianus, and Geta.
Which Baſsianus, Baſsianus.ſurnamed Carocalla, after he had ſlain his brother here in Britain, gouerned the Empire alone the ſpace of ſixe yeres. After whoſe death he alſo (being ſlaine of his ſeruantes) ſuccéeded Marianus, with his ſonne Diadumenus, who after they had raigned one yere, were both ſlain by their own people.
After them ſuccéeded Varius Heliogab Varius Heliogabalus.who (after he had raigned very vitiouſly ij. yeres, viij. moneths) was ſlain by ye ſouldiers, drawne through the citie, & throwne into Tyber. He (hauing no iſſue) adopted his heire Aurelius Alexander Seuerus, the ſonne of Mammea. He entered his raigne the yere 224. and continued xiij. yeres, wel commended for vertue, and fauoured the Chriſtians.
Mammea, Mammea.the mother of this Emperor, whō Ierom calleth a deuout, & religious womā, hearing of ye fame of Origē, ſēt for him to Antioch: to whō Origē reſorted, and (ſtaying a while wt the Emperor and his mother) returned again to Alexandria. Thus (hauing raigned xiij. yeres) at a cōmotion in Germany, with his mother Mammea he was ſlaine.
After him ſuccéeded Maximinus, Maximinus.& although the church in the time of Alexander had no open perſecution, yet vnderunder Iudges there were many martyred, becauſe there was no edict to the contrary. As vnderunder Almachus, Calixtus Calixtus.B. of Rome, who ſuccéeded Zephyrus aboue mentioned: and after him Vrbanus, who ſuffered vnderunder Alexander Seuerus. Vincentius ſaith Calixtus was tied to a great ſtone, and ſo out of a window was throwne into a ditch. Euſebius ſaith he ſat 5. yéeres, Platina 6. Sabellicus 7. and ſo Damaſus.
After Calixtus followed Vrbanus, Vrbanus.about the yéere 227. he died a martyr (as Marianus, Scotus, Sabellicus, Nauclerus doo hold) in the dayes of Seuerus after he had gouerned there, as Damaſus & Platina ſay, foure yéeres: as Marianus, eight yéeres. Damaſus and Platina witneſſe of him, that hée conuerted diuerſe Ethnicks, among whome were Tiburtius Tiburtius.and Valerianus Valerianus.the huſband of Cecilia, which being both noble men of Rome, remayned conſtant vntounto martyrdome.
VnderUnder the ſame Alexander ſuffered alſo one Agapitus Agapitus.of the age of fiftéene yéeres, who beyng condemned at Preneſte in Italie, becauſe he would not doo ſacrifice, after other torments, was beheaded. The executor of theſe puniſhmēts was one Antiochus, who while the torments were executing, fell ſuddenly from his Iudiciall ſeat: crying out that all his inward bowels burned within him, & died. VnderUnder him alſo ſuffered Calepodius Calepodius.a miniſter of Rome, who was drawen through the citie, & caſt into Tiber: after him ſuffered Pammachus Pammachus.a Senator of Rome, with his wife & children, and other men and women, to the number of 42. and with them alſo another noble Senator named Simplicius: Simplicius.all which together in one day had their heads ſmitten of, & their hands hanged vp in diuerſe gates of the citie.
VnderUnder him alſo ſuffered Quiritius Quiritius.a noble man of Rome with his mother Iulia, Iulia.with a great number beſides: alſo Tiberius Tiberius.and Valerianus Valerianus.citizens of Rome and brethren, ſuffered the ſame time, being firſt beaten with bats, and after beheaded. Alſo one Martina Martina.a virgin ſuffered at the ſame time: but theſe martyrs are rather to be thought to ſuffer vnderunder Maximinus or Decius.
The ſixt Perſecution.
Maximinus.MAximinus ſuccéeded Alexander, as is aforeſaid the yéere of our Lord 237. Who for the hatred he had to Alexander, raiſed the ſixth perſecution, eſpecially againſt the teachers of the Church: he raigned but thrée yéeres. In the time of this perſecution Origen wrote his booke De Martyrio.
After him ſuccéeded Gordian, Gordian.who was milde towards the Chriſtians, raigned ſix yéeres, and was ſlaine of Phillip Phillip.who ſuccéeded him.
In the dayes of theſe Emperours aboue recited, was Pontianus Pontianus.biſhop of Rome, who ſuccéeded next after Vrbanus about the yéere 236. in the twelfth yéere of Alexander, according to Euſebius declaring him to ſit ſix yéeres. Damaſus and Platius write that hée was Biſhop nine yéeres and a halfe, and with Phillip his prieſt was baniſhed into Sardinia, and there died. But it ſéemeth he was rather baniſhed vnderunder Maximinus, and died in the beginning of the raigne of Gordianus.
In theſe times notable men were raiſed vp to the church, as Philetus Philetus.Biſhop of Antioch, who ſuccéeded Aſclepiades aboue mentioned anno 220. and after him Zebenus Zebenus.biſhop of the ſame place anno 231. To theſe may be added Ammonius Ammonius.the Scholemaſter of Origen and kinſman of Porphiry the enemy of Chriſt. In the ſame times was alſo Iulius Aphricanus Iulius Aphricanus.the ſcholer of Origen.
To theſe may be ioined Natalius, Natalius.who had ſuffered for the truth, and was ſeduced by Aſclepiodotus and Theodotus (who were ye diſciples of Theodorus) to take vponupon him to be the Biſhop of their ſect, promiſing him eueryevery monethmonth 150. pieces of ſiluer, wherto he yéelded. But the Lord in a viſion admoniſhed him, whereto he taking no héed, was in a night ſcourged with Angels, and ſo confeſſed his fault, and declared that which had happened vntounto him, to Zephirinus the Biſhop, who with the reſt of the congregation admitted him againe.
After Pontianus ſuccéeded Anterius. Anterius.Cōcerning his time writers doe greatly vary. Euſebius and Marianus Scotus affirm, that he was Biſhop but a monethmonth, Damaſus twelue yeeres and one monethmonth, Volateranus Bergomenſis & Henricus Erford thrée yéeres & one monethmonth, Nauclerus one yere and one monethmonth.
Next to this Biſhop, was Fabianus.
Hippolitus Hippolitus.was a martyr: and as Gelaſius ſaith, was biſhop of an head Citie in Arabia, Nicephorus, that he was Biſhop of Oſtia, a port towne néere to Rome. He was a great writer, and was about the yéere 230. Prudentius in his Periſtephanon, maketh mention of great heapes of martyrs buried by thréeſcore together: and ſaith, that Hippolitus was drawne with wild horſes through fields, dales, and buſhes.
After Gordianus, ſuccéeded Philippus, who with Philip his ſonne, gouerned about the ſpace of ſixe yéeres ann. 246. Theſe Emperours with their families were chriſtened and conuerted by Fabianus and Origen. He with his ſonne was ſlaine of Decius, one of the Captaines, by hatred, as it is thought, becauſe the Emperours had committed their treaſures vntounto Fabianus then Biſhop of Rome.