Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 1 · Book 1 · Persecution 8 – Persecution 9
The eight Perſecution.
THe chief miniſters of this perſecution were, Emilianus, Preſident of Egypt, Paternus and Galerius maximus Proconſuls in Africa, Paternus Vicegerent in Rome, Perennius, Nicetus and Claudius Preſidents.
Diſordered life of Chriſtians.The cauſe of this perſecution, beſides the Egyptian aboue mentioned, was the diſſention and diſordered life of Chriſtians, euen of thoſe that had béen confeſſors, as Cyprian in his fourth booke, and fourth Epiſtle doeth declare: to whom it was ſhewed in a viſion of the Lord before it came. There was a certaine aged man ſitting,A Viſion. at whoſe right hande ſate a young man very ſadde and penſiue, as one with an indignation ſorowfull, holding his hande vppon his breaſt, his countenance heauie, and vnchéerefull. On the left hand ſate another perſon, hauing in his hand a nette which hee threatned to lay to catche the people that ſtoode about, and ſaide vntounto him: the young man whom thou ſéeſt ſad & ſorowful, is for that his precepts bee not obſerued: but he on the left hand daunceth and is merrie, for that occaſion is giuen him to hauehave power of the aged father, to afflict men.
Cyprians Apologie for Chriſtians.Cyprian doth defend the Chriſtians, and confute the falſe accuſations laid againſt them (as among the reſt to be ye cauſes of all calamities that happened of warre or plague whatſoeuer) writing contra Demetrium, as Tertullian had before, writing contra Capulam.
Cyprian was an African, borne in Carthage, and firſt was an idolater,Cyprian once a Magician. altogether giuen to the practiſe of magical artes, and a worthie Rhetorician. He was conuerted to the ſaith by Cecil. a prieſt (whoſe name after hee bare) through occaſion of hearing the hiſtory of ye Prophet Ionas. Cecilius conuerteth Cypr.And immediatly vponupon his conuerſion, he diſtributed all his ſubſtance to the poore, and being ordayned a Prieſt, was not long after made Biſhop of Carthage. But whether hée ſuccéeded Agrippinus, Agrippinus.which was the firſt author of rebaptization, it is vncertaine. Such were his giftes and vertues, that he had the gouernment of the whole Eaſt Church, and Church of Spaine: and was called the Biſhop of Chriſtian men. He was much geuen to reade Tertullian, and called him his maſter.
In the time of Decius and Gallus, he was firſt baniſhed,Cyprian baniſhed. and after (returning againe out of exile, in the time of Valerianus) he was alſo the ſecond time baniſhed by Paternus, the Proconſull of Africke, into the Citie of Thurbin, or into a Citie called Furabilitana, or Curabilitana. But when Paternus the Proconſul was dead, Galienus Maximus ſuccéeded him: who finding Cyprian in a Garden, cauſed him to be apprehended, and (after many raging words) his head to be ſtricken of, Xiſtus being then Biſhop of Rome,Cyprian beheaded. in the yere 259.
It is to be noted, that there were more Cyprians: Diuers Cyprians.one of whom, Nazianzen writeth to be a Citizen of Antioch, and afterward Biſhop of that Citie, and martired vnderunder Diocleſian. There was alſo a third Cyprian, in the time of Iulianus Apoſtata, long after both the former.
About this time, vnderunder the ſame Valerianus, ſuffered Xiſtus, or Sixtus, the ſecond of that name, Biſhop of Rome: who with vi. of his Deacons,Sixtus with ſix of his deacons. (Nemeſius being one) was beheaded. At which time alſo, one Laurence a Deacon, ſéeing the Biſhop led to execution, cried out vntounto him, ſaying, O deare father, whither goeſt thou without the companie of thy deare ſonne? meaning himſelfe. To whom he anſwered with a fatherly diſcourſe: that within thrée dayes, hee ſhould ſuffer after a more painfull manner: which in déede followed according as he had ſaid: for Laurence hauing diſtributed of the goods of the poore, by the charge of the Biſhop, it came to the Emperors eare: who (gréedie of praye) commanded him to render the treaſure vntounto him. But he inſteade thereof, preſented vntounto him after thrée dayes reſpite, a ſort of poore Chriſtians, as the treaſure of the Church. Wherewith, taking himſelfe deluded, he commanded Laurence to be broyled on an Iron Gridiron.L. broyled on a gridiron. Whereon, after he had ſuffered a great ſpace, he pronoūced theſe words vntounto the Tyrant: This ſide is now roſted inough, turne vp O Tyrant: aſſay whether roſted, or raw, thou think to be better meate.
By the conſtant confeſſion of this Laurence, a certayne Souldier of Rome being pricked, and therewith conuerted to ye faith, deſired forthwith to be baptized of him: for which, (being called for by the Iudge) he was ſcourged, and after beheaded.
VnderUnder the ſame ſuffered alſo Dioniſius (B. of Alexādria)Dioniſius B. of Alexandria. much affliction and baniſhment: who with Fauſtus, Maximus, and Cheremon, were baniſhed into a town of Libia, called Cephrobie. Emilianus the Preſident, at the Emperors commandement, not geuing Dioniſius (then ſick) one daies reſpit: in ye place he was once ſcourged, & afterwarde remoued frō thence to another place called Mariota, a more ſtraight & ſharpe place of Libia. Who after he came thither, was aſſigned thence to go to Colluthion. There were alſo afflicted with him at yt time, Caius, Petrus, and Paulus. But (notwithſtanding all their crueltie) certaine viſited the brethren:The brethren viſited. as Maximus, Dioſcorus, Demetrius, and Lucius. At yt time alſo Euſebius Euſebius.ſuffred afflictiō for the truth, who was afterward made B. of Laodicea, in Siria. Maximus had the miniſterie of the church of Alexandria after Dioniſius.
Fauſtus.Fauſtus long after, being a very olde man, was in the later perſecution beheaded. Dioniſius himſelfe ſuruiued all theſe troubles, and continued vntounto the xij. yere of the reigne of Galienus, about the yere 268. and ſo in great age departed in peace, after he had gouerned the church of Alexandria xvij. yeres, and taught Schoole in the ſame xvi. yeres. After whom ſuccéeded Maximus.
In Ceſaria Paleſtine ſuffered ye ſame time Priſcus, Priſcus.Marcus Marcus.and Alexander: Alexander.who ſtepping to the iudge, and declaring thēſelues to be Chriſtians, were giuen to wild beaſts, with a woman that had béene before of the ſect of Marcion.
Alſo in Carthage were 300. martyred300. martyred. in a lime kill, for refuſing to doo ſacrifice to Iupiter.
Alſo in the citie of Tuburba, Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda, thrée virginsThree virgins were after diuerſe cruell torments giuen to beaſts, which refuſing to touch thē they were beheaded with the ſword. In Symela a citie vnderunder the Alpes one Pontius Pontius.beyng apprehended by Claudius the preſident, after diuerſe torments, was giuen to beaſtes, who refuſing to touch him, was committed to the fire, of which alſo beyng not touched, he was beheaded by a riuers ſide, and his body caſt into the ſame.Gods iudgements. At which inſtant Claudius with Anabius his aſſiſtant were taken with wicked ſpirits, and bit of their owne tongues, and ſo died.
In the ſame time alſo Zeno Zeno.Biſhop of Verona was martyred. The later Hiſtories write of one Philippus, who beyng promoted to the Preſidentſhip of Alexandria, came downe with his wife Claudia, and his two ſonnes Auitus and Sergius, and his daughter named Eugenia. Among whom this Eugenia Eugenia.was brought to Chriſtianitie, with two other her companions Eunuches Prothus, and Hyacinthus: with whome ſhée councelling, tooke the apparell of a man, partly to auoid trouble, and to heare more boldly the readings of Helenus Helenus.an aged Biſhop, and called her name Eugenius. Now a matrone named Melancia, of Alexandria, fell in louelove with this Eugenius: which ſhe refuſing, and Melācia ſeing by no means ſhe could obtaine her ſuit, ſhe made an outcry againſt Eugenius, declaring yt he went about to defloure her, & preſented her accuſatiō to Philippus: Whervpon Eugenius was conſtrained to manifeſt her ſelfe vntounto Philippus her father, who had now long time miſſed her, & whom with other of her parents ſhe did afterward win to the faith, for the ſame was after martyred. Eugenia after the martyrdome of her Father, is ſayd to hauehave returned to Rome with Prothus, and Hyacinthus, and conuerted Baſilla to the faith, who ſhould hauehave béene married to a Pagan huſband, and was then beheaded after ſundry, and diuerſe torments.
In the ſixt yéere of Valerianus, Victor Victor.and Victorinus, Victorinus.with Claudianus Claudianus.and Boſſa Boſſa.his wife, after thrée yéeres impriſonment, and diuerſe torments, were put to death.
VnderUnder theſe tyraunts, ſuffered Fructuoſus Fructuoſus.Biſhop of Taraconia in Spaine, with his two Deacons Augurius and Eulogius, condēnsd by Emilianus. There hands bound behind them, preſently were vnlooſed, and the fire flew from them, till they had praied, that it might accompliſh the worke, and ſo they died conſtantly. At which time a certaine ſouldier of the houſe of Emilianus, A viſion.did ſée the heauen open and the martyrs enter in: which ſight he did ſhew vntounto the daughter of Emilianus the preſident.
This Valerian after he had raigned with his ſonne Galienus ſix or ſeuen yéeres, and about two yéeres had afflicted the Chriſtians, fell into the handes of Sapores Sapores.king of Perſians, beyng of thrée ſcore and ten yéeres of age: who made him alwaies his footeſtoole to get vppon his horſe, to which purpoſe he ſerued till his death: albeit Euſebius ſaith hée was ſlayne at the commaundement of Sapores, and powdered with ſalt. Claudius his preſident was poſſeſſed of a Diuell,Gods iudgements. and biting of his owne tounge, by many ſmall péeces, ended his life.
At the ſame time in the Romane Monarchie there happened thirtie earthquakes together:Earthquakes. by the meanes whereof Galienus could not ſuccour his Father, whome it is thought they did ſo terrifie, that hée cauſed therevpon the perſecution to bée moderated,Perſecution moderated. notwithſtanding there were ſome that ſuffered: among whom was one Marinus, Marinus.who being a noble man, and a warriour of Ceſarea, and ſtanding for a dignitie that belonged vntounto him, was accuſed of him yt ſhould ſuccéed him, to be a Chriſtian, wherevpon being called before Achaius, then iudge, had giuen him foure houres to deliberat: who ſtanding in deliberation, Theotechnus otherwiſe called Theodiſtus Theodiſtus.Biſhop of Ceſarea brought him into the Church of Chriſtians, layde before him a booke of the new teſtament, and a ſword, willing him to chooſe: who forthwith choſe the booke, and ſo encouraged by the Biſhop, preſented himſelfe to the iudge, by whoſe ſentence hée was beheaded.
After the martirdom of Xiſtus, the gouernment of ye church of Rome was committed to one Dionyſius, Dionyſius.about the yéere 266. who continued therein the ſpace of 9. yéeres, according to Euſebius, but as Damaſus ſaith, 6. yéeres and 2. moneths.
After him ſuccéeded Felix, Felix,in the firſt yéere of Probus the Emperour, about the yéere 280. who gouerned that Church 5. yéeres and died (as Platina ſaith) a martyr. After him followed Entuchianus, Entuchianus.and then Gaius, Gaius.both martyrs, as the hiſtories of ſome doe record.
About the time of theſe Biſhoppes, Theodorus Biſhop of Neoceſarea liued, otherwiſe called Gregorius magnus, Gregor. magn.whom Nicephorus calleth the worker of miracles.
After the captiuity of Valerian with whom he reigned 7. yéeres, he ruled the monarchy alone about 9. yéeres with ſome peace to the Church.
After Galienus ſuccéeded Claudius, Claudius.a quiet Emperour: although Vincentius ſaith, he moued perſecution: vnderunder whō he maketh mention of 262, martirs,262. martyrs. that ſhould ſuffer. This Claudius raigned but 2. yéers, after whom came Quintilianus Quintilianus.his brother, a quiet Prince: who continued but ſeuētéen dayes, and had his ſucceſſor Aurelianus: Aurelianus.vnderunder whom was moued the ninth Perſecution.
The ninth Perſecution.
The tyrant terrified.THis Aurelianus rather intended, then mooued perſecution, for as the edict was a ſubſcribing with his hande, hée was terrified with lightening, and not long after about the fifth or ſixth yeere of his reigne hee was ſlaine, betwixt Bizans and Heraclea, Anno 278. Vincentius and Oroſius notwithſtanding reckon vp a great Catalogue of martirs, which ſhoulde ſuffer vnderunder him in France, and Italie.
Amnis.Next vntounto Aurelianus ſucceeded Publius Annius Tacitus, Tacitus.who reigned but ſixe moneths: after him ſuccéeded his brother Florianus, Florianus.who reigned but thréeſcore daies. And after him ſuccéeded M. Aurelius, Aurel. Probus.ſurnamed Probus, vnderunder whom was moued no perſecution: and after he had reigned ſixe yéeres, & foure monethmonth, (by reaſon he kept his ſouldiers occupied, where no occaſion of war was offred) he was ſlaine. Anno 284.
Next him ſuccéeded Carus Carus.with his two ſonnes, Carinus, Carinus.and Numerianus, Numerianus.who continued but 3. yeres. Of theſe, Numerianus killed Cerillus, Cerillus martyred.becauſe hee would not ſuffer him to enter into the congregation of the Chriſtians hee beeing their biſhop. This Numerianus was ſlaine of his father in law Aper.
After theſe, ſuccéeded Diocleſian, Diocleſian.in whoſe time till the 19. 19. yeeres quiet in the churchyéere of his reign, ye Church was quiet, & the whole time of the quietnes of the Church might ſéeme to continue about 44. 44. yeres quiet. The Church groweth.yéeres. In which time, the Church grew mightily, and the chiefe of them were in fauour with the Emperour, as Dorotheus, and Gorgoneus, and diuers mo.
Church diſſolute.The Church hauing now obtained peace outwardly, beganne to be deuided with controuerſies, and to waxe wantō with their peace,Large temples builded. which was ſo great, & multituds ſo increaſed, that then they began to builde large churches for their congregatiōs:The x. perſetion. but their diſſolutenes brought on them the 10 perſecution, which although it paſſed through the hands of diuerſe tyrants, yet it beareth the name of Diocleſian.