A General Martyrology, Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. The second Primitive Persecution, which began Anno 96.
AFter the death of Nero, there succeeded, first Vespasian, and then his son Titus in the Empire, under both whom the Church had rest, but Titus associating to himself his brother Flavius Domitian in the Government of the Empire; This wicked Monster, first slew his brother, and then raised the second persecution against the Church of Christ.Domitians character. His pride was so great, that he commanded himself to be worshiped as God; and that Ima…es of gold and silver should be set up for his honour in the Capitoll. His cruelty was unmeasurable. The chiefest Nobles of the Roman Senators, either upon envy, or for their goods,He destroyes Davids seed. he caused to be put to death. Having also heard some rumors of Christs Kingdom, he was afraid, as Herod had been before him; and thereupon commanded all of the linage of David to be sought out and slain; At last two poor Christians that came of Judas, the brother of Christ according to the flesh, were brought before Domitian, and accused to be of the Tribe of Juda, and of the line of David: Then did the Emperour demand of them what stock of money and possessions they had; To whom they answered, that they two had not above thirty nine Acres of land, out of which they payed Tribute, and relieved themselves by their labour and industry, withal shewing him their hard and brawny hands, by reason of their labour. Then did he ask them of Christ, and of his Kingdom; to whom they answered, that Christs Kingdom was not of this world, but spiritual and celestial; and that he would come at the last day to judge the quick and the dead. Hereupon he despised them as simple and contemptible persons, and so dismissed them. He punished an infinite company of Christians that were famous in the Church, with exile, and loss of their substance. Under this persecution it was that St. John, the beloved Disciple,St. John put into boiling oyl. Banished into Patmos. was first put into a vessel of boiling oyl, and coming safe without hurt, out of the same, he was then banished into the Isle of Patmos, Anno 97. where he continued till after the death of Domitian, but was released under Pertinax: At which time he returned to Ephesus, where he lived till he was a hundred and twenty years old. During his abode there, he was requested to repaire to some place not farre off, to order their Ecclesiasticall affairs; and being in a certain City, he beheld in the Congregation a young man, mighty of body,An excellent story …f a young man. of a beautifull countenance, and fervent minde; whereupon calling the chief Bishop unto him, he said, I commend this man unto thee with great diligence, in the witness here of Christ and of the Church. The Bishop having received this charge, and promised his faithfull diligence therein, John spake the like words to him the second time also, after which he returned unto Ephesus. The Bishop having received this young man thus committed to his charge, brought him home, kept, nourished, instructed and Baptized him; and the young man so profited under him, that at last he was made the Pastor of a Congregation. But having by this means more liberty then before, some of his old companions began to resort unto him; who first drew him forth to sumptuous and riotous banquets; then inticed him to go abroad with them in the nights to rob and steal, and to much other wickedness. And he being of a good wit, and stout courage, ran like an unbridled horse to all manner of disorders and outrage: And associating to himself many loose and dissolute companions, he became their Head and Captain, in committing all kindes of murther and felonies. Not long after, upon some urgent occasions, St John was again sent for into those parts, where having decided those controversies, and dispatched those businesses for which he came, meeting with the afore-mentioned Bishop, he required of him the pledge, which before Christ and the Congregation he had committed to his custody. The Bishop herewith amazed, supposing that he meant it of some money committed to him, which yet he had not received, not daring to contradict the Apostle, he thereupon stood mute: Then John perceiving that he was not understood, said, The young man, and the soul of our brother committed to your custody, I do require. Whereupon the Bishop with many tears said, He is dead: To whom John replyed, How, and by what death? The Bishop answered, He is dead to God, for he is become a wicked and vicious man, and a thief, and now he doth frequent these mountains, with a company of thieves and villains like himself, &c. The Apostle, rending his garments with a great lamentation, said, I left a good keeper of my brothers soul; get me an horse and guide presently; which being done, he went strait to the mountains, and was no sooner come thither, but he was taken by the thieves that watched for their prey, to whom he said, I came hither for this cause, Lead me to your Captain: and so being brought before him, the Captain all armed, looked fiercely upon him, and soon coming to the knowledge of him, he was striken with such shame and confusion, that he began to flie, but the old man followed him as fast as he could, crying, My son why dost thou flie from thy father? an armed man from one naked? a young man from an old man? Have pity upon me my son: and feare not, there is yet hope of salvation, I will answer for thee to Christ, I will die for thee if need be, as Christ died for us, I will give my life for thee; Believe me, Christ hath sent me. He hearing these things, first as in a maze, stood still, lost his courage, cast down his weapons, then trembled, and vvept bitterly, and coming to the old man, he embraced him with many tears, only his right hand he kept hid and covered. Then the Apostle, after he had promised and assured him that he should obtain pardon of our Saviour, falling upon his knees, he prayed for him, kissing his murthering right hand, vvhichwhich for shame he durst not shevv before, and then brought him back to the Congregation, where he fasted and prayed continually for him, comforted and confirmed him with many Scripture-promises, and left him not, till he had restored him to his former Office, and made him a great example of Gods Mercy to repentant sinners.
Sim…on crucified.In this Persecution Simeon Bishop of Jerusalem, after many torments, was crucified to death: and an innumerable company of Martyrs suffered for the like testimony of the Lord Jesus, amongst whom vvas Flavia, Flavia banished.the daughter of Flavius Clemens, a Roman Senator and Consul, vvho amongst many others vvas banished into the Isle of Pontia.
A cruel death.This Lavv also vvas made by the Roman Senate, Non debere demitti Christianos, qui semel ad tribunal venissent, nisi propositum mutent, that Christians should not be let go, that vvere once brought before the Tribunal seat, except they renounced their Religion. Yea, that vvhichwhich stirred up the Emperor more to persecute the Christians, vvere those abominable lies, and malicious slanders raised against them by the Heathen Idolaters, as that they were a people that lived in incest, that in their nightly meetings,Christians slandered. putting out the Candles, they ran together in all filthy manner; that they killed their ovvn Children, and used to eat mans flesh: that they vvere seditious and rebellious, and refused to svvear by the fortune of Caesar;Charged with Sedition and Rebellion; and the causers of all publick Calamities. Christianos ad Leones. and vvould not adore his Image in the Market place, and in brief, that they were pernicious to the Roman Empire: yea, whensoever any thing happened amiss to the City of Rome, or to her Provinces, either by famine, pestilence, Earth-quakes, Wars, unseasonable Weather, &c. it vvas presently imputed to the Christians. Besides, also there vvere a number of vvicked Promoters and Accusers, that for lucre's sake, to have the possessions of the Christians, accused and persecuted them to the death. Also vvhen the Christians vvere brought before the Magistrates, they gave them an Oath,The Oath ex officio. requiring them to declare the truth, vvhether they vvere Christians or no, and if they confessed; then by the Lavv, sentence of death vvas passed against them. Yet vvere not these Tyrants content by death to destroy their bodies, but the kinds of death vvere divers and horrible; vvhatsoever the cruelty of mans vvitty and vvicked invention could devise for the punishment of mans body, vvas practised against the poor Saints of God;Variety of torments. Imprisonments, Stripes, Scourgings, Rackings, Tearings, Stoning▪ plates of iron burning hot, laid to the tenderest parts of their bodies, deep Dungeons, strangling in Prisons, the teeth of wild Beasts, Gridirons, Gibbits and Gallows, Tossings upon the Horns of Bulls, &c. And when they were thus killed, their bodies were laid on heaps, and dogs left to keep them, that none might come to bury them;Burial denied them. neither could any prayer or entreaty obtain leave that they might be interred. Notwithstanding all which horrible punishments, the Church of Christ daily increased, being deeply rooted in the Doctrine of the Apostles and Apostolical men, and watered plenteously with the blood of the Saints.
Also in this persecution, Protasius and Gervasius were martyred at Millaine. Timothy was stoned to death at Ephesus, Protasius. Gervasius. Timothy and Dionysius martyred.by the Worshippers of Diana. Dionysius Areopagita was slain with the sword at Paris, &c.