A General Martyrology, Chapter 13
CHAP. XIII. The seventh Primitive Persecution, which began Anno Christi, 250.
DEcius the Emperor raised this seventh terrible persecution against the Christians,Decius Emp. which was first occasioned by reason of the treasures of the Emperor, which were committed to Fabian the Bishop of Rome, who thereupon, by the command of Decius, was put to death,Fabian Martyr. and moreover his Proclamations were sent into all quarters, that all which professed the name of Christ, should be slain.A cruel Edict. In the time of this Persecution Origen suffered many and great torments for the cause of Christ, by Rackings, Dungeons, &c.
Nicephorus, who writeth of this persecution under Decius, declareth the horribleness of it to be so great, and that so many Martyrs suffered, That, saith, he, it is as easie to number the sands of the sea, as to set down the names of all those whom this persecution did devour.
Alexander, Bishop of Jerusalem, who was very aged, having governed the Church forty years, was from thence carried to Caesarea, Alexander Martyr.where after a bold and constant confession of his faith, made before the Judge, he was cast into prison, and there died. Babilas Bishop of Antioch also died in prison,Babilus. and forty Virgins were martyred there about that time. And one Peter in the Country of Phrygia, being apprehended by the Proconsul,Peter. suffered most bitter torments for the name of Christ, the like did divers others in Troada. From Babylon divers Christians were led away by Decius into Spain, and there exceuted; the like sufferings had many in Caesarea,
Dionysius Alexandrinus, writing of the Martyrs that suffered in Alexandria, saith thus, This Persecution began about a year before the Emperors Proclamation came forth, by reason of a wicked South-sayer, A South-sayer stirs up a persecution.who coming to the City, stirred up the multitude of heathens against the Christians, perswading them to uphold their Idolatrous services; wherewith the people being inflamed, obtained full power to prosecute their wicked purposes, conceiving all Religion to consist in the destruction of the Christians. And first of all they fell upon a Minister,Metra Martyr. called Metra, whom they would have enforced to blaspheme Christ; which when he refused, they laid upon him with staves and clubs, and with sharp Reeds they pricked his face and eyes; and then, bringing him to the Suburbs, they stoned him to death.Quinta. Then they took an holy woman, called Quinta, and bringing her to the Idol-Temple, would compell her to worship there; which she constantly refusing, they bound her feet, and drew her thorow all the streets upon the hard-stones, whipt her with Whips, dashed her against Mil-stones,The Christian houses plundred. and lastly stoned her to death. Then the enraged multitude breaking into the Christians houses, plundred them of all they had; the rest of the lumber they carried into the market-place, and burned it: The Saints in the mean time taking patiently and joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing that they had a more enduring substance in heaven.
Then they took an ancient Virgin, called Apollinia, whom they brought forth▪ Apollinia leaps into the fire.and dashing all the teeth out of her head, they made a great fire, threatning to cast her into it, unless she would blaspheme and deny Christ; whereupon she, after a little pause, leaped into the fire, and so was burned. Then they took Serapion out of his house, whom they assailed with all kind of torments,Serapion. broke almost all the joynts of his body: and lastly throwing him down from an high loft, killed him. The poor Christians could no where shelter themselves, nor rest day nor night, the multitude crying out, that unless they would blaspheme Christ, they should all be burned. But, through Gods Mercy,Persecutors divided amongst themselves. the miserable wretches at last fell out amongst themselves, turning their cruelty, formerly exercised against the Christians, upon their own heads, whereby the Church had a little breathing time.
The danger of riches.Shortly after came forth the cruel Edict of the Emperor, which so terrified the Christians, that some, especially the rich, partly through fear, and partly by the perswasion of their Neighbours, came to those impure and idolatrous sacrifices:Zeal. Others came boldly to the Altars, declaring publickly, that they were not of that Religion: Of the rest some ran away, others were taken, enduring bands and torments constantly: Others again, after long imprisonment, and sundry torments,Apostacy. renounced their faith, whilst others more strong in the faith, valiantly endured Martyrdom: Amongst whom was Julianus, a man diseased with the gout, and not able to go, and Cronion, who were laid upon Camels,Julianus Martyr, and Cronion. and there scourged, and at last thrown into the fire, where, with much constancy, they were consumed. As Julianus went to Martyrdom, a certain souldier took his part against those which railed upon him; Whereupon the people crying out against him, he was apprehended, and being constant in his profession, was presently beheaded.
Macar. Epim…chus.Also Macar a Christian Lybian was burned alive. Epimachus and Alexander, having been long imprisoned,Alexander. Ammonarion. Mercuria. after innumerable pains and torments, with rasors and scourges, were vvith four women, consumed with fire: Ammonarion a Virgin, Mercuria an aged Matron, and Dionysia, a mother of many Children,Dio…ysia. whom yet she loved not above the Lord, these, vvhen they could not be overcome by any torments inflicted on them by the cruel Judge, but rather were unsensible of them all, vvere at last slain vvith the svvord.
Also three Egyptians, and a youth of fifteen years old, vvere brought before the Judge, who first began vvith the Child, by fair words,A boy of fifteen years old. seeking to entice him, then by torments to constrain him, which not prevailing, when he had tormented the other also he condemned them all to the fire; But the Judge wondring at the wise answers, and grave constancy of the child, dismissed him.
Nemesion also an Egyptian, Nemesion.vvas first accused to be a companion of thieves, but being purged from that, he vvas accused of Christianity, tormented and scourged extreamly, and then amongst other thieves, burnt to death.
A certain Christian being examined before the Judge, and through fear being ready to shrink back, there were by,Humane frailty. certain souldiers of the degree of Knights, and an aged man named Theophilus, who were ready to burst for grief, making signs to him,Zeal. by their hands and gestures, to be constant; vvhichwhich being observed by the By-standers, they vvere ready to lay hold of them, but they of their own accord, pressing up to the Judge, professed themselves to be Christians,Courage. which much imboldened the weak Christian that vvas before the tribunal, and terrified the Judge. This being done they departed away, rejoycing for the testimony that they had given of their faith.
In other Cities many Christians were torn in pieces by the heathen.
Ischirion, a servant to a noble man,Ischirion. vvas commanded by his Master to sacrifice to the Idols, vvhichwhich vvhen he refused, and vvould by no means be perswaded to, his Master took a pike, and ran him thorovv. Multitudes of Christians vvandring in deserts and mountains, vvere devoured by hunger, thirst, cold, sickness, thieves and vvild beasts,The miseries of Christians. Cheremon. amongst vvhom vvas Cheremon, Bishop of the City of Nilus, and his vvife, vvho flying into the mountains of Arabia, vvere never heard of more. Dionysius also saith of himself, I speak the truth before God, and lie not, I having no regard of my own life,Dionys…us. and not without the motion of Gods Spirit, did flie,A miracle of Mercy. and avoid the danger of this persecutian: Yea, and before that, when one was sent from the Governor te seek me, I remained three days at home to tarry for him; The messenger in the mean time narrowly sought for me by all ways, fields, floods and corners, where he thought I might hide my self, God striking him with such blindness, that he could not find my house. After these three days,Flight in persecution. the Lord God willing and commanding me to flie, and marvellously opening to me the way, I with my Children, and many other brethren, vvent out together, and so escaped.
Also Agatha, a godly Virgin of Sicilie, suffered divers and bitter torments of imprisonment, with beatings, famine, racking, as also rolling naked upon sharp shels, and hot coals, and having her breasts cut off her body. Also forty other Virgins, by sundry kinds of torments, were put to death about the same time.
Decius erecting a Temple at Ephesus, compelled all in the City to offer Sacrifice to Idols, but there were seven Christian souldiers of his own Retinue, who refused, neither could the Emperor, by perswasions or threats,Courage of seven souldiers. induce them to it, yet he gave them respite till his return from the Wars; in the mean time they hid themselves in a cave in the mountain Celius. At the Emperors Return he made great inquisition for them, and at last hearing where they were, he caused the mouth of the cave so to be closed up, that they could not get out, and so they were famished there.
There was also one Nicetas, a Christian souldier, whom when the Praetor could not by any torments remove from his stedfastness, he took another course with him,Nicetas his ra…e chastity. for he brought him into a most fragrant garden, flowing with all manner of pleasures and delights, where he laid him upon a bed of down, softly enwrapped in a net of silk, among the Lillies and Roses, the delicious murmure of the streams, and the sweet whistling of the leaves moved with a gentle wind, and so departed: presently in comes a beautifull strumpet, and useth all the abominable tricks of her impure Art, and whorish villanies, to draw him to commit wickedness with her; whereupon the young man fearing that he should now be conquered by folly, who was Conqueror over fury, bites off a piece of his tongue with his own teeth, and spits it into the face of the whore, and so prevented the hurt of sin by the smart of his wound.
At Antioch, Theodora, a godly Virgin, refusing to sacrifice to the Idols,Theodora condemned to the Stews. Her strange deliverance. was condemned by the Judge to the Stews, which sentence being executed, there were many wanton young men ready at the door to press into the house where she was, but one of the brethren, called Didymus, putting on a souldiers habit, would have the first admittance, and coming in, he perswaded her to change garments with him, and so she, in the souldiers habit, escaped away, and Didymus was left to the rage, and wondring of the people, when he was found a man: hereupon he was presented to the President, to whom he presently confessed the whole matter, professing himself to be a Christian, and so was condemned; which Theodora hearing of, thinking to excuse him, she came, and presented her self to the Judge, as the guilty party, desiring that she might be condemned, and the other excused: but the cruell Judge, neither considering the vertue of the persons,Cruelty. nor the innocency of the cause, most inhumanely condemned them both, first to be beheaded, and then burnt, which was accordingly executed.
Agathon, a man at arms in Alexandria, rebuking some lewd persons who scornfully used the dead bodies of the Christians,Agathon. was accused to the Judge, and lost his head.
In Troada, two Christians being delivered by the Proconsul to the people, were first scourged, then drawn out of the City, and there troden to death. Two Ministers with a Deacon were martyred in Rome, Two Ministers.and two noble men were brought and accused to Decius for burying the dead bodies of the Christians, and being by him commanded to sacrifice to the Idols, and they refusing, he caused them to be cast to the wild beasts, but when they would not touch them, they were beheaded with the sword.
Also Secundianus was accused to be a Christian, which he affirming, was commanded to prison;Secundianus. Zeal. by the way two Christians cryed to the souldiers, asking them, whether they carried the innocent man, whereupon being apprehended and examined, they confessed themselves to be Christians, and were condemned; first they were beaten with cudgels, then hung up, and tormented with the gibbet, having fire set to their sides, & lastly were beheaded: But some of their tormentors were taken with evil spirits; others of them fell down suddenly, and died.Gods Judgement on persecutors.
But the number of Martyrs of all ranks that suffered in this persecution was so great, that it is impossible to set them down all; Bishops, Ministers, Deacons, &c. young, old, men, women, &c.
Yet amongst this great number, some there were that fell away, as Serapion an old man, that for a long time had lived a sincere and godly life, who afterwards repenting of his Apostacy,Serapions Apostacy, desired to be readmitted into the Church, but that was not granted: Shortly after he fell sick, and in it having remained dumb,and Recovery. and bereaved of his senses for twenty four hours, the day after, he began a little to recover, and calling his Nephew to him, he said, How long, how long do you detain me here? make haste that I may be absolved: Call me hither some of the Ministers, &c. and so being absolved, he presently after died.
In Troada, Nicomachus being grievously tormented, cryed out, I am no Christian; and so being let down from the Engine, he had no sooner sacrificed to the Idols, but being possessed by the devil, he was thrown on the ground, where he bit off his own tongue, and immediately after died; Many others which shewed the like cowardise,Danger of Apostacy. were taken and tormented with wicked spirits: One was struck dumb: A maid taken with a wicked spirit, tore out her own tongue, and died with grievous torments in her belly, and inward parts: But though some did thus fall away, yet others there were, whom neither fear,Constancy. nor pain could remove from their stedfastness, but they continued glorious Martyrs to the end.
Cyprian relates a story of one of his fellow-Ministers, who in the midst of his torments began to faint, being greatly afraid of death, and desired to be released:A Vision. at which time there appeared to him a young man of admirable beauty, and so bright, that mans mortal eye could scarce endure to behold him, who angerly said to him, Pati timetis, exire non vultis, quid faciam vobis? To suffer you dare not, to go out you will not, what would you have me do unto you?The beginning of the Novatian schism.
In this Persecution there sprung up the Novatian Schism, which made a great disturbance in the Church. This Novatus being a Minister under Cyprian in Carthage, by stirring up discord and factions, bred much trouble to the Church, seeking to withdraw certain of the brethren from the Bishop: And afterwards Novatus going to Rome, set up himself as a Bishop,Pride the cause of schism. against Cornelius, the then Bishop of Rome; And to further his design, he by subtilty allured to him three or four holy men that had been Confessors; Then he entised three weak Bishops that lived in Italy, to come to Rome, and there perswaded them by imposing hands upon him, to make him Bishop; for which fact, two of them afterwards were suspended, and the third upon his repentance vvas re-admitted. Novatus being thus made a Bishop, grew proud, and sought by all means to with-draw the people from Cornelius to himself; yea, he made many of them to swear that they would not leave him to go to Cornelius. But the holy Confessors before mentioned, vvhen they perceived the crafty subtilty of Novatus, left him, and much grieving for their sin, were reconciled to Cornelius again. Novatus held this opinion, that they which once renounced the faith, and for fear of torments had offered incense to the Idols, although they repented,A Synod against Novatus. yet could never be re-admitted into the Church of Christ again. To suppress this error, there was a Synod called at Rome of sixty Bishops, Anno 255. who condemned it.
Cyprian also relates of Aurelius, a godly and valiant young man, who for his constancy in the cause of Christ,Aurelius. suffered great and many torments, and afterwards was banished. And of Mappalicus, who the day before he suffered,Mappalicus. in the midst of his torments told the Proconsul▪ Videbis cras agonem, to morrow you shall see the running for a Wager, and accordingly the next day being brought forth to his Martyrdom, he with no less constancy then patience, endured faithfull unto the death.
But Decius the Author of this persecution, escaped not the revenging hand of God, for warring against the Goths, and being overcome by them,Gods Judgement on persecutors. lest he should fall into their hands, he leaped vvith his horse into a whirlpit, where he was drowned, and his body was never found after. Yea, God avenged the blood of his Saints upon the whole Roman Empire, by sending a general plague of pestilence upon it, which continued ten years together; and Dionysius saith, that in Alexandria, vvhere he vvas Bishop,A terrible plague. there vvas scarce any house clear; and though some Christians died in this plague, yet it fell most heavy upon the Gentiles. The Christians also in this plague shewed much brotherly love each to other, by visiting, comforting, and relieving one another. Whereas the Idolaters,The brotherly love of Christians. being stricken with extream fear of the plague, none considered his Neighbour, but every man shifted for himself, and of those that were infected, some they cast out of doors half dead, to be devoured of dogs and wild beasts, some they let die in their houses without all succour; others they suffered to lie unburied, and durst not come near them,A special Providence. notwithstanding vvhichwhich, the pestilence followed them whithersoever they vvent, and miserably consumed them; so that the most part of the Inhabitants were consumed by it in every Country, especially in those Provinces, where had been the greatest persecutions raised against the Christians.
After the death of Decius, there succeeded Gallus and Volusianus in the Empire, Anno Christi 255. who continued this persecution against the Christians; which fell most heavy upon the Pastors and Ministers of the Congregations: for about this time Cyprian, and many other Ministers were banished: others were put into the mettal Mines, to whom Cyprian wrote an Epistle consolatory, wherein he writes thus, Wounds and scars are an Ornament to a Christians brest, Cyprians consolatory letter.such as bring not shame, but honoureth them before the Lord; and though in the Mynes there be no beds for their bodies to rest on, yet they have rest in Christ; and though their weary bones lie on the cold ground, yet it's no pain to lie with Christ. Their feet are fettered with chains, but he is bound of man, whom the Lord Christ doth loose; he lies tied in the stocks, whose feet thereby are made swifter to run to heaven; neither can any man tie a Christian so fast, but he runs so much the faster for his garland of life. They have no garments to save them from cold, but he that puts on Christ is sufficiently clothed. Doth bread fail to their hungry bodies? Man lives not by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Your deformity shall be turned to honour, your mourning to joy, your pain to pleasure, and felicity infinite. And if this grieve you, that you cannot serve God in your places as formerly, yet your daily sacrifice ceaseth not, which is a contrite and humble heart; and though your travel be great, yet shall your reward be greater; for God beholding them which confess his name, approveth their willing minds, in their strivings helpeth them, in their victory crowneth them, rewarding that in us which he hath performed, and crowning that which he hath in us perfected. Again he tells them that they are now in a joyfull journey, hasting apace to the mansions of the Martyrs, there to enjoy, after darkness, durable light, and comfort above all their sufferings, &c. About the same time also, Lucius Bishop of Rome was banished.
After the death of Gallus and Volusianus, there succeeded Valerianus, who ceased the persecution, and carried himself exceeding friendly to the Christians; so that his whole Court was replenished with holy Saints and servants of Christ, whereby his house seemed a Church of God. But the Devil envying the peace of the Church, by the means of an Egyptian Enchanter, (who was hindred from doing his feats, by the presence of the Christians) stirred up the Emperor against them, who grew to such impiety himself,Persecution stirred up by a Sorcerer. that he sacrificed young infants to his Idols, quartered their bodies, divided the Entrails of young Children new born, &c. as hereafter follows.