him, being a Greek, into the temple. Lysias, siastical writings make very little other menthe captain of the guard, however, interposed, tion of him; but Papias informs us, that he and rescued St. Paul by force from their was once compelled to drink poison, which hands. On quitting Jerusalem, Trophimus did not do him the least injury, agreeably to attended his master first to Rome, and then the promise of the Lord, to those who believe to Spain; passing through Gaul, the apostle in him. He was, during his life, a zealous made him bishop of that province, and left preacher of the gospel; and having received him in the city of Arles. About a twelve- many insults from the Jews, at length obmonth after, he paid a visit to St. Paul in tained martyrdom, being murdered by the Asia, and went with him, for the last time, Pagans in Judea. to Rome, where he was witness to his martyrdom, which was but the forerunner of his own; for, being soon after seized on account of his faith, he was beheaded by order of Nero.

ANANIAS, bishop of Damascus, is celebrated in the sacred writings for being the person who cured St. Paul of the blindness with which he was struck by the amazing JOSEPH, commonly called BARSABAS, was brightness which happened at his convera primitive disciple, and is usually deemed sion. He was one of the seventy, and was one of the seventy. He was, in some de- martyred in the city of Damascus. After gree, related to the Redeemer; and he be- his death, a Christian church was built over came a candidate, together with Matthias, to the place of his burial, which is now confill the office of Judas Iscariot. The eccle-verted into a Turkish mosque.

The Second Primitive Persecution, under Domitian.

THE emperor Domitian was naturally of a of the innocent. When any Christians were cruel disposition: he first slew his brother, brought before the magistrates, a test oath and then raised the second persecution against was proposed, when, if they refused it, death the Christians. His rage was such, that he was pronounced against them; and if they even put to death some of the Roman sena- confessed themselves Christians, the sentence tors; some through malice, and others to was the same. The various kinds of punconfiscate their estates; and he then com- ishments and inflicted cruelties, were, immanded all the lineage of David to be extir-prisonment, racking, searing, broiling, burnpated. Two Christians were brought before ing, scourging, stoning, hanging, and wor him, accused of being of the tribe of Judah, rying. Many were torn piecemeal with and line of David; but from their answers, red-hot pincers, and others were thrown upon he despised them as idiots, and dismissed the horns of wild bulls. After having suffered them accordingly. He, however, was deter- these cruelties, the friends of the deceased mined to be more secure upon other occa- were refused the privilege of burning their sions; for he took away the property of many remains. Christians, put several to death, and banished others.

The following were the most remarkable of the numerous martyrs who suffered dur ing this persecution.

Amongst the numerous martyrs that suffered during this persecution, was Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was crucified; and DIONYSIUS, the Areopagite: he was an St. John, who was boiled in oil, and after- Athenian by birth, and educated in all the wards banished to Patmos. Flavia, the daugh- useful and ornamental literature of Greece. ter of a Roman senator, was likewise ban- He then travelled to Egypt to study astronoished to Pontus; and a law was made, "That my, and made very particular observations no Christian, once brought before their tri- on the great and supernatural eclipse which bunal, should be exempted from punishment happened at the time of our Savior's cruciwithout renouncing his religion." fixion.-On his return to Athens, he was During this reign, there were a variety highly honored by the people, and at length of tales composed, in order to injure the promoted to the dignity of senator of that Christians. Among other falsehoods, they celebrated city. Becoming a convert to the were accused of indecent nightly meetings; gospel, he changed from the worthy Pagan of a rebellious, turbulent spirit; of being in- magistrate to the pious Christian pastor; for imical to the Roman empire; of murdering even while involved in the darkness of idolatheir children, and even of being cannibals; try, he was as just as he possibly could be in and at this time, such was the infatuation of the gross errors of Paganism. After his conthe Pagans, that if famine, pestilence, or version, the sanctity of his conversation, and earthquakes, afflicted any of the Roman prov-purity of his manners, recommended him so inces, these calamities were said to be mani- strongly to the Christians in general, that he festations of the Divine wrath, occasioned was appointed bishop of Athens. He disby their impieties. These persecutions in-charged his duty with the utmost diligence creased the number of informers; and many, till the second year of this persecution, viz. for the sake of gain, swore away the lives A. D. 69, when he was apprehended, and re

ceived the crown of martyrdom by being be-faith. St. Paul at length sent for him to headed. Athens, and then dispatched him to Thessalonica, to preach to the suffering Christians NICOMEDES, a Christian of some distinc- there against the terrors of the persecution tion at Rome, during the reign of Domitian, which then prevailed. Having performed made great efforts to serve the afflicted; his mission, he returned to Athens, and there comforting the poor, visiting those confined, assisted St. Paul and Silas in composing the exhorting the wavering, and confirming the two epistles to the Thessalonians. He then faithful. For those and other pious actions accompanied St. Paul to Corinth, Jerusalem, he was seized as a Christian, and being sen- and Ephesus. After performing several other tenced, was scourged to death.

PROTASIUS and GERVASIUS were martyred at Milan; but the particular circumstances attending their deaths are not recorded.

commissions for St. Paul, and attending him upon various journeys, the apostle consti tuted him bishop of Ephesus, though he was only thirty years of age; and in two admirable epistles gave him proper instructions for his conduct. He was so very temperate in TIMOTHY, the celebrated disciple of St. his living, that St. Paul blamed him for being Paul, and bishop of Ephesus, was born at too abstemious, and recommended to him the Lystra, in the province of Lycaonia: his moderate use of wine, to recruit his strength father was a Gentile, and his mother a Jew- and spirits. While that great apostle was ess; but both his parents and his grandmo- in his confinement at Rome, he desired Timther embraced Christianity; by which means othy to come to him; he afterwards returned he was taught from his infancy the precepts to Ephesus, where he zealously governed of the gospel. Upon St. Paul's arrival at the church till A. D. 97. At this period the Lycaonia, he ordained Timothy, and then Pagans were about to celebrate a feast called made him the companion of his labors. He Catagogion, the principal ceremonies of mentions him with peculiar respect, and de- which were, that the people should carry clares, that he could find no one so truly sticks in their hands, go masked, and bear united to him, both in heart and mind. Tim- about the streets the images of their gods. othy attended St. Paul to Macedonia, where, When Timothy met the procession, he sewith that apostle and Silas, he labored in the propagation of the gospel. When St. Paul went to Achaia, Timothy was left behind to strengthen the faith of those already converted, or to induce others to be of the true

verely reproved them for their ridiculous idolatry, which so exasperated them, that they fell upon him with their clubs, and beat him in so dreadful a manner, that he ex pired of the bruises two days after.

The Third Primitive Persecution, under the Roman Emperors.

About this period the Emperor Trajan was succeeded by Adrian; who continued the persecution with the greatest rigor.

BETWEEN the second and the third Roman he would not have them sought for as innopersecution was but one year. Upon Nerva cent men, and yet would have them punished succeeding Domitian, he gave a respite to as guilty." The emperor's incoherent anthe Christians; but reigning only thirteen swer, however, occasioned the persecution months, his successor Trajan, in the tenth in some measure to abate, as his officers were year of his reign, and in A. D. 108, began uncertain, if they carried it on with severity, the third persecution against them. While how he might choose to wrest his own the persecution raged, Plinius Secundus, a meaning.-Trajan, however, soon after wrote heathen philosopher, wrote to the emperor to Jerusalem, and gave orders to exterminate in favor of the Christians, stating that he the stock of David; in consequence of which, found nothing objectionable in their conduct; all that could be found of that race were put and that "the whole sum of their error con- to death. sisted in this, that they were wont, at certain times appointed, to meet before day, and to sing certain hymns to one Christ their God and to confederate among themselves, to abstain from all theft, murder, and adul- PHOCAS, bishop of Pontus, refusing to satery; to keep their faith, and to defraud no rifice to Neptune, was, by the immediate man: which done, then to depart for that order of Trajan, cast first into a hot limekiln, time, and afterwards to resort again to take and being drawn from thence, was thrown meat in companies together, both men and into a scalding bath till he expired. women, one with another, and yet without Trajan likewise commanded the martyrany act of evil." To this epistle Trajan re-dom of Ignatius, bishop of Antioch. This turned this indecisive answer: "That Chris- holy man was the person whom, when an intians ought not to be sought after, but when fant, Christ took into his arms and showed brought before the magistracy they should to his disciples, as one that would be a patbe punished." Provoked by this reply, Ter-tern of humility and innocence. He received tullian exclaimed, "O confused sentence! the gospel afterwards from St. John the

:

Evangelist, and was exceedingly zealous in the services of this skilful commander, and his mission. He boldly vindicated the faith ordered him and his whole family to be marof Christ before the emperor, for which he tyred. was cast into prison, and was tormented in a During the martyrdom of Faustines and cruel manner; for, after being dreadfully Jovita, brothers, and citizens of Bressia, their scourged, he was compelled to hold fire in torments were so many, and their patience his hands, and at the same time, papers dip-so great, that Calocerius, a Pagan, beholding ped in oil were put to his sides, and set them, was struck with admiration, and exalight. His flesh was then torn with red-claimed, in a kind of ecstasy, "Great is the hot pincers, and at last he was dispatched God of the Christians!" for which he was by being torn to pieces by wild beasts. apprehended and put to death.

then they began to employ and suborn false witnesses, to accuse them of crimes against the state or civil authority.

Ignatius had either a presentiment or in- Many other cruelties and rigors were exformation of his fate; for writing to Poly-ercised against the Christians, till Quadratus, carpus at Smyrna, he says, “Would to God bishop of Athens, made a learned apology in I were once come to the beasts which are their favor before the emperor, who happrepared for me; which also I wish with pened to be there; and Aristides, a philoso gaping mouths were ready to come upon me, pher of the same city, wrote an elegant whom also I will provoke that they without epistle, which caused Adrian to relax in his delay may devour me. And if they will not, severity, and relent in their favor. He indeed unless they be provoked, I will then enforce went so far as to command, that no Christian them against myself." should be punished on the score of religion or opinion only; but this gave other handles SYMPHOROSA, a widow, and her seven against them to the Jews and Pagans, for sons, were commanded by Trajan to sacrifice to the heathen deities. Refusing to comply with the impious request, the emperor, greatly exasperated, ordered her to be carried to Nicephorus makes mention of Anthia, a the temple of Hercules, where she was godly woman, who committed her son Eleuscourged, and hung up for some time by the therius to Anicetus, bishop of Rome, to be hair of her head; then a large stone was brought up in the doctrine of the Christian fastened to her neck, and she was thrown faith, who afterwards, being bishop in Apulia, into the river. Her sons were fastened to was there beheaded with his mother Anthia. seven posts, and being drawn up by pulleys, Justus also and Pastor, two brethren, with their limbs were dislocated; these tortures like martyrdom, ended their lives in a city not affecting their resolution, they were thus of Spain called Complutum, under the beforemartyred. Crescentius, the eldest, was stab- mentioned emperor. bed in the throat; Julian, the second, in the breast; Nemesius, the third, in the heart; Primitius, the fourth, in the navel; Justice, the fifth, in the back; Stacteus, the sixth, in the side; and Eugenius, the youngest, was sawed asunder.

Adrian died in the year 138, or 139, and had ordered the cessation of the persecutions against the Christians some years before his death. He was succeeded by Antoninus Pius, so amiable a monarch, that his people gave him the title of "The Father of Virtues." About this time Alexander, bishop of Immediately upon his accession to the throne, Rome, after filling that office ten years, was he published an edict concluding with these martyred, as were his two deacons; and also words: "If any hereafter shall vex or trouble Quirinus and Hermes, with their families; the Christians, having no other cause but Zenon, a Roman nobleman, and about ten thousand other Christians.

that they are such, let the accused be released, and the accusers be punished." This Many were crucified in Mount Ararat, stopped the persecution, and the Christians crowned with thorns, and spears run into their enjoyed a respite from their sufferings during sides, in imitation of Christ's passion.-Eus- this emperor's reign, though their enemies tachins, a brave and successful Roman com- took every occasion to do them what injuries mander, was ordered by the emperor to join they could. The piety and goodness of Anin an idolatrous sacrifice, to celebrate some toninus were so great, that he used to say, of his own victories; but his faith was so that he had rather save one citizen, than degreat, that he nobly refused it. Enraged at stroy a thousand of his adversaries. the denial, the ungrateful emperor forgot

The Fourth Primitive Persecution under the Roman Emperors, which
commenced A. D. 162.

ANTONINUS PIUS was succeeded by Marcus elties used in this persecution, that many of Aurelius Antoninus Verus, who began the the spectators shuddered with horror at the fourth persecution, in which many Christians sight, and were astonished at the intrepidity were martyred, particularly in several parts of the sufferers. Some of the martyrs were of Asia, and in France. Such were the cru-obliged to pass, with their already wounded

feet, over thorns, nails, sharp shells, &c. | Christians, who had been intimate with PolyOthers were scourged, till their sinews and carpus, were soon after martyred. veins lay bare; and after suffering the most excruciating tortures, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths.

METRODORUS, a minister, who preached boldly, and Pionius, who made some excellent apologies for the Christian faith, were GERMANICUS, a young and true Christian, likewise burnt. Carpus and Capilus, two being delivered to the wild beasts on account worthy Christians, and Agathonica, a pious of his faith, behaved with such astonishing woman, suffered martyrdom at Pergamopocourage, that several Pagans became con- lis, in Asia, about the same period.

verts to a faith which inspired such fortitude. This enraged others so much, that they cried FELICITATAS, an illustrious Roman lady out, he merited death; and many of the mul- of a considerable family, and great virtues, titude wondering at this beloved martyr for was a devout Christian. She had seven sons, his constancy and virtue, began suddenly whom she had educated with the most exemto cry with a loud voice, saying, "Destroy plary piety. The empire having been about the wicked men, let Polycarpus be sought this time grievously troubled with earthfor." And whilst a great uproar and tumult quakes, famine, inundations, &c. the Chrisbegan to be raised upon those cries, a certain tians were accused as the cause, and FeliciPhrygian, named Quintus, lately arrived tatas was included in the accusation. The from his country, was so afflicted at the sight lady and her family being seized, the empeof the wild beasts, that he rushed to the judg-ror gave orders to Publius, the Roman govment-seat and upbraided the judges, for which ernor, to proceed against her. Upon this he was put to death. Publius began with the mother, thinking that if he could prevail with her to change POLYCARPUS, hearing that he was sought her religion, the example would have great after, escaped, but was discovered by a child. influence with her sons. Finding her inflexFrom this circumstance, and having dreamed ible, he turned his entreaties to menaces, that his bed suddenly became on fire, and and threatened her with destruction to herwas consumed in a moment, he concluded self and family. She despised his threats that it was God's will he should suffer mar- as she had done his promises; he then caused tyrdom. He therefore did not attempt to her sons to be brought before him, whom he make a second escape when he had an oppor- examined separately. They all, however, tunity of so doing. Those who apprehended remained stedfast in their faith, and unanihim were amazed at his serene countenance mous in their opinions, on which the whole and gravity. After feasting them, he desired family were ordered for execution. Janua an hour for prayer, which being allowed, he rius, the eldest, was scourged and pressed to prayed with such fervency, that his guards death with weights; Felix and Philip, the repented they had been instrumental in taking two next, had their brains dashed out with him. He was, however, carried before the clubs; Sylvanus, the fourth, was murdered pro-consul, condemned, and conducted to the by being thrown from a precipice; and the market-place. Wood being provided, the three younger sons, viz. Alexander, Vitalis, holy man earnestly prayed to Heaven, after and Martialis, were all beheaded. The being bound to the stake; and as the flames mother was beheaded with the same sword grew vehement, the executioners gave way as the three latter.

on both sides, the heat now becoming intol

erable. In the mean time the bishop sung JUSTIN, the celebrated philosopher, fell a praises to God in the midst of the flames, but martyr in this persecution. He was a naremained unconsumed therein, and the burn- tive of Neapolis, in Samaria, and was born ing of the wood spreading a fragrance around, A. D. 103. He had the best education those the guards were much surprised. Deter- times would afford, and travelled into Egypt, mined, however, to put an end to his life, the country where the polite tour of that age they struck spears into his body, when the was made for improvement. At Alexandria quantity of blood that issued from the wounds he was informed of every thing relative to extinguished the flames. After considerable the seventy interpreters of the sacred writ attempts, however, they put him to death, and ings, and shown the rooms, or rather cells, burnt his body, when dead, not being able in which their work was performed. Justin to consume it while alive. This extraordi- was a great lover of truth, and an universal nary event had such an effect upon the peo- scholar; he investigated the Stoic and Periple, that they began to adore the martyr; and the pro-consul was admonished not to deliver nis body, lest the people should leave Christ, and begin to worship him.* Twelve other

Polycarpus was a very aged man, who had served Christ eighty-six years, and served also in

patetic philosophy, and attempted the Pythagorean system; but the behavior of one of its professors disgusting him, he applied himself

the ministry about the space of seventy years. He was the scholar and hearer of John the Evangelist, and was placed by him in Smyrna.

to the Platonic, in which he took great de-and ordered to worship it, not only refused, light. About the year 133, when he was but spit in its face; for which he was severethirty years of age, he became a convert to ly tormented, and afterwards had his head Christianity. Justin wrote an elegant epis- cut off with a sword.

tle to the Gentiles, to convert them to the

BEING.

faith he had newly acquired, and lived in so MIRACULOUS INTERFERENCE OF THE DIVINE pure and innocent a manner, that he well deserved the title of a Christian philosopher. At this time some of the northern nations He likewise employed his talents in con- having armed against Rome, the emperor vincing the Jews of the truth of the Chris- marched to encounter them, at the head of tian rites, and spent much time in travelling, 975,000 men; he was, however, drawn into till he took up his abode in Rome, and fixed an ambuscade, and dreaded the loss of his his habitation on the Viminal mount. He whole army. Surrounded by mountains and kept a public school, taught many who after- enemies, and perishing with thirst, the troops wards became great men, and wrote a trea- were driven to the last extremity. All the tise to confute heresies of all kinds. As the Pagan deities were invoked in vain; when Pagans began to treat the Christians with the men belonging to the militine, or thungreat severity, Justin wrote his first apology dering legion, who were all Christians, were in their favor, and addressed it to the empe- commanded to call upon their God for sucror Antoninus, to two princes whom he had cor; they immediately withdrew from the adopted as his sons, and to the senate and rest, prostrated themselves upon the earth, people of Rome in general. This piece, and prayed fervently. A miraculous deliverwhich occasioned the emperor to publish an ance immediately ensued; a prodigious quanedict in favor of the Christians, displays tity of rain fell, which being caught by the great learning and genius. men, and filling the dykes, afforded a sudden

A short time after, he entered into fre- and astonishing relief. The emperor, in his quent contests with Crescens, a person of a epistle to the Roman senate, wherein the vicious life, but a celebrated cynic philoso- expedition is described, after mentioning the pher; and his arguments appeared so power- difficulties to which he had been driven, ful, yet disgusting to the cynic, that he re- speaks of the Christians in the following solved on his destruction, which, in the se- manner :

quel, he accomplished. The second apology "When I saw myself not able to encounof Justin was occasioned by the following ter with the enemies, I craved aid of our circumstances: a man and his wife, who country gods; but finding no relief at their were both bad livers, resided at Rome. The hands, and being cooped up by the enemy, I woman, however, becoming a convert to caused those men, whom we call Christians, Christianity, attempted to reclaim her hus- to be sent for; who being mustered, I found band; but not succeeding, she sued for a di- a considerable number of them, against whom vorce, which so exasperated him, that he ac- I was more incensed than I had just cause, cused her of being a Christian. Upon her as I found afterwards; for, by a marvellous petition, however, he dropped the prosecu- power, they forthwith used their endeavors, tion, and levelled his malice at Ptolemeus, not with ammunition, drums, and trumpets, who had converted her. Ptolemeus was con- abhorring such preparations and furniture, demned to die; and one Lucius, with another but only praying unto, and trusting in their person, for expressing themselves too freely God, whom they carry about with them upon the occasion, met with the same fate. in their consciences. It is therefore to be Justin's apology upon these severities gave believed, although we call them wicked men, Crescens an opportunity of prejudicing the that they worship God in their hearts; for emperor against the writer of it: upon which they, falling prostrate on the ground, prayed, Justin and six of his companions were appre- not only for me, but for the army also which hended. Being commanded as usual to deny was with me, beseeching God to help me in their faith, and sacrifice to the Pagan idols, that our extreme want of victuals and fresh they refused to do either; they were, there- water (for we had been five days without fore, condemned to be first scourged, and water, and in our enemies' land, even in the then beheaded. midst of Germany;) I say, falling on their

It appears that only seven pieces of the faces, they prayed to a God unknown to me, writings of this celebrated martyr, and great and immediately thereupon fell from heaven a philosopher, are now extant: viz. the Two most pleasant and cool shower; but amongst Apologies; an Exhortation to the Gentiles; our enemies great store of hail, mixed with an Oration to the Greeks; a Treatise on Divine Monarchy; a Dialogue with Trypho the Jew; and an Epistle to Diagnetus.

thunder and lightning: so that we soon perceived the invincible aid of the most mighty God to be with us; therefore we gave these About this time many were beheaded for men leave to profess Christianity, lest, by their refusing to sacrifice to the image of Jupiter; prayers, we be punished by the like: and I in particular Concordus, a deacon of the city hereby make myself the author of all the of Spoleto, being carried before the image, evil that shall accrue by the persecution of