beheaded and on the 14th of September, and fearful of exposure, determined to an

A. D. 258, this sentence was executed.

His disciples who were martyred in this persecution, were, Lucius, Flavian, Victoricus, Remus, Montanus, Donatian, Julian, and Primolus.

MARTYRDOM OF 300 CHRISTIANS.

Perhaps one of the most dreadful events

ticipate the accusation, and therefore immediately charged Eugenius, and the other members of the Christian community, with attempting to debauch her. This matter being heard before Philippus, and Melancia being esteemed virtuous, the accusation gained credit, especially as it was brought against the Christians. Then Eugenius perceiving that she and her fellow-believers

in the history of martyrdom was that which took place at Utica, where 300 Christians were in imminent danger of death on this

were, by the orders of the pro-consul, placed infamous charge, and that it was now no around a burning limekiln. A pan of coals time for dissimulation, desired of the judge and incense being prepared, they were com- to allow her time and place to make manifest manded either to sacrifice to Jupiter, or be to him the truth; which being granted, she thrown into the kiln. Unanimously refusing, disclosed to him that she was his daughter, they bravely jumped into the pit, and were and that her companions were Protheus and suffocated immediately. Hiacinthus, two pious eunuchs; explaining Fructuosus, bishop of Tarragón, in Spain, to him and to her brethren, the cause of her and his two deacons, Augurius and Eulogius, departure from them. By this narration they for avowing themselves Christians, were were convinced of her innocence, and her consumed by fire. Malchus, Alexander, and malignant accuser was utterly confounded. Priscus, three Christians of Palestine, with Philippus was afterwards converted to Chrisa woman of the same place, voluntarily tianity, made bishop of Alexandria, and sufaccused themselves of being Christians: for fered martyrdom. which they were sentenced to be devoured

Eugenia, after the death of her father, reby tigers, which sentence was accordingly turning to Rome with Protheus and Hiacinexecuted. Donatilla, Maxima, and Secunda, thus, and having there converted Basilla, (a three virgins of Tuburga, had gall and vine- lady who was to have been married to a gar given them to drink, were then severely scourged, tormented on a gibbet, rubbed with lime, scorched on a gridiron, worried by wild beasts, and at last beheaded.

Pagan, but now refused, in consequence of which she was beheaded), was assailed with various kinds of death, from all of which she was delivered by the miraculous interference Pontius, a native of the city of Simela, of Heaven; first, being tied to a great stone, near the Alps, being apprehended as a Chris- and cast into the Tiber, where she was pretian, was tortured on the rack, worried by vented from drowning; then put into the wild beasts, half burned, then beheaded, and hot-baths, when the fires were extinguished, lastly thrown into the river; and Protus and and she preserved; lastly, being cast into a Hyacinthus likewise suffered martyrdom prison to die of hunger, she was fed by a about the same period. supernatural hand.

SINGULAR ACCOUNT OF A CHRISTIAN LADY.

FATE OF THE EMPEROR VALERIAN.

Philippus, governor of Alexandria, had a This tyrant, who had so long and so terridaughter named Eugenia, who was singularly bly persecuted the Christians, was taken beautiful, had received a liberal education, prisoner by Saphores, king of Persia, who and, having been much in the company of carried him into his own country, and there Christians, had embraced their faith. To treated him with the most unexampled indigavoid the persecutions at this time carried nity, making him kneel down as the meanest on, she eloped from her father's house, and slave, and treading upon him as a footstool resorted to hear the readings of Helenus, an when he mounted his horse, saying, in a aged bishop. For the purpose of concealment, she assumed male attire; and, calling herself Eugenius, was admitted into a monastery, or society of Christians, in the suburbs of Alexandria, of which, at length, by her learning and virtue, she became the

head.

Here she performed many miracles, and among others who were cured by her, was a certain matron of Alexandria, named Melancia, who supposing her to be a man, conceived a criminal passion for her, and so far lost all sense of virtue and decorum, as to solicit her to gratify her desires. Eugenius exhorted her to continue in the paths of virtue; but Melancia, enraged at the refusal,

vaunting manner, "This posture is a greater proof which way the victory went, than all the pictures the Roman artists can draw.”

Having kept him for the space of seven years in this abject state of slavery, he at last caused his eyes to be put out, though he was then eighty-three years of age; and his desire of revenge not being satisfied, he soon after ordered his body to be flayed alive, and rubbed with salt, under which torments he expired.

Gallienus, the son of Valerian, succeeded him A. D. 260, and during his reign, the empire suffered many commotions, particularly earthquakes, pestilence, inundations, intestine broils, and incursions of barbarians.

This emperor reflecting, that when his father whether he would sacrifice to the Pagan favored the Christians he prospered, and that deities, or become a martyr; and wavering when he persecuted them he was unsuccess-during this interval, a Christian prelate placed ful, determined to relax the persecution; so the gospel and a sword before him, and dethat (a few martyrs excepted) the church manded which he would choose. Marnius enjoyed peace for some years. The chief of took the sword without hesitation. On meetthose few martyrs was Marnius, a centurion, ing again with the governor, he made a noble who being apprehended as a Christian, had confession of his faith, and was soon after but three hours allowed him to deliberate, beheaded, in the year 262.

The Ninth General Persecution under the Roman Emperors.

In the year 274, the emperor Aurelian had recovered from his surprise, and resumcommenced a persecution against the Chris- ing his discourse, he used such powerful tians; the principal of the sufferers was Fe- arguments, that he made a convert of him, lix, bishop of Rome. This prelate was ad- who soon after sold his estate, resigned his vanced to the Roman see in 274, and was command, and spent the remainder of his beheaded in the same year, on the 22d of days in a pious retirement. December. Agapetus, a young gentleman, The prefect who succeeded the abovewho sold his estate, and gave the money to mentioned convert, had nothing of the dispothe poor, was seized as a Christian, tortured, sition of his predecessor: he was morose and and then brought to Præneste, a city within severe, and soon seized upon the whole of a day's journey of Rome, where he was be- this Christian race, who were accordingly headed. These are the only martyrs left martyred, by being tied to posts, and having upon record during this reign, as it was soon their feet pierced with nails. After remainput a stop to by the emperor being murdered ing in this situation for a day and night, by his own domestics, at Byzantium. Aure- their sufferings were put an end to by thrustlian was succeeded by Tacitus, who was fol- ing lances through their bodies. lowed by Probus, as was the latter by Carus: this emperor being killed by a thunder-storm, his sons, Carinus and Numerian, succeeded him; and during all these reigns, the church enjoyed rest.

Zoe, the wife of the gaoler who had the care of the before-mentioned martyrs, being greatly edified by their discourses, had a desire to become a Christian: this, as she was dumb with a palsy, she could only express Diocletian mounting the imperial throne, by gestures. They gave her instructions in A. D. 284, at first showed great favor to the the faith, and told her to pray in her heart Christians. In the year 296, he associated to God to relieve her from her disorder. She Maximian with him in the empire; and the did so, and was at length relieved: for her following Christians were put to death before paralytic disorder by degrees left her, and any general persecution broke out:-Felician her speech returned again. This enforced and Primus, two brothers. They were seized her belief, and confirmed her a Christian : by an order from the imperial court; and and her husband, finding her cured, became owning themselves Christians, were accord- a convert himself. These conversions made ingly scourged, tortured, and finally behead- a great noise, and the proselytes were aped. Marcus and Marcellianus were twins, prehended. Zoe was commanded to sacrinatives of Rome, and of noble descent. Their fice to Mars, which refusing, she was hanged parents were heathens, but the tutors to upon a tree, and a fire of straw lighted under whom the education of the children was in- her. When her body was taken down, it trusted, brought them up as Christians. was thrown into a river, with a large stone Being apprehended on account of their faith, tied to it, in order to sink it. they were severely tortured, and then sen- Tibertius, a native of Rome, was of a famitenced to be beheaded. A respite of a month ly of rank and distinction. Being accused was obtained for them by their friends, when as a Christian, he was commanded either to their father, mother, and all their relations, sacrifice to idols, or to walk upon burning attempted to bring them back to Paganism, coals. He chose the latter, and passed over but in vain. At last their constancy subdued them without damage; when Fabian passed their persuaders, and their parents and whole sentence upon him that he should be befamily became converts to a faith they had just before condemned.

headed: which was performed in the month
of August, A. D. 286, and his body was
afterwards buried by some pious Christians.

MASSACRE OF A WHOLE LEGION OF CHRIS-
TIAN SOLDIERS.

Tranquillinus, the father of the two young men, was sent for by the prefect, to give him an account of the success of his endeavors; when he confessed, that so far from having persuaded his sons to forsake the faith they A very remarkable affair occurred in A. D. had embraced, he was become a Christian 286. A legion of soldiers, consisting of 6666 himself. He then stopped till the magistrate men, contained none but Christians. This

legion was called the Theban legion, because would have softened the emperor, but it had 'the men had been raised in Thebais: they a contrary effect; for, enraged at their perwere quartered in the East, till the emperor severance and unanimity, he commanded Maximian ordered them to march to Gaul, that the whole legion should be put to death, to assist him against the rebels of Burgundy; which was accordingly executed by the when passing the Alps under the command other troops, who cut them to pieces with of Mauritius, Candidus, and Exupernis, they their swords.

at length joined the emperor. About this This barbarous transaction happened on time, Maximian ordered a general sacrifice, the 22d of September, A. D. 286; and such at which the whole army were to assist; and was the inveterate malice of Maximian, that he commanded, that they should take oaths he sent to destroy every man of a few deof allegiance, and swear, at the same time, tachments that had been drafted from the to assist him in the extirpation of Christiani- Theban legion, and dispatched to Italy. ty in Gaul. A veteran soldier of another legion, whose Terrified at these orders, each individual name was Victor, met the executioners of of the Theban legion absolutely refused this bloody business. As they appeared either to sacrifice, or take the oaths pre- rather merry, he inquired into the cause of scribed. This so greatly enraged Maximian, their jocularity, and being informed of the that he ordered the legion to be decimated, whole affair, he sharply reproved them for that is, every tenth man to be selected from the their barbarity. This excited their curiosity rest, and put to the sword. This cruel order to ask him if he was of the same faith as having been put into execution, those who those who had suffered. On his answering remained alive were still inflexible, when a in the affirmative, several of the soldiers fell second decimation took place, and again upon him, and dispatched him. every tenth man of those living were put to the sword.

ALBAN, THE FIRST BRITISH MARTYR. But this second severity made no more Alban, from whom St. Alban's, in Hertimpression than the first; the soldiers pre- fordshire, received its name, was the first served their fortitude, and their principles; British martyr. He was originally a Pagan, but, by the advice of their officers, drew up and being of a very humane disposition, he a remonstrance to the emperor, in which sheltered a Christian ecclesiastic, named they told him, "that they were his subjects Amphibalus, who was pursued on account of and his soldiers, but could not at the same his religion. The pious example, and edifytime forget the Almighty; that they receiving discourses of the refugee, made a great ed their pay from him, and their existence impression on the mind of Alban; he longed from God. While your commands (said to become a member of a religion which they) are not contradictory to those of our charmed him; the fugitive minister, happy common master, we shall always be ready in the opportunity, took great pains to into obey, as we have been hitherto; but when struct him; and, before his discovery, perthe orders of our prince and those of the Al- fected Alban's conversion.

mighty differ, we must always obey the lat- Alban now took a firm resolution to preter. Our arms are devoted to the emperor's serve the sentiments of a Christian, or to die use, and shall be directed against his ene- the death of a martyr. The enemies of Ammies; but we cannot submit to stain our phibalus having intelligence of the place hands with effusion of Christian blood; and where he was secreted, came to the house of how, indeed, could you, O emperor, be Alban, in order to apprehend him. The noble sure of our allegiance and fidelity, should host, desirous of protecting his guest, changed we violate our obligation to our God, in clothes with him, in order to facilitate his whose service we were solemnly engaged escape; and when the soldiers came, offered before we entered the army? You command himself up as the person for whom they were us to search out and to destroy the Chris- seeking. Being accordingly carried before tians: it is not necessary to look any farther the governor, the deceit was immediately for persons of that denomination; we our-discovered; and Amphibalus being absent, selves are such, and we glory in the name. that officer determined to wreak his venWe saw our companions fall without the least geance upon Alban; with this view he comopposition or murmuring, and thought them manded the prisoner to advance to the altar, happy in dying for the sake of Christ. No- and sacrifice to the Pagan deities. The thing shall make us lift up our hands against brave Alban, however, refused to comply our sovereign; we had rather die wrong- with the idolatrous injunction, and boldly fully, and by that means preserve our inno- professed himself to be a Christian. The cence, than live under a load of guilt: what- governor therefore ordered him to be scourgever you command, we are ready to suffer: ed, which punishment he bore with great we confess ourselves to be Christians, and fortitude, seeming to acquire new resolution therefore cannot persecute Christians, nor from his sufferings: he was then beheaded. sacrifice to idols." The venerable Bede states, that, upon this Such a declaration, it might be presumed, occasion, the executioner suddenly became

a convert to Christianity, and entreated per- governor, who had him first tortured, and mission either to die for Alban or with him. then beheaded.-Quintin was a Christian, Obtaining the latter request, they were be- and a native of Rome, but he determined to headed by a soldier, who voluntarily under- attempt the propagation of the gospel in took the task. This happened on the 22d Gaul. He accordingly went to Picardy, atof June, A. D. 287, at Verulam, now St. Al- tended by one Lucian, and they preached ban's, in Hertfordshire, where a magnificent together at Amiens; after which, Lucian church was erected to his memory, about the went to Beauvais, where he suffered martyrtime of Constantine the Great. This edifice dom. Quintin, however, remained in Picardy, was destroyed in the Saxon wars, but was rebuilt by Offa, king of Mercia, and a monastery erected adjoining to it, some remains of which are still visible.

MARTYRDOM OF ST. FAITH, AND OTHERS.

and was very zealous in his ministry. His continual prayers to the Almighty were to increase his faith, and strengthen his faculties to propagate the gospel. Being seized upon as a Christian, he was stretched with pulleys till his joints were dislocated: his Faith, a Christian female, of Aquitaine, in body was then torn with wire scourges, and France, being informed that there was a de- boiling oil and pitch poured on his naked sign to seize her, anticipated the intention, flesh: lighted torches were applied to his by surrendering herself a prisoner; and be- sides and arm-pits; and after he had been ing inflexible in her faith, was ordered to be thus tortured, he was remanded back to broiled upon a gridiron, and then beheaded, prison. Varus, the governor, being obliged which sentence was executed A. D. 287.- to repair to Vermandois, ordered Quintin to Capacius, a Christian, concealed herself from be conducted thither under a strong guard; from the persecutors, but being informed of and here he died of the barbarities he had the fortitude of Faith, he openly avowed his suffered, on the 31st of October, A. D. 287: religion, and delivered himself up to the his body was sunk in the Somme.

The Tenth General Persecution under the Roman Emperors.

NOTWITHSTANDING the efforts of the hea- from the legal institutions of the realm. An thens to exterminate the Christians, and immediate martyrdom was the result of the abolish their mode of faith, yet they increased publication of this edict; for a bold Chrisso greatly, as to become formidable by their tian not only tore it down from the place to numbers. They, however, forgot the pre-which it was affixed, but execrated the name cepts of their meek prototype, and instead of the emperor for his injustice and cruelty: of adopting his humility, they gave them- he was in consequence seized, severely torselves up to vanity, by dressing gaily, living tured, and then burnt alive. The Christian sumptuously, building stately edifices for prelates were likewise apprehended and imchurches, &c. which created a general envy, prisoned; and Galerius privately ordered the and particularly excited the hatred of Gale- imperial palace to be set on fire, that the rius, the adopted son of Diocletian, who, Christians might be charged as the incenstimulated by his mother, a bigoted Pagan, diaries, and a plausible pretext given for carpersuaded the emperor to commence a per- rying on the persecution with the greatest secution. It accordingly began on the 23d severity.

of February, A. D. 303, that being the day

on which the Terminalia were celebrated, A GENERAL SACRIFICE OF THE CHRISTIANS. and on which, as the Pagans boasted, they hoped to put a termination to Christianity.

A general sacrifice was then commanded, which occasioned various martyrdoms. The persecution began in Nicodemia; the Among others, a Christian, named Peter, prefect of that city repaired, with a great was tortured, broiled, and then burnt; sevenumber of officers and assistants, to the ral deacons and presbyters were seized upon, church of the Christians, where, having and executed by various means; and the forced open the doors, they seized upon all bishop of Nicomedia, named Anthimus, was the sacred books, and committed them to the beheaded. So great was the persecution, flames. This transaction took place in the that there was no distinction made of age or presence of Diocletian and Galerius, who sex, but all were indiscriminately massacred. also caused the church to be levelled with Many houses were set on fire, and whole the ground. It was followed by a severe Christian families perished in the flames; edict, commanding the destruction of all others had stones fastened about their necks, other Christian churches and books; and an and were driven into the sea. The persecuorder soon succeeded, the object of which tion became general in all the Roman provwas to render Christians of all denominations inces, but more particularly in the East; and outlaws, and, consequently, to make them as it lasted ten years, it is impossible to asincapable of holding any place of trust, profit, certain the numbers martyred, or to enumeor dignity, or of receiving any protection rate the various modes of martyrdom: some

were beheaded in Arabia; many devoured gods of the empire and to himself:-To this by wild beasts in Phoenicia; great numbers he answered, that his religion was of a good, were broiled on gridirons in Syria; others not a pernicious tendency, and that it did not had their bones broken, and in that manner stimulate him to any thing against the wel were left to expire in Cappadocia; and in fare of the empire, or the emperor; and that Mesopotamia, several were hung with their the greatest proof he could give of his fidelheads downwards, over a slow fire, and suf- ity, was the praying to the only true God focated. In Pontus, a variety of tortures for the health and prosperity of his imperial were used in particular, pins were thrust person. Incensed at this reply, the emperor under the nails of the prisoners, melted lead ordered him to be taken to a field near the was poured upon them, but without effect. city, termed the Campus Martius, and there In Egypt, some Christians were buried alive to be shot to death with arrows: which senin the earth, others were drowned in the tence was accordingly executed. A few Nile, many were hung in the air till they Christians attending at the place of execuperished, and great numbers were thrown tion, in order to give his body burial, perinto large fires, &c. Scourges, racks, dag-ceived signs of life in him, and moving him gers, swords, poison, crosses, and famine, to a place of security, they in a short time were made use of in various parts to dis- effected his recovery, and prepared him for a patch the Christians; and invention was ex-second martyrdom; for as soon as he was hausted to devise tortures against them. able to walk, he placed himself intentionally A town of Phrygia, consisting entirely of Christians, was surrounded by a number of Pagan soldiers, to prevent any from escaping; they then set the town on fire, and all the inhabitants perished in the flames. PROVINCIAL GOVERNORS ADDRESS THE EM

PEROR TO STOP THE PERSECUTION.

in the emperor's way, as he was going to the temple. The unexpected appearance of a person supposed to be dead, greatly astonished the emperor, hor did the words of the martyr less surprise him; for he began with great severity to reprehend him for his vari ous cruelties, and for his unreasonable pre judices against Christianity.

At last several governors of provinces re- When Diocletian had overcome his surpresented to the imperial court, that "it was prise, he ordered Sebastian to be seized, carunfit to pollute the cities with the blood of ried to a place near the palace, and beat to the inhabitants, or to defame the government death; and that the Christians should not of the emperors with the death of so many either use means again to recover or bury subjects." Hence many were respited from his body, he ordered that it should be thrown execution; but though not put to death, they into the common sewer. Nevertheless, a were subjected to every species of indignity. Christian lady, named Lucina, found means Many had their ears cut off, their noses slit, to remove it from the sewer, and bury it in their right eyes put out, their limbs dislo- the catacombs. cated, and their flesh seared in conspicuous places, with red-hot irons.

ACCOUNT OF SOME WHO SUFFERED.

THE CHRISTIANS REFUSE TO BEAR ARMS UN-
DER THE ROMAN EMPERORS.

At this time the Christians, upon mature Amongst those who forfeited their lives consideration, thought it unlawful to bear during this bloody persecution, was Sebas- arms under a heathen emperor. Their reatian, a celebrated holy man, who was born sons were:

at Narbonne in Gaul, instructed in the prin- 1. That they thereby were frequently unciples of Christianity at Milan, and after-der the necessity of profaning the Christian wards became an officer of the emperor's sabbath.-2. That they were obliged, with guard at Rome. He remained a true Chris- the rest of the army, frequently to be present tian in the midst of idolatry; unallured by at idolatrous sacrifices, before the temples of the splendors of a court, and untainted by idols.-3. That they were compelled to folevil examples: esteemed by the most emi-low the imperial standards, which were nent, beloved by his equals, and admired by dedicated to heathen deities, and bore their his inferiors, he lived happily, and kept his representations. Such reasons induced many faith and place, till the rigor of the persecu- to refuse to enter into the imperial army, tion deprived him of life. He was informed when called upon so to do; for the Roman against, and betrayed to Fabian, the Roman constitution obliged all young men, of a cerprætor, by Torquatus, a pretended Christian; tain stature, to make several campaigns. but being of a rank too considerable to be Maximilian, the son of Fabius Victor, beput to death without the emperor's express ing pointed out as a proper person to bear orders, Diocletian was made acquainted with arms, was ordered by Dion, the pro-consul, to the circumstance. be measured, that he might be enlisted in

The emperor, on hearing the accusation, the service. Maximilian, however, boldly sent for Sebastian, and charged him with declared himself a Christian, and refused to ingratitude in betraying the confidence re-do military duty. Being found of the proper posed in him, and being an enemy to the height, Dion gave directions that he should