AN

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY;

BOOK THE SECOND,

CONTAINING THE

STATE OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

FROM THE TIME OF

CONSTANTINE THE GREAT

ΤΟ

CHARLEMAGNE.

THE

FOURTH CENTURY.

PART I.

THE EXTERNAL HISTORY OF THE CHURCH.

CHAPTER I.

Concerning the prosperous and calamitous Events which happened to the Church during this Century.

I. THAT I may not separate facts, which are inti- CENT. IV. mately connected with each other, I have judged it expedient to combine, in the same chapter, the prosperous and calamitous events that happened to the church during this century, instead of treating them separately, as I have hitherto done. This combination, which presents things in their natural relations, as causes or effects, is undoubtedly the principal circumstance that renders history truly interesting. In following, however, this plan, the order of time shall also be observed with as much accuracy as the combination of events will allow.

century.

In the beginning of the century, the Roman empire The church enjoys peace was under the dominion of four chiefs, of whom two, at the enDiocletian and Maximian Herculius, were of superior trance of this dignity, and were severally distinguished by the title of Augustus; while the other two, Constantius Chlorus and Maximian Galerius, were in a certain degree of subordination to the former, and were honored with the appellation of Cæsars. Under these four emperors, the church enjoyed an agreeable calma.

CENT. IV. Diocletian, though much addicted to superstition, did not entertain any aversion to the Christians; and Constantius Chlorus, who, following the dictates of reason alone in the worship of the Deity, had abandoned the absurdities of polytheism, treated them with condescension and benevolence. This alarmed the pagan priests, whose interests were so closely connected with the continuance of the ancient superstitions, and who apprehended, not without cause, that to their great detriment the Christian religion would become daily more general and triumphant throughout the empire. Under these anxious fears of the downfall of their authority, they addressed themselves to Diocletian, whom they knew to be of a timorous and credulous disposition, and by fictitious oracles, and other perfidious stratagems, endeavoured to engage him to persecute the Christians".

The persecution under

II. Diocletian, however, stood for some time unDiocletian. moved by the treacherous arts of these selfish and superstitious priests, who, when they perceived the ill success of their cruel efforts, addressed themselves to Maximian Galerius, one of the Cæsars, and also son-in-law to Diocletian, in order to accomplish their unrighteous purposes. This prince, whose gross ignorance of every thing but military affairs was accompanied with a fierce and savage temper, was a proper instrument for executing their designs. Set on, therefore, by the malicious insinuations of the heathen priests, the suggestions of a superstitious mother, and the ferocity of his own natural disposition, he solicited Diocletian, with such urgent and indefatigable importunity, for an edict against the Christians, that he, at length, obtained his horrid purpose; for in the year 303, when this emperor was at Nicomedia, an order was obtained from him to pull down the churches of the Christians, to burn all their books and writings, and to take from them all their civil

b Eusebius, de vita Constantini, lib. ii. cap. i. p. 467. Lactantii Institut. divin. lib. iv. cap. xxvii. et de Mortibus Persequutorum, cap. x.

rights and privileges, and render them incapable of CENT. IV. any honors or civil promotion. This first edict, though rigorous and severe, extended not to the lives of the Christians, for Diocletian was extremely averse to slaughter and bloodshed; it was, however, destructive to many of them, particularly to those who refused to deliver the sacred books into the hands of the magistrates d. Many Christians, therefore, and among them several bishops and presbyters, seeing the consequences of this refusal, delivered up all the religious books, and other sacred things that were in their possession, in order to save their lives. This conduct was highly condemned by the most steady and resolute Christians, who looked upon this compliance as sacrilegious, and branded those who were guilty of it with the ignominious appellation of traditors.

and severity

III. Not long after the publication of this first The causes edict against the Christians, a fire broke out twice in of this perthe palace of Nicomedia, where Galerius lodged with secution. Diocletian. The Christians were accused, by their enemies, as the authors of this conflagration'; and the credulous Diocletian, too easily persuaded of the truth of this charge, caused vast numbers of them to suffer, at Nicomedia, the punishment of incendiaries, and to be tormented in the most inhuman and infamous manner. About the same time, there arose tumults and seditions in Armenia and in Syria, which

с

Lactantius, de Mortibus Persequutorum, c. xi. Eusebius, lib. viii. cap. ii.

d Augustinus, Brev. collat. cum Donatistis, cap. xv. xvii. Baluzii Miscellan. tom. ii.

• Optatus Milevit. de Schismate Donatistarum, lib. i. sect. xiii. f Lactantius assures us, that Galerius caused fire to be privately set to the palace, that he might lay the blame of it upon the Christians, and thus incense Diocletian still more against them; in which horrid stratagem he succeeded; for never was any persecution so bloody and inhuman, as that which this credulous emperor now set on foot against them.

Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. viii. cap. vi. Lactant. de Mortibus Persequut. cap. xix. Constant. Mag. Oratio ad sanctor. Cœtum,

cap. xxv.