butthefactisadmittedbyall。AlatewriterMr。Waddington，Hist。oftheChurch，p。47hasnotscrupledtoassert，that\"thisprincepollutedeveryyearofalongreignwithinnocentblood；\"butthecausesaswellasthedateofthepersecutionsauthorizedorpermittedbyMarcusareequallyuncertain。
OftheAsiaticedictrecordedbyMelito。thedateisunknown，norisitquiteclearthatitwasanImperialedict。IfitwastheactunderwhichPolycarpsuffered，hismartyrdomisplacedbyRuinartinthesixth，byMosheimintheninth，yearofthereignofMarcus。ThemartyrsofVienneandLyonsareassignedbyDodwelltotheseventh，bymostwriterstotheseventeenth。Infact，thecommencementofthepersecutionsoftheChristiansappearstosynchronizeexactlywiththeperiodofthebreakingoutoftheMarcomannicwar，whichseemstohavealarmedthewholeempire，andtheemperorhimself，intoaparoxysmofreturningpietytotheirgods，ofwhichtheChristianswerethevictims。SeeJul，Capit。Script。HistAugust。p。181，edit。
1661。ItisremarkablethatTertullian[Apologet。c。v。
distinctlyassertsthatVerusM。AureliusissuednoedictsagainsttheChristians，andalmostpositivelyexemptshimfromthechargeofpersecution。—M。
Thisremarkablesynchronism，whichexplainsthepersecutionsunderMAurelius，isshownatlengthinMilman\'sHistoryofChristianity，bookii。v。—M。1845。]
Byasingularfatality，thehardshipswhichtheyhadenduredunderthegovernmentofavirtuousprince，immediatelyceasedontheaccessionofatyrant；andasnoneexceptthemselveshadexperiencedtheinjusticeofMarcus，sotheyalonewereprotectedbythelenityofCommodus。ThecelebratedMarcia，themostfavoredofhisconcubines，andwhoatlengthcontrivedthemurderofherImperiallover，entertainedasingularaffectionfortheoppressedchurch；andthoughitwasimpossiblethatshecouldreconcilethepracticeofvicewiththepreceptsofthegospel，shemighthopetoatoneforthefrailtiesofhersexandprofessionbydeclaringherselfthepatronessoftheChristians。
^107UnderthegraciousprotectionofMarcia，theypassedinsafetythethirteenyearsofacrueltyranny；andwhentheempirewasestablishedinthehouseofSeverus，theyformedadomesticbutmorehonorableconnectionwiththenewcourt。Theemperorwaspersuaded，thatinadangeroussickness，hehadderivedsomebenefit，eitherspiritualorphysical，fromtheholyoil，withwhichoneofhisslaveshadanointedhim。Healwaystreatedwithpeculiardistinctionseveralpersonsofbothsexeswhohadembracedthenewreligion。ThenurseaswellasthepreceptorofCaracallawereChristians；andifthatyoungprinceeverbetrayedasentimentofhumanity，itwasoccasionedbyanincident，which，howevertrifling，boresomerelationtothecauseofChristianity。^108UnderthereignofSeverus，thefuryofthepopulacewaschecked；therigorofancientlawswasforsometimesuspended；andtheprovincialgovernorsweresatisfiedwithreceivinganannualpresentfromthechurcheswithintheirjurisdiction，astheprice，orasthereward，oftheirmoderation。^109ThecontroversyconcerningtheprecisetimeofthecelebrationofEaster，armedthebishopsofAsiaandItalyagainsteachother，andwasconsideredasthemostimportantbusinessofthisperiodofleisureandtranquillity。^110Norwasthepeaceofthechurchinterrupted，tilltheincreasingnumbersofproselytesseematlengthtohaveattractedtheattention，andtohavealienatedthemindofSeverus。WiththedesignofrestrainingtheprogressofChristianity，hepublishedanedict，which，thoughitwasdesignedtoaffectonlythenewconverts，couldnotbecarriedintostrictexecution，withoutexposingtodangerandpunishmentthemostzealousoftheirteachersandmissionaries。InthismitigatedpersecutionwemaystilldiscovertheindulgentspiritofRomeandofPolytheism，whichsoreadilyadmittedeveryexcuseinfavorofthosewhopractisedthereligiousceremoniesoftheirfathers。^111
[Footnote107:DionCassius，orratherhisabbreviatorXiphilin，l。lxxii。p。1206。Mr。Moylep。266hasexplainedtheconditionofthechurchunderthereignofCommodus。]
[Footnote*:TheJewsandChristianscontestthehonorofhavingfurnishedanurseisthefratricidesonofSeverusCaracalla。
Hist。ofJews，iii。158。—M。]
[Footnote108:ComparethelifeofCaracallaintheAugustanHistory，withtheepistleofTertulliantoScapula。Dr。JortinRemarksonEcclesiasticalHistory，vol。ii。p。5，&c。considersthecureofSeverusbythemeansofholyoil，withastrongdesiretoconvertitintoamiracle。]
[Footnote109:TertulliandeFuga，c。13。ThepresentwasmadeduringthefeastoftheSaturnalia；anditisamatterofseriousconcerntoTertullian，thatthefaithfulshouldbeconfoundedwiththemostinfamousprofessionswhichpurchasedtheconnivanceofthegovernment。]
[Footnote110:Euseb。l。v。c。23，24。Mosheim，p。435—447。]
[Footnote111:Judaeosfierisubgravipoenavetuit。IdemetiamdeChristianissanxit。Hist。August。p。70。]
ButthelawswhichSeverushadenactedsoonexpiredwiththeauthorityofthatemperor；andtheChristians，afterthisaccidentaltempest，enjoyedacalmofthirty—eightyears。^112
Tillthisperiodtheyhadusuallyheldtheirassembliesinprivatehousesandsequesteredplaces。Theywerenowpermittedtoerectandconsecrateconvenientedificesforthepurposeofreligiousworship；^113topurchaselands，evenatRomeitself，fortheuseofthecommunity；andtoconducttheelectionsoftheirecclesiasticalministersinsopublic，butatthesametimeinsoexemplaryamanner，astodeservetherespectfulattentionoftheGentiles。^114Thislongreposeofthechurchwasaccompaniedwithdignity。ThereignsofthoseprinceswhoderivedtheirextractionfromtheAsiaticprovinces，provedthemostfavorabletotheChristians；theeminentpersonsofthesect，insteadofbeingreducedtoimploretheprotectionofaslaveorconcubine，wereadmittedintothepalaceinthehonorablecharactersofpriestsandphilosophers；andtheirmysteriousdoctrines，whichwerealreadydiffusedamongthepeople，insensiblyattractedthecuriosityoftheirsovereign。
WhentheempressMammaeapassedthroughAntioch，sheexpressedadesireofconversingwiththecelebratedOrigen，thefameofwhosepietyandlearningwasspreadovertheEast。Origenobeyedsoflatteringaninvitation，andthoughhecouldnotexpecttosucceedintheconversionofanartfulandambitiouswoman，shelistenedwithpleasuretohiseloquentexhortations，andhonorablydismissedhimtohisretirementinPalestine。^115ThesentimentsofMammaeawereadoptedbyhersonAlexander，andthephilosophicdevotionofthatemperorwasmarkedbyasingularbutinjudiciousregardfortheChristianreligion。InhisdomesticchapelheplacedthestatuesofAbraham，ofOrpheus，ofApollonius，andofChrist，asanhonorjustlyduetothoserespectablesageswhohadinstructedmankindinthevariousmodesofaddressingtheirhomagetothesupremeanduniversalDeity。
^116Apurerfaith，aswellasworship，wasopenlyprofessedandpractisedamonghishousehold。Bishops，perhapsforthefirsttime，wereseenatcourt；and，afterthedeathofAlexander，whentheinhumanMaximindischargedhisfuryonthefavoritesandservantsofhisunfortunatebenefactor，agreatnumberofChristiansofeveryrankandofbothsexes，wereinvolvedthepromiscuousmassacre，which，ontheiraccount，hasimproperlyreceivedthenameofPersecution。^117
[Footnote112:SulpiciusSeverus，l。ii。p。384。ThiscomputationallowingforasingleexceptionisconfirmedbythehistoryofEusebius，andbythewritingsofCyprian。]
[Footnote113:TheantiquityofChristianchurchesisdiscussedbyTillemont，MemoiresEcclesiastiques，tom。iii。partii。p。
68—72，andbyMr。Moyle，vol。i。p。378—398。TheformerrefersthefirstconstructionofthemtothepeaceofAlexanderSeverus；
thelatter，tothepeaceofGallienus。]
[Footnote114:SeetheAugustanHistory，p。130。TheemperorAlexanderadoptedtheirmethodofpubliclyproposingthenamesofthosepersonswhowerecandidatesforordination。ItistruethatthehonorofthispracticeislikewiseattributedtotheJews。]
[Footnote115:Euseb。Hist。Ecclesiast。l。vi。c。21。Hieronym。
deScript。Eccles。c。54。Mammaeawasstyledaholyandpiouswoman，bothbytheChristiansandthePagans。Fromtheformer，therefore，itwasimpossiblethatsheshoulddeservethathonorableepithet。]
[Footnote116:SeetheAugustanHistory，p。123。Mosheimp。
465seemstorefinetoomuchonthedomesticreligionofAlexander。HisdesignofbuildingapublictempletoChrist，Hist。August。p。129，andtheobjectionwhichwassuggestedeithertohim，orinsimilarcircumstancestoHadrian，appeartohavenootherfoundationthananimprobablereport，inventedbytheChristians，andcredulouslyadoptedbyanhistorianoftheageofConstantine。]
[Footnote117:Euseb。l。vi。c。28。ItmaybepresumedthatthesuccessoftheChristianshadexasperatedtheincreasingbigotryofthePagans。DionCassius，whocomposedhishistoryundertheformerreign，hadmostprobablyintendedfortheuseofhismasterthosecounselsofpersecution，whichheascribestoabetterage，andtoandtothefavoriteofAugustus。ConcerningthisorationofMaecenas，orratherofDion，Imayrefertomyownunbiasedopinion，vol。i。c。1，note25，andtotheAbbedelaBleterieMemoiresdel\'Academie，tom。xxiv。p。303tomxxv。
p。432。
Note:Ifthisbethecase，DionCassiusmusthaveknowntheChristianstheymusthavebeenthesubjectofhisparticularattention，sincetheauthorsupposesthathewishedhismastertoprofitbythese\"counselsofpersecution。\"HowarewetoreconcilethisnecessaryconsequencewithwhatGibbonhassaidoftheignoranceofDionCassiusevenofthenameoftheChristians?
c。xvi。n。24。[GibbonspeaksofDion\'ssilence，notofhisignorance。—M]Thesuppositioninthisnoteissupportedbynoproof；itisprobablethatDionCassiushasoftendesignatedtheChristiansbythenameofJews。SeeDionCassius，l。lxvii。c14，lxviii。l—G。
OnthispointIshouldadopttheviewofGibbonratherthanthatofMGuizot。—M]
[Footnote*:Itiswithgoodreasonthatthismassacrehasbeencalledapersecution，foritlastedduringthewholereignofMaximin，asmaybeseeninEusebius。l。vi。c。28。Rufinusexpresslyconfirmsit:TribusannisaMaximinopersecutionecommota，inquibusfinemetpersecutionisfecitetvitasHist。l。
vi。c。19。—G。]
NotwithstandingthecrueldispositionofMaximin，theeffectsofhisresentmentagainsttheChristianswereofaverylocalandtemporarynature，andthepiousOrigen，whohadbeenproscribedasadevotedvictim，wasstillreservedtoconveythetruthsofthegospeltotheearofmonarchs。^118HeaddressedseveraledifyingletterstotheemperorPhilip，tohiswife，andtohismother；andassoonasthatprince，whowasbornintheneighborhoodofPalestine，hadusurpedtheImperialsceptre，theChristiansacquiredafriendandaprotector。ThepublicandevenpartialfavorofPhiliptowardsthesectariesofthenewreligion，andhisconstantreverencefortheministersofthechurch，gavesomecolortothesuspicion，whichprevailedinhisowntimes，thattheemperorhimselfwasbecomeaconverttothefaith；^119andaffordedsomegroundsforafablewhichwasafterwardsinvented，thathehadbeenpurifiedbyconfessionandpenancefromtheguiltcontractedbythemurderofhisinnocentpredecessor。^120thefallofPhilipintroduced，withthechangeofmasters，anewsystemofgovernment，sooppressivetotheChristians，thattheirformercondition，eversincethetimeofDomitian，wasrepresentedasastateofperfectfreedomandsecurity，ifcomparedwiththerigoroustreatmentwhichtheyexperiencedundertheshortreignofDecius。^121Thevirtuesofthatprincewillscarcelyallowustosuspectthathewasactuatedbyameanresentmentagainstthefavoritesofhispredecessor；anditismorereasonabletobelieve，thatintheprosecutionofhisgeneraldesigntorestorethepurityofRomanmanners，hewasdesirousofdeliveringtheempirefromwhathecondemnedasarecentandcriminalsuperstition。Thebishopsofthemostconsiderablecitieswereremovedbyexileordeath:thevigilanceofthemagistratespreventedtheclergyofRomeduringsixteenmonthsfromproceedingtoanewelection；anditwastheopinionoftheChristians，thattheemperorwouldmorepatientlyendureacompetitorforthepurple，thanabishopinthecapital。
^122WereitpossibletosupposethatthepenetrationofDeciushaddiscoveredprideunderthedisguiseofhumility，orthathecouldforeseethetemporaldominionwhichmightinsensiblyarisefromtheclaimsofspiritualauthority，wemightbelesssurprised，thatheshouldconsiderthesuccessorsofSt。Peter，asthemostformidablerivalstothoseofAugustus。
[Footnote118:Orosius，l。vii。c。19，mentionsOrigenastheobjectofMaximin\'sresentment；andFirmilianus，aCappadocianbishopofthatage，givesajustandconfinedideaofthispersecution，apudCyprianEpist。75。]
[Footnote119:ThementionofthoseprinceswhowerepubliclysupposedtobeChristians，aswefinditinanepistleofDionysiusofAlexandria，ap。Euseb。l。vii。c。10，evidentlyalludestoPhilipandhisfamily，andformsacontemporaryevidence，thatsuchareporthadprevailed；buttheEgyptianbishop，wholivedatanhumbledistancefromthecourtofRome，expresseshimselfwithabecomingdiffidenceconcerningthetruthofthefact。TheepistlesofOrigenwhichwereextantinthetimeofEusebius，seel。vi。c。36wouldmostprobablydecidethiscuriousratherthanimportantquestion。]
[Footnote120:Euseb。l。vi。c。34。Thestory，asisusual，hasbeenembellishedbysucceedingwriters，andisconfuted，withmuchsuperfluouslearning，byFrederickSpanheim，OperaVaria，tom。ii。p。400，&c。]
[Footnote121:Lactantius，deMortibusPersecutorum，c。3，4。
Aftercelebratingthefelicityandincreaseofthechurch，underalongsuccessionofgoodprinces，headds，\"Extititpostannosplurimos，execrabileanimal，Decius，quivexaretEcclesiam。\"]
[Footnote122:Euseb。l。vi。c。39。Cyprian。Epistol。55。TheseeofRomeremainedvacantfromthemartyrdomofFabianus，the20thofJanuary，A。D。259，tilltheelectionofCornelius，the4thofJune，A。D。251DeciushadprobablyleftRome，sincehewaskilledbeforetheendofthatyear。]
TheadministrationofValerianwasdistinguishedbyalevityandinconstancyillsuitedtothegravityoftheRomanCensor。
Inthefirstpartofhisreign，hesurpassedinclemencythoseprinceswhohadbeensuspectedofanattachmenttotheChristianfaith。Inthelastthreeyearsandahalf，listeningtotheinsinuationsofaministeraddictedtothesuperstitionsofEgypt，headoptedthemaxims，andimitatedtheseverity，ofhispredecessorDecius。^123TheaccessionofGallienus，whichincreasedthecalamitiesoftheempire，restoredpeacetothechurch；andtheChristiansobtainedthefreeexerciseoftheirreligionbyanedictaddressedtothebishops，andconceivedinsuchtermsasseemedtoacknowledgetheirofficeandpubliccharacter。^124Theancientlaws，withoutbeingformallyrepealed，weresufferedtosinkintooblivion；andexceptingonlysomehostileintentionswhichareattributedtotheemperorAurelian^125thedisciplesofChristpassedabovefortyyearsinastateofprosperity，farmoredangeroustotheirvirtuethantheseveresttrialsofpersecution。
[Footnote123:Euseb。l。vii。c。10。Mosheimp。548hasveryclearlyshownthatthepraefectMacrianus，andtheEgyptianMagus，areoneandthesameperson。]
[Footnote124:Eusebiusl。vii。c。13givesusaGreekversionofthisLatinedict，whichseemstohavebeenveryconcise。Byanotheredict，hedirectedthattheCoemeteriashouldberestoredtotheChristians。]
[Footnote125:Euseb。l。vii。c。30。LactantiusdeM。P。c。6。
Hieronym。inChron。p。177。Orosius，l。vii。c。23。Theirlanguageisingeneralsoambiguousandincorrect，thatweareatalosstodeterminehowfarAurelianhadcarriedhisintentionsbeforehewasassassinated。MostofthemodernsexceptDodwell，Dissertat。Cyprian。vi。64haveseizedtheoccasionofgainingafewextraordinarymartyrs。
Note:Dr。Lardnerhasdetailed，withhisusualimpartiality，allthathascomedowntousrelatingtothepersecutionofAurelian，andconcludesbysaying，\"UponmorecarefullyexaminingthewordsofEusebius，andobservingtheaccountsofotherauthors，learnedmenhavegenerally，and，asIthink，veryjudiciously，determined，thatAureliannotonlyintended，butdidactuallypersecute:buthispersecutionwasshort，hehavingdiedsoonafterthepublicationofhisedicts。\"HeathenTest。c。
xxxvi。—Basmagepositivelypronouncesthesameopinion:Nonintentatummodo，sedexecutumquoquebrevissimotemporemandatum，nobisinfixumestinaniasis。Basn。Ann。275，No。2andcomparePagiAnn。272，Nos。4，12，27—G。]
ThestoryofPaulofSamosata，whofilledthemetropolitanseeofAntioch，whiletheEastwasinthehandsofOdenathusandZenobia，mayservetoillustratetheconditionandcharacterofthetimes。Thewealthofthatprelatewasasufficientevidenceofhisguilt，sinceitwasneitherderivedfromtheinheritanceofhisfathers，noracquiredbytheartsofhonestindustry。ButPaulconsideredtheserviceofthechurchasaverylucrativeprofession。^126Hisecclesiasticaljurisdictionwasvenalandrapacious；heextortedfrequentcontributionsfromthemostopulentofthefaithful，andconvertedtohisownuseaconsiderablepartofthepublicrevenue。Byhisprideandluxury，theChristianreligionwasrenderedodiousintheeyesoftheGentiles。Hiscouncilchamberandhisthrone，thesplendorwithwhichheappearedinpublic，thesuppliantcrowdwhosolicitedhisattention，themultitudeoflettersandpetitionstowhichhedictatedhisanswers，andtheperpetualhurryofbusinessinwhichhewasinvolved，werecircumstancesmuchbettersuitedtothestateofacivilmagistrate，^127thantothehumilityofaprimitivebishop。Whenheharanguedhispeoplefromthepulpit，PaulaffectedthefigurativestyleandthetheatricalgesturesofanAsiaticsophist，whilethecathedralresoundedwiththeloudestandmostextravagantacclamationsinthepraiseofhisdivineeloquence。Againstthosewhoresistedhispower，orrefusedtoflatterhisvanity，theprelateofAntiochwasarrogant，rigid，andinexorable；butherelaxedthediscipline，andlavishedthetreasuresofthechurchonhisdependentclergy，whowerepermittedtoimitatetheirmasterinthegratificationofeverysensualappetite。ForPaulindulgedhimselfveryfreelyinthepleasuresofthetable，andhehadreceivedintotheepiscopalpalacetwoyoungandbeautifulwomenastheconstantcompanionsofhisleisuremoments。^128