History of the Church of Christ Century IV-Joseph Milner

The last century concluded with some symptoms of a storm ready to burst on the church which had long been in a state of ease and prosperity and was at the same time deeply declined from the purity and simplicity of the gospel.

Besides the martyrdom of Marcellus in Africa, an attempt had been made in a more general and yet in a covert manner to corrupt the army.

It was put to the option of Christian officers whether they would offer sacrifice and enjoy their dignity or refuse and be deprived.

Many were desirous of retiring into private life to avoid the trial.

Many, however, showed a sincere regard to the kingdom of Christ and contentedly lost their preferment.

Some few were put to death for a terror to the rest.

But the general persecution which afterwards destroyed such numbers was withheld for some time.

In this prelude, which has been mentioned above, and of which we have only a dark and imperfect account, something of the political maneuvers of Diocletian seems conspicuous.

It is evident that after he had so long favored the Christians he had now contracted a prejudice against them, though at first he made use of artifice rather than violence.

This emperor had an associate called Maximian, and they had under them two Caesars, Galerius and Constantius.

The last mentioned only of the four was a person of probity and humanity.

The other three were tyrants, though the savageness of Galerius was the most remarkable.

He met Diocletian at Nicomedia, where he usually kept his court in the winter in the nineteenth year of his reign, and in the year of our Lord three oh two, and determined, if possible, to instigate him to measures against the Christians, still more sanguinary and decisive.

This man had a mother extremely bigoted to paganism, who almost every day employed herself in sacrifices.

The Christians about her refused to partake of the idolatrous feasts, and gave themselves up to fasting and prayer.

Hence her mind was incensed against the whole body, and she stimulated her son, who was as superstitious as herself, to seek their destruction.

A whole winter Diocletian and Galerius were engaged in secret councils.

The latter proposed a general persecution.

The former remonstrated against the impolicy of such sanguinary measures, and was for limiting the persecution to the officers of the court and the soldiers.

Finding himself unable to stem the fury of Galerius, he called a council of a few judges and officers.

Some gave it as their opinion that the Christians should in general be put to death, and others, induced by fear or flattery, assented.

Still Diocletian was averse, and through policy or superstition determined to consult the oracle of Apollo at Miletus.

Apollo answered, as it might be expected, in a manner friendly to the views of Galerius.

Staggered with repeated importunities, the old emperor still hesitated and could not be persuaded to attempt the demolition of Christianity by bloodshed, whereas Galerius was desirous to burn alive those who refused to sacrifice to the heathen gods.

The feast of the Terminalia was the day appointed to commence the operations against the Christians.

The last century concluded with some symptoms of a storm ready to burst on the church which had long been in a state of ease and prosperity and was at the same time deeply declined from the purity and simplicity of the gospel.

Besides the martyrdom of Marcellus in Africa, an attempt had been made in a more general and yet in a covert manner to corrupt the army.

It was put to the option of Christian officers whether they would offer sacrifice and enjoy their dignity or refuse and be deprived.

Many were desirous of retiring into private life to avoid the trial.

Many, however, showed a sincere regard to the kingdom of Christ and contentedly lost their preferment.

Some few were put to death for a terror to the rest.

But the general persecution which afterwards destroyed such numbers was withheld for some time.

In this prelude, which has been mentioned above, and of which we have only a dark and imperfect account, something of the political maneuvers of Diocletian seems conspicuous.

It is evident that after he had so long favored the Christians he had now contracted a prejudice against them, though at first he made use of artifice rather than violence.

This emperor had an associate called Maximian, and they had under them two Caesars, Galerius and Constantius.

The last mentioned only of the four was a person of probity and humanity.

The other three were tyrants, though the savageness of Galerius was the most remarkable.

He met Diocletian at Nicomedia, where he usually kept his court in the winter in the nineteenth year of his reign, and in the year of our Lord three oh two, and determined, if possible, to instigate him to measures against the Christians, still more sanguinary and decisive.

This man had a mother extremely bigoted to paganism, who almost every day employed herself in sacrifices.

The Christians about her refused to partake of the idolatrous feasts, and gave themselves up to fasting and prayer.

Hence her mind was incensed against the whole body, and she stimulated her son, who was as superstitious as herself, to seek their destruction.

A whole winter Diocletian and Galerius were engaged in secret councils.

The latter proposed a general persecution.

The former remonstrated against the impolicy of such sanguinary measures, and was for limiting the persecution to the officers of the court and the soldiers.

Finding himself unable to stem the fury of Galerius, he called a council of a few judges and officers.

Some gave it as their opinion that the Christians should in general be put to death, and others, induced by fear or flattery, assented.

Still Diocletian was averse, and through policy or superstition determined to consult the oracle of Apollo at Miletus.

Apollo answered, as it might be expected, in a manner friendly to the views of Galerius.

Staggered with repeated importunities, the old emperor still hesitated and could not be persuaded to attempt the demolition of Christianity by bloodshed, whereas Galerius was desirous to burn alive those who refused to sacrifice to the heathen gods.

The feast of the Terminalia was the day appointed to commence the operations against the Christians.