Thieleman J. van Braght · 23 of 210

Fourth Century · Part 7

It is easy to judge that this false and bloodthirsty voice, having fallen as a true oracle into the hearts of the heathen, caused not a little shedding of blood, oppression, and burning among the innocent and defenseless lambs of Christ, as we shall presently in some measure show.

LUCIAN, AN ELDER OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST AT ANTIOCH, AFTER HAVING CONFESSED THE FAITH, CAST INTO PRISON, AND PUT TO

DEATH THERE, A. D. 310

Among the many pious witnesses of Jesus Christ, who laid down their lives for the truth, Lucian, who was an elder of the church at Antioch, was not one of the least; for it is stated of him, that he was a very godly, wise, and eloquent man, well versed in the Scriptures, but above all, that he boldly sealed all this with his blood and death, to the honor of God.

The judge asked him as he stood before his judgment seat, saying: "O Lucian, how does it come that thou, who art such a wise man, dost follow this sect, for which thou canst give no reason at all? Or, if thou hast any, let us hear it."

Having obtained permission to speak, he made a very excellent and glorious profession of his faith; which would well reserve a place here, were we not, in order to avoid prolixity, compelled to omit it. As soon as he had ended his confession, and the people had in some measure, been drawn over to his views, the judge commanded them to lock him up again in prison, and to put him to death there; which, as the ancient writers relate, was accordingly done. But God shall reveal it all on the last day, and reward every one according to his works. Compare with A. M., fol. 135, cot. 1-4, ex Eusebio and Ruffino, in Hist., Eccles. Hier. Cataal. in Luciano.

NOTE. Some place this Lucian in the tenth year of the persecution, namely, in A. D. 311.

PETER, FAUSTUS, DIDIUS, AND AMMONIUS, WHO

MINISTERED TO THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST

AT ALEXANDRIA, PUT TO DEATH FOR

THE FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD,

A. D. 310

At this time there were persecuted, by virtue of the bloody decree of Maximian, a number of Godfearing and learned men, who adhered to Christ by a true confession; of whom we shall briefly present a few, mentioning also the place and time of their death. Peter, bishop of the church of Christ at Alexandria, and Faustus, Didius, and Ammonius, all three elders, were put to death for the faith in Jesus Christ, on the 28th day of November, A. D. 310. There were also several other bishops in Egypt, who laid down their lives for the same reason. Compare J. Gys., fol. 27, cot. 1, with A. Mell., 1st book, fol. 136, cot. 4, from Eusebius, Epiphanius, Athanasius.

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ANYSIA, A YOUNG GIRL OF THESSALONICA, SLAIN

IN THE TEMPLE, AT ALEXANDRIA, BECAUSE

OF HER CHRISTIAN FAITH, A. D. 310

Anysia, a girl of Thessalonica, born of wealthy Christian parents, was slain in the temple at Alexandria, because of her Christian faith, at the time when Maximian had issued a decree authorizing everyone to kill the Christians wherever they might be found. J. Gys., fol. 27, cot. 2.

DEMETRIUS, A CHRISTIAN TEACHER, PUT TO DEATH

FOR THE TRUE CHRISTIAN TRUTH, AT ALEX;

ANDRIA, A. D. 310

At the same time and place, also Demetrius, a remarkably virtuous and zealous teacher, sealed the genuine, divine and Christian truth with his blood. Idem, Ibidem.

THEODORUS, PHILEMON, AND CYRILLA, PUT TO

DEATH FOR THEIR LOVE TO THEIR SAVIOUR,

A. D. 310

Besides the preceding ones, we find that there were put to death, for the name of the Lord, and their love to their Saviour, Theodorus, a bishop of the church of Christ, Philemon, and Cyrilla. See the above mentioned author, in the same book, fol. 27, cot. 3, ex hinc., lib. 12, cap. 149.

THE TENTH OR LAST YEAR OF THIS PERSECUTION,

COMMENCED A. D. 311

We shall speak but briefly of the last year of this persecution, since ancient writers have left us little information in regard to it. Nevertheless, there were some at that time, who laid down their lives for the truth; among whom the following are mentioned.

EUGENIUS, AUXENTIUS, MAODATIUS, AND MANY

OTHERS, AFTER MANY TORMENTS PUT '1'O

DEATH IN VARIOUS WAYS, FOR THE

TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST,

A. D. 311

Eugenius, because he confessed Christ, and had reproved the wickedness of the heathen, had his tongue cut out, and his arms and legs broken, and thus departed this life, steadfastly continuing in the Lord.

Auxentius, a deacon of the Christian church at Auracea, in Asia, was beheaded for the same reason for the faith in Christ.

Maodatius was hung up by his toes, and, having been pierced with red hot awls, and burned with torches, was deprived of life, for the testimony of Jesus.

Besides these, many others were put to death for the faith, whose name cannot be given; hence we shall content ourselves with those already mentioned. See J. Gys., fol. 27, cot. 4, at the foot, and fol. 28, cot. 1.

In the Introduction to the Martyrs' Mirror, fol. 44 and 45, there are mentioned, besides the ten general persecutions, which we have described, two others, there called the eleventh and the twelfth persecutions; of which the former is said to have begun, A. D. 316, under Lucinius, who, together with Constantine the Great, reigned in' the east; and the second, A. D. 362, under Julian the Apostate. But since other eminent writers do not pronounce these persecutions as general ones, we shall give no special account of them; however, if any true martyrs were put to death at that time, We hope to mention each in his proper place. Under Lucinius, there laid down their lives for the faith in the Son of God, according to the testimony of the ancients, the following persons.

BASILEUS, BISHOP AT PONTUS; AMMON, A DEACON;

ABOUT FORTY WOMEN; AND OTHERS, PUT TO

DEATH BY FIRE, WATER, AND ICE,

A. D. 316

When it was thought that the previous persecutions, especially that under Diocletian and Maximian, should have quenched the bloodthirstiness of the great, Lucinius, who occupied the imperial throne in the east, was still not content therewith. For when the winds of blood, fanned on by Satan, blew through his head, he caused to be put to death without mercy, various pious Christians, namely

Basileus, bishop of the church of Christ at Amasen, in Pontus; Ammon, a deacon; and about forty women, whom he had killed, some by fire, and some by water; as well as various other pious martyrs, whom he had put in the cold ice, thus causing their death. This happened about the tenth year of the reign of Lucianius, which agrees with A. D. 316. Introd., fol. 44, col. 1, 2.

TWO BROTHERS, DONOTIAN AND ROGATIAN, BE;

HEADED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS

CHRIST, A. D. 360

Thefe were two brothers, Donotian and Rogation, tines of Italy; one of whom, Donotian, had accepted the true Christian faith, and been baptized upon it; but the other, Rogatian, had not yet received baptism, was, however, a neophyte or catechumen, having been brought to the knowledge of the Christian truth through the instrurnentality of his brother. Both were apprehended. Then Rogation wished greatly that he had been baptized, for he knew that he would have to die; but that could not be, as there was no opportunity. His brother, Donotian, therefore prayed to God, that his blood might be accounted to him for the sacrament of baptism. The next day both were beheaded, A. D. 360. P. J. Tuasck, Chron., 4th book, fol. 106, col. 2, front the tract, Grondig Bewijs van den Heyligen Doop, letter B. Also, Leowlt, in tract., lib. 2. These authors must be compared with each other.

The persecution which took place under Julian, the Apostate, did not destroy the bodies as much as the souls. For since he was a very crafty man, and had an eloquent, yet deceitful, tongue, he did more harm to the church of God by his flattery, than by tyranny. Nevertheless, several of the true Christians were martyred under his reign; who would rather through the way of death enter life eternal, than through the way of temporal life, by flattery, fall into eternal death and damnation; as shall presently be shown.

JOHN AND PAUL, WHO OPPOSED WAR, PUT TO

DEATH AS HERETICS, UNDER JULIAN THE

APOSTATE, ABOUT A. D. 363

There were two special friends, John and Paul, who opposed war and bloodshed. They were called to war, and urged to engage in it, but as they would not consent to it, they were therefore, as well as because of their true Christian confession, put to death as heretics. Concerning this, different authors write thus: "John and Paul had to die, because they would not engage in warfare, but replied to the Apostate: `We are Christians; it is not lawful for us to engage in war."' In Grondelijke Verklaringe Danielis, en Johannis OQenbaringe, printed by Harlem, A. D. 1635, page 56, from various other authors.

SOME PIOUS PEOPLE, WHO, IN ACCORDANCE WITH

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST, REFUSED TO

ENGAGE IN WARFARE, VERY CRUELLY

PUT TO DEATH BY THE EMPEROR

VALENS, A. D. 368

After the death of the Emperor Julian, Jovian reigned, and after the death of the latter, the empire devolved on Valentinian, who is commonly called Valens. He, too, stained his hands with the blood of the Christians, yet not so excessively as some of his predecessors. Nevertheless, he cannot be excused, seeing he caused some pious people who observed the doctrine of Christ to be put to a very cruel death, because they, like the above mentioned John and Paul, refused to perform military service. Compare P. J. Twisck, Chron., 4th book, p. 114, col. 1, with Jan. Crespin, in his tract, treating of the oppressions, fol. 114.

We might have adduced more martyrs for this century, but since that which the ancients have written with respect to their lives, as well as their faith and religion is doubtful, we have not deemed it well to proceed further, and shall, therefore, content ourselves with the true martyrs of whom we have already given account, and those of whom we hope to give an account in the following centuries.