The Trials of the Church: Or, The Persecutors of Religion - William Gleeson - Google Books

Books

CONTENTS.

Character of the contest engaged in by the Church-Courage dis-

played by the faithful-Enemies religion had to contend with

-Their failure-How persecution served religion-Rome

finds an indomitable adversary in the Christians-Cessation

of persecution in Rome, not cessation of persecution in the

world at large-The evil one enlists heresy on his side-

Julian the apostate's attempt to destroy Christianity-The

Huns, Goths, and Visigoths-Great defection in the 16th cen-

tury-Persecution of the Irish-Character of this persecution

-Circumstances which rendered it one of the greatest on

The Church not only conquers her enemies but civilizes the world

-She leads in science-She espouses the cause of oppressed

humanity-The enormous proportions that slavery had as-

sumed-How the Church met the evil-The Church's efforts

in behalf of woman-Pagan civilization-How it differed from

Christian civilization.

PAGE.

Persecution a prominent feature of Christianity-The light in

which it represents man to us-Who the martyr is-His ser-

vice to the Church-How he conquers-Whence he obtains

his fortitude-He is a witness-The impossibility of destroy-

ing the Church by martyring the faithful-How the acts of

the martyrs have been obtained-Great heroism of the mar-

tyrs-Circumstances under which the martyrs die.

Causes of the persecution of the Church ever the same-The impos-

sibility of the Church avoiding persecution because of her

mission to teach the truth-Persecution under the old law-

How the prophets were persecuted-Persecution has varied

according to the times-Its advantages-Probable number of

Argument for the probable number of the martyrs continued-

Gibbon's reasoning regarding the number of the martyrs er-

roneous-Bosio's estimate of the number of the primitive

martyrs Genebrard's estimate of the same.

Aggregate sum of the persecutions under the Roman emperors-

More peace than persecution under these monarchs—The

Catacombs-How they were formed-How the Christians

were generally treated by the Roman emperors-State of the

Church at the close of the third century.

Weakness of the primitive Christians in denying the faith-St.

Cyprian's testimony to this effect-Inroads made on the faith

by heresy-Motives that led to the persecution of the Chris-

tians-The prejudices against them in the minds of the pagans

-Tacitus' idea of the Christians-Greater injury done to the

Church by her own unnatural children than by paganism-

Disloyalty to Cæsar the leading plea for persecuting the faith-

ful in every age.

First persecution of the Church-St. Stephen's martyrdom-Perse-

cution in Judea-The Christians scattered-The emperor

Tiberius espouses the cause of the Christians-Profound peace

ensues-The Jews commence another persecution-Charac-

teristics of this persecution-Imprisonment of St. Peter-How

the Apostles discharged their commission at that period-St.

Paul's labors-His sufferings and imprisonment.

St. Paul is sent a prisoner to Rome-The Jews again persecute at

Jerusalem-Martyrdom of James, bishop of Jerusalem-Burn-

ing of Rome-Nero persecutes the Christians-St. Paul

leaves Rome Martyrdom of SS. Peter and Paul-Punish-

ment of the persecutors, Herod, Pilate, Caiphas, Herod

Punishment of the Jews-Revolution in Judea-Vespasian charged

by Nero to quell the revolt and to punish the offenders-He

takes Gabara, Jotopat, and other places-He becomes emper-

or and intrusts the command to Titus-The Jews fall back

upon Jerusalem-The city is invested-Terrible privations-

A trench cast around the doomed city-The perpetual sacri-

fice ceases-The Sacred Scriptures fulfilled.

Nero's punishment-Tranquillity enjoyed by the Christians-Par-

tial persecution-Accession of Domitian-His cruelties-The

alleged grounds on which the Christians were persecuted-

Punishment of Domitian-Nero's reign-Accession of Trajan

-Pliny's letter to Trajan-The emperor's answer-Cessation

of the persecution.

The Christians partially persecuted under Adrian-How the ex-

cesses of the sectaries awakened hostilities against them-

Adrian becomes enraged-Apologies of Quadratus and Aris-

tides-Edicts of toleration in favor of the Christians-Adrian is

succeeded by his son Antoninus-The emperor's ordinance—

Partial liberty obtained in consequence by the Christians-

The philosophers Justin, Tatian, Hermes and Tertullian com-

bat the errors of the pagans-Rage of the pagan philosophers

-They urge the emperor to persecute-Polycarp's martyrdom. 177

Apology for the Christians by Justin Martyr-His martyrdom-

Apollinaris of Hieropolis presents an apology-The miracle

of the thundering legion-Peace in consequence--Renewal

of the persecution-Punishment of Marcus Aurelius-Perse-

cution under Commodus-It ceases-How this happened-

Accession of Pertinax-He recalls the Christians.

Accession of Caracalla and Geta-The condition of the Christians

nothing better under these-Maximin becomes emperor-He

persecutes the faithful-He is slain by his own troops—

Tranquillity enjoyed by the Church-Fatal consequences

of this-The enemy of mankind avails himself of this relax-

ation of fervor on the part of the Christians-Persecution

ensues-Numbers apostatize-Some try to effect a compro-

mise-The libellatici-Decius' death--Gallus succeeds and

persecutes Pope Cornelius' martyrdom-Cyprian's letter to

Pope Lucius-The numbers who died for the faith at this

Valerian becomes emperor-At first he treats the Christians kindly

-From being a protector he becomes a persecutor-He

issues an edict against the faithful-Martyrdom of St. Law-

rence at Rome-Cyprian is condemned to death-His last

address to his flock-His death-The numbers who died for

the faith at that time in Africa-Martyrdom of Fructueux, bis-

hop of Tarragona- Martyrdom of Saturninus, bishop of Toul-

e-Valerian is punished for his crimes--The empire is de-

vastated by pestilence and war-Valerian falls into the hands

of the Persians-He is treated with the utmost indignity, and

finally beheaded and flayed.

Peace is restored to the Church-Gallienus issues an edict favor-

able to the Christians-The exiled bishops are permitted to

return-The provincial governors, however, still persecute-

Claudius becomes emperor-He persecutes-He is punished

by God-General peace of the Church-Diocletian's reign-

The greater part of it favorable to the Christians-He perse-

cutes-Violence of the persecution in Rome.

Decimation of the Theban Legion--Attempt to prevent the propa-

gation of religion in France-Martyrdom of St. Quentin-

Martyrdom of SS. Denis, Rusticus, and Eleutherius-The

burning of the emperor's palace at Nicomedia-Occasion

taken of this to persecute the Christians--Bloody edicts issued

--The churches to be destroyed--The Christians not punish-

ed with death at first-The persecution becomes general-

Sufferings of the Christians in Spain and Gaul.

Diocletian, Maximian, and Galerius determined to eradicate Chris-

tianity out of the empire--Vast numbers perish every-where

--Especially in the eastern provinces-Persecution in the

West--Diocletian abdicates--Maximian also abdicates--

Galerius' atrocities-He condemns the Christians to universal

slaughter unless they apostatize by partaking of food offered

Galerius' great cruelties--Account by an eye-witness--Maximian is

punished by heaven-Galerius is also punished--He repents

of his misdeeds and issues an edict of toleration-- Licinius

persecutes the faithful--Prohibits the erection of churches and

the assemblies of the faithful--The throne of the empire is

contested-Constantine and Maxentius claimants-The cross

appears to Constantine-Defeat of Maxentius.

Constantine's accession does not bring universal peace to the

Church-Edicts favorable to the Christians issued by Constan-

tine and Licinius-Maximin's futile attempt to displace his

colleagues and to obtain sole control-His defeat-Diocletian

dies wretched-Martyrs under Licinius.

Constantine unites the whole empire in his own person-The

Christians banished by Licinius permitted to return--Sapor

king of Persia persecutes the faithful-Constantine remon-

strates-Julian succeeds to the throne-He resolves to re-es-
tablish paganism and to abolish Christianity-His tactics.

-

The Jews are emboldened to persecute the faithful-The Church

of Antioch closed by order of the emperor-A prophecy that

the emperor would perish in war-Athanasius returns to his

see in Alexandria whence he had been banished-He is ban-

ished from all Egypt by Julian-The emperor's uncle, Count

Julian, is stricken by God and dies a horrible death-Julian

prepares for war against Persia, and resolves to rebuild the

temple of Jerusalem-The Jews set about the work with

great vigor, but are defeated by the miraculous interposition

of heaven-Julian goes to Persia and is killed-His last mo-

ments-How he died.

Jovian succeeds to the throne-He dies-He is succeeded by Val-

entinian-Valens associated in the government of the empire

-He works in the interests of his heretical party--The Catho-

lic bishops banished from their sees in the East-Athanasius

withdraws from Alexandria-Violence and cruelty of the

Arians-Their hatred of Basil of Cæsarea-Athanasius dies-

The efforts of the Arians to get one of their own party ap-

pointed to the see-Persecution of the faithful by the heretics

-Athanaric king of the Visigoths persecutes the Christians—

The Arabs and Ethiopians persecute-Renewal of persecution

by Valens-His miserable death-He is succeeded by Gratian

-Persecution ceases- -The Catholic bishops recalled-Theo-

dosius associated in the government of the empire-All requir-

ed to embrace the Roman faith-Council of Constantinople

-The western provinces revolt-The Arians aided by the

empress Justina persecute the faithful-The numbers that

died for the faith in Persia.

34T

« Previous Continue »