112 Second Trial. Cent. 3. In his martyrdom, there was one thing he wished to secure. It was, that he might suffer at Carthage, in the sight of his own people. In this desire we dare not say he was blameable. Accordingly, when soldiers were first sent to apprehend him, the proconsul being then at Utica, Cyprian stepped aside to some place of concealment; but when he understood the proconsul was returned, he again appeared in his garden, where he was presently seized by officers appointed for that purpose. The next day he was taken to the prætorium, attended by a vast concourse of his affectionate people, together with a crowd of all ranks and classes. His guards, while waiting for the appearance of the magistrate, shewed him great kindness, and treated him in a manner worthy his character and office, At length, the judgment-seat being occupied, Cyprian was ordered to stand before it, and answer to his name and accusation. Pro. Are you Thascius Cyprian? Cyp. I am. Pro. Are you he whom the Christians call their bishop? Cyp. I am. Pro. Our princes have ordered you to worship the gods. Cyp. That I shall not do. Pro. You had better consult your safety, and not despise the gods. Cyp. My safety and power is Christ the Lord, whom I desire to serve for ever. Pro. I pity your case, and wish I could consult for you. Cyp. I do not wish things to be otherwise than they are. Adoring my God, I hasten to him with all the ardour of my soul; for the afflictions of this present time Chap. 4. Cyprian's Martyrdom. 118 are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Pro. (In a great rage.) You have lived in a most sacrilegious manner for a long time, and have formed an impious conspiracy, and have shewn yourself an enemy to the gods and their religion, and have not regarded the just councils of our princes, but have obstinately persisted in being the ringleader of the impious sect: you shall therefore suffer, as an example to the rest, and they shall learn their duty by your blood. Let Thaseius Cyprian, who refuses to honour the gods, be put to death by the sword.” "God be praised!" said the magnanimous martyr. As they led him away from the prætorium, a multitude of the Christians followed, crying, "Let us die with our holy bishop." A party of soldiers attended him, with the officers and magistrates of the city. They conducted him to a spacious place surrounded with trees; these were climbed by multitudes to witness the issue. Cyprian, with great composure, took off his mantle and fell on his knees. After having worshipped, he laid aside his other garments, bound a napkin over his eyes, a presbyter and deacon that attended, tied his hands for him, and the Christians laid before him on the ground their handkerchiefs to receive his blood. He ordered that the exeentioner should receive twenty-five golden denarii ; and then by the sword his head was severed from his body. Thus fell Cyprian! and thus fell John Baptist! but when God maketh inquisition for blood, may I be found with the most contemptible of the sect of Nazarenes, rather than with the Herods, and the Valerians, who have sat on thrones, and shone in purple. The reign of this bloody emperor lasted but a short 114 Gallienus. Gent. 8. time beyond the death of the Christian bishop. In the war against Sapor, king of Persia, he was taken captive the victor degraded him beyond measure; trod on his neck when he mounted his horse, and at length had him flayed alive, and rubbed all over with salt. The defeat and death of this prince produced an armistice for the church. Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee, O God! and the remainder of wrath thou shalt restrain. CHAPTER V. THE REIGN OF GALLIENUS TO THE END OF THE CENTURY. Gregory Thaumaturgus-Paul of Samosata. THE space of forty years lies before us ; during which we shall be able to gather comparatively few materials to furnish much instruction and improvement. A time of peace has generally proved a time of much corruption and departure from God. Heresies have time to grow and strengthen, and contentions ripen into divisions. The rest enjoyed by the church during this period was not without some interruption. The spirit of persecution was not dead. Paganism and worldly interest can never be cordially at peace with real Christianity. However, the persecution was partial till the reign of Aurelian, when, having scarcely broken out, the death of that emperor hushed the storm again to sleep. We have seen that the end of the former reign, in a political view, was inglorious and calamitous. Valerian was made a captive by his enemies, who improving Chap. 5. Marinus. 115 the conquest, attacked the empire on all sides, so that the reign of GALLIENUS commenced ander the greatest disadvantages. In addition to the scourge of war, the country was grievously afflicted with earthquakes, inundations, pestilences, famine; and such were the convulsions of nature, that the whole empire seemed on the eve of destruction. Similar were the circumstanees of Alexandria, which afforded the Christians an opportunity of displaying the super-excellence of their religion, in visiting the sick, and administering to the necessities of the wretched. Gallienus, contrary to his predecessors, could not be persuaded to ascribe these calamities to the fury of the gods avenging the spread of Christianity; he embraced a contrary opinion, concluding that the Supreme Being favoured that system, and that he would be favourable to all that promoted its interest. He therefore issued his ediets, commanding the toleration and protection of Christianity. But the empire being torn and divided by factions, these edicts did not secure that safety in all the provinces which they were designed to effect. Many of the faithful fell by the persecutions of Macrianus, who had usurped the empire in the East. And indeed some of the magistrates and officers in the army took occasion, of their own authority, to harass and even to put Christians to death. In Palestine, a soldier named Marinus, a man of great bravery, and of a noble and wealthy family, suffered death through these means. A vacancy in the office of centurion having occurred, Marinus was called to fill it. Another soldier, next in rank, wishing to be promoted himself, lodged information against Marinus as a Christian. The governor interrogated Marinus, who confessed, and denied not. The governor gave him three hours to consider the mat 116 Gregory Thaumaturgus. Cent. 3. ter. In the mean time Marinus had opportunity to consult Theoteenes, his pastor, who, taking him by the hand, led him into the church, and pointing him to the sword, which hung by the warriors side, and to the New Testament which he held in his own hand, "Which of the two," said Theotecnes, " do you choose ?" The godly soldier stretched out his hand, and embraced the holy volume: "Hold fast then," said the pastor, "cleave to God; what you have thus chosen shall be your happiness and being strengthened by him depart in peace." The three hours being elapsed, he was ordered to appear before the governor with his decision. He obeyed, and most nobly confessed his faith in Christ. The magistrate gave sentence against him, and he was immediately beheaded. One particular act of the church about this time was directed against the errors of Sabellius, an African presbyter, whose system aimed at a more rational representation of the Godhead, but, like all other systems which go to explain divine mysteries, does but confuse the doctrine, and destroy the ground of an implicit faith in the wisdom of God, as asserted in the scriptures. In this controversy, Dionysius, bishop of Alexandria, was peculiarly successful, and some of his writings on the subject are preserved, which show the purity of his faith, and the soundness of his understanding. About this time flourished the famous Gregory, surnamed Thaumaturgus, (wonder-worker.) Concerning this man much has been said by ecelesiastical writers, both in praise of his virtues, and in ensure of his superstition. He was born of pagan parents in Neocæsarea, the chief city of Cappadocia. Pursuing his philosophical studies, he was met by Origen, then teaching at that city. He presently fell in with Origen's opinions, and |