. The history of Christianity: consisting of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth; the adventures of Paul and the apostles; and the most interesting events in the progress of Christianity, from the earliest period to the present time. of the fourth century, Chris-tianity had made such rapid progress, that therewere flourishing churches in all parts of the Bo-man world, and spacious temples of worship inall the principal cities. Indeed, in ahout onecentury after the death of Jesus Christ, JustinMartyr wrote,— There exists not a people, whether Greek or Barbarian, orany other race of men,
. The history of Christianity: consisting of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth; the adventures of Paul and the apostles; and the most interesting events in the progress of Christianity, from the earliest period to the present time. of the fourth century, Chris-tianity had made such rapid progress, that therewere flourishing churches in all parts of the Bo-man world, and spacious temples of worship inall the principal cities. Indeed, in ahout onecentury after the death of Jesus Christ, JustinMartyr wrote,— There exists not a people, whether Greek or Barbarian, orany other race of men, by whatever appellation or mannersthey may be distinguished, however ignorant of arts or agri-culture, whether they dwell under tents or wander about incovered wagons, among which prayers are not offered up inthe name of a crucified Jesus to the Father and Creator of allthings.^ Persecution had not been continuous, but spasmodical; attimes raging like a tempest, and again dying away into atransient calm. If any thing went wrong, pagan superstitionattributed it to the displeasure of the idol gods. All calami-ties were considered as the punishment which the gods wereinflicting upon the people because the Christians were causing 303. 304 HISTORY OF CnRISTIANITY. tlie shrines of tlie idols to be deserted. Tertulliaiij an earnestChristian pastor in Carthage, wrote, — ^ If the Tiber overflowed its banks, if there were famine orplague, if the season were hot or dry or scorching, what-ever public calamity happened, the universal cry of the popu-lace was, To the lions with the Christians ! When Diocletian abdicated, he compelled Maximian also toabdicate, and then divided the empire into halves, placing Ga-lerius as emperor in the East, and Constantius in the was a cruel, proud, fanatical pagan, who hated theChristians. He assailed them with one of the most bloodypersecutions they had ever experienced. Constantius had married a Christian lady, Helena. Thoughnot himself
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubj, booksubjectjesuschrist
