The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

VII. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2 Persecution rais'd by Hadrian against Christians: and the occasion of it.

3. He profanes the holy places at Ie∣rusalem

4. They remain desolate till S. Hele∣na's time.

5. Modern Sectaries imitate the rage of Heathens against the Crosse of Christ.

1. THis laborious circuit made by the Emperour,* 1.2 though it was very bene∣ficiall to the Regions through which he pass'd, that is, almost the whole Empire, yet it was the cause of great suffrings to the Christians every where; but especially in Palestina, where they were most numerous, that Countrey being the source of our Reli∣gion: and also by reason of the Devotion which all of them bore to those holy places consecrated by the actions and suffrings of our Saviour: to celebrate the memory of which there was continually a confluence of Beleivers from all the quarters of the world.

2. This moved envy in the minds of the Iews and Gentiles likewise, upon whose com∣plaints the Emperour not only renew'd the persecution of them begun by his Predeces∣sour, but as Sulpitius Severus affirms, imagi∣ning that he could destroy Christian Religion it selfe by iniurious defacing the place where it be∣gan,* 1.3 he erected in the most sacred place of our our Lords Passion the Idols of Devils. And be∣cause Christians were generally esteemed an off∣spring of Iews, be ordained a Coh••rt of souldiers to keep cont••nuall watch to forbid all Iews an ac∣cesse into Ierusalem.

3. S. Paulinus more particularly says,* 1.4 that on Mount Calvary where our Lord suffred, Ha∣drian placed the Idol of Iupiter: (S. Hierom adds, that on the Rock where the Crosse had been placed, he erected a marble-statue consecrated to Venus) and profaned Bethleem, the place of our Saviours Birth, with the Temple of Adonis. This he did, as conceiving that the Root as it were, and foundation of the Church would be destroyed, if Idols were worshipped in those places in which Christ was born that he might suffer; and suf∣fred that he might rise again; and r••se that he might raign; being iudged by men, that he might be Iudge of mankind.

4. In this desolation did those Holy places lye,* 1.5 till Helena the Mother of the Empe∣rour Constantin out of a pious affection to Chri∣stian Religion, thought it worth her pains and industry to search out the Venerable Crosse. But neither that, nor the divine Sepulcher of our Lord were easily to be found. For the ancient Gen∣tiles, persecutors of the Church, labouring with

their utmost endeavours to oppresse and destroy Christ••an Religion then newly strung forth,* 1.6 over∣whelm'd that place by heaping on it a great bank of earth. And more••ver encompassing the whole place both of the Sepulcher whence Christ rose, & Mount Calvary where he was crucified, with a great wall in all sides, ••••hy afterwards profaned it by ornaments of their own heathenish fashion. For first they paved it with stones, and then rai∣sed up a Temple of Venus, and in conclusion pla∣ced in it the Idol of that impure Goddesse: This they did, to the end that if any would adore Christ in that place, they might seem to worship Venus; and consequently to processe of time the true cause 〈◊〉〈◊〉 m••n had that place in Venera∣tion, would be utterly forgotten.

5. We see here who they were to whom the Ensigns of our Lords Passion, his Crosse and Sepulcher, as likewise the place of his Nati∣vity were venerable, to wit, the ancient Primitive Christians, our Brittish Saint Hele∣na, &c. and to whom they were odious; to envious Iewes and persecuting Heathens. And yet the abolishing of those sacred Mo∣numents, the scornfull reproaches and blas∣phemies cast on the Crosse of our Lord are of late made the proofs of Primitive Refor∣mation. The Crosse,* 1.7 saith Lactantius, was fre∣quently to wicked Princes a principall Motive of persecuting Christians. And the reason is gi∣ven by S. Athanasius,* 1.8 because by the prea∣ching of the ignominy of the Crosse, Idolatry was confounded, and the golden Temple of the Heathens fell to the ground.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A. D. 126.

  VII. CH.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 126.
• * 1.3

  Sulpit. Se∣ver. hist. l. 2.
• * 1.4

  Paulin. Epist 11. Hieron. E∣pist. ad Pau∣lin.
• * 1.5

  Soz•••• Hi∣stor. lib. 2. ap. 1.
• * 1.6

  A. D. 128.
• * 1.7

  Lactant. I••∣••••it. c. 27.
• * 1.8

  Athanas. in vita sancti Amo••••••.