The abridgment of Eusebius Pamphilius's ecclesiastical history in two parts ... whereunto is added a catalogue of the synods and councels which were after the days of the apostles : together with a hint of what was decreed in the same / by William Caton.

The Fourth Persecution.

IN the year, 164. was the fourth Persecution of the Christians, which arose under the Em∣perour, * 1.1 Marcus Aurelius and Lucias Verus, in which Polycarpus Bishop of Smyrna was put to Death, who had been a Disciple of John, and had been many years in the service of the Lord, as he himself acknowledged; About the same time was Iulianus put to death at Rome, in whose time the Christians were accused for ha∣ving a Fleshly conversion one with another, which he marked to be Lyes by their willingness to Die, and thereby he coming to be Converted, * 1.2 became an Eminent Teacher of the Christians.

At Lyons in France did there go forth a Pro∣clamation, That the Christians might not dwell in their Houses, nor that they must not converse upon the Streets, nor shew their Faces; which being Impossible for them to perform, their sufferings became exceeding great; and in the mean time some of the Slaves gave out that the Christians lived in filthy Lasciviousness among themselves: In this Persecution there was one Lucius put to Death, for reproving the Judge for puting the Christians to crueller Deaths then any other Transgressors.

Note, Though the true Christians now are Vilified and Falsly accused by Anti-Christians as the ancient Christians were in former Ages, yet wise men can see their Innocency, and there∣fore do they love them in their Hearts, and some time some have been Convinced, by beholding the Patience, Long-suffering, and Innecency of the Innocent in these latter days: who now some time do suffer the loss of their Liberty, and the spoyling of their Gods, if not Banishment, either by vertue of Proclamations, or of Decrees, or of corrupt Laws, which true Christians now can * 1.3 no more observe and obey, then the antient Christians observed the aforesaid Preclamation of the King; and this hath been evident, that sundry of the true Christiant in these later days have died in Prison [as some did in the afore∣said Persecution] where they-Sealed their Testi∣mony with their Blood, as many have done be∣fore them: And sometimes it hath hapened that Affliction hath been added to the Bonds of some of the true Christians, when they have

told a Judge or an Inferior Officer, that Male∣factors have had more freedom and liberty then they, and more favour shewn them, by such as were in place of Trust; and this hath been manifest enough in many parts of the Na∣tion as is well knowd to many.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Baron. An. 164. Num. 2.
• * 1.2

  Euseb. l. 4. c. 16.
• * 1.3

  Christians no•…•… are in the same mind as formerly.