The Decline Of The Church:
Part 6:
4th century to beginning of 6th century: See Parts 1 thru 5 in lower left hand column.
At the beginning of the 4th century, the Christian Church passed through a furnace seven times heated. For eight years a persecution raged, which spared neither age nor sex, in any part of the Roman world; which was without equal for its tortures and horrors; and which, to all human appearance, would root Christianity from the earth. Satan came down in great wrath. It seemed to be his final and most vigorous effort to save his cause.
The Church had become lukewarm, engrossed with the world, and distracted with divisions and heresies. It was not prepared to meet what was coming, yet she stood the shock with amazing heroism. Were these the days of persecution that John “saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice saying, how long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and revenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth.” If not, one would ask, how much worse can it possibly get?
Dioclesian was at this time clothed with the imperial purple. He had an associate, Maximiam, and under him two Caesars, Galerius and Constantius. Of these, Galerius was the most savage, and did most to instigate Dioclesian, who was himself averse to bloodshed, to the cruelest and most extreme ways.
The persecution began at the feat of the Terminalia in Nicodemia in 302 A.D. by pulling down all the Christian churches, burning their sacred books and writings, taking from them their civil rights and privileges, and rendering them incapable of any civil promotion. Soon after, a fire broke out in the royal palace. The Christians were accused as the cause and many were tortured. Some tumults also arose in Armenia, and in Syria, which were by the heathen priests, charged upon them. The clergy were cast into prison, and given up to the most intolerable punishments, the rulers hoping that if the pastors renounced Christianity, the people would follow them.
Vast numbers of educated and good men had fallen prey to these clever schemes. In the year 304, a new edict was published in which the magistrates, throughout the Roman empire, were directed to compel all Christians, without distinction of rank or sex, to renounce Christianity and sacrifice to the gods, and were authorized to employ the most cruel torments in their work. The Church was now reduced to the last extremity; magistrates were like so many hungry lions, let loose upon defenseless lambs. In France, less ferocity was exhibited than in other places because of the influence of Constantius, who was favorably to the Christian people.
A recital of their sufferings may appear too many almost incredible, but it is delivered to us by faithful eye-witnesses, and confirmed by Pagan historians. It should make Christian’s today grateful to our Lord and Savior for the blessings we now enjoy.
Some were thrown to wild beasts, enclosed in vast amphitheaters for the entertainment of the people on great festal days. They would be torn to pieces, and devoured. Others, with their wives and children, were burned to death in their own houses. Some were beaten with clubs, rods, thongs of leather, and ropes. Nails were driven into their sides, bellies, legs, and cheeks. Some were suspended by one hand to a portico, suffering the most severe distention of all their joints. Others were bound to pillars, face to face, their feet being raised above ground.
They were hung about wooden engines, having every limb of their bodies distended by certain machines. Plates of heated brass were applied to their bodies. They were seated in red hot iron chairs. They were slain by the axe and the sword. They were suspended by their feet, with their head downward, over a slow fire. Sharp reeds were thrust under the nails into the fingers. Melted lead was poured down their backs and into the bowels. Tongues were cut out.
Multitudes were deprived of one eye, and would cauterized and debilitated one leg by a hot iron and than sent to the mines. Seventeen thousand, it is reported were slain during one month. In Egypt, alone, 150,000 suffered martyrdom by the hands of their persecutors, besides 700,000 who came to their end in banishment, or the public works.
“From torturing pain to endless joys, On fiery wheels they rode.”
The Pagans, at length, thought they had accomplished their objective. A medal was struck for Dioclesian, with this inscription, “Nomme Christianorum delete.” “The name of Christians being extinguished.”
The Pagan worship was every where set up in great splendor. It was the darkest period which the Christian Church had seen. But He, who had established her, had promised that the gates of hell should never prevail against her. A remnant remained who wrestled with the angel of the covenant, and prevailed. The time of their deliverance was at hand. The arm of Jehovah was uplifted, and Satan fell as lightning from heaven.
In 312 A.D. Emperor Dioclesian died. His successor, Maximn Galerius, who had been the author of the heaviest persecution, also soon came to his end. He died horribly. In frantic agony, he cried out. “It was not I, but others who did it.” In the West, Constantins Clorus died in Britain, in 306 A.D. He had renounced idolatry, was a man of strict morals, and had favored the Christians. The army forced Constantine, his son, to accept the purple or the Roman Empire. At the same time, Maxentius, son-in-law to Galerius, assumed the imperial dignity at Rome. A civil was ensued. In marching to battle, Constantine felt the need of some divine assistance. He had seen his father reject Polytheism, and treat with Christians with kindness.
He was anxious to know the Christian God. Historians report, that he prayed for light, and that, while marching with his forces, a miraculous cross appeared to him in the air, with the inscription, “Conquer by this;” that the same night, Christ appeared to him in his sleep, with the same sign of the cross, and directed him to make it his military ensign.
Such a report must have had great effect upon his enemies. True it might have been, greater miracles have been done. But the age of miracles had passed away. The chief design of miracles, which was to support revelation, had, long before, been accomplished. Was Constantine a favorite of God, I doubt it! He may have had a dream, but from that time on, the Emperor became the open advocate of Christianity, and the banner of the cross was displayed in his armies.
He was the conqueror of his enemies, and, for many years he was sole master of Rome. In the year 324 A.D. he published edicts and laws, by which the ancient religion of the Romans was abolished, and Christianity was established as the religion of the empire.
This great and astonishing revolution in the religious world, great, as it was unexpected, to those whom a few years before, saw Christianity almost extent amid the flames of persecution.
That gigantic power which had up to this time been employed to crush Christianity, and which would, ages before, have driven every vestige of it from among men, had not God been its helper, was now engaged to demolish the kingdom of darkness, and to exact Christ in the earth.
The Heathen temples were pulled down; images of gold and silver were melted and coined into money; great idols, curiously wrought, were brought to Constantinople and drawn with ropes through the principal streets of the scorn of the people. The heathen priest were cast out, dispersed and banished. Every place of power and trust in the state and army, which had before been filled by heathens, was now occupied by the professed followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Immense and splendid Christian temples were everywhere erected and richly endowed; and the greatest honor was put upon all preachers of the Gospel. Constantine put an end to pagan rites; to sorcery and divination, those great supports of false religion, publicly exposed the mysteries which had been kept secret; stopped the savage fights of gladiators; ordered the strict observance of the Lord’s day; furnished the churches with copies of the scriptures; stood up with respectful silence, to hear the gospel from Eusebius of Cesarea; dedicated Christian temples himself with great solemnity; yea, made Christian orations, one of which of considerable length, is preserved to us; and taught all the soldiers in his army, to pray to the God of the Christians.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com