fhapes, as we learn from the hiftories of thofe excellent perfons, who were made victims. The Account given by Tacitus. * It would take up a volume to collect all the accounts, tranfmitted by different writers, of the cruelties exercifed upon those holy martyrs by their infernal perfecutors. I fhall therefore confine myself to the evidence of Tacitus, a Gentile hiftorian, who defcribes that very early perfecution, which commenced in the reign of † Nero : but with the fame prejudices, as those perfons, of whom we have spoken before. This Emperor had been accused of having wantonly fet fire to Rome. To free himJelf therefore from this imputation, he laid the guilt upon others, and accordingly made them fuffer the most exquifite torments. Thefe were a fet of people fufficiently odicus for their flagitioufnefs, and commonly called Chriftians. The perfon, from whom they received this Annals, Book xv. c. 44. p. 1066. Var. In this perfecution St. Peter and St. Paul fuffered, name, was Chriftus, who in the reign of Tiberius fuffered death under his procurator Pontius Pilate. This pernicious fuperftition, which (commenced in him and) was smothered for a time, burft forth again, not only over all Judea, where the evil originated, but as far as Rome, whither all things atrocious and infamous flow in, as to a center, and are practifed openly. At first only those were feized, who confeffed themfelves Chriftians: afterwards others, whom they difcovered, to a vast amount; and who were condemned, not fo much for fetting fire to the city, as for their uniform hatred of all mankind. I must stop here to obferve, that the historian, like many other writers, blends two fets of people together, the Christians, and the Jews: of whom the latter probably bore some share in this perfecution, and fuffered with the former. To these was imputed that unsociable fpirit, and hatred of mankind, mentioned above. Of the Chriftian charity, and philanthropy, their worst enemy Julian bore witness. With them-love was the fulfilling of the law; which love was extended to all mankind. The The hiftorian proceeds to inform us of the cruelties and contempt, which these glorious martyrs were doomed to undergo. It was fo contrived, he fays, that in their fufferings they should be exposed to scorn, and their misery rendered ridiculous. For this purpofe they were inclofed in the skins of wild beafts, that they might be torn to pieces by dogs: or elfe they were faftened to croffes. Others were appointed to be (by fome diabolical art) fet on fire: and it was fo ordered, that they should (in this inflamed state) after they had been in torment all day, ferve for lights (in the streets) by * night. Nero had made an offer of his gardens for the exhibition of these fpectacles: and he appointed a mock Circenfian feftivity for their farther celebration. Here he mixed with the mob in the habit of a charioteer: or else viewed these Spectacles from his car. This behaviour pro I imagine, from a paffage in Juvenal, that they had deep holes made in different parts of the body, in which wax tapers were inferted. In this manner they were expofed by day and by night in the streets: and when these tapers burned down to the quick, the pain in confequence of it must have been very great, and the spectacle, which the poor fufferers exhibited, must have been horrid. duced duced fome commiferation towards the fufferers, however guilty they might be, and deServing whatever could be inflicted: for it appeared, that they were not facrificed out of regard to public utility; but merely to gratify the cruelty of one perfon. Here we have again condemnation without proof, and guilt imputed without any crime alledged. For as to fetting fire to the city, the author acquits the Chriftians; and proceeds only upon that vague and mistaken notion of their being enemies to mankind. But there were other * modes of punishment and execution among the Romans, and the fubordinate nations, to which the Christians were in all places liable. Such was the Uncus, or hook; the Eculeus, the Palus and Stipes, upon which they seem to have been impaled: a mode of torment too fhocking to be described. Alfo the iron chair with grates beneath, upon which, when heated, the poor victims were placed. But the most common, and favourite punishment to the spectators was their being See Seneca's Confolatio ad Marciam, vol. i. p. 284. exposed exposed to wild beasts in the Circus: as this afforded a greater variety of cruel satisfaction. In this manner numbers were put to death; not only at Rome, but in many of the chief cities both in the east and in the west, at a great distance from the capital. The very edicts of fome Emperors to this purpose are still extant, and others are recorded, though loft. Farther Account of the more early Many excellent perfons laid down their lives for the fake of the gospel during these. perilous times. In the perfecution under Trajan, Ignatius bishop of Antioch, a man of fingular piety, who had been conversant with the apostles, was fent for from Syria to Rome, where he was exposed to wild beafts, and torn to pieces. The venerable Polycarp was bishop of Smyrna, and in like manner fuffered martyrdom. When he was brought before the pro * Eufeb. Ecclefiaft. Hift. L. v. p. 206, 208, &c. Ibid. L. iv. C. 14. p. 160. conful, |