to the emperor Marcus, and the Roman senate, which very much irritated the temper of the times. He was accordingly, with six others, apprehended, whipped and beheaded. Thus fell Justin Martyr, a man of dis tinguished powers, and the first who had adorned the church with his learning, since the apostle Paul.

5. Irenæus, by birth a Greek, was born at or nea Smyrna. He was a disciple of Polycarp, and for about forty years he was the bishop of Lyons; in which office he suffered much from foes without and heretics within. Against the latter, he employed his pen. Five of his books are now extant. He suffered martyrdom, in the reign of Severus, A. D. 202.

6. Clemens Alexandrinus, so called to distinguish him from Clemens Romanus, was born at Alexandria, in the second century. He was distinguished for his literature, and exact and enlarged views of the Christian religion. Three of his works remain.

He

7. Tertullian, by birth a Carthagenian, was bred up at the bar; but afterwards became a Christian. possessed great abilities and learning, which he vigorously employed in the Christian cause; but toward the latter part of his life, being naturally credulous and superstitious, he became a heretic. Eusebius says that he was one of the ablest Latin writers which had existed.

8. Origen, one of the most conspicuous characters belonging to the age in which he lived, was born at Alexandria, A. D. 185. In his youth, he saw his father beheaded for the profession of Christianity, and the family estate confiscated. Being taken under the patronage of a rich lady, he applied himself to study, and soon acquired great stores of learning. At the age of forty-five, he was ordained, and delivered theological lectures in Palestine. He was the author of the Hexapla, which filled fifty large volumes. This work was mostly destroyed in the capture of Tyre, in 653. He maintained that the Scriptures were not to be explained in a literal, but in an allegorical manner; that is, it had a hidden or figurative meaning. This

sense he endeavoured to give, but often at the expense of the truth. He first introduced the practice of selecting a single text, as the subject of discourse. He suffered martyrdom under Decius, about 254.

9. Cyprian was bred a lawyer, received a liberal education, and was distinguished as an orator. In 248, he was elected bishop of Carthage. His first efforts

were to re tore the long neglected discipline of the church. Very soon the flames of persecution burst forth in Carthage; from which he repaired to a retreat provided by his friends, where he remained two years. From this place he continued to send forth epistles to his distressed and persecuted brethren. During his exile, an unhappy schism took place in the churches of Alexandria and Rome, called "the Novatian schism;" against which he successfully employed his pen. Being threatened with death, if he continued in his zeal and activity, he abated nothing; but continued in his boldness and zeal for the Christian cause, until he was banished by the proconsul of Carthage. In the year 259 he was permitted to return, but not to remain long in peace; for orders had been given by Valerian, that all ministers should be put to death. He was conducted to a spacious plain : on his arrival, he fell on his knees, and worshipped. He then laid aside his garments, a napkin was bound over his eyes, and a sword severed his head from his body.

10. Ambrose was born in Gaul, A. D. 333. He was appointed governor over several small provinces, and settled at Milan. In 374, the bishop dying, a great contest arose between the Catholics and Arians concerning his successor. He thought it his duty, as governor, to go to the church, in order to compose the tumult. On addressing the multitude, they with one voice exclaimed, "Let Ambrose be bishop." He yielded, and was ordained. He died at Milan, leaving behind him several choice works on religious subjects.

His

11. Jerome was born at Strido, near Pannonia. father took care he should have all the advantages of learning, sacred and profane. After a while he retired

into a desert in Syria, scarcely inhabited by a human being. Here he applied himself to the study of the Scriptures (which he is said to have gotten by heart) and to the oriental languages. After four years' solitude, his reputation for piety and learning began to be spread abroad. He visited Rome, where he composed several works. He translated the Bible into Latin, which was afterwards exclusively adopted by the Romish church; and of all the Latin fathers, he was considered the most able in unfolding the Scriptures. He finished his days in a monastery, in Bethlehem, near to Jerusalem, A. D. 420, aged ninety years.

12. Augustine was born in Africa, A. D. 354. His father, designing him for some of the learned professions, placed him at school. But such was his vicious make, that he neglected study, and substituted gaming, and attendance at shows, &c. &c., and invented a thousand false stories, to escape the rod, with which he was often severely chastened. After a while, he acquired a taste for learning. While on his way to Rome, at a certain time, he heard the preaching of Ambrose. vert, and was elected bishop of Hippo. From this date, he set himself for the defence of the gospel, and became the admiration of the Christian world. From his writings was formed a body of theology, which for centuries after was the guide of those who desired the truth. He died A. D. 430, aged seventy-six years.

stopped at Milan, and He became a con

13. John Chrysostom was born at Antioch, A. D. 354. At an early age, he determined to adopt a monastic life, and accordingly spent six years in this way; until, worn out with watchings, fastings, and other severities, he was forced to return to Antioch. Af. ter he was elected bishop of Constantinople, he began to attempt a reformation in his diocese, which greatly enraged the clergy, and through their influence he was banished. But soon after, the emperor recalled him, and restored him to his bishopric. No sooner was he established in his office, than he began to display his customary zeal; whereupon, his ene

mies again procured his banishment. But before he arrived at his port of exile, through fatigue and hard treatment from the soldiers, he expired. He was one of the most able preachers that have adorned the church.

10. THE TEN PERSECUTIONS.

HISTORIANS usually reckon ten general persecutions, the first of which was under the emperor Nero, thirtyone years after our Lord's ascension, when that emperor, after having set fire to the city of Rome, threw the odium of that execrable action on the Christians. First, those were apprehended who openly avowed themselves to be of that sect; and by them were discovered an immense multitude, all of whom were convicted. Their death and tortures were aggravated by cruel derision and sport; for they were either covered with the skins of wild beasts and torn in pieces by devouring dogs, or fastened to crosses, and wrapped up in combustible garments, that, when the daylight failed, they might, like torches, serve to dispel the darkness of night. For this tragical spectacle, Nero lent his own gardens, and exhibited at the same time the public diversions of the circus; sometimes driving a chariot in person, and sometimes standing as a spectator, while the shrieks of women, burning to ashes, supplied music to his ears.

The Second general persecution was under Domitian, in the year 95, when 40,000 were supposed to have suffered martyrdom.

The Third began in the third year of Trajan, in the year 100, and was carried on with violence for several years.

The Fourth was under Antoninus, when the Christians were banished from their houses, forbidden to show their heads, reproached, beaten, hurried from place to place, plundered, imprisoned, and stoned.

The Fifth began in the year 127, under Severus, when great cruelties were committed. In this reign

happened the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas, and their companions. These two beautiful and amiable young women, mothers of infant children, after suffering much in prison, were exposed before an insulting multitude, to a wild cow, who mangled their bodies in a horrid manner; after which they were carried to a conspicuous place, and put to death by the sword.

The Sixth began with the reign of the emperor Maximinus, 235.

The Seventh, which was the most dreadful ever known, began in 250, under the emperor Decius, when the Christians were in all places driven from their habitations, stripped of their estates, tormented with racks, &c.

The Eighth began under Valerian. Both men and women suffered death, some by scourging, some by the sword, and some by fire.

The Ninth was under Aurelian, in 274; but this was inconsiderable, compared with others before mentioned.

The Tenth began in the nineteenth year of Diocletian, 303. In this dreadful persecution, which lasted ten years, houses which were filled with Christians were set on fire, and whole droves were tied together with ropes, and thrown into the sea. It is related that 17,000 were slain in one month's time; and that during the continuance of this persecution, in the province of Egypt alone, no less than 144,000 Christians died by the violence of their persecutors; besides 700,000 that died through the fatigues of banishment, or the public works to which they were condemned.—Buck's Theological Dictionary.

11. MARTYRDOM OF THE THEBAN LEGION.

DURING the reign of the emperor Maximian, A. D. 286, a legion of soldiers, consisting of 6666 men, contained none but Christians. This legion was called the Theban legion, because the men had been raised in