History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire - Volume 2

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Chapter XVI—Conduct Towards The Christians, From Nero To Constantine.—Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Part V. Part VI. Part VII. Part VIII. Chapter XVII: Foundation Of Constantinople.—Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Part V. Part VI. Chapter XVIII: Character Of Constantine And His Sons.—Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Chapter XIX: Constantius Sole Emperor.—Part I. PartII. Part III. Part IV. Chapter XX: Conversion Of Constantine.—Part I. Part II. Part III. PartIV. Chapter XXI: Persecution Of Heresy, State Of The Church.—Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Part V. Part VI. Part VII. Chapter XXII: Julian Declared Emperor.—Part I Part II. Part III. Part IV. Chapter XXIII: Reign Of Julian.—Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Part V. Chapter XXIV: The Retreat And Death Of Julian.—Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Part V. Chapter XXV: Reigns Of Jovian And Valentinian, Division Of The Empire.—Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Part V. Part VI. Part VII. Chapter XXVI: Progress of The Huns.—Part I. Part II. Part III. Part IV. Part V.

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During the same period of persecution, the zealous, the eloquent, the ambitious Cyprian governed the church, not only of Carthage, but even of Africa. He possessed every quality which could engage the reverence of the faithful, or provoke the suspicions and resentment of the Pagan magistrates. His character as well as his station seemed to mark out that holy prelate as the most distinguished object of envy and danger. The experience, however, of the life of Cyprian, is sufficient to prove that our fancy has exaggerated the perilous situation of a Christian bishop; and the dangers to which he was exposed were less imminent than those which temporal ambition is always prepared to encounter in the pursuit of honors. Four Roman emperors, with their families, their favorites, and their adherents, perished by the sword in the space of ten years, during which the bishop of Carthage guided by his authority and eloquence the councils of the African church. It was only in the third year of his administration, that he had reason, during a few months, to apprehend the severe edicts of Decius, the vigilance of the magistrate and the clamors of the multitude, who loudly demanded, that Cyprian, the leader of the Christians, should be thrown to the lions. Prudence suggested the necessity of a temporary retreat, and the voice of prudence was obeyed. He withdrew himself into an obscure solitude, from whence he could maintain a constant correspondence with the clergy and people of Carthage; and, concealing himself till the tempest was past, he preserved his life, without relinquishing either his power or his reputation. His extreme caution did not, however, escape the censure of the more rigid Christians, who lamented, or the reproaches of his personal enemies, who insulted, a conduct which they considered as a pusillanimous and criminal desertion of the most sacred duty. The propriety of reserving himself for the future exigencies of the church, the example of several holy bishops, and the divine admonitions, which, as he declares himself, he frequently received in visions and ecstacies, were the reasons alleged in his justification. But his best apology may be found in the cheerful resolution, with which, about eight years afterwards, he suffered death in the cause of religion. The authentic history of his martyrdom has been recorded with unusual candor and impartiality. A short abstract, therefore, of its most important circumstances, will convey the clearest information of the spirit, and of the forms, of the Roman persecutions.

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