ecution threatened by Aurelian.

303-313. Persecution under Dioclesian, Galerius, and
Maximinus.

{61}

Section 3. _Nature and Extent of Persecutions._

[Sidenote: Terrors of persecution.]

Words can hardly be found strong enough to express the many and varied
tortures which were inflicted on the Christians of the Primitive Church
by their heathen countrymen. Death itself seemed too slight a
punishment in the eyes of these cruel persecutors, unless it was
preceded and accompanied by the most painful and trying circumstances.
It was by crucifixion, and devouring beasts, and lingering fiery
torments that the great multitude of those early martyrs received their
crown. Racked and scorched, lacerated and torn limb from limb,
agonized in body, mocked at and insulted, they were objects of pity
even to the heathen themselves. Persecuting malice spared neither sex
nor age, station nor character; the old man and the tender child, the
patrician and the slave, the bishop and his flock, all shed their blood
for Him Who had died for them, rather than deny their Lord.

We have no possible means of estimating the number of this vast "cloud
of witnesses," but authentic accounts have come down to us which prove
that some places were almost depopulated by the multitude of
martyrdoms; and when we remember the length of time over which the
persecutions extended, the blood-thirsty rage of the persecutors, and
the firm perseverance with which the immensely large majority of
Christians kept the Faith to the end, we may form some idea as to the
"multitude" of this noble army of martyrs "which no man could number."

[Sidenote: Persecution did not check the growth of the Church,]

So widely did the Church spread during the age {62} of persecution, in
the face of all the fierce opposition of her enemies, that it was found
at times to be impossible to carry out in their fulness the cruel laws
against Christians, on account of the numbers of those who were ready
to brave all for the sake of Christ. As has been often said, "The
blood of the martyrs was the seed of the Church."

[Sidenote: nor revive decaying heathenism,]

Paganism was gradually dying away in the Roman world, notwithstanding
all the craft and power of Satan, whilst no number of martyrdoms seemed
to check the growth of the Body of Christ. Vain and short-sighted,
indeed, was the boast of the Emperor Dioclesian during the last and
most bitter of