Church History

[turnorburn]

John Fox And His Book Of Martyrs
In our beginning*

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a short break, no flaming no accusations no mean spirited comments. Infraction of these
rules will remove you to the debate forum, "Agreed"? This is experimental and like any
experiment there is bound to be questions, so why not get those out in the open before
we begin?

In His Service,
turnorburn


The Ten Primitive Persecutions
The First Persecution, Under Nero, A.D. 67
The first persecution of the Church took place in the year 67, under Nero, the sixth emperor of Rome. This monarch reigned for the space of five years, with tolerable credit to himself, but then gave way to the greatest extravagancy of temper, and to the most atrocious barbarities. Among other diabolical whims, he ordered that the city of Rome should be set on fire, which order was executed by his officers, guards, and servants. While the imperial city was in flames, he went up to the tower of Macaenas, played upon his harp, sung the song of the burning of Troy, and openly declared that 'he wished the ruin of all things before his death.' Besides the noble pile, called the Circus, many other palaces and houses were consumed; several thousands perished in the flames, were smothered in the smoke, or buried beneath the ruins.

This dreadful conflagration continued nine days; when Nero, finding that his conduct was greatly blamed, and a severe odium cast upon him, determined to lay the whole upon the Christians, at once to excuse himself, and have an opportunity of glutting his sight with new cruelties. This was the occasion of the first persecution; and the barbarities exercised on the Christians were such as even excited the commiseration of the Romans themselves. Nero even refined upon cruelty, and contrived all manner of punishments for the Christians that the most infernal imagination could design. In particular, he had some sewed up in skins of wild beasts, and then worried by dogs until they expired; and others dressed in shirts made stiff with wax, fixed to axletrees, and set on fire in his gardens, in order to illuminate them. This persecution was general throughout the whole Roman Empire; but it rather increased than diminished the spirit of Christianity. In the course of it, St. Paul and St. Peter were martyred.

To their names may be added, Erastus, chamberlain of Corinth; Aristarchus, the Macedonian, and Trophimus, an Ephesians, converted by St. Paul, and fellow-laborer with him, Joseph, commonly called Barsabas, and Ananias, bishop of Damascus; each of the Seventy.



At the rate our society is being introduced to the different religions of the world I thought it fair in keeping the traditions of Christ's Church. Foxes book has generated more debates more conflicts
more questions etc than any other book in history second only to our Holy Bible.

 

[turnorburn]

So its a good morning in our world, then what about the rest?

The long and winding road... :

The Second Persecution, Under Domitian, A.D. 81
The emperor Domitian, who was naturally inclined to cruelty, first slew his brother, and then raised the second persecution against the Christians. In his rage he put to death some of the Roman senators, some through malice; and others to confiscate their estates. He then commanded all the lineage of David be put to death.

Among the numerous martyrs that suffered during this persecution was Simeon, bishop of Jerusalem, who was crucified; and St. John, who was boiled in oil, and afterward banished to Patmos. Flavia, the daughter of a Roman senator, was likewise banished to Pontus; and a law was made, "That no Christian, once brought before the tribunal, should be exempted from punishment without renouncing his religion."

A variety of fabricated tales were, during this reign, composed in order to injure the Christians. Such was the infatuation of the pagans, that, if famine, pestilence, or earthquakes afflicted any of the Roman provinces, it was laid upon the Christians. These persecutions among the Christians increased the number of informers and many, for the sake of gain, swore away the lives of the innocent.

Another hardship was, that, when any Christians were brought before the magistrates, a test oath was proposed, when, if they refused to take it, death was pronounced against them; and if they confessed themselves Christians, the sentence was the same.

The following were the most remarkable among the numerous martyrs who suffered during this persecution.

Dionysius, the Areopagite, was an Athenian by birth, and educated in all the useful and ornamental literature of Greece. He then travelled to Egypt to study astronomy, and made very particular observations on the great and supernatural eclipse, which happened at the time of our Savior's crucifixion.

The sanctity of his conversation and the purity of his manners recommended him so strongly to the Christians in general, that he was appointed bishop of Athens.

Nicodemus, a benevolent Christian of some distinction, suffered at Rome during the rage of Domitian's persecution.

Protasius and Gervasius were martyred at Milan.

Timothy was the celebrated disciple of St. Paul, and bishop of Ephesus, where he zealously governed the Church until A.D. 97. At this period, as the pagans were about to celebrate a feast called Catagogion, Timothy, meeting the procession, severely reproved them for their ridiculous idolatry, which so exasperated the people that they fell upon him with their clubs, and beat him in so dreadful a manner that he expired of the bruises two days later.

Its sad isn't it, we are all brothers and sisters in this world we live in, the devil has done everything in his power to spread hatred. It would appear he has succeeded or has he? if we allow it then we are to blame, there are many ways for us to enable him to carry out his hellish plans.

Are we too busy to care, we act like it, lets say for instance its a typical Monday morning, there's mom and dad, junior and brat that's juniors sister, we come to the breakfast table "if" we still have breakfast as a family. Its tradition on Monday to discuss this weeks activities. First one up
is junior, he makes a beeline for the Television, brat is next to go and go she does, in a beeline straight to her bedroom, shuts and locks the door, turns up Led Zeppelin and grabs her cell phone, and heads for the shower. If the cell phone short circuits she yells at mom to get new, Ha! its only money, "mom and dads" Did you see anything described in this picture thats out of the ordinary?
They "all" left Jesus sitting there alone. Life in the dark ages wasn't any different, I'm guessing here but hey?? When we leave the light we head straight into darkness, and back then was no different, "Guaranteed" Now pay close attention, this world is headed straight into that darkness again, I'll finish with a question "WHY"

In His Service,
turnorburn