Pneumatou diakonia, or, Gospel-churches a standing ordinance of Jesus Christ to continue to his…

tells us, that 'tis, as easy to number the Sands of the Sea, as the Martyrs that lost their lives by this persecution. Some are mentioned by name; as at Jerusalem, the Bishop of the Church there, who was cast into Prison, and died; as did Babylas, the Bishop of Antioch. Niceph. l. 5. c. 26. Another Babylas Bishop (or Pastor) of the Church at Nicomedia, was Martyred. Spec. Vincent. l. 11. c. 52. Asclepiades, Pastor of the Church at Antioch, with forty Virgins, Id. Ibid. At Lampsac, one Peter. In Troas, Andrew, Paul, Nicomachus, and Dionysia, a Virgin, Id. l. 11. c. 46. At Caesarea, Germanus, Theophilus, Caesarius, Vitalis, l. 11. c. 52. At Babylon, Polychronius their Bishop, c. 49. At Perga in Pamphylia, Nestor, their Bishop. c. 52. Olympias and Maximus, in Persia—. But the violence of this persecution was in Africa, as is manifest from Tertullian, Cyprian; and particularly at Alexandria, as Euseb. l. 6. c. 40, 41, 42. Demonstrates from the Epistles of Dionysius, Pastor ⟨image 5⟩of the Church there. At Rome, Fabian their Bishop, and Cornelius, Sabel. l. 7. Ennead. 7.—. As they were an innumerable company, that at this time suffered for the Name, Worship of CHRIST, so were their Sufferings of divers kinds; some were driven from house and harbour; spoiled of their Goods, and Enjoyments, bound with Chains, shut up in Prisons, cast to wild Beasts to be devoured; consumed in the Flames, Cypr. contr. Demet. Some they beat with Clubs; prick Face and Eyes with sharp Quills; Stone to death; drag along the Streets; sorely scourge; dash against Millstones: They break into their Houses, take away their Jewels, and all of any value; throw the wooden stuff into the streets, burn it to ashes—Euseb. l. 6. c. 40. When Decius had scarce Reigned two Years, he was slain, together with his Sons, Euseb. l. 7. c. 1. Vibius Gallus ascends the Throne, about A.D. 254▪ and continues the Persecution by Imperial Edicts, Euseb. l. 7. c. 1. Vincent. in Speculo. l. 11. c. 53. But a dreadful pestilence invading the Empire, not much was done. Gallus also himself was quickly slain by Aemilianus, Faseicul. Tempor. fol. 45. About A.D. 257. Valerian mounts the Throne, who at first was so kind to the People of God, that his whole Palace (saith Dionysius) was replenished with the godly, and became a Church of God, Euseb. l. 7. c. 10. Afterwards they were sorely Persecuted.

tells us, that 'tis, as easie to number the Sands of the Sea, as the Martyrs that lost their lives by this persecution. Some are mentioned by name; as at Jerusalem, the Bishop of the Church there, who was cast into Prison, and died; as did Babylas, the Bishop of Antioch. Niceph. l. 5. c. 26. Another Babylas Bishop (or Pastour) of the Church at Nicomedia, was Martyred. Spec. Vincent. l. 11. c. 52. Asclepiades, Pastor of the Church at Antioch, with fourty Virgins, Id. Ibid. At Lampsac, one Peter. In Troas, Andrew, Paul, Nicomachus, and Dionysia, a Virgin, Id. l. 11. c. 46. At Caesarea, Germanus, Theophilus, Caesarius, Vitalis, l. 11. c. 52. At Babylon, Polychronius their Bishop, c. 49. At Perga in Pamphylia, Nestor, their Bishop. c. 52. Olympias and Maximus, in Persia—. But the violence of this persecution was in Africa, as is manifest from Tertullian, Cyprian; and particularly at Alexandria, as Euseb. l. 6. c. 40, 41, 42. Demonstrates from the Epistles of Dionysius, Pastor