The tragedies of tyrants Exercised upon the church of God, from the birth of…The tragedies of tyrantes Exercised vpon the church of God, from the birth of…

But when this loss which the Church had sustained, and this token of the wrath of God against his people had moved but few in the Church to repentance, the more part remaining careless and impenitent, and always proceeding farther in their ⟨image 43⟩unthankfulness: God also increased the correction, suffering the Church to be oppressed with a most sharp persecution. For in the .xix. year of Diocletian, which was the. 306. after the birth of Christ, in the month of March & even on Easter day, were published every where edicts from y• emperors ¹against the Christians, wherein was charge given, that Churches and Oratories of the Christians should be plucked down to the ground, the Bibles and all books of holly scripture burned, and whosoever of the Christians he were that were in any honour office, and dignity should be degraded and made infamous, with many other commandments of that sort.

But when this losse whiche the Churche had sustayned, and this token of the wrath of God against his people had mooued but fewe in the Churche to repentaunce, the more parte remaynynge carelesse and impenitent, and alwayes procéedynge farther in theyr ⟨image 43⟩vnthankefulnesse: God also increased the correction, suffryng the Churche to bée oppressed with a moste sharpe persecution. For in the .xix. yéere of Dioclecian, which was the. 306. after the birth of Christe, in the month of March & euen on Easter day, were published euery where edictes from y• emperours ¹againste the Christians, wherin was charge giuen, that Churches and Oratories of the Christians shoulde bée plucked downe to the grownd, the Bibles and all bookes of holly scripture burned, and whosoeuer of the Christians hée were that were in any honour office, and dignite should bée disgraded and made imfamous, with many other commaundmentes of that sorte.

1. 1Edicts against christians.