OF THE DECLINE AND FALL OF BY EDWARD GIBBON EDITED BY J. B. BURY, M. A. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY THE RT. HON. W. E. H. LECKY VOLUME III LONDON POSTLETHWAITE, TAYLOR & KNOWLES, LTD. The Jews were a People which followed, the Christians a Sect 5_ Idea of the Conduct of the Emperors towards the Christians Cruel Punishment of the Christians as the Incendiaries of the City Oppression of the Jews and Christians by Domitian. Execution of Clemens the Consul Ignorance of Pliny concerning the Christians Trajan and his Successors establish a legal Mode of proceeding Humanity of the Roman Magistrates. Inconsiderable Number of Martyrs Example of Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage Three Methods of escaping Martyrdom 43 Supposed Edicts of Tiberius and Marcus Antoninus 180 State of the Christians in the Reigns of Commodus and Severus 253-260 Of Valerian, Gallienus, and his Successors. Of Maximin, Philip, and Decius 260 Paul of Samosata, his Manners 270 He is degraded from the See of Antioch 274 The Sentence is executed by Aurelian 284-303 Peace and Prosperity of the Church under Diocletian 303 Demolition of the Church of Nicomedia The first Edict against the Christians Zeal and Punishment of a Christian Fire of the Palace of Nicomedia imputed to the Christians Demolition of the Churches [303-304] Subsequent Edicts 303-311 General Idea of the Persecution In the Western Provinces, under Constantius and Constantine And under Maxentius In Illyricum and the East, under Galerius and Maximin 311 Galerius publishes an Edict of Toleration Peace of the Church Maximin prepares to renew the Persecution |