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550 Credibility of the Gospel History.
3. The burning*^ of the scriptures is also mentioned by
tl)e author Of the Deaths of Persecutors, in his account of
this persecution; but he does not speakofitsoparticularly,
and so much at large, as might have been expected.
4. Arnobius likewise refers to it, and insists, that*^ there
was nothing dishonourable to the Deity in the scriptures of
the christians, that should expose them to such usage from
the heathen people ; though many writings of their own
well deserved to perish in the flames.
5. The first council of Aries, which met in 314, soon
after the persecution was over, made a canon, that® whoever
of the clergy should be convicted by the public acts of
betraying to the persecutors the scriptures, or any of the
holy vessels, or the names of any of their brethren, should
be deposed.
6. This was peculiar to Dioclesian's persecution : at
least we do not know of any such order before.
7. The persecution was for a while exceeding hot in Africa,
both in Numidia, and in the proconsular province : the two
governors of which, Anulinus and Florus, acted with great
severity toward the christians, as Optatus^ relates. The
inquest after the scriptures, and other sacred things, was
very strict in that country : the magistrates in the several
cities were very active and diligent in their searches: they
seized what they could by any means discover, and gave
informations, as they saw fit, to the superior officers of their
district. And here seems to have been the greatest number
of traitors: some bishops, as well as others, were guilty of
that crime, which Optatus" laments.
8. How the imperial orders were published and executed,
* Scripturae reperlae incenduntur. DeM. P.c. 12.
^ Quod si haberet vos aliqua pro religionibus indignatio has potius literas,
hos exurere debuistis libros. Nam nostra quidem scripta cur ignibus meruenmt
dari ••—Arnob. "^
1. iv. sub fin.
De his qui scripturas sanctas
tradidisse dicuntur, vel vasa dominica, vel nomina fratrum suorum, placuit
nobis, ut quicumque eorum ex actis publicis fuerit delectus, non verbis, nudis,
ab ordine cleri amoveatur. Concil. Arl. i. c. 13.
f Alia persecutio, quie fuit sub Diocletiano et Maximiano ; quo tempore
fuerunt et impii judices, bellum christiano nomini inferentes. Ex quibus in
Provincia Proconsulari fuerat Anulinus, in Numidia Florus. Omnibus notuni
est, quid eorum operata sit artificiosa crudelitas.—Ahi cogebanfur templa Dei
vivi subvertere : alii Christum negare ; ahi leges divinas incendore ; ahi thura
ponere. Optat. 1. iii. c. 8. ^ In Africa duo mala et pessima
adraissa esse constat, unum in traditione, alterum in schismate.—Nam ferme
ante annos sexaginta, et quod excurrit, per totam Africam persecutionis est
divagata tempestas. Ipsi apices et principes omnium, ahqui episcopi,
illis temporibus, ut damno aeternae vitae ilhus incertae lucis moras brevissimas
compararent, instrumenta divinae legis tradiderunt. Optat. 1. i. c. 13.