A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

227God from His purpose; nor do sacrifices honor God, nor themultitude of offerings glorify God, but the godlike mind wellgoverned enters into union with God. For like is of necessityjoined to like. But the victims of the senseless crowd are food forthe flames, and their offerings are the supplies for a licentiouslife to the plunderers of temples. But, as I have said to thee, letthe mind within thee be the temple of God. This must be tendedand adorned to become a fit dwelling for God.[205]Chapter III. The First General Persecution And ItsConsequencesOn account of various principles of the Roman law, Christianswere always liable to severe penalties, and parts of the Churchoccasionally suffered fearfully. But it was only in exceptionalcases and sporadically that the laws were enforced. There was,accordingly, no prolonged and systematic effort made to putdown Christianity everywhere until the reign of Decius (249-251). The renewed interest in heathen religions and the revivedpatriotism in some circles occasioned in 248 by the celebrationof the thousandth anniversary of the founding of Rome may havecontributed to a renewal of hostilities against the Church. Deciusundertook the military defence of the frontier. His colleague,Valerian, had charge of the internal affairs of the Empire andwas the author of the measures against the Christians. Becausethe Church included many who had embraced the faith in thelong period when the Church rarely felt the severity of the laws,many were unable to endure the persecution, and so apostatizedor “fell.” The persecution continued only for a short time infull intensity, but it was not abandoned for a number of years.It became violent once more when Valerian became Emperor