Kingdom Parables

M. M. NINAN
Sextus succeeded Stephen as bishop of Rome. In the year 258,
Marcianus, who had the management of the Roman government,
procured an order from the emperor Valerian, to put to death all the
Christian clergy in Rome, and hence the bishop with six of his deacons,
suffered martyrdom in 258.
A. D. 207, Cyprian was brought before the proconsul Aspasius
Paturnus, who exiled him to a little city on the Lybian sea. On the death
of this proconsul, he returned to Carthage, but was soon after seized,
and carried before the new governor, who condemned him to be
beheaded; which sentence was executed on the fourteenth of September,
A. D. 258.
The disciples of Cyprian, martyred in this persecution, were Lucius,
Flavian, Victoricus, Remus, Montanus, Julian, Primelus, and Donatian.
At Utica, a most terrible tragedy was exhibited: three hundred Christians
were, by the orders of the proconsul, placed round a burning lime kiln.
A pan of coals and incense being prepared, they were commanded either
to sacrifice to Jupiter, or to be thrown into the kiln. Unanimously
refusing, they bravely jumped into the pit, and were immediately
suffocated.
Fructuosus, bishop of Tarragon, in Spain, and his two deacons,
Augurius and Eulogius, were burnt for being Christians.
Alexander, Malchus, and Priscus, three Christians of Palestine, with a
woman of the same place, voluntarily accused themselves of being
Christians; on which account they were sentenced to be devoured by
tigers, which sentence was executed accordingly.
Maxima, Donatilla, and Secunda, three virgins of Tuburga, had gall and
vinegar given them to drink, were then severely scourged, tormented on
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