Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

'THE FIRST AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH. 195to have brought before the senate a proposition toallow the Christian Faith as a lawful religion. Hadthis been done, the whole course of Christian historyin these three centuries wonchanged. As it was, every one, in becoming aChristian, accepted the chance thathereby be called upon to forfeit the possession ofwife, children, goods, every civil right, and lifeitself.The end of the reign of the first Antonine, inthe year 161, furnishes us with a second fittingepoch at which we may estimate the growth andposition in the empire of the Christian Faith.During the sixty years which elapse from thedeath of S. John to the accession of Marcus, ¥ theRoman empire is ruled by three sovereigns, whohave each left a fair name and a considerable renownbehind them, and who, compared with mostof those who preceded or who followed them, mayalmost be termed great. Trajan by his militarysuccesses raised to the highest point the credit ofthe Roman arms, by his moderation in civil governmenteffaced the remembrance of Dornitian'scruelties, and gave the Romans perhaps as muchliberty as they could bear. His successor Hadrian,onng great energy, administrative ability, andmoderation of his own to the fear and respect forthe Roman name, which the powerful arm of Trajanhad spread around, was able at once to exercisehis army with unwearied discipline, and to