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Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

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CHAPTERXLTHE SECOND AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.Magnus ab integro sgeclorum nascitur ordJam nova progenies coelo demittitur alto., aderit jam tempus, nonortgnum Jo vis incrementum."THERE is a moment in the history <strong>of</strong> the Romanempire when it comes before us with the mostimposing grandeur. <strong>The</strong> imperial rule has beendefinitively accepted by that proud old aristocracyunder which the city <strong>of</strong> the seven hills was builtup from a robber fortress to be the centre <strong>of</strong> aworld-wide confederation ; while on their side thenations all round the Mediterranean bow with analmost voluntary homage before the sceptre <strong>of</strong>their queen. If the north be still untameable, ithas learnt to dread the talons <strong>of</strong> the Roman eagle, O 7and cowers murmuring in its forests and morasses; if the Parthian still shoot as he flies fromthe western Cesar's hosts, he has at least expiatedin the ruin <strong>of</strong> Ctesiphon the capture <strong>of</strong> Crassusand the dishonour <strong>of</strong> Mark Antony. But far morethan this. On the Cresar in his undisputed greatnesshas dawned the real sublimity <strong>of</strong> the taskwhich Providence had assigned to him ; to mould,

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