11.07.2015 Views

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

292 THE SECOND AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.the first to venture on such a deep, is the best excusethat can be made for those speculative errorsinto which he fell.III. And now we turn to the conduct <strong>of</strong> theempire towards this religion which has grown upin its bosom.At once with the accession <strong>of</strong> Marcusa temper <strong>of</strong> greater severity to Christians is shown.<strong>The</strong> sort <strong>of</strong> toleration expressed in the rescript <strong>of</strong>ius to the province <strong>of</strong> Asia is withdrawnew law about them is enacted, for none is needed,but the old law is let loose. <strong>The</strong> almost sublimeclemency <strong>of</strong> Marcus towards his revolted generalCassius, his reign <strong>of</strong> nineteen years unstained withsenatorial blood, and the campaigns prolongedfrom year to year <strong>of</strong> one who loved his philosophicstudies above all things, and yet at the call<strong>of</strong> imperial duty gave up night and day to therudest toils <strong>of</strong> a weary conflict with barbaroustribes on the frontier, have won for him immortalhonour : his regard for his subjects in general hassometimes given him in Christian estimation theplace <strong>of</strong> predilection among all princes ancient andmodern.61 It is well, then, to consider his bearingtowards Christians. Now among his teachers wasthat Juiiius Rusticus, grandson <strong>of</strong> the man whoperished for the sake <strong>of</strong> liberty in Domitian's time,and in his day no doubt a perfect specimen <strong>of</strong> the61 Guizot ranks Marcus Aurelius with S. Louis, as the only rulerswho preferred conscience to gain in all their conduct.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!