Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

370 THE THIRD AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.done during a course of years throughout thedominion of Galerius, " Maximin, -4^1 JL t^J^.A.J.A-U.J.J^J.* and Maxentius.It is in this persecution especially that the virginmartyrs suffered the extremity of the heathenmalignity in the threatened loss of that puritywhich they valued more than life. And here afellow-Christian at Alexandria disguising O O himselfas a soldier was to S. Theodora the guardian whichher anel himself became to S. Anes at Rome. Inthis persecution also S. Vincent repeats in Spainthe trial and the triumph of S. Laurence at Rome.The authentic account of his martyrdom showsthe utmost point to which the most ingenious andthe most ferocious cruelty could reach on the oneside, and the most enduring patience on the other.But the numberless details concerning the sufferingsof this time preserved to us show that it wasindeed a conflict prolonged during eight years,in which the Roman state put forth the utmoststrength which unlimited power guided by unhesitatingcruelty could exert to destroy the ChristianChurch and name.At the end of this time the conflict was terminatedby the Emperor Galerius, the chief moverof the whole persecution, being struck by a mortaldisease, in which reduced to impotence by his sufferingshe withdrew his edicts against the ChristianFaith. One after another the persecuting emperorsare taken away by death. Constantine inheritinghis father's justice towards Christians, and