Augustine of Hippo
Book II From Constantine to Charlemagne, The Fourth Century, Part I . The External History of the Church, Chapter I
Section I. Paragraph 2
In the beginning of this century, the Roman Empire was under the dominion of four chiefs, of whom two, Diocletian and Maximium Herculeus, were of superior dignity and were distinguished by the title of Augustus; while the other two, viz. Constantinus Chlorus and Maximinus Galerius, were in a certain degree of subordination to the former, and were honoured with the appellation of Caesars. Under these four emperors the church enjoyed an agreeable calm. Diocletian, although much addicted to superstition, did not, however, entertain any aversion to the Christians: and Constantinus Chlorus, who, following the dictates of right reason alone in the worship of the deity, had abandoned the absurdities of polytheism, treated them with condescension and benevolence. This alarmed the pagan priests, whose interests were so closely connected with the continuance of the ancient superstitions, and who apprehended, not without reason, that to their great detriment would the Christian religion become daily more universal and triumphant throughout the empire. Under these anxious fears of the downfall of their authority, they addressed themselves to Diocletian, whom they knew to be of a timorous and credulous disposition, and , by fictitious oracles, and other such perfidious stratagems, endeavored to engage him to persecute the Christians.
II. Diocletian, however, stood for some time unmoved by the treacherous arts of a selfish and superstitious priesthood, who, when they perceived the ill success of their cruel efforts, addressed themselves to Maximinus Galerius, one of the Caesars and also son-in-law to Diocletian, in order to accomplish their unrighteous purposes. This prince, whose gross ignorance of every thing but military affairs was accompanied with a fierce and savage temper, was a proper instrument for executing their designs. Set on, therefore, by the malicious insinuations of the heathen priests, the suggestions of a superstitious mother, and the ferocity of his own natural disposition, he solicited Diocletian with such indefatigable importunity, and in such an urgent manner, for an edict against the Christians, that he, at length, attained his horrid purpose. For in the year 303, when this emperor was in Nicomedia, an order was obtained from him to pull down the churches of the Christians, to burn all their writings, and to take from them all their civil rights and privileges, and render them incapable of any honours or civil promotion. This first edict, though rigorous and severe, extended not to the lives of the Christians, for Diocletian was extremely averse to slaughter and bloodshed; it was, however, destructive to many of them, particularly to those who refused to deliver the sacred books into the hands of the magistrates. Many Christians, therefore, and among them several bishops and presbyters, seeing the consequence of this refusal, delivered up all the religious books, and other sacred things that were in their possession, in order to save their lives. This conduct was highly condemned by the most steady and resolute Christians, who looked upon this compliance as sacrilegious, and branded those who were guilty of it with the ignominious appellation of traditors.
II. Diocletian, however, stood for some time unmoved by the treacherous arts of a selfish and superstitious priesthood, who, when they perceived the ill success of their cruel efforts, addressed themselves to Maximinus Galerius, one of the Caesars and also son-in-law to Diocletian, in order to accomplish their unrighteous purposes. This prince, whose gross ignorance of every thing but military affairs was accompanied with a fierce and savage temper, was a proper instrument for executing their designs. Set on, therefore, by the malicious insinuations of the heathen priests, the suggestions of a superstitious mother, and the ferocity of his own natural disposition, he solicited Diocletian with such indefatigable importunity, and in such an urgent manner, for an edict against the Christians, that he, at length, attained his horrid purpose. For in the year 303, when this emperor was in Nicomedia, an order was obtained from him to pull down the churches of the Christians, to burn all their writings, and to take from them all their civil rights and privileges, and render them incapable of any honours or civil promotion. This first edict, though rigorous and severe, extended not to the lives of the Christians, for Diocletian was extremely averse to slaughter and bloodshed; it was, however, destructive to many of them, particularly to those who refused to deliver the sacred books into the hands of the magistrates. Many Christians, therefore, and among them several bishops and presbyters, seeing the consequence of this refusal, delivered up all the religious books, and other sacred things that were in their possession, in order to save their lives. This conduct was highly condemned by the most steady and resolute Christians, who looked upon this compliance as sacrilegious, and branded those who were guilty of it with the ignominious appellation of traditors.
