CHAPTER VII.

CHRISTIANITY IN BRITAIN TO THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE THE GREAT, A.D. 313.

Christianity triumphs in Britain -St. Alban, the first British martyr for ChristAmphibalus - Aaron, Julius, and Augustos, martyrs-Death of Constantius —— Constantine-His conversion-Christian profession honoured.

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CHRISTIANITY, doubtless, made some glorious triumphs in Britain, after its partial revival in the time of Lucius, A. D. 164. For Tertullian in Africa, about A. D. 200, had heard of progress; and he speaks of it as having extended beyond the limits of the Roman province, into those parts of Britain which had not submitted to the arms of that victorious people. This was probably accomplished by the ministry of some of the provincial Britons; who, having embraced the gospel, and being animated with the grace of Christ, laboured for the propagation of their divine religion, and communicated the knowledge of the truth to those tribes of the Britons who used their own language. The fact is believed, though we are unable to ascertain how far the light of the gospel penetrated into the wilds of Caledonia.

We have no authentic information respecting the particnlar advancement of Christianity in Britain, until the close of the third century, when the tenth general persecution of the Christians arose under the emperor Dioclesian. Many were the martyrs of Christ, in that season of trial, though we cannot gain a perfect knowledge of the facts, separated from the disfigured monkish legends in which they are recorded.

ALBAN, canonized by the superstitious papists with the title of "Saint," from whom his native town Verulamium, now St. Alban's, in Hertfordshire, has been called, is mentioned as the first British martyr for Christ; a few brief notices, therefore, must be given of him. In his youth, Alban is said to have undertaken a journey to Rome, in company with Amphibalus, a monk of Caerleon. By means of his instructions, example, and prayers, Alban renounced the delusions of Paganism, in which he had been educated, and embraced Christianity. He served seven years as a

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soldier, in the army of Dioclesian, the emperor: but returning to settle in his native place, he entertained Amphibalus, when driven there by persecution. His enemies, having traced the object of their pursuit, gave information to a magistrate, who sent to apprehend the Christian preacher. Alban generously put on the hairy cassock of his guest, and delivered himself to the officers, who led him to the tribunal, at the time of the superstitious governor offering sacrifice to the demons, by whose altar he was standing *. Then being asked his name, he said, "My parents named me Alban: and I worship the only true and living God, who created all things." Refusing to betray his pious guest, whom he regarded as his father in the gospel, or to offer sacrifice to the Roman gods, he was sentenced to be beheaded. Alban was first scourged, and then led out to execution, as is said, on the spot where the Abbey now stands, erected to his memory by Offa, king of Mercia, and called after the name of this proto-martyr of the Britons. Tradition also says, that the soldier, who had been appointed to put him to death, was so affected by the pious resignation and holy magnanimity of the virtuous Alban, that he chose rather to die with him than to be his executioner.

Amphibalus, however, was soon discovered, and made to glorify his divine Lord, by the shedding of his blood for the gospel, being first embowelled and then stoned. The precise year in which these things occurred cannot now be ascertained. Dioclesian ascended the throne of the Cæsars, A. D. 284, and laid aside the imperial purple A. D. 305. Some think that the persecution under him raged but the last two years in Britain, though it continued nine years in most other parts of the empire; yet Bede, and most of our old historians, place the martyrdom of St. Alban, A. D. 286.

Wales seems to have contained some flourishing Christian churches; for Aaron and Julius, two substantial citizens of Caerleon, besides Angulius of London, and many others, both men and women, suffered at the same period for the sake of Christ; but most of their names have perished from the re

*Bede, book i, chap. vii.

cords in our old chronicles. Dr. Fuller, a church historian, has beautifully remarked concerning them, "It was superstition in the Athenians to build an altar to the unknown God; but it would be piety in us to erect a monument in memorial of those unknown martyrs, whose names are lost. The best is, God's calendar is more complete than man's best martyrologies and their names are written in the book of life, who on earth are wholly forgotten *."

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Divine providence, in mercy, soon put a period to these bloody persecutions, and the church enjoyed a large measure of tranquillity. Christianity in Britain henceforward received imperial protection. Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor who professed Christianity, is, by Dr. Anderson, in his "Royal Genealogies," made, not only a native of Britain, but the son of a British princess, as he calls Helena! Gibbon supposes that he was born A. D. 274, at Naissus, in Dacia↑; yet it is certain that his father, Constantius Chlorus, was at York, when, upon the abdication of Dioclesian, A .D. 305, he shared the Roman empire with Galerius Maximus; and that he died at York, A. D. 306, having first caused his son Constantine to be acknowledged and proclaimed emperor, both by the army and by the Britons .

That humane and intelligent prince expressed, in his last moments, his desire that his son Constantine should succeed him in his imperial diguity, especially as his filial affection for his mother Helena had been most exemplary. Constantius himself had steadily opposed the persecuting spirit of the times; and in reply to some courtiers, who urged him to dismiss from his service those who would not abandon their profession of Christianity, he nobly declared, that, "it could not be expected of those who had forsaken their God, that they would prove faithful to their prince." Constantius is said to have commended the Christians to the protection of his son Constantine with his expiring breath. It cannot be wondered at, therefore, that he should embrace Christianity;

* Fuller's Church History, book i, page 20.

† Decline and Fall, vol. ii, page 52.

Henry of Huntingdon speaks of Helena as the daughter of Coel, king of Colchester.-Collier's Church History, book i, page 25.

especially if it be correct, as tradition states, that its principles and temper were recommended by his pious mother Helena!

Constantine appears to have hesitated at this period, whether he should or not avow his belief in the Christian re. ligion; but in marching with his army into Italy he became decided, and made his profession public. It is said, that seeing the Christians increase among all ranks, and knowing their excellent principles from their virtuous conduct, he retired to a place of solitude; and revolving in his mind the consequences of the expected battle with his rival Maxentius, he implored the protection of the God whom the Christians worshipped, when he beheld in the heavens the vision of a cross, with this inscription in Greek-"BY THIS Conquer." His pagan priests interpreted it as an ill omen; but the Christians were encouraged on hearing of the apparition, and some of them suggested the propriety of having a standard made with that significant inscription. Constantine saw the seasonable policy of the measure, and acted upon the suggestion: a splendid banner was prepared, and emblazoned with that motto: he marched against Maxentius, defeated his superior army, and entered imperial Rome as its sole and absolute master.

Constantine, at his triumph, rejected the homage and applause of the multitude; pointing them to his new military standard, as representing that invisible power, by which his victory had been gained. And when his own statue was afterwards erected in the Capitol, he caused an emblematical representation of the Cross to be introduced, having upon it this inscription :-"BY THIS VICTORIOUS CROSS, ConstanTINE HAS DELIVERED ROME FROM TYRANNY, AND RESTORED TO THE SENATE AND PEOPLE THEIR ANCIENT GLORY."

Whether Constantine ever became a sincere servant of God, has been doubted by the most judicious divines. But he continued a zealous professor of Christianity; so that the profession of the Gospel was not only made safe by effectual imperial protection, but universally honoured; and its forms of public worship were distinguished, especially in the larger cities, with all possible dignity and splendour. Helena, the mother of Constantine, became surprisingly lavish in her

contributions to honour the name of Christ; and though we have no particular account of her acts of liberality towards Britain, supposed by many to be the land of her nativity, she is celebrated as having taken a journey to the Holy Land; where she is said to have discovered the true cross of Christ, and to have built a sumptuous edifice over the supposed site of the sepulchre of Jesus at Jerusalem.

CHAPTER VIII.

CHRISTIANITY IN BRITAIN, FROM THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE, A. D. 313, TO THE ARRIVAL OF THE SAXONS, A. D. 449.

Constantine patronizes Christianity in Britain — Hierarchy-Its various Ministers -New Ceremonies in this age- Pilgrims from Britain-Corruption of Doctrine-Pelagianism - Germanus and Lupus oppose it-Labours of GermanusSt. Patrick - Invasion of the Saxons.

CONSTANTINE the Great publicly professing Christianity, A.D. 313, multitudes were induced to follow the imperial example. The ministers of the Gospel became more zealously active in prosecuting their labours, and numbers, especially among the Britons, are said to have been led to embrace the faith of Christ. Dr. Fuller remarks, "Whereas formerly Christians, for the peace they possessed, were only tenants at will to the present emperor's goodness, this Constantine passed as a peaceable estate to the Christians and their heirs, or rather to the immortal corporation of God's church, making their happiness hereditary by those good laws which he enacted *" Even before Constantine left Britain, he gave proof of his kindness to the Christians, and showed them more favour than his father had done, though he had been tolerant. Encouraged by the favourable dispositions of the new emperor, the British Christians came out of their lurkingplaces, and built their sacred edifices which had been demolished, and observed their holy solemnities with joyful hearts.

Imperial favour shining upon the ministers of Christ, wealth and honours were largely heaped upon them. A profession

* Church History, book i, p. 21.