7.

WILLINGNESS OF THE ANCIENT CHRISTIANS TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST'S SAKE.

The ancient Christians counted it an honor to suffer for their religion, and oftentimes gave up their lives with joy, for the sake of their Lord.

In the fourth century, the emperor Valens ordered on a certain day, the Christians in Edessa to be slain, while they were at their devotions, in their churches. The officers, howevever being more compassionate than the emperor, privately gave notice to the Christians not to assemble on the day appointed, so that they might escape death.

The Christians thanked the officers for their advice, but disregarded both that and the emperor's menaces, rather than neglect their duty. They accordingly repaired to the church, and the troops were put in motion to destroy them. As they marched along, a woman, with a child in her arms, broke through their ranks,. when the officer ordered her to be brought before him, and asked her where she was going? She replied, to the church, whither others were ma

king all the haste they could.

"Have you not

heard" says the officer, "of the emperor's order, to put to death all who are found there?" "I have," says she, "and for that cause I make the more haste." "And whither," said the officer, "do you lead that child !" "I take him," replied she," with me, that he also may be reckoned in the number of the martyrs." Upon this, the humane officer returned to the emperor, and told him that all the Christians were prepared to die in defence of their faith, represented to him the rashness of murdering so great a multitude, and entreated the emperor to drop the design, at least for the present, with which he at length complied.-Milner's History of Christian martyrdom,

8.

VISION OF CONSTANTINE.

The reign of Constantine the Great, the first Christian Emperor, is an important era in the history of the Christian Church.

The miraculous circumstances attending his

conversion, though doubted by some, are fully credited by others. According to Eusebius (who received the account from the emperor's own mouth, and who also confirmed it by his solemn oath) these extraordinary circumstances are as follows:

"As the emperor was marching at the head of his army, from France into Italy, against Maxentius on an expedition, which he was fully aware, involved in it his future destiny; oppressed with extreme anxiety, and reflecting that he needed a force superior to arms, for subduing the sorceries and magic of his adversary, he anxiously looked out for the aid of some deity, as that alone could secure him success. About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when the sun began to decline, whilst praying for supernatural aid, a luminous cross was seen by the emperor and his army, in the air, above the sun, inscribed with the words "BY THIS CONQUER," at the sight of which, amazement overpowered both himself and the soldiery on the expedition with him. He continued to ponder on the event till night, when, in a dream, the author of Christianity appeared to him, to confirm the vision, directing him, at the same

time, to make the symbol of the cross his military ensign."*

Constantine having vanquished his adversary, now built places for Christian worship, and shewed great beneficence to the poor. He removed the seat of the empire from Rome to Byzantium, which afterwards he honoured by the name of Constantinople, and prohibited, by a severe edict, the performance of pagan rites and ceremonies.

He died on the 22d of May, in the year 337, at the age of sixty-four, after a reign of thirtythree years, having fully established the Christian Religion in the Roman empire.

9.

ORIGIN OF THE MONASTIC LIFE.

St. Anthony, of Egypt, in the fourth century, first instituted the monastic life. He distributed his patrimony, deserted his family and house, took up his residence among the tombs and in a ruined town. After remaining there a long time, he at length advanced three days journey * Milner's Church History.