Course 3, Chapter 10: Christianity established. — First and second Persecutions. — First Century

1. How many general persecutions of the Christians were there?

There were ten general persecutions of the Christians. They are called general persecutions because ordered by the Roman emperors, then masters of the greatest part of the world.

2. Who was the first Roman emperor who perse cuted the Christians?

The first Roman emperor who persecuted the Christians was Nero, in the 64th year after Christ. Nero having set fire to, and burnt the city of Rome, that he might witness a great conflagration, accused the Christians of having done it, and on that account put a great number of them to death.

3. What kind of punishments did he make them endure?

Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts, and dogs were set on them to worry them and tear them to pieces; others were enveloped in a covering of pitch and wax, they were then set on fire and stationed through the city in the place of lamps, to light it up during the night. It was during this persecution that St. Peter and St. Paul suffered martyr-

dom, as also one of Nero's principal officers, named Tropeus.

4. Did God leave the cruelty of Nero unpunished?

God did not leave the cruelty of Nero unpunished; the Romans revolted against him, and he was obliged to hide himself in a marsh, where he prevailed on one of his men to put him to death. This tragical end, and that of all the persecutors, show us how continually God watches over his church.

5. What other example have you V

Another proof of God's constant watching over his church, is the ruin of Jerusalem; which after having crucified the Saviour, never ceased to persecute his disciples. It was besieged by Titus, the son of the emperor Vespasian, in the 70th year after Christ.

6. What signs preceded the destruction of Jerusalem?

The most terrible signs preceded the destruction of Jerusalem. A comet in the form of a sword, remained suspended during a whole year over this unfortunate city; and a roan, named Jesus, never ceased, during four years, to traverse the city, crying, night and day, through every street, " Wo to Jerusalem! " " Wo to the Temple! " " Wo to the people! "

7. Why were all these signs?

God caused these signs to appear in order to accomplish the predictions of our Saviour, and to warn the Christians to leave Jerusalem.

8. What happened to the Jews?

During the siege, Jerusalem was divided into different opposing parties; the Jews butchered one an other; the city presented a picture of hell itself; famine raged to such an extent, that a mother ate the flesh of her "own son.

9. How was the city taken?

On the 10th of August Titus advanced as far as the front of the temple, the burning of which he had forbidden; but a brand, thrown by a soldier, set it on

208 CATECHISM Or PERSEVERANCE.

fire and reduced it to ashes; after which the conquerot leveled the city and passed a plough over it.

10. Who was the second Roman emperor who per^ secuted the Christians V

The second Roman emperor who persecuted the Christians was Domitian, brother of Titus, whom he succeeded in the 81 st year of Christ. He put his own relations to death for being Christians, and caused St. John the Evangelist to be thrown into a caldron of boiling oil. God punished the tyrant. Tormented day and night by remorse, he was assassinated in the 86th year after Christ; deprived of every mark of honor, and even of burial.