IN CHURCH HISTORY. 45 



the ten emperors under whom the sufferings came. 



Among the many forms of torture and death with 

 which the Christians were visited, none seem to 

 us more remarkable than the exposure in the 

 arena to wild beasts and the attacks of the gladi- 

 ators, or sword players. 



A Roman holiday, at one time, included the 

 spectacle of a band of Christians thrown into the 

 ring to be dispatched either by the swords of 

 gladiators, or the teeth of lions. On a given day 

 the Roman multitude would assemble to witness 

 with the liveliest satisfaction the fearful sight of 

 poor helpless men, women and children contend- 

 ing to the death with savage beasts, and no less 

 savage murderers hired to do the bloody work. 



Some of the greatest illustrations of courage and 

 faith are those presented by the martyrs. They met 

 death without a fear, and even tender children 

 smiled at its approach. 



In after years the reverence of the Christians for 

 those of their number who had suffered martyrdom 

 became so great, that it was the custom to commem- 

 orate their deaths by religious rites, and to recite 

 their deeds at the graves where their mangled 

 remains had been buried. 



The persecutions continued with more or less 

 severity until the accession of Constantine, when a 

 new order of things prevailed — the once hated reli- 

 gion became the religion of the Empire. 



