THE LIFE Of the Apostle S T PAUL Written In French by the famous Bishop of Grasse and now Englished by a Person of Honour LONDON Printed by James Young for Henry Twyford and are to be sold at his shop in Vine Court Middle Temple 1653. To the Right Honorable EDWARD Lord VAVX Baron of Harroden c. My Lord HAving obteined by meanes of Your most noble Lady a view of this choise piece which through Your hands presents in our idiome Saint Pauls Life in whom wee Gentiles are so highly concerned My Reverence to the blessed Apostle and my Duty to my Countrey emboldened me to publish this elaborate transposition of Your Lordships out of French into English to a common perusal of all our Countrey-men who with S. Chrysostom ought to delight more in him and in his simple yet grave stile then all the swelling Criticismes or vaine Philosophy of posteriour Writers That I acquainted not Your Lordship with the publishing I finde examples of great Saints to have paralleld my adventure as of Saint Amand to S. Paulin who having published his Epistles sent him a fardle of them which he would have forgotten to have been his own if the veracity and authority of the Publisher had not forced his acknowledgment That Your Illustrious Consort gave me your Book to read and if upon dicussion I should esteem it able to bear the rubbs of rigid Censurers to print it was her commendable tenderness in order to Your Lordship and Christian providence in order to the Publique warranted by Great Saint Augustine in his 7th Epistle to Marcelline who desires severe Judges as Over-visours of his learned Workes and S. Ambrose to S. Sabinus Epist 63. gives the reason Because a mans own writings deceive him errours easily escape him as Children though deformed delight their Parents so ill digested conceits flatter the Contriver This Work for the subject commandeth Devotion and Reverence in the Reader for the accurate delineation of his Life and learned intermixtion of other contemporary Occurrences deserve so ingenuous and pious a Translator as Your Lordship In lieu of Translator I might beg leave to say Interpreter for You have not onely given us in English the things signified in the French which is the duty of a Translator but you have rendered the very mentall Conception of the Author which in Aristotles stile is the office of an Interpreter and in this much obliged all especially him who had the priviledge to suck the first morning sap which by all duteous expressions I must confess who am Your Honours Most obliged and faithfull Servant F. D. THE LIFE of the Apostle S. PAUL I Undertake to write the life of Saint Paul which containes the History of the Church in her Infancy Affection I confesse interesses me in this Subject yet I fear not to be suspected of any because I dive only into pure Sources and scarce say any thing that is not warranted by the authority of the Holy Ghost In this work you may behold both the power and wisdom of God in the Establishment of the Evangelical Doctrine and all those vertues which belong to a perfect Minister of the Gospel I need not go about to colour or disguise any matter herein or seek excuses For discretion marches here with zeal simplicity with prudence meekness with power and command The Synagogue is here demolished Idolatry overturned Philosophy confounded and the Cross triumphant Nor is this done without great opposition of the Infernal Spirits for they arm against one poor man the covetousness of the Priests of the Law the pride of the Pharises the envy of their Doctors the superstition of the people the authority of Magistrates the Insolency of Princes and the malice of false Brothers In the end they seem as it were victorious having brought Saint Paul to dye in the Capital City of the world But they are deceived in their malice The blood which the Apostle shed is the seed of Christians and by his death the Church takes possession of Rome The Ancient Philosophers were careful to write the lives of some particular persons illustrious either for their vertues or remarkable for some accidents of their lives to serve for a model or patterne of imitation by which they might arrive to the same glory much more ought Christians to endeavor to make known those Heroes of the Church whose whole actions have been examples of sanctity and in whom God would shew the power of his grace and the great wonders of his mercy For my part I have resolved hence-forward to labour in such glorious subjects I confess I ought not to begin my Apprentiship with the life of Saint Paul Yet the particular devotion I have for that great Apostle has prevailed over the knowledge of my weakness and makes me hope those Readers who are reasonable will excuse the zeal of a Disciple for his Master The Holy Ghost according to the promise of our Saviour was descended upon the Apostles in the form of fiery tongues and had fitted them with so Divine a light and Heavenly vigour that Saint Peter who trembled at the voice of a Woman in the house of the High-Priest did not then fear the fury of the Princes Doctors Pharises nor of the people but in the middest of Jerusalem he preached there aloud that Jesus Christ whom they had crucified was the Son of God and the Messias promised to their fore-fathers At his first Sermon there were three thousand persons converted and at his second which he made after that famous miracle of the lame man at the Gate of the Temple where he went up to prayer with Saint John he gained five thousand souls Every day the number of the faithful increased And the Sanctity of their lives served not a little to confirm the Doctrine which they professed The faith of Jesus Christ united them in so strict a bond that laying aside all difference in respect of body minde and fortune they had but one heart and one soul They heard the instructions of the Apostles with great respect and they practised them with so much fidelity that no earthly consideration could change them they imployed almost the whole day in prayer in the Temple where they met together and where they praysed God with one mouth and with one heart They assembled together sometimes in one house sometimes in another where they received the holy Eucharist and their repast was ever seasoned with an Evangelical frugality Their simplicity was without art their meekness without affectation and all their actions so full of great examples of vertue that the people of Jerusalem loved them and bare them great respect Wealth the origin and cause of quarrels and divisions amongst men was the Chain which united that new association for Charity made all things common amongst them The rich were ashamed to be so because they believed in him that was born and died as the poorest of men They sold their Inheritances and thought
themselves very happy if the Apostles would receive the price which they brought and layed at their feet to be distributed amongst the poor Ananias and his Wife Saphira for having concealed the best part were punished with suddain death and thinking they had onely lyed to a man found they had lyed to the Holy Ghost There brake forth about that time some little murmuring amongst the Jews that were born out of Judea who to distinguish themselves from those who were born in Jury assumed the appellation of Greeks because they spake Greek and made use of that language in reading the Holy Scriptures that is to say of the Septuagint translation These complained that their widdows who served in the daily ministery were neglected that is there was not care taken to assist them in their necessities and that the publique Alms were not equally distributed amongst them or according to another opinion that they were not imployed in the exercises of Charity toward the poor as the widdows of the other Jews were The Apostles to prevent the danger which that discontent might cause assembled the faithful together and proposed the election of seven discreet men unblemished in reputation and replenished with the Holy Ghost who might distribute those necessaries to the poore holding it not meet for themselves to leave the administration of the holy word to which they attended without any interruption for this office of charity which was of much less importance The people followed this Counsel and chose Stephen Philip Prochorus Nicanor Timon Parmenas and Nicholas of Antioch The Apostles to whom they were presented laied their hands upon them and ordained them Deacons Stephen held the first place amongst them for the profoundness of his Doctrine the fervency of his Zeal and the purity of his life Saint Luke in the Acts calls him a man full of Faith and of the Holy Ghost He was not content to distribute the material bread but he also brake that of the word amongst them having care to nourish their souls as well as their bodies His Sermons were accompanied with miracles which served to overthrow what the other had shaken Every day he spake in the Synagogue or Schooles which were in Jerusalem against the Jews of divers Nations and against those of the Synagogue of Libertines which in my opinion is to be understood of those who were made Slaves in the precedent or in some other war betwixt the Romans and the Jews and had received their liberty in Rome whether they were originally Jews or Proselites of different Nations against the Cyrenians Alexandrians those of Cilicia and the lesser Asia These disputing against him could not resist the Holy Ghost who spake by his Mouth and notwithstanding they were confounded they would not be overcome but contrariwise their confusion stirred them up to animosity and wanting reasons nor yet willing to yeild to truth they resolve to have recourse unto calumny so to ruine him The pretence of Religion furnished them with an opportunity according to their desire They published by the means of some confiding and unsuspected persons that Stephen did frequently utter blasphemy against the Majestie of God and the Honour of Moses The accusers affirmed to have heard that which they reported whereupon the people who slightly examine things especially when it concerns their Religion presently enter into fury The Priests and Doctors instead of moderating encrease the flame In this heat Stephen was hurried away and conducted by those who had raised the tumult unto the Councel where matters of Religion were handled There they made him to be accused by divers false witnesses that he should say Jesus of Nazareth would destroy the Temple and change the traditions of Moses All the Judges fixt their eyes upon him and beheld a sparkling Majestie in his face like to that of an Angel without the least sign of emotion which was no small evidence of his innocency The High-Priest asked him if he had spoken those blasphemies whereof he was accused and then he answered after this manner Fathers and Brethren God who has no need but of himself to be happy and in whom is contained a perfect collection of all good at the time prefixt by his providence for that purpose appeared to our Fore-father Abraham whilest he yet inhabited Mesopotamia commanding him to leave his Country and betake himself to another which he would shew unto him promising him in exchange a better and more fertile Land a particular assistance against all kinde of Enemies and an extraordinary Blessing unto all Nations in his Seed This great Patriarch presently obeyed the Commandment of his Lord and with joy left his Country and Kinred first of all he dwelt in Charon with his Father and after his death he went thence to dwell in that Country promised to him where notwithstanding he lived as a stranger and had not there the possession of one handful of Land The accomplishment of the promise being reserved for his posterity God told him they should be ill used and live under a troublesome bondage in a strange Country for the space of four hundred years but in the end he would set them at liberty having first by a dreadfull punishment afflicted those who had oppressed them At that time Abraham had no Son which might make him beleeve that Prophesie concerned his posterity But when he lest expected a lawful Heir to his possessions in regard of his old age and the barrennes of Sara he beheld himself the Father of Isaac On the eighth day after he was born he circumcised him according to a command received whereunto also he had already satisfied in himself esteeming it a great honour to bear so glorious a mark of alliance with his Sovereign Isaac begat Jacob and Jacob the twelve Patriarchs Joseph whom his Father loved particularly was sold by his Brethren who thought they had dealt favourably in not sacrificing him to their jealousie after a more cruel manner God who was his Protector raised him out of prison to the second place of Egypt his unchast Mistress whose indignation he had incurred by his continency and fidelity was the cause that Pharao became rather his friend then Sovereign and made him Master of his Kingdom as well as of his Heart In those days there was an extraordinary Famine which wasted the whole country of Canaan And our Fore-fathers having no corn left in their country were forced to repair into Egypt where by the provident Oeconomy of Joseph the Kings Granaries swelled in great abundance Jacob sent his Sons thither and in their second voyage they knew him whom they had sold having before designed his death They were much terrified when they found themselves in the power of them they used so ill But he forgot their cruelty and shewed himself to remember onely that he was their Brother He wept with them and made them known to Pharao and his whole Court and returned them home laden with presents charging them withall
envy jealousie and quarrels Children have been disobedient to their parents Fathers have lost the love which they owe to their children 〈◊〉 in summe the earth has beheld nothing but iniquity malice covetousness deceit slanders false accusations strifes warres murders Parricides Robberies and sacriledges During this profound darkness the Jewes have been a little enlightned Moyses by the appointment of God instructed them what they owe to him as their Sovereign and to men as their Brethren He has given them a holy law to draw them to good by reward and to divert them from evil by the threats of punishment But many are content to heare this law yet care not to observe it others that have kept it are become proud and have attributed to themselves the glory of their good works instead of referring it to God Thus all men were found to be slaves to sin and worthy of death which is the price of sin Concupiscence raigned absolutely over them and at every moment soyled them after some new manner In this unhappy condition God had pity on humane nature seeing that Philosophy could not cure the Gentiles nor the Law those who made profession of it All being intangled in infidelity as in nets he sent down his only son to the end that by his bloud he shouldleffect that which was impossible for the law to do that be himself should be given up for the redemption of all as a holy and acceptable victime to God This he has wrought by dying upon the Cross whereunto he was fastned by the envy of the Priests suborning the people so that by how much it has been heretofore infamous by so much the more is it now glorious and adorable This is the Tree on which we must necessarily be ingraffed if we will have true life Jesus Christ is dead to the end we should die with him and if this death be real and compleat we are assured to live eternally in his society for he now is living at the right hand of his Father who raised him the third day There are many now alive witnesses of this and their deposition cannot well be suspected for they are not weak persons easily to be deceived not interessed in it to deceive others These who publish this verity can hope for nothing at present but chaines persecutions prisons and all sorts of infamy It distastes all that hear it and passes for a kinde of madness Those then certainly who defend it with so much constancy and who are otherwise irreprovable in their manner of life ought to be believed as faithfull Ministers of God and not reputed as absurd impostors For my selfe I speak as an eye witness Jesus of Nazareth hath vouchsafed to appear unto me although I be but as an abortive and not worthy the name of an Apostle having so much persecuted his Church I am so much the more to be credited because I was farre from believing in him and my former actions clearly shewed the zeal I had for the Law of my Fore-fathers Open your eyes O Felix and you Drusilla who is letter insâ—ructed then he in that which I am about to say acknowledge the divine Redcemer figured in Abel killed by his brother in Isaac under the knife of Abraham in the Serpent lifted up in the desart against the biting of Serpents in Josuah when he brought the people into the land of Promise and in so many other things of our Law as were too tedious to relate He excludes no person from salvation nor chooses out one Nation more then another but by faith he will justifie all sorts of persons great little Kings Subjects rich poore so that all may come to eternall life I do require of you a thing that is not very hard believe and you shall receive innocency Believe and you shall live for faith is the life of the just mans soul Hee that lives this lise is not troubled to submit to what the Law prescribes for he knowes that he is a member consecrated to God and so not to be soyled in Formcation much less in Adultery Other sinnes which we commit are without us but when wee are given to impurity we sinne against our selves against our owne bodies ' which we dishonour and which is not made for that use but to be a Temple of the holy Ghost From the beginning of the world God instituted marriage for the propagation of mankinde hee blest man and woman and said They were two in one flesh but they must be carefull to possess their bodies in sanctity and not suffer them to follow the disorders of Concupiscence and those Brutalities which are common amongst Gentiles Their bed is holy and their conjunction not onely lawfull but honorable Death onely can dissolve them for that which God hath united who can or dare separate From thence therefore judge what a horrible crime Adultery is which makes this disunion and at the same time offends both God and the Husband Man sometimes is constrained by force to endure so great an injury and God bears a long time with those who commit it But when the measure of their iniquity is filled when they have without reflection provoked his utmost anger at last by the greatness of the punishment he satiâ—fies for his long forbearance He shewes a sinner that be was neither asleep nor blinde but expected onely his repentance He revenges himself at one blâ—w for his insolency in despising the riches of his goodness and his long patience by an adominable obstinacy O it is a dreadfull thing Felix to fall into the hands of the living God He is a Judge not to be deceived for hee reads in the depth of hearts and makes the conscience of a sinner serve against himself he has power to revenge and will do it eternally by the fire of hell which is never extinguished and by inward remorses which exceed in heat eveâ— this fire Felâ—x being touched with these last words interrupted the Apostle whom otherwise the heat of zeal would have transported to a higher pitch He had after this frequent conferences with him but they produced neither the reformation of the one nor liberty of the other Felix would have had money and the prisoner had not wherewith to content his avarice In the mean time Pallas who was his brother lost the favour of Nero the successour of Claudius and upon that Felix was recalled and Portius Festus appointed by the Emperor to succeed him No sooner came this new Governor to Hierusalem but the Princes of the Priests and the chiefest amongst the Jewes whose malice time could not sweeten addrest themselves unto him and prest him extreamly to send for the Apostle whom Felix to content them had left prisoner at Cesarea their designe was to murther him in the way which Feseus perhaps understanding told them He meant to stay onely a few daies at Hierusalem that therefore they should meet him at Cesarea where he would hear their accusations and
the same cause Poppea followed not long after for Nero loving her like a Tyrant slew her in a fury with a spurn of his foot To these Massacres he added afterwards the unjust deaths of many Senators Thrasius Paetus and Bareâ—s Soranus But that of S. Paul was the completion of his sacrileges and it is now time after eight years absence that we return again with him to Rome He was imprisoned not long after his arrival If we will believe S. Chrysostom the conversion of the Emperours Mistress was the cause It is likely also the death of Simon the Magician contributed towards it This impostor had promised Nero to fly in his sight up to heaven and on the day appointed for this famous enterprise he was elevated in the aire by the devils all the people beholding him But at the prayers of S. Peter and S. Paul for S. Cyril of Hierusalem joynes them both in this action hee was precipitated in an instant to the earth where hee long survived not this shamefull fall Hereupon the Emperour who loved him would revenge his death upon those whom he believed to be the authors S. Peter after he had lain nine moneths in prison was condemned to be crucified and S. Paul to have his head struck off as being a Citizen of Rome Before the execution they were both whipped with rods for the crime of impiety whereof they were accused which supposed crime rendred S. Paul uncapable of the priviledge of a free Denison In the Church of S. Mary beyond the bridge over Tyber are yet to be seen the Pillars whereunto 't is said they were fastned The Prince of the Apostles would dye with his head downwards to make in that shamefull death a distinction betwixt the Master and the Servant S. Paul on the way to his execution converted three Souldiers who conducted him During his imprisonment he and his noble Companion converted forty seven of their guard besides Processas and Martinian their Goalers for whose baptisme God miraculously made a fountain to issue forth in the prison The Apostle prayed for his Executioner offered his head with more joy then if had been to receive a Diademe three times the head gave a leap and at every bound produced a fountain A Tradition approved by many antient Fathers of the Church adds that milk instead of blood ranne out of his wound which caused no less astonishment to the Gentiles then consolation to the Faithfull I know it is very hard to marke out the precise time of Martyrdom both of the one and other but it is certain they suffered with a courage sutable to the transcendency of their Apostleship and it is the opinion of the Church that having been so strictly linked together in their lives God would have them likewise so in their deaths by suffering for one and the same cause on the same day and in the Capitall City of the world where they had assaulted Idolatry even in the throne preaching the Gospel laid the foundation of an Empire against which hell it selfe shall never be able to prevail Thus S. Paul ended his life in the sixty eighth year of his age and the thirty fifth of his Conversion Nature had not bestowed upon him a presence to his advantage as hee himselfe confesses but shee recompenced it in a vast wit and a courage which even dangers fortified To the science of humane Learning acquired at Tharsus he added a perfect knowledge of the Law of Moyses which he learnt at the feet of Gamaliel a most eminent Doctor both for his doctrine and piety His zeal for this Law transported him into those extremities of fury which became the subject of repentance in the whole sequel of his life Hee thought to be a faithfull disciple to Moyses He must needs be an irreconciliable enemy to Jesus Christ and unto all those who believed in him The name alone of being his disciple seemed to him a just ground for his hatred hee thought he could not better testifie a zeal for his religion then by forgetting all obligatiâ—ns of friendship and stifling in his heart all sense feeling of nature though S. Stephen was his near kinsman yet nevertheless he was an assistant and complice in his death His rage was was not content with this spectacle esteeming it an honour to be employed as executioner in the cruel commands of the Priests and gloried much when either by force or cunning he had drawn any one to deny the Faith of Jesus Christ The fury of his blinde and impoisoned zeal could not be kept within the limits of Hierusalem He would also make it remarkable in the City of Damasco to this end hee obtained express orders that he might seize on all the faithfull and bring them prisoners to the Capital City of Judea to make their deaths more ignominious by making it more publick But in his most violent excess of hatred against the Saviour of the world he found the effects of his extraordinary goodness For a light more radiant then the Sun although it was at mid day dazled his eies and a divine illustration cleared his understanding J. Christ reproved him for his persecution and the persecuter presently acknowledged him for his Master The grace of J. C. manifested in this change it s most miraculous effects shews men who flatter themselves with an opinion of their own merits that it is not conferred upon them because they are Saints but rather to make them Saints It appears there needs not time to soften the most rebellious hearts and that the most obstinate must yeeld to the amorous violence of its impulses by a happy liberty which places them in the holy and pleasant servitude of Justice Pelagius a long time after lest hee should make a slave of mans will made it a divinity but his error was sufficiently condemned by this Conversion Sinners may here learn to hope for the effect of some mercy which purifies when it pleases the greatest stains mollifies the most obdurate hearts Never any one has better known both the old new man in which consists all Christian religion then S. Paul He has taught the world what miseries the first hath brought upon it the unhappy effects of his poison on those who descended from him Hee hath shewed the proud man who flatters himself in his own excellency that he was the son of an offender the slave of sin the heir of death He has represented to him all his deformities discovered all his ulcers convinced him in this that he is frail and miserable He has made the wisest amongst the Gentiles to observe that their wisedom was indeed true folly that they were lost in their imaginations and that their vertues had but a false appearance of goodness Hee so drew to the life the corruption of manners which attends Idolatry as a just punishment of its blindness that those who were not wholly stupified and obdurate became at lest ashamed if not
this unknown voyage he spent eight yeares during which time the Church lost many of her Masters and Children or rather sent them to heaven by a glorious martyrdom The death of S. James who was called the brother of our Lord according to the testimony of Jesephus himselfe drew upon the city of Hierusalem the horrid calamities of that famous siege which ruined it intirely Hee had governed that Church twenty nine yeares with so great a reputation of sanctity that the people when hee walked in the streets thought themselves very happy if they could but touch the hemm of his garment Eusebius and before him Hegesippus sayes that he was sanctified in his mothers womb that he ever abstained from all sort of liquours which might cause drunkenness and from flesh that a rasor never toucht his head that hee was never in the bathes and that by his long continuance in prayer there was a scale like to the skin of a Camel grown over his knees The Scribes Pharisees alwaies the same could not support the credit reputation of this man who converted sinners by his example as well as words Wherefore in a great assembly of the people they endeavoured to perswade him publickly to profess Judaism which hee refusing was forthwith precipitated from the top of the Temple where at the foot a dyer with a Lever killed him out-right We have a Canonical Epistle of his in which hee labours principally to prove the necessity of good works to refute the error of Simon the Magician who said faith alone was sufficient to salvation After him Simon the son of Cleophas also called the brother of Jesus Christ because he was his cozen was chosen Bishop of Hierusalem S. Barnaby the faithfull companion of the Apostle in his peregrinations at the same time time received also the crown of martyrdom in the Isle of Cyprus On the other side Mark the disciple of S. Peter and one of the Evangelists after he had governed the Church of Alexandria with great sanctity was taken on a Sunday by the Gentiles who put a rope about his neck and so dragged him for two dayes together about the streets and in rough and uneven places where in the end he finished his life The Christians that were under his conduct led a marvelous holy life Philo the Jew composed a book expresly in their praise called The Contemplative Life wherein hee gives them the name of Essens taking them for Jewes because in that time they retained many legal Ceremonies I know there are great disputes among learned men upon this passage but since I write not for them it were to little purpose to go about to cleare tha difficulty more curious then profitable wee shall doe better to return to Rome where the Church was agitated with a horrible persecution Nero in the tenth of his Empire increasing in wickedness as he grew up in years gave fire himself to the Citie of Rome The streets were too narrow for him and he had a mind to rebuild it that it might bear his name The fire began in that part of the Cirque which joyned to the Mounts Palatine and Caelius and from thence meeting with Magazines filled with combustible matter and being carried with the winde which began to rise it spread it selfe with such violence that remedies were too late to resist its fury The air ecchoed with the lamentable cryes of Women and children who in that apprehension of fear knew not whither to go for safety and hindered those that would have helpt them for whilest some either expected or would secure others they so troubled one another that they found themselves encompassed with flames In the narrow streets where there were many turnings the throng was so great there was no passing When men were gotten so far as they thought the fire could not reach them then they were suddenly surprised by it as it seemed rather to flie then to creep along Many to save their wives perisht themselves and others would not out-live them although they might easily have been saved Fathers lost their lives staying by their children in fine never was seen so horrible a spectacle such as would have brought water or pulled down houses before the fire were hindered with Officers who at the corners of streets throwing about fiery balls cryed out that what they did was by order meaning by the command of the Emperour who as is commonly reported during this sad calamity was singing on the stage the Burning of Troy Notwithstanding he sought to suppress this opinion causing many hutts to be built in his gardens for those who had lost their houses by the fire Of fourteen quarters which composed the city there were but four left intire The houses of three of them were intirely levelled with the ground and in the other seven there remained onely the tops of buildings half burnt and ruined Thus all the riches heaped together since the foundation of the Common-wealth of so many Statues so many Pictures and other other rarities transported from all the Nations of the world of so many Temples built with such magnificence and by the Superstition of the people rendered so famous and renowned there remained onely a little heap of Ashes a sad example of the vanity of all humane things But to see that great City all in flames was not so dreadfull as afterwards to behold a great number of Christians tormented by Nero as authors of the fire without distinction either of age or quality and adding derision to his cruelty hee commanded some to be covered with the skins of wilde beasts to the end they might be worried to death by fierce dogs Others he nailed upon Crosses and caused their bodies to be rubbed over with pitch and other things apt to take fire that in the night time they served for torches to light those who passed by whilest they consumed like living holocausts for the defence of the name of J. Christ His gardens were the theatre of this abominable execution Although the Christians were odious to the Romanes who distinguished them not from the Jewes Hereticks of that time whose abominations indeed by right deserved their publick hatred yet they had compassion of these for every one saw they perished not for their own crimes but to satisfie the unsatiable cruelty of the Emperor who would justifie himself at their costs This was the first persecution in which God would try his Church amongst the Gentiles It was a while interrupted by a conspiracy discovered against this Tyrant in which Seneca being accused to have a hand was forced to make satisfaction with his life let out by his veins a greater resolution could not be desired then what he shewed in his death but me thinks 't is yet to be deplored since this constancy was only Philosophical not Christian Plautus Lateranus whose Palace was afterwards changed into a Church which yet bears the name of Lateran many other persons of quality perished for