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and proceeded against them with the utmost fury, as if they had been the authors of this calamity. Nero was the first who drew the imperial sword against the christians, and this is properly called, The first general persecution.

Lucy. Then whither could they flee for safety?

Aunt. Scarcely any where; for the persecution extended to the provinces; but the violence of the storm fell on those at Rome. I forbear giving you a detail of the cruel deaths endured by the christians, who suffered in multitudes: yet were their afflictions light and transitory, compared with that exceeding and eternal weight of glory, to which they were the means of introducing them.

It is conjectured by some, that the apostle Andrew fell a victim this year, in the province of Achaia. Having preached the gospel, and wrought miracles in the wild northern countries of Scythia and Sogdiana, and afterwards, in the provinces of Lesser Asia, he at length came to Greece, Epirus, and Achaia, where he added more converts to the christian faith; which excited the resentment of the proconsul of the province, who condemned him to be crucified. It is supposed he suffered in the city Patrae in Achaia.

Maria. How long did this persecution last?

Aunt. The fury of it did not last long; but, throughout Nero's reign, the christians were in less safety than formerly.

George. Pray what became of Paul, who was a prisoner at Rome?

Aunt. After two years' confinement, he was re

leased, and, during these times of persecution, continued the course of his ministry from place to place, pressing on through toils and difficulties, or, as he himself expresses it, in deaths often ;' yet no danger could draw him from his beloved work of winning souls to Christ.

About the year 67, Paul returned to Rome, where, meeting with Peter, they both used their utmost endeavours to convert the Jews and Gentiles. Helius, being made governor of the city in the absence of Nero, who was gone into Greece, seized -on the two apostles, and put them in prison, where they were kept in close confinement for eight or nine months.

Maria. Did not this put a stop to their useful.ness?

Aunt. No; God can turn a prison into a church. Lucy. But how could they find persons enough to constitute one?

Aunt. Our Lord has said, Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them; and where Christ is, there is his church. They preached to their guards and fellowprisoners: and, as it is reported, were the means of converting the captain of the guards, and forty-seven others: perhaps this might hasten Paul's summons to appear before the governor Helius; though all men forsook him on this trying occasion, yet the Lord stood by him, and strengthened him. Alex- | ander the coppersmith, who is said to have been excommunicated by the apostle not long before, now turned all his malice against him, and did him much injury: also the disciples of Asia, of whom

were Phygellus and Hermogenes, who attended him to Rome, turned away from him.

Lucy. How this must grieve the apostle!

Aunt. Undoubtedly it did. But it pleased the Lord to mitigate his distress, by raising up one, whose character and conduct formed a pleasing contrast to those mentioned above; for the apostle testifies of him, that when he was at Rome, he sought him out very diligently, and ministered to him, not being ashamed of his chain.

Maria. What was the name of this excellent man?

Aunt. Onesiphorus; as you will find by consulting Paul's second epistle to Timothy, which appears to have been written not long before his death. In that epistle, he earnestly desires Timothy to come unto him, as he had none of his old companions with him but Luke; Demas had forsaken him, having loved this present world; and others he names, as having gone to attend on their ministry in different places. He saw that the time of his departure was at hand; and he did not shrink from it, but said, I am now ready to be offered up: I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous judge shall give me in that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Lucy. In such a happy frame of mind, the terrors of the most dreadful death must be abated, by looking forward to that crown which shall be given to them that hold out to the end.

Aunt. And especially when they can say, as this same apostle does, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the beginning of the year 68, disturbances broke out at Rome, and, at the request of Helius, Nero left Greece, though in the midst of winter: but, before his arrival at Rome, the apostles Peter and Paul had suffered martyrdom; the former, as a Jew and foreigner, was condemned to be crucified; and the latter, as a Roman, to be beheaded. Peter having been scourged, according to the Roman custom, was led to the top of the Vatican Mount, near the Tiber, where, it is said, he intreated, and obtained, the favour that he might not be crucified in the ordinary way, but with his head downward, declaring that he was unworthy to die in the same posture in which his Lord and Master had suffered before him. The apostle Paul was beheaded three miles out of the city, in a place called Aqua Salviæ, on the same day, being the 22d of February, according to Bishop Pearson's calculation. Thus did these two apostles enter into the joy of their Lord, after indefatigable labours in his vineyard.

George. Pray aunt, how many apostles were left at the time of their death?

Aunt. Five; Jude, Bartholomew, Thomas, Simon, and John; but the account of them we must leave to another opportunity.

DIALOGUE XXV.

Aunt. The time and manner of the apostle Jude's death is very uncertain; several writers place it in the year 72. He is said to have propagated the gospel in Syria and Mesopotamia, generally working as a husbandman; afterwards, travelling into Persia, and meeting with great success in the conversion of souls, he went on boldly, and openly reproved the superstitious rites and usages of the Magi, which caused him to be cruelly put to death. Other authors say, he was shot to death with arrows, and others that he died in peace at Berytus in Phoenicia. Nor have we greater certainty of the death of the apostle Bartholomew, which is by some placed in the same year. This apostle, after he had preached with great success in Arabia Felix, is said to have removed to Lycaonia, and last of all to Albanople, a city upon the Caspian sea, miserably overrun with idolatry. But, upon his endeavouring to reclaim the people, he was, by the governor of the place, commanded to be crucified, which punishment he cheerfully underwent, comforting and confirming the gentile converts to the last minute of his life. Some add, that he was crucified with his head downward; others, that he was flayed alive.

Lucy. How barbarous and inhuman!

Aunt. Yet it was a punishment much in use in the eastern countries. The time of the apostle Thomas's death is equally uncertain; some place it

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