TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.
RECORDS OF THE CHURCH.
No. XXIII.
THE HOLY CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD DOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THEE.
From the Acts of the African Martyrs.
"This is the account of the Martyrdom of the Holy Felix, Bishop of Tubyza[1], who for God's Law, was beheaded on the 18th of the Calends of February[2]." [ccciv.]
In those days Diocletian and Maximian, (both surnamed Augustus,) being Consuls, the former for the eighth time, the latter for the seventh time, there went out a decree from these same Cæsars or Emperors over the whole face of the earth, and it was set forth through all the colonies and cities to the princes and magistrates, to each one in his place, "that they should seize the sacred[3] books of the Christians out of the hands of the Bishops and Presbyters."
Whereupon this proclamation was published in the city of Tubyza, on the day of the nones of January, [Jan. 5th.] Then
- ↑ Tubyza does not appear in the maps. In a list of persons present at a conference held at Carthage, in the time of Honorius, (June, 411,) appears "Maurentius Tuburzicensis."
- ↑ xviii. Kalendas Febr. i.e. the 15th of January. There must, however, be some mistake, if the Programma was set forth on the Nones of January, (i.e. the 5th,) as there were at least thirty-five days between that day and the day of Felix's Martydom at Nola.
- ↑ Libros deificos.—Tertull. Apol. §. 11. "Deum deificum." Cypr. Ep. Ixviii. & De Zelo, "deifica disciplina." Ep. Ixxv. "spiritalis et deifica sanctitas." Crescens a Cirta, in Concil. Carthag. "testimonia ex scripturis deificis descendentia."
