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wrote to the heathen emperor, in the defence of the Christian religion, in the time of the fourth persecution?
A. In a few years Christianity was spread over all the world, so that the Roman emperors began to dread the effect, and their adversaries represented them as traitors and enemies to the government. Tertullian argues with the emperor thus: "If we were enemies to the state, you might then go and seek new cities and countries to govern, since you would have more adversaries than loyal subjects in your empire: we have filled your cities, your towns, your provinces, your castles, your fortresses, your camps, your tents, your palaces, your senates, your market-places, and your islands, only we have left your idolatrous temples to yourselves, all the places being full of Christians; if we were enemies, what dangerous rebellion might we have made, though our numbers be but small, in comparison of the rest of your people, since we so little value our lives, that we suffer ourselves to be slain daily notwithstanding your unjust persecution of us, we are loyal, patient, and obedient, and that the Christian religion obliges us rather to be killed than to kill.
Q. What was the encouragement Cyrus the Persian emperor caused to be proclaimed for men who would enlist in his service?
A. His proclamation was, that whosoever would be his soldiers, if he be a footman, said he, I will make him an horseman, if an horseman, I will make him ride in a chariot; if he be a farmer I will make him a gentleman, if he possess a cottage, I will bestow on him a village, if he has a village, I will give him a city, if he be a lord of a city, I will make him governor of a province, and for gold and silver, I will pour it out on him
