第28节

    【】the

    ianandafridasiaticdivinities.

    eandbegan

    topreachtheiean,

    nobodyobjected.thenireetstoppedandlistened

    ro,thecapitaloftheandering

    preainghisoystery.stof

    theselfappointedpriestsappealedtothesensesprosed

    goldehefolloheir

    oiculargod.soonthecrohestreetnoticed

    thatthesohristiansthefollohechristor

    ``anointedspokeaverydifferentlanguage.theydidnot

    appeartobeiressedbygreatrichesoranobleposition.

    theyextolledthebeautiesofpovertyandhulityandekness.

    theseade

    rothestressoftheheriingto

    listentoa``steryoldpeopleintheheydayoftheir

    glorythattheir

    lastinghappiness.

    besides,thepreaysterytolddreadful

    storiesofthefatethataedthoseolistento

    thehetruegod.itotakeces.

    ofursetheodsstillexisted,buthey

    strongenoughtoprotecttheirfriendsagainstthepowersof

    thisant

    asiapeoplebegantohavedoubts.theyretuedtolisten

    tofurtherexplanationsoftheneerahey

    begahenandenhewordsof

    jesus.theyfoundtheerydifferentfroheaverage

    ros.theyheywere

    kindtoslavesandtoanils.theydidnainriches,

    butgaveapleoftheirunselfish

    livesforyronstoforsaketheion.

    theyjoihesllnitiesofchristiain

    thebasofprivatehousesorsowhereinanopenfield,

    aelesed.

    thisberofchristians

    ntioincrease.presbytersorprieststheinal

    greekant``elderedtoguardtheisof

    thesllhes.abishopadetheheadofallthe

    nitieshinasingleprovier,whohadfol

    loe,e.indue

    tihissuessorsherorpapa

    catobeknoes.

    theaapopire.

    thechristiandoesappealedtothosewhodespaired

    ofthisanystrongnwho

    founditiossibletokeacareeruheierialgov

    ent,butong

    thehulefollohenazareeacher.atlastthe

    stateaneireihave

    saidthisbeforeolerantthroughindiffereallowed

    everybodytoseeksalvationafterhisorhero

    itinsistedthatthedifferentseselves

    ahelive.

    thechristiannitieshoopractiy

    sortoftoleraheypublilaredthattheirgod,and

    theirgodaloruerulerofheaveh,

    andthatallodsposters.thisseedunfair

    totheothersedthepolicedisuragedsues.

    thechristianspersisted.

    soonthereherdifficulties.thechristiansrefused

    toghtheforlitiesofpayinghogetotheeeror.

    theyrefusedtoappearheyalledupon

    tojoiherongistratesthreateo

    punishthethechristiansansiserable

    toaverypleasantheavenand

    thattheyorethanosufferdeathfortheir

    priis

    killedtheoffenders,butreoftentheydidnot.therewas

    acertainauntoflyngduringtheearliestyearsofthe

    h,butthisobh

    ausedtheirekchristianneighboursofeverynceivable

    hasslaughteringaingbabies,bringingabout

    siessailerayiryintisofdanger

    becauseitlesssportanddevoidofdanger,as

    thechristiansrefusedtofightback.

    aiobeihebarbarians

    andiesfailed,christianssionaries

    forthtopreachtheirgospelofpeacetotheons.

    theyenhoutfearofdeath.theyspokea

    languagenodoubtastothefutureofuant

    siheteutonspressed.theystill

    hadadeeprespee.

    thosenans.theyprobablyspokethetruth.

    soontheeapohesavage

    regionsoftheteutonsandthefranks.halfadozenssionaries

    entofsoldiers.

    theeerantouandthatthechristianght

    beofgreatusetotheinsooftheproviheywere

    givenequalrightsainedfaithfultotheold

    gods.thegreatgehthelasthalf

    ofthefourthtury.

    nstaisheavenknoantine

    thegreat,peror.heerribleruffian,

    butpeopleoftenderqualitiesuldhardlyhopetosurvive

    inthathardfightingage.duringalongandareer,

    nstantinehadexperienyupsanddoe,

    ostdefeatedbyhisenees,hethoughtthathewould

    trythepoeverybodywas

    talking.heprosedthathetooeachristian

    ifheingbattle.hehevictory

    andthereafterhehepohechristian

    godandalloselftobebaptised.

    frohatnton,thehurchially

    regnisedandthisgreatlystrehepositionofthe

    neh.

    buttheedaverysllnorityof

    allthepeople,hanfiveorsixpert,andinorder

    toprose.theold

    godsstbedestroyed.forashortspelltheeerorjulian,

    alreek,osavethepagangods

    frourtherdestru.butjuliandiedofhiswoundsduring

    acaaigninpersiaandhissuessorjoviaablished

    thechurallitsglory.oertheotherthedoorsofthe

    aelesetheeeror

    justinian

    ...