Christianity was creeping up with inaudible
steps into high places,--nay, into the very highest. The immediate
predecessor of Decius upon the throne, Philip the Arab, was known to be a
disciple of the new faith; and amongst the nobles of Rome, through the
females and the slaves, that faith had spread its roots in every
direction. Some secrecy, however, attached to the profession of a religion
so often proscribed. Who should presume to tear away the mask which
prudence or timidity had taken up? A _delator_, or professional informer,
was an infamous character. To deal with the noble and illustrious, the
descendants of the Marcelli and the Gracchi, there must be nothing less
than a great state officer, supported by the censor and the senate, having
an unlimited privilege of scrutiny and censure, authorized to inflict the
brand of infamy for offences not challenged by express law, and yet
emanating from an elder institution, familiar to the days of reputed
liberty. Such an officer was the censor; and such were the antichristian
purposes of Decius in his revival.] that Decius had revived that office
expressly in his behalf, entered Italy at the head of the army from Gaul.
Pages:
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309