Section 171
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140 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. being one of their number, present this volume and address." The same emperor was also addressed by others when the brethrer in Asia were suffering under every kind of injury from the pro vincials, and honoured the people of Asia with an ordinance like the following. CHAPTER XIII. The Epistle ofAntonine, to the assembly of Asia, respecting our doctrine. THE emperor Cesar Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus, Armenicus, Pontifex Maximus, Tribune of the people XV. Consul III., sends greeting, to the Assembly of Asia ; * I know, indeed, that the gods themselves will take care that such men as these shall not escape detection. For it would more pro perly belong to them to punish those that will not worship them, than to you. And whilst you drive them into a tumult, you only confirm them the more in their mind, by accusing them as im pious. And thus,, to them it would be more desirable when ar raigned, to appear to die for their God, than to live. Whence, also, they may come off in triumph, when they yield up their lives in preference to a conformity with those things which you exact of them. But as to those earthquakes which have taken place and still continue, it is not out of place to admonish you who are cast down whenever these happen, and you compare your own deportment with theirs. They, indeed, become on these occasions so much the more cheerful towards God, but you, the whole of this time in which you seem not to have cor rect knowledge, neglect both the gods and other duties, especially the worship of the Immortal. But the Christians who worship Him, you expel and persecute to death. Respecting these, how ever, many of the governors of the provinces also wrote to our inost divine father. To whom, also, he wrote in reply, not to trouble them at all, unless they appeared to make attempts against the Roman government Many also have sent commu