Section 200
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 169 CHAPTER I. The number and sufferings of those that suffered for the faith in Gaul GAUL was the place where the arena was prepared for the abovementioned conflict. Of these the two distinguished capi tals are celebrated as surpassing all the rest, viz., Lyons and Vienna. Through both of these the river Rhone passes, travers ing the whole region with a mighty stream. The account, how ever, of the martyrs, was sent by the most illustrious churches there, to those of Asia and Phrygia, by wrhom the events that took place among them, are related in the following manner — I will subjoin their own declarations : " The servants of Christ dwelling at Lyons and Vienna, in Gaul, to those brethren in Asia and Phrygia, having the same faith and hope with us, peace and grace and glory from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord." Then, premising some other matters, they commence their subject in the following words : " The greatness, indeed, of the tribulation, and the extent of the madness exhibited by the heathen against the saints, and the sufferings which the martyrs endured in this country, we are not able fully to declare, nor is it, indeed, possible to describe them. For the adversary assailed us with his whole strength, giving us already a prelude, how unbridled his future movements among us would be. And, indeed, he resorted to every means, to accus tom and exercise his own servants against those of God, so that we should not only be excluded from houses, and baths, and mar kets, but every thing belonging to us was prohibited from appear ing in any place whatever. But the grace of God contended for us, and rescued the weak, and prepared those who, like firm pil lars, were able through patience, to sustain the whole weight of the enemy's violence against them. These coming in close con flict, endured every species of reproach and torture. Esteeming what was deemed great, but little, they hastened to Christ, show ing in reality, " that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to Y