Section 348
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BOOK VIII. HAVING already related the successions of the apostles in seven books, in this eighth we consider it necessary to record, for the benefit of posterity, the_events of our own times that. .deserves, more than superficialnarration. And ouFliccount, therefore, shall begin with these. CHAPTER I. The events that preceded the persecution in our times. To give a satisfactory account of the extent, and the nature of that glory and liberty, with which the doctrine of piety towards the supreme God, as announced to the world through Christ, was honoured among all, both Greeks and barbarians, before the per secution in our day, this, we say, were an undertaking beyond our power. As a proof, we might refer to the clemency of the emperors toward our brethren, to whom they even entrusted the government of provinces, exonerating them from all anxiety as it regarded sacrificing, on account of that singular good will that they entertained toward the doctrine. Why should we speak of those in the imperial palaces, and the sovereigns themselves, who granted their domestics the liberty of declaring themselves freely, in word and deed, on religion, and I would say almost the liberty of boasting of their freedom in the practice of the faith ? These, indeed, they eminently valued, and considered them as more acceptable than their associates in the imperial service. Such was that JDorotheus, the most devoted and most faithful of all to them, and, on this account, exceedingly honoured beyond all those that had the charge of government, and the most honour317