Section 410
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 379 BOOK IX. CHAPTER I. The pretended relaxation. THE revocation of the imperial edict that had been issued, was published every where, and in all places throughout Asia and its provinces. This being done, accordingly, in this way, Maximinus, the tyrant of the east, the most impious of men, and most hostile to the religion which acknowledges only the supreme God, by no means satisfied with these mandates, instead of issuing an edict, gives verbal commands to the rulers under him, to relax the war against us. For as he had no power to oppose or to pursue a different course, and place himself in opposition to the judgment of his superiors, he suppressed the edict ; and designing that it should not be made public in the parts under him, he gives orders, without writing to his governors, to relax the persecution against us. These communicate the mandate to one another by letters. Sabinus, who held the highest rank and power among the provincial rulers, communicated the imperial will to the re spective governors of the provinces, in a Latin letter, the transla tion of which is as follows : " With a most persevering and devoted earnestness, their ma jesties, our sovereigns and most august emperors, had formerly directed the minds of all men to live and conduct themselves ac cording to the true and holy way, that even those who appeared to pursue practices foreign to the Roman, should exhibit the pro per worship to the immortal gods. But the obstinacy and most unconquerable determination of some, rose to such a pitch, that they could neither be induced to recede from their own purpose by a due regard to the imperial command, nor be deterred by the