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So great a persecution was at that time opened against us in many
places that Plinius Secundus, one of the most noted of governors,
being disturbed by the great number of martyrs, communicated with the
emperor concerning the multitude of those that were put to death for
their faith. At the same time, he informed him in his communication
that he had not heard of their doing anything profane or contrary to the
laws, except that they arose at dawn and sang hymns to Christ as a
God; but that they renounced adultery and murder and like criminal
offenses, and did all things in accordance with the laws. In reply to
this Trajan made the following decree: that the race of Christians
should not be sought after, but when found should be punished. On
account of this the persecution which had threatened to be a most
terrible one was to a certain degree checked, but there were still left
plenty of pretexts for those who wished to do us harm. Sometimes the
people, sometimes the rulers in various places, would lay plots
against us, so that, although no great persecutions took place, local
persecutions were nevertheless going on in particular provinces, and
many of the faithful endured martyrdom in various forms. We have taken
our account from the Latin Apology of Tertullian which we mentioned
above. The translation runs as follows: "And indeed we have found
that search for us has been forbidden. For when Plinius Secundus,
the governor of a province, had condemned certain Christians and
deprived them of their dignity, he was confounded by the multitude,
and was uncertain what further course to pursue. He therefore
communicated with Trajan the emperor, informing him that, aside from
their unwillingness to sacrifice, he had found no impiety in them.
And he reported this also, that the Christians arose early in the
morning and sang hymns unto Christ as a God, and for the purpose of
preserving their discipline forbade murder, adultery, avarice,
robbery, and the like. In reply to this Trajan wrote that the race
of Christians should not be sought after, but when found should be
punished." Such were the events which took place at that time.
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