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CONSTANTINE the Roman emperor was angry, and bore it ill
when he heard of the sufferings to which the Christians were exposed in
Persia. He desired most anxiously to render them assistance, yet
knew not in what way to effect this object. About this time some
ambassadors from the Persian king arrived at his court, and after
granting their requests and dismissing them, he thought it would be a
favorable opportunity to address Sapor in behalf of the Christians in
Persia, and wrote to him, confessing that it would be a very great
and forever indescribable favor, if he would be humane to those who
admired the teaching of the Christians under him. "There is nothing
in their religion," said he, "of a reprehensible nature; by
bloodless prayers alone do they offer supplication to God, for he
delighteth not in the outpouring of blood, but taketh pleasure only in
a pure soul devoted to virtue and to religion; so that they who believe
these things are worthy of commendation." The emperor then assured
Sapor that God would be propitious to him if he treated the
Christians with lenity, and adduced the example of Valerian and of
himself in proof thereof. He had himself, by faith in Christ, and
by the aid of Divine inclination, come forth from the shores of the
Western ocean, and reduced to obedience the whole of the Roman
world, and had terminated many wars against foreigners and usurpers;
and yet had never had recourse to sacrifices or divinations, but had
for victory used only the symbol of the Cross at the head of his own
armies, and prayer pure from blood and defilement. The reign of
Valerian was prosperous so long as he refrained from persecuting the
Church; but he afterwards commenced a persecution against the
Christians, and was delivered by Divine vengeance into the hands of
the Persians, who took him prisoner and put him to a cruel death."
It was in this strain that Constantine wrote to Sapor, urging him to
be well-disposed to this religion; for the emperor extended his
watchful care over all the Christians of every region, whether Roman
or foreign.
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