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For we might tell of many who showed admirable zeal for the religion of
the God of the universe, not only from the beginning of the general
persecution, but long before that time, while yet peace prevailed.
For though he who had received power was seemingly aroused now as from
a deep sleep, yet from the time after Decius and Valerian, he had
been plotting secretly and without notice against the churches. He did
not wage war against all of us at once, but made trial at first only of
those in the army. For he supposed that the others could be taken
easily if he should first attack and subdue these. Thereupon many of
the soldiers were seen most cheerfully embracing private life, so that
they might not deny their piety toward the Creator of the universe.
For when the commander, whoever he was, began to persecute the
soldiers, separating onto tribes an purging those who were enrolled in
the army, giving them the choice either by obeying to receive the honor
which belonged to them, or on the other hand to be deprived of it if
they disobeyed the command, a great many soldiers of Christ's
kingdom, without hesitation, instantly preferred the confession of him
to the seeming glory and prosperity which they were enjoying. And one
and another of them occasionally received in exchange, for their pious
constancy, not only the loss of position, but death. But as yet the
instigator of this plot proceeded with moderation, and ventured so far
as blood only in some instances; for the multitude of believers, as it
is likely, made him afraid, and deterred him from waging war at once
against all.
But when he made the attack more boldly, it is impossible to relate
how many and what sort of martyrs of God could be seen, among the
inhabitants of all the cities and countries.
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