206 THE DECLINE AND FALL CHAT, with all the instruments used in the destruction of " fortified cities. By their incessant labour, a sacred edifice, which towered above the imperial palace, and had long excited the indignation and envy of the gen- tiles, was in a few hours levelled with the ground". The first The next day the general edict of persecution was gaiSuhe published"; and though Diocletian, still averse to the christians, effusion of blood, had moderated the fury of Galerius, who proposed, that every one refusing to offer sacrifice should immediately be burnt alive, the penalties in- flicted on the obstinacy of the christians might be deemed sufficiently rigorous and effectual. It was enacted, that their churches, in all the provinces of the empire, should be demolished to their foundations ; and the punishment of death was denounced against all who should presume to hold any secret assemblies for the purpose of religious worship. The philoso- phers, who now assumed the unworthy office of di- recting the blind zeal of persecution, had diligently studied the nature and genius of the christian religion ; and as they were not ignorant that the speculative doctrines of the faith were supposed to be contained in the writings of the prophets, of the evangelists, and of the apostles, they most probably suggested the order, that the bishops and presbyters should deliver all their sacred books into the hands of the magi- strates; who were commanded, under the severest pe- nalties, to burn them in a public and solemn manner. By the same edict, the property of the church was at once confiscated ; and the several parts of which it might consist, were either sold to the highest bidder, united to the imperial domain, bestowed on the cities and corporations, or granted to the solicitations of ra- pacious courtiers. After taking such effectual mea- sures to abolish the worship, and to dissolve the go- " Lactantius (de M. P. c. 12.) gives a very lively picture of the destruc- tion of the church. ° Mosheim, (p. 922 — 926.) from many scattered passages of Lactantius and Eusebius, has collected a very just and accurate notion of this edict; though he sometimes deviates into conjecture and refinement.
