Chap. III.
After an interval of some years from the death of Nero, there arose another tyrant no less wicked (Domitian), who, although his government was exceedingly odious, for a very long time oppressed his subjects, and reigned in security,
until at length he stretched forth his impious hands against the Lord. Having been instigated by evil demons to persecute
the righteous people, he was then delivered into the power of his enemies, and suffered due punishment. To be murdered in
his own palace was not vengeance ample enough: the very memory of his name was erased. For although he had erected many admirable
edifices, and rebuilt the Capitol, and left other distinguished marks of his magnificence, yet the senate did so persecute
his name, as to leave no remains of his statues, or traces of the inscriptions put up in honour of him; and by most solemn
and severe decrees it branded him, even after death, with perpetual infamy. Thus, the commands of the tyrant having been rescinded,
the Church was not only restored to her former state, but she shone forth with additional splendour, and became more and more
flourishing. And in the times that followed, while many well-deserving princes guided the helm of the Roman empire, the Church
suffered no violent assaults from her enemies, and she extended her hands unto the east and unto the west, insomuch that now
there was not any the most remote corner of the earth to which the divine religion had not penetrated, or any nation of manners
so barbarous that did not, by being converted to the worship of God, become mild and gentle.19651965
