ABSTRACT
THE third century, as we have seen, consisted of two long periods of peace set in a framework of persecution. The comparative quiet of the first half had witnessed great growth and consolidation of the Church. The Christian society had become that terror of the State, an empire within the Empire. But success had brought also a weakening of moral fibre. There had been heresy and schism, and in spite of all precautions there had crept into the Church a number of merely nominal Christians. It was perhaps a providential judgment that the worst persecution yet endured was about to fall.
