Of the Ninth Persecution of the Christians

A. Mellinus writes: "Aurelian was by nature a stern, cruel, and bloodthirsty Emperor, and although at first he had a good opinion of the Christians, he nevertheless afterwards became averse to them and estranged from them. Having undoubtedly been stirred up against the Christians by some talebearers, he allowed himself to be led astray so far as to raise against them the ninth general persecution of the Roman monarchy, which persecution, however, he did not carry out. For at the very moment when the decrees written against the Christians were laid before him by his secretary, so that he might sign them, and when he was about to take the pen in hand, the hand of God suddenly touched him, striking his hand with lameness, and so preventing him in his purpose, so that he could not sign them." First book, folio 87, column 3; from Vopisc. Victor. Eus., book 7. Post. Literal, Aug. de Civit. Dei., book 18, chapter 52. Oros., book 7, chapter 16. Theodoret. Hist., book 4, chapter 17. [n216-1]