The Great Apostasy, Considered in the Light of Scriptural and Secular History
CHAPTER V.
_Causes of the Apostasy.--External Causes, Continued_.
Pagan persecution.--Roman opposition to Christianity, explanation of.--Number of persecutions by the Romans.--Persecution under Nero.--Under Domitian.--Under Trajan.--Under Marcus Aurelius.--Later persecutions.--Persecutions under Diocletian.--Extent of the Diocletian persecution.--Diocletian boast that Christianity was extinct.--The Church taken under state protection by Constantine the Great.