Quote

“Even stalwarts must live, and to some extent conform to the usages of society. Where to draw the line was a matter of debate, upon which the Church was hopelessly divided. Then, as now, there were two parties; the one, which for lack of a better term we may call Puritan, making up for the […]

“The Christians, they said, reduce our deities to devils. ‘They despise the temples as dead houses, they scorn the gods, they mock sacred things.’ To this charge there was no possible answer, inasmuch as it was true; the glory and danger of the Christian faith.” Herbert Workman, Persecution in the Early Church, pp. 69.

“By correct instinct, paganisms of all sorts discerned in the infant Church their only rival. So, while the new Hercules was yet in the cradle, they sent their snakes to kill him. But Hercules lived to cleanse out the Augean stalls.” Herbert Workman, Persecution in the Early Church, pp. 66.

“Nor must we forget that the toleration of Rome, such as it was, was nearer akin to contempt and indifference. Now, the toleration which springs from contempt is often intensely intolerant of one thing, namely, of enthusiasm… A wise recognition of local usages was one thing, provided always that the interests of the State were

“Christ could not be one among many; His claims rested upon higher grounds than senatorial allowance.” Herbert Workman, Persecution in the Early Church, p. 58.