# Notice To The Reader.

4th century (source section) · Historical source

Source: Martyrs’ Mirror. Original heading: NOTICE TO THE READER.

Century of containing source section; exact event date not assigned

Before we proceed to give a special account of
the martyrs who were put to death in this persecution,
we deem it necessary to call the attention of
the reader to the following points.

1. That after
A. D. 300, that is, in the beginning of this century,
many errors began to arise among some of those
who were called Christians, especially among those
who belonged under the Roman dominion. Yea,
they went so far as to resort to carnal weapons
(which, however, had already previously been done
by some); through which the defenseless and meek
lambs of Christ suffered not a little distress, fear,
and sorrow.

2. That, besides the martyrs of the true faith,
some of the aforesaid class suffered themselves to
be killed for their opinions; whereby the death and
the glorious martyrdom of the true Christian believers
were not a little obscured.

3. That, in order to distinguish these from the
former, we have exerted our utmost diligence, so
that as far as we know, there are not found among
the martyrs of whom we have given, or may yet
give, an account, any who can be shown to have
been guilty of gross errors, much less of the shedding
of blood. At least we have not been able to
detect it in any of them, and hence in accordance
with the spirit of love, we must judge and believe
the best of them.

As this persecution under Diocletian and Maximian
was not only very severe, but also of long
duration, we have deemed it well to present its
169
years separately in consecutive order, and to show
what the pious martyrs suffered in each year, steadfastly
confessing with their blood the truth of God.





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Page: http://history.truechristian.church/stories/mm-notice-to-the-reader/

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