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Great Apostasy
251
into regions that were inaccessible, even to the eagles of Rome. Said
a Christian, expostulating with the heathen rulers who were urging
forward the persecution: You may “kill us, torture us, condemn us....
Your injustice is the proof that we are innocent.... Nor does your
cruelty ... avail you.” It was but a stronger invitation to bring others
to their persuasion. “The oftener we are mown down by you, the
more in number we grow; the blood of Christians is seed.”
Thousands were imprisoned and slain; but others sprang up
to fill their places. And those who were martyred for their faith
were secured to Christ, and accounted of Him as conquerors. They
had fought the good fight, and they were to receive the crown of
glory when Christ should come. The sufferings which they endured
brought Christians nearer to one another and to their Redeemer.
Their living example and dying testimony were a constant witness
for the truth; and, where least expected, the subjects of Satan were
leaving his service and enlisting under the banner of Christ.
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The Compromise With Paganism
Satan therefore laid his plans to war more successfully against
the government of God, by planting his banner in the Christian
church. If the followers of Christ could be deceived and led to
displease God, then their strength, fortitude, and firmness would fail,
and they would fall an easy prey.
The great adversary now endeavored to gain by artifice what he
had failed to secure by force. Persecution ceased, and in its stead
were substituted the dangerous allurements of temporal prosperity
and worldly honor. Idolaters were led to receive a part of the Chris-
tian faith, while they rejected other essential truths. They professed
to accept Jesus as the Son of God and to believe in His death and
resurrection; but they had no conviction of sin and felt no need of
repentance or of a change of heart. With some concessions on their
part, they proposed that Christians should make concessions, that all
might unite on the platform of belief in Christ.
Now was the church in fearful peril. Prison, torture, fire, and
sword were blessings in comparison with this. Some of the Chris-
tians stood firm, declaring that they could make no compromise.
Others reasoned that if they should yield or modify some features of