Israel_,--per Ecclesiarum scilicet subversionem_, &c. This was the state of the Church just before the subversion of the Churches in the beginning of _Dioclesian_'s persecution: and to this state of the Church agrees the first of the seven Epistles to the Angel of the seven Churches, [1] that to the Church in _Ephesus_. _I have something against thee_, saith _Christ_ to the Angel of that Church, _because thou hast left thy first love. Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of its place, except thou repent. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the _Nicolaitans_, which I also hate_. The _Nicolaitans_ are the _Continentes_ above described, who placed religion in abstinence from marriage, abandoning their wives if they had any. They are here called _Nicolaitans_, from _Nicolas_ one of the seven deacons of the primitive Church of _Jerusalem_; who having a beautiful wife, and being taxed with uxoriousness, abandoned her, and permitted her to marry whom she pleased, saying that we must disuse the flesh; and thenceforward lived a single life in continency, as his children also. The _Continentes_ afterwards embraced the doctrine of _AEons_ and Ghosts male and female, and were avoided by the Churches till the fourth century; and the Church of _Ephesus_ is here commended for hating their deeds. The persecution of _Dioclesian_ began in the year of _Christ_ 302, and lasted ten years in the _Eastern_ Empire and two years in the _Western_. To this state of the Church the second Epistle, to the Church of _Smyrna_, agrees. _I know_, saith [2] _Christ_, _thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, but thou art rich; and I know the blasphemy of them, which say they are _Jews_ and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan. Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: Behold, the Devil shall call some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days. Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life._ The tribulation of ten days can agree to no other persecution than that of _Dioclesian_, it being the only persecution which lasted ten years. By _the blasphemy of them which say they are _Jews_ and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan_, I understand the Idolatry of the _Nicolaitans_, who falsly said they were _Christians_. The _Nicolaitans_ are complained of also in [3] the third Epistle, as men that _held the doctrine of _Balaam_, who taught _Balac_ to cast a stumbling-block before the children of _Israel_, to eat things sacrificed to Idols, and [4] to commit_ spiritual _fornication_. For _Balaam_ taught the _Moabites_ and _Midianites_ to tempt and invite _Israel_ by their women to commit fornication, and to feast with them at the sacrifices of their Gods. The Dragon therefore began now to come down among the inhabitants of the earth and sea.