It is stated, that to this persecution and slaying of the Christians, contributed at that time, not a little, some jurists, who, through false interpretations of the Roman laws, or at least through their self-devised decrees, ruled nearly the whole Empire; as Emelius, Papinianus, Ulpianus, Paulus, Messius, Martianus, Ruftinus, Mauritianus, Tryphonius, Menander, Macer, Callistratus, Florentinus, Hermogenes, Saturminus, Modestinus, Furius and Anthianus. It was one of these jurists, namely Ulpianus, one of the chief senators, next to Papianus, who hunted up and collected the bloody edicts of the former tyrants, in order that the Emperors, incited thereby, might institute new persecutions against the Christians. See concerning this, _A. Mell. Hist., fol. 52, col. 4_, from _Euseb., lib. 6, cap. 1, 2_, and _Chron. Hieron. Catal. in Origen_. Also, _Oros., lib. 7, cap. 11, 18_. Also, _Baron._, A. D. 204. Also, _Dio. Hist. Rom., lib. 51_. Also, _Tert. ad. Scap., cap. 1–3_, _Tertul. de Fuga, cap. 5, ex Libris Jurist._ Also, _Spart. Caracal. and Sever._ Also, _Lactant., lib. 5. Just., cap. 11, 12, 19._ Very credibly, however, is the cause of this persecution accounted for in the _Introduction to the Martyrs Mirror, Ed. 1631, fol. 38, col. 2, from Baronius_. The words are as follows: “In the year 201 was commenced the fifth persecution of the Christians, under the Emperor Severus, in the seventh year of his reign. It originated thus: The emperor having come forth victorious from a civil war, and the Christians having remained passive with regard to this, not manifesting any signs of joy by way of celebrating, hanging out of garlands, and other tokens of triumph, according to the manner of the heathen; the latter, out of envy, accused the Christians of despising and hating the Emperor; and the more so, because they would not swear by the Emperor’s fortune. Besides this, they reported of the Christians, that in their evening assemblies they extinguished the lights, and then allowed themselves improper intercourse with each other, and in this manner it came that every one hated the Christians.” _See in the above citations._ Others spread the report that the Christians were child-murderers and eaters of human flesh, that is, people who slew their children and ate them; also, that they honored the head of an ass as their god; worshiped the sun, and other like palpable and wicked falsehoods. Compare _J. Gys. Hist., fol. 18, col. 2, for the year 201, ex Tertullian ad Scapulam_ and in _Apol. Cypr. de Bono Pascient._ Also, _P. J. Twisck, Chron. 2d book, for the year 124, page 51, col. 2_. However, though these false accusations were brought against the Christians, their death was nevertheless owing entirely to the testimony and confession of Jesus Christ--that he was the Son of God, and the Savior of the human family.