Alexander of Jerusalem, who was a bishop of the church of Christ in that place, had to suffer much for the Christian truth. Eusebius Pamphilius of Cesarea writes, that for confessing Christ he was brought before the Judge, bound with chains, and cast into prison. And he also writes, that when they had, time and again, drawn this venerable old man from the prison to the tribunal, and from the tribunal back to his chains, he continually, in his suffering and pain, thanked God, and finally, through unspeakable torments, offered up his spirit. _Histor. Eccles., lib. 6, cap. 29._ P. J. Twisck fixes this occurrence in the year 247, and adds these words: “About this time there were many martyrs in Alexandria, Judea, at Cesarea, Antioch, and elsewhere, who testified to the Christian faith with their blood and death.” _Third book, page 66, col. 1, from Euseb._ Also, _Hist. Adri., fol. 32, Jan. Cresp., fol. 48_. NOTE.--Although it is stated that the aforementioned Alexander was put to death after the seven years’ reign of Philippus, by the Emperor Decius, A. D. 247, we have nevertheless included him in the sixth persecution, since he, as it appears, was apprehended long before the commencement of the seventh general persecution, which did not begin until A. D. 251, and was in full force in 253. OF THE SEVENTH PERSECUTION OF THE CHRISTIANS, UNDER DECIUS, BEGUN ABOUT THE YEAR 251. Sebastian Frank, P. J. Twisck, and Joh. Gysius place the beginning of this persecution under Decius in A. D. 251, while Abraham Mellinus and the author of the _Introduction to the Martyrs Mirror_ begin it with the year 253; which difference can easily be reconciled in this manner: namely, that the decrees against the Christians were sent out and published about the year 251, but that they were not actually put in force until about A. D. 253. Compare _Seb. Frank, etc., fol. 21, col. 3_, with _P. J. Twisck, 3d book, page 67, col. 2_. Also, _Joh. Gys., fol. 19, col. 2_. Also, _A. Mell., 1st book, fol. 65, col. 4_. Also, _Introduction, fol. 40, col. 1_. OF THE CRUELTY AND MISERY OF THIS PERSECUTION. [Illustration: CHRISTIANS BURNED IN THEIR MEETING-HOUSES.]