_First Group._--From writings of apostles and apostolic men, including the Epistle to the Hebrews--1 Peter--Revelation of S. John--First letter of S. Clement of Rome--The seven genuine letters of S. Ignatius 166 II QUOTATIONS FROM WRITINGS OF THE SECOND CENTURY _Second Group._--Early writings, dating from the time of Trajan to the death of Marcus Antoninus (A.D. 180); including--“Letters of Pliny and Trajan”--“Letter to Diognetus”--“The Shepherd of Hermas”--“1st Apology of Justin Martyr”--“Minucius Felix”--“Writings of Melito of Sardis”--“Writings of Athenagoras”--“Writings of Theophilus of Antioch”--“Writings of Tertullian”--the last-named a very few years later, but bearing on same period 177 PART II TRAINING FOR MARTYRDOM INTRODUCTORY The sight of the martyrs’ endurance under suffering had a marked effect on the pagan population. This was noticed and dreaded by the Roman magistracy. Efforts were constantly made by the Government to arrest or at least to limit the number of martyrs 193 I OF THE SPECIAL TRAINING FOR MARTYRDOM The Church conscious of the powerful effect of a public martyrdom upon the pagan crowds--established a training for--a preparation in view of a possible martyrdom--This training included: (_a_) A public recitation in the congregations of Christians of the “Acts,” “Visions,” and “Dreams” of confessors--(_b_) The preparation of special manuals prepared for the study of Christians--In these manuals our Lord’s words were dwelt on--(_c_) A prolonged practice of austerities, with the view of hardening the body for the endurance of pain 197 II QUOTATIONS FROM TERTULLIAN, ETC. Certain of Tertullian’s references to this preparation, and to the austerities practised with this view, are quoted. (His words, written _circa_ A.D. 200, indicate what was in the second century a common practice in the Church.) S. Ignatius’s words in his letter to the Roman Church are a good example of what was the use of the Church in the early years of the second century--Some of the words in question are quoted 202 PART III THE GREAT NUMBERS OF MARTYRS IN THE FIRST TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS INTRODUCTORY