Infamy of Commodus.――His Death.――The Reign of Pertinax.――The Mob of Soldiers.――Death of Pertinax.――Julian purchases the Crown. ――Rival Claimants.――Severus.――Persecutions.――Martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicitas.――The Reign of Caracalla.――Fiendlike Atrocities.――Elagabalus, Priest of the Sun.――Death by the Mob. ――Alexander and his Mother.――Contrast between Paganism and Christianity.――The Sin of Unbelief. CHAPTER XIII. SIN AND MISERY. Maximin the Goth.――Brutal Assassination of Alexander.――Merciless Proscription.――Revolt of the Army on the Danube.――Rage of Maximin.――His March upon Rome.――Consternation in the Capital. ――Assassination of Maximin.――Successors to the Throne.――Popular Suffrage unavailing.――Persecution under Decius.――Individual Cases.――Extent of the Roman Empire.――Extent of the Persecution. ――Heroism of the Christians. CHAPTER XIV. INVASION, CIVIL WAR, AND UNRELENTING PERSECUTION. Æmilianus and Valerian.――Barbaric Hordes.――Slavery and its Retribution.――Awful Fate of Valerian.――Ruin of the Roman Empire. ――Zenobia and her Captivity.――The Slave Diocletian becomes Emperor.――His Reign, Abdication, Death.――Division of the Empire.――Terrible Persecution.――The Glory of Christianity. ――Characteristics of the First Three Centuries.――Abasement of Rome. CHAPTER XV. CONSTANTINE.――THE BANNER OF THE CROSS UNFURLED. Helena, the Christian Empress.――Constantine, her Son, favors the Christians.――Crumbling of the Empire.――Constantine the Christian, and Maxentius the Pagan.――Vision of Constantine.――The Unfurled Cross.――Christianity favored by the Court.――Licinius defends the Christians.――Writings of Eusebius.――Apostasy of Licinius.――Cruel Persecution. CHAPTER XVI. THE CONVERSION OF CONSTANTINE. The Arian Controversy.――Sanguinary Conflict between Paganism and Christianity.――Founding of Constantinople.――The Council of Nice. ――Its Decision.――Duplicity of some of the Arians.――The Nicene Creed.――Tragic Scene in the Life of Constantine.――His Penitence and true Conversion.――His Baptism, and Reception into the Church. ――Charles V.――The Emperor Napoleon I. CHAPTER XVII. JULIAN THE APOSTATE. The Devotion of Constantine to Christianity.――Constantius and the Barbarians.――Conspiracy of Magnentius.――The Decisive Battle.――Decay of Rome.――Fearful Retribution.――Noble Sentiments of the Bishop of Alexandria.――Death of Constantius.――Gallus and Julian.――Julian enthroned.――His Apostasy.――His Warfare against Christianity.――Unavailing Attempt to rebuild Jerusalem. ――Persecution.――His Expedition to the East, and Painful Death. CHAPTER XVIII.