I willingly record this memorial, that we, and our children after us, may know how to appreciate our invaluable privileges; and that the names of those noblemen and others who boldly stood forth in the defence and support of Religious Toleration, might be handed down to posterity, that “our children may tell their children, and their children another generation.” May that infinitely important and wished-for period soon arrive, “when every invidious distinction, and every hostile passion, shall be banished from religious society; and when all the blessings of christian liberty shall be diffused and enjoyed throughout the whole world!” “O catch its high import ye winds as ye blow, “O bear it ye waves as ye roll, “From the regions that feel the sun’s vertical glow, “To the farthest extremes of the pole!” _=Charles Atmore.=_ HULL, FEBRUARY 15th. 1813. [Illustration] ADVERTISEMENT. _When the prospectus of this work was first published, the Editor had no design of adding the Appendix, but intended to give copious biographical notes of the most eminent persons recorded in the work. The matter of the Appendix, however, afterwards appeared to him of such superior importance, that he thought himself justified in changing his plan. And he hopes the subscribers will excuse his having omitted that part of his original design, and accept of this apology for the notes, being so few, and so short, at the end of the volume._ _CONTENTS._ [Illustration] PREFACE Page iii The Life of Dr. Chandler 1-23 The Introduction 27-31 BOOK I. Of Persecution amongst the Heathens. SECT. 1. Abraham persecuted 33-34 SECT. 2. Socrates persecuted amongst the Greeks 34-38 SECT. 3. Egyptian Persecutions 39-40 SECT. 4. Persecutions by Antiochus Epiphanes 40-42 SECT. 5. Persecutions under the Romans 42-54 SECT. 6. Persecutions by the Mahometans 54-55 BOOK II. Of the Persecutions under the Christian Emperors 56 SECT. 1. Of the Dispute about Easter 57-61 SECT. 2. Of the Persecutions under Constantine 61-76 SECT. 3. The Nicene Council, or first general Council 76-103