_Zephyrinus_ was succeeded by _Callistus_, or _Callixtus_, as he is styled by _Optatus_[306], and St. _Austin_[307]. In his Time the Church enjoyed a long, happy, and uninterrupted Peace, as _Tertullian_ calls it[308], which lasted from the Death of _Severus_ in 211. to the Reign of _Maximinus_ in 235. as did also the State from the Death of _Macrinus_ in 218. to the Year 233. [Sidenote: _The Emperor_ Alexander _favourable to the Christians_.] _Alexander_, who succeeded _Heliogabalus_ in 222. proved extremely favourable to the Christians, and even allowed them, if I mistake not the Meaning of a profane Writer, the free Exercise of their Religion[309]: it is at least certain, that he adjudged to them, against the Tavern-keepers, a Piece of Ground, which it is pretended they had usurped upon the Public, laying, when he gave Sentence in their Favour, that it was better God should be served on it in any Manner, than that it should be occupied by Tavern-keepers[310]; which was giving them Leave to serve God on it after their own Manner. On this Spot of Ground _Baronius_ supposes _Callistus_ to have built a Church in Honour of the Virgin _Mary_, known at present by the Name of _Santa Maria in Trastevere_, that is, _Saint Mary beyond the Tyber_[311]. But the Pontifical of _Damasus_, upon which alone he sounds his Opinion, deserves no Credit, as I shall shew in the Life of that Pope. _Callistus_ is said by _Anastasius_[312] to have inclosed a large Piece of Ground on the _Appian_ Way, to serve as a Burying-place for the Christians. [Sidenote: Callistus_’s Burying-place_.] This Ground is frequently mentioned in the Martyrologies, and described at Length by _Arringhus_, who tells us, that 174,000 Martyrs, and 46 Popes, were buried in it[313]. Though _Alexander_ was of all the Pagan Emperors the most favourable and indulgent to the Christians, as is evident from all the antient Writers, both Christians and Pagans, yet he is represented in the Martyrologies, and in the Acts of some Martyrs, especially of _Callistus_, to which _Bede_ gave an intire Credit[314], as the most barbarous and inhuman Tyrant that ever shed Christian Blood. [Sidenote: _The Acts of_ Callistus _deserve no Credit_.] If we reject these Acts, and we must either reject them, or the Authority of the most unexceptionable Writers among the Antients, we expunge at once above 300 Martyrs out of the Catalogue of Saints worshiped to this Day by the Church of _Rome_, upon the bare Authority of such Acts. [Sidenote: _Many Saints out to be expunged out of the Catalogue._] Among these are the Consul _Palmatius_, with his Wife, his Children, and Forty-two of his Domestics; the Senator _Simplicius_, with his Wife, and Sixty-eight of his Domestics: and, what will be an irreparable Loss, the so much celebrated St. _Cæcilia_, in whose Honour Churches have been erected in every Christian Kingdom. _Baronius_, not presuming on one Side to question the Emperor