_Alexander_’s Kindness to the Christians, which would be giving the Lye to all the Antients, but, on the other, looking upon it as a Sacrilege to rob the Church of so many valuable Reliques, ascribes the cruel Usage they are supposed to have met with in that Prince’s Reign, not to him, but to _Ulpian_ the celebrated Civilian, who flourished under him[315]. But in those Acts the Martyrs are said to have suffered unheard of Torments, there minutely described, by the express Command of the Emperor _Alexander_. Besides, could _Alexander_ be said to have favoured the Christians, could the Christians be said to have enjoyed a happy Tranquillity under him, had one of his Officers persecuted them with the utmost Cruelty in his Name, and by his Authority? _Baronius_, not remembring, it seems, that in this Place he had charged _Ulpian_ with all the Cruelties against the Christians, supposes elsewhere[316] several Martyrs to have suffered in the Reign of _Alexander_, after the Death of _Ulpian_. _Bede_, 'tis true, has followed these Acts; but they are not on that Account at all the more credible, since he often follows Pieces which are now universally given up as supposititious. The very first Words of these Acts are sufficient to make us suspect the Truth of them; for they begin thus; _in the Time of_ Macrinus _and_ Alexander--How come these two Princes to be joined together? _Macrinus_ reigned with his Son _Diadumenus_, and _Heliogabalus_ between them and _Alexander_. Soon after the Consul _Palmatius_ is said to have been condemned without any Form of Judgment, without so much as being heard; whereas _Herodian_ assures us, that _Alexander_ was a strict Observer of the Laws; and that no Criminal was condemned in his Reign, but according to the usual Course of Law, and by Judges of the greatest Integrity[317]. _Callistus_, if we give Credit to his Acts, was kept a long time Prisoner in a private House, where he was every Day cruelly beaten by the Emperor _Alexander_’s Orders, and at last thrown headlong out of the Window into a Well. [Sidenote: Callistus _not a Martyr_.] The Acts are evidently fabulous, but _Callistus_ nevertheless is worshiped among the Martyrs; and the Waters of the Well, which is to be seen at _Rome_ in the Church that bears his Name, are said to cure all sorts of Diseases to this Day. He governed the Church Five Years, and died in the Latter-end of the Year 223[318]. the Third of the Emperor _Alexander_. His Body is exposed to public Adoration on the Tenth of _May_, in the Church of St. _Mary_, beyond the _Tyber_, at _Rome_[319] and in that of our Lady at _Rheims_[320]. Two Decretals are ascribed to _Callistus_, and likewise the Institution of the Ember-Weeks, but without the lean Foundation. ----- Footnote 306: Opt. l. 2. p. 48. Footnote 307: Aug. ep. 53. Footnote 308: Tert. de cor. mil. Footnote 309: Lamprid. in vit. Alex. p. 121. Footnote 310: Idem ib. p. 131. Footnote 311: Bar. ad ann. 224. n. 4, 5.