*5. Such were the manners of the _ancient Christians_: such were the followers of Jesus Christ, both in _faith_ and _practice_, while Heathenism reigned, and persecution continued. This obliged them to a continual sense of the presence of God and watchfulness over themselves: every one expecting the hour when he should be betrayed by his wife, his child, or his nearest relation. And herein was seen the patience of the _saints_, then a common name for all Christians. Even in peace they daily looked for the return of war: nor was that peace itself ever entire, for many Christians suffered, even to blood, where there was no open persecution: and many of them were spoiled and pillaged with impunity even at noon-day. Or, if oppression and violence ceased for awhile, contempt and hate never ceased. To speak and write all manner of evil of the Christians, to revile, to mock at them, to turn them into ridicule: this was not only permitted, but approved, applauded, authorized. But this moved them not: neither unjust contempt, nor ill-grounded calumnies drew from them any murmuring or complaint. They continually returned good for evil. They laboured, if it had been possible, to live peaceably with all men. They studied all ways of gaining their affections. They conformed to all their innocent customs. And of so doing, they were never tired, never overcome with evil, even where they could not overcome evil with good. 6. Their patience shone most with regard to princes and magistrates. Nothing could force them, to _speak evil of dignities_. They honoured them as the ministers of God. They paid them all the obedience, which consisted with their duty to him. Prest as they were by such injustice and unheard-of cruelties, they never thought of taking up arms for their defence. So far from it, that as numerous as the Christian soldiers were in all the _Roman_ armies, they never made use of the arms they had in their hands, but according to the orders of their generals. Nay, we see the entire legion of St. _Mauritius_, known by the name of the _Thebæan_ legion, suffering themselves to be massacred without resistance, rather than be wanting in their duty to God or _Cæsar_.