Identifier: historyofchristi00abbo (find matches)
Title: The history of Christianity : consisting of the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth : the adventures of Paul and the apostles and the most interesting events in the progress of Christianity from the earliest period to the present time
Year: 1872 (1870s)
Authors: Abbott, John S. C. (John Stevens Cabot), 1805-1877 Mallalieu, Willard Francis, bp., 1828-1911
Subjects: Jesus Christ Paul, the Apostle, Saint Church history
Publisher: Cleveland, Ohio : The American Pub. Co.
Contributing Library: Princeton Theological Seminary Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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l of stone and iron, which the glare of the torch but feebly illumines, is a band of Christians, — fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters.They are to be thrown to-morrow into the arena naked, that they may be torn to pieces by the panthers and the lions, and that the hundred thousand pagan spectators may enjoy the sport of seeing them torn limb from limb, and devoured by the fierce and starved beasts. In one of these cells Perpetua and Felicitas were confined.In another were several wild bulls. It was a glorious summers day, and the cloudless sun shone down upon the amphi-theatre, over which a silken awning was spread, and which was crowded with many thousands of spectators. Here were congregated all the wealth and beauty and fashion of the city, —vestal virgins, pontiffs, ambassadors, senators, and, in the loftiest tier, a countless throng of slaves. Carthaginian ladies, affecting the utmost delicacy and refinement, vied with men in the eagerness with which they watched the bloody scenes.
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PERPETUA WAS FIRST BROUGHT INTO THE ARENA. PAGAN ROME. 269 In the centre of the arena there was suspended a large net-work bag of strong fine twine, with interstices so large as to afford no covering or veil whatever to the person. Perpetua was first brought into the arena, young and beautiful, a pure and modest Christian lady. She was led forth entirely divested of her clothing, that to the bitterness of martyrdom might be added the pangs of wounded modesty. A hundred thousand voices assailed her with insult and derision. Brutal soldiers placed her in the transparent network. There she hung in mid-air, but two feet from the ground, as if floating in space. Then the burly executioners gave her a swing with their brawny arms, whirling her in a wide circle around the arena,and retired. An iron door creaks upon its hinges, and flies open. Out from the dungeon leaps the bull, with flaming eyes, tail in air, bellowing, and pawing the sand in rage. He glares around for an instant upon the shouting th

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