A circumstantial account of a severe and lamentable persecution instituted by Mady, King of the Arabians, against the Christian believers in the East, about A. D. 780.A note touching said persecution, as well as how the Arabians proceeded in persecuting the Christians in other places; also, what might be adduced, as regards the matter of martyrization, from our account of baptism in this century. Conclusion.] SEVERE PERSECUTION IN THE EAST, ABOUT A. D. 718 There was now considerable tranquility in the western countries, but in the East commotions began to arise; for about the year 718, Haumar,* King of the Saracens, issued bloody decrees for the persecution of the Christians. He prohibited wine, according to the laws of Mohammed, which, however, did not matter much; but the most grievous of all was this: he endeavored to compel the Christians to apostatize and deny Christ; he promised exemption from tribute and taxes to those who, forsaking Christ, should adhere to Mohammed; on the other hand, he threatened to punish with death, all those who should cling steadfastly to Christ. In the meantime he oppressed them with intolerable burdens, and deprived some of life, by various torments.** He also made a law that the testimony of a Christian should not be valid, nor be accepted against a Saracen. In short, it is stated that by virtue of said decrees, many of the innocent and defenseless Christians became martyrs; but in default of faithful historians of that time, the names of said martyrs have not come down to us, save a few, as shall appear. * Paul Diae., lib. 21. Hist. Rom. in Leone Isauro, compared with Abr. Mell. Hist., tol. 305, Col. 2. * In the year 720, the Saracens or Arabians came over into Spain, where they sorely persecuted and martyred many pious Christians.-Sigibert. Chron. Tudensis. Also, Abr. Mell., fol. 328, Col. I However. from this we would conclude neither the one nor the other.
|
