Then turning to a holy priest, Lucianus, venerable for his years and his virtues, the judge thus addressed him: “Come, be obedient to the gods themselves, and to the imperial edicts.”
“No one,” answered the old man, “can be reprehended or condemned who obeys the precepts of Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
“What sort of learning and studies dost thou pursue?”
“I have endeavored to master every science, and have tried every variety of learning. But finally I adhered to the doctrines of Christianity, although they do not please those who follow the wanderings of false opinions.”
“Wretch! dost thou find delight in that learning?”
“The greatest; because I follow the Christians in right doctrine.”
“And what is that doctrine?”
“The right doctrine, which we Christians piously hold, is to believe in one God, the Maker and Creator of all things visible and invisible; and to confess the Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God, anciently foretold by the prophets, who will come to judge mankind, and is the preacher and master of salvation, to those who will learn well under Him. I indeed, as a mere man, am too weak and insignificant to be able to utter any thing great of His infinite Deity: this office belongs to the prophets.”[166]
“Thou art, methinks, a master of error to others, and deservest to be more severely punished than the rest. Let this Lucianus be kept in the nerve (stocks) with his feet stretched to the fifth hole.[167]—And you two women, what are your names and condition?”
“I am a Christian, who have no spouse but Christ. My name is Secunda,” replied the one.