the following directions: "Let them be arrested, and unless they
offer to the gods, _let them be punished with divers tortures._" [46:3]
"Various means," says Neander, "were employed to constrain
them to a renunciation of their faith; and only in the last
extremity, when they could not be forced to submit, was the
punishment of death to be inflicted." [46:4] This, undoubtedly,
was the inauguration of a new system of persecution. In former
times, the Christians who refused to apostatize were summarily
consigned to execution. Now, they were horribly tormented in
various ways, with a view to compel them to abandon their
religion. This new policy is characteristic of the reign of
Marcus Aurelius. Nothing akin to it, sanctioned by Imperial
authority, can be found in the time of any preceding emperor.
Its employment now in the case of Polycarp and his companions
fixes the date of the martyrdom to this reign.

2. We have distinct proof that the visit of Polycarp to Rome took
place _after_ the date assigned by Bishop Lightfoot to his
martyrdom! Eusebius tells us that, in the _first_ year of the
reign of Antoninus Pius, [47:1] Telesphorus of Rome died, and was
succeeded in his charge by Hyginus. [47:2] He subsequently informs
us that Hyginus dying "_after the fourth year of his office,_"
was succeeded by Pius; and he then adds that Pius dying at Rome,
"in the _fifteenth_ year of his episcopate," was succeeded by
Anicetus. [47:3] It was in the time of this chief pastor that
Polycarp paid his visit to the Imperial city. It is apparent from
the foregoing statements that Anicetus could not have entered on
his office until at least nineteen, or perhaps twenty years, after
Antoninus Pius became emperor, that is, until A.D. 157, or
possibly until A.D. 158. This, however, is two or three years