MIRACULOUS INTERFERENCE OF THE DIVINE to the Flatonic, in which he took great de- and ordered to worship it, not only refused, light About the year 133, when he was but spit in its face; for which he was severethirty years of age, he became a convert to ly tormented, and afterwards had his head Christianity. Justin wrote an elegant epis- cut off with a sword. tle to the Gentiles, to convert them to the faith he had newly acquired, and lived in so pure and innocent a manner, that he well deserved the title of a Christian philosopher. At this time some of the northern nations He likewise employed his talents in con- having armed against Rome, the emperor vincing the Jews of the truth of the Chris- marched to encounter them, at the head of tian rites, and spent much time in travelling, 975,000 men; he was, however, drawn into till he took up his abode in Rome, and fixed an ambuscade, and dreaded the loss of his his habitation on the Viminal mount. He whole army. Surrounded by mountains and kept a public school, taught many who after- enemies, and perishing with thirst, the troops wards became great men, and wrote a trea- were driven to the last extremity. All the tise to confute heresies of all kinds. As the Pagan deities were invoked in vain; when Pagans began to treat the Christians with the men belonging to the militine, or thungreat severity, Justin wrote his first apology dering legion, who were all Christians, were in their favor, and addressed it to the empe- commanded to call upon their God for sucror Antoninus, to two princes whom he had cor; they immediately withdrew from the adopted as his sons, and to the senate and rest, prostrated themselves upon the earth, people of Rome in general. This piece, and prayed fervently. A miraculous deliverwhich occasioned the emperor to publish an ance immediately ensued; a prodigious quanedict in favor of the Christians, displays tity of rain fell, which being caught by the great learning and genius. men, and filling the dykes, afforded a sudden A short time after, he entered into fre- and astonishing relief. The emperor, in his quent contests with Crescens, a person of a epistle to the Roman senate, wherein the vicious life, but a celebrated cynic philoso- expedition is described, after mentioning the pher; and his arguments appeared so power- difficulties to which he had been driven, ful, yet disgusting to the cynic, that he re- speaks of the Christians in the following solved on his destruction, which, in the se- manner: 46 quel, he accomplished. The second apology When I saw myself not able to encoun of Justin was occasioned by the following ter with the enemies, I craved aid of our circumstances: a man and his wife, who country gods; but finding no relief at their were both bad livers, resided at Rome. The hands, and being cooped up by the enemy, I woman, however, becoming a convert to caused those men, whom we call Christians, Christianity, attempted to reclaim her hus- to be sent for; who being mustered, I found band; but not succeeding, she sued for a di- a considerable number of them, against whom vorce, which so exasperated him, that he ac- I was more incensed than I had just cause, cused her of being a Christian. Upon her as I found afterwards; for, by a marvellous petition, however, he dropped the prosecu- power, they forthwith used their endeavors, tion, and levelled his malice at Ptolemeus, not with ammunition, drums, and trumpets, who had converted her. Ptolemeus was con- abhorring such preparations and furniture, demned to die; and one Lucius, with another but only praying unto, and trusting in their person, for expressing themselves too freely God, whom they carry about with them upon the occasion, met with the same fate. in their consciences. It is therefore to be Justin's apology upon these severities gave believed, although we call them wicked men, Crescens an opportunity of prejudicing the that they worship God in their hearts; for emperor against the writer of it: upon which they, falling prostrate on the ground, prayed, Justin and six of his companions were appre- not only for me, but for the army also which hended. Being commanded as usual to deny was with me, beseeching God to help me in their faith, and sacrifice to the Pagan idols, that our extreme want of victuals and fresh they refused to do either; they were, there- water (for we had been five days without lore, condemned to be first scourged, and water, and in our enemies' land, even in the then beheaded. midst of Germany;) I say, falling on their It appears that only seven pieces of the faces, they prayed to a God unknown to me, writings of this celebrated martyr, and great and immediately thereupon fell from heaven a philosopher, are now extant: viz. the Two most pleasant and cool shower; but amongst Apologies; an Exhortation to the Gentiles; our enemies great store of hail, mixed with an Oration to the Greeks; a Treatise on Di-thunder and lightning: so that we soon pervine Monarchy; a Dialogue with Trypho the ceived the invincible aid of the most mighty Jew; and an Epistle to Diagnetus. God to be with us; therefore we gave these About this time many were beheaded for men leave to profess Christianity, lest, by their refusing to sacrifice to the image of Jupiter; prayers, we be punished by the like: and I in particular Concordus, a deacon of the city hereby make myself the author of all the of Spoleto, being carried before the image, evil that shall accrue by the persecution of FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. the Christian religion." It appears that this of those who died in prison, previous to the miraculous storm so intimidated the enemy, appointed time of execution, were thrown that part deserted to the Roman army, the to dogs. Indeed, so far did the malice of the rest were defeated, and the revolted prov- Pagans proceed, that they set guards over inces were entirely recovered. PERSECUTIONS IN FRANCE. the bodies while the beasts were devouring Although this manifest interference of the Almighty in favor of the Christians, occasioned the persecution to subside for some been forty-eight in number, and their execuThe martyrs of Lyons are said to have time, in those parts immediately under the tions happened in the year of Christ. 177. inspection of the emperor, yet we find that They all died with great fortitude. it soon after raged in France, particularly at Lyons, where the tortures, to which many others suffered in that city, and different Besides the above martyrs of Lyons, many of them were put, almost exceed the powers parts of the empire, soon after. Of these, of description. All manner of punishments the principal were: Epipodius and Alexanwere adopted; torments, and painful deaths; der, celebrated for their great friendship, such as being banished, plundered, hanged, and their Christian union. The former was burnt, &c.; and even the servants and slaves born at Lyons, the latter in Greece; they of opulent Christians were racked and tor- were of mutual assistance to each other, by tured, to make them accuse their masters the continual practice of all manner of Chrisand employers. The following were the tian virtues and godliness. At the time the principal of these martyrs: Vetius Agathus, persecution first began to rage at Lyons, they a young man, who having pleaded the Chris- were in the prime of life, and to avoid its tian cause, was asked if he was a Christian; severities, they thought proper to withdraw to which answering in the affirmative, he to a neighboring village. was condemned to death. Many, animated for some time concealed by a Christian widow. Here they were by this young man's intrepidity, boldly owned But the malice of their persecutors sought their faith, and suffered likewise. Blandinia, after them with indefatigable industry, and a Christian, but of a weak constitution, being pursued them to their place of concealment, seized and tortured on account of her reli- whence they were committed to prison withgion, received so much strength from Hea-out examination. At the expiration of three ven, that her torturers became tired fre- days, being brought before the governor, they quently, and were surprised at her being were examined in the presence of a crowd able to bear her torments for so great a length of heathens, when they confessed the divinity of time, and with such resolution. Sanctus, of Christ; on which the governor, being ena deacon of Vienne, was put to the tortures, raged at what he termed their insolence, which he bore with great fortitude, and only said, "What signify all the former execucried, "I am a Christian." Red-hot plates tions, if some yet remain who dare acknowof brass were placed upon those parts of the ledge Christ?" body that were tenderest, which contracted the sinews; but he remaining inflexible, was not console with each other, and he began They were then separated, that they should reconducted to prison. Being brought out to tamper with Epipodius, the youngest of from his place of confinement a few days the two. He pretended to pity his condition, afterwards, his tormentors were astonished and entreated him not to ruin himself by obto find his wounds healed, and his person per- stinacy. "Our deities," continued he, " fect; they however again proceeded to tor- worshipped by the greater part of the people ture him; but not being able at that time to in the universe, and their rulers; we adore take his life, they remanded him to prison, them with feasting and mirth, while you where he remained for some time after, and adore a crucified man; we, to honor them, was at length beheaded. Biblides, a weak launch into pleasures; you, by your faith, woman, had been an apostate, but having are debarred from all that indulges the senses. returned to the faith, was martyred, and bore Our religion enjoins feasting, yours fasting; her sufferings with great patience. Attalus, ours the joys of licentious blandishments, yours of Pergamus, was another sufferer; and the barren virtue of chastity. Can you exPothinus, the venerable bishop of Lyons, who pect protection from one who could not sewas ninety years of age, was so treated by cure himself from the persecutions of a conthe enraged mob, that he expired two days temptible people? Then quit a profession of after in the prison. At Lyons, exclusive of those already men- which the world affords, and which your such austerity, and enjoy those gratifications tioned, the martyrs were compelled to sit in youthful years demand." Epipodius, in rered-hot iron chairs till their flesh broiled. ply, contemning his compassion: "Your preThis was inflicted with peculiar severity on tended tenderness," said he, "is actual cruSanctus, already mentioned, and some others. elty; and the agreeable life you describe, is Some were sewed up in nets, and thrown replete with everlasting death. Christ sufon the horns of wild bulle and the carcasses fered for us, that our pleasures should be are immortal, and hath prepared for his followers prejudices against Christianity. His prin an eternity of bliss. The frame of man being cipal weakness was pride, and to that may composed of two parts, body and soul, the be chiefly ascribed the errors of his reign; first as mean and perishable, should be ren- for having fancied himself Hercules, he sacdered subservient to the latter. Your idola- rificed those to, his vanity, who refused to trous feasts may gratify the mortal, but they subscribe to his absurd opinion. njure the immortal part; that cannot, there- In this reign Apollonius, a Roman senator, fore, be enjoying life, which destroys the became a martyr. This eminent person was most valuable moiety of your frame. Your skilled in all the polite literature of those pleasures lead to eternal death, and our pains times, and in all the purest precepts taught to eternal happiness." by our blessed Redeemer. He was accused For this rational speech Epipodius was by his own slave Severus, upon an unjust severely beaten, and then put to the rack, and contradictory, but unrepealed, edict of apon which being stretched, his flesh was the emperor Trajan. This law condemned torn with iron hooks. Having borne his the accused to die, unless he recanted his torments with incredible patience and forti- opinion; and, at the same time, ordered the tade, he was taken from the rack and be execution of the accuser for slander.—Apol beaded. Alexander, his companion, was lonius, upon this ridiculous statute, was acbrought before the judge, two days after his cused; for though his slave, Severus, knew execution; and on his absolute refusal to re- he must die for the accusation, yet such was nounce Christianity, he was placed on the his diabolical malice and desire of revenge, rack and beaten by three executioners, who that he courted death in order to involve his reheved each other alternately. He bore his master in the same destruction. As Apollosferings with as much fortitude as his friend nius refused to recant his opinions, he was, had done, and at length was crucified. These by order of the Roman senators, to whom he martyrs suffered A. D. 179; the first on the had appealed, condemned to be beheaded. 3th of April, and the other in two days after. The sentence was executed on the 18th of Valerian and Marcellus, who were nearly April, A. D. 186, his accuser having prerelated to each other, were imprisoned at viously had his legs broken, and been put to Lyons, in the year 177, for being Christians. death." By some means, however, they made their About this time succeeded Anicetus, Soter, escape, and travelled different roads. The and Eleutherius, about the year of our Lord atter made several converts in the territories 189. This Eleutherius, at the request of of Besançon and Chalons; but being appre- Lucius, king of Britain, sent to him Damia bended, was carried before Priscus, the gov- nus and Fugatius, by whom the king was mor of those parts. This magistrate, know- converted to Christ's faith, and baptized about Marcellus to be a Christian, ordered him the year 179. be fastened to some branches of a tree, Eusebius, Vincentius, Potentianus, and which were drawn for that purpose. When Peregrinus, for refusing to worship Commobe was tied to different branches, they were dus as Hercules, were likewise martyred.* et go, with a design to tear him to pièces Julius, a Roman senator, becoming a conthe suddenness of the jerks. But this in- vert to Christianity, was ordered, by the emvention failing, he was conducted to Chalons, to be present at some idolatrous sacrifices, at * About this time, among other pious teachers which, refusing to assist, he was put to the whom God raised up to confound the persecutors by Sture, and afterwards fixed up to the waist learning and writing, as the martyrs to confirm the truth with their blood, was Seraphion, bishop of Ana the ground, in which position he expired, tioch; Egesippus, a writer of the Ecclesiastical His A. D. 179, after remaining three days. Vale- tory from Christ's passion to his time; Heraclitus, an was also apprehended, and, by the order who first began to write annotations upon the New Prisens, was first brought to the rack, and Testament and epistles of the apostles; Theophilus, beheaded, in the same year as his rela-bishop of Cesarea; and Dionysius, bishop of Corinth, Marcellus. About the same time the following martyrs red; Benignus, at Dijon; Speusippus, and others, at Langres; Androchus, Thyr Fs and Felix, at Salieu; Sympoviam and Forella, at Autun; Severinus, Felician, and Experus, at Vienne; Cecilia, the virgin, at Say; and Thraseus, bishop of Phrygia, at who wrote divers epistles, from whence we learn that it was then the practice in the churches, to read the letters and epistles, sent by learned bishops and teachers, to the congregations; for, writing to the day we celebrate the holy dominical day, in which church of the Romans and to Soter, he says-"This we have read your epistle, which always we will read for our exhortation; like as we do read also the epistle of Clement sent to us before," &c. By him also mention is made of the keeping of Sunday holy, of which we find no mention in ancient authors before his time, except only in Justin the martyr, the year 180 the Emperor Antoninus who in his description declares two times most es and was succeeded by his son Commo-pecially used for Christians to congregate together who did not imitate his father in any the first, when any convert was to be baptized; the pect He had neither his virtues nor his second, upon the Sunday; because, says h., upon that day God made the world, and because Christ he was without his learning and his upon that day first showed himself, after his resurlity, and, at the same time, without his rection, to his disciples, &c. |