The admirable Polycarp, when he heard what paffed, was quite unmoved, and defired to remain in the city. But, induced by the intreaties of his people, he retired to a village not far from the city; and spent the time with a few friends, night and day, in nothing else than in praying for all the churches in the world, according to his ufual cuftom. Three days before he was seized he had a vifion while he was praying. He faw his pillow confumed by fire, and turning to the company he faid prophetically, I must be burnt alive. Those who fought him being at hand, he retired to another village; and immediately the officers came to the house, and not finding him, they seized two fervants, one of whom was induced, by torture, to confefs the place of his retreat. Certainly it was impoffible to conceal him, fince even those of his own houfhold difcovered him. And the Tetrarch, called Cleronomus Herod, haftened to introduce him into the Stadium, that fo he might obtain his lot as a partaker of Chrift, and those who betrayed him might share with Judas. Taking then the fervant as their guide, they went out about fupper-time, with their ufual arms, as against a robber, and arriving late, they found him lying in an upper room at the end of the house, whence he might have made his escape, but he would not, faying, The will of the Lord be done. Hearing that they were arrived, he came down and converfed with them, those who were present admiring his age and conftancy; fome faid, was it worth while to take pains to apprehend fo aged a perfon? He immediately or dered meat and drink to be fet before them, as much as they pleased, and begged them to allow him

*Those who know the eastern cuftom of flat-roofed houses, will not be furprized at this.

him one hour to pray without moleftation; which being granted, he prayed ftanding, full of the grace of God, fo that he could not be filent for two hours; and the hearers were astonished, and many of them repented that they were come to feize fo divine a character.

When he had ceafed praying, having made mention of all whom he had ever known, fmall and great, noble and vulgar, and of the whole Catholic church through the world, the hour of departing being come, they fet him on an afs and led him to the city. The Irenarch Herod, and his father Nicetes, met him, who taking him up into their chariot, began to advise him, afking, What harm is it to fay, Lord Cæfar, and to facrifice, and be fafe? At first he was filent, but being preffed, he faid, I will not follow your advice. When they could not perfuade him, they treated him abufively, and thruft him out of the chariot, fo that in falling he bruifed his thigh. But he, ftill unmoved as if he had fuffered nothing, went on cheerfully under the conduct of his guards to the Stadium. There the tumult being fo great that few could hear any thing, a voice from heaven faid to Polycarp, entering on the Stadium, ‡ Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man. None faw the fpeaker, but many of us heard the voice.

When he was brought to the tribunal, there was a great tumult, as foon as it was generally understood that Polycarp was apprehended. The Proconful afked him, if he was Polycarp, to which he affented. The other began to advise

him,

I have not thought it worth while to tranflate what relates to the time when Polycarp fuffered, in which the learned disagree in the mode of interpretation.

The reader fhould remember that miraculous interpofitions of various kinds were still frequent in the church.

him, pity thy great age, and the like. Swear by the fortune of Cæfar; repent, fay, Take away the atheists. Polycarp, with a grave afpect, beholding all the multitude, waving his hand to them, and looking up to heaven, faid, Take away the atheifts. The Proconful urging him, and faying, Swear, and I will release thee, reproach Christ. Polycarp faid, Eighty and fix years have I ferved him, and he hath never wronged me, and how can I blafpheme my King who hath faved me! The other still urging, Swear by the fortune of Cæfar. Polycarp faid, If you ftill vainly contend to make me fwear by the fortune of Cæfar, as you fpeak, affecting an ignorance of my real character, hear me frankly declaring what I am. I am a chriftian; and if you defire to learn the chriftian doc trine, affign me a day, and hear. The Proconful faid, Perfuade the people. Polycarp faid, I have thought proper to addrefs you; for we are taught to pay all honour to magiftracies and powers appointed by God, which is confiftent with a good confcience. But I do not hold them worthy to apologize before them*. I have wild beafts, fays the Proconful. I will expofe you to them, unless you repent. Call them, replies the Martyr. Our minds are not to be changed from the better to the worse: but it is a good thing to be changed from evil to good. I will tame your fpirit by fire, fays the other, fince you defpife the wild beafts, unless you repent. You threaten me with fire, answers Polycarp, which burns for a moment, and will be foon extinct; but are ignorant of the future judgment, and the fire of eternal punish

ment

I cannot think that this was faid in contempt of the vulgar, but on account of the prejudice and enmity which their conduct exhibited at that time.

ment reserved for the ungodly. But why do you delay? Do what you please. Saying this and more, he was filled with confidence and joy, and grace fhone in his countenance; fo that he was fo far from being confounded by the menaces, that on the contrary the Proconful was vifibly embarraffed; he fent, however, the herald to proclaim thrice, in the midft of the affembly, Polycarp hath profeffed himself a chriftian. Upon this all the multitude, both of Gentiles and of Jews, who dwelt at Smyrna, with infatiable rage fhouted aloud, This is the doctor of Afia, the father of chriftians, the fubverter of our gods, who hath taught many not to facrifice nor to adore. They now begged Philip, the Afiarch, to let out a lion against Polycarp. But he refufed, obferving that the amphitheatrical spectacles of the wild beafts were finished. They then unanimously fhouted, that he should be burnt alive; for his vision was of neceffity to be accomplished. Whilft he was praying he obferved the fire kindling, and turning to the faithful that were with him, he faid prophetically, I must be burnt alive; the work was executed with all poffible fpeed: the people immediately gathered fuel from the workfhops and baths, in which employment the Jews diftinguished themfelves with their ufual malice. As foon as the fire was prepared, ftripping off his cloaths, and loofing his girdle, he attempted to take off his shoes, a thing unusual to him before, because each of the faithful were wont to ftrive who should be most affiduous in ferving him. For before

I scarce know a more (triking view of the judicial curse inflicted on the Jews than this. Indeed this people all along exerted themfelves in perfecution, and Juftin Martyr tells us of a charge which had been fent from Jerufalem by the chief priests against Chrif tians directed to their brethren through the world.

before his martyrdom his integrity and blameless conduct had always procured him the most unfeigned refpect. Immediately the ufual appendages of burning were placed about him. And when they were going to faften him to the stake, he faid, Let me remain as I am; for he who giveth me ftrength to fuftain the fire, will enable me alfo, without your fecuring me with nails, to remain unmoved in the fire. Upon which they bound him without nailing him. And he, putting his hands behind him, and being bound as a diftinguished ram felected from a great flock, a burnt-offering acceptable to God Almighty, faid, O Father of thy beloved and bleffed Son, Jesus Chrift, through whom we have attained the knowledge of thee, O God of angels and principalities, and of all creation, and of all the just who live in thy fight, I blefs thee, that thou haft counted me worthy of this day, and this hour, to receive my portion in the number of martyrs, in the cup of Chrift, for the refurrection to eternal life both of foul and body, in the incorruption of the Holy Ghoft; among whom may I be received before thee this day as a facrifice well-favoured and acceptable, as thou the faithful and true God haft prepared, declaring before-hand, and fulfilling accordingly. Wherefore I praise thee for all thofe things, I bless thee, I glorify thee, by the eternal High Priest, Jefus Chrift, thy well-beloved Son: through whom, with him in the Holy Spirit, be glory to thee both now and for ever. Amen.

And when he had pronounced Amen aloud, and finished prayer, the officers lighted the fire. And a great flame bursting out, we, to whom it was given to fee, faw a wonder, who alfo were referved to relate to others that which happened.

For