will scarce suffer any of his best and wisest servants to gain any credit, in conjecturing concerning the times and the seasons, which he hath put in his own power. "You ought to be well assured," said he,, in an animating letter to the people of Thibasis, "that the day of affliction is at hand, and that the end of the world, and the time of Antichrist is near, that we may all stand prepared for the battle, and think only of the glory of eternal life, and the crown of christian confession.

But Cyprian was reserved beyond the life of Gallus, as well as Decius, for the use of the church, and faithfully did he continue his work.

In measures to promote the steadfastness of the church, and extend the knowledge of the truth, he was constantly active.

Tranquillity was restored, and a peace of three years given to the church, during which time they well nigh forgot their days of trial, and trusted in their own strength to stand strong.

As might be expected, the instability of human character conspired to bring about a change, and the former days of agitation and sorrow returned.

Cyprian, who had escaped two persecutions, was now made the victim of the third, though by slow degrees, and attended with circumstances of comparative lenity.

He was seized by the servants of Paternus, the pro-consul of Carthage, and brought into his council chamber. "The sacred emperors, Valerian and Gallienus," says Paternus, "have done me the honor to direct letters to me, in which they have decreed, that all men ought to adore the gods whom the Romans adore, and on pain of being slain with the sword.

"I have heard that you despise the worship of the gods, whence I advise you to consult for yourself, and honor them."

"I am a christian,” replied the prelate, "and know no God but the one true God, who created heaven and earth, the sea, and things in them. This God we christians serve; to Him

we pray night and day for all men; and even for the emperors."

"You shall die the death of a malefactor, if you persevere in this inclination." "That is a good inclination which fears God," answered Cyprian, "and therefore must not be changed." "You must then, by the will of the princes, be banished."

"He is no exile," it was replied, "who has God in his heart, for the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof." Paternus said, "Before you go, tell me where are your presbyters, who are said to be in this city."

With much presence of mind Cyprian reminded him of the edicts made by the best Roman princes against the practice. of informers: "They ought not therefore to be discovered by me, but you may find them, and you yourselves do not approve of men offering themselves voluntarily to you." "I will make you discover them by torments." "By me," the intrepid bishop rejoined, "they shall not be discovered." "Our princes have ordered that christians hold no conventicles, and whoever breaks this rule, shall be put to death." "Do what you are ordered," Cyprian calmly replied.

Paternus, however, was not disposed to hurt the bishop. Most probable he respected the character of the man, which by this time must have been highly esteemed, through a shining series of good works in Africa. Having made some ineffectual attempts to work on his fears, he sent him into banishment to Curubis, a little town fifty miles from Carthage, situate by the sea, over against Sicily. The citizens treated him with great kindness, during his stay of eleven months, and he was repeatedly visited by christians. Here he served his Divine Master in good works, and Paternus in the interim died.

In the year 260, Cyprian returning from exile by permission, lived in a garden near Carthage, which was now providentially restored to him, though he had sold it at his first conversion. His liberal spirit would have inclined him once more to sell it for the relief of the needy, had he not feared to attract the envy of the persecutors.

Here he regulated the affairs of the church, and distributed what he had left; but while thus employed, two officers with soldiers came to seize him. They carried him in a chariot between them to a place called Sextus, six miles from Car thage, by the seaside, where the pro-consul lodged indisposed. The affair was deferred till the next day, and he was carried back to the lodgings of the chief of the officers, about the distance of a stadium from the preætorium. The news spread through Carthage; his celebrity, on account of his good works, drew prodigious crowds to the scene, not only of christians, but of infidels, who revered the virtue of the

man.

The chief of the officers guarded him, but in a courteous manner; so that he ate with his friends, and had them about him as usual. The next day he was sent for by the proconsul, and went accordingly, attended by crowds of people. The pro-consul not yet appearing, he was ordered to wait for him in a private place, where he sat down.

Being in a great perspiration, a soldier, who had been a christian, offered him a change of clothes. "Shall we," says Cyprian, "seek for a remedy for that which may last no longer than to-day?"

He was at length brought into the judgment hall, where the pro-consul sat. "Are you Thascius Cyprian?" "I am." "Are you he whom the christians call their bishop?" "I am." "Our princes have ordered you to worship the gods." "That I shall not do." "You will do better to consult your safety, and not despise the gods." "My safety and virtue is Christ the Lord, whom I desire to serve forever." "I pity your case," says the pro-consul; "and could wish to consult for you." "I do not wish," says the prelate, "that things should be otherwise with me, than that adoring my God, 1 may hasten to him with all the ardor of my soul; for the af flictions of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."

The pro-consul now reddening with anger, says: "You haved lived sacrilegiously a long time, and have formed into a society men of an impious conspiracy, and have shown

yourself an enemy to the gods and their religion, and have not hearkened to the equitable counsels of our princes, but have ever been a father of the impious sect, and their ringleader; you shall therefore be an example to the rest, and they shall learn their duty by your blood. Let Thascius Cyprian, who refuses to sacrifice to the gods, be put to death by the sword." "God be praised," said the martyr, and while they were leading him away, a multitude of the people followed and cried, "Let us die with our holy bishop."

A troop of soldiers attended him, and the officers marched on each side of him. They led him into a plain surrounded with trees, and many climbed up to the top of them to see him at a distance. Cyprian took off his mantle, and fell on his knees, worshiping his God.

The executioner being come, he ordered twenty-five golden denarii to be given him; he himself bound the napkin over his eyes, and a presbyter and deacon tied his hands for him; and the christians laid before him napkins and handkerchiefs to receive his blood. Then his head was cut off by the sword.

Thus, after an eventful and instructive period of about thirteen years since his conversion, after a variety of toils and exercises among friends, and open foes and nominal christians, by a death more gentle than commonly fell to the lot of martyrs, rested at length in Jesus, the magnanimous and charitable spirit of Cyprian of Carthage.

CHAPTER IX.

Gregory Thaumaturgus.

ENJOYS THE TUITION OF ORIGEN; ARDUOUS LABORS IN THE CAUSE OF CHRISTIANITY; EVANGELICAL CHARACTER.

E was born at Neocæsarea, the metropolis of Cappadocia; his father, zealous for paganism, took care to educate him in idolatry and the learning of the Gentile world. He lost his father when he was fourteen years of age. His mother took care to complete his education, and that of his hrother, Athenodorus, afterward a christian bishop, as well as himself.

He traveled to Alexandria to learn the platonic philosophy, where he was equally remarkable for strictness of life and close attention to his studies.

He afterward put himself under the tuition of the renowned Origen, who then taught at Cæsarea in Palestine, with his brother Athenodorus, and Firmilian, a Cappadocian gentleman, with whom he contracted an intimate friendship.

With Origen the two brothers continued five years, and were persuaded by him to study the Holy Scriptures; and no doubt is to be entertained, but that the most assiduous pains were urged by that zealous teacher to ground them in the belief of christianity.

On his departure he delivered an eloquent speech, in praise of Origen, before a numerous auditory, a testimony at once of his gratitude and powers of rhetoric.

There is still extant a letter written by Origen to him after he had left him, in which he exhorts him to apply his knowl edge to the promotion of christianity. The best thing in it is, that he advises him to pray fervently for the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

Having returned to Neocæsarea, he gave himself much to retirement, and no doubt was in secret prepared and