CHAPTER XXVII.

Polycarp.

SENTENCE OF DEATH PASSED AGAINST HIM; CONDUCT BEFORE THE PROCONSUL AND IN THE HOUR OF DEATH.

HE aged and venerable Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John, gave up his life in defense of the truth, in the year 167, having passed through the varied scenes of this mortal life for the space of ninety years.

When he heard the shouts of the people demanding his death, it was his intention, at first, to remain quietly in the city, and await the issue which God might ordain for him. But, by the entreaties of the church, he suffered himself to be persuaded to take refuge in a neighboring villa. Here he spent the time, with a few friends, occupied, day and night, in praying for all the churches throughout the world. When search was made for him, he retreated to another villa; and directly after appeared the servants of the police, to whom his place of refuge had been betrayed by unworthy men, who enjoyed his confidence. The bishop himself, indeed, was gone but they found two slaves, one of whom was put to the torture, and betrayed the place whither Polycarp had fled for refuge. As they were approaching, he was in the highest story of the dwelling, and might have escaped to another house, by the flat roof peculiar to the Oriental style of building; but he said, "The will of the Lord be done."

Descending to the officers of justice, he ordered whatever they chose to eat and drink to be placed before them, requesting them to indulge him with one hour for quiet prayer. But the fullness of his heart hurried him through two hours, so that the pagans themselves were touched by his devotion. The time having come, they conveyed him to the city on an ass, where they were met by the chief officer of the police,

coming, with his father, from the town. He took up Polycarp into his chariot, and addressing him kindly, asked, “what harm there could be in saying the emperor, our Lord,' and in sacrificing." At first, Polycarp was silent; but as they went on to urge him, he said mildly, "I shall not do as you advise me." When they perceived they could not persuade him, they grew angry. With opprobrious language, they thrust him from the carriage, in such a violent manner as seriously to injure him. Without looking round he proceeded on his way, cheerful and composed as if nothing had happened.

Having arrived before the pro-consul, he was urged by the latter to have respect at least to his own old age, to swear by the genius of the emperor, and give proof of his penitence, by joining in the shout of the people, "Away with the godless." Polycarp looked with a firm eye at the assembled crowd, pointing to them with his finger; then with a sigh, and his eyes uplifted to heaven, he said, “Away with the godless!" But when the pro-consul urged him further, "Swear, curse Christ, and I release thee."

"Six and eighty years," the old man replied, "have I served him, and he has done me nothing but good; and how could I curse him, my Lord and Saviour?" The pro-consul still persisted to urge him. "Well," said Polycarp, "if you would know what I am, I tell you frankly, I am a christian. Would you know what the doctrine of christianity is, appoint an hour and hear me." The pro-consul, who showed here how far he was from sharing in the fanatic spirit of the people, how gladly he would have saved the old man, if he could have appeased the multitude, said, "Do but persuade the people." Polycarp replied, "To you I was bound to give account of myself, for our own religion teaches us to pay due honor to the powers ordained of God, so far as it can be done. without prejudice to our salvation. But those I regard as not worthy of hearing me defend myself before them." The governor having once more threatened him in vain with the wild beasts and the stake, caused it to be proclaimed by the herald, in the circus, "Polycarp has declared himself to be a

christian!" With these words was pronounced the sentence. of death. The heathen populace, with an infuriate shout, replied, "This is the teacher of atheism, the father of the christians, the enemy of our gods, by whom so many have been turned from the worship of the gods and from sacrifice."

The pro-consul, having yielded to the demands of the people, that Polycarp should die at the stake, Jews and pagans hastened together, to bring wood from the shops and the baths. As they were about to fasten him with nails to the stake of the pile, he said, "Leave me thus; He who has strengthened me to encounter the flames, will also enable me to stand firm at the stake." Before the fire was lighted, he prayed: "Lord, Almighty God, Father of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, through whom, we have received from thee the knowledge of thyself; God of angels, and of the whole creation; of the human race, and of the just that live in thy presence; I praise thee that thou hast judged me worthy of this day and hour, to take part in the number of thy witnesses, in the cup of thy Christ.”

What appeared the greatest thing to the church at this time, was not the martyr's death of Polycarp in itself, but the christian manner in which it was suffered. They expressed it as their conviction, that all had been so ordered, that he might exhibit what was the essential character of evangelical martyrdom; "for," so they write, "he waited to be delivered up, not pressing forward uncalled; imitating, in this respect, our Lord, and leaving an example for us to follow; so that we should not look to that alone which may conduce to our own salvation, but also to that which may be serviceable to others.

"For this is the nature of true and genuine charity, to seek by all possible means the salvation of souls."

The death of this pious shepherd contributed also to the temporal advantage of his flock. The rage of fanaticism, after having obtained this victim, became somewhat cooled; and the pro-consul, who was no personal enemy of the christians, suspended all further search, and refused to know that another christian existed.

Polycarp was a faithful witness for Christ, and accomplished much, both in his life and in his death, for the furtherance of the holy cause.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

William Lithgow.

ACCOUNT OF HIS TRAVELS; TERRIBLE PERSECUTION IN SPAIN; EXTREME SUFFERING AND MANNER OF PECULIAR DELIVERANCE.

MONG those who suffered during the fearful progress of the Inquisition was one William Lithgow, a native of Scotland.

He was descended from a good family, and, having a natural propensity to traveling, he rambled, when very young, over the northern and western islands; after which, he visited France, Germany, Switzerland and Spain.

He set out on his travels in the month of March, 1609, first stopping at Paris, where he stayed some time, then, going through Germany and other parts, he arrived at Malaga, in Spain, the seat of all his misfortunes.

During his residence here, he contracted with the master of a French ship for his passage to Alexandria, but was prevented from going by the following circumstances.

At evening, on the 17th of October, 1620, the English fleet, at that time on a cruise against the Algerine rovers, came to anchor before Malaga, which threw the people of the town into the greatest consternation, as they imagined them to be Turks. The morning, however, discovered the mistake, and the governor, perceiving the cross of England in their colors, went on board Sir Robert Mansell's ship, who commanded on that expedition, and, after staying some time, returned to silence the fears of the people.

The next day several persons from on board the fleet came

ashore. Among these were a number well known by Lithgow, who, after reciprocal compliments, spent some days together in festivity and amusements of the town. They then invited him to go on board, and pay his respects to the admiral. He accordingly accepted the invitation, was kindly received by him, and detained till the next day, when the fleet sailed.

As soon as he got on shore, he proceeded toward his lodgings by a private way, when, in passing through a narrow, uninhabited strect, he found himself suddenly surrounded by several officers, who threw a black cloak over him, and forcibly conducted him to the house of the governor. After some little time, the governor appeared, when Lithgow earnestly begged he might be informed of the cause of such violent treatment, but his only answer was a shake of the head, followed by strict orders that the prisoner should be closely watched till he returned from his devotions; directing, at the same time, that the principal officers in town should be summoned to appear at his examination, and all with the greatest secrecy, to prevent the knowledge of it reaching the ears of the English merchants then residing in town.

These orders were strictly discharged, and, on the governor's return, he and the officers having seated themselves, Lithgow was brought before them, and asked several questions, as, of what country he was, whither bound, and how long he had been in Spain. The prisoner, after answering these and other questions, was conducted to a closet, where, in a short space of time, he was visited by a town-captain, who inquired whether he had ever been at Seville, or was lately come from thence; and, patting his cheeks with an air of friendship, conjured him to tell the truth: "For," said he, "your very countenance shows there is some hidden matter in your mind, which prudence should direct you to disclose." Finding himself, however, unable to extort any thing from the prisoner, he left him, and reported his success to the governor, upon which he was again brought before them, a general accusation laid against him, and made to swear that he would give true answers to such questions as might be asked him.