Philip II. they were translated back to Toledo with great pomp, that king, his son prince Philip, his daugh. ter Elisabeth, and the empress Mary his sister, being present at their solemn reception in the great church there, on the 26th of April, 1589.

St Leocadia being called to the trial, exhorted all heroic Christian virtues, because she had made her whole life an apprenticeship of them, and their practice had been familiar to her. Some people say it was easy for Christians to be totally disengaged from the world, and to give themselves up to prayer and penance, when they daily and hourly expected to be called upon to lay down their lives for Christ. But were we not blinded by the world, and if the enchantment of its follies, the near prospect of eternity, the uncertainty of the hour of our death, and the repeated precepts of Christ, were equally the subjects of our meditation, these motives would produce in us the same fervent dispositions which they did in the primitive Christians. How much soever men now-a-days are strangers to these gospel truths, for want of giving themselves leisure to consider them, Christians are bound to be totally disentangled from worldly af fections, in order to unite their hearts closely to God, that they may receive the abundant graces and favours which He communicates to souls which open themselves to him. They are bound to renounce sensuality, and the disorders and vanities of the world, and to be animated with a spirit of meekness, peace, patience, charity, and affectionate good-will towards all men, zeal, piety and devotion. They are bound to be prepared in the disposition of their hearts to leave all things, and to suffer all things for his love.

ON THE SAME DAY.

The Seven MARTYRS at Samosata. In the year 297 the emperor Maximian, returning victorious from the defeat of the Persian army, celebrated the quinquennial games at Samosata, the capital of Syria Comagene, upon the banks of the Euphrates. On this occasion, he commanded all the inhabitants to repair to the temple of Fortune, situate in the middle of the city, to assist at the

solemn supplications and sacrifices which were there to be made to the gods. The whole town echoed with the sound of trumpets, and was infected with the smell of victims and incense. Hipparchus and Philotheus, persons for birth and fortune of the first rank in the city, had some time before embraced the Christian faith. In a secret closet in the house of Hipparchus, upon the Eastern wall they had made an image of the cross, before which, with their faces turned to the East, they adored the Lord Jesus Christ seven times a day. Five intimate friends, much younger in years, named James, Paragrus, Habibus, Romanus and Lollianus, coming to visit them at the ninth hour, or three in the afternoon, found them in this private chamber praying before the cross, and asked them why they were in mourning, and prayed at home, at a time when, by the emperor's or ders, all the gods of the whole city had been transported into the temple of Fortune, and all persons were com manded to assemble there to pray. They answered, that they adored the Maker of the world. James said: "Do you take that cross for the Maker of the world? For I see it is adored by you." Hipparchus answered: "Him we adore who hung upon the cross. Him we confess to be God, and the Son of God, begotten, not made, co-essential with the Father, by whose deity we believe this whole world is created, preserved and governed. It is now the third year since we were baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, by James, a priest of the true faith, who since has never intermitted from time to time to give us the Body and Blood of Christ. We therefore think it unlawful for us, during these three days, to stir out of doors for we abhor the smell of victims with which the whole city is infected." After much discourse together, the five young noblemen declared they desired to be baptized, but feared the severity of the laws, saying, they two were protected by their dignities in the magistracy and their favour at court; but that as for themselves they were young and without protection. Hipparchus and Philotheus said, "The earthen vessel or brick is but dirt till it be tempered with clay, and has

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passed the fire." And they discoursed so well on martyrdom, and on the contempt of the world which faith inspireth, that the five young men desired to be baptized, and to bear the badge of Christ, confessing, that when they first saw their two friends at prayer before the cross, they felt an unusual fire glowing within their breasts. Hipparchus and Philotheus at first advised them to defer their baptism, but a length, pleased with their ardour, they dispatched a messenger to the priest James, with a letter sealed with their own seal. the contents of which were as follows: Be pleased to come to us as soon as possible, and bring with you a vessel of water, an host, and an horn of oil for anointing. Your presence is earnestly desired by certain tender sheep which are come over to our fold, and are impatient that its mark be set upon them." James forthwith covered the sacred utensils with his cloak, and coming to the house, found the seven blessed men on their knees at prayer. Saluting them he said: "Peace be with you, seryants of Jesus Christ who was crucified for his creatures." They all arose, and James, Paragrus, Habibus, Romanus and Lollianus, fell at his feet, and said: "Have pity on us, and give us the mark of Christ whom you adore." He asked them if they were ready to suffer tribulation and torments for Christ, who suffered first for them. They answered with one voice, that nothing should ever be able to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. He then bade them join him in prayer. When they had prayed together on their knees for the space of an hour, the priest rose up, and saluting them, said: "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all." When they had made a confession of their faith, and abjured idolatry, he baptized them, and immediately gave them the Body and Blood of Christ. This.being done he took up the sacred utensils, and covering them with his cloak made haste home, fearing lest the pagans should discover them together; for the priest was an old man in a mean ragged garment: and Hipparchus and Philotheus were men of the first rank, and enjoyed posts of great honour, and the other five werę illustrious for their birth.

On the third day of the festival the emperor inquired whether none among the magistrates contemned the gods, and whether they had all performed the duty of sacrificing on this public occasion. He was answered, that Hipparchus and Philotheus had for three years past constantly absented themselves from the public worship of the gods. Hereupon the emperor gave orders that they should be conducted to the temple of fortune, and compelled to offer sacrifice. The messengers coming to the house of Hipparchus, found the seven above-mentioned assembled together; but at first apprehended only Hipparchus and Philotheus. The emperor asked them why they contemned both him and the immortal gods? Hipparchus said: "I blush to hear wood and stones. called gods." The emperor commanded that he should receive fifty stripes, with whips loaded with leaden plummets, on the back, and then be confined in a dark dungeon. Philotheus being presented before him, the emperor promised to make him prætor, and to bestow on him other preferments, if he complied. The confessor replied, that honours, upon such terms, would be an ignominy, and that he esteemed disgrace suffered for Christ the greatest of all honours. He then began to explain the creation of the world, and spoke with great eloquence. The emperor interrupted him, saying, he saw that he was a man of learning, and that he would not put him to the torture, hoping that his own reason would convince him of his errors. But he gave orders that he should be put in irons, and confined in a separate dungeon from that in which Hipparchus was detained. In the mean time an order was sent to seize the other five that were found with them. The emperor put them in mind, that they were in the flower of their age, and exhorted them not to despise the blessings of life. They answered, that faith in Christ is preferable to life, adding, that no treacherous artifices should draw them from their duty to God: “ Especially," said they," as we carry in our bodies the Body and Blood of Christ. Our bodies are consecrated by the touch of his Body: nor ought bodies which have been made holy, to be prostituted by offering an outrageous affront to the dig

nity to which they have been raised." The emperor entreated them to have pity on their youth, and not throw away their lives, swearing by the gods that if they persisted in their obstinacy, they should be unmercifully beaten, and should miserably perish. He repeated, that they should be crucified like their master. Their answer was, that they were not affrighted with torments. The emperor ordered that they should be chained, and kept in separate dungeons, without meat, or drink, till the festival should be over.

The solemnity, which was celebrated for several days in honour of the gods, being concluded, the emperor caused a tribunal to be erected without the walls of the city, in a meadow near the banks of the Euphrates, and the fields thereabouts were covered with rich hangings like tents. Maximian having taken his seat, by his order, the confessors were brought before him. The two old magistrates were first led by chains thrown about their necks: the other five followed them, all having their hands tied behind their backs. Upon their peremptory refusal to offer sacrifice, they were all stretched upon the rack, and each received twenty stripes upon his back, and was then scourged with thongs upon the breast and belly. This being done, they were carried back each to his own dungeon, with strict orders that no one should be allowed to see them, or send them any thing to comfort or support them, and that they should be furnished by their keepers with just so much coarse bread as would keep them alive. In this condition they lay from the 15th of April to the 25th of June. Then they were again brought before the emperor, but looked more like carcases than living men. He told them that if they would comply, he would cause their hair to be shorn, and would have them washed in the bath, carried to the palace, and re-established in their dignities, They all prayed that he would not seek to draw them. from the way which Jesus Christ had opened to them. The emperor, whose eyes sparkled with fury, upon hearing this answer, said: "Wretches, you seek death. Your desire is granted, that you may at length cease to insult the gods." He then commanded that cords should,