There are other ways to Heaven beside that which is sprinkled with our own blood. Nay, there are cases in which a man may give his body to be burnt, and it shall profit him nothing. Our duty is to endeavour to go through our trials as the first believers went through their trials; and then, though our paths be different, we shall meet in the end. And, while yet on the way, we may be reminded of the vast worth of that object after which we seek, by learning what a price of sufferings and sorrows they cheerfully paid in order to secure it. "That death which is but the close of a good life is not to be thought evil. For it is what follows death that alone can render it evil. Wherefore, for such as must necessarily die, it matters not so much by what that event is brought to pass, as whither through death they may be compelled to go. And accordingly the Christian knows that the departure of a poor religious man, surrounded by the dogs licking up his blood, is far better than that of the rich ungodly man clothed in purple and fine linen. For, after all, what harm do these horrible kinds of deaths bring to such as have led a good life?"

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CHAPTER V.

RECORDS OF MARTYRS.

(IGNATIUS A.D. 107.) This good man was Bishop of Antioch, and had in his younger days been a scholar of the apostle St. John. In his old age he felt not only willing but anxious to bear witness to the truth, by his death, and his wishes in this respect were granted. When the Emperor Trajan was at Antioch, Ignatius was (as it seems, at his own desire*) brought before him, and after a dispute in which each party defended his own opinions, the Christian was sentenced to be carried to Rome in chains, and there thrown to wild beastst. This doom only awakened a feeling of thankfulness in the heart of him upon whom it was passed, at being so honoured by the perfect love of Heaven, as to be thought worthy with the apostle Paul of being bound with iron chains. The reasons for removing him so far from his own home to suffer were, perhaps, to hinder the effect his death might have had among his own people, to terrify the inhabitants of all the places through which

Here, with all the respect really due to the good bishop's character, we may venture to say that his zeal carried him too far.

It is well known that one of the favourite sports of the heathen Romans was to see condemned persons torn in pieces by wild beasts, let loose on them for that purpose.

he might pass, and, it may be, either a hope that an old man, such as he was, would be forced to yield to so prolonged a trial, or a desire to make his punishment as grievous as possible. However, he set out upon his journey, and in every city was met and encouraged by crowds of believers, especially by the clergy, whether bishops, priests, or deacons, who came to comfort him, and to beg his blessing. And, firm as he was, he stood in need of some comfort, for he was cruelly treated. "From Syria* even' to Rome, both by sea and land, I fight with beasts," said the aged martyr, in a letter written during his journey. "Night and day am I chained to ten leopards† (which are my military guard), who, the kinder I am to them are the more cruel and fierce to me." In the same letter, which was written to the church at Rome, he beseeches his friends by no means to try to save him: "Let me be food for those savage creatures through whom I may obtain God. I am His wheat; I am ground by their teeth, that I may be found pure bread of Christ. Rather beseech the fierce animals to become my grave, to leave nothing of my body, so that when I fall asleep, I may be troublesome to no Then indeed shall I truly be a disciple of Christ, when the world shall not even behold my

man.

*

Antioch, where Ignatius was bishop, was the chief city of Syria. +It was customary with the Romans to chain their prisoners to the arm of a soldier, so as to render it impossible for them to move except in his company. Of course the soldiers relieved one another in this disagreeable service.

F

body. Pray for me to Christ, that by these means

I

may be found to be a sacrifice to Him. Not as Peter or Paul did, do I command you. They were apostles; I am a condemned person. They were free; I, up to this time, am a slave. But if I suffer, I shall be freed by Jesus, and in Him shall I rise again free. Now that I am in my bonds, I learn to desire nothing that is vain, nothing that is worldly." At last, after a tedious, and yet glorious, progress through many places, the poor old man drew near the end at once of his journey and of his life. We can hardly picture to ourselves the mingled feelings of joy and sorrow with which he was received by his fellow-Christians at Rome. Time was just allowed him to pray with them for the good of the church, for the ceasing of the persecution, and for a spirit of love and harmony among his brethren; and then the aged but willing martyr was hurried out of the world. On one of the great feast-days, when the people were met in the theatre, as usual, to behold its bloody sports, Ignatius was thrown before the wild beasts, and in a few minutes his heart's desire was fulfilled. Nothing was left of him in this world, save only a few bones, which his sorrowing friends carried with them to the city whose church he had so long and so faithfully ruled.

POLYCARP (A.D. 166). Smyrna was (as it still continues to be) a large city on the coast of Asia Minor. It is mentioned in Scripture (Rev. ii. 8) as being at

And the

that time blessed with a Christian church. angel*, or bishop, of the church at Smyrna, who is there spoken of, was named Polycarp. He had been spared to a very great age, till at length a persecution began to rage there, and some Christians were exposed to the wild beasts in the theatres, when a general cry was raised by the people assembled:Away with the men that own no gods! Let Polycarp be sought after." At the entreaties of his friends the old man withdrew from the city; but at last, like his master Christ, he was betrayed into the hands of his enemies by one of his own servants. When persons came to take him, he ordered food to be set before them, and only begged to be allowed a short time for prayer. This was granted, and the warmth and power of his prayers had such an effect on some, as to make them sorry that they had come against so noble an old man. After this he was conveyed to the city in a chariot along with two persons, one of

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* The word "angel," which properly means nothing more than "messenger," though custom has confined its use to the heavenly messengers of the Divine will, was applied by the ancient Jews to the chief ruler of the synagogue. In Malachi the priest is called "the messenger of the Lord of hosts." (Mal. ii. 7.) St. Paul says that he was received by the Galatians as an angel," or messenger, "of God. (Gal. iv. 14.) And it is generally agreed, according to this usage, that by the angels, we are to understand the bishops, of the seven churches named in the Revelation. + The remains of this are still to be seen. It was scooped out of the hollow of a hill, without any covering, and surrounded with seats, rising one above another, for the spectators.

To do the man justice, however, it was not till after he had been put to the torture that he betrayed Polycarp.