Portland gazette and Maine advertiser. (Portland, Me.) 1805-1818, 1817-09-02
ORIGINAL MISCELL4NY
FOR THE GAZETTE.

FUR TIE GAZETTE.
concluded from cur last
Next TO this ilustrious martyr, we NAV
rank the celebrated PoLYcARP, the friend
and scholar of IGNATIus, and who, with
his salnted master, enjoyed 10 an uncom-
mon degree the confidence and affection of
/" the disciple whom Jesus loved."s He
was brought before the pro-consul who was
sitting in judgment amidst crowded audi
ence. The pro-consul began by exhorting
him to respect bis own grey hairs, to swear
by the genius of Caesar, and to say Erter-
inmate The inltaous, meaning the christians.
Polycarp was silent. Swear by the genius
of Cesar said the pro. consul again ]; bias
pheme Christ, and will discharge thee
Polycarp replied, | nave served Christ
these fourscore and six years, and how can
now blaspheme him From him have
received much good, and never any harm.
[ cannot blaspheme my Saviour anG my
king You command me to swear by the
genius of Caesar as you call it. / am a
christian. We christians ere taught TO pay
due honour to our temporal sovereigns as
far as is consistent with religion, and no
farther have wild beasts at my call,
said the pro- consul, in a menacing tone
: Let them come at your call, replied Poly
carp,s my resolution is fixed not TO be sha-
KEN : If you scorn the beasts, subioined
the pro- CONSUL will sentence you 10 be
burnt TO ashes.' Polycarp answered, the
fire you threaten me with burns Cor a shorl
time only, and then goes out. There is
another fire kindled for the punishment OF
evil, and it burns forever. Being against
me what you will ; am ready ; why do
you delay Z While he thus spoke, like
the blessed Stephen, in the ntemplation
of the felicity that soon awaited him, his
countenance shone with heavenly cheer
fitness which struck the beholders, and ev
en- the pro consul himself
The publick crier was however ordered
10 advance, as the custom was In capital
cases, and thrice to proclaim Poiycarh hoth
confessed himself christian. The crowd
Immediately shouted with insulting tri-
umpb, and, as with one voice demanded,
that the impious teacher oil Asia, the father
of the christians, and the destroyer OF their
hO0Ss ohOGI0 O0luk hNh iSHdSot
was no sooner granted, but Jews and Gen
tiles set out with eager speed TO gather
wood for his execution. The intrepid mar
tyr with his hands tied behind him, was
placed at the stake heaps Of wood and 9th
er combustibles were piled up around him
There standing, and fixing his eyes upon
heaven, he uttered most fervent prayer 10
God. Scarce had he ended his devotions,
when the impatient mob set fire TO the pile.
Such was the end of these famous and
venerable martyrs. No terrors, no threats.
no hopes, no promises, no rewards, could
induce them TO desert The sacredcaus they
had espoused. Amidst prosecutions and
sufferings, from the rack and from the
stake, they proclaimed with anshaken for
titude their attachment to the cause OF their
sinless and crucihed master. Such was The
general character of The primitive chris
iians. The following tribute TO their sir-
ipes is from the pen ola pagan author.
Pliny the Younger, a, that time, was gov
srnor of Bythiania. and by letter bad con-
suited Tralan in what manner he was 10
act with respect 20 The christians, whose u
He suffered A. D. 1863.