Portland gazette and Maine advertiser., 1817-08-26
ORIGINAL lIISCELLANY.
ron THE GAZETTE.

ers, whose names have ever adorned the Annals "a
the church. that of the venerable IGHATIUs, the
disciple and friend Of he evangelist ST. JOHN, has
shone with unequaIied ustre The page Of the &C.
cesiastical historan--hs memory has been embam-
ed by the veneraton and formed the thene 81
admiration throughout succeeding ages. The fol-
lowing circumstances attending has marty rdom are
gathered from the best and the most authentick
sources.
Tsaian, the emperor, being engaged in war
with the Parthans, marched ia person against then
aRd took Antioch in bis way. At bis arrival in
| that city, bis first concern 70 inquire after
The worship Of his false gods. Finding ii 20 have
fallen into disfePute he ordered IGNATtus, sernam-
ed THEoPHoRus, to be brought before him. As
soon he appeared, the emperor in stern and an
CRY tone thus accosted him lis it thou, wicked
Demon is il thou that darest 10 tIansgress my COM
mands? aud presumeSt 10 persuade others 10 DO
she like Ignatius answered. no calls The
ophorus a wicked demon.' Who is Theopkorss p
said Traian. Ut is he who carries God IN bis
breast replied the martyr, abiding to the impact
of the word. nd do not seem TO thee, Tepli-
ed the emperor, TO carry the gods in our breast,
when they so visiby assist and protect US against
our enemies p The gods replied ignatius, you
mistake, prince, in calling them gods: they are
truly demons There is one only God who made
heaven and earth, and all things in them, and one
Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord Dost thou
mean him whom Pontius Plate ordered to be cru
cited p said Traian. Yes answered Igpatius,'
the very same, who by his death has vanqushed the
Internal powers, and enables those who carry Him
in their breasts to trample those wicked spirits un-
der FOOT Trajan said, dost thou then carry
Christ within thee" Yes, replied Tgnatus.' for
it iswritten. / aoW d,ceN uithln them. q Cor. c.
vi) Silenced and provoked by these replies, Ira
jan dictated the following sentence.
Ii ia orr will that Ignntius who saith he car
ries the crucifed man within bin, be bound and
conducted To Rome, to be there devoured by wild
beasts for the amusement OF the people The un-
daunted martyr at hearing the sentence exclaimed
with holy Joy bless ,hce, oh Lord, for hon
curing me with this token Of thy love, and for let
ting me be bound with these iron chains for thy
sake, in imitation Of thy apostle PAUL. Then
praying for his flock, and recommendingit with
tears 10 God, he readily put on the chains, and by
a baud Of soldiers was instantly hurried of TO be-
gin his journey towards Rome.
| Ignatits travelled by land as far as Seleucia
where he was put on board ship. They steered
their course along the southwest coast Of Asia Mi
nor, till they reached Smyrna, where they permit
ted him to go ashore. Deputies from the neigh
bouring churches were there ready to salute him
in bis passage and to beg share of those spiritual
gifts with which be abounded. The humble martyr
on bis part expressed the interior JOY he felt al
entreated them unite in prayer with him for the
grace FINAL perseverance. He Likewise requested
their prayers for his widowed church in Syria that
in his absence God would please to take it under
his special protection. Such was the zeal, and such
was the ardOur Of charity that warmed the heart
of this holy man.
1 From smyrna Tgnatius wrote four epstles 10
the christians Of four different churches the Ephe-
slams, the Magnesan<, the ThralIians, and the Ro-
Il Ill, TT. al
unity for their pietv and zeal in the divine service;
| be exhorts them TO promote the honour Of God by
every means in their power; TO oppose meekness
TO anger, humility TO vain glory, prayer 70 re-
prnaches and to bear all injuries without mur-
muring. In a word, he tells them to he chiefly
| selections how 10 edify Others by their virtuous
! lives rather than amuse them with fine discourses.
! In pathetick and ingenious turn Of expression be
repeats nearly the same instructions 10 the Mag
nesians and 1hralianS, and concludes by request
ing their prayers for himself and for bis church in
Syria, of which lie deems himself unworthy TO he
called member.
III his epistle TO the Romans, bis expostnlations
with them are no less ferrent than singular. The
kind of death reserved for lim at Rome was con-
stantly in his thoughts. fear your charity said
he your powerful interceSsion with the Almighty
might perhaps delay my death, but in delaying my
death you would delay my happiness Your affec-
ton for me | apprehend, springs from too humane
motive. Ii your charity he sincere, you viii let
ne go TO enjoy my God. Never shall | again have
So fair opportunity Of giving NY life TO be unit-
ed to God, nor you Of doing so good work by
yeuf silence. But be silent in my behalf, and
shall soon be happy in the enjoyment OF ny God.
III 4 greater kindness you cannot do me than IN let
ting me consummate the sacrifice now that the
altar is prepared. Let NE PASS cut Of this lower
world unto God that ty iying fur him | may rise
Id glory But If affection for me prompts you still
TO pray, pray beseech you that in this irail body
nay prove an acceptable sacrifice to God pray
that Gcd in his mercy may grant me the inward
/ and outward strength becoming christian. 4
christians worth lies not in words, IN plausible
a pcarances. magnanRnity Of soul and solid vir.
tue solely form the true christan. The possession
CT all the kingdoms upon earth could not make me
happy infinitely more glorious is II TO die for
Jesus Christ than tn reign over the whole world
9Iv soul hrea;heS after him who died upon cross
for me !; my heart pants after hiu' who for me
from the dead. BEHOLD the object Of my hope
All earthly objects are indifferent 10 me the hope
! OF possessing God my Saviour, solely draws and
engages my Whole attention. Let flames reduce
my body 10 ashes let nc expire BIZ SLOW degrees
upon cross LET lions and tigers grind ny bones
and tear me limb from limb; shall suffer with all
JOY, trusting in the grace of my Icdeener Christ
y ho stands ready to reward our short snfferiag
with crown Of everlasting glory. Let theE
tread the footsteps Of my suffering Jesus Jet no
yOur prayers delay my entrance into life bg delay
| liz my death.'
: j he guards assigned him by the emperor weaIl
I not allow him 20 write any thing more from Smyr
ma. being anxious 10 reach Rome before the nub:
J shows rerr ever. They set sail, and stopPe'