Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1867-10-17


One Of the most picturesque myths
of ancient days is that which forms
the subject of this article. 1t is thus
told by Jacque de Voragine, in his
"Legenda Aurea"
"Ihe seven sleepers were natives of
Ephesus. The Emperor Decius, who
persecuted the Christians, having come
to Ephesus, ordered the erection of
temples in the city, that all might
come and sacrifice before him; and be
commanded that the Christians should
be sought out and given their choice,
either to worship the idols or die. So
great was the CONSERVATION in the
city that the friend denounced his
friend, the father his son, and the son
his father.
"Now there were in Ephesus seven
Christians, Maximian, Malchus, Mar
clan, Dionysius, John, Serapion, and
Constantine by name. These refused
to sacrifice to the idols, and remained
in their houses praying and fasting
They were accused before Decius, and
they confessed themselves to be Chris
tians. However, the Emperor gave
them a little time to consider what
line they would adopt They took
advantage Of this reprieve to dispense
their goods among the poor, and they
then retired, al seven, TO Mount Cell
on, where they determined to conceal
themselves.
"One Of their number, Maichus, in
the disguise of physician, went to
the town to obtain victuals Decius,
who had been absent from Ephesus
for a little while, returned, and gave
orders for the seven to be sought.
Malchus, having escaped from the
town, fed, full Of fear, to bis comrades,
and told them of the Emperor's fury
they were much alarmed and Nal
chus handed them the loayes he had
bought, bidding them cat, that, forti-
fed by the food, they might have
courage in the time Of trial They
ate, and then, as they sat weeping
and speaking to ono another, by the
will Of God they fell asleep.
"The pagans sought everywhere,
but could not find them, and Decius
was greatly iiritated at their escape.
He had their parents brought before
him, and threatened them with death
if they did not reveal the place OF con-
eealment; but they could only answer
that the seven young men had dis
tributed their goods TO the poor, and
that they were quite ignorant as to
their whereabouts.
"Decius, thinking it possible that
they might be hiding in a cavern,
blocked up the mouth with stones,
that they might perish of hunger.
"Three hundred and sirty yaars
passed, and in the thirtieth year Of
the reign of Theodosius there broke
forth heresy denying the resurree-
tion of the dead.
"Now it happened that an Ephesian
was building a stable on the side Of
Mount Celion, and finding a pile of
stones handy, he took them for his
cdifice, and thus opened the mouth of
the cave. Then the seven sleepers
awoke, and it was to them as if they
had slept but a single night They
began to ask Malchus what decisions
Decius had given concerning them.
"'He is going TO hunt us down, so
as to force us TO sacrifice to the idols,
was his reply God knows, replied
Maximain, we shall never do that.
Then, exhorting his companions, he
urged Malchus to 90 back TO the town
to buy some moro bread, and at the
same time to obtain fresh information.
Malchus took five coins and left the
cavern. On seeing the stones he was
filed with astonishment; however, he
went on towards the city but what
was his bewilderment, on approaching
the gate, to see over it q cross He
went to another gate, and there he
beheld the same sacred sign; and so
he observed it over each gate Of the
city. He believed that he was suffer
ing from the effects of a dream. Then
he entered Ephesus, rubbing his eyes,
and he walked to a bakers shop He
heard the people using our Lords
name. and he was the more perpleXed.
esterday no one dared pronounce
the name of Jesus, and now it is on
every ones lips. Wonderful / can
hardly believe myself to be in Ephe-
sus.' lie asked a passer-by the name
of the city, and on being told it was
Ephcsus he was thundor-struck. Now
he entered a bakers shop, and laid
down his money The baker, exam
iniug the coin, enquired whether he
found treasure, and began to whis-
per to some others in the shop. The
youth, thinking that he was discover
cd, and that they were about to con
duct him to the Emperor, implored
them to let him alone, offering to
leave loaves and money, if be might
only be suffered to escape. But the
shop men, seizing him, said, Whoever
YOU are, you have found a treasure /;
show us where it is, that we may share
it with you, and then VIC will hide
YOU. Malchus was too frightened to
answer. SO they put a rope round
his neck. and drew him through the
streets into the market place. The
news soon spread that the young man
had discovered a great treasure, and
there was presently a vast crowd
about him. lie stoutly protested his
innocence. No one recognized him,
and his eyes, ranging over the faces
which surrounded him, could not see
one which he had known, or which
was in the slightest degree familiar
to him.