The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1870-06-02
Mistellaneous.
The Seven Sleepers.

The seven sleepers were natives OF
Ephesus. Tho Emperor Decius, who
prosecuted the Christians, having com 2
to Ephesus, ordered the erection of
temples in the city, that all might come
and sacrifice before him; and he com
manded that the Christians should be
sought out aud given their choice,
either to worship the idols or to die
So great was the CONSERVATION in the
,ity, that the friend denounced his
friend, the father his sen, aud the SOU
his father.
Now, there was in Ephesus seven
Observation-Disclosures, Malchus, Mar.
ciau, Dionysius, John, serapion, aud
Constantine, by name. These refused
to sacrifice to the idols, and remained
in their houses praying aud fasting.-
They were accused before Dccius, and
they confessed themselves to be Chris
tiaus. However, the Emperor gave
them lttlR time TO consider what line
they would adopt. They took advan-
tage Of this reprieye to dispense their
goods among the poor, and then they
retired, all seven, to Mount Cellion,
where they deteFniped to conceal them
selves.
Que Of their number, Malchus, in the
disguise of a physician, wept to tn.
town to obtain victuals. Decius, who
had been al s,nt from Ephesns for II
little while, returned, and gave orders
for the seven to be sought for. Nal
chus, having escaped from the town,
fed, full Of fear, to bis comrades, and
told them Of the Emperor's fury. They
wore much alarmed; and Malohus hand
ed them the loayes he had just bought,
bidding them eat, that, fortified by the
food, they might have courage in the
time Of trial. They ate, and then as
they sat weeking and speaking to one
another, by the will Of God they fell
asleep.
The pagans s,ught everywhere, but
could not fnd them, and Decius was
greatly irritated at their escape. He
had their parents brought before him,
aud threatened them with death if they
did not reveal the place of concealment;
but they could only answer that the
seven young mea had distributed their
goods to the poor, aud that they we're
quite ignorant us to their whereabouts.
Decius, thiukiug it possible that they
might be hiding in a cavern, blocked
up the mouth with stones, that they
might perish of hungsr.
Three hundred and sixty years passed,
and in the thirtieth year OF the reign of
Theodosius, there broke forth hercsy
denying the resurrection Of the dead.
Now, it happened that an Ephesiau
was building stable on the side Of
Mount Cellion, and finding a pile OF
stones handy, he took them for hi, edi.
fee, aud thus opened the mouth of the
cave, Thep the seyep sleepcrs awoke,
and it was to them as if they had slept
but single night They began to ask
Malchps what decision Decius had Civ.
en- concerning them.
"He is going to hupt US down, so as
to force US to sacrifice to the idols" /" was
his reply. "God knows" replied Maxi
mian, we shall never do that" Then
exhorting his companions, he urged
Ma!chus to go back to the town to buy
some more bread, and at the same time
to obtain fresh information. Malchus
took five coins and LETT the cavern. On
seeing the stones be was filled with
astonishment. However, he yept on
towards the city; but what was his be-
wilderment, on approaching the gate, to
see over it crossl He went to another
gate, and there he beheld the same sa.
cred sign; and so he observed it over
each gate Of the city. He believed that
he was suffering ffom the effects of
dream. Then he entered Ephesus, rab-
bing bis eyes, and he walked TO a
bakers shop. He heard people using
our Lords name, aud he was the more
Yesterday, no one dared
pronounce tbe name of Jesus, and now
il is on every ope's lips. Wonderful |
| can hardly believe myself to be in
Ephesus," He asked passer-by the
name Of tho city, and, % beng told
that il was Ephesus. he was thunder.
struck. Now be eptered baker shop
and laid doyn bis money. The baker,
examining the coin, inquired whether
he had found treasure, and began TO
whisper % some others IN the shop.
The youth, thinking that be was ais.
covered, and that they were about 10
conduct him 70 the emperor, impIored
them to let him alone, Offering 70 leave