The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-12-03
the SEyEN slEEPERS.
Rev. c. e. Wenner in the Lutheran Il 1me



story true, or has it at least an historical
basis?
TWAS il the year of our Lord ?59 that
Deciu., the most inhuman OF all the Roman
Emperors in his persecution Of the Christi
ans, 10 making 4 tour through his Provin-
ces, arrived at Eph-sus, in Asia Minor.
Christianity had already obtained fcolhold
h.re, although the great majority of the
people still adhere to the heather religion
Upon his arrival, the Emperor ordered
sacri6cal festival to be held in honor of Ju-
piter, Apollo, and Diana. In this festival
every one WAS commanded to take part,
under penalty Of incurring the Imperial lis
pleasure 10 c,se of refusal. Among the
Christiaus OF the city we're seven yeuths,
descendants Of noble families. The names
Of six of them we're Macmillan, Malchus,
Dionysius, Josnnas, Scrapio, and Cos ,sius.
These determined TO die rathe, than 10 obey
the mandate. As soon as Docius heard of
their dsterm nation, he commanded them
t. De brought before him. &C.," said he,
land procure incense that you may offer to
the highest powers. "The Highest
Power" they replied, "bas His throne 10
the heavens, aud is the living and Almighty
God, who hath created heaven and earth.
Him We worship, Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, and We can never again bow down
to dumb idol, that are nothing
With terrible glance the Emperor meas
ures the youthful confe.sors. Then sudden
ly changing his manner, he endeavors to
win them by bis promises and his arguments.
For be knew well that martyrdom would
pour oil on flames he was trying to quench
Failing to attain hi. object by threats and
promises, he tells them that he will eraei-
ou.ly accord them time to consider their
resolution until he should again return to
Ephe-us, and inform. then Of the terrible
consequences il they should stll continue
their stubborn resistance.
With Calm courage the young men de-
parted from Il e prese, &c Of the Emperor.
By the citizens of Ephssus they were pres
cribed; by many, however, secretly admir-
Ell. Determined not to renouaee their faith,
they, however, dec :d-d to avoid the mons
ter as much as possible. With this object
they betook themselves to a range of noun
tains in lie neighborhood of Ephesus.
There they discovered . cave, the entrance
to which was concealed with thick fcliage
10 this cave they hid themselves, and one
Of their number, M.lchus, the one least
known in The city, was app sinted to SUPPLY
them with food.
The day OF tie Emperor return arrived.
One Of the first questions was concerning
the stubborn youths" They have es
Iied," was the reply. But tn. conceal
meat had been discovered. Spies had fol-
lo~el them, and purchased the Emperor,
favor by revealing the place Of conceaiment.
Dec.u,, knowing well that be could not lioI c
TO change the purpose of the youths, gave
comraanj to cluse the mouth OF the cave
with svaiI, and thus close them in living
sua,b- No =ooner said than done
/ There one man, however. whc,
] though at II heathen, had heard the Cos
J pei, and ~a- nus FIR f, ON the Kingdom, OF
/ God. Desiring that luther gcnrration-
might know whose boncs rested there, Lt
! took roll Of parctmvi.t, aud, wiring ON
it the names OF the youths and account oi
!ter courageous bearing. iucio.ed il in ~
! iron ca.k.t, unl unobseryed tv the work
men, shrfed it u.to the cave, and :LeI
quietly Withdrew
Many sc"hns good night wa. cali.
after them by the brutal puf ul.ce that even
ing il the streets Of Eplie,us. Many ten
der good night "Iid the Christians scnt
after them in their prayers. Aud lie " he
preserved David in the cave of A dulhum
and rescued Daniel from the den Of lon.
heard their prayer. The light of day hal
for them faded away. But they remem Der
ed, ole giveth His beloved sleep" They
lay themselves down and slesp. Soft il
their slumb.r, and no danger is nigh. /
is as though holy angels bad encampet
round abost them. We will leave them t.
their s,ssr, and write over them on the dafl
rock the words Of David: "IIow e1cellen
10 thy loving kindness, Cod ! therefore
the children Of men put their tlust unde
the shadow of thy wings"
Time passes on swift wings. Genera
tons come and 90 Ike phantom spirits
About ISL years later We are again i,
Ephesus. But how changed is the ,cen.
e;ius, the tyrant, is moulIering in hi
grave. the world is completely changed
A wealthy land owner desires to max
some Improvements in bis estate. II
searching for suitable building material b
finds an old wall with large square stone,
The blocks are easily removed, and tn
mouth Of y cave i. revealed. 1t is the cav
of the Seven Sleeper, whose history ha
long since passed into oblivion. The ray
of light entering for TIE first time after .
many years awakened the you,h. The
thanked God that dcliverancs had come 6
soon. Fer they supposed but single nsl
mad passed since they were immurei.
Malchus was again sent to the city f
: bread. But the way scanned very stranf
to him. And what was his astonishme'
d to find over the very gates of the city
), slittering cross. In the city itself he CT
" scarcely trust his senses. The images
. the gods were removed. In tie place
= the beathsn temple he notices buIljing vi
proud jolnes and slittering crosses, and
the forum he hears the witnesses swear
the omnipoteus Col, yes, even by the mar
| Of Christ, instead of Diana and Apol
lie thinks it il 4 dream. Acco.ting a nj
on the street, be asks him the name of t
., city. "The name Of the city is Ell hssus
= was tie reply. "Can it be that this
q. Ephesus, where bu. few days ago We ~t
#, prescribed by the Imperial ediet," was
s. thought Of Malchus. But mintfu Of
a f.-r,n1 he antnrsa ha ke-'s shnp and nH,