Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1875-01-01


THE SEVEN sLEEPERS.
The LEGEND ExPLAlNED-WHo THEY
WERE, WHAT THEY DID, AND How
THEY SLEPT.
[Rev. G. U. Wenncr in the Luthern Home
Monthly.l
For more than 1000 years the legend of
the Seaven Sleepers has been told in pious
song and story. Who were these Seven
Sleepers! Is It only monkish legend an
invention of the dark ages." Or is the
story true, Or has It at least got an hissorl>
cal basis!
1t was in the year Of our Lord ESQ that
Decius, the most inhuman of all the Roman
emperors in his persecution Of the chrlsti>
ans, in making tour through his Pr0vin
ces, arrived ut Ept1esus. in Asia Minor.
Christianity had already obtained q foot,
hold there, al hough the great majority Of
the people still adheared to the heather
religion. Upon bis arrival, the Emperor
ordered sacr,icial festival to be held in
honor of Jupiter, Apollo, and Diana. In
this festival every one was commanded to
the Imperial displeasure in case of refu-
.
were seven youths, descendant of noble
families. The names of six of them were
Maximilian, Malcus, Dionysius, Joannes.
Scrapio aad Convsius. These determined
to die rather than to obey the mandate.
As soon as Dcc!us heard of their delermin-
alton be commanded them to be brought
before him. ''Go," said he, "and procure
incense that you may offer to the highest
powers" 1.-THE Highest Power" they
replied. has His throne in the heavens,
and is the living and Almighty God, who
hath created heaven and earth. Him We
worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
aud we can never again bow down to dumb
idols that are nothing"
With terrible glance the Emperor meas
ures the youthful copfessor. Then sud-
denly changing his manner, he endeavors
to win them by his promises, and his argu-
ments. For he knew we'll that martyr.
dom would pour oil on the flames he was
trying to quench. Failing to attain his
object by threats and promises, he tells
them that be will graciously accord them
time to consider their resolution until he
should again return to Ephesus, and in
forms them of the terrible consequences If
they should still Continue their stubborn
resistance.
With q calm courage the young men
departed from the pressLce of the Em>
peror. BY the citizens of Ephesus they
were prescribed: by many, however,
secretly admired. Determined not to re.
nounce their faith. they, however, decided
to avoid the monster as much as possible.
With this object they betook themselves
to range Of mountains IN the neighbor-
hood Of Ephesus. There they discovered
n cave. the entrance to which was conceal
ed by thick foliage In this cave they
hid themselves, and one of their number,
Malchius. the one least known in the
city was appointed to supply them with
food.
The day of the Enperor's return arri-
vsd. One of the first questions was coma
cerning ''lhe stubborn youths" They
hare escaped" was the reply. But their
conceafnent had been discovered. Spies
had followed them, and purchased the en-
peror's favor by revealing the place Of con-
cealmeat Decius, knowing well that he
could not hope to change the purpose of
the youths, gave command to close the
mouth of the cave with wall, and thus
close them in living tomb. No sooner
sa,d ihaa done.
There Was enc man. however, who,
thuOgh still heathcn, had heard the G"s>
pe,. and was not far from the Kingdom Of
God. Desiring that farther generations
might know whose bones rested there, he
took rool Of parchment and. writing on
it the names Of the youths and IN account
of their courageous bearing, inclosed it in
an iron casket, and unobserved by the
workmen, slipped it into the cave, and
then quietly Withdrew.
INe
tions come and go like phantom spirits.
About 1877 years later we are again in
Ephesus. But how changed is the scene!
Decius, the tyrant. is mouldering in his
grave. The world IS completely changed.
A wealthy land owner desires 10 make
some improvement in his estate. In scarch>
lny for suitable building ma'eral he tlads
an old wall with large square stones. The
blocks are easily removed, and the mouth
of a cave is revealed. It is the cave of the
Seven Slcepers, whose history had long
ar ce passed into oblivion. The rays. of
light entering for the first time after so
MANY years awakened the youths They
tha 1ksd God that deli,cra,ce had come SO
soon. For they supposed but single
night had passed since they were iln>
INJURED.
Malchus was gain sent to the city for
bread. But the way seemed very strange
to him. And what was his astOnishment
to find over the very gates of the city
elit,ering cross. In the city itself he can
scarcely trust his senses. The images OF
the gods were removed. In the place OF
the heather temple he notices buildings
with proud domes and glittering crosses,
and in the forum he hears the witnesses
swear by the omnipotent God, yes, even
bv the name of Christ, instead of Diana
and Apollo. He thinks it is . dream Ac-
costing man on the street, he asks him
the name of the city. 1.-The name of the
clty is Ephesus." was the reply. ''Can it
he that this is Ephesus, where but . few
davs ago we were prescribed by the Inn
perial edict, was the thought Of Malchus.
hut mindful of his GRAND, he entered q
bakers shop and offers in payment tor
bread silver com. The baker took the
coin and carefully examined it: This 10
very ancien. coin." said he; why, It
bears the image of Declus. Where did
you obtain ,t!'' "Whcre i. Deciu-?' WAS
the reply OF Malchus. 'slias he left the
citv. aud If 80. wh"p?'' The baker and
the crowd that had gathared in the mean
time, looked at Malchus, AMI seemed to
regard him ~ one who had lost his rea.
500. Oac of them demanded to Know
where he had discovered the hi drn
treasure. An ! finally Malchus was taken
before the Bishop Of the city.
The Bish p was reverend and dtXnin-d
man. In kind manner he xsxed MAJ
ehus who he was and whcnce he came.
Nslchus replied that no was. one Of the
seven youths who had recently bren 1m-
INJURED IN the grOttO at the cOmmani VI
the Emperor Deus, but that the l4UrO
their God had sgAin given them light and
freedom.
1.-THE Emperor Decinsi 1t 10 nearly