The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-05-05
The Episcopal Church.
BY REV. ROBT. l.. STEVENS.


In order TO know the value Of
mans testimony 10 the truth We in
qnire what he is willing to IL for II
When POlycarp coDmsnds to Chris
tians to road aud follow the writings c
IgnstIus, what gives this recomnenda
tion force : His personal knowlede,
OF what the Apostlcs taught and hii
willingness TO die for the truth. Al
most people prefer 10 have their kbowl
edge first hand, have Transcribed
without abridgernent the account con
tained in Eusebius (E. q. Bk " c.I5
promising that this persecution Of th,
Church took place under the Ronsar
Emperor Marcus Augeius 4. d. I65
Chapter -. "At this time, as tiier,
wero the greatest prosecutions excited
in Asia, Po!ycarp ended his life b,
martyrdom. But consider IL ell ina.
portant also % record his end in Tin
histSry as II ~ bAnie1 down in writ.
ings still extant. There il, however ar
epistle Of the Church which he super.
intended, 10 the Churches Of Pontus
which shows what bsfsll hiGr. in The
following words We still have thi.
letter from which Eussbius takes hi,
account.
"'The Church Of God at SMYRNA To
tha. Of Philomelius, aud to all parts OF
the holy CATHOLIC (uniyersalj church
every "here, mercy, poIco and the love
OF God the Father, and CT our Lord
Jesus Christ. be multiplied. We have
written to you, brethren, the circum.
stance respecting the martyrs, and the
blessed Polycarp, who, as If sealing il
with his martyrdom, has also put q
step to the persecution After these.
before the account Of Polyc4rp's death,
they give the account Of the other
martyrs and show what firnnezs tbsv
eVinced against the tortures they en-
dured. 'FO", say they, those stand
ing around we're struck with amaze
ment, at seeing them lacerated with
seourgss, to their very blood and arter-
les, 30 that now the flesh concealed in
the very Utmost parts Of the boIg. aud
the bowels themselves were exposed te
view. Then they were laid upon
conch shells from the sea, and on sharp
heads and points of spears on the
ground and after passing through cvery
Kind ct palisbment and torment, were
at last thrown As food 20 Wild beasts. y
Bus they relat, bat GermaCieus. 8
mos. noble youth, vas particularly en-.
tnenL rs a martyr who, strengthened
oy divine grace, oyercams the natural
dread Of death implanted in us al
though the proconsul was des;rous o
peTsusding him, and urged him from
considerations of his youth, and en-
treated bin, that as he was so very
young and blooming he should take
compassion on himself. He, however
hesitated not, but eagerly irritated tn,
Wild beast against him, all but forcins
and stimulating aim, tha: be rnieh
the sooner be freed from this upius
and laSiess ernerat'on. OA the gloii
Gus death OF this one, the whole Il. al
titudc, amazed az the courage @
the pions martyr, aud az the foititud
o. the whole ace OF Christians, begal
to ca! Away with the wicke,
fellows, let Polycarp be sought"
\ very great tumult arising il
Consequence of these out cries, cer
tain Phrygian, QGintus by name, VIII
had recently come from PArygia, .ecin
the beasts and the additional torture
threatened, WAS so overcome 10y fes
and shaken in his resolution. that h
finally gave up his salvation rh
contents of the aforesaid epistles shor
that this man had frowardly rusho
forward to the tribunal with Others
and not In modest retiring manner
and yet, when seized he gave ma
fest proof to all, that it is not prope
for those in this situation, to brave da,
ger by rushing blindly and rashly upe
1t. Thus far however resJectin
these"
"But the admirable Polycarp hea
ing these things, continued unmove,
, preserving his firm and unshaken mine
and, at 6rst, had determined. TO reuai
8 there la the city. But persuaded b
the ehtreaties Of those around him, an
exhorting him to leave the city sacre
! ly, he went forth to farm nos far froi
1t. There be staid with a few friend
night and day engaged in nothing br
constant prayer to the Lord, and in
ploring peace for all the Churche
7 throughout the world. For this ha
always been his practice. ia thi4 situ
alton three days before he was seize,
in vision at night, and during praye
+. the pillow under his head seemed I
him suddenly to take FIRE, and tbus |
be consumed.
"On this, wakingiout of his sIeep,
Immediately began to interpret tho vii
ion to those present, almost foretellin
tho event that was about to take plac,
and plainly declaring to those aroun
;. him, that it would be necessary for hi
to give up his life in the flames {,
Christ's sake. Those, however, th:
were In search of him, making evel
I effort to discover him, he was agai
constrained by the affection end love
the brethren, to go away to anoth,
q part of the country. Thither the pu
/ suers came upon him, net long sfte
a and caught two boys there, one of viii,
o they scourgsd in order to direct the
to the retreat of Pelycarp. Enteril
upon him at late hour of the da
. they found him indeed, resting in {
. upper room, whence, although
might easily have escaped to aLoth
house, he would not, saying IT
8 Lords will be done ; and having u
b derstood also that they were come,
, it IL said he descanded and addross.