The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1882-05-26
The Episcopal Church.
BY REV. RoBT. L. STEVENS.


| XVI.
We will finish Euesbiu,' account oI
Polycarp's martyrdom.
"But that envious and malignant ad.
versary, that wicked enemy OF all the
righteous, seeing tho lustre Of his mar.
tyrdsm and bis uniform walk and con.
versation, and him now crowned with
tho crown of Immortality, and bearing
Ell the indisputabls prize, had provided
that not even his corpse GhoulG be OBJ.
tanned by us, though many Of as eager
ly wished it, 80 aS TO have communion
with the sacred body. Some, therefore,
secretly engaged Nicetas, the father Of
Herod and brother OF Dalce, 70 20 to
the governor, so as not TO give the body,
lest, said they abandoning him that
was crucifed, they should begin to
worship this one. AID this they said
on the suggestion aud urging Of the
Jews, who were also Watching and
looking out while wo were preparing TO
take him from the fire. Not know
ing, however, that We can never aban-
d n Christ, who suffered for the saliva
tion OF those that are becoming saved
from all the world, nor even worship
any other. Fur him wo worship as
the son of God but the martyrs We
deservedlJ love ~ the disciples and
imitators Of our Lord, on account Of
their exceeding love To their King and
/ MaafAr nF ..tou, ,r.y 90 onty -
come true associates and fellow dis
ciples. The centurion then, seeing the
obstiLacy Of the Jews, placed him in
| tho middle, and burnt u according 70
the custom OF the Gcntiies Thas, at
last, taking up his bones more valuable
than precious stonep, aud more tried
than gold, VIC deposited them where
it was proper they should be. There
also, a. far Hs We can, ths Lord will
grant us TO collect and celebrate the
natal day II bis mArtyrd6m in JOY and
gladness, both in csmmemoration Of
those who finished their contest before,
and to exercise aud prepare (hsse that
shall hereafter"
"Sach is the account respecting the
blessed Polyearr, who together with
tho twelve from Philadelphia, was
crowned martyr. Who, however, is
mentioned alone by all 30 that he is
spoken OF by the Gcntiles in every
place. OF such au end, then, was the
admirable and apostolic PolycaTp
deemed worth according 70 the account
which the brethren in Smyrna recorded
ia the epistle that We have quoted. In
this Same epistle, also, respecting him,
Other martyrdoms are also recorded,
which took place in the same city and
,bo,.t the time Of Polycarps death.
Among these. also, was Metrolorus, a
follower Of Marcions error, but who APP
pears 10 have been IA presbyter, and
who was committed 10 the flames. A
very celebrated martyr Of these times
was Pioniu4 Those who feel inclined
to know respecting him, we refer to
that epistle that has been embodied in
the work on the ancient martyrs col
lected by Us, in which is givea a very
full account of his particular confes-
sions, and Of the freedom with which
he spoke, Of his defence Of the faith be-
fore the people and rulers"
We have quoted thus freely such a
long account Of the dSings Of this period
Of the Church's history, because it is
generally passed over by those who
prefer sighting the teachings of the
early Church Of Episcopaey. This was
the seed time Of the Church, and there
has never been more noble sight in
the worlds history than Christianity
for the two hundred years succeeding
our SAviour's death. We fad thousands
upon thousands Of noble nsl and Won
en- yielding upiheir lives for the defence
of our Chris tisn faith. They die willing
ly for thedef nee of the truth and try to
| initiate their master. Can We believe
that everywhere the Church was limited
tho scriptures aud yet this is what ouI
her members gave up their freedom to
a system which was net clearly traced il
sectarian brethren tell MS that every
where the Bishops began to usurp au
thority and lay the foundations OF an
hierarchy burdensome in its nature
and destructive Of Christian liberty.
We say it must at once appear impoS-
sible, and that not until the tins oi
Con n inc when church and tta.e
were first united do we find trace oi
any powers assumed by bishops which
were not in strict accordance with the
Apostolical commission. For the case
stands thus Ignatius and PolycarE
both con versed with the Apostles and
received their ministry directly from
them. Ignatius speaks of Episcopacy
in the strongest terms in his letters
and Polycarp recommends these letters
to all Christian brethren by commend
ingSthem to the PHILIPPIANS. Polycarp il
spared so long that when he is put Il
death he can say "eighty and six years
have 1 served (Christ) him and h
never did me wrong" The address o
his epistle begins, "Polycarp aud the
presbyters with him to the Church o
God sojourning at Phi,lipi.' We OBJ
serve that the deaoons are not mention
ed but in section we reid "Wherefor
it is needful to abstain from all thes
things, being subject to the presbyter
and deacons as unto God and Christ.
That Polycarp was their head anC
leader is most evident from the prom
iRence given him.
Moreover Polycarp was, beyond al
reasonable doubt, the angel of th'
Church Of Smyrna addressed by Chris
in Revelation III. s. How signi6can
does the history of his martyrdom b
, eom interpreted by the Saviour's propt
acv 0And unto the ANGEL Of th