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We have written unto you Brethren, of such as suffered Martyrdom; The beholders of them were amazed, seeing their Flesh rent with * 1.1 Scourges, even unto the Inner Veins and
Sinews, so that the most secret Entrails of their Bodies, their Bowels and inward Privities were * 1.2 piteously to be seen; beholding again the sharp Shells of Sea-fish, and pibble Stones strowed under the Martyrs Backs and bruised Bodies, with every kind of Torment that could be de∣vised; last of all they were thrown to be torn in pieces, and devoured of Wild Beasts. But there was a certain Phrygian, by Name Quin∣tus, that trembled at the fierce Rage of the terri∣ble Beasts, and shrinked at the sight of their grim Visage, and betrayed his own safety with slack∣ness of Courage; for the same Epistle testifieth * 1.3 of him, that he personally appeared, together with the rest before the Bar, more of rashness than of any Religion; and being taken he publickly professed, That none ought to intrude himself among such Men without good Devotion, neither to intermeddle in matters wherewith he hath not to do.
The same Chapters sheweth how that after Polycarpus was apprehended, he was brought to the City upon an Ass on the great Sabbath day: And a Justice of Peace, with his Father, meet∣ing him, they received him into their Chariot, and perswaded him, saying, What harm is it * 1.4 to say, Lord Caesar, to sacrifice and so be saved? At the first he answered nothing; but when they urged him he said, I will not condescend unto your Counsel. They perceiving he would not be perswaded, gave him very rough Language, and tumbled him down out of the Wagon, and afterwards he was brought upon the Theatre, or Stage; and when the Multitude saw him they
were in a great Rage: The Proconsul, or De∣puty-Counsel, demanded of him whether he were that Polycarpus, beckning that he should de∣ny * 1.5 it, and saying, Tender thy Years, with such like perswasions, Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent thee of that is past, say, Remove the Wick∣ed. But Polycarpus beholding with unmoveable Countenance the Multitude round about the Stage, pointing with the Hand Sighing, and looking up to Heaven, said, Remove O Lord these Wicked: When the Proconsul urged and said, Swear, and I will let thee go; Blaspheme and defie Christ: Polycarpus answered, fourscore and six Years have I served him, neither hath he ever offended me in any thing; And how can I revile my King which hath thus kept me? The Proconsul still urged him, and said, Swear by the Fortune of Caesar. To whom Polycarpus said, if thou requirest this vain Glory, that I protest the Fortune of Caesar, as thou sayest, feigning thou knowest me not who I am, hear freely, I am a Christian; and if thou desire to know the Doctrine of Christianity, appoint the Day and thou shalt hear it. Afterwards the Proconsul said, I have Wild Beasts to devour thee, unless thou repent; Polycarpus answered, bring them forth, For it is determined among us not to pass * 1.6 from the better unto the worse by Repentance; but we count it a thing commendable to turn from the thing that is evil, to that which is good and just.
Again the Proconsul said, I will quiet thee with Fire, if thou regard not the Beasts nor re∣pent: To whom Polycarpus answered, Thou
threatnest Fire for an Hour, which lasteth a while and quickly is quenched; but thou art ignorant of the everlasting Fire at the Day of Iudgment, and endless Torments reserved for the Wicked: But what lingerest thou? Dispatch as it pleaseth thee. So the Proconsul being amazed, commanded the Beadle, in the midst of the Theatre, thrice to cry, Polycarpus confesseth himself a Christian.
At which saying, the Multitude both of the Jews and Gentiles inhabiting Smyrna, shouted with a great Rage, this is that Doctor of Asia, the Father of the Christians, the overthrower of our Gods, who hath taught many that our Gods are not to be adored: And they craved of the President, that he would let loose a Lion to devour him; and when he would not do that, then they cryed with one Voice, that Polycarpus should be burned quick. And in a short while all things necessarily required for the Execution were ap∣plyed. And when as they would have nailed him to the Stake, he said, Nay suffer me even as I am, for he that gave me patience to abide this Fire, will give me also an unmoveable mind to persevere within the fiery Pale, without your Pro∣vision in fastning my Body with Nails.
l. 4. 6. 15.
〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15.
A warn∣ing to for∣ward Spi∣rits.
A Temp∣tation and Provoca∣tion.
Polycar∣pus was provoked to lye and swear, but would do neither.
Nota.