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NARRATIVES

OF THE LIVES
OF THE MORE*

EMINENT FATHERS
OF THE

Chree tfim Centimes


INTERSPERSED WITH

COPIOUS QUOTATIONS FROM THEIR WRITINGS,


Familiar Observations

ON THETR CHARACTERS AND OPINIONS,

AND OCCASIONAL REFERENCES


TO THE

MOST REMARKABLE EVENTS AND PERSONS


OF THE TIMES
INSCRIBED,

IN

WHICH THEY LIVED.

BY PERMISSION, TO THE HON. AND RIGHT REV. THE


BISHOP OF GLOUCESTER.

BY THE

Rev.

ROBERT COX,

PERPETUAL CURATE OF

" Antiquum
'*

He

ST.

exquiritc

matron?

assumes the honourable style of a Christian.

sion yet more, he tells us, that he

is

A.M.

LEONARD'S, BRIDGNORTH.

To

specify his persua-

of the same belief our Saviour taught, th

r.postles disseminated, the fathers authorized,

and the martyrs confirmed."

Dr. Johnsons Life of Sir T. Browne

>

LONDON:
PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR;
>OLD BY J.HATCHARD, PICCADILLY; SEELEY, 160, FLEET-STREET;
AND DEIGHTON, CAMBRIDGE.
1817.

13"Ri765
v

^b

/. t jf

T. Clarfa, Printers, 38 t

St.

Johns Square, London.

To

the

Hon. and Right Rev.

Henry

Lord Bishop of

GLOUCESTER,
IN

WHOSE SOLID PIETY AND ACTIVE BENEVOLENCE,

WHILST A PRIVATE CLERGYMAN,


HIS FRIENDS
Features of resemblance

COULD NOT BUT TRACE

to the

Presbyters of the three first Centuries

AND WHOSE HOLY ZEAL, WISDOM, MODERATION, AND EFFECTIVE


AND INCESSANT LABOURS

IN HIS EPISCOPAL OFFICE


Remind

the public of the Bishops of the

WHILST ALL THE PRAISE

And

IS

same period;

ASCRIBED BY HIMSELF.

should be ascribed by that Church

WHICH HE LOVES AND BENEFITS,

TO THE GRACE OF GOD,


These Narratives of the Lives and Sentiments of the early Fathers

ARE INSCRIBED
AS A

SMALL TOKEN

OF THE AUTHOR'S CORDIAL ESTEEM AND UNFEIGNED


RESPECT.

PREFACE.

XF

the principal business of a biographer be

lead the thoughts into domestic privacies and

<(

to

dis-

play the minute details of daily life/'* the subjects


of the following

Work may

at first sight

afford a barren soil for his operations.

them neither the period of

appear

to

Of some of

their birth, nor the time

nor manner of their death, can be ascertained ; of


others little is known, except the circumstances
connected with their martyrdom

and even of

those,,

whose actions and characters have most escaped


the ravages of time, scarcely any thing can be accurately ascertained respecting their retired

moments,

or domestic peculiarities.

After

we have

these objections,

given, however,

it

may

still

full

weight

to

be confidently asserted

that the subjects of these narratives possess some

peculiar biographical attractions.


of the fathers,
intimately

whose

lives are

acquainted

with

The more

early

here recorded, were


the apostles

* Rambler, No. 60.

of our

VI

PREFACE.

Lord, were themselves deservedly styled " apostomeii/

lical

piety

and manifested

scarcely

inferior to

Even

predecessors.

a degree of zeal

that

of

and

their inspired

them who were the

those of

most remote from the times of the apostles, though


they rarely possessed the evangelical simplicity or
their earlier brethren,

flourished

still

interesting- period of the

during that

Church, when persecution

was continually developing; the character of nominal Christians, clearing the sacred inclosure of the

noxious weeds of hypocrisy,

and maturing the

consecrated fruits of genuine Christianity.

Of such
a minute

persons, whilst

we lament

every circumstance

detail,

Every incident of

their lives,

expression of their writings,

is

is

the loss

of

interesting.

and almost every


important: the one

exhibits the habits of the early disciples, the other


their sentiments

a satisfactory

and both not unfrequently supply

comment on

the Sacred Writing's.

At the same time the family

likeness,

which per-

vades the whole circle, evidently indicates that


different

its

members, though distinguished from each

other by a variety of features and complexion, are


all

children of the

The

same parent.

apostolical Clement, the bold Ignatius, the

venerable

Polycarp,

the

philosophic Justin,

the

severe Tertullian, the speculative Origen, and the


fervid

Cyprian,

widely dissimilar as they are in

natural disposition and attainments, manifest a re-

markable uniformity
experience,

in

religious sentiments

and

and are actuated by the same prin-

PREFACE.

Vlt

ciples,

and supported by the same consolations*

None

of them advocate those abstruse subjects ot

divinity, the

unhappy

canvassing of which has caused such

divisions in the

Church

since the times of

Augustine, whilst the doctrines of


vity,

the Trinity,

human depra-

the Divinity, incarnation,

and

atonement of Christ, and of salvation by faith in


Him, run through all their writings. At the same
time holiness of heart and

life,

deadness to the

world, love to their Divine Redeemer, and to their


fellow-Christians for His sake, form the most pro-

minent part of their exhortations, and are embodied


in their lives.

Whilst, however, the compiler of these narrareadily

tives

acknowledges the

satisfaction

with

which he records the excellencies of the fathers,


he as plainly asserts, that he feels no inclination to
conceal or palliate their defects.
fulfil

His object

is,

to

the office of a faithful biographer, not that of

a partial panegyrist.

He

deprecates no

less that

spurious charity which glosses over the failings of


the fathers, than that unfeeling levity which can
derive

pleasure from the contemplation of their

defects.

It is his desire

no

less specifically to

out their errors than their excellencies

point

the one,

indeed, with grief, as a salutary beacon to others

the other with joy, as an encouraging evidence of


the reality and efficacy of genuine piety.

Whilst, therefore, he feelingly laments the scantiness of his materials,


his

own

inability

to

and

still

more deeply regrets

do justice

to

such as are

PREFACE.

Vlll

actually in his possession,, he cheers himself with

the hope that his

humble publication

altogether uninteresting

may

censure

justly

acknowledge that

dency

to

and

tendency

promote the

prove

who

that even those

execution will

its

its

will not

good

is

interests of

our

candidly

ten-

common

Christianity.

With
cious

these pleasing

may they not prove

expectations, he submits the

ratives

offering

to

the

to that

public

eye,

as

following nar-

a humble thank-

gracious Being who,

ability to provide a

more

ing, did not reject the

falla-

suitable

when

the

one was want-

widow's mite.

CONTENTS.

Page.

SIMEON,

CHAPTER

Son of Cleopas, 117.

His

I.

relationship to our Lord.

Probably oneof the seventy disciples. The


martyrdoms of James, the son of Zebedee,
and of James the Just.
bishop of Jerusalem

CHAP.

An

II.

Simeon

is

elected
1

account of the destruction of Jeru-

The Christians Jlee Pella.


meon
martyrdom. The longevity of
salem.

Si-

to

suffers

the early fathers remarkable

CLEMENT,
CHAP.

I.

Bishop of Rome, 1849.

.....

The martyrdoms of
Peter
II.

The early part of Clement's life uncerNero persecutes the Christians.

tain.

CHAP.

Clement

is

the apostles

Paul and
18

appointed sole bishop of the

Jewish and Gentile Christians

at

Rome.

Domitian's persecution. Remarks

on the

CleCorinthians. His
the mines, His martyrdom

writings of the primitive fathers.

men fs

epistle

banishment

to

to

the

32

CONTENTS.
Page.

IGNATIUS,
CHAP.

I.

Bishop of Antioch, 5083.

Educated by

the

bishop of Antioch.

Apostles. Appointed

-II

CHAP.

attention

is

flock. His character

ChrisUans.

Ignatius appears before him, and

demned to

.50

Trajan persecutes the

II.

his

to

suffer martyrdom.-

is

con-

Meets Poly-

carp and other Christians on his journey

Writes several Epistles

Rome.-

CHAP.

Ignatius

III.
fect.

martyrdom

Becomes

disciple

John

St.

.84

"

CHAP.

Polycarp

II.

visited

is

epistle to the

Philippians

from Anicctus

by Ignatius.

Writes

an

from him.

letter

Polycarp

Receives a

III.

tt

John. Is ordained

Smyrna. An account of

the apostle

of
Bishop of

CHAP.

Rome.

travels to

,93
Differs
.

s,

respecting the time of keeping

Easter. Opposes the heresy of Marcion


IV. Aurelius persecutes the Christians.
.

CHAP.

Polycarp
to be

is

burnt alive.

The circumstances of
character

JUSTIN MARTYR,
I.

His

vels to

99

apprehended, and condemned

martyrdom; His

CHAP.

81

Bishop of Smyrna, 84119.

Slate to a Christian lady.

I.

58

brought before the Pre-

The circumstance of his

POLYCARP,
CHAP,

is

to

106

120161.

early attachment to study.

Alexandria. Enquires

ferent systems ofphilosophy.


sion to Christianity

his

Tra-

info the dif-

His conver.

120

CONTENTS.

XI
Page.

CHAP.

Justin writes his Exhortation to the

IT.

Gentiles.

The

Retains his

love

for phi lo soph?/.

Platonic notion of the Trinity.

Justin vindicated from Platonizing on the


essential doctrines

CHAP.

Justin

III.
sies.

The

the

book against here-

zcrites his

us! in

i:

to the Sibylline

manner of

the

their public worship.

rites his

Apology.

Oracles.

Relates

Christians conducting

The emperor Pius's


ISj

edict in favour of the Christians


IV. Justin holds a disputation zcith Trypho,
.

CHAP.

128

calumnies propagated against

the Christians.

Refers

of Christianity

a Jew.

The

emperor Aurelius persecutes

the Christians

CHAP.

V.

philosopher.

Is

Jt'rites

summoned

his second

before

IRENjEUS, Bishop
I.

disciple

Account of

Apology.

the prefect.

martyrdom and character

CHAP.

146

Justin disputes with Crescens, a Cynic

His
i54

of Lyons, 162193.

of Papias and Poly carp.

Papias. Irenceus

ordained

presbyter of the Church of Lyons.


dreadful persecution of the Church.

The
The

martyrdoms of Pothinus, Sanctus y Ponti.


cus, and Blandina
.162
.

CHAP.

II.

Irenceus appointed bishop of Lyons.

The emperor Commodus

protects the Chris-

Account

of the Valentinians.
Irenceus writes his work against heresies

tians.

CHAP.

III.

Revival of the controversy respecting

Easter.

Irenceus*

pacific conduct

on the

173

s-

CONTENTS.

Xii

occasion.
tians.

Page.

Severus

the Chris-

persecutes

.....

Martyrdom

nceus

TERTULLIAN,

and character of Ire18T

Presbyter of Carthage,

194230.

CHAP.

A native of Carthage. His conversion


Christianity. -Composes his Apology

I.

to

for

CHAP.

....

the Christians

to his wife; to Scapula, a persecutor,

Peculiar situation
Christians. Tertullian

the martyrs.

primitive

against heretics.

His

and

zcorks

Tertullian joins the Montanists.-

III.

The

sentiments of Mont anus.

increasing austerity

to

of the

tract against the

Pagans

public shows of the

CHAP.

19&

Tertullian a married man. His tracts

II.

His

209

Tertullian''

tract

on the mi-

liiary crown. His account of the


Heathen children. His character^

of
and

state

death

.'

223

ORIGEN,

Catechist of Alexandria, 231297.

CHAP.

Piously instructed by hisfather.

I.

Seeks

for mysterious meanings of Scripture. Is


sent to the school at Alexandria.
tions on

Clement,

its

dom of Origerf s father

C HAP.

II.

O rigen

is

ObservaMartyr-

president.
.

.251

patroniz ed by a rich matron*

Leaves her house, and commences teacher


marofphilosophy. His veneration for
Specimen of
method
the

tyrs.

of interpreting

his allegorical

the Scriptures

$42

CONTENTS.

XJIl

Page

CHAP.

Origen

III.

appointed president of (he

is

school at Alexandria.
ties.

Abase

against

its

His bodily austeri-

of philosophy, no argument

legitimate use.

Martyrdoms of

Pais and Potamicena

CHAP.

The Church for

IV.

from

persecution.

252

several years free

Origen's

popularity.

Account of the introduction and progress of

....

philosophy in the Church.

of Origen
Origen composes

tions

CHAP.

V.

popularity.

his

Peculiar
Hexapla.

no-

His

259

Instructs an Arabian governor

in Christianity.

Expounds

the Scriptures

Alexander and Mamma* a


favourable
Christianity. Origetfs
macy with Ambrose. His homilies and
commentaries. He
ordained by foreign
at

Ccesarea.

to

inti-

is

bishops,

CHAP

VI.
his

of

and compelled

Alexandria

to

....

re-

The outward peace of

VII.

gen

writes his book against

suffers severely
tion.

I.

Ori He

Celsus.

during the Decian persecu-

Dies a natural death

CYPRIAN,

282

Church

the

accompanied with a decline in piety.

CHAP.

269

travels to Palestine.

claims Beryllus

CHAP.

to leave

Writes
Exhortation
Martyrdom. Account
Gregory Thaumaturgus. Origen
Origen

28SJ

298SSO.

Bishop of Carthage,

His
His own

Original situation and character.

conversion to

Christianity.

count of his conversion.

His

ac-

tracts

on the

vanity of idols, and testimonies against the

/"

298

XIV

CONTENTS,
Page,

CHAP.

Cyprian

II.

is

ordained presbyter, and

soon afterwards bishop,

of Carthage.

He leaves
Pontius 's character of him.
Carthage during the Decian persecution.

The Church of Rome exhorts people


them
constancy. Cyprian
III.
The persecution rages at Carthage.
Cyprian's joy on account of boldness
martyrs. He laments
of
his

to

CHAP.

's

letters to

314.

the

the hastiness

the

of the confessors in giving


lapsed.

The Church of Rome writes

respecting the lapsed

CHAP

IV.
his

letters

Cyprian returns

the

to

him

to Carthage.

Church rent with schisms.

3S9

-Finds

His

judi-

conduct. The Novaiian Schism.

cious

Cyprian's conduct on the occasion.

CHAP.

to

His

tract

on the Lord's Prayer

V.

Cyprian congratulates the Church of


on its constancy during the persecu-

336

Rome

of Gallus.

tion

He

writes on a similar

....

occasion to another Church.

Demeirian

CHAP.

VI.

His Tract

to

318

dreadful pestilence rages in Africa.

Cyprian's conduct on
His

Treatise on Mortality.
He makes a
tJw occasion.

col-

.....

lection for the

captives

CHAP.

VII.

He

is

redemption of the Numidian

Cyprian attends

different councils.

banished to Curubis.-

the Christians in the mines.

Carthage.

His

355

letter to

He returns

to

His condemnation, martyrdom,

and characUr

364;

XV

CONTENTS.

Page.

DIONYSIUS,
CHAP.

I.

Bi?hop of Alexandria, 381402.

Appointed Catechist of Alexandria, and

afterwards bishop.
secution,
retires

He
persecution.

under the reign of Philip.

during the Decian

His

conduct respecting the Novation schism,

and

the controversy on heretical baptism.

He is

The persecution of

II.

Valerian.

prisoner.

flicted

by

is

Diony

3S1

is

the
af-

famine, and pestilence.

civil tear,
si us* s

He

Galerius protects

Alexandria
Christians.
successively

taken

The

banished during the Valerian perse-

cution

CHAP.

His account of the per-

conduct on the occasion.

controversies in which he zcas engaged.

His

death

39\

LIVES
OF THE

PRIMITIVE FATHERS.

SIMEON.

CHAPTER
Simeon's relationship
seventy disciples.

to

I.

probably

our Lord

one of the

The martyrdoms of James, the son of

Zebedee, and of James the Just.

Simeon

is

elected

bishop of Jerusalem,

DIFFERENT

sentiments

are

entertained

re-

specting the importance to be attached to hereditary honours and exalted birth

but every pious

Christian will readily acknowledge, that the subject of the present


terest
his

memoir

derives additional in-

from the circumstance of

parents,

to our blessed

his relation,

Saviour.

by both

His father,

Cleopas, was the brother of Joseph, and his mother

SIMEON.

the sister of (he Holy Virgin.

Great, however, as

may be esteemed

of being thus per-

the honour

sonally related to the

Lord Jesus

infinitely greater one, that

similar spirit,

Christ,

it

was an

he was a partaker of a

and interested

in

His great salvation

a privilege, indeed, of which every genuine believer


is

equally a partaker.

Hence, when the woman

in

the Gospel, struck with admiration of the autho-

and eloquence of our Lord's teaching, exct


Blessed is the womb that bare Thee,
claimed,

rity

and the paps which Thou hast sucked/' fearing

lest

she should rest satisfied with a transient impression

of His excellency, instead of seeking to derive from

Him real and permanent

benefit,

He

answered, with

a wisdom and tenderness peculiarly His own, "


rather blessed are they that hear the

and keep

Yea

word of God,

it."

was

Simeon, afterwards bishop of Jerusalem,


probably a native of that

city.

He was

born about

thirteen years before our Lord's incarnation

but

of the circumstances and situation of his parents

we

are not informed.

life

The

former part of his

also affords a barren field for the labours

biographer; for
vestige

dence,

we

search almost in vain for a

of the employments,

is

opinions, and resi-

of this venerable father,

seventy-five years of his


It

during the

he was of the

order of the Rechabites, that pious sect


strict

first

life.

generally supposed that

Jews, who, for the

own
of a

among

the

obedience they paid to the

injunctions of their father Jonadab, furnished so

SIMEON.

powerful a contrast to the base ingratitude and


disobedience of Israel to God.*

According- to Hegesippus,

when our Lord

became His

tered upon His public ministry, Simeon

He

constant disciple and regular attendant.


also

en-

is

supposed to have been one of those seventy

who were commissioned by our Lord

Him through

the

different

to

go before
and

parts of Judea,

prepare the people for the reception of His doc-

They

trine.
in

to

are mentioned in the Scriptures only

one place, f where their first mission appears


have been restricted to the Jewish nation.

We

have, however, no reason

to

suppose that their

authority was withdrawn after they had fulfilled

charge, but

this

were

may

rather conclude, that they

general employed amongst the

in

gelists, in

evan-

declaring through different countries the

Amongst

glad tidings of salvation.

we may

first

reasonably suppose, that

subject of the present

this

company

the venerable

memoir was engaged during

the most efficient years

of his

But of the

life.

nature of his labours, or the success of his ministry,

we have no

book written,

in

There

record.

which

all

eous are fully and faithfully preserved


is

approaching, " when they

shine as the

they that turn


for ever

however, a

is,

the actions of the right;

and a day

that be wise

shall

brightness of the firmament;

and

many

to righteousness as the stars

and ever."

* See Jeremiah, chap. xxxr.

B 2

-f

Lufce x,

1.

SIMEON.

At length

at Jerusalem

there, or

year 62,

in the

was

in that city

merely on a

truly affecting,

means of ultimately fixing him

The

malignity of the

which was the

as a bishop in that

Jews against

the Christians

Eighteen years before

James, the son of Zebedee, the

this period,

who

the apostles

the order of

not

is

situation.

had long been proverbial.

suffered martyrdom,

Herod Agrippa,

cumstance attending

his

was

first

slain

of

by

gratify the mur-

to

derous spirit of the people.

Eusebius.

visit,

was called, however, at that time

to witness a scene

most important

with Simeon

but whether he regularly resided

He

ascertained.

we meet

remarkable

martyrdom

is

cir-

recorded by

The man, who had drawn him before


when he saw the readiness with which

the tribunal,

he submitted

to his fate,

was struck with remorse

and by one of those sudden conversions, which


have more frequently happened

in times of perse-

cution than of peace, and are then

more worthy of

being considered genuine, was himself turned from


the

power of Satan

to

God.

In a moment, from

a persecutor he became a martyr, boldly owned


Christ to be his Saviour, and, as they walked on

together to the place of execution, earnestly entreated the apostle's

granted

this

James readily
embraced him as a brother,

forgiveness.

request,

and pronounced on him


" Peace be unto thee."

his apostolic benediction,

They were then beheaded

together.

This wonderful and interesting conversion of an

SIMEON.

opposer appears to have produced little or no effect


on the minds of the Jewish people.
Peter was
shortly after imprisoned,

dom, only by a miracle

and rescued from martyrand Paul, whose death

they had long" been plotting, narrowly avoided the


fate they intended

him by appealing

Jews were now determined

to

geance upon James, surnamed


Jerusalem,

to Caesar.

the defeat they had sustained, the

Irritated by

who

is

their ven-

wreak

The

Just, bishop of

also frequently called

James the

James the son of


attempt they made no doubt of

Less, to distinguish him from

Zebedee.

In this

succeeding, as he ivas merely a Jew, and could

Roman

therefore plead no

The

privilege.

between the death of

interval

governor Festus, and the arrival of

his

was deemed by Ananias, the high


was invested with the supreme power

their

old

successor,

who

priest,
until

Albinus

should arrive, as a propitious opportunity for exe-

cuting their design.


before which he

He

therefore called a council,

summoned James, and accused

him of breaking the law of Moses.

But

it

was

not an easy matter to procure the condemnation of


this

apostle.

ence,

where

His holy character extorted reverit

failed to

generate affection

numbers, who could not bear


ciples,

were constrained

to

his

and

religious prin-

admire the gentleness

of his manners, and the excellency of his

At length the council persuaded the

life.

apostle to

mount one of the pinnacles of the temple, and


declare to the people,

who were assembled

to cele-

SIMEON,
brate the passover, his sentiments respecting Christianity; hoping that they should prevail upon him,

some

tinder

principles.

then desired

plausible pretence,

to

renounce

his

James standing where he was bid, was


by the Jews to declare what was the

gate of salvation ;* or, in

other words, the true

means of obtaining eternal life. The holy apostle,


undaunted by the number and power of his enemies, immediately replied, that Jesus Christ was the
door of salvation

own

ce

words,

probably alluding to our Lord's

am

He

the door of the sheep/'

then enlarged upon the glory and dignity of the


Saviour, and declared his belief that
sitting at

He was

then

the right hand of power, and that

He

would come in the clouds of heaven.


Several of the people, struck with the holy fer-

vour of the

apostle.,

and,

we may

add, with the

breaking in upon their


minds, glorified God, and exclaimed aloud, " Ho-

force of

truth suddenly

sanna

the

to

rulers,

Ananias and the

Son of David."

finding that their attempts to ensnare him

were without

success, suddenly

changed

their

mode

of attack, and cry in gout with apparent horror,


that Justus himself

down from

the

was seduced, threw the apostle

place

where he

severely bruised by the

* Gate, among the Jews,


trance, introduction, or

fall,

stood.

Though

he had strength

signifies

to

metaphorically the en-

means of acquiring any thing.

So they

talk of the gate of repentance, the gate of prayers, and the gate

of tears."

Dr. A. Clarke's Commentary.

SIMEON.
{C

kneel clown and to pray,

God and

Father, for them

they do."

In the

preparing to stone

mean

beseech thee, Lord

for they

know

not what

Jews
him, a Rechabite, whom Hegetime the infatuated

sippus declares to be the subject of this memoir,


{<

cried out,

man

Cease, what do you

praying for you."

is

mean?

This just

At length a person,

more mercifully cruel than the rest, came behind,


and striking him on the head with a fuller's club,
completed

his

martyrdom.

This apostle

is

supposed to have written

On

epistle but a very short time before his death.

account of

his singular

innocence and integrity he

was distinguished by the exalted

JUST

his

of

title

THE

and the universally admitted excellence

of his character made his execution to be abhorred,

and

his

murderers

who were

far

to

be censured, even by those

from being favourable

to the Chris-

name.

tian

Upon
apostles,

martyrdom of James, those of the


who were still alive, and several of the
the

most eminent

disciples

of our Lord, are said to

have come to Jerusalem from

all parts,

to consult

together respecting a proper successor.


their general opinion,

that,

if possible,

It

was

a relative

of our Lord ought to be appointed to the situation

and

at length they

to confer the

unanimously determined

honour upon Simeon, as a man of

eminent piety, and a near relation of the Saviour.

He was

accordingly ordained bishop of Jerusalem.


i

SIMEON*

CHAPTER
An

II.

account of the destruction of Jerusalem.' The Chris*

tians flee to

Pella.

Simeon

martyrdom.-The

suffers

longevity of the early fathers remarkable.

We

have

little

which Simeon
sacred

information of the manner in

fulfilled

We

office.

the important duties of his

may, however, be confident

was a most trying one, both on


account of the turbulent temper of the Jewish
people, and because his presidency fell in with
that his charge

gloomy period, when their city and temple


were overthrown, and their very name as a nation
" To give
blotted out by the victorious Romans.
that

a particular account of

marks
endless

all

their iniquities,"

re-

own celebrated historian, ee would be


thus much in general it may suffice to

their
:

say, that there

never was a

city

which suffered

such miseries, or a race of men from the begin-

ning of the world who so abounded in wickedness.


I verily believe," he continues, " that if the Ro-

mans had delayed

to destroy these

wicked wretches,

the city would either have been swallowed up

by

the earth, or overwhelmed by the waters, or struck

with

fire

from heaven as another Sodom, for

produced a

who

far

it

more impious generation than those

suffered such punishment."

SIMEON.

This tremendous scene of carnage


cularly described

by

is

who

this historian,

very partiwas,,

dur-

ing the greater part of the time, an eye-witness


of

all

The

attendant horrors.

its

destruction of

Jerusalem at once so remarkably displays the veracity of our Lord's predictions respecting

hatred of the Almighty against

sin,

it,

and His

the

distin-

guishing care of His people, that a brief account


of

it

may

here be properly introduced, and

may

not prove uninteresting.

The

tyranny of the

Roman

governors, and espe-

oppressive and vexatious conduct of Ges-

cially the

sius Florus, occasioned in the first instance that op-

position of the

Jews

to the

Romans which ended

the final destruction of that

without piety,

unhappy people, who,

confided in their claim to pecu-

still

Goaded by

liarity.

in

insults

and

severities, of

which

they had in vain solicited redress, this wretched

people at

last

broke out into an open rebellion,

which only tended


the very

commencement

Jews were
shortly

cruelly

after,

In the

legions.

and

At

of the insurrection, 20,000

massacred at Caesarea; and

slain in

Alexandria,

one day by two

mean time

Roman

the insurrection be-

and every place was

universal,

violence.

their ruin.

a sedition arising in

50,000 more were

came

to accelerate

full

of blood

For some time the war was con-

ducted with apparently equal success by Jews and

Romans.

At length Vespasian was sent by Nero

with a large body of veteran troops,


diately

marched

to

Gadara, took

it

who immeon the

first

10

SIMEON.

and afterwards burnt

assault,

From

villages to the ground.

and the adjoining

it

thence he advanced

to Jotopata, a place strongly fortified by nature

and

which a great number of Jews had

to

art,

This place

for security.

after

also,

fled

an obstinate

resistance, fell into his hands through the treachery

of one of the inhabitants

and Josephus, the

fa-

Jewish general and historian, was taken

mous

prisoner.

Vespasian

now pursued

with unwearied diligence,

conquests

victory every

At length he determined

attending him.

Jerusalem

his

where

to attack

but for the present was prevented by

the short tumultuous reigns of Galba, Otho,


Vitellius,

and afterwards by

his

and

being actually

compelled by his soldiers to accept of the crown.


His son Titus, being
the

the

now appointed

to carry

on

war, made every preparation for an attack upon


capital.
At this time Jerusalem was broken

into factions

one party raging against another,

and committing such cruelties under John, Simon,


and Eleazar, the leaders of the opposite parties,
as surpassed

by

their

all

public

the miseries inflicted upon them

At length Titus

enemy.

proached, and after

much

difficulty battered

ap-

down

one of the three walls by which the

city

defended, and took

northern

quarter.

possession

of the

was

At the same time he shewed great com-

passion to the besieged, and assured them of par-

don

if

they would submit.

obstinately rejecting

all

But the Jews

conditions,

still

Titus broke

through the second wall, and prepared

to

attack

11

SIMEON.

attack,

commenced the

Before, however, he

the third.

he caused the whole city to be surrounded

by a strong entrenchment, the more

effectually to

prevent the inhabitants from departing- from the


city,

or receiving

Thus began

be

to

any

from their

relief

fulfilled that

phecy of our Lord, which


"

very explicit pro-

in the

throw of Jerusalem was so

And when He was come

friends.

subsequent overaccomplished

fully

near,

He

beheld the

known,
even thou, at least in this thy day the things which
belong unto thy peace but now they are hid from
and wept over

city

it,

saying, If thou hadst

For

thine eyes.

the day

shall

come upon

thee,

that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee,

and compass thee round, and keep thee


every

and

side,

shall lay thee

in

on

even with the ground,

and thy children within thee and they


leave in thee one stone upon another

shall not

because

thou knewest not the time of thy visitation."*

And now
to

is

the whole vial of God's anger about

be poured out upon

this

devoted people.

rejection of Messiah, their Prince,

a senseless opposition to a
for

them

Prince

to

whom

overcome,

delity

by a

prophecies

their persecu-

by the most lamentable

unity was most wanted

false

and

confidence in

their

too great

without the aid of that

they had renounced

when

contempt

their infi-

mis- interpreted

of

that

which cometh down from heaven, by a


Luke

Theiv

punished by

human power

tion of His faithful disciples


divisions,

is

six. 41, 42, 43.

Bread
terrible

12

SIMEON.

common

famine of that

every temporal

as

who

bread, of which, as well

blessing,

must be

all

at

last

upon the blessed


word of God. For besides the Roman army without, and the numerous factions within, the want
of provisions was so great in consequence of the
multitudes which had flocked to the passover, that
thousands were famished, and died so fast as to
deprived,

render

it

refuse

to

feed

of sepulture.

Some, who

Titus, related

that the famine

as to

compel the

skins,

and hay.

six

common

impossible to observe the

soldiers

fled

from the

was

to eat

rites

city

to

so excessive

shoes,

girdles,

bushel of corn was sold for

Sinks and holes were con-

hundred crowns.

tinually raked to find the vilest offals to satisfy

Wives took

hunger.

the meat out of their hus-

bands' mouths, children from

from their

thers

infants'.

their parents',

Nay, a

certain

molady.,

descended from noble and rich parentage, actually


boiled her

own

child, that,

according to the lan-

guage of ancient prophecy, she might

ec

eat

it

secretly in the siege, and straitness, wherewith the

enemy

distressed them."*

Titus was
this

filled

enormity.

that he

with horror at the relation of

He

called

upon God

was not the author of these

to

witness

calamities, since

he had repeatedly offered peace to the Jews

and

concluded by declaring that he would bury

this

abominable crime

and not

suffer the

in

sun

the ruins of their country^


to shine

upon a

* Deut. xxviih 5357.

city,

where

13

SIMEON.

mothers ate their


reduced them

to

own

children,

and where

fathers

by refusing to

that extremity

surrender.
Being*

now convinced

that neither kind nor harsh

methods could produce any


nate

gave

Titus

generation,

effect

made ready

things should be

upon

this obsti-

directions that
for a storm

all

and at

length finding that he could not prevail against


the walls of the inner temple, he set fire to the
gates, a

The

step he had hitherto religiously avoided.

porches were soon in a flame, and continued

burning

that

all

Titus, however,

the temple

still

resolved, if possible,

but on the tenth day a

own

of his

day and the following night.


to save

Roman

soldier,

threw a flaming fire-brand

accord,

through the golden window into the chambers,

which were presently

in

blaze

and the

fire,

spreading through the whole fabric, consumed the

most glorious structure that the world ever saw.


Titus in the

mean time employed every

He

extinguish the flames.

even threatened, his

men

called,

effort to

entreated,

but without

effect.

and
So

great was the confusion, and so pertinaciously were


the soldiers bent
reach, that he

upon destroying

we meet

within their

was neither heard nor regarded.

Throughout the whole


race

all

with few,

if

history of

the

human

any, instances of car-

nage and devastation that can be compared with


this.

According to their own historian,

in

the

course of a seven years' war there perished of this


ill-fated

people, in one

way or another, no

less

14

SIMEON.

number than one

hundred and

million three

thirty-

seven thousand four hundred and ninety.

Amongst

various observations, which this

the

horrible, yet instructive history

may

suggest,

it

is

worthy cf remark, that the Jews, by their obdu-

and

rate wickedness,

insensibility to the patience

and mercy of God, brought upon themselves the


punishment due
the Lord of

to

life,

They had put

them.

and thereby had forfeited their

own; and now, behold! not only by a


but by a kind of necessary
to

be

ish

people

result,

own murderers.

nor will they

Thus

rise

judicial,

they are found

Jew-

died the

again

they

till

own

be risen, whom they crucified and slew


they " look upon Him whom they have pierced,

Him
till

their

to death

to

and mourn for Him, as one that mourn eth for

his

only son."*

Whilst, however, the Jewish nation in general

experienced
tians,

this dreadful destruction,

the Chris-

with their venerable bishop, Simeon, were

wonderfully preserved.

The

account

of

their

escape has been hitherto omitted, that the thread


of the preceding narrative might not be broken.

We may

now, therefore,

briefly notice

it.

Almost at the commencement of the war, Cestius


Callus broke into the lower part of the

used such measures,

have ensured

his

as,

city,

and

humanly speaking, would

taking the upper part and the

temple, had he continued his attack.

* Zech.

xii.

10.

But

at this

15

SIMEON.

moment he unexpectedly, and without any


able

cause on

Christians

his

assign-

raised the siege.

part,

The

took advantage of this circumstance.

Recollecting that our Lord had warned them to

when they should see it encompassed with armies, and to flee when they should
leave Jerusalem

behold the abomination of desolation standing in


they embraced the opportunity,

the

holy

and

universally retreated to

place,

common

of them perished in the


place of their

was a

retreat

about

Jordan,

one

Pella

hundred

so that

desolation.

none

The

town beyond

little

miles

from

Jeru-

belonging to Agrippa, and inhabited by

salem,

Gentiles.

How

long Simeon and his flock continued in

when they returned to Jeruthough


it is generally supposed
unknown,
salem,
that they came back about the beginning of the
this

sanctuary, and
is

reign of Trajan.

It is

before the time of Adrian

coming
tion,

certain that they returned


;

for

upon

that emperor's

to Jerusalem, forty years after

its

destruc-

he found there a few houses and a

little

church upon Mount Sion.


In the

mean time Simeon discharged

the im-

portant duties of his office with great diligence and


fidelity.

At length,

reign, he

was charged with being a Christian, and

in the

middle of Trajan's

a descendant of the kings of Judah.

quence of

this accusation

proconsul to be
scourged.,

first

In conse-

he was sentenced by the

put to the rack and severely

and afterwards

to

be

crucified.

The

16

SIMEON.

endured

venerable bishop

his

severe

sufferings

with such composure of mind and invincible patience as astonished the proconsul

But neither

present.

them

could induce

sentence, for he
to

to

still

and

all

that

were

age nor resignation

his

reprieve

or

mitigate his

persisted in pleading guilty

what was considered the most

offensive of

all

crimes, his being a Christian.

Simeon

martyrdom

suffered

in the tenth

year of

the reign of Trajan, in the hundred and twentieth

year of his

own

age, and in the

hundred and

seventh of the Christian aera.


It

not a

is

little

remarkable, that during the

made such havoc

dreadful persecutions which

in

the Church, most of the eminent Christian teachers,

of

whom we

have any account, lived to a very


Simeon, as has been

advanced age.

hundred and twenty years

old,

said,

was a

Ignatius eighty,

Poly carp considerably older, Tertullian ninety, and


Justin, Irenaeus, Origen,
all

and Cyprian, were

also

advanced in years at the time of their

far

Doubtless

deaths.

we may

attribute their pre-

servation for so long a time, as well from the


effects of disease

fatal

and decay of nature, as from the

fury of the persecutor's sword, to a special Provi-

dence, cherishing and prolonging their lives for


their work's sake.

Still,

however, as God generally

accomplishes His benevolent purposes by natural

means,

we may

religion,

reasonably suppose that their very

by inculcating on

its

possessors the greatest

temperance and sobriety, so conducive to health,

17

SIMEON.

was under the Divine blessing one especial cause


of their longevity.

"

writer,

have often thought/' remarks a learned

"

that there

is

much more of

sickness and

pain in the world (as well as other natural evils)

than

is

fallen

essentially
state

of

consequent on even the present

human

Many, through

nature.

excess of action and passion, sap the foundation

of their constitution, and either exist as useless

members
others,

make
things,
hearts,

of society, or die before their time

perhaps

in

the best of

favourable circumstances,

less
life

by being temperate

GoA

having the peace of

and regularity and order

actions of

life.

Such persons,

with good constitutions,


vigorous, be rather

to

to

disease,

every good

and thus have the

man may

their

guide

all

especially if

may be long

gradually

in all

rule

the

born

healthy and

and imperceptibly

worn out with continued action than pulled


by

while

privilege, for

piously wish, to lay

down
which

down

his

body with his charge, and cease at once to work


and live." *
* Dr. A. Clarke,

18

clement;
BISHOP OF ROME-

CHAPTER

I.

His coiivcr*
ear ly part of Clement* s life uncertain.
Nero persecutes the Christians.
sion to Christianity.

The

The martyrdoms of the Apostles Paul and Peter,

The

history of Christianity, unlike most other

commencement.

histories., is clearest at its

In the

New
its

Testament we have a particular account of


and of the
first promulgation and success,

characters and introductory labours of the principal


apostles

than

we

but no sooner

is

the Sacred

Canon

closed

pass from the blaze of meridian day into

We find

the regions of gloom and uncertainty.

indeed that the Gospel rapidly spread

means and manner of

we have no

its

satisfactory information.

convinced that

many

diffusion

We

see

but of the

enough

to

be

of the early ministers of

Christ steadily traced the footsteps of the great


apostles,

and

and were

little

inferior in zeal, labours,

piety, to their inspired predecessors

but

we

19

CLEMENT.
look

vain for an accurate delineation of their

in

characters, or an authentic narrative of their pro-

ceedings.

more

Little

is

known

of this narrative, than

subject

several years bishop of


epistle

that he

of

the

was

for

Rome, and author of an

the Corinthians, which

to

Some persons indeed have


that

with certainty

is

extant.

still

not scrupled to assert,

he was descended from the family of the

Caesars

a mistake which probably originated from

confounding him with Flavius Clemens, the cona near relation of the emperor Domitian,

sul,

who

put him to death for refusing to sacrifice to the

Pagan

The

gods.

character of Clement, however,

as a Christian bishop,

royal princes,
less

whether

his ancestors

valued by those

who know how

cannot dignify ignorance and vice

humble

so a

cannot degrade learning and piety.

heathen could say, that virtue

we may

surely add, that

great

and

of

properly to

As princely descent

appreciate real excellence.

origin

God

were

or obscure mechanics, will not be

infinitely

it is

is

If

the only nobility,

better to be

more honourable

good than
be born

to

than to be able to trace our pedigree to a

nobleman or a monarch.

Clement

is

Rome, though
tained.

supposed to have been a native of


the time of his birth

His father's

is

not ascer-

name was Faustinus.

ral particulars relative to his early life

Seve-

are given by

Dr. Cave on very doubtful authority.

But the

following circumstances, connected with his con-

c2

20

CLEMENT.

When

version, appear worthy of notice.

he had

arrived at man's estate, he was perplexed respect-

ing the immortality of the soul and a future state

and endeavoured,

without success,

to

obtain

satisfactory solution of his doubts at the schools of

the philosophers.

He

then thought of consulting

<some Egyptian magicians, supposing, that


existed in a separate state, they

recal

one from the

that the

Son of God had

souls

would be able

world

invisible

Whilst he was in

curiosity.

if

state,

this

to

to satisfy his

he heard

appeared on earth,

lately

and delivered the most excellent and important


doctrines to His disciples.

him

interested

The

intelligence deeply

and the apostle Barnabas being at

Rome, he applied to him for informaand learnt from that " son of consolation"

that time in
tion,

the

first

He afterwards
by whom he was far-

elements of Christianity.

met with the apostle Peter,

ther instructed in the things of

was joined

God and
;

to the congregation of believers,

by the

For many years

sacred ordinance of baptism.


after this

at length

he appears to have been highly respected

by the great

and Paul, and

apostles, Peter

fre-

quently to have attended each of them on their

journeys

among

the heathen.

In the year 62, Saint Paul, in his epistle to the


Philippians, having spoken of

Clement

low-labourer, observes that his "

book of

life."

concerning him
solatory

is

How
!

honourable

And

at the

the reflection, that

name

is

this

as his felis

in the

testimony

same time how con-

it is

not more appli-

21

CLEMENT.

bumble follower of

cable to Clement than to every

our Lord Jesus Christ


Hitherto the Christians, though almost always

and frequently insulted with impunity,

despised,

had never been subjected

But the time was now

to

at

any legal persecution.

hand when an imperial

tyrant, after having long glutted himself with

Pagan

blood of his

whom

the

to

spread

the rank of persecuting emperors,

Church

the

stands

in

was about

Church of God.

devastation in the

Foremost

subjects,

the

cruel

will

ever regard with horror,

Nero,

whose

conduct to the

Christians admits of no palliation, but was to the


last

degree unprincipled and inhuman.

menced

his

He com-

ravages against the defenceless Church

of Christ about the middle of November, 64.

It

appears from Tacitus that he brought no accusation against the Christians

on the ground of their

but imputed to them the perpetration of

religion,

a flagitious act, of wtiich he himself was the author.

This merciless tyrant, having for

ment caused several houses

his

mere amuse-

to be set

on

fire,

kindled a flame in his capital, by which a great


part of
city,
it

it

with

was destroyed.
all

its

The

conflagration of a

tumults of concomitant distress,

has been justly remarked,

is

dreadful spectacles in the world.

one of the most

How

perverted

then must have been the feelings of the emperor,

who

is

reported to have expressed great pleasure

at the spectacle,

and from an elevated spot

to

have

22

CLEMENT.

amused

amidst the

himself,

surrounding flames,

with singing the burning of Troy.

Hardened, however, as Nero was


exasperated

vice,

in

made him anxious

public

an

avert

to

from himself the infamy of being reckoned the


author

of this

he found

to

be

calamity.

At length,

in vain.

attempts

But these

order,

in

if

possible, to divert the tide of popular indignation

from

proper channel,

its

upon the innocent


utmost eagerness

he charged the crime

Christians,

and displayed the

in directing against

vengeance of the

state

them

all

putting them to

the

death

without mercy, and even making a jest of their

The above mentioned

torments.

historian gives

the following account of this event, which points

out at the same time the severity of the persecution,

and the enmity of the Roman people

to the

followers of Christ.
'*

Neither the emperor's; donations,

sacrifices

he offered

nor the

to the g^ds, could avert

from

him the infamy of being the author of the conflaHence, to suppress the rumour, he
gration.
charged the crime, and inflicted the most exquisite tortures,

on a people detestable

who were commonly known by

edness,

of Christians.

This sect derived

origin from Christ,

was put

to death

the procurator.
stition

for their wick-

who

its

in the reign

the name
name and

of Tiberius

by the sentence of Pontius Pilate


For a time this destructive super-

was suppressed; but afterwards broke out

CLEMENT.
afresh

and not only spread through Judea, the

source of the

evil,

metropolis, the

common sewer

and

filthy

but introduced

flagitious

who

individuals,

were

23

at first

apprehended, and a great multitude

These were

all

shared the same

condemned, not so much for


to the city, as for their

fire

hatred of mankind.*

Their tortures were embit-

tered with insult and derision.


in skins

dogs

Some were

as torches at the close of the day.

and others,

covered with combustible materials,

were lighted

This spectacle,

accompanied with the games of the


exhibited in the emperor's gardens.

was not merely present


*
il

It

inclos-

of wild beasts, and torn to pieces by

others were nailed on crosses

Some

meets and flourishes.

confessed themselves Christians,

the crime of setting

ed

our

in which every thing

afterwards upon their evidence


fate.

itself into

was

circus,

Nero

himself

but, clad in the dress of a

very remarkable accusation," observes Mr. Milner.

may be

explained as follows

the genuine friends of

all their

men, who are not true Christians,


Their very earnestness,

in calling

and believe the Gospel, proves

True

Christians, though

fellow-creatures, cannot allow


to be in the favour of

God.

on their neighbours to repent,

to those neighbours in

dangerous state they are then apprehended to be.

All,

not moved by the admonitions of Christian charity to


the wrath to come, will naturally be disgusted;

what

who

flee

are

from

and thus th

purest benevolence will be construed into the most merciless


bigotry.

Thus Christians incurred the general hatred,

to which

the conduct neither of Jews nor heretics rendered them ob


noxious.

day."

And

the same cause produces similar effects to this

Milner's Church History.

24

CLEMENT.

charioteer,

sometimes mixed with the populace,

and occasionally contended

Hence a

in the race.

degree of commiseration was at length

deserving the

most exemplar}

they were sacrificed not

cause

excited

though criminal, and

in behalf of the Christians,

punishment, beso

much

to the

public good as to the cruelty of an individual/'

Who

can read

account without being deeply

this

the miserable and destitute situation

affected with

of the oppressed Christians.

If an author, so cele-

brated for accuracy as Tacitus, could manifest such

hatred and ignorance of the persons of

whom

he

was writing, how inveterate must have been the


prejudices of the generality of the people against

We have indeed

them.

repeated instances of the

most dreadful sufferings of the Christians being but


too congenial to the feelings of the savage

and of the readiness of

Romans,

their magistrates to indulge

them with the exhibition of such horrid

Under
able,

these circumstances

some

that

it

is

not a

little

writers have supposed

orgies.

remarkthat the

persecution was confined within the walls of


for

surely

it

can

never be

conceived

Rome

that

emperor would rage against the Christians


capital,

where

and

else.

suffer
It is

them

the

in the

remain unmolested every

to

besides evident, from a passage in

Tertullian's Apology, that

against the Christians

Nero promulgated

and

if this

edicts

be allowed, not a

question can remain of their having been carried


into effect

How

throughout

all

the provinces.

Clement escaped

this

dreadful persecution

25

CLExMENT.

we

when

time

provided
so

If he

are not informed.

commenced,

it

for his

in

Rome

at the

probable that he

is

by immediate

safety

secreted

carefully

it

was

himself in

the

flight,

city,

elude the vigilance of his cruel enemies

as

or
to

for in

times of persecution the ministers of the different

churches were naturally the

first

objects of the

popular fury.

But though Clement avoided the fury of the present storm,

was otherwise with

it

lical friends,

his great aposto-

Paul and Peter, who now closed their

long, laborious, and eminently useful lives by ho-

nourable martyrdom.

The

inspired writer of the Acts of the Apostles,

having given a

full

and particular account of the

conversion, labours, and success, of the great apostle

of the Gentiles, closes his interesting history with


the narrative of his

During

first

imprisonment

Rome.

confinement there, which continued for

his

two whole years, he was enabled


the tyrant,

in

whose

cruelties

to declare before

we have just

related, the

glad tidings of salvation.

The

delivered without

the emperor, appears

to

effect to

message, though

have been blessed to several of

Through

the

visit

lion/'

<c

delivered from the

and permitted once more to

the churches he had planted.

*
Nero,

household.*

over-ruling Providence of God,

the Apostle was at this time

mouth of the

his

At lengthy after

Chrysostom mentions a cupbearer, and a concubine of

who were

conyerted by

St.

Paul.

26

CLExMENT.

a ministry of more than


sent a prisoner to

Romeagain

ness to be offered

up

he was again

thirty years,

and

declared his readi-

shortly after

was be-

headed by the command of Nero.


It

would be scarcely proper

to refer to the

end

of this great apostle, without staying to contem-

and the extent

plate the brightness of his example,

of his usefulness.
called

Separated from the womb, and

by miraculous means both to the knowledge

and service of the Gospel, he considered himself


under the highest obligations
gracious Saviour.
the law

nature of

and he
it,

and

to a forgiving

and

He had before been zealous for


now properly understood the
its

agreement with the Gospel.

He saw consistency and

beauty, mercy and severity,

holiness and lovelove to sinners

beaming from

them both. The scales having fallen from his


was filled with shame and self-reproach

eyes, he

persecuting

for

Lord

and began,

followers

the
fC

of

his

crucified

to preach the faith

which he

had destroyed/' with an ardour and courage greater


than that which he had manifested in opposition
to

it.

His success also was proportionate

exertions.

When we

immense multitudes converted under


nistry,

to his

take into the account the


his

own mi-

the benefit derived from his Epistles,

merely by the persons


dressed, but

by others

in

to

whom

not

they were ad-

subsequent ages, and the

blessings they will convey to thousands yet unborn,

what reason

is

there to praise

an instrument for

God

for raising

up

producing such great good.

27

CLEMENT.
Doubtless he

is

heaven, to descend no more


hears, with

the organs

where he

is

as dross

tance

those unut-

else

be seen and heard

to

a partaker of those unsearchable riches

which he counted

for

of a seraph,

nowhere

terable things

up into the third


where he sees and

again taken

where he

among

all

the wealth of this world

an inheritor of that inheri-

is

the saints in light, of which he

here only the earnest

and where he

beholder, face to face, of that

had

a ravished

is

God and

Saviour,

whom he was always longing to be dissolved,


but for whom he was willing to wait and work till
for

the hour of his departure should arrive.

Much

less

is

mentioned

in

Scriptures of

the

Peter than of the preceding apostle


to

rank him next after him

Christian martyrs.

He

in

but enough

army of

the noble

appears to have been em-

ployed during the greater part of his ministry in

preaching the Gospel principally, though not exclusively,

to the

Jews, throughout Pontus, Galatia,

Cappadocia, and Asia.

Bithynia,

It

probable,

is

from ancient records, that he resided during the

two

last

years of his

wrote from

thence his

life

at

Rome, and

that he

second Epistle a very short

time previous to his martyrdom.

Papias, indeed,

the disciple of Polycarp, and bishop of Hierapolis,


says,

that

he also wrote his

first

Epistle from

Rome, and that he spoke figuratively of that city,


when he said, " The Church that is at Babylon,
elected together with you, saluteth you."

ing to Ambrose, he was preparing,

in

Accord-

compliance

28

CLEMENT.

with the earnest entreaties of his Christian brethren, to leave the city during Nero's bloody per-

secution

appeared
to be

but on his arrival at the gate our Lord


him, and said, " I

to

The

crucified again."'

He meant He was

ing that

am coming

hither

apostle understand-

about to suffer again in

one of His members, immediately returned

and was shortly

friends,

after

The mention which

crucified.

St.

of his being shewn by our Lord,


shortly put

with the

him

off

this

account,
dulity

tabernacle/'

the

and

affords

ce

in

he must

connection

delivered

to

whereby he

should

air of probability

to this

death

God,* gives an

Peter makes

that

solemn prediction before

respecting

glorify

to his

apprehended and

some ground

for

the

cre-

of after ages in receiving a story of this

kind.

The

ministry of this zealous apostle, though less

exercised amongst the Gentiles than that of

St.

Paul, was nevertheless attended with an astonish-

among

ing blessing

the

Jews.

Indeed,

consi-

dering the judicial blindness of that people, continued even to this very day, the effects of the
apostle's

may

preaching were most wonderful.

We

almost venture to say, that the whole remnant

which God had reserved


ple, until the

time that

was comprised

t(

to

Himself from that peo-

all Israel shall

in the converts

of that generation.

* John

be saved,"

which he made out

xxi. 18, 19. 2 Pet.

i.

14.

29

CLEMENT.

The

whom

of this

epistles

they were addressed, will never cease to


the Christian

interest
will

spiritual

though intended especially for the people

apostle,
to

and

animating'

warm

him.

fort him.

In

Is

reader.

he cold

Is

they

he desponding? they will comwhile the Church continues,

short,

they will be read with undiminished interest, and

be the means of conveying the most

and important

solid

comfort

Clement informs us

instruction.

that Peter witnessed his wife's

martyrdom a short

time before his own.

words

i(

Remember

His

time, in the year 66.


:

same

Paul, as

we have

on account of

his

mentioned,

this

compara-

being a

Roman

Peter was crucified, with his head down-

citizen.

great humility leading him to request

his

he might die

that

her were,

apostles suffered at the

being favoured with

tively easy death,

wards

to

the Lord."

These two eminent


was beheaded

last

in

this

posture, not thinking

himself worthy to suffer in the same

manner

as his

blessed Lord.

The

following exhortation from the Epistle of

Clement

to

a patient perseverance in well doing,

from the examples of these eminent

apostles,

will

suitably close this brief sketch of their characters,

and again introduce

subject of this

diate

that

many

spirit

in the

more immeHaving lamented

to the reader the

memoir.

Church

at Corinth,

seduced by a

of pride and envy, had forsaken the ways and

ordinances of God, he adds,

ce

Not

to insist

upon

30

CLEMENT.

ancient examples,

of our

own

pillars

of the Church,

to the

come down

us

let

to the worthies

age, those most faithful and righteous

who were

most grievous deaths.

our eyes the holy apostles.

persecuted even

Let us

set before

Through

the unjust

hatred of the world, Peter sustained various


until at length,

trials,

having suffered martyrdom, he was

received into the glorious mansion prepared for

Paul also, having, in consequence of the


same hatred of the world, been seven times imprihim.

soned, beaten with rods, and stoned, was at last

crowned with the reward of his patience. The


faith and labours of this illustrious herald of Christ
are celebrated from

hemisphere.

the eastern to the

righteousness, having travelled to

in

western

Having instructed the whole world


the utmost

boundary of the west, * and exhibited a most eminent example of patience under suffering, he was

put to death by the command of the governors,

and thus departed from


sanctuary of God.

By

this

lower world to the

the lives and labours of

these apostles a great multitude of the elect were

gathered together,

who

suffered various cruel tor-

ments from the same enmity of the world, and


endured

them

Etfj ro rspy,<x ry$

with

(Wea/.

suppose that Great Britain

same

the

By
is

exemplary

this expression

intended,

pa-

some writers

and hence are of

opinion that the apostle Paul preached the Gospel in our native
land.

CLEMENT.

On

tience.

experienced
tions,

like

31

account also females have

most dreadful and

unjust persecu-

have been enabled steadily to pursue their

Christian course
ness of their

ward."

sex,

and, notwithstanding the weak-

have received a glorious re-

32

CLEMENT.

CHAPTER
Clement

is

appointed sole bishop of the Jewish and Gentile

Christians

Rome*

at

Domitian's

mains on the writings of

ments

epistle to

the mines.

The

dreadful

were exposed

persecution. Re-

the primitive fathers.

the Philippians.-

His martyrdom*

nearly four years


ians

II.

persecution

His

of

Cle-

banishment to

Nero continued

during which period the Christ-

to every species of insult

and out-

At length the Roman senate solemnly brand-

rage.

ed that tyrant with the character so

the Christians, but so deservedly to him

demned him
of the

to

human

applied to

ill

and con-

be scourged to death, as an enemy

To

race.

the sentence, Nero, with

avoid the execution of

much

reluctance, put a

period to his present existence, and was hurried

with

all his

crimes upon his head to abide the sen-

tence of that
the cause

Judge who has

of His

own

ceases with his death

even a Nero to

final

said

is

will

avenge

But our judgment

elect.

nor

He

it

for us to adjudge

condemnation.

The Romans were too much occupied by their


own quarrels during the short turbulent reigns of
the following emperors, Galba, Otho, and Vitellius,
to

pay much attention

to the

despised Christians.

Indeed we have no particular accounts of their

33

CLEMENT.
sufferings

till

the reign of Domitian, though

not probable that the

fire

it

is

of persecution was ever

completely extinguished during any part of that


period.

As soon as there was an interval of peace, we


may suppose, that Clement resumed his situation
in Rome.
It is also probable, from the testimonies
of various writers, that he was appointed by Peter,

a short time before

his

martyrdom, to preside over

Church in that city, St. Paul


having about the same time nominated Linus to
the prethe like office over the Gentile Church
judices between Jews and Gentiles being still .so
inveterate as to make it inexpedient to unite them
the Jewish Christian

together in the same community.

presided over the

twelve years,

Linus, having

Gentile converts upwards of

was succeeded by Anacletus, who

held the situation about the same time, and was

then removed by death.

Time, and a more clear understanding of the


nature of Christianity, had
the

now

apparently removed

unhappy jealousy which had

too long subsisted

between the Jewish and Gentile Christians: to

which reconciliation we may add, that the ruin of


Jerusalem, and the extinction of the temple-worship, together with the downfall of the temple itself,

had not a

little

contributed.

long residence at Rome, and


five

And

as Clement's

faithful discharge for

and twenty years of the duties of his episcopal


had rendered him an object of general re-

office,

spect to both parties, the cordiality united under

34

CLEMENT.

the presidency of " a

guage of

Irenaeus,

<(

man who/'

to use the lan-

had seen the blessed

and conversed with them, and had


still

sounding in

his ears,

apostles,

their preaching

and their

traditions be-

fore his eyes."*


Ecclesiastical records

give us

respecting the

manner

his bishopric

though we may

the testimony of

many

in

little

information

which Clement acted

from

rest assured,

ancient authors, as well as

from certain evident indications

his

in

own

writ-

and

was most eminent,

ings, that his piety

conduct in the highest degree exemplary.


resting

and

profitable

his

Inte-

indeed would have been

the perusal of an authenticated account of


racter

in

his cha-

have read the various regulations he

to

made for the introduction of Christianity where it


was unknown, and the increase and establishment
of

it

where

it

But, alas

already existed.

whilst

minutest details have been given, with the

the

greatest precision and elegance, of persons,

names deserved

to

be forgotten,

merely to be abhorred,
of

<c

men

of

whom

little is

whose
or remembered

known of

the lives

the world was not worthy/'

and who, under the Divine

blessing,

were the

instrument of everlasting salvation to thousands of


their fellow- creatures.

ing Clement

is,

All that

is

related respect-

that he appointed notaries to en-

quire after, and faithfully record,

all

the acts of the

martyrs that suffered within his district,

* A. D. 91,

and

that

CLEMENT.

35

he deputed missionaries to propagate Christianity


in those parts of the world,

where the sound of the

Gospel had not hitherto been heard.


In the year 95, the emperor Domitian,

who had

not hitherto persecuted the Christians, began to

oppress them.

seem

to

hatred

His motives

have had

in

the

first

instance

them more of policy than of


but there were not wanting those who,
in

with the enmity of Satan, sought an occasion to

" murder the innocent."


tion suggested to the

Persons of

this descrip-

emperor that the Jews and

Christians were in daily expectation of one de-

scended from the family of David,


establish a powerful

that they

who would

and extensive dominion

were both merely waiting

and

for an oppor-

tunity for breaking out into an open revolt.

Invi-

dious whispers of this kind prompted the jealous


tyrant to order the posterity of David to be sought
for,

and put

to death,

and

effectual

means

to

be

taken to oppose the pretended conspiracy.

Domitian

at

living in Palestine certain relations of that

who was

were

length hearing that there

Judas

called the brother of Christ, descendants

of the royal house of David,

commanded them

to

be brought to Rome, and closely examined as to


their origin, the extent of their property,

and the

nature of their expectations in regard to the future


reign of Christ.
tion,

These good men, without

acknowledged

to the

sprung from the stock of David


time,

made

it

appear

hesita-

emperor, that they had


;

but, at the

same

to him, that their condition in

d2

36

CLEMENT.

life

was too humble, and their circumstances loo

low

to

awaken

Moreover

bis fears.

their general

appearance, and the very hardness of their hands,

which they then shewed him, confirmed

their re-

Being interrogated respecting Christ and


His kingdom, they replied, that His kingdom was
and that it would
not of this world, but of heaven
port.

not

commence

until

end of

the

here

things

all

below.

" Poverty,'' remarks Mr. Milner,

cc

is

times a defence against oppression, though


shields

from

was

that his throne

ambition

Domitian was

contempt.
in

it

somenever

satisfied

no danger from Christian

and the grandsons of Jude were

dis-

missed with the same sort of derision with which


their

Herod.

had

Saviour

formerly been

God

Thus had the Son of

His indigent relations

dismissed by

provided for

they were poor in circum-

stances, but rich in faith,

and

heirs of His heavenly

kingdom."

The

principal persons

who

are reported to have

suffered during this persecution

mens, a consul, and

The husband
and the wife

is

to

of Pandataria.

were Flavius Cle-

wife,

his

stated to have

Flavia Domitilla.

been put

to death,

have been banished to the island

They were both

related to the emperor.

It

was

of them nearly
also

during

this

season of calamity to the Church that St. John,


the apostle, was banished to the island of Patmos.

This persecution ceased

in the year 96,

the emperor Domitian was assassinated.

when

He was

37

CLEMENT.

who

succeeded by Nerva,

were

recalled those that

banished, and suspended the bloody edicts of his


predecessor.

By what means Clement weathered this storm


we are not told, only we may be sure he would not
prostitute his Christian integrity

His

concessions.

epistle

to

bv any unworthy

the Corinthians,

which we have already had occasion

to

to

refer,

is

supposed to have been written shortly after the


accession of

Nerva

By

to the throne.

who

those,

can be charmed with sanctity of sentiment and the


effusions

of genuine piety, unadorned by the bril-

liancy of genius, or the refinements of


ing, this

work
<f

interest.

easily relished

but there belongs to

a wonderful depth of holiness and wisdom."


Christians,

(C

Mr. Milner remarks,

It has," as

a systematic modern

primitive

learn-

be perused with considerable

will

and a plainness not

simplicity

human

indeed,

it

by
also

The

seem to have had

neither opportunity nor inclination to polish their

compositions.

But whether more or

less

excel-

lence belonged to them as writers, the sincerity in

which they walked, the zeal which they displayed


in diffusing the knowledge of truth, and their
willingness to die in defence of
their attainments.

the primitive

means

for

The

were eminently
most of

the scantiness of their

Christians,

improvement

it,

situation also of

in

human knowledge and

science, and their constant exposure to sufferings,

make

it

more surprising

that

their

works are so

well written than that they are not better.

If they

38

CLEMENT.

abound not, however, in the graces of diction, that


want is compensated by the vein of fervent piety,
the native dignity of Divine truth, and occasionally
the flow of untutored eloquence which they display.

Clement's epistle appears to have been composed

answer

in

which was

when

as

many

one written by the Corinthian Church,

to

much

at that time

same

in the

the apostle wrote to them.

It

state,

contained

very pious members, but was harassed by

various religious

contentions, and

danger of

in

having a sound and exemplary presbytery, superseded by a self-conceited and turbulent set of heretical teachers.

Clement commences
self

manner not

his epistle in a

dissimilar to that of the apostle,

by addressing him-

" to the called and sanctified," though at the

same time he arrogates

to himself

no

dignity, but

speaks merely as the representative of the Church


of

Rome

Church of Corinth.*

to the

* The following
supremacy assumed

Church over the

excellent

remarks, in

by the

in later ages

Referring to
reference to

pontiffs of the

the

Romish

rest of the Christian world, will appear strictly

appropriate to every pious Reader,

who

is

acquainted with

St.

Clement's epistle:

"

If the claims of authority be well grounded, they will, of

course, be highest

supposition

when

nearest to their source

how unaccountable

the Church of

We

Rome.

is

yet upon this

the conduct of Clemens and

have here the

first

instance

upon

record in which that Church thought proper to interpose in the


religious concerns

of

its

brethren.

been expected, that the bishop of

It might,

Rome
1

therefore, have

should have began with

39

CLEMENT.
the

unhappy

which prevailed amongst

divisions

them, he remarks,

cc

The

apostles preached to us

from our Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ from


God. Christ, therefore, was sent by God; the

by Christ.

apostles

Both missions were

according- to the will of God.

in order,

Having, therefore,

received their commission, being thoroughly as-

sured of the resurrection of our Lord, and believing


in the

Word

Spirit,

they went abroad, declaring that the king-

dom

of

of God, with the fulness of the Holy

God was

at

through different
pointed the

hand.

countries

first-fruits

own

asserting his

other Churches

his

mandates

who

Spirit,

if it

should have required implicit obedience to

and, in case of non-compliance, denounced the

body of the

were intended by Providence, that the

position of a

and

to be bishops

should afterwards believe.

rebellious assembly cut off from the


as

and ap-

sovereign authority over the Corinthian and

all

travelled

cities,

of their ministry, after they

had proved them by the


deacons over those

Thus they
and

Roman

faithful

first

known

pontiff in the affairs of another

yet 9

inter-

Church

should remain as a lesson of humility, or a reproof of arrogance


to his successors, the evangelical author of this epistle seems

purposely to extenuate his authority even over his

merges even

his

own name

in that of his

own people

Church; and though

he reproves the misconduct of the Corinthians with freedom,

and even with dignity, yet

it

is

only with the freedom of a

benevolent equal, and the dignity of a grieved friend.


humility and patience are conspicuous: no

above

all,

rage,*

no zeal calling

for judgments,

But
holy

no asperity of reproach

but prayers and intreaties, or, at most, expostulations and argu


ments, constituted, at that time, the spiritual weapons of the

Roman Church."

Christian Observer,

Vol. II. page

CLEM EST,

40
" The

were informed by otir


contentions would arise

apostles themselves

Lord Jesus

that

Christ,

concerning the ministry.

On

this

account, there-

fore, they not only themselves ordained ministers,

as

we have

before mentioned

but also gave direc-

on their decease, other chosen and ap-

tions that

proved men should succeed them.*


therefore, but think

it

We

cannot,

unjust to eject such per-

sons from the ministry as were ordained (with the

approbation of the whole church) either by the

men succeeding them

apostles or holy

ministered to

the

and

peaceable,

it

who have

in a

humble,

manner, and for a

disinterested

have been well reported of by alL

series of years

For surely

flock of Christ

is

a sin of no small magnitude to dis-

miss from that office such blameless and holy pastors

Happy

are those presbyters,

who have

ready finished their course, and died in the


ful discharge of their labours

they have

al-

fruit-

now no

reason to fear that any one should remove them

from the place appointed for them.


learn that you have ejected
ters,

"*
ci

St.

whose blameless
It

is

impossible,"

lives

But, alas

we

some excellent miniswere an ornament

to

remarks the Christian Observer,

calmly to weigh the arguments incidentally introduced bj

Clement,

in this place,

without acknowledging that

it

fur-

nishes good ground for considering the three orders of ministers

which

The

exist in

apostles

our Church, as agreeable to the institution of Christ.

and

their successors, to

whom

Was afterwards appropriated, correspond


ders, or presbyters, to our priests

deacons." Vol.

I.

pp. 572, 713, 762.

the

name of

to our bishops

sitKrytoitoi
;

the el-

and the ministers to our

41

CLEMENT.

Ye

their profession.

are contentious, brethren,

and zealous for things which belong not

to sal-

Search the Scriptures, the faithful records

vation.

of the Holy Spirit.


There you find that good men
were persecuted indeed, but by the wicked were
;

imprisoned, but by the unholy

were stoned, but

by transgressors; were murdered, but by the profane,

and

by

such

against them.

Let

the innocent and

were unjustly incensed

as

us, therefore, unite ourselves to

righteous,

they are God's

for

elect.

"

Why are there strifes, angers, divisions, schisms,

and contentions, among you


one God, and one Christ
Christ bestowed upon us

all

all,
?

ruot all

not one Spirit of

Is

grace poured out upon us

Have you

and one calling of

Why

then do

we

rend and tear the members of Christ, and excite


seditions in our

own body?

Your

schism has per-

verted many, has discouraged many, has staggeied

many.

It has

continues

caused grief to us

all

and, alas

it

still."

As the nature of

regular or precise statement of doctrine

expected.

Still,

no very

this epistle is practical,

is

to

be

however, the essential doctrines

of revelation are clearly exhibited.

He

thus, for

his sentiments

respecting

redemption by the atonement of Christ.

" Let us

instance, plainly states

look steadily at the blood of Christ, and see


precious His blood

account of

its

is

in the sight

of

God

how

for

on

being shed for our salvation, the

grace of repentance

is

provided for

all

mankind/

42

CLEMENT.

In the following passage

we have

the infinite con*

descension of Christ stated as a ground for enforc-

" Our Lord

ing Christian humility.

Jesus Christ,

the sceptre of the majesty of God, came not in the

pomp

of pride and ostentation, though he could

have done

You

but in humility.

so,

He

the example

see, brethren,

Lord thus

If the

afforded us.

humbled Himself, how should we too demean ourselves, who are brought by Him under the yoke of
His grace.
In the annexed quotation, wherein he

speak-

is

ing of the Old Testament fathers, he clearly states


the rJl-important doctrine of justification by grace

and

through

faith,

common

objection of

same time repels the yet


licentious tendency. " All

at the
its

these were magnified and honoured, not through

themselves,

own works,

not through their

not

through the righteous deeds which they performed,


but through God's

will.

And

we, also by His

being called in Christ Jesus, are

will,

justified, not by

ourselves, nor by our

own wisdom,

ing, or godliness, or

by the works which we have

wrought

in

holiness of heart,

or understand-

but by faith

which Almighty God hath justified

all,

who

have been, justified from the beginning;

Amen.

be glory for ever and ever.


then

Shall

hence

all

for the

we
God

follow, that

ing obedience
with

we

neglect good works

by

are, or

to

whom

But what
?

Does

it

should leave the law of lovforbid

let

us rather hasten

earnestness of mind to every good work;

Lord Himself

rejoices in His works.

Having

43

CLEMENT.
such an example,

let

us strenuously follow His will,

and work the works of righteousness with

our

all

might."

Referring to the exalted privileges and graces


of the real believer, he breaks forth into a kind of
transport,

culcates the importance


ness.

God

righteousness

surance

truth in

sobriety in holiness

in this life,

my

beloved, are

Life in immortality

we know by

in-

of cultivating personal holi-

" How blessed, how amazing,

the gifts of
in

same time he strongly

whilst at the

liberty
!

And

experience.

splendour

faith

as-

in

thus far, even

What,

there-

must those things be which Christ has preThe Holy


pared for those that wait for Him ?
fore,

Creator and Father of the universe alone knows


their greatness

and excellency.

Let

us, therefore,

earnestly seek to be found amongst that

who

number

we may
And how, beloved, shall
rewards ?
By establishing our

wait for Him, that

obtain the reward

which He has promised.

we

attain

these

hearts in faith towards God, and by seeking to do

His will

in all things with truth

Thus, beloved,

shall

we

and earnestness.

find our salvation,

even

Jesus Christ, the High Priest of our offerings, and


helper of our weakness/'

In another place having illustrated the doctrine


of the resurrection by the succession
night,

of day and

and the dissolution and growth of

proceeds, somewhat unhappily, to enforce

seeds,
it

he

by the

account of the Arabian phoenix, a story, which,

44

CLEMENT.

though now justly exploded, appears

have been

to

at that time generally credited.*

Eusebius, speaking of this epistle, remarks, that

Clement had inserted

in

it

very expressions.

be supposed

some of the

many

parts there

but whether Clement

quote from that

to

say the same things as


incidence,

we cannot

sentiments of the

also used

Certainly in

an evident resemblance

is

many

Hebrews, and

Epistle to the

epistle, or

only to

were by unconscious co-

it

but be pleased to observe an

infusion of the language, spirit, and matter, of the Sa-

cred Scriptures in the writings of this and the other


fathers,

which have thus travelled down from the

times of the apostles, through every intervening age,

For

to the present day.

words of Holy Writ

this

transmission of the

affords a considerable proof,

and one which has been justly urged


its

authenticity

in

support of

and a similar transmission of the

sense of any doctrine of Scripture, which


able to that

* The fable of the phoenix was


called a phoenix, of which there

was

said, after a period of five

as follows

its

agree-

in

certain bird

living at a time,

hundred years, to make


it

entered

itself

imme-

worm bred from the ashes of the


became a new phcenix; and, having arrived

death.

dead bird, gradually

was only one

a nest of the spices of Arabia, into which


diately before

is

which the church generally receives

at maturity, carried the nest, with the remains of


city called Heliopolis, in Egypt,

altar of the sun.

The

found that exactly

five

priests

where

it

its

parent, to a

deposited them on the

then searched their records, and

hundred years had elapsed since a former

phoenix had acted in the same manner,

CLEMENT.

45

our own times, affords a presumptive proof that


this

is

the real and true interpretation,

grounded

once on the antiquity and universality of

at

its

acceptance.

The

preceding remark of Eusebius

accompa-

is

nied by the following conjecture respecting* the


epistle to the

the

" Paul having written

Hebrews.

Hebrews

own

in their

tongue, some think the

Luke, others that

evangelist
translated

this

very Clement,

[into Greek], which last

it

to

the most

is

probable on account of the resemblance between


the style of the epistle of Clement,

Hebrews."

But

and that

opinion seems

this

to

to the

on

rest

because the greater number

insufficient foundation,

of the ancient fathers have considered the epistle


as first written in

Greek*

Clement had been wonderfully pre-

Hitherto

served during several dreadful

but

persecutions;

* The present learned bishop of Lincoln informs us, that

Jerome, as well as Eusebius,

Clement, of Alexandria, and

thought the epistle to have been written originally in Hebrew


but

all

Greek

as

one pretends to have seen


accede to

this

bishop adds,

opinion.
to

or

the

supposed

to

have

it

fellow-labourer,

or

every one admits


of the

It

been

it

small

those

work; and

or

satisfaction,"

who have denied

carries with

it

no

the
the

by some

that almost

the sanction

Tomline's

Christianity.

the

hae always

translated

of St. Paul, and

apostle."

as

Hebrew, we may

of this epistle

written

assistant,

that

no

is

that

originality

inspired

the original

this epistle in

reflect,

genuineness

authority

who have mentioned

the other ancient fathers,

subject, speak of the

and

Elements of

46

CLEMENT.

the time was

him

now

at hand,

when

was

it

ec

given to

in the hehalf of Christ, not only to believe

Him, but

suffer for

also to

His sake."

It

is

on
not

improbable, that he had a presentiment of his im-

pending sufferings
Corinthians,

in

for

epistle

his

referring to

after

the

to

persecutions

the

endured by the apostles, he adds, that he looked

upon himself and


run in the same

his
lists,

people

as

appointed

and engage

to

the same

in

conflict.

The

following

an abstract of the occasion and

is

circumstances of the martyrdom of this eminent


as related

father,

by Cave, from the account of

Simeon Metaphrastes.
inform the reader,

It

is,

that the

however, proper to
authenticity of the

whole account has been questioned.

Several indi-

viduals of high rank and character having been

converted by Clement to the Christian


jealousy and

ill

will

excited against him.


cutianus,
city,

man

his

the

of the pagans was at length

At the instance of one Tor-

of considerable influence in the

he was accused of using magical

upon

faith,

resolute

refusal

to

arts

sacrifice

to

and,
the

heathen gods, he was banished by the emperor


Trajan, and condemned to labour in some distant
mines.

This

mode of punishment,

not

uncommon

amongst the Romans, was considered in severity


next to a capital one. The condemned person

was treated with the greatest inhumanity.

was deprived of

his estate, scourged,

and

He

fettered,

CLEMENT.

and reduced

47

And

to a state of abject slavery.

in

after-times the sufferings of the miserable captive

were increased by additions

and

branded with a hot

and

once contemptuous

at

His head was half shaved, his forehead

cruel.

his right

iron,

eye bored out,

his left leg disabled.

On

Clement's arriving at the place of his exile,

he found great numbers of Christians condemned


to the

same lamentable

ever,

darted a cheering ray through the gloomy

His presence, how-

fate.

caves that surrounded them,

whilst

his

labours,

through the Divine blessing, were not only made


useful in comforting his captive brethren, but also

the

means of converting numbers of the neigh-

bouring inhabitants to the Christian

How
saint,

love,

interesting

thus

it

is

behold

to

faith.

this

venerable

persevering in his labour of

steadily

under the pressure of those sufferings, to

which he was condemned by

though now

far

advanced

in

a captive, his heart

is filled

mouth with

praises

his enemies.

Al-

years, an exile,

and

with gratitude, and his

only anxious that whilst

life

and breath remain he may be made the happy


instrument of pouring the balm of consolation into
the

wounded

leading

all

spirits of his fellow-prisoners,

around him, whether friends or

and of
foes, to

a participation of the same Gospel privileges with


himself.

Admirable

ises his epistle

is

the

wisdom

that character-

exemplary the deportment where-

with he adorns his episcopal office; but his con-

48

CLEMENT,

duct while a prisoner


glory

in

the mine?, surpasses

in

which attended the

la-

The

wonderful

bours of

this

effects

eminent man having

at length

reached

the ears of the emperor, he ordered the president


to

increase of Christianity, by putting

the

stop

several of the brethren to death.

Finding, how-

one day served but as


encourage others to suffer in the same

ever, that the executions of

examples

to

cause the next,

he resolved,

if

possible,

to

strike

terror into the rising sect, by singling out the most

eminent teachers among them as the monuments


of his displeasure.
selected

purpose Clement was

this

and, after promises and threatenings had

been employed

was

For

in vain to

cause him to retract, he

cast into the sea with a

heavy weight

affixed

to his body.

Thus was

the temporal existence of this emi-

nent apostolical father, after a long course of active

and extensive

usefulness,

at length terminated

a watery grave, about the

commencement

second century.
ii

So sinks the day-star

And
And

in the

ocean bed,

yet anon repairs his drooping head,

and with new-spangled

tricks his beams,

Flames

in the

Through

ore,

forehead of the morning sky;

So Lycidas sunk low

but mounted high,

the dear might of

him that walk'd the waves

Where, other groves and other streams

With nectar pure

his

oozy locks he

aloDg,

laves,

by

of the

CLEMENT.
And

hears the unexpressive nuptial song,

In the blest kingdoms

There entertain him

meek

all

of joy and love.

the saints above,

In solemn troops and sweet societies,

That

sing,

And

wipe the tears for ever from his eyes."

and singing

in their

glory move,

49

50

IGNATIUS

CHAPTER
Ignatius

is

I.

educated by the Apostles. -^-Is appointed bishop

of Antioch.

His

attention

his flock,

to

His

cha-

racter.

Science, considered

and great attainments

in itself,

highly desirable

is

in literature,

when

consecrat-

ed to the service of God, qualify their possessor for

Such acquirements, however,

greater usefulness.

are not essential to religion.


flourish without them.

persons in
cc

It

can exist

human

it

can

Witness the many pious

ages, who, whilst, in a high degree,

all

taught of God/' have been but

with

learning

of ministers in the two

little

acquainted

Witness also the generality


first

centuries,

peculiar circumstances, were unable to

who, from

make any

considerable proficiency in literature, yet preached

the Gospel in

its

native purity,

and were made

eminently instrumental in the conversion of souls.


Plain unlettered
in

an

artless

men of God

They

could

tell,

and affecting manner, the story of

5i

IGNATIUS.

Him who bought

us with His inestimable blood:

with a holy earnestness they could


perishing- sinners to flee

to

Him

for

invite

poor

succour; and

manifest daily a readiness to go to prison and to

death for the

name

of the Lord Jesus

surnamed Theophorus, * the

Ignatius,

cele-

brated bishop of Antioch, appears to have been a

He was

pastor of this description.

year of our Lord 28

born about the

now be

but nothing can

accurately ascertained respecting the place of his

parentage, though some have not

nativity or his

scrupled to assign the former honour to Nora, a


city

Sardinia.

in

There

is

also a current report,

but not well authenticated, that he was that very

whom

child,

when He
verted,

our

told

Lord

them

and became

set

that
as

<c

little

before

the disciples,

except they were conchildren,

they should

not enter into the kingdom of heaven. "f

It

is,

however, certain that at a very early age he was


acquainted with the apostles. Chrysostom informs
us, that " he was educated by them, always with

them, and admitted not merely to their familiar


discourses, but to their most private conferences."

We

learn

tyrdom,

from the account of

also,

mar-

which was written by some who were

eye-witnesses

of that

solemn

* Theophorus, one who carries

God

scene,

with the love of

God, and

that

in his breast

probably given to Ignatius, on account of

his soul

he

a name

being

filled

sanctified with an extraordinary por-

tion of Divine grace.

i Matt,

his

xviii. 3,

e2

IGNATIUS.

and Polycarp were

fellow-disciples of the apostle

John.

Having spent many years in this holy society^


and given evident marks of exalted piety, Ignatius
was placed by the apostle Paul over the Gentile
Church at Antioch, the metropolis of Syria. This
city,

illustrious

oriental seat

the annals

in

of the

of history

the

as

Roman emperors and

their

governors, will ever be memorable in the Church


of Christ, as the place where the disciples were
first

The

called Christians. *

apostles Paul

and

Peter are generally acknowledged by the ancients


to

have jointly contributed

in establishing Christi-

anity in this populous city

the former applying

himself to the Gentiles, and the latter to the Jews,

At length being

called off to the ministry of other

churches, they appointed Ignatius and Euodius to

superintend their respective flocks.

Euodius

both

they

tuations
;

continued

till

In these

si-

death

of

the

when the Jewish and Gentile converts

were incorporated into one church, and Ignatius


set over
alive.

by those of the apostles who were still


This event took place in the seventieth
it

year of our Lord, and four years after the martyr-

dom

of Paul and Peter

Ignatius being upwards

of forty years of age.


Ecclesiastical

history

relates

but few circum-

stances illustrative of the character and


of Ignatius.

But from what


* Acts

xi.

is

26.

ministry

recorded of him,

53

IGNATIUS.

we may

was conspicuous, rather


for eminent piety and an uniform unwearied disinfer that his

life

charge of the laborious duties of


for

"

brilliancy

or

of talent,

than

his station,

of incident.

variety

men (observes Mr.


Cecil) seem but the course of a week repeated.
to persist
Yet steadily to repeat such a week

The

of some eminent

lives

through weariness and painfnincss and watching*


often with the noblest aim
difficult,
i

ied

This was

rant

may more

We

tug up the

hill

of

must say of such an

The

a man.
forcibly

and furnish larger scope

journal of an itine-

strike

for

will not furnish a stronger

to

to

un refreshed by variety of road,

or intervals of rest:

one,

and uniform duty with unwea-

laborious,

perseverance

the

imagination,

the biographer, but

instance of good wili

men, or of piety towards God/'

From

meagre materials with which we are

the

furnished,

it

is

evident that the assiduous atten-

tion of Ignatius to the spiritual welfare of his flock,

could alone be equalled by his affection for them.

Although they were exceedingly numerous, he appears to have been acquainted with every individual,

and to have watched over them with the

anxiety of a parent.

He was

indeed in a remark-

able degree divested of every thing that

is

selfish

and, for a long term of successive years, seemed


to

live only

people.

countering

sympathy

to

promote the best

Whilst eminent for


difficulties,

he

for the afflicted.

interests of his

his fortitude

was

not

Although

in

deficient
(i

death,

enin

in

54

IGNATIUS.

most frightful forms/'

"its

{i

use the language of

to

make no more impression upon the adamantine mind of Ignatius, than


the dashing waves upon a rock of marble/' he,
an ancient writer,

could

nevertheless, felt the tenderest anxiety for his people

and whilst he himself was longing

for the

crown of martyrdom, he ever rejoiced on


account at every interval of calm, fearing

their

lest

any

of his weaker brethren should be overpowered with

the storm of persecution.


If

we may be allowed

style of his

to

form an opinion of the

preaching, from the specimen he has

given in his epistles, his sermons were rather vehe-

ment and
mentative

impressive,
;

than

doctrinal

and argu-

copious and interesting, than accurate

and discriminating.

by the generality of

They would be

considered

comprehending

his hearers as

the greatest excellencies, and slighted by the abstract

reasoner as

They would be

desultory and

equally over-rated by the former,

and under-valued by the latter.


sc
Cold and phlegmatic men/'
observed,

(e

unsatisfactory.

it

has been well

because they possess but

little

power

of controlling the affections of others, and perhaps

have seen that power abused, would almost banish


its
it

use where

God

under salutary

direction.

proofs

and

has given

restraints,

it,

and giving

The mathematician
demonstrations

looks for subtle disquisitions


after syllogisms

instead of laying

it

a salutary

values nothing but


the

metaphysician

the logician searches

and the elegant scholar watches

55

IGNATIUS.

turning of the periods;

the

while

the mass of

hearers always have, and always will, bid high for

But the just and compenature of the end

nothing but emotion.


tent

judge inquires

into the

pursued, and the fitness of the means to that end,

which

under

circumstances

the

in

were

they

employed/'*
Zeal to preserve his people from the contagion
of false doctriae was another prominent trait in
the

Not contented with

character of Ignatius.

feeding

with the sincere

milk of the

Word, he solemnly warned them


<c
beasts in the shape of men
tics ;j

against here-

flock

his

indeed,

conversion,

;"

for

whose

they were fervently to

pray,

but utterly to abjure their society.

Anxious

render every part of Divine worship

to

edifying as

as

attention to

troduced

psalmody

into

Ignatius paid

possible,

his

and

church

for

this

adopted

in

all

the

purpose

Antioch

at

singing, which seems shortly after

particular

to

in-

responsive

have been

Christian assemblies.

This

we may

readily

delightful part of religious service

suppose must have been peculiarly interesting to

* Memoirs of the Rev. George Patrick.


+

Two

of Christ

heresies at a very early period crept into the


;

The Gnostics held

Ignatius,) and that of the Ebionites.

the

Church

that of the Gnostics or Docetas, (here referred to

by

that

body of Christ was only a phantom ; and, consequently, that

he was never really incarnate, or really suffered.

looked upon Christ as a mere

man

and thus

The

Ebionites

both of them

virtually denied the grand doctrine of the atonement,

56

IGNATIUS.

a man of

warmth and ardent

his constitutional

We

piety.

may

behold in imagination

vene-

this

rable prelate directing the method, and supplying*

the subject, in this part of sacred worship

one

at

time exciting the acknowledgment of mercies received., at

another anticipating promised blessings

now tuning
tence,,

his

harp

and now

to the

mournful strain of peni-

to the enlivening

song of rejoicing

faith.

Pliny's reference to the custom of the Christians

joining in singing

hymns

is

well

worthy of

recol-

In his letter to the

emperor Trajan,

amongst other practices of the

Christians, he re-

lection.

marks, that they were accustomed on an appointed

day to sing hymns to Christ as a Deity.

cir-

cumstance which not merely points out the conspicuous place which

singing occupied in

manner of worship, but also


cal evidence of the Godhead
nerally

acknowledged

in the

their

affords an unequivo-

of Christ being gefirst

ages of Chris-

tianity.

The

author cannot here refrain from express-

ing his regret, that so


this

little

attention

paid to

is

animating part of Divine worship in the ge-

nerality of our

churches.

How much

is it

to

be

lamented, that the coarse doggrel of the old version


of Psalms, and the smooth insipidity of the new,
are not exchanged for more edifying compositions.

when properly conducted, has ever been


found a most powerful mean of keeping alive the
Singing,

spirit

of genuine religion in a congregation

where-

5?

IGNATIUS.
as,

when

otherwise performed,

it

has invariably

proved an unmeaning,, tedious, and disgusting cere-

mony.

We

defer a

more

particular notice of Ignatius's

views of the grand doctrines of the Gospel,


consider

his epistles,

carried as a prisoner

till

we

which were written whilst


to

Rome, and

contain

unequivocal proof of the soundness of


well as the elevation of his piety.

an

his faith, as

But a short

character of him drawn by the Christians

who

ac-

companied him from Antioch, and were eye-witnesses of his sufferings,

may here

not improperly

be inserted, and close this period of his history.


" Ignatius was a man in all things like to the
apostles.

As a good governor by the helm of

prayer and fasting, by the constancy of


trine

his

doc-

and spiritual labour, he withstood the raging

floods of persecution.

Like a Divine lamp he en-

lightened the hearts of the faithful by his luminous


exposition of the holy Scriptures

and,

lastly,

to

preserve his church, he scrupled not freely to ex-

pose himself to a bitter death."*


* Relation of the ipartyrflom of %natius r

58

IGNATIUS.

CHAPTER II.
Trajan persecutes the Christians.
him, and

condemned

is

Poly carp and


*rr

to

Ignatius appears before


martyrdom, Meets

suffer

Rome*

other Christians on his journey to

Writes several Epistles.

The

emperor Trajan, though described by

his-

torians as remarkable for his clemency,

was

for

many

His zeal

in

years an opposer of the Christians.

behalf of Paganism,

connection

in

with

his

dread of conspiracies, led him to regard with the

utmost jealousy and distrust any associations

and

his subjects,
cieties,

among

pass a law by which

to

all

which were not supported by the royal au-

were Considered

thority,

nurseries

prohibited,

as illegal

of disorder and

sanction of

tfeis

being reputed

sedition.

edict Christian

Under the

assemblies were

and the most excellent of men were

persecuted in all parts of the empire.

were

bers of them

Great num-

pui to death, as well in popular

tumults, as by edicts and judicial proceedings.


this persecution,

ment, bishop

of

as

we have
;

of Jerusalem,

twenty yearls
crucified,

old,

In

already related, Cle-

Rome,, was condemned

thrown into jthe sea


bishop

so-

to

be

and the venerable Simeon,


though

an hundred

and

was severely scourged, and then


i

59

IGNATIUS.

A modern

writer,

who appears

accurately to

have studied the character of Ignatius, has in a


conversation between him and his deacons, Aga-

thopus and Philo, referred to the real cause of the


persecution, and graphically represented the readiness of the Christians in those days to suffer mar-

The

tyrdom.

conversation

is

indeed imaginary

but the sentiments are so appropriate, and cast so

much

on

light

this

part of the history, that the

Reader may not be displeased with

their insertion.

Ignatius.

Do you not think it strange, Agathopus


And Philo, ministers and witnesses
Of

the mere love and innocent

Of

Christians, that they should be hated thus

meek

life
?

Agathopus.

The laws of Christ condemn


And gall it to revenge.

a vicious world,

Ignatius.

Though
Yet

still

our

human

Poor instruments

t'

that be true,

foes are chiefly

found

exert a foreign malice,

Whose depth and horror is beyond the heart


Of silly flesh and blood. That ancient rival
Of God's dear Son pursues the Potentate
In us his subjects, and retains the nations

With

all

To form

When

the enchanting sweet and power of evil,


his

wretched pomp and

fight his

war.

Heathen hosts attack'd of old the race

Of chosen

Israel, t'was in truth a siege

Sustain'd by Jesus in his

little fort

From

Then

the dark legions.

the outstretch'd arm,

60

IGNATIUS.
But now the

As

How

cross,

Tell me, therefore.

must conquer.

your ministries you have observ'd,

in

would

my

flock receive that bitter cup

Philo.

Firm

in the faith.

Agathopus.
Ardent

martyrdom

for

man
Give me/

I yesterday convey'd to a poor

His dole of public alms


4

But one day's bread

said he,

'

hope to want no more/

JIusband and wife, and other friends, take leave

Each time they

're call'd

As not

till

When
6

meet

to

at their

Poor hands

At meals

No

is

work,
this

world of

Fulfil

their years,

your

They seem

mark

'

He

cries,

His

spirit half

come

shackles.

For the grand

to need

Shan't

we

die too

of the night

wave him to the tortures


!'

And when

he wakes, he finds

loosen'd from his mortal prison,

The women now think


But

of no ornaments

Every bosom, weak before,


trial

a big soul reserves.

Already to the lot of martyrs rais'd,

Every face more shining^

All see each other.

And more

august each

little

threshold seems*

Jgnatius.
I

But

glad
I 've

my

May

people are so well prepar'd

a secret hope, that Providence

Means not

so

much

!'

all their father says,


?

'

task,' they cry,

Children, intelligent

Look in hfs face and cry


The father in the slumbers
Sees a bright angel

sight,

spirits.

drudgery will soon be o'er

Scripture read

earthly food.

Above

from one another's

in the

the blow of persecution

light indeed, but yet stop short of them.

61

IGNATIUS.
Trajanus

Most

is

accounted far from cruel,

gentle in the general, and

Perhaps

will content

it

him

humane

to chastise

Numbers in one. How joyfully should I


Buy the flock's safety with my single danger

!*

In the year 107, Trajan visited Antioch in his

way

to the

Elated with his recent

Parthian war.

conquest of the Scythians and Dacians, who, during the reign of Domitian, had insulted with impunity the majesty of Rome, the emperor entered
the city with

According
mediately

all

to his

the solemn

custom

to

of a triumph.

in other places,

he im-

enquired respecting the prosperity of

the Christians, foolishly


jurious

pomp

his

own

deeming

their success in-

and

celebrity,

also

probably

fearing that their religion would ultimately over-

throw the

ancient

Pagan

establishments.

sooner did the report of the

emperor's

own danger,

reach Ignatius, than, regardless of his


this intrepid servant

of

No

enquiry

God came unrequired

into

his presence.

The

conduct of Ignatius on

this

occasion has

been condemned as exceedingly precipitate, and


tending rather to
royal persecutor.

irritate

than allay the fury of the

It is certain that

the believer in

Christ should neither needlessly court persecution,

nor cowardly shrink from

which

errs

is

it.

The

zeal,

however,

worthy of our respect, whilst that

worldly prudence, which contrives every mean de* Gambold's Tragedy of Ignatius,

62

IGNATIUS*

vice to avoid the

After

sure.

deserves our severest cen-

cross,,

by no means

all, it is

conduct of

this Christian

cated.

is

It

hero

evident, that the

may

not be vindi-

probable that he conceived that

this

display of courage would not be displeasing to a

warlike prince, and his testimony to the innocence

We

of the Christians might not be heard in vain.

are too apt to determine respecting the propriety


of actions by the result, forgetting that duty

ours,

is

and events are God's.

As soon

as Ignatius

was introduced

into the pre-

sence of the emperor, he was addressed by him in

manner

the following

What

cc
:

art thou, thus to transgress our

same

inveigle others into the

He

firmly replied,

called so

for

all

t(

am

dissolve

all

said Trajan,

"

is

be

me wicked

call

confess the

through

their snares

King/ cc And
Theophorus ?" (C He who
5

the support of Christ the heavenly

who,"

to

departed from

hostile to evil spirits,

For

charge.

you

if

to

folly to their ruin \"

spirits are

But

spirit

commands, and

Theophorus ought not

wicked

the servants of God.

because

an impious

has Christ in his breast," rejoined the hero.

And

thinkest thou not," enquired the emperor,

<:

that

gods reside in us

enemies?"

"

also,

You

who

mistake," replied Ignatius,

calling the evil spirits of the

there

is

only one God,

earth, the sea

and

fight for us against our

all

Heathens gods.

dom be my

portion

in

For

who made heaven and

that

is

in

them

Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son


!"

ec

and one

whose king-

Trajan contemptuously ex-

63

IGNATIUS.
cc

claimed,

His kingdom, do you

crucified under
((

natius,

has put

who

Pilate

crucified

ic

?**

my

say,

who was

&h," answered Igand

sin with its author,

the fraud and malice of Satan under

all

who

the feet of those

carry

Him

in their heart."

" Dost thou then/' continued the emperor, (C carry


Him that was crucified within thee ?" " I do," replied the venerable saint,

ff

for

written,

it is

will

dwell in them, and icalk in them/'*

by the undaunted courage of the mar-

Irritated

a courage which in any other cause he would

tyr,

have admired, the emperor endeavoured to shake


But, finding him inflexi-

constancy by threats.

his

he pronounced upon him the following sen-

ble,

tence

cc
:

Since Ignatius confesses, that he carries

within himself

Him

that

that he be carried,

Rome,

was

crucified,

bound by

we command

soldiers,

to

Great

there to be thrown to the wild beasts for the

entertainment of the people."

During the whole of the interview we may conceive Ignatius standing before the
firm

and manly

air

emperor with a

collected in himself, yet pro-

bably not without anxiety for the issue of the con-

But no sooner had he heard the

ference.

final

sentence, than every painful feeling vanished from


his breast

countenance brightened, and

his

exclaimed,

cc

thank thee,

his

At length he joyfully

eyes glistened with delight.

Lord, that thou hast

me with a perfect love towards


thought me worthy with the apos-

vouchsafed to honour

Thee
tle

Paul

and hast
to

be put in iron

fetters."

* Martyrdom of Ignatius.

Having

said

64

IGNATIU5.

this,,

we

are told, he joyfully put on his bonds

and then having prayed


1

mended

it

away, "

and com-

for the church,

with tears unto the Lord, he was hurried

like

a choice ram, the leader of a good

by the brutish soldiers."*

flock,

Thus was

Ignatius enabled to profess his firm

belief in that consolatory

and Scriptural doctrine

of the close union which subsists between the believer

and the Lord Jesus Christ, and

from

his

own

to

experience the support

amidst the greatest

trials.

fc

The

manifest
it

affords

doctrine

of

union with Christ by faith," remarks Mr. Milner,


rf

now

so

much

And if
we shall

glory.
these,

ridiculed, appears here in

we be

ever

feel the

its full

called to scenes like

need of

it

strongly,

and be

sensible of the impotence of those schemes of

mere

human

invention, which are often substituted in

room.

Christ within can alone support the heart in

the hour of severe

trial

proud philosophers

is

its

the boasted moral virtue of

radically defective

and un-

sound, "f
It has

been observed that

it

is

not a

little

re-

markable, that Trajan should have sent Ignatius so

long and expensive a journey for execution,


stead of inflicting

Probably, the emperor wished to

an example of

more

this

Martyrdom of

t History of the

make

so public

ringleader of the sect, at once

effectually to intimidate the

of Christians he had

in-

upon him summary punishment.

left at

Rome, and

Ignatius.

Church of

numerous body

Christ.

at the

same

65

IGNATIUS.

own conduct
What-

time to excite the magistrates by his

to carry on the persecution with vigour.

ever were his motives,, Divine Providence made

it

a means of advancing" the interest of the Gospel.


In consequence of this respite Ignatius was enabled to manifest the blessed support which

real

Christianity will afford, and also gladden the hearts

of thousands by his instructive conversation and

Being now obliged

epistles.

to

from the

desist

public duties of his charge, he had a fine opportunity for giving

all

the feelings of

Standing as on an eminence, he reviewed

his soul.
his

scope to

full

re-examined the ground of

life,

anticipated the crown

his

hope, and

which awaited him with a

" joy unspeakable and full of glory."


Being consigned to a guard of

ten

soldiers,

Ignatius took a final leave of his beloved Antioch

accompanied by Philo and Agathopus,

and,

his

deacons, he was conducted on foot to Seleucia, a


sea-port,

about sixteen miles from Antioch,

very place
sailed

and

the

from which Paul and Barnabas had

for Cyprus.

after a tedious

They here went on


voyage arrived

at

boards

Smyrna, a

city of Ionia.

Whilst the ship remained

in port, Ignatius

was

allowed the pleasure of visiting his friend Poly-

These good men had

carp, bishop of the place.

been fellow-disciples of

St.

meeting was accompanied

in

John.

Doubtless

this

each with feelings of

a peculiar character, but not of grief and despondency.

So

far

was Poly carp from being dejected

66

IGNATIUS.

by the circumstances of

his friend.,

enabled to rejoice with

him

tivity,

and the prospect of

administered

him

to

he was

that

cap-

in his present

He

his violent death.

encourage-

every possible

ment, and fervently exhorted him to a firm and

Indeed the nature of

patient perseverance.

interview

be conceived by those

can adequately

know from experience


Divine love, and how it operates

the

alone, who.

ei

of real Christians.

dern writer,
child of

<c

There

a responsive

remarks a mo-

is/'

string in

every real

whenever they meet, and under

whatever circumstances; and,

them

power of

in the breasts

God, that harmonizes with the experience

of their brethren,

tact,

this

the love of
in

one

God

spirit.

in Christ

This

drops in con-

like

our Lord unites

is

a joy that the

"
stranger intermeddleth not with/

During the continuance of Ignatius at Smyrna,


the bishops, presbyters, and deacons, of the neighbouring churches came to visit him, to partake
of his prayers and blessing, and to encourage him
to stedfastness.

tions

from

place

this

of

we

exhorta-

to these visitors,

he wrote

four interesting letters,

Ephesus,

Rome.
Here another
to

with the

satisfied

he personally gave

churches

are

Not

Magnesia,

seems

difficulty

account for

the

to

Tralles,

to occur.

circumstance,

the

and

How
that

guarded and conducted by a band of


ferocious soldiers, as he himself describes them,
Ignatius,

should have been allowed

free intercourse

with

67

IGNATIUS.

various communities of Christians, and opportunity


to write epistles

he passed
given

To

in different

this

a satisfactory

who

the Christians,

money

offered

custody,

in

He

answer.

supposes that

attended or visited the martyr,

who were charged with

him the

and corresponding with


a passage

through which

Dr. Jortin appears to have

to those

allow

to

cities

his

liberty of

conversing

friends.

And from

the

his epistle to

his

Romans

this

con-

jecture appears to be probable,- as well as that


the ruffian guards granted this favour in a surly

and insolent manner.

They

would, however, with-

out doubt, have allowed him to write any

number

of letters on the same terms.

These

epistles are evidently the

work of a man

not acquainted with the learning of the schools,

nor attentive to the niceties of composition, but of

one who conceives boldly, and who, by expressing


the spontaneous feelings of a heart glowing with

God and man, conveys

love to
to the

minds of

solations of
for those,

a lively impression

his readers of the

genuine religion.

nature and con-

Happy

will

it

wh^, by the perusal of them, are led

imitate his

be
to

benevolence to man, and his piety to

God!

The

following advice, which he gives

to the

Ephesian church respecting their conduct to unbelievers

cvjtuv

and

pctWov

heretics,

UsaQyjTsvQijsat.

is

worthy of the serious

Epistle to the

f2

Romans.

68

TGNATIUS.

and imitation of Christians

attention
IC

Pray earnestly

there

in

them without ceasing,

for

for

hope of their being converted, and savingly

is

brought

to

Afford them an opportunity of

God,

being instructed, at

from your works.

least,

ye meek, when they are angry


are boastful.

Return your

phemies

to their error

and

lowly,

Be

when they

prayers for their blas-

oppose your

stedfast-

Take heed that no plant


be found among you. But continue

ness in the faith.


devil

ages.

all

of the
in all

holiness and sobriety, through Jesus Christ, both


in

body and

spirit/'

The same

epistle affords us

a pleasing

illustra-

tion of the unaffected humility of Ignatius.

He

alone appeared unconscious of those eminent attainments, which excited the admiration of the Christian

w orld.
T

ec

Far be
ff

venerable bishop,
I

were any one

name,

Now
my

am

for although 1

not yet

begin to be a

faith, in

in long suffering.

But

to

be

to exhort

silent

you

to the will of

for

His

and address you as


need of being

admonition, in patience,

since love will not permit

concerning you,
to

am bound

stand in

upheld by you in

me

you, as though

perfected in Jesus Christ,


disciple,

Truly

teachers.

from me/' remarks the

it

to dictate to

have presumed

run together with me, according

God."

But whilst Ignatius speaks thus humbly of himself,

he highly extols their bishop Onesimus, pro-

bably none other than the once fugitive slave of

Philemon referred

to

by

St, Paul,

He

also

recom-

69

IGNATIUS.

mends the most perfect union among the members,


and enforces, perhaps in somewhat too elevated a

The

tone of authority, subjection to the bishop.

learned Dr. Jortin, after acknowledging that Ignatius

went too

his expressions, pleads as his

far in

He

apology the state of the times.


observes, that
tics,

who

in

fC

it

was

ill

be feared

lest the

here-

those days were vile persons, should

seduce the unwary

have proved

to

then properly

fatal

and mutual quarrels might

to the

common

cause.

house

cemented, and beaten with the storms of per-

secution, could not have stood."*

The

proper Deity, humanity, and atonement, of

Christ, are distinctly set forth

" The cross

following passage.

of offence to unbelievers
it is

Where

is

boasting of those

is,

in the

indeed, a cause

but to them that believe

salvation and eternal

man?

by Ignatius

life.

Where is the wise


Where is the

the disputer?

who

For

are called intelligent?

our God, Jesus Christ, was conceived

in the

womb

of Mary, according to the dispensation of God, of


the seed of David, and by the Holy Ghost

was born and baptized,

that

by

his

and

baptism he

might purify the water. "f


* Jortin's Remarks on
+ There
sion,

is

Ecclesiastical History.

a remarkable coincidence between this last expres-

and the language of our Church

in the first collect of the

baptismal service:

" Almighty and everlasting God, who of Thy great mercy


Noah and his family in the ark from perishing by
water ; aud also didst safely lead the children of Israel Thj

didst save

70

IGNATIUS.

new

Shortly afterwards he remarks, that a

star

its light above


" Hence/' he continues, " the

shone from heaven, and sent out


other stars.

all

powers of magic were


of wickedness

and every band


Hence ignorance was

dissolved,

destroyed.

purged away, and ancient tyranny overthrown

God Himself appearing

a work which was perfected

human form for the


For He commenced
by God. Hence all

things were shaken, because

He

introduction of eternal

lition of

In

in

life.

designed the abo-

death."

his epistle to

the

same holy contempt

Romans, he manifests the

for

earthly

things

as

the

apostles had done, and great spirituality of mind.


Still,

however,

his

desire

for

martyrdom

is

evi-

dently excessive, and cannot be reconciled with an


entire submission to the will of God.

says he,
all,

tc

to the

churches; and signify

that I die willingly for

me.

<s

to

them

God, unless you prevent

I beseech you, therefore,

unseasonable love towards me.


the wild beasts, that they

I write/'

not to manifest an

Rather encourage

may become my

sepul-

and leave nothing of my body, so that when


am asleep no one may have the trouble of paying me any funeral, rites.
" From Syria to Rome I fight with wild beasts,
both by land and sea, by night and day. I am
chre,

people through the

Red

Sea 3 figuring thereby

Thy holy

baptism;

and by the baptism of Thy well-beloved Son Jesus Christ

in

the river Jordan, didst sanctify water to the mystical washing


2.

way

of sin, &c."

71

IGNATIUS.

chained to ten leopards

a band

made even worse by

are

yet

who

the gratuities bestowed

By their injuries I am made


am I not hereby justified.

upon them.
disciple

of soldiers

a better

long to

enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for


I

pray that they

whom

will

them

suffer

whom

may be eager

even provoke

to

me

treat

to

do their work

know what

begin to be a disciple

Let

of wild beasts,

let

nor

shall

and the

fire

Now

desirable for me.

others,

crave your

may

obtain

cross, let the

tcarings and rendings,

torments of the

all

let

so that

but enjoy the presence of Jesus Christ.

world and
I

all its

would rather

kingdoms

will profit

Him

me

may
The

nothing.

sway the sceptre

die for Christ than

of universal empire

the

the malicious

come upon me,

devil,

rage

let dis-

persion of bones, and absorption of limbs,

grinding of the whole body, and

any thing move

of things visible or invisible, that

Jesus Christ.

some

as they have

is

devour me, and not

they seemed afraid to touch.

pardon

me

to

me

seek

who

died for

Him I desire who rose again for us. Pardon


cast no obstacles in my way to
me, my brethren
life eternal; permit me to enjoy the pure light of
us

glory.

When

man

Allow me, then, to imitate the sufGod


If any one has Christ within
of my God.

of

ferings

him,

let

arrive there, I shall indeed be a

him conceive what

with me, knowing

how

I feel,

am

prince of this world wishes to


purpose, and corrupt

my

and sympathize

The
draw me from my
straitened.

resolutions towards God,

72

IGNATIUS.

Let no one of you, then,


join yourselves to me, that

assist
is,

him, but rather

in fact, to

God.

ec

Beware of speaking about Jesus Christ, and


at the same time harbouring- any desire after this
world.
Even if, when present with you, I exhort
you so

which

to the things
I write

be not persuaded, but rather consent

to do,

now

now

Living

address to you.

My

to you, but I desire to die.

Love

me a fire that
needs to be quenched by water, but One that lives
and speaks within me, saying,
Come to the
crucified

is

there

not within

is

'

have no delight in the bread that

Father/

perisheth,

nor in the pleasures

long for the Bread of

God the

Christ, of the seed of David;

His blood, which

is

of this

and

flesh

life.

of Jesus

I desire to

drink

incorruptible love V*

After they had remained some time at Smyrna,


his keepers, impatient of their stay,

bly

which proba-

had been protracted by some maritime impedi-

ment, sailed with him for Troas, a noted city of


Lesser Phrygia, not far from Ihe ruins of ancient

On

Troy.

their arrival,

pleasing intelligence

ceased* at Antioch

of

Ignatius

the

persecution

and here, as

* Eusebius has justly represented the


on

this mitigation^ for

the persecution.

which

it

but that

it

received the

at

having

Smyrna, the

state of the Christians

cannot properly be termed cessation^ of

" Trajan,"

says he,

" gave

a rescript, in

was decreed that Christians should not be sought out,


if

they were convicted, they should be punished, by

which, though the violence of the storm seemed to be in some

measure abated, yet

ill

disposed persons

still

found opportunities

73

IGNATIUS.

rigours of his captivity were softened by the company of Christian brethren.


Again we are reminded of the superiority of that

friendship which exists between real Christians to


that

which

is

of pleasure

more

experienced by the professed votaries


the former are united together by ties

and indissoluble than those of consan-

close

guinity, whereas the very endearments of the latter

are

for the

most part without benevolence, and

their familiarity without confidence.

Besides the pleasing interviews which Ignatius

enjoyed with the pious inhabitants of Troas, he

was

also

permitted freely to discourse with the

deputies from the different churches in the neigh-

bouring country

probably from the

his guards,

same mercenary motives as at Smyrna, not depriving him of this privilege. He also availed himself
of this opportunity of writing to his beloved friend

Polycarp, and to the churches at Philadelphia and

Smyrna.

In

of these letters he speaks in the

all

most affectionate terms of

his

deserted

flock

at

Antioch, and requests that persons might be sent


to console

them under

his loss,

and

to congratulate

them on the abatement of the persecution.


In his epistle to the church at Philadelphia he
to exert their malice, whilst sometimes the populace, and some-

times the governors,

Thus

were contriving ways to oppress them.

the persecution, though

in different places

was not general, was kept up

and many of the

various trials and afflictions^

tyrdom."

it

faithful

were exposed to

and obtained the honour of mar-

i*

IGNATIUS.

thus strongly

righteous

testifies

abhorrence of a

bis

and the simplicity of

spirit,

self-

his Christian

" If any preach not of Jesus Christ, they

faith.

are mere monuments and sepulchres of the dead,

on which are

The

only written the

objects dear to

me

names of men.

are Jesus Christ, His cross,

His death, His resurrection, and the


is

to

in them, by which

I desire,

faith

which

through your prayers,

be justified/'

specious zeal for moral duties arising from an

ignorance of

vital godliness,

or,

in

other words,

the substitution of morality for religion, has been

many modern
were unknown in the

a source of great evil to

churches.

Such attempts

primitive

Fheir venerable pastor gave

church of Antipch.
to the

grand doctrines of the Gospel

prominency, and

at

their native

the same time secured to

all

the parts of Christian obedience their due regard,


in the only

that

is,

way

in

which

it

can be done effectually,

by representing them as springing out of

a believing union with Christ, the living Head, and


as being acceptable to

ing intercession.

from Christianity

On
its

God

only through His avail-

the other hand, to withdraw

most distinguishing doctrines,

or to maintain them in a partial and imperfect

manner,

is

to seal

up or

pollute the springs

whence

the living and fertilizing waters of genuine piety

and active benevolence are derived.

The

sequence must inevitably be a dearth of

those

which should animate the mind of a


and of those good works, which should

principles,

believer,

all

con-

75

IGNATIUS.

render the religion of Christ a blessing to mankind.

The

of Ignatius to Polycarp contains a

epistle

graphical statement of the duties and character of


the faithful pastor, and deserves to be seriously read

by

To

ministers.

tive

watch with a

pray without ceasing

to

spirit

ever atten-

speak to each

to

member of the church separately to seek


by name and to advise with every one
;

flock on the article of marriage

he earnestly enforces on

There

is,,

of the

are duties

which

his friend.

religion

running

through

all

his

Polycarp has left this attestation of their

epistles.

excellence
all

all

indeed, a rich vein of sound instruction

and practical

of

out

" they treat of faith and patience, and

things that pertain to edification in the

To

Jesus."

this

testimony

we may

Lord

add, that while

these epistles discover the piety and faithfulness of


their

writer,

they

also

exhibit the strong sense

which the Church then entertained of the infinite


importance of the doctrines of Christ's Godhead,
humanity, and priesthood.

And

they

shew

that

these doctrines constituted the faith, and were the


pillars

on which the edifice of Christian charity,

patience,

and

It must,

holiness, rested.

however, be acknowledged, that there

are some sentiments in

respecting the

the epistles of Ignatius,

authority

ecclesiastical officers,

of

bishops

and other

which can hardly be

justified

by the Scriptures, and are certainly expressed in


And it is probable that
very unguarded terms.

76

IGNATIUS.

these intemperate expressions were in after-age*

brought forward

Rome in the
authority.*
The best
church of

remembered, are but

we

fore, whilst

of the

support the bishops

to

most flagrant abuse of their


of men,

should ever be

it

creatures

fallible

and, there-

highly reverence them as the excel-

lent of the earth,

it is

our duty to follow them no

farther than they follow Christ.

After

all,

it

is

well worthy of notice that the

three orders of bishops, presbyters, and deacons,

are plainly represented in these epistles as recog-

The

nized at this early period.

holding the presidency in the church,

scribed as

f " If

I,

bishops are de-

during the short interval I was with your bishop,

enjoyed such heavenly and spiritual intercourse with him,

must

you

I felicitate

in being so joined to

to Jesus Christ, and Jesus

him

how

as the church

is

Christ to the Father, so that all

may agree in the same unity!" Epistle to the Ephesians.


a Whomsoever the Master of the house sends to be over his own
household, we ought to receive, even as we would Him that sent

things

him.

It is, therefore, evident that

bishop as

" Be

we would upon

all

we ought

the Lord."

to look

obedient to your bishop, as Jesus Christ was to the

Father; and to the presbyters, as to the apostles.


also reverence as the ordinance of

church

upon the

Epistle to the Ephesians.

affairs

God.

The deacons

Let no man meddle

without order from the bishop.

It

is

in

not lawful

without the bishop to baptize, or to celebrate a love-feast.

Whatever he

shall approve of, that

so that whatever

is

done,

may

is

also pleasing unto

be sure and well done."

God;

Epistle

to the Smyrneans.

" Reverence

the deacons as Jesus Christ, and consider the

bishop as the representative of the Father of all."


the Trallians.

Epistle to

17

IGNATIUS.

God

as the representatives of

the Father, and of

Jesus Christ; the presbyters as supplying the


of apostles;

and the deacons

inferior situation in the

occupying' an
" In the pre-

as

ministry.

sent age/' remarks Mr. Collinson, "

bounds seem
science,

it is

deration

to

office

which no

in

be set to claims of liberty of con-

deserving of the most serious consi-

among

chief topic

that the

Christians,

upon by the two apostolical fathers, Clement and Ignatius, is Church union and the great

insisted

object of their writings

is

to dissuade

men from

separating, for sligU pretences, from their lawful

We do

pastors.

not endeavour to persuade any

to act so as to do violence to

but we wish to shew that


private opinion

way; and

should

it

is

their

consciences;

God

the will of

that

on many occasions give

that individuals, instead of arrogating

continual right of choosing and judging for themselves, should

consider that without some submis-

sion there can, in great societies, be

concord,

which are most

no union and

acceptable

God's

in

sight."*

From Troas

the holy bishop and his attendants

sailed to Neapolis, a maritime

and from thence proceeded


familiar to Christian ears,
ciated

with the

to

Philippi,

personal labours and

experienced

from

a place

being inseparably asso-

writings of the apostle Paul.

again

town of Macedonia;

At

this

Christian

* Bampton Lectures.

epistolary

place they

friends

that

78

IGNATIUS,

attention

and courtesy

so congenial to Christianity,

Indeed Ignatius now appeared

like

an ascending

and every one that came in contact with


him was anxious to catch his falling* mantle.
Elijah

They

then passed on foot through Macedonia

way to Epidamnus, being accompanied by


some of the Philippian Christians. Whence again

in their

they took ship and sailed across the Adriatic, and


then, entering the

Tuscan

sea, they

came

at length

in view of Puteoli.

As great

military actions give a celebrity to the

smallest village near which they


so the

little

were performed,

town of Puteoli was viewed with con-

siderable interest by Ignatius, as the place


St.

Paul had a few years before

visited in

which

circum-

He

stances not very dissimilar to his own.

re-

quested his guards to allow him to walk from

thence to

Rome

Three Taverns,

through the Appii Forum and


that

he might thus tread

very footsteps of the great apostle.

But

however, was not granted.

in the

His request,

after a

day and

night's delay at Puteoli, a prosperous gale spring-

ing up, they were quickly brought to Ostia, a town


at the

mouth of the Tyber

ing as

much

to

the holy martyr long-

reach the end of his race, as his

keepers, weary of their charge, to deliver him into


the hands of their masters.

The

Rome, having daily expected


came in crowds to meet him their joy
in beholding him being mingled with extreme
regret in the prospect of the cruel death which
Christians at

his arrival,

79

IGNATIUS.

would soon deprive them of so venerable a

Some

of them,

saint.

seems, had influence with govern-

it

ment, which they were anxious to exert for

his

But no sooner had Ignatius ascer-

preservation.

tained their intention, than he expressed his de-

cided disapprobation of

it,

referred them to the

pleasure he derived from the consideration of his


iC

approaching- martyrdom, and entreated them

put no obstacles
to his

in his

to

now he was hastening

way,

crown/'

This conduct of Ignatius was certainly heroical


and, as such, seems to

however,

fear,,

will not

it

We

demand our admiration.

bear serious discussion.

" Ought not," enquires Mr. Milner,

cc

Roman

the

Christians to have endeavoured to save Ignatius's


life,

by

all

honest means

to hinder others

Has

any man a right

from attempting

Or

of the innocent?

to save

the

will his entreaties give

life

them

a right to be as indifferent for his preservation as

he

is

himself?

Ought

not every

man, however

prepared for death, and preferring


please, to use

answer these queries

less

to

God

If

life ?

cannot

the advantage of Igna-

Was

determination.

tyrdom excessive

if

possible methods, consistent with

all

a good conscience, to preserve his

tius's

it,

not his desire of mar-

he was wrong,

a mistake of judgment.

it

was doubt-

fear the

example

harm in this respect in the church.


Martyrdom was, we know, made too much of in

of Ignatius did

the third century

extremes

so hard

is it

to

be kept from

all

ours are generally of the opposite kindc

80

IGNATlfe
<{

These

reflections are suggested,

the example of St. Paul.

Jerusalem, though he

in part,

by

He, indeed, would go to

knew he

should be bound,

Bulrthe certainty of death was not before his eyes


and, therefore, his resolution in this case

As

similar to that of Ignatius.

is

not

the rest, he

for

took no pains to dissuade others from saving his


life.

He

took pains to save

his friends at

Rome

it

himself.

He

for deserting him.

blames

And

that

eagerness for martyrdom which Ignatius expresses


I see neither in Paul,

nor in any of the apostles.

They rather refer themselves


God in things which concern
whole there appears

God and

calmly to the will of


themselves.

in Ignatius the

love to Jesus Christ,

same

On

the

zeal for

and the same holy

contempt of earthly things, which was so eminent


in the apostles

but, I suspect, not an equal degree

of calm resignation to the Divine Will/'*

* Milner's History of the Church of

Christ.

IGNATIUS.

CHAPTER
Ignatius

is

III.

brought before the Prefect.

of

On

his

their arrival at

The circumstance

martyrdom.

Rome,

to the prefect of the city,

Ignatius was presented

who, anxious

to

make

his

punishment as conspicuous as possible, fixed on


one of their great

which occasion

it

festivals for

was customary

its

execution

to entertain

on

the

people with the bloody conflicts of gladiators, and


the fighting of wild beasts.

In

the

mean time

that resorted

were continually engaged

to him,

acts of devotion.

Ignatius, and the brethren

On

in

the morning of his execu-

down and addressed his petitions,


martyr, to the Lord Jesus Christ

tion he kneeled
like the first

earnestly beseeching

Him

to bless his

Church, to

unite his people together in love, and to put a stop


to the persecution.

He was

then hastily led to the amphitheatre, and

found that splendid building crowded with an innumerable multitude, anxious to feast their eyes on
his expiring tortures,

and manifesting their zeal for

Paganism by loud execrations of the martyr and


his God.
At length the lions were let loose, and
filled

the edifice with horrid roarings, whilst with

a haughty step they paced the spacious area, and

frowned on the surrounding company,


G

";

S%

IGNATIUS.

horror

chilling;

now pervaded the breasts of


who had accompanied

the few pious individuals,

the martyr to the closing scene of his pilgrimage,


whilst a savage joy lightened the countenances of

The

the cruel spectators.

appeared unmoved
length in that

at the

venerable bishop alone

mood of mind which

fering, he exclaimed, "

I shall

now

sports at sufas God's corn

be ground between the teeth of these wild

and become white bread

By

for

At

tremendous scene.

my

beasts,

heavenly Master.

time the lions had beheld him, and rushed

this

with open jaws upon their unshrinking prey.


shout of triumph
theatre

and

in

now echoed through the amphia moment his mournful friends

perceived that the bitterness of death was past

and the savage spectators

that their brutal sport

was ended.
" An admiration of Rome/' remarks a writer
a celebrated modern Review, "
heresies
it

which we bring

is

in

one of the worst

with us from school

and

cannot admit of a doubt that the elegance ac-

quired
authors

from an early intercourse


is

with

ancient

dearly purchased by the perverted no-

tions of glory and greatness so generally imbibed


at the

same

time.

wise teacher of youth will

always endeavour to counteract impressions


vourable to the character of the
senting them in

their true

fa-

Romans, by repre-

colours,

as a selfish,

perfidious, cruel, superstitious race of barbarians,,

endowed with
savage

life,

the scanty and doubtful virtues of a

but deformed by more than

its

ordinary

83

IGNATIUS.

excess

good

and whose original purity of manners, and

amongst themselves, did not endure a

faith

moment longer
rest of the

A
these

than

enabled them to subdue the

it

world."*

few bones were

w ere
T

all

that remained of Ignatius:

who were eye-witnesses of


honourably interred
of Antioch.

Thus

by the Christians,

collected

carefully

in

martyrdom, and

his

a cemetery near the city

commendable

decent and

respect was paid to the remains of an

eminent

martyr, similar to which other instances are re-

But by degrees

corded.

this

pious

veneration

degenerated into an abject superstition.

In the

fourth century the emperor Theodosius removed


the relics of Ignatius with great

mony

pomp and

cere-

and dedi-

built within the city,

to a temple,

cated to his memory.

Thus "

this valiant

martyr of Christ," to adopt

the language of the original writers of his martyr-

dom, " trod under

foot the devil,

and finished the

course which he had desired in Christ Jesus

Lord, by whom, and with whom,

power be
for ever

to the

all

our

glory and

Father, with the blessed Spirit,

and ever, Amen."

Ignatius

suffered

death

in

the

Trajan's reign, December 20th,

tenth

the eightieth year of his age.

* Edinburgh Review, No. 4 L2,

year of

I0T, and about

p.

396.

84

POLYCARP.

CHAPTER

I.

Poli/carp a slate to a Christian lady.

Becomes a

disciple

of the apostle John. Is ordained Bishop of Smyrna.


An account of St. John.

Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, long


survived his friend Ignatius,

whom,

in

he seems to have resembled.

spects,

many

re-

Like him he

appears the plain Christian pastor; void of any


pretensions to great attainments in
ture
his

but sound in the

faith,

human

esteeming

litera-

his labour

reward, and ready to die for the Lord Jesus.

This venerable man was born

in the East

but

the exact place of his nativity, and the circumstances of his parents, are
early period of his
sold as

Calisto.
to

life

he

is

unknown.

reported to have been

slave to a noble matron,

This lady resided

At a very

at

whose name was

Smyrna, and

is

said

have possessed a large fortune and^minent

piety.

In such a family

it

may be conjectured

that

85

POLYCARP.

our young captive experienced


rigours of slavery
to

believe

that

bcndage of

sin

of the usual

little

we have ground

especially as

he here exchanged the galling

and Satan

for

" the glorious

liberty

of the children of God/'


"

By

poets,

A liberty

unsung

and by senators unprais'd

E'en liberty of heart, deriv'd from heaven

Bought with His blood who gave

And

seal'd with the

it

to

mankind,

same token."

During Poly carp's continuance with


mistress,

her

this pious

he was not only carefully instructed by

in the

rudiments of Christianity, but enjoyed

also the privilege of attending the ministry of


colus, the vigilant

Of a youth

and holy bishop of the

so piously disposed,

Fu

place.

and so favourably

situated for Divine instruction, a minute account

would be most interesting


satisfied

but curiosity must be

with confused, and sometimes improbable,

intelligence.

On

the death of his kind benefactress, which

happened

whilst he

was

still

pears immediately to have


ciple of the apostle

mily

a youth, Polycarp ap-

become a

stated dis-

John, and an inmate in

his fa-

an event which he never after referred to

without the most lively gratitude.

The

society of

such a man must indeed have proved to every real


Christian an

unspeakable advantage

but more

particularly to a well disposed youth, like Poly-

carp,

who had

thereby an opportunity not merely

S6

POLYCARP

of obtaining-

information on the meet imponan;

subjects, but

also

unformed

of modelling' bis yet

character by that of an eminently pious, amiable,.

and inspired

Here again we look round

apostle.

with anxiety for some contemporary historian to


pourtray the family
to represent the

of his

and

circle of the venerable apostle

aged

surrounded by an Ignatius, a Papias,

life,

anxiously hanging on his

a juvenile Polycarp,

lips,

and receiving the most %aluable information


the

for

subsequent periods

saint at

regulation of their

ministerial conduct.

But,

and their

doctrines,
little

alas'.

known

can be

except what casual mention, and

in these respects,

uncertain tradition, will supply.

Wffl

it

be improper,

materials, to insert an

two

in

this

dearth of origi

ideal conversation

of his highly favoured disciples

between
written

It is

by the pen of one who seems accurately


studied the characters of these excellent
will,

men

have

and

perhaps, not prove uninteresting to the Reader.

The

conversation

is

supposed

to

have taken place

between Ignatius and Polycarp on


at

to

Smyrna; but

their

meeting

refers almost entirely to the

happy

period they had been privileged to pass together

under

roof of their apostolic preceptor.

the

few alterations are made from the

original,

POLYCARP.

u At

Jesu's name, with recollected awe,

"We'd stand adoring

As

for

With

John would drop

an old acquaintance

a smile

p-

a tear.

then correct

it

87

POLYCARP.
1

Wonder

Emotions
I

not, sons,' said he,


feels for

knew Him

And

every

that

still

my

such, most amiable and kind

little

heart

Jesus as a man.

passage of

Ilis life,

His walks, His lodging, and His plain repast^

Not without

How many

shifts of

poverty, recur.

silly questions

While He gave answers,

Would
But

let

please

me

have

we

that, with all their depth,,

Cheerful, indeed,

you, sons,

tell

ask'd Him,

He was

He was

to us

within

pensive man, and always had a load

Upon His

spirits.'

IGNATIUS.

a That was
Mourning was
Might be

Whose

for our sins.

His, that constant joy of faith

the character of our poor service,

guilt

He

bore, and

drank up

all

the curse.

POLYCARP.

"

precious door of hope

Freed by His blood

From all the mighty judgments and the plagues


Of God's last wrath, when with the chosen bands,
Into the IVew Jerusalem receiiv'd,
Shall I with

them partake triumphant

rest ?

IGNATIUS.

* Low

at the feet, not

only of great John,

But of the meanest servant of my Lord,

May

How

I be

found that day."*

long Polycarp resided with

iscertained.

But

it

appears

Si.

John

is

no*

he was yet very

* Gambold's Tragedy of Ignatius,

88

POLYCARF.

young when appointed deacon under Bucolus,


bishop of Smyrna, which

the

he discharged with

office

At length, on the de-

great labour and success.

cease of his worthy diocesan, he was, notwithstand-

ing

youth,

his

apostle John,

Thus

yet alive

by the

appointed his successor,

and those of
this

who were

brethren

his

venerable minister of Christ

received the government of the Church at

Smyrna

from those who had been eye-witnesses and minis-

Lord

ters of our

and, for the long period of se-

venty-four successive years, was spared to inculcate


those

all

important doctrines, which he had himself

learnt from the

mouth of an

apostle.

Let us here pause for a moment

to

admire the

wonderful operations of a superintending Provi-

Polycarp at length becomes an invaluable

dence.

blessing to the

Church of

Christ,

by regulating,

during many years, a numerous flock with apos-

and training up a succession of

tolical simplicity,

men for the sacred work


And how was he brought into

pious

and

situation,
it ?

ci

knew

I will lead

have not known


fore them,

things

will

them." *
whilst

them

I will

by a way that they

in

paths that they

make darkness

and crooked things


I

so important a

qualified to discharge the duties of

I will bring the blind

not

of the ministry.

do unto them,

straight.

and

not

light be-

These
forsake

In consequence of his being placed,


child,

in a state of servitude^

* Isaiah

xlii.

16.

an event

89

POLVCARP.

which he then probably considered as a great ca-

was early trained

lamity, he

in the

ways of God,

brought under the ministry of a Christian bishop,

and

at length

apostle,

made

the immediate disciple of an

who appears more

than any of his bre-

thren to have imbibed the Spirit of his Divine Master.

"

the depth of the riches both of the wis-

dom and knowledge

of

are His judgments,

and His ways past finding

out!" *

God

It is truly

in the

God

how

unsearchable

profitable to trace the

hand of

accomplishment of His own purposes.

Such an exercise when entered upon with a Chrisand regulated by Christian prudence,

tian spirit,

will increase

and excite

The
less,

ing.

the piety and humility of a believer,

his gratitude

and admiration.

vicinity of his apostolical friend was, doubt-

considered by Polycarp as an invaluable bless-

On

every emergency he would have an in-

spired teacher to consult

and would also frequently

be honoured by his company,

when he

paid his

pastoral visits to the Asiatic churches.

During the former part of Domitian's reign the


Christians appear to have been unmolested

towards the conclusion of


in cruelty,

and

at length

Nero's persecution.

it

this

but

emperor increased

renewed the horrors of

Although Polycarp appears

himself to have escaped the fury

of the storm,

this

season must have been a peculiarly

one

to him, in

afflictive

consequence of the banishment and

* Rom.

xi.

33.

90

POLYCARP.

subsequent sufferings of
apostle John.
is

by Tertullian

said

his

Previous to
to

venerable friend, the


his exile this

holy

man

have been wantonly cast by

Domitian into a cauldron of boiling

oil,

any

lously preserved from receiving

but miracu-

This

injury.

made no impression on the proud emperor's heart,* who banished him into the solitary isle of Patmos.
But in
wonderful

this

however,

preservation,

lonesome spot he received the most

guished honours

for

it

distin-

was here that he was

voured with the visions recorded

in the

Book

fa-

of the

Revelation.

This dreadful persecution was not of very long


duration.

On

the accession of

Nerva

to the throne,

the laws against the Christians appear to

been repealed

the chains of

sons confined in the prison

have

many worthy

were struck

off,

per-

and

the captives permitted to revisit their native country.

On

this

occasion John returned from Pat-

mos, and again superintended the Asiatic churches.

During one of

his

apostolical visits a singular

f Some persons have denied the reality of this miracle beno effect was produced by it on the mind of the ty-

cause
rant.

To

this it

pollutes the

may be

replied, that sin frequently not

merely

mind, but so infatuates the judgment, as com-

pletely to indispose the sinner, in matters of morality and religion, to receive conviction

dence.

Besides,

disbelieve,
desires.

he

And

is

when

from the most indubitable

a person

is

evi-

violently bent to believe or

more than half persuaded that things are

as

he

hence the most stupendous miracles are hastily

concluded by him to be either delusions and impostures, or

works performed by the agency of

evil spirits.,

91

P0LYCARP,
circumstance

where

it

recorded respecting him

is

happened was a

by some supposed
of this

city

near Ephesus

to

The

bishop.

the substance of the account, which

went

bishops, he

originally

John's

St.

of Patmos, at the request of the


the neighbouring churches,

to

ministers,

the congregations.

is

inserted in

is

On

Eusebius's Ecclesiastical History.

partly to ordain

following

was

written by Clemens Alexandrinus, and

isle

and

be Smyrna, where the subject

memoir was then

return from the

the place

and partly

Whilst

regulate

to

from

at a city not far

Ephesus, he was much struck with the appearance

and fervour of a young Christian, and warmly

commended

him

the

to

re*-

charge of the bishop.

Passing through the same place sometime afterwards, he demanded of the bishop his pledge

on

his not at first

added, "

comprehending

The young man,

committed

your custody,

to

exclaimed the bishop in


''

is

By what
dead

tain."

ther's soul

"

He

dead."

" He

I
:

" Alas V*

require/'

is

John,

claimed, "

guide."

the soul of our brother

tears,

replied the bishop,

band of robbers, who

tain of a

and

death ?" enquired the apostle.

God,"

to

his

meaning, he

in

the

vehemence

c<

and

infest this

The

me a

horse,

cap-

moun-

of his grief, ex-

appointed a good keeper for


get

is

and

let

my

bro-

me have

apostle then hastened to the place

a
;

and, as he expected, was soon taken by the robbers.

" Bring me," said he, "

The young

to

your captain."

robber saw him at a distance, and ad-

vanced to meet him with a ferocious air

but at

92

POLYCARP.

length recognizing* the apostle, he was overwhelmed

with shame, and


li

cried,

My

son,

John followed him, and

fled.

why

fliest

thou from thy father,

unarmed and old ? Fear not as yet there remaineth hope of salvation.
I will undertake for thee
;

with Christ.
lieve

me

I will

hazard

my

soul for thine.

Be-

Hearing

the

Christ hath sent me."

this,

young man stood still, trembled, and wept bitterly.


At length he embraced the apostle, and expressed
in

language, scarcely articulate for tears, the an-

guish of his mind.

John prayed, exhorted, and

brought him back to the society of the Christians


nor did he leave him,

he judged him

till

fully re-

This venerable apostle

stored by Divine grace.

died about the conclusion of the

first

century, at

the advanced age of a hundred years.

Some

little

time before his decease he was so en-

feebled with old age as to be obliged to be carried


into the different churches
liver

any long discourse,

these occasions,

tc

My

and, being unable to de-

his

custom was

on

dear children, love one ano-

On being asked, why he


one thing, he answered, " Nothing

ther/'

to say

told
else

them only
is

needed/'

P0LYCARP.

93

CHAPTER
Polj/carp

him.

by Ignatius.

visited

is

II.

Receives a

we have menby Ignatius on his way to

In the year 107, Polycarp,


tioned above, was visited

They had been

martyrdom.
apostle

letter from

Writes an epistle to the Philippians.

John

as

fellow-disciples of the

but whether they had seen each

other since that interesting period cannot

now be

ascertained, though, doubtless, the important duties

of their respective situations must have ren-

dered their

meeting on

visits to

this

each other very rare.

Their

occasion was affectionate in the

highest degree, and can be more easily conceived

The

than described.

solid

and precious

fruits of

Polycarp's ministry were most gratifying to his


friend,

and the

now were

religious

intercourse which they

permitted to enjoy with the deputies

from the neighbouring Churches afforded to all


parties the most refined pleasure and spiritual
Ignatius, like another Barnabas, when he
came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and

benefit.

exhorted them

all,

that with purpose of heart they

would cleave unto the Lord, who had done such


great things for them ; whilst Polycarp was so far
from being discouraged at the approaching martyrdom of

on

his friend,

his sufferings.

as even to congratulate

him

94

FQLYCARP.
Shortly after Poly carp was

friend,

had an opportunity of

Rome.

God

by

left

he received from him a

on

writing"

venerable

his

which he

letter,

his

journey to

After having expressed his gratitude to

he gives Polycarp

for their late intercourse,,

the most suitable advice with respect to the due

discharge of

pastoral

his

office

the benefit of

which he probably experienced to the conclusion


" I beseech thee, (says he) by the
of his life.
grace with which thou art clothed, to press for-

ward

may

in thy course,

and

obtain salvation.

to

admonish

Be

studious of that best of

Bear with

blessings, unity.

Lord doth with thee*

that they

all

men, as

all

Bear with

all

Ask

Pray without ceasing.

deed thou dost.

also

the

in love, as in-

for

more understanding than thou hast at present.


Watch, and possess a spirit ever attentive. Speak
to

each individually, as

with the infirmities of


the

God
all,

shall enable thee.

as a perfect

Bear

combatant

more labour the more reward.

'-

If thou love only the obedient disciples, thou

hast no reward

rather strive to subdue the tur-

Every wound is not cured


by the same application. Paroxysms must be mol-

bulent by meekness.

Be

by lenient embrocations.

lified

The

pent, but harmless as a dove.


thee, as a pilot

is

wanted

in

wise as a sertimes

a storm

demand
and thy

prayers will be as a secure haven to the tempesttossed ship.

God

I will

Be sober-minded

whose theme

is

as the soldier of

immortality and eternal

be thy surety, and

my

life.

bonds which thou hast

D5

POLYCARP.

Let not those who seem worthy of

loved.

credit,

Stand

but teach other doctrines, circumvent thee.


firm as the anvil to the stroke.

It is

the part of a

great wrestler to be mangled, and yet to conquer.

Improve

Consider the times

diligence daily.

in

and expect Christ, the Son of God, who


time,

all

visible

eternal,

invisible,

though

for

above

is

us

made

impalpable, and impassible, yet for us sub-

jected to suffering's, enduring

things for our sal-

all

vation.

" Let not widows be neglected.

Next

to

the

Lord, be thou their guardian. Let nothing be done


without thy cognizance; neither do thou any thing

without the mind of God.

be more frequent.

Let your assemblies

Seek out

look not slaves of either sex


puffed up
of God,

over-

yet let them not be

but serve more faithfully to the glory

that they

may

obtain from

Let them not desire

liberty.

the public

at

by name

all

cost,

lest

Him

a better

be set at liberty

to

they be found slaves of

lust.

" Exhort

the

spirit.

name

the Lord, and be

sisters to love

with their

satisfied

and

my

own husbands,

In like manner exhort

both in flesh

my

brethren in

of Jesus Christ, to love their wives even

Lord the Church.


" If any one can remain

as the

for the

honour of the Lord,

boasting
sire to

for if

be more

corrupted,

lie

boast,

he

in

a state of celibacy,

let
is

him do so without

lost

and

if

than the bishop,

noticed

Those who wish


3

to

he dehe

is

marry ought

to

96

POLYCARP.

enter into that connection with the consent of the


bishop,, that the

God, and not

marriage may be after the will of

Let

after the lusts of the flesh.

all

things be done to the honour of God."

Towards
is

the conclusion of the epistle Polycarp

approved messenger to

requested to send an

Church of Antioch to comfort its members,, and


give them every necessary information respecting
the

Ignatius appears to have

their venerable bishop.

been prevented writing himself,

consequence of

in

removal from Troas. This injunction,

his hasty

scarcely necessary to say,

was

it is

faithfully attended to.

About the time of Ignatius's martyrdom, the


pious subject of this narrative wrote an epistle to
the Philippians, which, as well as the epistles of

was

Ignatius,

for

many

years publicly read in the

Eastern churches, and has happily survived the


ravages of time.
rary fame

It

makes no pretensions

and, indeed in pathos and vigour,

ferior to those of his fellow-disciple.

however,

promote

to lite-

is

most excellent

faith

for

it

Its

is

in-

object,

directly tends to

towards our Lord Jesus Christ, and

the best feelings in the heart of every Reader.

Polycarp commences his


'

it of a martyr,

epistle

by denominating

(C

in

the true

the bonds of

the saints the diadems of such as are chosen by

and our Lord."


a abstain from

The
all

presbyters he exhorts

anger and covetousness

He

that

we

to

not

nor to be severe in

easily to believe accusations,

knowing

God

are

all

debtors by sin:"

then enforces upon the Philippians the duty of

97

PDLYCARI*.

receiving Christ, as the propitiation for sin, and

example of holiness.
" Let us, therefore, perpetually cleave

to the

Jesus

hope and pledge of our righteousness, even

to

who His own self


body on the tree, who

His

own

did no sin, neither

was

Christ

mouth

guile found in His

that

we might

bare our sins

but endured

through Him.

live

be imitators of His patience


His name,

we

glorify

Him

Let

and

for this

if

all

for us,

us, therefore,

we

suffer for

example He has

given us by Himself, and so have

He

in

we

believed.

"

afterwards offers up this holy aspiration in their

"

behalf;

Now

God and Father

the

of our Lord

Jesus Christ, and the everlasting High Priest Himself,

Son of God,

the

you up

in faith

and

Jesus

even

truth,

and

in all

Christ,

meekness and

unity, in patience

and long-suffering,

ance and purity

and grant unto you a

portion

among His

saints,

and

all

in

our Lord Jesus Christ, and

raised

Him from

also for kings,

who

for those

the dead.

and

in forbearlot

and

to us with you,

and

that are under the heavens,

to

in

Pray

who

shall believe

His Father,

for

all

saints;

that are in authority,

all

build

who
pray

and

persecute and hate you, and for the

enemies of the cross, that your


fest in all things,
'

and

that ye

fruit may be manimay be perfect in

Christ."

The
in

this

chief thing, however, that merits attention


epistle

is

the

truly

Christian

manner

in

which he mourns over one

of their presbyters,

named Valens, and

who had

his

wife,

fallen into

9S

POLYCARP.
It clearly evinces, thai

through covetousness.

sin

whilst Christian fidelity compelled

timony against

he

sin,

him

to

bear

the tenderest

felt

miseration for the person and state of the

"

am

ff

greatly grieved/' said he,

who was once

among

a presbyter

tes-

com

sinner.

for Yalens,

you,

that

he

should be so ignorant of the place that has been

Wherefore

assigned to him.

admonish you to

abstain from covetousness, and to be pure and faith-

Abstain from

ful.

For how can

all evil.

he, that

cannot govern himself, be able to

in these things

prescribe them to another

man

If a

does not

abstain from covetousness, he will be polluted with

and be judged as

idolatry,

he were a Gen-

if

But who of you are ignorant of the judg-

tile.

ment of God

Do we

not

know

that the saints

judge the world, as Paul teaches

shall

have neither perceived nor heard any


kind in you

boured, and
his

epistle.

among whom the


who are named in
For he

glories

But

thing" of this

blessed Paul la-

the beginning of

of you in

all

the

Churches, which were then acquainted with God

but we

did not then

brethren,

and

am

his wife, to

ance.

Be ye

know Him.

that ye

them

may

Wherefore,

my

exceedingly sorry both for him

whom God
also

grant genuine repent-

moderate upon

and do not regard such


to restore

this

occasion,

as enemies, but endeavour

as suffering

and erring members,

save your whole body.

ye shall edify your ownselves."

By

so doing

99

POLYCARP.

CHAPTER
Polycarp

travels to

ing the time

Rome.

III.

Differs from Amcetus respect Opposes the heresi/ of

of keeping Easter.

Mareion.

From the time that Polycarp wrote his epistle


we have no account of him for many years. We
cannot doubt he steadily pursued his Christian
course, regulated his conduct by the judicious advice

of his deceased friend Ignatius, and was

made an

unspeakable blessing- to thousands, by turning them

from darkness

to

Satan unto God.

and from the power of

light,

No

accredited annals, however,

give us any information of his labours, or of the

names and circumstances of


It is

his people.

highly probable, that, during his long pro-

and
pursuits of many young men who dedicated themtracted ministry, Polycarp directed the studies

selves to that sacred office

we have any

account

of one only, however,

namely, of Irenasus,

was afterwards the bishop of the Church

at

who

Lyons

and who ever retained the greatest regard and

re-

verence for his venerable preceptor.

During

his

long

life

Polycarp must, also fre-

quently have been called to witness the horrid ra-

vages made by persecution in the Churches of


Christ,

and the dreadful calumnies which were

eagerly propagated against them.

h2

Indeed,

it

ap~

100

POLYCARF.

pears not a

little

remarkable, that one

who

filled

so conspicuous a situation as he did was enabled to

But

weather so many and such dreadful storms.


*

there

earth

an appointed time for man upon the


and hence, in the midst of the most im-

is

minent danger, the servants of God are preserved


with sacred care until their work

About the year 158, Polycarp

is

done.

travelled to

Rome

to hold a conference with Anicetus, the bishop of

that see, respecting the time of keeping Easter.*


It is singular

portance in

that a circumstance of so

itself

little

im-

should at so early a period, and

during times of persecution, have excited so much

The one

interest in the Christian world.

were of opinion that

it

party

should be observed like

the Jewish Passover, as a fixed feast at the

moon

the other contended that

it

full

should be con-

should be

sidered as a moveable festival, and that

it

observed on the Lord's day following.

Each party

procured their own practice from apostolical tradition

Anicetus, and the generality of the

Churches, favoured the

latter practice

and the Eastern Churches, the former.

Western
Polycarp,
It is

not

improbable that they were both in the right as to


fact
to

it

being the known practice of the apostles

become

all

things to

difference,

and

place they

came

to

all

men

in

matters of in-

comply with the customs of every

to, as far as

Hence Polycarp might know

they innocently could.


that St. John,

* Eusebius and Jerome^

out of

101

POLYCARP.

prudential compliance, kept Easter upon one

this

day

at

one place, and Anicetus might be equally

certain that St. Peter observed


at

it

upon another day

The

another place, for the same reason.

then here committed was a mistake

and not

in fact,

error

judgment,

in

a disproportioned and excessive

zeal in a matter not worth contending for.

When

will

men

even good

learn to discriminate

between the comparative importance of the


sentials

well

and circumstantials of

religion

es-

were

It

every minister of the Gospel had the follow-

if

ing observation of the pious Baxter at once en-

graven in his memory, and embodied in his prac" Having most to do with ignorant miserable
tice
:

people,

am commanded by my

charity and rea-

son to treat with them of that which their salvation


lieth on,
ties

and

and not
niceties,

to dispute with

when

them on formali-

the question

be determined, whether they

presently to

shall dwell for

There

heaven, or in hell."*

is

is

ever

in

a remark also of

the excellent Philip Henry, which breathes a similar spirit

ple of

<(
:

God

In those things wherein

are agreed,

wherein they

differ,

I will

will

cording to the light that

spend

all

my

the peo-

zeal

and

endeavour to walk ac-

God

hath given me, and

charitably to believe that others do so too/'f

But though Polycarp and Anicetus


their predilection for their

* Narrative of his

life

and times,

still

retained

former opinions, they

f Life of Philip Henry,

102
felt

POLYCARP.

and manifested a sincere regard

character

and each agreed

for

each other's

to observe his

own

without any breach of Christian charity.

custom,,

In token of their attachment to each other being


unaltered, they communicated together at the

Holy

Sacrament, whilst AnicetUs, to shew his respect

and

affection for Polycarp, insisted

crating the elements.

on

his conse-

Indeed, the amiable spirit of

our Asiatic bishop seems insensibly to have excited the love of the beholder, before he

much

reason there was to admire him.

knew how

To

apply

the beautiful observation which Tacitus makes re-

specting Agricola; " A good

have judged him


that he

was

to be,

a great

man you would

and would rejoice to find

man/'*

Whilst Polycarp continued

engaged

and

in

in

Rome, he became

much more important

his labours

readily

controversy

appear to have been attended with

considerable benefit to the cause of Christianity.

The

heresy of Marcionf was at that time prevalent

in the city;

and several persons, who had once made

a profession of the true

faith,

In the mean time Marcion,


to his

in

were seduced by

order to give weight

sentiments, endeavoured to insinuate into

* Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum iibenter.


+ This heretic is supposed to have belonged to the
Docetae.

it,

He

mutilated the

rejected

New.

sect of the

the whole of the Old Testament, and

He

also denied that Christ

had a human

nature; and, in addition to these errors, held two principles


after the

manner of the Manichees,

origin of evil.

in

order to account for the

103

POLY CAR P.

the minds of the people, that there was an agree-

ment
It

and Polycarp.

doctrines between himself

in

not surprising that Marcion should

is

make such

an attempt, or that Polycarp should consider it as


his duty to use the most decisive measures to dis-

Marcion meet-

close the falsehood of the heretic.

ing him one day in the street, called out to him,


" I do/' replied the zea'f Polycarp, own
us."
lous bishop, "

own

thee

to

be the first-born of

Satan/'*

Let not the reader be

To

the expression.
those

anity

who would
is

God

blessing,

errors,

pretend to think favorably of

overturn the essentials of Christi-

it

is

the truths of

indifference to

is

whilst faithfully

situation

seventy of

not real charit} to the individuals, and at

same time

the

startled at the

out their awful

point

to

way, under the Divine

the most likely

guard real Christians against their

to

and also

to

lc

recover the unhappy heretics

themselves out of the snare of the devil,"

member

ing to spend and be spent


interests

who was

the awful language of him,


in

Lord Jesus

thema Maran-atha."

Christ,

And

will-

promoting the best

of his fellow-creatures

love not the

Re-

ff
:

let

again, "

If

any man

him be Ana-

Though we,

or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel

unto you, than that which

we have

preached,

let

him be accursed."
Polycarp had a peculiar dread of the simplicity

Irenseus's

work

against heresies.

104

POLVCARF.

of the

Christian

when erroneous
forward in
claim,

me

!"

notions in religion were brought

he would frequently ex-

his presence,

To

e<

Hence,

being corrupted.

faith

what times,

O God,

hast thou reserved

and would leave the place where he had

heard any such discourse.*

But

good bishop of Smyrna thus


boldly protested against impiety, his heart was
whilst

the

never steeled against the feelings of humanity.

We have

already had occasion to notice the tender

concern he manifested for the person of Valens,

who had
dity

disgraced his profession by flagrant cupi-

and no doubt he now

up

fully acted

to the

important advice of his deceased friend, by praying


fervently for the conversion of the heretic whilst he
utterly abjured his society.

By
tive

this

time the venerable subject of this narra-

was very

seemed

far

advanced

to possess

all

in years

but he

the energy of youth.

zeal in his Divine Master's cause indeed

abatement to the hour of

his

still

His

knew no

martyrdom.

The

portrait which the pen of inspiration has drawn of

the venerable Jewish legislator,

ec

His eye was

not dim, nor his natural force abated, "

more

characteristic of the

was not

aged Moses, than of the

aged Poly carp.


If the
off in the
-in

remark be
prime of

just, that a pious minister, cut


his life

and labours,

judgment, we may

surely add, that

* Irenaus's

Epistle to Fioriiius,

is

removed

when such

105

POLVCARP.

an one

is

continued to a people for a long series of

active and efficient services,

may appear

self

for

in this

it is

he

for glory,

spared in mercy

is

world alone that he can glorify

among

Saviour

however ripe he himhis

or promote their hap-

sinners,

piness.
li

dead

Here, he stands between the living and the

Here, he sustains the highest

human

can be devolved upon a

being,

ambassador from Christ

to

lamp

will blaze

burnt out here,

is

better world

but

it

it

will

sinners

that

office

that of an

When

his

brighter in a

be no longer a light, to

shew wretched sinners the Lamb of God which


taketh
is

away

lost

in

the sin of the world

death,

it

will

will

no more say

Behold the Lamb!

In this view

pra se;

but

a week

O
effect

it

a day an hour
!

that this

When

awake again

his voice

in

eternal

to the perishing,

how important

is

!"*

consideration produced

its

proper

on the minds of preachers and people.

How

would the former then deliver every sermon


they " ne'er should preach again ;" and the

latter

were assuredly

their

prize every ordinance as

if it

last.

* Life of the Rev. G. Patrick,

as if

106

FOLYCARP.

CHAPTER

IV.

Polj/carp appre The tircumhended^ and condemned


he burnt
martyrdom. His character.
stances of

Aurelius persecutes the Christians.

is

to

alive.

his

The whole
is

reign of Marcus Antoninus, or, as he

frequently called,

season to the

Aurelius,

Church of God.

was a most

afflictive

This emperor was

a virulent persecutor of the Christians

and

it

can-

not even be said, in extenuation of his crime, that

he oppressed them through ignorance of their

He knew

moral character.

them

them, and yet hated

and, so far from treating them with the least

commiseration, he encouraged his savage magis-

them

trates to torture

The

in the

most cruel manner.

heart sickens at recounting the miseries he

deliberately inflicted on the helpless sufferers,

turns

and

away with

and

disgust from the royal persecutor,

his cruel assassins.

may at
peror, who
It

virtues

appear remarkable, that an em-

first
is

celebrated by

historians

for

his

and accomplishments, should have mani-

fested such an unrelenting enmity to the most

harmless of his subjects.

But we behold

character by no means singular


moralist, puffed

own

attainments
3

up
;

in

him a

a self-righteous

with pride and a sense of his

and, from this very circumstance.

107

P0LYCARP.

feeling a peculiar hatred to the humiliating doci(

trines of the Gospel.

There

is,"

as Dr.

Haweis

" a hatred and inveteracy

justly remarks,

in self-

righteous all-sufficiency against the real Christian,

never

ning;

The

by the most profligate or savage.

felt

blaze of rage in a

Nero

as

is

the flash of light-

rooted enmity of an Aurelius

the

the inextinguishable

like

is

the bowels of the vol-

fire in

cano/'

The

stoical philosophy, indeed,

had a direct tendency

of this emperor

to increase his prejudices

against Christianity, and

its

Did

faithful votaries.

he hear that the Christians encountered every sort


of torment unappalled,

it

was attributed by him to

no better principle than that of


obstinacy

sullen

and

irrational

or was he informed that they closed

their lives in fervent prayer

and

praise,

this

he

considered as merely bombastic and ostentatious

parade

far different

from the magnanimous silence

and calm dignity with which


phers would meet their

fate.

his favourite philoso-

In short, the very

sentiments of Aurelius account for his being


affected with the sufferings of the martyrs.

own principles, he ought


have been moved at all.
cording to his

little

Ac-

not to

For some time before the martyrdom of Polyraged around him in its most
terrific forms.
Numbers were torn with whips,

carp, persecution

till

their very veins

others were
beasts

and

and

condemned

arteries
to

others, placed

were

laid

open

be devoured by wild

upon the

shells of sea-

108

POLYCARP.

fish,

were exposed

to

the most exquisite torments.

In short, every step was taken, and every species


of cruelty was resorted to/ that might have a ten-

dency to induce the Christians to deny


viour.
serves,

One who
tc

Much

did Satan contrive against

God, without

but, thanks to

Sa-

their

witnessed the persecution ob-

them

So supported,,

effect/'

indeed, were they by the grace of Christ during


their bitter sufferings,

The

sigh or a groan.

fire

mentors was cold to them

was

to avoid that fire

to obtain those

good

uttered a

that they seldom

which
things,

of their savage torfor their only desire

unquenchable, and

is
c(

which eye hath not

seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the

heart of man."*

During

this

tremendous season Polycarp "

in

patience possessed his soul," neither disheartened

by the fury of

his

enemies, nor hurried on by an

undue zeal to present himself before them. Cleansed


by the blood of Christ, f and eminently possessed of
that faith which overcometh the world, this aged
Christian might, with strict propriety, adopt that

language which, applied


ignorance and pride
" Let
Disturb man's

to Cato,

is

replete with

guilt or fear

rest,

Cato knows

neitfter of

them,

Indifferent in his choice to sleep or die."

At length the populace crying

out,

" Take away

the Atheists: let Polycarp be sought for;" he


* Relation of the martyrdom of

St.

Polycarp.

John

was
i.

7.

109

P0LYCARP.

induced, by the intreaties of his people, to retire to


a village at no great distance, where, with a few
friends, he

was engaged day and night

Church of

supplication for the

The

venerable saint had

storms of persecution
that the

Christ.

now weathered many

and might, perhaps, suppose

same Providence

his valuable life,

in earnest

would

that had so long preserved

also deliver

impending calamity, and

finally

him from

remove him

man

are

numbered by a wise and gracious

God, and the manner of

his

same Almighty Being.

the

to

But the

Himself by the gradual decays of nature.


days of

this

death over-ruled by

He was now

nearly at

the end of his pilgrimage, and was about to close

a long and valuable

life

by an honourable mar-

tyrdom.

Three days previous

to his death,

Polycarp was

favoured with a vision whilst engaged in prayer,


in

which

it

was

figuratively represented to him,

that he should be burnt alive.


retreat

The

place of his

was extorted from a young man of

his

household, and his enemies immediately afterwards

entered his dwelling.

time lying
the

flat

sibly

down

in

As he was, however,

at that

an upper room, connected with

roof of the house, he might

escaped them.

still

have pos-

But he now deemed

duty no longer to avoid their scrutiny

it

his

thinking

that he could not give a nobler testimony to his

uprightness and confidence in God, than by shew-

ing to the world that these were a sufficient security

to

him

in

whatever dangers he might be

10

POLYCARP.

No

involved.

sooner, therefore, had he heard that

enemies were at hand than

his

claimed, " The

will of the

he calmly ex-

Lord be done/' and

with a composed countenance entered into their


presence.

The advanced age

of Polycarp, and the sanctity

Some

of his appearance, sensibly impressed them.

of them even said, " Surely


to

it is

apprehend so old a man!"

not worth while

In the mean time,

the martyr courteously ordered refreshment to be


set before

them

to. engage in

and, having obtained permission

prayer, he stood in the midst of them,

and prayed aloud with remarkable fervour and

The

devotion for two successive hours.


tors

were astonished

at the

scene

specta-

and many of

them repented that they were come

so

to seize

divine a character.

As soon

as

he had ended

he had referred

to

the

his devotions, in

Church

various individuals that were personally

him, his guards set him on an

towards the

city.

ass,

which

and

to

known

to

in general,

and

led

him

Whilst on the road, they were

met by Herod, the Irenarch, or keeper of the


peace, and his father Nicetas,
their chariot,

and

for

who

took him into

some time, by promises and

threatenings, endeavoured to induce him to sacrifice


to the

Heathen gods.

Finding, at length, that he

remained unmoved, they abused the good old man,

and then

cast

him down from the chariot with such

violence that his thigh was severely bruised by the


fell.

He, however, cheerfully went on with

his

POLYCARP.

1 1 I

guards to the stadium, as though unhurt.

As he

was entering the assembly, a voice from heaven


said to

have addressed him

and behave yourself

carp,

saw the speaker


the voice.

"

Be

like

is

strong, Poly-

man

None

but many that were present heard

When

he was brought before the

tri-

bunal, the proconsul, struck with his appearance,


earnestly exhorted him to pity his advanced age,

swear by the fortune of Ciesar, and to say,

to

"

Away

with the Atheists," a term of reproach

The

then commonly attached to the Christians.*

* " The world," remarks the writer of Mr. Patrick's Life,

has always had bad names for good things, as well as good

names

for

bad things

and, under this disguise

who wish

indeed, yet sufficient for those

true nature of both good and evil


sight.

The

effect of a

name

sary of Christ's religion has

he has ever made of

it.

is

is

the

and the great adver-

his subtilty in the

The name

enough,

conveniently veiled from

wonderful

shewn

thin

to be deceived

ample use

of Christian once served his

purpose^, as that of Pietist, Huguenot, Puritan, &c. afterwards

The opprobious

and that of Methodist does now.

did,

its

currency once established, and

known

value

its

epithet,

becomes

the convenient substitute of argument, truth, and reason

may be
stain,

gratuitously applied, wherever

with a certainty of

its

what

is

is

easier than to call a

you

who

applies

And with equal advantage

as ease

drunkards and swearers in any parish of

when they begin


call the

and
fix

it

with

ease

bad name, the meaning of which

not one person in a thousand will ever think


?

designed to

accomplishing the end, and with

equal ease and advantage to him


for

it

it

for

this

necessary to ask

what have the

kingdom

to do,

to be disturbed in their sinful courses, but to

preacher a Methodist?

And

then, both in their

own

112

POLYCARP.

saint,

with his hand directed to the multitude, and

his eyes lifted

up
cc

tenance, said,

intimating his

heaven, with a solemn coun-

to

Away

with the Atheists ;" thereby

fervent

true religion

desire that

The

might prosper, and impiety be restrained.


proconsul
<c

still

continued to urge him to apostatize.

Reproach Christ,"

aged martyr

years have

wronged me

and

my

added,
racter,

Saviour

cc

If

hear

you

me

a Christian"
proconsul,

repent."

cc

and

then can

!"

Being

I will

Eighty and six

He

never

hath

my King

urged to recant, he

ignorance of

affect

imme-

I will

blaspheme

still

plainly declare

"

(e

replied,

served Him,

how

and

Fired with a holy indigna-

diately release you."


tion, the

cc

said he,

what

my
I

real cha-

I am

am.

have wild beasts:" said the

expose you to them, unless you

" Call them,"

tc

cried the martyr.

Christians, are determined in our minds

change from good to

evil."

I will

We,

not to

tame your

opinion, and in that of all the world, they stand fairly excused
for never minding

We

more a word that he says."

learn also, from

Dean Hodgson's

Life of Bishop Porteus,

that the zeal and piety of that truly orthodox prelate subjected

him
as

to the

Dean Hodgson

was not
his

" sweeping imputation


observes, with

" But,"
than spirit, u he

of Methodism."

no

less truth

to be deterred from pursuing the calm determination of

own mind by any calumny

whatever, and

much

less

by the

stigma of a name, a name devised by the enemies of religion for


the worst purposes, and which, as generally used, attaches indiscriminately to the ignorant

raving fanatic, and

learned, pious, and orthodox divine."

the

sound,

ri

FOLYCARP.

the other, " since

you despise
" You
the wild beasts, if you will not recant/'
cc
which
threaten me with lire," answered Polycarp,
spirit

by

fire/' said

burns for an hour; but you are ignorant of the


future judgment, and of the fireof eternal punish-

ment, reserved for the ungodly.


delay

Do what

Firm and

But why do you

you please."

intrepid he

stood before the council,

not only contemning, but even desirous of death.

In the mean time the proconsul was evidently embarrassed

but at length he sent a herald to proclaim

thrice in the assembly,

(C

Polycarp has professed

himself a Christian."

At
be

first

let

the populace desired that a lion should

out against him

but, as this could not then

conveniently be done, as the shews of wild beasts

were ended, they cried out with one


carp shall be burnt alive?"

executed with

all

voice,

The

possible speed

" Poly-

sentence was

for the

people

immediately gathered fuel from the work-shops and


baths,

the

poor

themselves in this
lice.

Jews distinguishing
employment with peculiar ma-

infatuated

In the mean

awaited his

fate,

time

the

martyr cheerfully

fearing neither death, nor

horrible form in which

it

the

was now presented to

him.

Every thing being

at length

prepared far burn-

ing him, the executioners were proceeding to nail

when he exclaimed, (c Let me


remain as I am for He who giveth me strength to
sustain the fire,, will enable me also, without being

him

to the

stake,
;

14

POLYCARP.

secured by

remain unmoved

to

nails,

in the fire."

They, therefore, only bound him.


Polycarp then offered up the following prayer.
ec

Lord God Almighty, the Father of Thy be-

Son Jesus

loved and blessed

whom

Christ, through

we have attained the knowledge of Thee


God of angels and principalities, and of every
ture,

and of

the just

all

live

in

Thy

Thee, that Thou hast vouchsafed

I bless

me

w ho
r

to this

day and

this

hour

a part in the number of

Thy

of soul and bod}

Thee

this

hast ordained,

Wherefore
bless Thee,

Thou, the

bring

martyrs in the cup

life

both

Holy

be accepted before

faithful

promised, and art

Thee

I praise

I glorify

and with whom,


Thee both now and
in

and

and true God,

now

fulfilling.

for all those things

Thee, by the eternal High

Thy

Priest, Jesus Christ,

is

to

day, as a sacrifice well savoured

acceptable, as

It

sight

in the incorruption of the

among whom may

Ghost

crea-

that I should have

of Christ, for the resurrection to eternal


7

the

beloved Son, by

whom,

the Holy Spirit, be glory to


for ever.

Amen."

probable that the ardent devotion which

characterized the

life

of this eminent servant of

God, and especially gilded the closing scene of


mortal existence,

will,

be rather attributed

by a certain

to the

his

class of readers,

extravagance of a heated

imagination, than to the operation of the Spirit of

God.
to

The

step far

author trusts he will not be thought


out of

his

way, by introducing for

their benefit the following observations,

which

will

115

POLYCARP.
not be read

with

or possess

interest,

less

less

weight, because written by the eloquent Robert

and are not

Hall,

of this

whom

life

than

they were

to
first

able writer,

this

strain

less

appropriate to the subject


in

reference to

lam

aware/' says

person

the

"

made.

" that some

of devout ecstasy

the

will object to

which characterises the

sentiments and language of this eminent saint in


his

dying moments

but

am persuaded

they will

meet with nothing, however ecstatic and elevated,


but what corresponds to the dictates of Scripture,

and the analogy of

He who

faith.

the Scriptures speak of a peace

recollects

that

which passeth

understanding, and of a joy unspeakable and

all

full

of glory, will not be offended at the lively expressions of these contained in this narrative

be more disposed

own
of

lament the low

to

state

he

will

of his

religious feeling, than to suspect the propriety

sentiments the

most rational and scriptural,

merely because they

The

reached.

nance

rise to

a pitch he has never

sacred oracles afford no

to the supposition

counte-

that devotional feelings

are to be condemned as visionary and enthusiastic

merely on account of their intenseness and elevation

provided they be of a right kind, and spring

from legitimate sources, they never teach us


suspect they can be carried too

before the Lord with

was reproached

all his

might

to

David danced

far.
;

and,

when he

for degrading himself in the eyes

of his people by indulging these transports, he


replied,

If this be to be vile, I will

make myself

116

20LYCARF.

more

That

vile/

the objects which interest the

heart in religion are infinitely more durable and

important than

and why

others,

all

should

it

will

not be disputed:

be deemed irrational

be

to

by them in a degree somewhat suitable

affected

to

their value, especially in the near prospect of their

and perfect possession

full

deemed strange and

who

has spent his

Why

irrational for

should

a dying saint

immortal

in the pursuit of

life

be

it

good, to feel an unspeakable ecstasy at finding he


has just touched the goal, finished his course^ and
in a

few moments

lasting

is

While he

to

be crowned with

dwells on

life

ever-

the inconceivably

glorious prospect before him, and feels himself lost


in

wonder and

a sense of

gratitude,

and almost opprest with

his unutterable obligations to the love of

his Creator

and Redeemer, nothing can be more

natural and proper than his sentiments and conduct.

It affords

no inconsiderable confirmation of

the truth of Christianity, that the most celebrated

of

sages

Pagan

antiquity,

whose

moments

last

have been exhibited with inimitable propriety and


beauty, present nothing equal, nor similar, nothingof that singular combination of humility and elevation,

that self-renouncing greatness in

creature appears annihilated, and


I

am much

mistaken

if

God

which the
all in

all

the serious reader will not

find in the closing scenes of this eminent Christian's


life

the most perfect form of Christianity

find

it,

not, as

it is

too often,

he

will

clouded with doubts,

and oppressed with sorrows; he

will

behold

it

117

POLYCARP.

ascend

mount,

the

encircled with the

As soon

as

transfigured,

and

glorified,

beams of celestial majesty."*


his prayer, the

Pclycarp had finished

executioner lighted the

fire,

which blazed

to a great

height; and the flame, making a kind of arch, like


the

sail

of a ship

filled

body of the holy martyr.

with wind, surrounded the

One

of the executioners

perceiving that his body was not burnt, plunged

sword into

his

flames,

it

and then cast

it

but not without having

down

was soon consumed.

another Elijah, he ascended

like
fire

where

it,

into the

And now,

a chariot of

in

communicated

first

a portion of his spirit to those around him.f

This venerable saint was martyred

in the

year

of our Lord one hundred and sixty-seven, J and

about the one hundred and twentieth year of his

own

age.

Eleven Christians suffered with him.

As some of the brethren, who had witnessed the


martyrdom of Polycarp, were gathering up his
bones

to

bury them, the Jews, their inveterate

enemies, suggested to the Heathen magistrates that


the Christians wished to pay him

Divine honors.

Their own remark on the subject

is

it

important, as

shews that they worshipped the Lord Jesus


* Hall's Preface to the Life of Jaueway.
t The author omits inserting an account of the insignificant

miraculous circumstances which are said to have accompanied

the martyrdom of Polycarp, but refers the reader to Dr. Jortin's

very ingenious and satisfactory obseryations on this subject,

in his

Remarks on

% Tillemont,

Ecclesiastical .History,

118

P0LYCARP.

Christ* and

veneration

an idolatrous

that

alo

of departed saints, so awfully prevalent in latter


cc
It
Christendom.
not possible," they observed, " for us to forsake

times,
is

was

as yet

who

Christ,

unknown

in

suffered for the salvation

of

who

all

are saved of the human race, or ever to worship

We adore

any other.

God

we

but

Him

as being" the

Son of

justly love the martyrs as disciples

of the Lord, and for their distinguished affection


to

Him."*

Thus was
this

the long protracted and useful

life

of

venerable saint at length terminated by mar-

Such appears

tyrdom.

have been the serenity

to

of his mind, that none of the accidents of

life

discompose him; and such

fortitude,

his Christian

could

that not even the severest punishments could un-

man

Raised above the vicissitudes of

him.

perishing world, he

and was willing

in

whom he had

this

believed,

that Christ should be magnified in

whether

his body,

knew
it

were by

life

or death.

In

merely human acquisitions many have been his


superiors

but in simplicity of character, apostolical

zeal, love to the Saviour,

can adorn the

life

and

in

every virtue that

of a Christian, he shines re-

splendent,
66

Velut inter ignes

Luna minores."

We

conclude this account with our Lord's ad* Relation of the martyrdom of

St.

Polycarp.

119

POLYCARP.
dress to the angel,

Church

or bishop, of the

at

Smyrna, who was most probably none other than


this

holy martyr.

epistle

as

If so,

we may regard

this short

a Divine epitome of his history.

poverty and eminent piety of Polycarp

The

the grie-

vous persecution of the Church at Smyrna, arising

from the contrivance of Satan

the

Jews persecut-

ing and misrepresenting the Christians


haps, the martyrdom of Polycarp

and, per-

are referred

to

in this epistle of our Lord.

" Unto the angel of the Church in Smyrna

These things
which was dead, and
write

and

and

tribulation,
I

saith the First,


is

alive

and the Last,

know

and poverty (but thou

thy works,
art rich)

know the blasphemy of them which say they

are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of


Satan.
suffer.

Fear none of those things which thou

shalt

Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into

may be tried and ye shall have tridays. Be thou faithful unto death, and

prison, that ye

bulation ten

I will give thee

a crown of life."*
* Rev.

ii.

810.

no

JUSTIN

MARTYR

CHAPTER
Justin

early attachment to study.

andria. Enquires
sophy, His conversion

I,

He

travels to

into the different systems

Simplicity of

faith,

of

Alexphilo->

to Christianity.

and

literary attainments, are

unhappily but seldom united in a very eminent

degree in the same individual.

The

subjects of

the preceding narratives were justly celebrated for

genuine piety and extensive usefulness, but possessed no claim to the

of learning.

title

of great divines or

As we proceed w

their successors were


scholars, but at the

far

shall

find

men
that

more distinguished

as

same time were confessedly

their inferiors in that genuine simplicity of piety,

which constituted
Justin,

their peculiar honour.

surnamed the Martyr, was a native of

Neapolis, a noted city in Samaria, anciently called

Sichem.

He was

born about the sixth year of

Trajan's reign, and about the year of our Lord

JUSTIN MARTYR.

He

103*

after those

121

appears to have been the

who

are termed apostolical, that was

Church of

His grand-

eminent

in

father's

and his
name was Bacchius
They were both Pagans the

Priscus.

the

writer,

first

Christ.

father's

latter

is

supposed by Scaliger to have been one of those

Greeks who migrated into the above-mentioned


colony.

By

the desire of his father,

gclicitous

who was

exceedingly

about his education, Justin was, at a very

early period, instructed by suitable masters in the

rudiments of Gentile philosophy.

Thus

favour-

ably situated for the excitation of latent talent,

may

we

reasonably suppose that the years of his child-

hood were distinguished by intimations of a superior mind,

and that

his

fond parent cherished san-

guine expectations of his future eminence.


After our

young philosopher had made

consi-

derable progress in various branches of literature,

he travelled into foreign parts for the improvement

making observations

of his mind in knowledge,

upon every thing

that appeared

worthy of

notice,

and contracting acquaintance with the most

cele-

At length he came

brated scholars of the day.

to

Alexandria, a city at that time of no small renown


in the literary world

and

visited the cells,

where

the celebrated seventy translators performed their

great and elaborate work.

* Tillemont; whose chronology


Justin

Interested with the

is

followed in the Life of

122

JUSTIN MARTYR.

various objects around him, Justin determined to

take up his residence in this seat of learning, and

proceeded

to investigate in succession the different

systems of philosophy which were then maintained.

He

soon, however, discovered that none could give

him

satisfactory information respecting the Deity,

which was the

chief

object

researches

of his

though the Platonic system, which was the


appeared

studied,

attractive.

he

him the most specious and

to

During

last

this period, as

he himself

after-

wards mentioned, he was convinced, from the courage and constancy of the persecuted Christians,
they were not a profligate and debauched

that

people

and

that, consequently, the horrid

brought against them were radically

charges
Still,

false.

however, he was bewildered amidst the intricate

He

mazes of philosophy.

felt,

indeed, a supreme

reverence for the as yet " unknown God


his

ec

enquiry was,

find

Him

that I

that I

knew, where

might come even

to

;"

and

might

His seat ;"*

but he had no one to take him by the hand, and


lead him in a straight

He was
stand

like a

still,

way

to the

knowledge of God.

benighted traveller, not daring to

yet fearing lest every step might remove

him farther from the right

road.

The

account he

gives of this memorable period of his

life,

Dialogue with Trypho,

instructive.

It points

wisdom

is

affecting

and

out the insufficiency of unassisted

to direct the soul to

* Job

God, and

xxiii. 3.

in his

human

clearly dis-

123

JUSTIN MARTYR.

plays the excellence and satisfactory nature of that

which he was afterwards so eminent a

religion, of

partaker.

Our author
the Stoics,

informs us, that he

hoping that they were

genuine philosophy

but

was not only unable

first

applied to

in possession

of

finding that his master

to give

him any information

respecting the nature of God, but even professed


to

regard such knowledge as unimportant, he

him, and repaired for instruction to


Peripatetics.
this

man

The

sordid spirit,

left

one of the

however, which

manifested, in settling the price of his tui-

led Justin to conclude, that truth could not

tion,

dwell with him.

Pythagorean next attracted

attention, who, requiring of

his

him a previous know-

ledge of music, astronomy, and geometry, dismissed

him

for the present, as

these

he was unfurnished with

At length he

preparatory qualifications.

applied to a Platonic philosopher, was

much

struck

with his intellectual notions, and resolved, accord-

ing

up

to the practice of that school, to give himself


to solitude

Adhering
likely

to

master;
place,

and contemplation.
to

these

be established

Justin

resolutions,
in the

seemed

doctrines of his

new

when an unforeseen circumstance took

which

led to his conversion to Christianity.

Whilst walking alone on a certain day, by the seaside,

he met an aged person, of a most venerable

appearance.

They regarded each

tual attention,

One

other with mu-

and soon entered into conversation.

question led to another,

till

at length Justin

124

JUSTIN MARTYR,

referred to the pleasure he took in private medita*


tion

and, on the stranger's hinting at the absurdity

of expecting satisfaction in his soul from merely


abstract reasonings, he declared, that his earnest

was

desire

knowledge of God, and

to arrive at the

then proceeded to expatiate on the praises of phi-

The

losophy.

venerable stranger then took occa-

sion to shew, that he attached too

to the sentiments of Plato

length

much importance

and Pythagoras, and

recommended him

at

to read the writings of

the Old Testament prophets, as more ancient, and

than

infinitely wiser,

losophers.

He

all

the works of Heathen phi-

then unfolded to him some of the

eyidences and leading doctrines of Christianity,

and concluded
portant advice

discourse

his
<{
:

the gates of light

Above

all

with this truly imthings, pray,

may be opened

to

you

that

for these

things cannot be discerned or understood by any

man, except God and His Christ impart

to

him the

knowledge of them."

That

this

Divine illumination

is

absolutely ne-

cessary to enable a person properly to understand

and

relish real godliness,

is

declared

in

various pass-

ages of the Sacred Writings, and especially


Paul's

first

epistle

to

natural man/' says he,

of the Spirit of

him

God;

the

Corinthians.

t!

in St.

The

" receiveth not the things

for they are foolishness unto

neither can he know them, because they are

spiritually discerned."*

Cor.

ii.

14.

125

JUSTIN MARTYR.

The

venerable stranger having finished his dis-

course, immediately departed, and

was never

after

His words, however, made a deep


and abiding* impression on his mind. " A Divine
flame/' he remarks, " was immediately kindled in
seen by Justin.

my

soul,

and

prophets and

felt

a sincere affection for those

excellent

friends of Christ."

From

read the Scriptures,

felt

this period

the

he carefully

an increasing interest in

important contents, and

their

who were

persons

in

due time expe-

rienced that genuine consolation which Christianity

alone can confer on the troubled mind.

we may

In the mean time


that

some experienced

reasonably suppose,

Christians, the counterpart

of Aquila and Priscilla, would take him to their


house, and expound unto him the
perfectly.

They saw

going on

his

tures

way of God more

him, like the noble /Ethiopian,

way, diligently reading the Scrip-

and, justly estimating the value of his cha-

racter, ran to join themselves to his chariot; while

he, intent to learn their true meaning, stood


to hear; and,

having received the truth as

pleased to teach

it,

still

God was

he afterwards went on his way

rejoicing.*

* Mr. Cecil,

in his Life of

Cadogan, makes a nearly

allusion to the story of the eunuch.

mentioned clergyman, as well as of the


narratives of this volume, are

titnilar

His memoirs of the just


artist,

Bacon, like the

somewhat barren of incident

but

manifest such discrimination of character, and abound with such

important observations, as cannot

fail

to

render them most

entertaining and profitable to every attentive reader*

126

JUSTIN MARTYR.

To

own

use Justin's

expressions, he

(c

Christianity to have a formidable majesty

nature, admirably adapted to terrify those

way of transgression,

in the

He

it."

sophers had

who

enriched

who

talk

more

its

who

are

are acquainted

perceived that the best philo-

also

themselves with

extracts from the Sacred Writings,

Christian,

in

as well as a sweetness,

peace, and serenity, for those

with

found

and

garbled

that a

poor

could not distinguish a letter, could

sensibly respecting the Divine nature,

than even Plato himself.

iVt

the same time the

calmness and patience of Christians under the most


dreadful persecutions, which

gaged

his attention,

of Christianity

confirmed

his faith in the truth

for Alexandria,

where the

country,

had previously en-

religion

and almost every

of

the

Redeemer

was known, was polluted with the blood of the


martyrs.

wonderful and blessed revolution was

now

in the character of this celebrated

man.

produced

His head and


affected

his heart

were equally convinced and

and the whole of his subsequent

fested the sincerity

We may apply to

and

life

mani-

solidity of his conversion.

him, at this period of his

life,

the following description of the late eminently holy


vicar

of Madeley

cc
:

Conviction made

unfeigned repentance, and repentance


foundation for Christian piety.

way

for

laid a solid

His sorrow for sin

was succeeded by a consciousness of the Almighty's


favour and the pangs of remorse gave way to the
;

joys of remission.

Believing on Jesus, as the

JUSTIN MARTYR.

Him

Scripture hath said, he found in


solation springing

up

127
a well of con-

into everlasting-

life.

wanderings -were at once terminated,

were removed,
began

his

to rejoice in

tears

his

All his

doubts

were dried up, and he

hope of the glory of God.

conversion was not imaginary, but

real.

His

It

not

only influenced his sentiments, but extended to his

conduct.

Whom

he had found as a Saviour, he

determined to follow as a Guide

was

this

which

it

and so unalterable

determination that from the very hour in

was formed

it is

not

known

that he ever

cast a wishful look behind him."*

Justin embraced Christianity in the year of our

Lord 133, being about

thirty years of age.

* Gilpin's Notes to Fletcher's Portrait of


siderable part of these Notes are

Benson,

in his Life of

St.

Paul.

now embodied by

Mr. Fletcher.

con-

the Rev. J.

JUSTIN MARTYR.

128

CHAPTER
Justin writes his Exhortation

to

love for philosophy. The

his

Trinity.

Justin

essential doctrines

The

vindicated

II;

the Gentiles.

Retains

Platonic notion of the

from Platonizing on

the

of Christianity.

writings of the preceding fathers were not

only destitute of literary ornament, but also confined to the Christian communities to

were addressed.

The

our view.

wider

x\

field

is

which they

now opening

to

subject of the present narrative has

the honour of being the

first

writer, of those

whose

works have escaped the ravages of time,* who entered the

against the professed enemies of the

lists

Church, and attempted to

diffuse a colouring of

elegance over the hitherto unadorned doctrines of

What

Christianity.
t)r.

Watts,

with

still

in

Dr. Johnson says, respecting

reference to the Dissenters,

may,

greater propriety, be applied to Justin

Martyr, with regard to the primitive Christians.

" He

vvas

one of the

to court attention

first

authors that taught them

by the graces of language.

Whatever they had among them


*

Quadratus and Aristides presented

Christian

religion

works have long

to

before, whether

Apologies for the

the emperor Adrian.

But both

their

since been lost, except a short fragment of the

Apology of Quadratus concerning the miracles of our Saviour.

JUSTIN MARTYR.
of learning

or acuteness, was

129

commonly obscured

and blunted by coarseness and inelegance of

He shewed them

that zeal

style.

and purity might be

expressed and enforced by polished diction."*

The

secession of the philosophical Justin from

the cause of Paganism

ment and indignation

excited no

in the

principles, either

to

his late literary

be shaken from

his

by their reproaches, or threaten-

After the deliberate exercise of his judg-

ings.

ment he had

cordially

embraced the religion of a

despised Master, and was


fice

minds of

But he was not

associates.

astonish-

little

now prepared

to

every worldly consideration, or even lay

sacri-

down

his life, in its defence.

His

employment was

first

hortation

the

to

he ably vindicates
anity

Greeks or Gentiles
his

his

" Ex-

;" in

which

compose

to

conduct in embracing Christi-

and contrasts the absurdity and falsehood of

their religion with the truth

and excellency of the

He

one which he had now embraced.

declares he

had abandoned Paganism, because there was nothing in


original.

it

really sacred

He

and worthy of a Divine

proceeds to expose, in animated lan-

guage, the vices of their

deities,

quent impurity of Pagan morals


exhorts
religion.

them
(!

to

How

be instructed

and the conse-

and then earnestly


in

the Christian

can you," he enquires,

'*

being

a worshipper of Jupiter and Venus, blame your


son for rebellion, or your wife for incontinence

* Johnson's Life of Watts.

JUSTIN MARTYR.

130

Come

hither,

ye Greeks, and submit yourselves

incomparable wisdom, and of an

to the dictates of

who

immortal King,

regards not strength

nor

beauty, nor the pride of noble birth, but a pure

The

heart established in holiness.


bit of

and

goodness;

is

trumpet a note of peace to the perturbed

its

soul.

of the Gospel

the followers

uniform ha-

Its

blessed discipline quenches and allays

those

the passions,

of the mind

fires

and thus

forms, not indeed poets, or philosophers, or powerful orators, but

makes men immortal, resembling

God."
Justin,

though now ostensively the Christian

wore the usual dress of a Heathen


philosopher, and retained no small relish for his

advocate,

still

This very circumstance had a

former studies.*

natural tendency to

make him

think too highly of

celebrated Pagans,

whom he

represented as a sort

of Christians

and by

his

attempting to amalgamate

their sentiments with those of Christianity, in

measure

to

though the soundness of

his

points of our holy religion


all,

justice, candour,

fully

some

obscure his views of Divine truth;

and

mind on the

is

essential

indubitable.

After

religion, require us cheer-

every virtue, whether found in a

to trace

Christian or a Pagan, to the same Divine source


gratefully to

are oyer

all

acknowledge that the mercies of God


His works; and charitably to hope

* $i\9<7Q$wv xaj
PhotiuSc

tqis KoyoiS) xai

tw W,

kou feu

cp^aar/.

JUSTIN MARTYR.
that

the

Almighty,,

131

by the secret operations of

His Spirit, not unfrequently conveys to a Hea-

some

then's heart

of those Di-

faint impressions

He

vine truths, which, of His infinite mercy,

been pleased plainly to reveal

has

to us in the written

Word.
Mr. Reeves, the learned translator of Justin's
Apology, fully justifies him from the charge of

on the subject of the Logos

Platonizing

vindication

his

of

Christianity

seems to imply,

itself

was

Justin

not

that

altogether

but
the
free

from the unhallowed mixture of Gentile philosophy.

u Quo semel

est irabuta recens serrabit

odorem

Testa diu."

Dr. Jortin's summary of the opinions held by


the followers of Plato on these important subjects

may here be properly


ceed to consider

introduced, before

"

The

phers," remarks Dr. Jortin, "

found

visible,

that,

and

vital,

and

power ; above

ing , wisdom
there

consi-

intellectual system.,

besides sluggish and inanimate matter,

above nothing, there existed


active

Platonic philoso-

when they

which has a shadowy being, and

and

pro-

Mr. Reeves's vindication of the

subject of this narrative.

dered the

we

above

in

is

a small remove

the Universe life

that, reason,

understand-

goodness, above which

that,

could be no imaginable perfection.

same things they found

in

e2

every

man who

The
acts

132

JUSTIN MARTYR.

according to

Tracing

goodness.

above

all

his nature, namely.,

up

effects

and

reason,

life,

causes,

their

to

other beings they placed as principles a

&vyjh above that a Aoyog, and above both a To Ev

These notions

kou AyaSov.

to their master

but

talks very obscurely


cc

The emperor

rejected

must be confessed that Plato

upon the

subject.

Julian/'

he continues,

Christ did not

accounted

be the

to

visible

against

Sun

the

benighted

of righteousness,

world

with

in-

eyes

his

arose

that

salvation

he

imae of the

God, whilst he perversely shut

visible

of

whom

Sun,

the

who

tc

notion

the

reject

Logos was

His

Logos.

on

it

the Platonists ascribed

in

His

rays/'*

The
will

preceding summary of genuine Platonism

enable the reader to form a more accurate idea

of the following quotation from Reeves in vindication of Justin.

<c

When

read the

manner of

his

conversion, and hear the good old guide saying

what

little

Plato

deference he had for his admired

and Pythagoras, and sending him

Scriptures only for instruction

martyr

all

on

fire

his passion for

by

this

when

the

see the

wisdom quite extinguished

light,

and confessing that the

Christian was the only philosopher;


I

to

with this Divine philosophy, and

earthly

heavenly

sages,.

when again

hear him complain of the lamentable reasonings

and wretched inconsistencies of the human brain,

* Jortin's

Remarks od

Ecclesiastical Historv.

133

JUSTIN MARTYR.

and

that nothing

be depended on but the

Writings

divinely inspired
in his

to

is

second Apology

when

hear him

say-

that the doctrines of Plato

are not alien to those of Christ; and withal affirm-

ing

in

that

this,

Moses and

Plato had

when

the Prophets;

his divinity

all

I find this

philosopher thus emptying himself of


notions,
ber,

and clearing

his

mind of

from

Christian

all his

former

that learned lum-

cannot but think that the martyr has hard

usage, after

all

with indulging

to

this self-denial,

be

charged

still

and Platonizing even

his fancy,

in

Reason

the great articles of the Christian faith.

good, indeed, that Daniel Zuicker and his brethren should thus charge him

nity of the Logos,

therefore,

they

as

make him

ever

introduce

they
to

hope

blast

the

Scriptures, but the schools

mystery

to

his

is

in
in

he

Trinity, not
;

credited,

and

authority,

from the

though the notorious

between Plato and Justin

Platonizing

divi-

and the prophetic Spirit; and,

must be sure

difference

for Justin has too

and too expressly, asserted the

frequently,

in

itself sufficient to justify

fundamentals;

if

his

very

this

him from

sincerity

is

not.

" With

as

good reason," he proceeds,

<c

Justin thus taxed by these heretics, as St.

is St.

John

was by the Platonist Amelius, who, upon reading


Per
the first verses of his Gospel, cried out,
c

Jovem barbarus iste cum Piatone nostro sentit


By Jove this barbarian has been shirking from
Plato/
Thus we have St. John
4>ur master

134

JUSTIN MARTYR.

himself charged with Platonizing, because he has


too positively asserted the divinity of Christ; and,

consequently, the Holy Ghost that inspired him


is

by

this

same author accused of philosophizing

from a Heathen,
derstanding.

in

But

it

an
is

article

that passes

all

un-

the glory of Justin to be

traduced by such men, as will not stick to traduce

an apostle/'*

* Reeves's Preliminary Discourse.

135

JUSTIN MARTYR.

CHAPTER

III.

The calumnies

Justin writes his


Christians.

Justin writes his book against heresies.

propagated against the

Apology.

Refers

to

the

Sibj/lline

Oracles.

Relates

their public

the manner of the Christians conducting


worship. The emperor Pius's edict in favour of

the

Christians.

In the early part of the reign of Antoninus Pius,

and ahout

six years after

Christianity,

Justin

his

visited

own

Rome.*

residence in this celebrated city,

against heresies;

in

conversion to

During his
he wrote his book

which he especially opposed

the blasphemous errors of Marcion.

This heretic

was the son of a bishop, and a native of Pontus.


He is said to have been rejected from the Church
for impurity,

and

to

published doctrines

have

fled to

Rome, where he

of an Antinomian tendency.

Justin, well

aware of the holy nature of genuine

Christianity,

and of the importance of

its

being

cleared from the aspersions of false friends, as well


as from the cavils of professed enemies, ably

com-

bated the heretic both in conversation, and by his


writings.

About the year 150, Justin wrote

* A. D. 139

his first

Apo-

136

JUSTIN MARTYR,

logy for the Christians,


ful calumnies

in refutation of the

which were currently reported against

Amongst other

them.

dread-

enormities, they were ac-

cused of committing the grossest intemperance,


of devouring infants,

and,

at

an appointed time,

of extinguishing the lights in their places of worthat they might indulge themselves without

ship,

and a promiscuous intercourse

restraint in incest,

of the sexes.
(c

no improbable supposition/' remarks a


learned modern Apologist, " that the clandestine
It

is

manner in which the persecuting spirit


Jews and Gentiles obliged the Christians

of the
to cele-

brate their Eucharist, together with the expressions

and drinking the blood of

of eating the body,

which were used

Christ,

custom of imparting a
other,

in

its

kiss

and the

institution,

of

charity

to

each

and of calling each other by the appellations

of brother

enemies

and

to invent,

to believe,

all

gave occasions to

sister,

and

their

induced careless observers

the odious things which were said

against the Christians."*

when once

Scurrilous reports,
lated,

currently circu-

are with difficulty suppressed.

The

malice

weak men, are


preserving them in existence.

of bad men, and the credulity of


alike instrumental in

By

these glaring misrepresentations the

rage of

the Heathens was for a time inflamed to the utmost

against the

Christian

name, and a handle was

* Bishop Watson's Apology

for Christianity.

13?

JUSTIN MARTYR.

afforded for the most barbarous treatment of the


best of men.

Time, however,

the falsehood

of these accusations

at length detected

and

who

all

made any pretensions

to

ashamed of affecting*

believe a charge which was

to

candour became, at

last,

equally devoid of probability, and destitute of evi-

dence.

In his Apology Justin proves the Divine origin


of the religion of the Christians, completely repels
the horrid charges brought against them, describes
their

mode

simplicity.

work

will

of worship, and evinces

few extracts from

purity and

its

interesting

this

probably not be unacceptable to the

reader.

Having addressed

book

his

to

Antoninus and

his

adopted sons, our Apologist intimates that those


dignified persons,

who bore

Guardians

Philosophers,

the

titles

of Justice

of

cc

Pious,

and Learn-

own

sake,

and

discard errors, however sanctioned by custom.

He

ing," should embrace truth for

afterwards proceeds
and, indeed, as
fess

it

the charge

"

We

its

are called Atheists

respects your false gods,

but

we acknowledge

we

con-

the true

God, the Father of righteousness, purity, and every


virtue,

who

ture of

evil.

is

infinitely

removed from any mix-

Him^ together with the Son and the

prophetic Spirit,

we reverence and adore with

the

worship of truth and reason/'


Shortly after, referring to the injustice of punish-

ing them merely for their profession of Christianity, Justin observes, with equal force

and pro-

138

JUSTIN MARTYR.

priety; " All that

we request is, that these who


name of Christians may obtain

are indicted by the

fair

convicted of any crime,

If they are

trial.

them be punished, but not

let

they

are innocent,

Christians

let

as

Christians

them be discharged,

who have done

We

nothing" amiss.

not desire you to punish our calumniators

own

wickedness, and ignorance of what

is

if

as

do

their

good,

is

punishment enough/'

Our author

afterwards describes the wonderful

and blessed change which had been produced

in

numbers of persons since they had embraced the


Christian religion.

impurity,

in

have

strictest chastity.

We, who formerly delighted


now embraced a life of the
We, who once used magic arts,
c(

now consecrate ourselves to the uncreated God,


We, who formerly loved riches above all things,
now have our possessions in common, and liberally
provide for the indigent. We, who formerly hated,
and even destroyed, our fellow-creatures, and would
not perform the

common

of hospitality for

offices

those of a different tribe, now, since the appearance

of Christ,
est

live cordially together,

prayer for our enemies.

hate us,

and join

in

earn-

Those who unjustly

we endeavour, by the gentlest persuasives,

to convert, that they, fashioning their lives

holy precepts of Christ,

may

by the

possess the same com-

fortable hope of enjoying the like happiness with


ourselves.

Christian

must not

up

lift

his

resistance, nor imitate the tyranny of the


i

hand

in

wicked

JUSTIN MARTYR.

139

but endeavour, by patience and meekness, to convert his enemies from violence

And

and wrong.

numerous are the instances we could exhibit of the


powerful

effects

Many

produced by such conduct.

have been converted from violence and oppression,

by observing the patience of

their Christian neigh-

bours, or the meekness of such as they chanced to


travel with, or their honesty

and

fidelity in all their

transactions."

These are most

satisfactory

and pleasing

evi-

dences of the continuance and beneficial effects

of vital religion in the time of Justin.

who

man,

called himself a Christian, but did not pro-

duce the genuine

fruits of piety,

days, have scarcely been classed

would, in those

among

the bre-

thren.

An

own country makes

old writer of our

the fol-

lowing appropriate remark on the preceding ex-

The King

ic

tract:

of Heaven

came down,

to

instruct the world in the laws of a heavenly con-

which

versation,

He

has proposed in a

conflict,

quite contrary

games.

There he that

the garland

to

fights

here, he that

is

is

and returns blow

turns the other cheek,


the Theatre of Angels
is

is

for

way of
Olympic

and conquers wins


beaten, and bears

with patience, receives the crown


smitten,

the

that in

blow

there,
;

the

conflict

is

celebrated the victor, in

for the Christian victory

of crowns

and contention

he that

here, he that

measured, not by revenge, but patience.

new law

it

V*

this is the

This

new way

of

140

JUSTIN MARTYR.

In one part of his Apology Justin refers to the


Sibylline Oracles,

as confirming the truth of the

In the use of

Christian religion.

he

this

reference

unhapp\^ because these oracles have long

is

been considered of very questionable authority, and


are

now

pretty generally

deemed no other than

This very circumstance may sug-

pious frauds .*

who

gest a salutary caution to those

are inclined

support the cause of truth by precarious or

to

For though the detection

exceptionable evidence.

* u

ner,

We may

take a general account," remarks Dr. Lard-

of this collection of pretended oracles in the words of

Mr. Turner.

We

there find,' says he,

creation of the world, the fall of our

first

an account of the
parents, the ark of

Noah, the deluge of waters, the tower of Babel, and other matters,

undoubtedly taken from the book of Genesis.

all

New

books of the

historical

forger of these oracles with

life

and actions, His

several pretended prophecies con-

The manner

cerning our Saviour.

trial

and

ascension, are described with

which makes
cles,

of our Lord's nativity, His

sufferings, His resurrection

much

plainness

more than probable that

it

The

Testament have also furnished the

and

and particularity

seveial of those ora-

to our blessed Saviour, are not predictions of

relating

future events, but historical narrations of facts that were already

The

past and gone.


is

author, in order to disguise the imposture,

somewhat enigmatical

He

them

describes

initial letters

all,

in his

account of the

of their names.'

It

may be
work

inserted

in his

Heathen

oracles,

emperors.

So far Mr. Turner.

author has made use of more than one


imposture.

Roman

from Julius to Adrian, chiefly by the

But the

artifice to disguise the

justly supposed, that with this view he


several

things taken from the ancient

and from Orpheus, Homer, and other

Credibility of the Gospel History*

poets*"'

JtfSTIN

of fallacy,
ing* to

in

141

MARTYR.

the reasonings of persons endeavour-

defend Christianity, leaves our holy religion

on precisely the same foundation as

stood before

observer, the un-

to a prejudiced or careless

yet,

it

soundness of some particular ground of supposed

may be misconceived

evidence
cause

it is

alleged to support

weakness

as a

in the

just as the falling of

an useless buttress might be mistaken as a symptom


of decay in the whole structure.

We

must not, however, for a moment suppose

that our Apologist was either the forger of these

pretended oracles, or conscious of the imposture.

" Justin has written


a celebrated

his

own

character," observes

ecclesiastical critic,

of his works

cc

every page

in

warm,

and shews himself pious,

sprightly, fearless, open, hasty, honest, inquisitive,


sincere,

and

and hypocrisy

as void of dissimulation

as a child."*

Nearly

at

the conclusion of his

meet with an interesting

detail

Apology we

of the

manner

in

which the Lord's supper was administered, and


their

religious

assemblies

in

general

conducted.

" At every celebration of the Eucharist/' he remarks, " we bless the Creator of all things,
through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the

Holy
all

Spirit.

And upon

the day

that live either in the city,

meet together

in

called

Sunday,

or in the country,

one place, when so much of the

writings of the apostles and prophets are read as

* Jortin's Remarks on Ecclesiastical History.

142

JUSTIN MARTYR.

When

time will allow.


the president *

the reader has ceased,

makes a discourse

purpose

for the

of edifying- the people, and animating them to the


practise of such things as are excellent.

the sermon

we
The

ended,

is

our supplications.

When

up and pour out

all rise

mixed

bread, and wine

with water, are then carried round

the president,

as before, offering up prayers and thanksgivings


to the best of his

with an audible

ability,
'

Amen/

and the people replying

Then

lements are partaken of by

and sent

to the absent

all

the consecrated

that are present,

by the hands of the deacons.

Contributions are at the same time deposited with


the president,

who

relieves, with this

fund of volun-

tary charity, orphans and widows, the

sick, the

needy, captives and strangers, together with

who

all

are in want."

This Apology, which was presented

to the

em~

peror Antoninus Pius, appears to have had a considerable influence on his future conduct towards

the Christians.

Though

himself criminally indif-

ferent to religious truth, he was,

nevertheless, a

man of sense and humanity, and was anxious to


do justice to all his subjects. He, therefore, bore
an honourable testimony
of the Christians
that if

to the

and issued an

any of them

moral character
edict, declaring

for the future should

be ac-

cused merely of being Christians, they should be


acquitted;,

and

their accusers punished.

Ilposs'tas.

This

edict

143

JUSTIN MARTYR.
is

annexed

to Justin's

Apology, and

is

well worthy

of being introduced in this place.

THE EPISTLE OF ANTONINUS TO THE COMMON


COUNCIL OF ASIA.
<(

The Emperor Caesar Titus

Adrian us An-

.^Elius

toninus Augustus Pius, chief pontiff, the fifteenth

time tribune, thrice consul, father of the country,


to the

common

assembly of Asia, greeting.

am

of opinion, that the gods will take care that such

persons shall not escape

for

it is

concern than your's, to punish,

much more
if

they be able,

those

who

you

harass and vex the Christians,

refuse to worship them.

them of Atheism

them, which you are utterly unable


In the mean time, they deem

lives,

Nevertheless,

and accuse

and bring other charges against

for their religion

their

it

to substantiate.

an advantage

to die

down

their

and, while they lay

rather than comply with your injunctions,

they obtain the object of their desire.

As

to the

earthquakes, which happened some time since, or

more

recently,

is

it

not proper to remind you of

your own despondency during the occasion, and


to desire

you

to

compare your

spirit

with

their's,

and observe how serenely they confided in God ?


Whereas in these seasons you seem to be ignorant
of the gods, and to neglect their worship.
live in the practical

ignorance of the supreme

You
God

144

JUSTIN MARTYR.

Himself, and harass and persecute to death those

who do worship Him.

Some

provincial

of the

governors wrote to our Divine father Adrian, respecting these very people

and he

they should not be molested,

replied, that

except for crimes

Roman government. Several persons,


also, have informed me concerning them, to whom
I have returned an answer agreeable to that of my

against the

But

father.

the

any one

if

will

merely as

Christians,

still

persist in accusing

such',

accused be discharged, even though

he

is

a Christian

and

let

the person

let
it

appear that

the informer be punished

in his stead/'

Whilst

we admire

the amiable character of this

emperor, and the justice of


respecting the

duct,

regret that he

sentence and con-

Christians,

we cannot

sceptical carelessness

ference/' remarks an

and

ecclesiastical writer,

unlike that temper which,

but

Gospel

never seriously studied the

cc

for himself.

his

indifee

not

under the names of

candour and moderation, has now overspread the


face of Europe, appears to have possessed the

of this amiable prince

mind

and while he attended

to

the temporal advantages of mankind, and felicitated himself

forget

that

on

his

Him.

it

actions,

he seemed to

he had a soul accountable to the

Supreme Being; and


that

good

scarce to think

it

possible

should have any guilt to answer for before

The

mankind

evil

of such a contempt of

God

is

what

are, of all things, least inclined to discern

JUSTIN MARTYR.

Yet

it is

opposed

the evil, of

others, the

all

145
most vehemently

Scripture under the several branches

in

of idolatry, unbelief, self-righteousness, and prided

No

wonder;

for,

without a knowledge of this

and a humble sense of

guilt in consequence,

very nature of the Gospel

The

stood.

deration

mere
rishes

is,

itself

evil,

the

cannot be under-

conclusion resulting from this consithat godliness

morality.

The

is

perfectly distinct from

latter,

indeed, always flou-

where godliness

is;

but

it

is

capable of a

teparate existence/'*

* Milner's History of the Church of Christ.

JUSTIN MARTYR.

146

CHAPTER

IV.

Trypho, a Jew.

Justin holds a disputation with

The

emperor Aurelius persecutes the Christians.

There

always,

is

it

has been remarked,

advantage in contending with


ries,

that the combatant

The

conquest or defeat.

was exemplified

whose name,

in

illustrious adversa-

equally immortalized by
truth of this observation

the case of Trypho, the Jew,

probable,

is

it

is

this

reached our time, had

it

would never have

not been connected with

that of our illustrious Christian Apologist.

Not long

after the

again travelled into the East, anxious

edict, Justin

to

make new

converts to the faith, and to confirm

who had

the minds of those

Coming
morning

promulgation of the emperor's

at length to
in

the

already embraced

it.

Ephesus, and walking one

Xystum, he met a Jew, named

Trypho, who, mistaking him,

in

consequence of

his dress, for a Gentile philosopher, expressed a

desire to enter into conversation with him.

observing by

whom

his surprise, that

inspired

writings

Justin,

he was addressed, expressed

one who was

in possession of the

of Moses and

the

prophets,

should pay any attention to a Greek philosopher

and then proceeded to inform him, how he had


studied various systems of philosophy, but found

147

JUSTIN MARTYR.

no true

satisfaction,

nor peace of mind,

till

saying
into a

of laughter,

would have been better


his

<c

for Justin to

have retained

attachment to the philosophy of Plato, or to

any other master, than thus permit himself

that of

be deceived by the falsehoods of the

to

however/' he continued,, " you

If,

unto me;
first

and

new moons, and

the law

God.

in

the

keep our sabbaths,

fes-

other

He

for Christ,

very

is

does not seem to

rites,

prescribed by

if,

little

indeed, there be such

known, and,

know Himself; nor

in

Him, and bring Him

come

to

You

notice.

into

fact,

possible

is it

should possess any power, until Elias

anoint

men.

hearken

and then you may expect mercy from

But as

a person,

vilest

will

advise you as a friend,

place, be circumcised,

tivals,

He

his

Trypho burst out


and Trypho asserted, that it

the companions of

this
lit

he at

On

length embraced the Christian religion.

Christians have credited some ill-authenticated report,

and formed

for the sake of

for yourselves an ideal

whom you

Saviour,

are inconsiderately sacri-

ficing all the comforts of life."

Undaunted by the reception he met with, our


Apologist undertook to demonstrate the truth and
excellency of his religion, provided Trypho's com-

panions would either

In consequence of

promised

to

retire, or

remain in

this declaration,

be attentive hearers

silence.

four of them

and the

ridiculing every enquiry on the subject,

rest,

departed.

Justin and his Jewish opponent then proceeded


to the Stadium,

and commenced

l2

their disputation,

148

JUSTIN MARTYR.

which, being interrupted by the night, was re-

newed on

the following day.

their disputation

The

substance of

was afterwards published by Jus-

As, in his former treatise, he exposed the

tin.

errors of Paganism, and vindicated the purity of

the Christian faith

so in the present dialogue, he

of argument against Ju-

a similar train

directs

Thus

daism.
first

Justin had the honour of being the

who engaged

Christian combatant

both with Jews and heretics.

fare,

in this contest, the

in a

Having

war-

refuted,

erroneous notions held by the

Jews respecting the

law, he shews that sin can

alone be expiated by the atoning blood of Christ,

whom

he represents as the proper object of adora-

tion,

and

styles

uncreated

the

fC

him

Very God, the Son of

Lord and

God,

Christ,

God

of

God."
Justin

afterwards illustrates the wonderful in-

crease of the Christians, under dreadful persecu-

by the following

tions,

simile

crucified,

cc

we

bound with

we

We

beautiful and appropriate

are slain with the sword,

are cast to the wild beasts,

chains, tortured,

persecuted, the

are
are

and burned, and yet

depart not from our profession

are

we
we

the more

we
7

more believing worshippers


As a vine, by being

are added to our numbers.

pruned and cut

close,

puts forth

new

bears a greater abundance of fruit; so

who

are the vine which

God and His

shoots,
is it

and

with us

Christ have

planted/'

In another place, he thus states the sentiments,

149

JUSTIN MARTYR.

which were then generally adopted by the Christians, respecting- the Millennium.

Having referred

to the errors of the Valentinians

and Gnostics, he

remarks

<c
;

As

for me,

and the

are orthodox in our opinions, and

we know

Christians,

rest of us,

who

who

are perfectly

that there shall be

both a

resurrection of the flesh, and that the saints shall

afterwards also spend a thousand years in Jerusalem, which shall be rebuilt, beautified, and en-

larged."

Justin

at

earnestly exhorting
to
cc

concludes

length

Trypho and

by

dialogue,

his

his friends to turn

God, through the mediation of the Messiah.


O,

my

longer to
stripes,

(C

brethren," says he,


revile Christ

by which

crucified,

may be

all

be persuaded no

he adds, " Christ came

or

deride

healed."

His

Shortly

power of the
Omnipotent Father, proclaiming friendship, and
blessing, and repentance, and the communion of
saints.
Hence all men, whether bond or free,
after,

who

believe

enjoy with

in

Christ,

Him an

in the

and His promises, may

eternal

and incorruptible

in-

heritance."

One more passage

is

here inserted, as a contrast

"

the former.
It was foretold," says Justin,
" that the children of Abraham should be as the

to

sand of the sea-shore ; and so indeed you are if


as numerous, as barren, likewise, and as unfruitful
;

of

all

that

is

good,

ever ready to

receive

the

refreshing dews and rains of heaven, and never


willing

and disposed

to

make any

return."

150

JUSTIN MARTYR.

Perhaps

it

may be

thought, that there

is

a keen-

ness in the last remark, which would better have

been exchanged for that spirit, which the apostle


felt, when he exclaimed, " I say the truth in Christ,
I lie not,

in the

my

Holy Ghost

thren,

witness

that I have great heaviness

continual sorrow in
that myself

me

conscience also bearing'

my

heart

were accursed from

my kinsmen

and

for I could wish

Christ, for

my

according to the flesh."

bre-

But

neither the raillery, nor the arguments, of Justin

were unsuccessful

the one

silenced his Jewish

combatant, and the other confounded,


convince him.

if it

Trypho acknowledged,

was considerable weight

in

did not

that there

his observations, ex-

pressed a wish that he might frequently enjoy the

pleasure of his conversation, and

ever afterwards

retained a veneration for his character.

The

security

which the Christians enjoyed, in

consequence of the edict of Antoninus Pius, ceased


with his reign.
throne,

As soon

as Aurelius ascended the

accusations were again brought forward

against them, and great numbers of them were


delivered to the executioner.
this cruel philosophical

In the mean time,

emperor,, without actually

repealing the laws either of Trajan or Pius, adopt-

ed such inhuman measures against the Christians


as would have been unjustifiable against the most

barbarous enemies.

He

passed an edict, by which

the property of the Christians was adjudged to the

who

convicted them of Atheism, or unna-

tural crimes.

Hence the most shameless charac-

persons

JUSTIN MARTYR.

and those who coveted their possessions,*

ters,

were invited

the Christians, and hunt

to accuse

them out by night and by day.

we

while
state

151

this imperial persecutor.

public search, indeed, was


for that

lievers,

edict of Trajan

muet shudder,

on their miserable and defenceless

reflect

during the reign of

No

We

made

after be-

would have been contrary

to the

nor were they accused merely of

being Christians, for that was forbidden by the

more recent

edict

of Antoninus Pius.

But,

to

accomplish the bloody designs of their enemies,


they were condemned on the mere testimony of

and the very refuse of mankind, for crimes

slaves,

improbable

in

their

very

and which the

nature,

most excruciating tortures could not make them

To

confess.

complete the horrors of the transac-

was done under the pretence of zeal for

tion, all

Of

the cause of moraliiy.


is

the

human

such flagrant hypocrisy

heart capable, that there

however base, which

it

will

is

no

sin,

not adorn with a repu-

table title

In a short time, indeed, the profession of Christianity,

and the commission of abominable crimes,

were pretended, by their enemies,


rably connected, that,

if

to

they could merely ascer-

tain the former, they scrupled not to

as guilty of the

human

latter.

be so insepa-

little

condemn them
knowledge of

nature, and of the Scriptures, will enable

any one
*

to explain the true motives of all this

TW aAAoTpiw* prf Melito's Apology*

oppo=

152

JUSTIW MARTYR.

and

sition to the Christians

carnal mind

is

God and His

latter reproachful

adver-

people, by applying to the

names, and misrepresenting their

religious sentiments

and conduct.

modern writer has

priety

And

enmity against God."

The

every age have manifested their enmity

saries in

against

e(

their religion.

than force,

referred, with not less pro-

to the

injury

which religion

sustains in the present day, by the application of

an unmeaning, but invidious, ternrTof reproach to


its

"

consistent votaries.

tines/'

The

forges of the Philis-

he observes, " never sharpened a weapon

of more destructive effect against

God.

It

has

magical

the people of

pendent of the hand which employs

inde-

force,

irresistible

Women

it.

and children, and beaux and apprentices, are sturdy


polemics with

this

weapon

in

their

hands

and

victorious over truth, and reason, and Scripture.

Has any man


to

the fear, or hope, of

him hereafter present

to his

what

is

to

happen

thoughts, and im-

pressed on his behaviour; has he the boldness to

maintain the character of a Christian, and to carry


the injunctions of Christianity into the practice of
with

life,

modesty
f

fat

whatever
call

him

unthinking

meaning

;'

sobriety,

but

consistency,

Methodist,

brightens

face

into

and

and every
malicious

a shade at once envelopes every virtue

which belongs

to

him

and every profligate

that listens to the charge,

fool,

exults in the contrast

between himself and the hypocrite.


<e

While Religion/' he

continues, "preservei

153

JUSTIN MARTYR.

which her enemies would assign

that distance

her; while she languishes

to

her sabbath of se-

in

cluded ease, or confines herself, within the porch

and the academy,

to fruitless speculation,

without

venturing her footsteps on the threshold of social


life,

may

she

ferance
of men,

live

but
if

unmolested

in a sort

of holy suf-

she descends into the busy walks

if

she crosses the paths of pleasure,

if

she

casts her bitters into the chalice of debauchery, or

frowns upon the licentious


the

levities of the

tongue,

dread of her interference, like the alarm of

invasion, unites the mass against her, and every

voice

is

raised in unison

to

MeWhen shall we

brand her with

thodism, saintship, and hypocrisy.

have a truce from


most

childish

this

and

stupidest of

all

cants,

nonsense?

mischievous

this

Not

certainly until the well-born and well-educated will

learn to distinguish between rational piety and rav-

ing zeal, between a religious


pretence of religion

life

and leave

and the shallow


vulgar witlings

to

the dangerous and intolerant practice of charging

with hypocrisy every characteristic of devotion, and

assuming, as the

test of a schismatic

departure from

our Church, that practical holiness of


the specific result of

its

doctrines/'*

* British Review, Vol.

I. p.

341.

life

which

is

154

JUSTIN MARTYR

CHAPTER
Justin disputes with

Crescens,

V.

a Cynic philosopher.

Writes
second Apology. Is summoned
prefect. His martyrdom. His character.
his

before the

In the year 162, at the commencement of this


persecution of Aurelius, Justin engaged in contro-

versy with one Crescens, a Cynic philosopher, who,

though arrogant and overbearing, and a slave to


the vilest passions, was at that time in high repute

Rome.

at

larity,

This man,

in his

nuation, to misrepresent

Our
his

eager pursuit of popu-

had endeavoured, by the


the

vilest arts

Christian

of insireligion.

Apologist, with his usual acuteness, exposed

ignorance and malevolence, and refuted him in

several public disputations.

Not long
tion

after, in

consequence of the persecu-

becoming more general, Justin composed

second Apology, and presented

it

to the

his

emperor

Aurelius, as he had done the former to his predecessor,


itself,

We learn, from the work

Antoninus Pius.

that the following circumstance

mediate

cause of his

Christians were

now

writing

it,

was the im-

and that the

persecuted as such, without

any attempt being made to establish any other


accusation against them.

certain

woman,

Rome, who, together with her husband, had


i

at

lived

155

JUSTIN MARTYR.
in

a very profligate and licentious manner, being

converted to Christianity, used her utmost efforts

husband from

to reclaim her

The man, however,


and

his

courses.

his vicious

resisted all her importunities

conduct at length became so intolerable,

that she procured a

bill

of divorce.

Enraged by

measure, he accus' d her of being a Christian

this

and upon her obtaining from the emperor a post-

ponement of her
tion of his

he abandoned the prosecu-

trial

wife, and brought an accusation against

Ptolemy, by

whrm

Christianity.

Ptolemy, having confessed himself

to

was thrown

be a Christian,

cruelly tortured

she had been

instructed

into

and

and afterwards was condemned to

A Christian,

by Urbicius, the prefect.

suffer death

prison

in

named Lucius, who was

present, expostulated with

Urbicius, on the absurdity of these proceedings, as


well as the iniquity of putting
for a

men

to death,

name, abstracted from any one


c<

of guilt.

same

sect,"

reply.

was

too,

appear

to

me

to

charge

be of the

that the prefect deigned to

all

Lucius, confessing that he was indeed a

Christian,

person,

You,

specific

merely

was condemned, together with a third

who

in

like

manner had avowed

his reli-

gion, to undergo the same punishment.

These outrageous proceedings induced Justin to


write his second Apology
in which, after stating
;

the above case, he complains of the injustice of

punishing

and

men merely

refutes

for the

name

of Christians,

the calumnious reports, which were

again studiously circulated against them.

156

JUSTIN MARTYR.

however, hoped to soften the heart of

If Justin,

the present emperor towards the Christians, as he

had that of

predecessor/ he was disappointed.

his

Aurelius continued an implacable

enemy

persisted in attributing their patience

resolution

Justin

own

to

inveterate

the arguments

alike

them

to

and heroic

and despised

obstinacy,

and the philosophic garb of

though he especially prided himself on his

philosophical attainments, and, on other occa-

sions, manifested the greatest reverence for

men

of

learning.

Under

these circumstances,

by

the

arguments, and
profligacy,

to

was no

who had been

matter for Crescens,


incensed

it

force

irresistible

more by

still

difficult

exceedingly
of

Justin's

his reproofs

of his

render him obnoxious to the em-

Justin, indeed, had intimated, in his last

peror.

Apology, that he expected that Crescens, or some


other pretended philosopher, would lay snares for
his ruin

By

and he was not mistaken

in his surmises.

the contrivance of this inveterate

thrown

into prison

many preparatory tortures, he, and


panions, were summoned to appear
Rusticus, the prefect of the

Rusticus was a

ing and

political

Stoicism.

peror,

He

enemy he was

and, after undergoing there

man

six of his

before Junius

city.

greatly celebrated for learn-

wisdom, and for

his

attachment to

had formerly been tutor to the em-

who always

entertained the highest venera-

tion for his instructions, especially those of a


nature,,

com-

and consulted him on


3

all

affairs,

moral

whether

157

JUSTIN MARTYR.
public

of a

or

were these wretched

covering*

But what

description.

private

of mo-

fig-leaves

were

whilst the tutor and his royal pupil

rality,

not clothed with the garments of salvation, but

remained the enemies of

At

God and

His Christ!

the prefect attempted to persuade Justin

first

obey the gods, and comply with the emperor's


commands. The martyr refused and proceeded

to

The

to defend the reasonableness of his religion.

prefect then enquired respecting

and was

that he

told,

had studied

education

his
all

kinds of phi-

losophy and learning, but, obtaining satisfaction

from none of them, he at

last

had found rest

Christian doctrine, however fashionable

then be
ff

to despise

Wretch

!"

it

the

in

might

it.

replied the indignant prefect, "art

" I am/' said


thou captivated by that religion f"
" I follow the Christians; and their docJustin.
trine

cs

right."

is

Rusticus.

quired

((

martyr:

we

Creator of

all

What
"

is

It

is

their doctrine?"

en-

rejoined

the

this,"

believe the one only

and

things, visible

God

to

invisible

be the

and we

confess our Lord Jesus Christ to be the Son

God, foretold by the ancient prophets:


the Saviour and Teacher of

submit

to

His instructions

be the Judge of mankind.

mean

to

infinite

those

and He
As

is

of

now

who humbly
will hereafter

for myself, I

am

too

be able to say any thing- becoming His


Deity.

prophets, who,
of the

all

He

This was the employment of the

many ages

Son of God

ago, foretold the

coming

The

prefect

into the world."

158

JUSTIN MARTYR.

then asked, where the Christians usually assem-

To

bled.

which

was

Christians'

it

was

not

God

that the

replied,

of

any particular

confined to

place.

Rusticus then
nions

examined

severally

and afterwards again

" Hear thou, who

art

celebrated

quence, and imaginest thyself

to

the truth, dost thou suppose,

if I

scourged from head to


ci

heaven ?"

Although

be

for

thy elo-

cause thee to be

that thou shalt

foot,

I suffer

the portion of

as I

know

that the

you think, then/' enquired the prefect,


shall

go

all

to

ee

such,
<c

Do

that

you

be so while the world endures.''

shall

heaven, and receive a reward ?"

not only think so," he rejoined, " but I

and have a certainty of

it,

to

expect to enjoy

Divine grace and favour are laid up for

and

go

what you threaten,"


I

true believers

of

in possession

firmly replied the martyr, " yet


all

compa-

his

addressed Justin:

know

which excludes

ce

it

all

doubt."

The

prefect

the gods

insisted

still

on their sacrificing to

and, at the same time, threatened to tor-

ment them without mercy, unless they complied.


There is nothing we more sincerely desire,"

exclaimed Justin,

than to endure tortures for

the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to be saved.

For

this will

promote our happiness, and give us

confidence before the awful tribunal of our Lord

and Saviour, before which God hath appointed the


whole world to appear."

How

animating and glorious are the prospects

159

JUSTIN MARTYR.

of real believers, who,


experience

the consolations

all

dispensation

like Justin,

It is their

up

live

of,

and

to,

the Christian

peculiar privilege, not to

confine their views of an eternal existence to the

and

indistinct

vision

fluctuating" glimpses of philosophical

with a hope

but,

of immortality,

full

pierce directly to those blessed regions,

to

where a

God and Saviour has prepared for them


H an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and

gracious

that fadeth not away."

" Hence
In

spirit

And

see

Doth

God's

so attend

face,

whose

them

all vicissitude,

In one

The

still

rest,

dawn

full

and constant smile

thro' the wilds of life,

That natural dejection,

And

they

stand amidst the train of heaven,

flitting fears,

are swallow'd up

of that eternal day."*

having expressed their assent to what

Justin had said, added, " Dispatch quickly your

purpose

we

are Christians, and cannot sacrifice

to idols!"

The

prefect then

following sentence

pronounced upon them the


ec

to sacrifice to the gods,


edicts,

be

first

holy

and

to

obey the imperial

scourged, and afterwards beheaded^

according to the laws

The

Let these men, who refuse

!"

martyrs

prison, rejoicing

were

then

led

back

and blessing God; and

* Gambold's Tragedy of Ignatius,

to

shortly

"

160

JUSTIN MARTYR.

afterwards were severely scourged, and then be-

headed.

Thus we

see that Rusticus, a

for his integrity

man

so celebrated

and humanity, manifested,

in

his

condemnation of Justin, the bigotry, intolerance,

and

of a Domitian.

injustice,

famy was attached

The badge

of in-

to the character of a Christian

and Rusticus, with all his philosophy, had not


" learned to distinguish between a man who is

under reproach, and a man who deserves


listened,

where he ought

to

where he ought

suspected,

to

Lord 167.

He

and he

have examined."*

does not appear to have assumed

the ecclesiastical character

was always

may

He

Martyr suffered about the year of our

Justin

We

have suspected

it.

actively

notwithstanding,

engaged

he

in the cause of Christ.

charitably surmise, that he retained his

profession of philosophy, not merely to gratify his

own

taste,

but also from a hope of gaining wise

and learned men over

to

Christianity.

If so,

we cannot but applaud the motives by which


he was actuated, we may learn, from his want of
whilst

success, not to attempt to

make

modating our religious tenets


unenlightened reason.

ce

He

converts, by accom-

to the speculations of

found

it

easier," re-

marks Mr. Milner, " to provoke opposition, and to


throw away

his

own

life,

than to persuade a single

philosopher to become a Christian.

Well had

it

been for the Church,

* Cecil's Life of Cadogan,

if

Christian

JUSTIN MARTYR.

161

teachers had invariably confined themselves to a

simple statement of Divine truth.

An

be wise above what

to reconcile to

human

is

written,

and

attempt to

capacities thing's in their nature incompre-

was

hensible,

first

made by

Justin,

was carried

to

a dreadful height under Origen, and at length

produced a
ability,

of flatterers of

tribe

prolific

human

and detractors from the Divinity and atone-

ment of " God our Saviour."


But whilst impartial justice obliges us

to glance

at this defect in our martyr, let us not be willing


to

cast a shade over

We behold

in

numerous

his

Justin an illustrious

excellencies.

monument of

Divine grace, and a bright ornament of our

The

gion.

love of truth

passion of his soul


sacrifice every

death in

all

for

reli-

was the predominant

this

he was content to

worldly consideration, and to meet

the horrors of martyrdom.

Prom

the

period of his conversion to the termination of his


life,

he declined no dangers to promote the best

interests of his fellow-creatures

and

steadily con-

secrated his time, his talents, and his learning, to


the

suppression

promotion

of sin

and

infidelity,

of piety and benevolence.

and the

We

be-

hold in Justin the gentleman, the scholar, and the


Christian;

which the

brilliant

rare

example of that excellence

in

endowments of nature are hap-

pily blended with the supernatural gifts of grace.

162

XREN^XTS

CHAPTER
Irenceus a disciple of Papias and

X.

Poly carp.

An account

of Papias. Irenceus is ordainedpresbyter of the Church


of Lyons.-The dreadful persecution of the Church.

The martyrdoms of Pothinus,

Sanctus, Ponticus, and

Blandina.

Irenjeus, the celebrated bishop of Lyons, was a

Greek by birth, and probably a native of Smyrna.


Nothing is now known with certainty respecting
his family, or the time of his birth :*

that his parents

were

probable

it is

in easy circumstances, as

he

received a liberal education, whereby he was qualified to

write an important

which has

rendered

amongst the primitive

work against

him deservedly
fathers.

lege of Ireneeus, in early

life,

It

heretics,

illustrious

was the

privi-

to be instructed in

the essential doctrines of Christianity by two vene-

* Tillemont
Pin j a

little

places his birth about the year 130;

before the year 140.

and

Du

163

Irenes.
rable

bishop of Hierapolis, and

Papias,

saints,

Polycarp, bishop of

Smyrna

both of

whom had

Of

the latter,

been disciples of the apostle John.

an account has been already given of the former,


Eusebius remarks, that " he was an eloquent man,
:

and

the Scriptures ;"

though he else"
where represents him as
a person of no great
skilful

in

capacity," and observes, that he understood


rally

what the apostles spoke

He

respecting the Millennium.


that Irenaeus,

May

it

not,

however, be

whether Justin, Irenaeus,

reasonably questioned

and

of Papias, main-

the authority

to

same opinion.

Tertullian,

afterwards states,

and several other primitive teachers,

from deference
tained the

lite-

a mystical sense

in

other

celebrated

fathers,

were

be led astray by a weak contemporary?

likely to

may

Or, rather,

not be asserted, that the very

it

circumstance of their receiving


affords not only

his testimony,

this doctrine

from

no inconsiderable

proof of the soundness of Papias's judgment, but


also an indirect evidence that the earlier Christians

were right

in their

opinion respecting the Millen-

nium, and that Origen, Dionysius, and Eusebius,

were mistaken
Eusebius on

The

principal

observations

of

subject are inserted in the an-

this

nexed note.*
* Eusebius having remarked, that Irenaeus speaks of Papias
as a hearer of John,

author of

five

and a companion of Polycarp, and the

books, shortly afterwards

quotation from Papias

employment

6<

to insert with

cites the

do not consider

my own

M2

it

following

a burdensome

interpretations

what I have

164

IREN^US.
probable that Irenseus continued but

It is highly

a short time with Papias, and that he chiefly resided with Polycarp at his native city.

Kindnesses

learned from the elders, and do well remember, confirming the


truth by them.

who

For

I take

no pleasure,

as

many

do, in those

talk a great deal, but in such as teach the truth

nor in

such as repeat strange precepts, but in such as relate the things


delivered by the

Lord

which proceed from

truth

tJie

itself.

one who had conversed with the


respecting their sayings

and

for the instruction of our faith,


If at

any time

met with

elders, I immediately enquired

What Andrew, Peter, Philip, Thomas,


What Aristion, John the
?

James. John, or Matthew, had said

presbyter, or any other of the disciples of our Lord, had said!

For

was of opinion, that I should not derive

from written documents


were

still alive.'

" This

as

so

much

profit

from the oral traditions of those who

'

Papias," Eusebius shortly afterwards adds,

often

mentions Aristion and John the presbyter by name, and inserts


in his writings the traditions he

had received from them.

It

is

worth while to add, that Papias records some miracles, and


other singular circumstances, which he had learnt by tradition.

He

mentions a wonderful relation, which he had received from

who

the daughters of Philip the apostle,


father at Hierapolis
in his time

resided with their

namely, that a dead man was raised to

life

and that Justus, surnamed Barsabas, through the

mercy of God, received no injury from some deadly poison,


which he had drank.

Amongst other

which the same

things,

writer has related on tradition, he mentions some strange para-

He

also

shall actually subsist

upon

bles of our Saviour, mixed with fabulous doctrine.


asserts, that the
this earth for

kingdom of Christ

a thousand years after the resurrection.

pose," continues Eusebius,

"

I sup-

that he fell into this error

by

misunderstanding the meaning of the apostles, and not perceiving that they spoke in a mystical and figurative

was a person of no great

capacity, as

may be

manner

for ha

conjectured from

165

IRENjEUS.

received in youth, especially


gious nature,

make an

well-disposed

mind.

if

they be of a

on a

indelible impression

Irenaeus

always

reli-

retained

grateful recollection of this venerable instructor;

and treasured

in

memory, even

his

to his dying

day, the most minute circumstances of his conversation with him.

In his epistle to Florinus he remarks, "

grow with our growth,

instructions of our childhood

and adhere

to us

most

The

closely.

can describe the

very spot in which the blessed Polycarp sat and

the
and going out
his
manner of his life, and the figure of his body
discourses to the pec pie
the accounts he gave
discoursed

his

coming

in

John and others who

us of his conversations with

had seen the Lord

and how he rehearsed

their

and what things he had heard from them

sayings,

respecting our Lord, his miracles, and doctrines.

These

mercy of God bestowed


heard with attention, and copied them

things, through the

upon me,

on paper but on

out, not

my

through the grace of God,

heart

and ever

sitfee,

have retained a distinct

recollection of them."
It is

not improbable that Irenaeuf attended his

venerable preceptor, upon his journey to

Rome,

about the year 158, where he travelled, as was

mentioned in a former narrative, to consult with


his writings.

into the

Several ecclesiastical writers, however, were led

same error from the respect they bore to the antiquity

of Papias

as Irenaeus

nion." Eccles.

Hist.

1.

and the

rest,

a. c. 39.

who

maintained tha^ opi-

166

mENJEUS.

Anicetusr respecting the Paschal controversy

hence he

is

sailed to

France, then called Gaul, to

From

reported, at Polycarp's desire,

have

to

officiate

as

presbyter under Pothinus, the laborious and successful bishop of the

The Gospel
duced into

is

this

Church

supposed
city

Lyons.

at

have been

to

first intro-

by some Christian merchants

from Asia, who traded thither; and afterwards on

recommend

their requesting- Poly carp to


suitable pastor, Pothinus

that important station.


their

all

to

learn

was appointed

When

will

to
to

moderns, with

make navigation and commerce

vient to the propagation of Christianity


is

occupy

and improvements,

enlightened views

blessed, indeed,

them a

subser-

Thrice

that merchant, who, in his inter-

course with Heathen nations, forgets not, amidst


the various articles he offers to their notice,

to

recommend the pearl of great price, The glorious


GOSPEL OF THE BLESSED GOD
For several years Irenaeus laboured in this popu!

lous

city

under the direction of Pothinus

no where did the power of genuine


evidently appear than

among

more

piety

their people.

and

Great

numbers of persons were, through their means,


converted to the Christian religion, whose holy and
consistent lives, and the patience with which they

afterwards endured the most severe afflictions for


Christ's

sake,

rather than

renounce their

reli-

and depth of

their

gion, demonstrated the reality


piety.

At length,

in the year 177,

this

Church, which

167

IREN^US,

had hitherto experienced a freedom from outward


trials, was harassed with the united fury of an
enraged people, a Pagan priesthood, and a cold
blooded philosophical emperor.

The

persecution

appears to have originated in a popular tumult

between the Christian and Heathen worshippers,


during the continuance of which numbers of the

by
prevailed on

former were cast into prison, and their


promises, and torture,

threats,

w ere
r

slaves,

to accuse them of crimes which had no existence,


and of opinions which they never held. Amongst

the various enormities, which were laid to their

charge,

they

human

flesh,

were especially accused of

and committing the grossest incest

By

and impurity.
fcr

a time

eating

these means the populace

incensed

were

madness against them.

to

Even those who had formerly been attached to


them by kindred, affinity, or friendship, were transported beyond

mean

time,

all

bounds with indignation.

In the

the magistrates gave credit, or rather

pretended to give

credit,

the testimony of ser-

to
;

and, in defiance of the

justice,

put the Christians to

vants against their masters


dictates of

common

the rack

endeavouring, by torments of various

kinds,

to

extort from

them a confession of the

crimes they were charged with.

In vain was

that these unfortunate people persisted,

utmost constancy, to the

with the

to assert their inno-

Their punishment had been pre-deter-

cence.

mined

last,

it

and they were pronounced

guilty,

signed over to various kinds of death.

and con-

168

IRENJ517S.

At length the fury of the populace and magistrates was for a short time restrained by some of
the confessors' pleading the privilege of

The

citizenship.

The

governor, in consequence, wrote

and waited

to the emperor,

which

interval

Roman

for his instructions.

circumstance occasioned,

this

though of short continuance, was attended with


the most important and spiritual advantage to the

persecuted church.

To

adopt their own language

" The unbounded compassion of Christ appeared


in the patience of many.
Dead * members were
restored to

became

life

by means of the living

the martyrs

singularly serviceable to the lapsed

and

thus the Church rejoiced to receive her sons re-

By

turning to her bosom.


those

who had

denied Christ were recovered, dared

to profess their Saviour,

Divine

in their

life

tribunal;

and

and again experienced the

They approached
God, who willeth not

souls.

(their

death of a sinner, being


souls,) desired

these means most of

the
the

again precious to their

a fresh opportunity of being inter-

rogated by the governor."

The

anxiously expected answer from the em-

peror at length arrived

and the fury of

enemies was again freed from

gave command that


should be put to death

cc

restraint.

the confessors of Christ

and that the apostates from

their Divine Master should be liberated."

during the

general

* Dead

their

Aurelius

assembly,

It

was,

held annually at

in their spiritual affections.

169

IREN.EUS.

Lyons, and frequented from

all

that the

parts,

Christian

prisoners were again exposed to the

populace.

Having been once more examined by

the governor, those

who were Roman

citizens

were

beheaded, and the rest were exposed to wild beasts.

Now

also

in those

it

was that our Redeemer was magnified

who

l(

had apostatized.

Being questioned

separately from the rest, as persons soon to be set


at liberty, they

made a

confession, to the surprise

of the Heathens, and were added to

martyrs.

apostasy

list

of

small number, indeed,

remained in

who

possessed not

but they were persons

the

the least spark of Divine faith, had no acquaint-

ance with the riches of Christ in their

any fear of

God

before their eyes.

souls,

By

nor

their life

they had brought a reproach on Christianity, and

had evidenced themselves


perdition

but

all

the

be the children of

to

rest

were added

to

the

Church/'*

" The difference," remarks Mr. Milner, " between true and merely professing Christians is well
stated,

and deserves to be noticed.

season of

persecution separates real believers, and real expe-

much more

rienced Christians, from others,

than ministers can

now do by

visibly

the most judicious

distinctions."

And now

the fires of the adversaries broke out,

and raged with inconceivable fury, whilst a noble

army of martyrs, of both

sexes,

and

all

ages and

* Epistle of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons.


1

rREMus.

170
ranks in

life,

of God,

who enabled them

bore a glorious testimony to the grase


to triumph over all the

cruel and malicious purposes of their persecutors.

Amongst the
Lyons during
bishop
vert

various

martyrs,

this persecution,

Sanctus, a deacon

who

were Pothinus, the

Maturus, a

Ponticus, a youth of fifteen

a female slave.
sufferings

suffered at

and Blandina,

short account of each of their

may here be

properly introduced.

will serve to display the malignity of their

and the support which God can

cutors,

people amidst the greatest

The

con-

late

It

perse-

afford His

trials.

venerable bishop Pothinus, although up-

wards of ninety years of age, and very infirm and


asthmatic, after having suffered a variety of

ill

treat-

ment, was spurned, kicked, and pelted, by the

people
until

each thinking himself deficient in zeal,

he had personally insulted

He was

aged

this

saint,

then thrown into prison, almost breathless

and, after two days, expired.


Sanctus, the deacon, after having patiently sustained the most barbarous indignities, was scorched

with hot plates of brass, applied to the most tender


parts of his body.

Still,

however, he remained

"being no doubt," to use


the forcible expression of those who witnessed his
sufferings, " bedewed and refreshed by the heafirm in his confession

venly fountain of the water of

from Christ.
sufficient

'

In the

witness

life,

mean time

of the

which flows

his

body was a

torments he sustained,

being so contracted, wounded, and scorched, as no

171

IREN^US.

human

longer to retain the

His patience

form.

shewed

to the

need

be feared where the love of the Father

to

experienced

surrounding multitude that nothing-

and that nothing

grievous where

is

Some days

after,

company with Maturus, he underwent

fresh

the glory of Christ


in

is

tortures

and

exhibited.

is

had been
they expired, u A

at length, after their bodies

broiled alive on an iron

chair,

SPECTACLE UNTO THE WORLD, AND TO ANGELS, AND


TO MEN

!"

During

this

tremendous season the poor female

slave, Blandina,

Father.

was not deserted by her heavenly

Though

of a delicate habit of body, she

was endued with so much


those,

who

fortitude,

morning

successivelv tortured her from

were exhausted with

to night,

whilst

that

and

fatigue,

pressed their astonishment to find her

still

ex-

alive,

she evidently seemed to recover strength, whilst


she repeatedly exclaimed, "

no

evil

is

am

and

a Christian,

committed amongst us."

For

several

days after these acute sufferings, she was brought,


with Ponticus, to witness the tortures inflicted on
the other martyrs.

of their

own

trials

At length the concluding scene


arrived

were aggravated by

all

and now their tortures

sorts of

methods

no pity

being shewn to the sex of the one, or the tender

age of the other.

The

lad,

encouraged by

his

female partner in sufferings, bore with astonishing


fortitude his accumulated tortures, and then

up the ghost.

gave

And Blandina, having again endured

stripes, the tearing of wild beasts, the iron

chair,

172

IRENjEUS,

and the

tossing of a wild bull, yielded

up her

spirit

into the hands of her beloved Lord.

In the mean time the savage persecutors, as

if

anxious, even after death, to vent their fury on the

martyrs, appointed guards, for six days, to watch

any of their friends


They then burnt them to ashes,
the river, that there might ap-

their lacerated remains,

should bury them.

and

cast

them

into

lest

pear no remnant of them on the earth.

One more circumstance is well worthy


Some who, to avoid persecution, denied
viour,

of notice.
their Sa-

were, nevertheless, imprisoned, and after-

wards punished as severely as their

though with

this

ter proceeded to

faithful brethren,

remarkable difference

The

martyrdom with cheerful

lat-

steps,

their very countenances being irradiated with grace

and glory
and

whereas the former went on dejected

spiritless,

and were insulted even by the Hea-

thens, for their infidelity

and cowardice.*

* See the Epistle of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons,

173

IRENES.

CHAPTER

II.

The emperor Com An account of

Irenceus appointed bishop of Lyons.

modus protects

the

Christians,

Valentinians. lrenceus

the

writes his

work against

he-

resies.

At

commencement of the persecution, some


martyrs, who were then in prison, more

the

of the

anxious to maintain the purity of the Christian


faith than to provide for their

epistle

to

own

Eleutherus, bishop of

safety,

wrote an

Rome, warning

him of some of the popular errors of the day, and


bearing the most honourable testimony to Irenaeus,

who was deputed

to

carry their epistle, as a pres-

byter of eminent zeal and piety.


his

return to

Immediately on

Lyons, Irenaeus was unanimously

appointed bishop of the place, in the room of his


venerable friend Pothinus,

who had

already been

crowned with martyrdom.


Never, perhaps, did a minister enter on a charge
under more distressing circumstances.
persecutions

heresies

subtle

within

assailed

the

Dreadful

Ohurch without,

soon after began to

harass

whilst his office eminently exposed

the attacks of every enemy.

and

him

it

to

Paul's emphatical

language will accurately describe the labours and


174

IRENJEUS.

which a bishop in that day must neces" in labours more abundant, in


expect

sufferings
sarily

above measure, in prisons more frequent,

stripes

Surely, under such circumstances,

in deaths oft."

no one would enter upon the sacred office, unless


were his " earnest expectation and hope, that

it

Christ should be magnified in his body, whether

were by

life

How

or death."

long

the

torrent

of

through the streets of Lyons,

hope that
it

spent

it

it

is

by

its

own

Let us

uncertain.

was but of short continuance

itself

raged

persecution

probably

mean time

violence. In the

a protector of the oppressed Christians was grow-

ing up

Com-

very family of the persecutor.

in the

modus^, the son and successor of Aurelius, though

a most worthless and profane prince, was, in one


respect,

more just and equitable than

During the whole of


to

He

father.

he granted peace

Church of Christ throughout the world.

the
is

his reign

his

said to

have been influenced

in this

matter

by a favourite concubine, a woman of low rank,

whose name was Marcia, who,

either from

pity

or esteem, espoused the cause of the oppressed


Christians.

(c

There
(C

justly observed,
ble in

is

something/'

it

has been

in real Christian virtue

venera-

the eyes of a profligate, though abhorred

by the proud philosopher or Pharisee

and God

can make the basest of persons subservient to the


purposes of His

Church,

The

own

wretch,

glory,

and the good of His

Henry

the Eighth, no

more

175

IKENjEUS.

meant the Reformation, than Commodus the protection

Eventually their lawless

of Christianity.

passions produced these blessed effects."*

Commodus

If

at

all

exerted himself in favour of

the Christians during the latter years of Aurelius,


influence

his

been without

may

who,

his stoical parent,

the

have

Ave

effects

conjecture, would

may

of his

hatred to

the

allow the boasted calmness of his

Christians, than

mind

to

on the subsequent conduct of

effect

rather restrain

be supposed not

justly

be discomposed by an incessant contro-

to

versy with his son.

Commodus

succeeded to the

throne in the year 180.


Irenaeus appears to have been admirably calculated for the important situation in

The

placed.
self to

which he was

diligence wherewith he applied him-

the duties of his ministry

was not more

exemplary than the assiduity with which he employed

his

pen

in

defending the religion of Christ.

He

ably refuted the various heresies of the day

the

number and malignity

of which afford a lament-

able proof of the corruption

creeping into the Church.

which was. already

In this kind of writing,

indeed, he appears particularly to have excelled.

He

traced the different heresies through their end-

less ramifications,

f pointed out

their evil tendency,

* Haweis's Church History.


+

The

advocates

Basilides, Valentinus,
differed

of the

different

systems

of Menander,

Marcion, and other teachers, who slightly

from each other, were

all

comprehended under the term

176

IREN^lUS.

and then contrasted them with the sacred

religion

of inspiration.

Of the
his

various works which Irenaeus composed,

Treatise against Heresies, in

five

books,

is

almost the only one of which any traces remain.

This work was written


has long since been

in

lost

Greek
and

it

but the original

now

exists only in

an ancient and barbarous Latin translation, with the


exception of several fragments preserved by Epi-

phanius, Eusebius, and other ecclesiastical writers.

Notwithstanding, however,
tages,

it

still

displays in

cuity of thought,

was,

it

and

all its

many

present disadvan-

parts

at the time of

doubtless,

much

perspi-

brilliancy of expression
its

and

publication,

highly beneficial to the cause of Christianity.

Few

readers would be interested in the refuta-

tion of antiquated heresies, which, though support-

ed by some learned and philosophical individuals,


exceeded, in absurdity,

all

the

modern

reveries of

They

originated

a Swedenburgh, or a Southcott,
in general

from a heterogeneous mixture of the

Platonic notion of ideas, the Pythagorean mysteries

of numbers, the theogony of the heathen poets,

and the Gospel of

St.

John.*

brief analysis,

however, of the principal one, which he exposes


in his first book,

may

here be not improperly in-

serted.
Gnostics, an appellation expressive of superior knowledge;

which was either assumed by


applied to them
:

by

their

their adversaries,.

Collinson's Bampton, Lectures.

own

pride, or ironically

177

IRENxEUS.

The

Valentinians, the principal heretics opposed

by Irenaeus, had invented a monstrous system of


divinity by the propagation of

.Eons or ages,

they divided into male and female.

whom

JEon,

whom

Their principal

they personified under the names of

Proarche and Bythos, [before the Beginning', and


Abyss,] lived for a considerable time
repose with Ennoia [Thought].

produced two other

and

Aletheia

Logos,

of

other iEons

who were

It

whom

the root

together

and makes the


this

in

Pleroma,

which God especially

fullest discoveries

of Himself.

account they said that the Saviour,

they did not like to

life,

call

the Lord, performed


first

thirty

years of

wherein he pointed out the mystery of

They

these iEons.

also pretended that the apostle

Paul referred to the same mystery, when he


that

it

in

and substance

formed the

nothing publicly, during the


His

and they

and Anthropos and Ecclesia twelve

All these

was on

produced

Logos and Zoe produced ten

or the invisible fulness,


dwells,

two

[Life]

These constituted the Ogdoad, or

the rest; for

more.

These

[Truth].

eight .^Eons,

all

At length they

produced Anthropos [Man], and Ecclesia

[the Church].
first

and

Nous, [Understanding]

./Eons,

[The Word] and Zoe

their turn

in silence

pleased the Father that in

fulness [all the

Him

Pleroma] dwell * as
;

also

* Col.

i.

19.

filleth all

t Eph.

i.

all

when he

remarked that the Church was His body, the


ness [the Pleroma] of Him that

said,

should

ful-

in all.f

178

IREN^BUS.

At length the

last

of the Moris, whose

name was

ophia [Wisdom], wished to go out of the Ple-

roma but was prevented by Horos [the Boundary].


;

From

her mental defection, however, proceeded a

shapeless being called Achamoth, from which sub-

stance
tears

world was

the

shed, in consequence of

it

and

it

As a counterthere were two new emana-

evil,

its

passions

and

who descended on Jesus


Him before His crucifixion.

left

Such

sum of

the

is

which, amidst

its

this

at

His baptism,

extravagant heresy,

profane absurdities, bears

indistinct testimony to the all-important

of original

man.

It

sense the

sin,

and the

shews us

delivered

some time the

after

Saviour,

but

who

Christ and the Holy Ghost,

from

fears the ele-

laughter the light.

its

balance to this
tions,

its

the

being out of the

its

Pleroma, producing the water

ments

formed

afterwards

to

fall

no

doctrines

and redemption of

what lengths of sublime non-

human imagination may

arrive,

when

freed from the wholesome restraints of Scripture

The

opinions of these heretics are in their nature

so preposterous, as at
that they

To

first to

induce us to suppose

were not worthy of a serious

refutation.

form, however, a proper opinion on this sub-

ject,

we must

transport ourselves to the time in

and we shall
upon the concurring testimony of eccle-

which they were


then

find,

first

siastical writers, that

disseminated

they were received by great

numbers of professing Christians

productive of great immoralities

and that hence

that they

were
it

179

IREN.EUS.

was highly important, for the credit of Christianity,


as well as for the recovery of the deluded heretics,

that

real

should publicly oppose and

Christians

refute these absurd

Irenaeus having*,

and blasphemous notions.


his

in

book, exposed the

first

ridiculous visions of the Valentinians,

own metaphor, he removed


from the wild beast, that
shape, and be

more

genuine miracles was

adopt

his

the covert and bushes

might appear

it

easily

shew

takes occasion to

proceeds in

To

the following one to refute them.

in its

own

He

then

destroyed.

power of working-

that the

retained in the Church.

still

His sentiments, however, are not so explicitly stated


as to exclude

meaning*.

all

difference of opinion respecting his

Some have conceived

were

that miracles of every description


in the

Church; and others again, that

could perform them.


siders

that he intimates

The

still

all

wrought

Christians

learned Dr. Jortin con-

that he merely states, that

none but true

power of working miraand thus expounds the sentiments of Irenaeus.

Christians possessed the


cles,

" Heretics never had any miraculous powers, much


less

the

power of

Lord and His

raising the dead

done

apostles have

yet this our

this the

brethren

have often, by their united prayers, obtained from

God

the dead have been raised, and have conti-

nued with us

for

some

Christ receive various

years.
gifts,

freely as they have received

The

and

true disciples of

daily

impart them as

them some foretel future


;

events, others heal the sick, others expel evil spirits.''

In his third book Irenaeus speaks at large re-

180

IRENJEUS

specting the writers of the four Gospels, and their


ability

and

fitness for their

Two

important work.

quotations from him on this subject will not prove


uninteresting.
serves,

cc

We

<c

the knowledge of the

Gospel was brought

of

to us.

of our salva-

whom

God committed

to writing, that

it

For

faith.

the

These persons having

preached the Gospel, afterwards by the

for the time to come,

our

way

from any others than those by

tion

first

have not received/' he ob-

it

will

might be,

the foundation and pillar of

after that our

Lord rose from the

dead, and the apostles were endued from above,

with the power of the Holy Ghost descending upon

them, they received a perfect knowledge of


things.

They

all

then went forth to the boundaries

of the earth, declaring the blessing of heavenly


peace, being

all

of them equally instructed in the

Then Matthew, while Peter and


Paul were preaching at Rome, and founding a
Church there, wrote his Gospel among the Jews
in their own language.
And after their departure,
Gospel of God.

Mark, the

and interpreter of Peter,

disciple

deli-

vered to us in writing the things that had been

preached by Peter
Paul, put

down

in

and Luke, the companion of


a book the Gospel which that

apostle had preached.


ciple of the Lord,

who

Afterwards John, the


also leaned

upon His

dis-

breast,

published a Gospel while he dwelt at Ephesus, in


Asia.

All these

have declared

to

us,

that there

is

one God, the Maker of heaven and earth, mentioned in the law and the prophets

and one Christ

181

1RENA2US.

the

Son of God.

assent to them,

knew

He, therefore, who does not


despiseth

who
who

not merely those

mind of the Lord; bnt

the

also Christ,

Such an one

Lord Himself, and the Father.

is

the

is

self-condemned, resisting and opposing' his

own

salvation, as all heretics do."

Irenaeus afterwards refers to the different periods

from which the evangelists commence their Gospel

and bears the following decided

histories,

mony to the proper Deity of


" The Word, the Framer

of

all

upon the cherubim, and upholds


appeared

things,

all

who

sits

things, having

men, has given unto us a Gospel of

to

a fourfold

testi-

the Lord Jesus Christ

character,

but joined

in

one

Spirit.

John's Gospel declares His primary and glorious


generation from the Father;

was

the

Word.

In the beginning

Luke's Gospel being of a priestly

commences with Zacharias, the priest,


incense to God.
Matthew relates His

character,
offering

generation according to

man

The book of the

generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the

Mark begins from the prophetic


which came down from above to men, say-

son of Abraham.
Spirit,

ing,

as

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus

it is

Christ,

written in Esaias the prophet."

In another part of the same book he thus refers


to the Divinity

and atonement of the Lord Jesus

Christ, those grand doctrines of our holy religion


<(

Out

He

of His transcendant love to His creatures,

endured

manhood

to

to be

born of a virgin, Himself united

Godhead,

suffered

under

Pontius

182

IREN^Us,

Pilate,

rose

again,

He

brightness.

Saviour of
of those
fire

those

all

shall

those

who
who

and ascended into heavenly

come again

who

in

the

glory,

Judge

are saved, and the

are judged, banishing into eternal


transgress His laws, and despise the

He redeemed

Father, and His coming.

us from

we might be a holy
The same Person, who suffered under

apostasy by His blood, that


people.

Pontius Pilate,

is

Lord of

all,

and

also King,

and

God, and Judge/*


In another part of his refutation, having re-

marked, that the truly

spiritual

man

judge

shall

the Gentiles, the Jews, and the Valentinians


adds, "

He

shall also

he

judge the Ebionites [or Uni-

how can they be saved unless He


were God, who accomplished their salvation upon
earth ?
Or how shall man pass to God, if God
have not passed to man ? How could He be greater
tarians]

for

than Solomon, the Lord of David, the conqueror


of death,

man ?"
C
With

if

He were

the same substance

with

such passages/* observes Mr. Collin

son,

"

that

the primitive fathers, and Irenaeus in parti-

as these before him,

cular, did not

Dr. Priestley asserts,

reckon Unitarianism

resies of their time.

prevalent heresy

among

this

was not a very

and, therefore,

their censures

Probably

are not so immediately directed against

with equal cogency of logic might

it

it.

But

be contended^

that because the controversy between the

of

the he-

Church

England and the Church of Rome turns not

183

iren,us.

on the Divine atonement, therefore these two


ties Avere indifferent

the passage from

Besides

we

above,

of Christ

socie-

on that point of doctrine/'*


Irenaeus referred to

find a similar testimony to the Divinity

the

in

fifth

book, where, having men-

tioned the incarnation of Christ, he continues;


(c

He

also

clearly

remitted the

sins

and thus

of men,

shewed Himself who He was

none can

for

God alone. As man he suffered


God He pities and forgives the trespasses

remit sins but


for us

as

we have committed against our Creator."


The necessity of the influence of the Spirit is
" Our
thus stated by him in the following passage
Lord promised to send the Paraclete, who should
that

prepare us for God.

For

wheat

as

is

a dry mass,

and cannot be made bread without water


ther can

we be made one

in Christ

so nei-

Jesus without

the water that proceedeth from heaven."

In his fourth book, having referred

to the im-

portance of a believer's seeking after growth in


cc

grace, Irenaeus observes,

obey God, and

to believe in

commandments;
whereas not

Man, by

to

and
obey

this

God

a greatness of

a good thing to

It is

Him, and
is

the

is evil,

to

life

and

is

keep His
of

man:

his death.

mind bestowed on him by

God, has knowledge of the good of obedience, and


so that, making expeof the evil of disobedience
;

rience of each by his mind's eye, he

with judgment the better part."

* Barapton Lectures.

He

may choose
shortly after-

184"

irenjEus.
<f

wards adds,

To make

loving kindness of

human

of

what

you

jection,
art,

and

you

if

nature.

your

is

will

will

God

property of the

the

be made

is,

the property

is

you

therefore,

If,

part, that
will

to

is

faith in

offer to

God

Him, and sub-

experience the operation of His

be the perfect work of God.


not trust in Him,

Whereas,

but will avoid His

hands, the cause of imperfection will be in you for


disobedience, and not in God,

He

who

hath called you.

has sent messengers to invite to the wedding

and those who have not obeyed Him, have deprived


themselves of the King's supper.
cc

They who have gone

astray from the

Light

of the Father, and have transgressed the law of


liberty,

made

have strayed through their own

But God, who foreknows


fit

fault,

being

free of choice, and masters of themselves.

habitations for each

all

things, has prepared

to those

after the light of incorruption,

who

He

seek and run

mercifully gives

the light which they long for; but for those


despise

and, as

it,

it

who

avert

themselves from

were, blind themselves,

He

it,

those also

who

it,

has prepared

darkness congenial to such haters of the Light


fly from His service

who

avoid

is

for

appointed

suitable punishment."

The

writer of these narratives has neither incli-

nation, nor ability, to enter into the discussion of

those mysterious subjects, which

have for many

years unhappily distracted the Church of Christ.

In a work, however, professing to develope the


religious sentiments of the primitive fathers,

and

185

IREN-EUS.

with such a quotation as the preceding before him,

he considers himself obliged explicitly to

state, that

as far as his acquaintance with their writings ex-

tends,

appears evident to him that the contro-

it

versy which has been so warmly agitated since the

days of Augustine was


they

that

unknown

in their time,

and

general expressed their sentiments

in

human

respecting the freedom of the

guage incompatible with

will in

school

of the

that

lan-

of

Calvin.

An

who

author,

has paid considerable attention

to the religious opinions

of the early

Christians,

has made the following remarks on this interesting


subject

" The fathers of the three

appear to me

be unanimous

to

is

grace no

man can have

all

unanimous

sesses a freedom

in

hope, or charity, or

faith,

obtain eternal salvation

that every

of action, that he

good or

evil,

me

they also appear to

stating,

to uncontroulable destiny, but


to choose

centuries

from God, and that without Divine

goodness

to be

first

in stating that

life

is

is

man

pos-

not a slave

master of himself

or death.

If there

be

a seeming or a real inconsistency between these

two statements,
of the subject

it

must be attributed to the nature

itself

c
;

the words of Hooker,


live,

we

shall

all

men

to

is,'

to use

a gulf, which, while

never fathom/

the fathers thought that

have

which there

in
'

we

have no doubt that

God our Saviour would

be saved, and to come to the know-

ledge of the truth.'"

The same

writer shortly afterwards adds, "

The

186

IREN^US.

whole Epistle of

St.

Clement

to the Corinthians

an exhortation to Christians, that being' justified

is

by

faith

they should, by obedience to the motions

of the Holy Ghost, attain salvation.


Justin
Martyr makes frequent use of the term avre^scria,
as applied to man's choice of
all

succeeding fathers

good and

evil

and

phrases of the same

use

import/'*
* Collinson's Bampton Lectures.

The
ject,

reader,

may

who

wishes for further information on this sub-

satisfactorily refer to the

work

of a living prelate, the

Whatever be the

Bishop of Lincoln's Refutation of Calvinism.


merit of this publication, in other lespects,

demonstrated, by

its

it

has irrefragably

numerous and appropriate quotations from

the fathers, the Anti- Calvinism,

if

we may be allowed

expression, of the Christians of the four

first centuries.

the

187

IRENM1US.

CHAPTER
The

III.

Ire-

of the controversy respecting Easter.

revival

Severus persemartyrdom of Irenceus.

nceus's pacific conduct on the occasion.

cutes the

His

Christians. The

character.

person of the name of Victor was at

time* bishop of
(C

Cave,

furious

tradiction,

tent

Rome

this

a man/' remarks Dr.

and intemperate, impatient of con-

and who

and

<e

let

loose the reins of an impo-

ungovernable

lamentable to read

passion." f

how

Alas!

that, at so early a stage

of the

Church, a person of such a character should be


found occupying so important and responsible a
situation

" Nothing," observes Jerome,

<c

is

more un-

when

seemly than a passionate instructor, who,

he ought

to be

an example of gentleness and

all, is

distinguished on the contrary by

humility to
fierce looks,

trembling

unbridled revilings.

lips,

intemperate noise, and

Such a man, instead

of,

persuasion, recalling to righteousness those

by

who

wander, by harshness precipitates them into greater


evil."

Victor, perceiving that the Asiatic

* A. P, 196,

Churches were

Cave's Life of Irenjeus.

1SS

IREN.EUS.

unwilling to attend to his injunctions respecting

inveighed against them in

the festival of Easter,

vehement terms; and finding


fu'm inations,

his
if

he

felt

that,

notwithstanding

they continued contumacious, as

papacy residing

the spirit of the future

he proceeded, without farther ceremony, to

in him,

excommunicate them.

The

Eastern Churches,

mean

in the

time,

intimidated by the threatening^ of Victor,

little

firmly,

but temperately, justified their conduct, alleging


that

they ought to obey

Even

those of the bishops,

God rather
who agreed

with Victor

on the point at issue, disapproved of his

and strongly urged him


perate

The

course.

to

spirit,

pursue a more tem-

progress

dissension was at length

man.

than

of this

unhappy

stopped by the wise and

moderate remonstrances of Irenaeus,


several pacific letters on the occasion.

who wrote
At

last

he

expostulated with the proud prelate himself, and

him

referred

to

the

conduct

of

Poly carp,

and

Anicetus, his predecessor, on that very controversy.

"

The

presbyters,

subject

re-

" communicated with those of their bre-

marks,
thren,

who preceded you," he

who
;

differed from

neither

did

it

them

in

occasion

opinion on this
a

disagreement

between the blessed Polycarp, and Anicetus, bishop


of

Rome, who retained each

his

own

sentiments

without contention; and Anicetus, as a mark of


respect,

Eucharist

permitted
in his

Polycarp

to

administer

the

own church."

In consequence of the exertions of Irenaeus, a

189

IREN.ELS.

of

cessation

strife

took

place,

and each

party

agreed amicably to retain their own customs, without censuring- those

who

differed

The

from them.

name, indeed, of our pious prelate seems well to


have

corresponded

He was

a. lover

with

his

general character.

At

of peace, and a peace-maker:

the same time his candour never degenerated into


indifference.

Few men

appear more happily


candour

have blended genuine

with

holy

faithfulness in bearing testimony against

to

zeal

with

evil

the tenderest compassion for the offending person

a constant aim to promote the highest degree of


himself and others with a readiness to

piety in

make every

charitable allowance for the failings of

good men.
u If

we have

not," remarks a popular writer,

" knowledge enough

we may

at least

and

coincide in

have charity enough

practice, by treating

tenderness

to

in all

speculation,
to

agree

in

each other's opinions with

our differences and discus-

sions keeping in view that beautiful

maxim

incul-

cated by a very learned, a very zealous, and a very

benevolent father, In necessariis unitas, in dubiis


libertas, in

omnibus caritas."*

The outward

peace, which the Church had

enjoyed for several years,

was

at

length, in

now
the

year 202, succeeded by a bitter storm of persecution.

Although,

in his

younger days, the emperor

Sever us had been a cruel op poser of the Christians,

Eustace's Preliminary Discourse, p. xxxiv

190

_EUS.

yet, during the ten first years of his reign,


1

nifested

enmity against them.

little

he ma-

Tertullian, in-

deed, informs us, that, in consequence of his hav-

been miraculously cured of a disorder by a

ing-

Christian,

him

whose name was Proculus, he retained

as long as he lived in his palace

during that period he appears

no small predilection

The

benefit,

and, indeed,

have discovered

to

favour of the Christians.

in

which he

however,

though for a time

had

received,

thus seemed to influence him,

it

by no means changed

produced any

his heart, or

radical alteration in his feelings respecting them.

Real gratitude
perennial fountain

stream supplied by a

as

is

but that which springs up on

some extraordinary occasion


is

like a

summer's

A man

not unfrequently glad to

burden of obligation

an unfeeling breast,

powerful

flood,

but of short duration.

in

in its first effects,

of this character

himself from

free

and on some

is

the

affront, real or

supposed, will rejoice to return an injury for a


received kindness.

implied,

this

Cruel and unrelenting, * as his

savage tyrant.

name

Such was the conduct of

finding that the Christians would

not cease, at his command, to propagate their doctrines,

f he forgot

all

his

former obligations and

promises, and sacrificed their lives at the shrine


of his cruelty and offended pride.
*

ci

Vere Pertinax 5 vere

Severus.,"

was a common proverb

in his day.

+ u Juclseos

fieri

Christianis sanx.it."

sub gravi poena vetuit


Spartian.

idem etiam de

191

REN.EUS.

The

storm of persecution

on the present

fell,

occasion, with the greatest weight at Alexandria

but

and

was

it

also felt in other parts

particularly,

Tours, at Lyons

we may

if
;

of the empire,

Gregory of

credit

which place the attention of

to

the emperor was the

more

as he had probably been

be directed,

likely to

governor of that province

during the persecution, which raged

with the blood of the martyrs


only account

which took place

tioned author

He

it

during the present

given by the above-men-

is
it

not contradicted by more

is

maybe

considered as in the main

informs us, that after Irenaeus had

undergone much preparatory


and with him almost

to death,

of the transactions

city

this

and, as

ancient writers,

we have

in

tremendous season,

authentic.

the time

Thus was Lyons once more dyed

of Aurelius.

The

in

that populous city.

all

numbers

this

who had

is

supposed to

persecution

and,

that are said to

suffered agree but too well with the

cruel prince,

was put

the Christians of

The emperor

have been an eye-witness of


indeed, the great

torture, he

have

temper of

cular displeasure against the citizens of Lyons,

more

this

previously conceived a parti-

especially against

its

and

Christian inhabitants.

Thus lived and died Irenasus, bishop of Lyons


man eminently distinguished for his love to God,
;

and

his solicitude

creatures.
denial,

it

for

the salvation of his fellow-

In zeal, in disinterestedness, and

would be

difficult to find his

superior.

self-

In

order that he might promote the best interests of

192

IRENiEUS.

his fellow-men,

he deemed no dangers or

To

too great to encounter.

he submitted

rious design

difficulties

accomplish

to learn the

this glo-

barbarous

language of the country, and scrupled not

to ex-

change the comforts and refinements of

native

uncultivated people.

admire

this

illiterate

and

Every Christian reader

will

manners of an

rude

land for the

example of pious

And contemplating

his

zeal

and benevolence.

the yet deplorable state of

many
an

nations with respect to Christian light, such


instance,

have

it

may be hoped,

ability, to

will stimulate those

who

promote the progress of the Gospel

amongst the Heathen

and some even

to join the

few who have hitherto offered themselves

as mis-

sionaries in so great a service.

A short
eminent
siastical

"

character of the writings and

The

style

of St. Irenaeus (as far as

succinct, clear,

He

of this

judge by that part of


is

life

drawn by a celebrated French ecclehistorian, shall close this account of him


father,

we can

works which yet remains)

his

and strong, but not very sublime.

declares himself, in his preface to the

first

book,

that the elegancy of a polite dissertation ought not


to

be sought for

among

the

should utter

works

in his

Celtae,

because, residing

impossible but that he

is

it

many barbarous words

not affect to discourse

with

ment, and that he knew not

that he did

eloquence or orna-

how

to persuade

by

the force of his expressions, but that he wrote with

a vulgar simplicity.

He

takes more pains to in-

struct his reader than to divert him

and he endea-

193

IREN.EUS.

vours more to convince him by the matter which

he propounded, than by the manner of expressing


them.

cannot

It

be

very profound scholar

doubted,

that

in all sorts of

He

well profane as sacred.

he was a

knowledge, as

perfectly understood

There was no

the poets and philosophers.

heretic

of whose doctrine and arguments he was ignorant.

He

had an exquisite knowledge of the Holy Scrip-

tures

he retained an infinite number of things

which the

disciples of the apostles

word of mouth

had taught by

and, lastly, he was exceeding well

versed in the history and discipline of the Church,

more

so that nothing can be

what

attested of

is

him by

omnium Doctrinarum

literally

true than

Tertullian,

Curiosisslmus

Irenseus

explorator.

Moreover,

his

learning was accompanied with a

great deal

of

prudence,

chanty

and

it

may be

humility,

efficacy,

justly affirmed,

wanted nothing that was necessary for the

that

and
he

qualifi-

cation of a good Christian, an accomplished bishop,

and an able

Du

ecclesiastical writer."*

Pin's History of Ecclesiastical Writers, Vol. I. p. 75.

Edit. Dublin.

1722.

194

TERTULLIAN.

CHAPTER

I.

a native of Carthage.

Tertullian,

Christianity. He

composes

His

his

conversion to

Apology for

the

Christians.

Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus,


he

is

usually called, Tertullian,

was born

or, as

at

Car-

thage, the capital city of Africa, about the year

160.*

He

is

generally considered the most ancient

Latin father, Avhose writings are come

The number and

times.

intimate

that he

significance of his

was descended from

The praenomen

ancestors.

given him on account of


his parents.

down

to

our

names

illustrious

Quintus was probably

his

being the

fifth

son of

His second name, Septimius, seems

Septimia, a celebrated tribe

Gens
among the Romans,

being

plebeian,

to indicate that he was descended from the

first

regal, afterwards

consular and patrician.

He was

* Tilleraont.

and,

lastly,

probably called

195

TERTULLTAN.

name
whose name

Florens, from some particular family of that

and Tertullianus from


in that

his

own

father,

case was Tertulius.

His father, who was a Pagan, held a military

under the proconsul of Africa, and appears

office

have been very solicitous about

to

gress

in

As soon

literature.

son's pro-

his

had passed

as he

through the usual preparatory studies, which he


accomplished with great rapidity and success, he

was sent

to the

education

his

most eminent masters to complete

and

attainments were such as

his

might reasonably have been expected from a person of his superior

abilities,

and who possessed such

early advantages.
It

appears that Tertullian studied the law as a

science, but

other

way

read

in

was never

called to the bar, or in

practised as a lawyer.

geometry and physics

He was
;

and was well

Eusebius, after remarking: that

he was very conversant with the


that he was likewise

deeply

was acquainted

with the best poets and philosophers

versed in historv-

any

ic

Roman

laws, adds,

eminent in other respects,

and especially renowned among the Latin writers."

The

learned Dr. Cave also, though

ledges with Lactantius, that his style

rugged and obscure, yet confesses

he acknowis

that

somewhat
cc

it is

lofty

and masculine, and carries a kind of majestic

elo-

quence along with


to

the judicious and


Tertullian

it,

that gives a pleasant relish

inquisitive reader."

possessed great

brilliancy

an

irritability

though unhappily united

to

o2

of

wit,

of tem-

196

TEKTULLIAN.

which he seriously laments

per,

The

Patience.

have not inaptly been applied to him

were spears and


sword/

He

and

arrows,,

his

iC
:

His teeth

tongue a sharp

himself acknowledges, that he had,

unregenerate

in his

book of

his

in

following words of the Psalmist

state,

drawn

tongue

his

sword against the true God, and shot

as a

his bitter

words against the sacred religion of Christ.


appears

that, previously

also,

he was an adulterer

that

to his

It

conversion,

he delighted in the

bloody diversions of the amphitheatre, and that he

had attained

No

to

a dreadful pre-eminence in

man, indeed, seems

to

sin.

have been more deeply

implicated in the abominations of the age

or to

have been better adapted, as an instrument of


Satan,

to

uphold the tottering fabric of Pagan

immorality and superstition, than Tertullian, in his


Gentile state
sion,

so also

was no one,

more conspicuous

after his conver-

for purity

of heart and

manners, or better qualified, by natural

and attainments,

to

attack

the

abilities

strong holds of

Heathenism with the weapons of keen sarcasm and


sound argument.
Tertullian appears to have embraced the Christian
religion a

little

before the conclusion of the second

century, and at the


of Severus.
shortly after

It is

commencement of

also

highly probable, that he

assumed the

though the exact time of


ascertained.

We

the reign

ecclesiastical character,
his ordination

cannot be

have no distinct information

respecting the circumstances which led to his con-

19?

TERTULUAN.
version

but as we are

those considerations
fected ourselves,

apt to urge upon others

which have most deeply

we may reasonably suppose

he was brought to faith

arguments which,

all

in

af-

that

Christ chiefly by those


writings

in different parts of his

he so powerfully states in defence of Christianity.

We

there find him insisting'

wisdom

of

that lawgiver;

of prophecy, which

links

upon

connected evidence,

the antiquity of

and the mighty works and

the Mosaic writings,

upon the successive

make up one chain

conducting

of

humble en-

the

quirer to Christ, with a direction as plain as that


of the star,

which led the wise men from the East

to the place of

continually expatiating on

also

We

our Lord's nativity.


the

him

find

miracles

of

Christ and His apostles, together with the intrinsic

excellence

and moral

efficacy of the

Gospel, as

furnishing indisputable proofs of the truth of our


religion.

These are some of the arguments he


and
his adversaries

most frequently urges against


such,

therefore,

as

we may

greatest effect in producing his

conclude,

own

had the

conversion.

*Not long after he embraced Christianity, Tercomposed his admirable Apology, in which

tullian

his

eloquence and argumentative powers appear

most conspicuous.

In

many

respects

resembles that of Justin, on the


the language

is

more

bold,

this

work

same subject; but

and the

style

more

elevated, than that of his predecessor.

Tertullian does not hesitate to charge his persecutors with exercising an unjust tyranny; and stig-

198

TERTULLIAN.

inhuman malig-

matizes, in the plainest terms, the


nity

and cruelty of Nero and Domitian.

It is

probable that

book was written about

this

the close of the second century

Severus

had

at

which period

his

persecutions

commenced

not

against the Christians, though at that time they

were severely treated


prefect

of

the

in

Rome by
and

city,

by

Plautianus, the
the

Saturninus,

Hence Tertullian remarks, " Of all


your emperors, down to this present reign, who

proconsul.

any thing of religion or humanity,

understood

name me one who persecuted

He

also denominates

the Christians.

Severus, "

The most

55

con-

stant prince;" and in a treatise, which he after-

wards addressed
the

first

part of his reign he was very indulgent

Indeed

to the Christians.
liar

Scapula, he remarks, that in

to

reason to be so

this

for,

emperor had pecu-

besides a signal cure,

which he had received through the instrumentality


of one of them, he never found a single Christian

engaged

in

the

factions,

either

of

Albinus

or

Niger; a circumstance which Tertullian delights


to

record.

seditious

Christian was an anomaly

not to be met with, in the early ages of the Church.

But though Severus


Christians
hostile to

had

till

them

also an old

issued

no edicts against the

the year 2G2, the people were too


to restrain their malevolence.

law on their

the introducing of a

new

side,

They

which prohibited

god, without the approba-

and any pretence, we know, will

tion of the senate

serve an enraged

mob

for reasons, as well as arms,

199

TERTULLIAN.

having introduced his Apology, by

Tertullian

observing, that the Christian

cause was the only

one which the guardians of the

were ashamed

Roman

empire

they will

to recognize, requests that

permit Truth to wait on them in private, and read


that

Apology he was not suffered

(i

to speak.

We

enter not upon our defence (he proceeds) by soliciting

your favour and compassion, for we know

the nature of our religion too well to be surprised


at the unjust treatment
is

it

meets with.

Christianity

a stranger upon earth, and expects not to expe^

rience kindness in a foreign land

Divine
her

preferments,

boon she asks

unknown.
mitting

her extraction

is

and her abode, her hopes, her friends, and


are

is,

all

that she

And what

her to a

The

heaven.

in

only

may not be condemned

can the laws suffer by ad-

hearing?

fair

Will not their

authority and justice, by such a measure,

dered more conspicuous

Whereas>

if

be ren*

you con-

demn her unheard, you

will

most flagrant

and be properly suspected

injustice,

of remaining in

which,

if

wilful

be chargeable with the

ignorance of a religion

known, you could not condemn.

declare, then, that ignorance

is

of your unjustifiable hatred of the Christian

a circumstance which, whilst

your conduct, does

in

greater weight of iniquity.


unjust, than for

men

may seem

it

reality

We

the principal cause

to

name;
excuse

bind upon you a

What

can be more

to hate that with

which they

are unacquainted, supposing even that the thing


itself is

deserving of their aversion!

For then

-200

TERTULLIAN,

when we

only can any thing reasonably be hated,


are acquainted with
fore,

men

When, theremay we

demerits.

its

be thus hating in ignorance,

will

not reasonably suppose, that virtue, as well as vice,


will frequently fall

we

under their displeasure

Hence,

bring two charges against our opponents

one for hating us ignorantly


is

connected with

it is

it,

the

and the other, which

for hating us unjustly.

Indeed

no small testimony of the criminality of your

ignorance,

hated us on

who

numbers,

that

former times

in

the same ground, immediately dis-

missed their hatred, on becoming acquainted with


In consequence

our real character and sentiments.


of their knowledge of us, they

became Christians

and now deeply and publicly lament their former


ignorance and
es

guilt.

The common

vested

cry

now

city

in-

is

the country, the camp, the provinces, are

over-run

with

Christians

numbers are not

less

J
;

and,

all

ages,

lamented as a general

is

indeed,

their

than are generally reported.

This universal revolt of


sexes,

The

is,

evil,

leading you to suspect that there

and

qualities,

is

instead

of

some secret

excellence in our religion, which can produce such

wonderful

effects.

But nothing

will

induce some

characters to entertain rational suspicions, or to


cultivate an acquaintance with Christianity.

here alone that

human

On

ignorance

as

this subject

knowledge
C!

But

it is

is

curiosity
is

as

seems

It is

to stagnate.

much approved

of.

in all others.

objected, that the

number

of Christians

201

TERTULLIAN.
is

no proof of the goodness of their cause: many

change from better

wrong

to

worse

many

desert to the

And who denies this? Yet are any


men, who are hurried away to sin by the

side.

of those

violence of their passions, hardy

enough

to public justice in defence of their crimes


evil

The

seek for refuge

guilty

apprehended, they tremble

in

and whilst they

When

reflect

Every

darkness

fear.

when

when accused, they

deny the charge, and are hardly


into a confession.

appeal

shame and

naturally accompanied with

is

to

to

be tormented

condemned, they lament

on the number of their

sins,

they impute their guilt to their stars or destiny

unwilling are they to acknowledge that as their


act,
cc

which they confess

pents

Not one

air of

is

among

like this

ashamed, or

re-

is

summoned

triumph

if

to trial,

he goes

indicted, he

makes

What

judges.

a strange monster of wickedness

which has not one feature of criminality

this,

belonging to
artifice,

What

of them

when interrogated, he frankly conand when condemned, returns thanks to his

no defence

is

If he

with an

fesses

own

except, indeed, for not having sooner been

a Christian.
it

so

be criminal.

But do you discover any thing

Christians

to

to

or

it

repentance,

a strange

rejoice,

evil

is

or shame,

or

or sorrow, attending

it!

this,

fear,

that

makes the guilty

be ambitious of accusation, and happy in

punishment

How

Nothing of

\"

lively

truth and the

a demonstration have

power

w e here of
r

of Christianity; and

how

the

dim*-

202

TERTULLIAN.

suppose that such appeals could be made,

cult

to

even

to the

most insensible opponent, without sub-

duing prejudice, and producing conviction.


1

Tertullian afterwards graphically describes the

hatred of the Pagans to Christianity, notwithstand-

ing they were obliged to acknowledge


tendency.

cc

Some have imbibed

Christianity, as to

to

family.

moral

such an aversion
the

prefer acquiescing in

grossest injuries, rather than admit

The

its

it

within their

husband, heretofore regardless of his

wife's levity, turns her out of doors, as soon as she


is

chaste on principle.

The

father, formerly

tolerant towards his undutiful son, disinherits

now

that he

is

become obedient.

The

master, once

so kind to his dishonest servant, discards him

that he

is

made

mere name of

Thus

faithful.

offensive

that religion, which has

so

him

now

is

the

produced so

important a reformation."
In another part of his Apology, after having
described, in nervous language, the infamous characters

whom

tullian

sarcastically

the Heathens adored as gods, Teradds,

cc

Even

if

we were

to

allow that your gods were a good sort of beings,


yet
left

how much more


in

hell

celebrated characters have you

There you have

retained the wise

Socrates, the just Aristides, the brave Themistocles,

the victorious Alexander, the fortunate Polycrates,


the rich Croesus,

and the eloquent Demosthenes

Which

gods possessed the gravity and

of your

wisdom of Cato, the justice and courage of Scipio,


the magnanimity of Pompey, the success of Sylla,

203

TERTULLIAN.

the wealth of Crassus, or the eloquence of Tully

How much

Aviser a

have acted,

if

your god-maker

part would

he had deferred

his apotheosis

the times of these celebrated men,

he foresaw

was

but, as he

in

whom,

a hurry,

ing

more

to find

till

doubtless,
I

suppose,

and having bolted the door of heaven, he

ashamed

new

is

illustrious characters

groan-

in hell."

In the following quotation Tertullian appeals to


the consciences of mankind, and to various popular

expressions in proof of the

existence of a

real

Supreme superintending Providence. " Do you


wish that we should prove the existence of the One
true God, from the variety of His wonderful works

which surround, support, and alternately delight

and
it

terrify us

Do you

wish that

from the testimony of the soul

as the soul
evil

is

we

should prove

Confined

itself?

prison of the body, fettered by

in the

examples, enervated by lustful passions, en-

slaved by false gods; yet no sooner does


as

from a

surfeit,

or sickness, and enjoy

sure of health, than

it

arise,

it

some mea-

instantly appeals to the Deity,

Him by the name of God


The
great God The good God What God hath given
God sees it I recommend to God and God
e

and addresses

will

restore

general use.

to

me.'

These

are

expressions in

O, natural testimony of the soul

favour of Christianity

He who

in

pronounces these

words, looks not to the capital, but to heaven.

The

soul

acknowledges the residence of the living

God; from whence

it

derived

its

own
1

origin."


204

TERTULLIAN.

The

work

passages, adduced from this excellent

of Tertullian, have already been numerous

but the

reader will not be displeased with- another extract,


as

manners and
and

most beautiful description of the

affords us a

it

spirit of the Christians at that time,

shews the astonishing progress which the

also

had made at the end of the

religion of Jesus Christ

writer,

iC

We

"

second century.

pray/' says this animated

emperors

for the safety of the

God,

to

even to the true, the living God, whose favour the

emperors themselves prefer to that of

who

We

are called gods.

all

others,

look up to heaven with

out-stretched hands, because they are harmless

with naked heads, because

without
long

a prompter, because

We

heart.

life,

we

are not ashamed

we pray from

earnestly request for

all

the

emperors a

a secure empire, a safe palace,

strong

armies, a faithful senate, a well moralized people,

a quiet state of the world, and whatever else they

would wish
capacity.

either in their public

for,

These

any other, than

we

shall obtain

them

them

because

He

alone can grant

and we are they who may expect them of

Him, being His


and are ready

who worship Him

servants,
to

lose

our

life

in

your tormenting irons harrow our

crosses suspend us

swords pierce our breasts


IS

IN A

fires

let
;

in prayer,
flesh

consume us

let

let

praying Christian

FRAME FOR ENDURING ANY THING,


3

alone,

His service.

Whilst our hands are thus stretched out


let

or private

we cannot solicit from


from Him from whom we know
blessings

205

TERTLLLIAN.

How

<c

ye generous rulers

this,

is

Will ye

good subject who supplicates God


emperor ? Were we disposed to return
the

kill

evil,

it

were easy

which we

sustain.

for the
evil for

for us to

revenge the injuries

But God

forbid that His peo-

by human

ple should vindicate themselves

or

fire,

be reluctant to endure that by which their sincerity

Were we

evinced.

is

disposed to act the part,

will not say of secret assassins,

should

mies,

we

we want

but of open ene-

or

forces,

numbers?

not dispersed throughout the

world

true,

we

are but of yesterday, and yet

filled

all

your towns,

cities,

roughs, councils, camps,

fi

islands,

courts,

even though unequal

much

pleasure,

in

were

bo-

castles,

senate,,
!

well prepared,,

numbers, who die with so

it

not that our religion re-

quires us rather to suffer death than to inflict

We

to

make a general

nions, you

to

all

Nothing
cerns.

is

The whole

and hope.

who
J.heir

for

were

silence

and

But we are

of worldly honour and dignity.

more foreign

a body united

at the

would surround you.

ideas

you

secession from your domi-

would stand aghast

solitude that

dead

it.

might, indeed, without striking a single blow,

dreadfully revenge ourselves upon

we

is

we have

palaces,

For what war should we not be

Are
It

We leave you only your temples

forum.

world

to us than political conis

our republic.

We are

in one bond of religion, discipline,

We

meet

in our assemblies,

as those

are about to storm heaven with the fervour of

devotions;

a violence acceptable to God.

206

TERTULLIAN.

We -assemble

also to have recourse to the Divine

oracles for caution and recollection on

By

sions.

the

Word

God we

nourish our faith,

and confirm our confidence; and

erect our hope,

we

of

occa-

all

strengthen our discipline by repeatedly incul-

cating' precepts, exhortations,

corrections

excommunication, when

needful.

it is

as being in the sight of God,

and by

This

last,

of great weight,

is

and a presumptive prelude of the future judgment,


if

any one behave

to be debarred

in

so

scandalous a manner as

from attending our sacred assem-

blies.

" Those who preside amongst us are elderly


persons, not distinguished for opulence, but worth

of character

no influence with

for wealth has

Every one pays something

into the public

us.

chest

once a month, or when he pleases, and according


to his ability

These

pulsion.

of piety

and inclination

gifts are,

as

for there
it

and are expended, not

is

no com-

were, the deposits


in feasts

and merry

meetings, but in relieving the needy, supporting

orphans and decrepit persons, and those who have


suffered shipwreck

or who, for the

are condemned to the mines,

Word

of God,

or imprisonment.

This very charity of ours has caused us


noticed by

some

See,

(say

Christians love one another

He

to

be

how these

they,)
!"

then proceeds to notice their noble charities

for the benefits of friends

and enemies

their strict

justice in paying every tax, without fraud or collusion

their purity, integrity, heavenly mindedness,

207

TERTULLIAN.

and passive endurance of

These were

injuries.

prominent features in the character of the primiChristians,

tive

judges

These were

their resemblance

which

features, too,

sf

testified

heavenly Father, and

to their

evidenced them to be

sons and daughters of the

!"

Lord Almighty

enemies themselves being-

their

brief account of the nature of the feasts

by the primitive Christians,

love, celebrated

at the

same time,

and our nume-

close this chapter,

rous quotations from Tertullian's Apology.

nature of our supper," he observes, "

by
the

is

The

"

indicated

name it is called agape, a word which, in


Greek language, signifies love. We are not

its

careful about the expense of this


for

of

shall,

we

entertainment

consider that as gain, which

expended

is

with a pious purpose in the refreshment of our


indigent brethren.
sion of this banquet,

of

its

From the honourable occayou may judge of the manner

being conducted.

It

charge of religious duties


that
sit

is vile,

nothing that

down, prayer

that are

hungry

is

We

in

so feast

the

dis-

admits of nothing

immodest.

Before

we

up to God. Those
much as they desire and
much as is useful for sober
as those who bear in mind that
offered

eat as

every one drinks as

men.

is

consists
it

they are about to spend the night in prayer to

God; and we

so converse as those

scious that the

Lord hears them.

who

are con-

After the lamps

are brought, and water to wash our hands, each


of us, either from some portion of the holy Scrip-

208
tures,

TERTULLIAN.
or

from the spontaneous feelings of his

mind, endeavours to praise


assembly.

Our banquet

menced, with prayer.

God

is

We

in the midst of the

then closed, as
still

it

retain the

regard to decency and propriety, as those

com-

same

who

have rather celebrated an ordinance than partaken


of a supper,"

209

TERTULLIAN.

CHAPTER
Terfullian

a married man.

II.

His

Scapula, a persecutor, and to the


liar situation
rks

His

wife,

martyrs. The

of the primitive Christians.

against heretics.

Jus

tracts to

to

pecu-

Tertullianh

against the public

tract

shows of the Pagans.

The

life

of Tertullian, like that of

voluminous authors, derives

many

ether

principal interest

its

from the variety and importance of

his

writings.

Several of his productions exhibit, in a lively manner, his

own

character, and also point out the state

of Christianity

in

We

time.

his

made copious quotations from


logy, a work which, though

his

the

fail in

people to

some measure
discern the

admirable Apo-

not apparently at-

tended with any immediate benefit


could not

have already

to

to

the Church,

open the eyes of

immoral tendency of

Paganism, and the excellency of the Gospel. Thus

we may

conceive that his Apology, and works of a

similar nature,

were imperceptibly preparing the

nation for exchanging their former superstitions


for the sacred religion of Christ,

and gradually

dis-

posing them to hail with joy the edict which a


future emperor would issue in

Of

the other fathers

these narratives, there

whose
is

its

behalf.

lives are

recorded in

no intimation that any of


p

210

TERTULLIAN.

them were ever married

though

their

own

silence,

or that of contemporary authors, especially where


there

is

means proves that they


is

by no

so general a dearth of materials,

lived a life of celibacy.

It

certain, however, that Tertullian was a married

man.

But we have no information respecting the

name

of his wife, or of the time of his marriage.

Two

of his treatises, addressed to his wife,

much

remain, which display


In the

their writer.

first

still

of the character of

tract

he advises her, in

case of her surviving him, not to enter into a se-

We

readily acknowledge/' he
cond marriage. cc
observes, " that the union of man and woman is

we know
human race

He

blessed by the Lord, for

that

and granted

for the

it

to the

devised

purpose

of peopling the world, and building up mankind


nevertheless,

it

ought

be only a single union.

to

For Adam was the only husband of Eve, and Eve


his only wife there was one woman, one rib."
:

second

In his

tract,

Tertullian,

with

much

greater propriety, enlarges upon the evils and hin-

drances to be expected from a believer's marrying


a Heathen

and hence urges on

his wife,

in

case

she should again enter into the marriage state, the

great importance of her being united with none


other than a believer.

He

then concludes with the

following pleasing description of the blessedness of

a truly Christian marriage

" The Church makes the


confirms

it:

when

treaty

sealed, the angels

and God the Father

ratifies

it.

the oblation

announce

it,

These two are

211

TERTULLIAN.

one

flesh

and where there

is

They pray

also one spirit.

one

they direct each

They

other, they exhort each other.

Church of God, equally

sals.

In seasons of

trial

in the

and

burdensome

is

are equally

Divine espouneither of

affliction

them conceals any thing from the


the other, or

or shuns

other,

They

to the other.

and sup-

cheerfully attend each other in sickness,

port each other in poverty.

is

together, they medi-

tate together, they fast together;

in the

there

flesh,

Their alms are with-

out grudging, their sacrifices without parsimony,


their

daily

stolen embraces,

No

impediment!

without

exertions

no trembling congratulation, no

whispered benediction

They

unite together in

singing psalms and hymns, and mutually stimulate

each

other

high

the

in

of

praises

God.

their

Christ sees and hears such things, and rejoices.

He

Where

sends them His peace.

there also
evil

is

He

and where He

two
is

are,

not the

one."

Tertullian's writings, both as


tion

these

there

is,

and sentiment, are

harsh and forbidding.

in

respects his dic-

it

some places confessedly

His

style,

however,

the most part keen and sententious

and

is

for

his obser-

vations are in general solid and important, and well


calculated for edification

and usefulness.

from the period of

conversion to that of his

his

Indeed,

death, few of his years appear to have been undis-

tinguished by some useful publication.

time

we

find

the aliens

At one

him manfully attacking the armies of

at another, rallying his fellow-soldiers

p2

2\2

TERTULLIAN.

Now

to the standard of the Cross.

his Christian brethren to

and

life

prospect

of

of heart

the

Some

aim

he

is

exhorting

at greater holiness

and now encouraging them

imprisonment

and

martyrdom.

made from

additional extracts shall be

writings, which will probably be considered


inferior in
his

in

his

little

those already quoted from

interest to

Apology.

Notwithstanding the attempts which Tertullian

had already made,


Christ, Scapula,

to

vindicate

the

religion

of

the proconsul of Africa, carried

on the persecution with great

asperity.

Roused,

but not dismayed, by the awful scene around him,

our author proceeded to address a short tract to


the persecutor himself in favour of the suffering
Christians, in

which there are some circumstances

related

by him well worthy of

tions,

as an

indubitable

He men-

attention.

fact,

the

that

emperor

Severus had been cured of a dangerous sickness

by the application of
Christian of the
till

name

oil,

which was used by a

of Proculus,

who remained,

the time of his death, in the palace

consequence of

this

and that in

cure the emperor

several years friendly to the

Christians,

was for
and even

conferred special marks of favour upon some

had embraced

their religion.

He

who

also states, that,

during a season of fierce persecution

in

Asia, all

the Christians of the district voluntarily presented

themselves in a body before the tribunal of Antoninus the proconsul.


rently rash act cannot

Their object

new

in

this

be ascertained.

appaIt

is


213

TERTULLIAN.
not improbable

they hoped the view of their

that,

numbers and constancy would

excite the pity or

He, however, either

respect of their persecutor.

unable to comprehend their motives, or despising


them, ordered a few of them to be put to death,

and dismissed the

happy men,
difficult to

if

rest

with these words

you are weary of your

find precipices

as

some suppose, by the

The

ceived.
tial,

and

How

suppress the propagaelfect

may

be con-

in the

violent

still,

and

we have no

Tertullian escaped

cause

the

remote from the residence

however, actively em-

of Christ

and His people.

Having on a former occasion been


advocate

easily

now became more

He was

information.
in

numbers of the

former predilection for

persecution, which was before par-

of the emperor,

ployed

increasing*

to

chiefly in places

universal.

so

being* alarmed,

The

tion of the Gospel.

Unit

himself,

all his

them, and issued edicts

lives, is

and halters?"

At length the emperor


Christians, dismissed

cc
:

their

undaunted

presence of their enemies, he

now

wrote a tract for the consolation of such of them


as

were imprisoned

for their religion,

wherein he

represents them rather as objects of congratulation

than of

{C

pity.

They were,

indeed, in prison, the

house in which the devil confines his


but they were
nessing the

impure

now no

Heathen

sacrifices,

own

family

longer in danger of wit-

solemnities,

smelling their

hearing the clamours of

the

people, or beholding their public debaucheries/*

This passage of Tertullian may afford us no

214

TERTULLIAN.

inadequate idea of the very peculiar situation and


conduct

of the

and

direction,

tion of their
to

shewing

Heathen neighbours presented

itself

whilst they scrupulously avoided

most

the

it

every

In

Christians.

every shape, the impure supersti-

in

view,

their

primitive

mark of respect, lest


be paying homage to the

trifling"

they should indirectly

Pagan mythology, or derogating from


of the true God.

" The

the majesty

religion of the nations/'

observes an historian of great celebrity, " was not

merely

a speculative

professed

doctrine

The

schools, or preached in the temples.

merable

deities

and

rites of

in

the

innu-

polytheism were closely

interwoven with every circumstance of business or


pleasure, of public or private

life

and

it

seemed

impossible to escape the observance of them, with-

out at the same time renouncing the commerce of

mankind and

The

society.

all

the offices and amusements of

important transactions of peace and

war were prepared

or concluded by solemn sacri-

fices, in

which the magistrate, the senator, and the

soldier,

were obliged

public

spectacles

to preside or participate.

were an

essential

cheer ful devotion of the Pagans

supposed

to accept,

The

part of the

and the gods were

as the most grateful offering,

the games that the prince and people celebrated in

honour of

who

their peculiar festivals.

The

Christian,

with pious horror avoided the abomination of

the circus, or the theatre, found himself encom-

passed with

infernal

snares in

every convivial

entertainment, as often as his friends, invoking the

215

TERTULLIAN.

poured out libations to each

hospitable deities,

When

other's happiness.

the bride, struggling

with well-affected reluctance, was forced in hymeneal

pomp

over the threshold of her

when

tion, or

.the

habita-

sad procession of the dead slowly

moved towards the

funeral pile

who were

the Christian, on

was compelled

these interesting occasions,


the persons

new

to desert

the dearest to him, rather

than contract the guilt inherent to those impious


ceremonies.

Every

in the least

concerned

and every trade that was

art

the framing or adorning

in

of idols

was polluted by the

Even

common language

the

abounded with

stain

of

idolatry.

of Greece and

Rome

and impious expressions,

familiar

which the imprudent Christian might too carelessly


utter, or too patiently hear.

was required

diligence which

Such was the anxious


to

guard the chastity

of the Gospel from the infectious breath of idolatry/'*

But the most extensive, and,

as

some suppose^

the most valuable, of Tertullian's writings, were

With respect to these,


M. Balsac remarks, " Though we should grant
those of a polemic nature.

that his style

likewise

is

own

most excellent

of iron, yet the nicest critics must

that

from

weapons

this

iron he has

forged

has defended the honour

and purity of Christianity quite routed the Valenand struck Marcion to the very heart."
tinians
;

These

tracts are

now, indeed,

* Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the

less interesting to

Roman

Empire.

216

TERTULLIAN.

us than some of his other works, as the greater part

of the heresies he combats are happily forgotten

although they were, doubtless, of great import-

For such a

ance at the time they were written.


kind of composition

author appears to have

this

We

been admirably calculated.

language of Dr. Johnson,

in the

for a controvertist

say of him,

He was formed

with sufficient learning

with

vehement and pointed; with unconquerable

diction

pertinacity

and

may
ci

with wit in the highest degree keen

sarcastic

and with

those powers exalted

all

and invigorated by just confidence

Thus

qualified

in the

armoury of heaven, he went

cause."

in his

by nature and education, and clad


forth to

combat

the various errors with which the Church was then


infested.

Having remarked,
tics,

in his

that their errors

were

Prescriptions of hereforetold

His apostles, Tertullian refers

by Christ and

to the universal con-

sent in doctrines which obtained amongst the various Christian


tles,

communities formed by the apos-

affording

as

no

small

testimony

in

their

favour.

"

Would you employ your

curiosity in the im-

portant business of your salvation

run through

the apostolic Churches, in which are the chairs

once

filled

epistles

by the apostles

are

read,

where

their authentic

conveying the sound of their

and representing their different persons.


Do you live in the neighbourhood of Achaia ? you
have the Church at Corinth. If you are not far

voices,

21?

TERTULLIAN.

from Macedonia, you have the Church at Philippi

and Thessalonica.
have Ephesus; and

Rome

impregnated with

their blood

the

beheaded, like
the apostle

of boiling

banished

was

It

after

fied,

as

to

near

live

Italy, there is

which we can readily ap-

Thrice- happy Church, which the apostles

peal.
fully

you

if

an authority

you pass into Asia, you

If

in

all

their doctrine,

Rome

that Peter

and with

was cruci-

manner of our Lord, and Paul


It was in Rome that
the Baptist.

John was

cast

unhurt into a cauldron

and afterwards was sentenced

oil,

to the isle of

to

be

Patmoe."

But

whilst Tertullian joyfully appealed to

still

retaining-,

Rome,

with other apostolical Churches,

the purity of the Christian doctrine, he was far

from attributing
In

authority.

to
his

it,

or

treatise

which he denominates

cc

bishop, any peculiar

its

concerning Chastity,

the flower of morals, the

honour of the body, and the foundation of


ness,"

holi-

he censures, with deserved severity,

the

extravagant pretensions which already began to


" I hear/' says he,
characterize the Roman see.
t(

that a decree, a peremptory decree,

issued.

The

chief pontiff, forsooth, the bishop of

bishops, declares,
sins

of

has been

'

absolve penitents from the

adultery and fornication V

edict,

pregnant with every abomination !" Shortly afterwards he adds, " Who can pardon sin, but God
alone

This

is,

indeed, the

Lord, not of the servant


the priest/'

of

prerogative of the

God

himself,

not of

218

TERTULLIAN.

Tertullian's

five

books against Marcion, who

Law and

blasphemously pretended that the

the

Gospel were contrary to each other, and therefore


derived their origin from different gods, must have

been a truly important work

his

in

who

these books/* remarks an author,

ec

sant in the writings of the fathers,

the being and attributes of

God

{(

day.

conver-

is

he establishes

shews that

In

evil,

both in angels and men, proceeded from their free


will

and that the power

sequence of

this liberty

His councils,

but that

commit

to

that

God
the

all

which are the consequence of


will,

in the

shall,

sin
will

is

the con-

not change

sins

and

this

freedom of

turn to the glory of

end,

follies,

God

shews the real incarnation of the Messiah, and


vindicates the rites and ceremonies of the Jewish

law against the

objections of Marcion

and

his

disciples."*

In his work against Praxeas, he defends the doctrine of the Trinity

but

fails,

as all

must who

attempt, by their illustrations, to penetrate the veil

with which

God

Divine mystery.
vation on
writer,

is

this

has been pleased to conceal this

The
subject,

from the above learned

deserving of serious attention.

are/* he remarks, "


tract;

following judicious obser-

but

when

many

the

common

There

ingenious things in

this

a doctrine of pure revelation, as

the doctrine of the Trinity


to

cc

rules

is,

becomes subject

of ratiocination,

to

which

* Dr. A. Clarke's Succession of Sacred Literature.


219

TERTULLIAN.

they are utterly inapplicable, strange assertions,

not erroneous

Dr. Watts
tion,

similar

observa-

though unhappily he did not always him-

self attend to

our

made a nearly

has

if

must be the result."*

deductions,

it

<c

Supreme incomprebelieving what God has plainly

understandings

hensive, by firmly

revealed

and wait

illumination

in

Let us pay the homage of

the

the

to

of

higher

regions of light and

immor-

for

the

favours

tality."

In

piece on

his

that these secular

and vanities
abjured
lates

Shows, Tertullian maintains,

amusements belong

of the

world,

to the

by Christians in baptism.

He

also

devil,

re-

woman

a singular anecdote of a Christian

being possessed by a

pomps

which were plainly

during her attend-

ance at one of these Heathen spectacles

and

when the exorcist came to eject him,


and demanded how he dared to enter a body con-

adds, that

secrated to Christ, the devil boldly answered, " I

found her on

end of

my own

this treatise,

premises."

Towards

the

he strongly inveighs against

amusements of the
Pagan world, and concludes with an animated

Christians conforming to the

description of the superior pleasures

of

the be-

liever.
fC

God

forbid that His

own people

should take

pleasure in such destructive amusements

that they

* Dr. A. Clarke's Succession of Sacred Literature.

220

TERTULLIAN.

God

should pass from the House of


the devil.

What

lately lifted

up

in

shall those hands,

prayer to God,

clapping a comedian

in

littered the

to the

amen'

now be wearied

in the sanctuary,

suppose, that the short span of

ments

Why,

superior pleasures

What

which

life

be occupied

Do

you

still

requires amuse-

then, are you so ungrateful, as not

acknowledge and be

mighty

which were

that mouth,

or

in extolling the feats of a gladiator?

to

house of

bestowed on you by the Alcan

reconciliation with

satisfied with the variety of

be

more

delightful

than

God our Father and our

Lord,

than the revelation of truth, than the exposure of

and the pardon of innumerable sins?

error,

pleasure more
sure,

a contempt of the world, true liberty, an

upright conscience, a contented


spoiled of

terrors

its

What

life,

and a death

are you enabled to

spurn the Heathen gods, to expel daemons,


diseases

* This

is

Are you favoured with

him

credit for

it.

But whether,

to

cure

revelations,

a bold appeal of Tertullian to a supposed

ledged fact, though numbers in our day


give

What

sublime than a rejection of plea-

may not

acknow-

be read)7 to

in his time, such miracu-

lous cures and expulsions were wrought or not, he never could

have made
if

there

wrought
It

is

this appeal to the

supposed conviction of the people,

had not been, from antecedent miracles,


a certain predisposition in men's

actually

minds to believe them.

foreign to the object of the writer of these narratives to

attempt to discriminate between such miracles as were genuine,

and such as were

forgeries.

He

cannot, however, refrain from

221

TERTULLIAN.

and do you

These are

to the glory of the

tuitous

specta-

and gra-

perpetual,

sacred,

God

true

are the

these

pleasures,

the

of Christians,

cles,

tc

live

Consider

as

it

your circus to view the course

of the age, to reckon the lapse of years, to look

forward

to the goal of life,

the Church,

to

to the

to cleave

defend the cause of

banner of the Most

High, to rouse yourself at the angel's trumpet, and


to glory in the

palm of martyrdom.

literature delight

we

you,

possess a sufficiency of

sentiments, and

learning, an abundance of verses,

even songs.
of truth
desire

We have

works of

If

the words not of fable, but

Do you

not in illusion, but simplicity.

contests,

and wrestlings

hand, and neither few

in

They

number, nor in

are

interest.

Behold Impudence overthrown by Chastity


Cruelty bruised by

fidy slain

by Fidelity

seration

Petulance cast down by Modesty

we
which we

are the contests


flicts

in

remarking, that

are engaged in

are crowned

fictitious

Per-

Commi!

Such

such the con-

Do

at

you even

miracles, from the facility of their

being discovered, and the scandal which such a discovery


necessarily attach to the party concerned in

would

them, must have

been highly injurious to the cause of Christianity;


ther, to adopt the nervous language of Bishop

or

ra-

Watson, " that

nothing but the recent prevailing evidence of real, unquestioned,

apostolical

miracles,

could have

secured the infant

Church from being destroyed by those which were


cribed to it."

falsely as-

222

TERTULLIAN.

You have the


spectacle, my friends,

wish for blood

O, what a
in

the triumphant and glorious

Lord

What

angels

then

be

approaching,

is

advent of

the

exultation

our
of

the splendour of saints as they rise from

their graves

of the

will

blood of Christ.

New

the reign of the just

Jerusalem

!"

and the

city

223

TERTULLIAN.

CHAPTER

III.

The sentiments of Monincreasing austerity His trad


crown. His account of
of
His character, and death.

Tertullian joins the Montanists.


tanus. Tertullian'

on

Heathen

state

the

military

the

children.

certain harshness of disposition was too proin the character of Tertullian.

minent a feature

It cast

was, indeed, his principal defect.

over his religion

and, whilst

it

a gloom

added an undue

verity to his censures, greatly diminished their


{C

cacy.
dry,

There

is/'

remarks Mr. Cecil, "

ther to shut up the heart than open

may

and point

roar,

it.

The

it, till

ra-

tempest

hail-shot at the traveller

but he will rather wrap himself closer


than quit

se-

effi-

a hard,

and repelling mode of reproof, which (ends

its

It

in his

cloak

the sun breaks out again."

This constitutional severity of character unhappily increasing with

impute

Church

a
;

laxity

of

his years,

discipline

led Tertullian to
to

the

general

a charge which few moderns would have

brought against

it.

At length he became ac-

quainted with the Montanists, a sect

who claimed

extraordinary gifts of the Holy Ghost, and were


especially noted for the austerity of their manners,

and the rigidness of


timents,

their discipline.

and the apparent sanctity of


i

Their sentheir Jives,

224

TERTULLIAN.

He became

seduced our unwary African.

wrote

porated with them,

in

incor-

and

their defence,

stigmatized the general Church as

natural or car-

After some time, however, Tertullian sepa-

nal.*

rated from the Montanists also, so that what was

remarked of Erasmus seems equally applicable to


'c

him:

He had

determined rather what

He was

demn, than what to approve."

We

not of the

he was not of the Montanist

general church,

church

con-

to

cannot doubt that he was savingly

united to the mystical Church of Christ, of which


the

name

of every

member

* Montanus, the founder of this


a native of Pepuza,
tions in

a village

enrolled in heaven.

is

sect,

was an obscure man, and

in Phrygia.

what may be termed the

He made no

altera-

essential doctrines of Christi-

anity, but professed that he had a Divine commission to give

the finishing touch to the precepts delivered by Christ and His


apostles.

For

this

purpose he enjoined the necessity of multi-

plying fasts; prohibited second marriages, and the re-admission

of persons into the Church

demned any

who had

fallen into gross sins

con-

attention to ornaments of dress, or philosophical

attainments; and objected to Christians attempting to save their


lives

during seasons of persecution either by flight or money.

After some time he was publicly excluded from communion

with the general Church; but was

numbers of Christians,
Such

is

who

still

greatly esteemed

by

professed themselves his followers.

the account generally given of Montanus.

It should,

however, be received with caution, as almost the whole of our'


information respecting him

may

is

derived from his enemies.

We

add, that the account itself bears the appearance of a cari-

cature of religion, though there must have been evident symp-

toms of enthusiasm and extravagance

in

Montanus, or he would

not have been excluded from the Church.

225

TERTULLTAN.
Dr. Johnson,
similar

ce

circumstance

To

is

which the rewards are


faith

somewhat

of our great epic

life

dangerous.

distant,

and hope,

out of the mind, unless

to

important observation

this

he of no church

mated only by

the

in

concludes with

poet,

referring

after

it

Religion, of

and which

will glide

ani-

is

by degrees

be invigorated and re-

impressed by external ordinances, by stated


to worship,

Milton,

calls

and the salutary influence of example,

who appears

to

have had

full

conviction of

the truth of Christianity, and to have regarded the

Holy Scriptures with


to

the profoundest veneration,

have been untainted by any heretical peculiarity

of opinion, and to have lived in a confirmed belief

of the immediate and occasional agency of Providence,


M
ship.

We do

yet

grew

not

mean

old without

any

visible

to suggest that Tertullian ran

into the excess here attributed to Milton,


less that in

no hour

wor-

and

still

the distribution of his time there was

set apart

private or family prayer.

for

His proceedings, nevertheless] had a tendency to

him ultimately

lead

adopt these errors.

to

Dis-

gusted with the laxity of the general Church, and


afterwards with the enthusiasm of the Montanists,
it is

highly probable,

if

he had been a layman, that

he would not only have departed from those communities, but have discontinued the public exercises

of

religion.

He

continued,

indeed,

as

presbyter, to teach and officiate in a separate con-

gregation with a small

number of
9

followers,

But

226

TERTULLIAN.

circumstance occasioned

very

this

only

another

among the Christians.


Thus Tertullian, who had been so tenacious

unhappy

division

of

of the Church, became

the purity and discipline

an instrument of creating farther schism

a schism

by the plea of zeal


for any important doctrine, but occasioned by an

which was not even

unhappy attachment
terities

But

and bodily

palliated

to certain

uncommanded

aus-

mortifications.

though Tertullian's intercourse with the

Montanists did not materially deteriorate the soundness of his creed,

natural

it

harshness

appears to have increased the


of his

contented with extolling a

character.
life

No

longer

of celibacy, or

mo-

nogamy, he now branded second marriages with


the opprobium of adultery, and seemed to exclude
the unchaste

from the

possibility

of repentance.

At the same time, acting according to the literal


sense of the apostle's words, that " they that have
wives be as though they have none/' he separated

from

his

own

wife by mutual consent, under the

plea of leading a

life

of greater purity and devo-

tion.

We

cannot but regret that

this

sensible

and

pious father should have thus tarnished the simplicity of his religion

the

by adopting

gloomy notions of the

have countenanced, by

and forbidding

habits

his

in so great a

ascetic;

example, those absurd

and

superstitions,

afterwards overspread the Christian world.


virtue enjoined

degree

and thereby
which
(C

The

by the precepts, and recommended

227

TERTULLIAN.

by the example, of our Lord, is a human virtue,


growing out of the constitution of our nature, and
the relations of society

but

sions,

not extinguishing the pas-

regulating them

speculative

not

metaphysical theory, but practicable in the daily


intercourse of life; not affecting extremes which,

from their ostentation, captivate the unthinking


multitude, but moderate,
cerity,

No production
istic

of the

tary

begun

consistent,

man

was more character-

of Tertullian

than a piece entitled,

Crown."

ec

The

Roman army,

Mili-

was written on the following

It

At a public donative, presented

occasion.

to the

every soldier was required to wear

One

a laurel crown.

soldier,

who was

a Christian,

refused to obey the injunction, and carried

it

in his

His conduct was censured by the gene-

hand.

rality of believers in that day, as


sarily to irritate the

time

in sin-

and completed with steadiness."*

he

was

tending unneces-

reigning powers.

condemned by

his

At the same
be

to

officers

severely scourged, and imprisoned, for his contempt

of orders.

The

soldier,

however, found

in

author a strenuous defender of his scruples.

our

Not

contented with applauding the honest, though misapplied motives, by which he probably
tuated, Tertullian

commended

was

ac-

the very conduct of

the soldier, and published this tract, in which he

represents

him

as

a Christian confessor and

martyr.

* Collinson's

Bampton Lectures,

9 %

a,

228

-TERTULLIAN,

But

acknowledge the
same principle requires
justice to his various and

whilst truth obliges us to

defects of Tertullian, the

we

that

should do

full

The

indubitable excellencies.

may be

judiced observer

gedness of the

soil

superficial or pre-

disgusted with the rug-

but the attentive enquirer

searches out the rich ore beneath

it.

If this Afri-

can father possessed not that sympathy with the

weak,

which forms

Christian character,,

a part of the

so beautiful
it

must be acknowledged, that

he was the very reverse of the timid professor,

who

shrinks at every appearance of opposition

or the

heartless

one,

who

reasons to induce him to take a useful step.

was not a Barnabas, a son of consolation

If he

he was

eminently a Boanerges, a son of thunder.

was not a

From

skilful casuist,

requires a thousand

he was a

If

he

faithful herald.

the time of his conversion to his death, nei-

ther reproach, nor persecution, nor the infirmities

of old age

itself,

could impede his steadily pursuing

Let who would

what he deemed the path of duty.

be cold, worldly, or heretical, he always appeared


serious,

and

in earnest

ever ready to defend the

essential doctrines of Christianity

one

who

un-

doubtedly honoured and loved the Saviour; and

who

daily hazarded his

life

for the

name of our

Lord Jesus Christ.

We cannot forbear referring


of Tertullian, as

it

to

one work more

presents us a melancholy in-

stance of the superstition of Pagans in his day 5

and

affords

an ingenious interpretation of a
1

text,

229

TERTULLIAN-

In

meaning of which has long been disputed.

the

on the Soul, he observes of the child-

his Treatise

ren of Heathen parents,

whom

from

that

they were dedicated

conception

their

the

to

very

daemons

they worshipped, and relates at large the

various impure and superstitious rites which were

He, therefore, affirms that

used on the occasion.

no

among

child

of purity

and that

daemons

that

those

should

who were

He

vice.

was by no means strange,

it

possess,

"

to

The

by the wife, &c.

unclean

but

now

circumstance

this

else

to

they are holy ;"

God,

the true

is

were your children

a child of a Christian parent, from


consecrated

St.

husband

unbelieving

sanctified
;

from their youth,

thus early dedicated to their ser-

then applies

words,*

Paul's

the Heathens was born in a state

meaning

that

infancy,

was

its

instead

of being

subjected to the impure and unhallowed rites of

Pagan
*

superstition.

Cor.

14.

vii.

Superstitio

foetus, et

Nonam

Romana deara
et

finxit

Decimam a

tulam quae partum gubernet,

Alemonam

et

Lucinam, quae producat in

Ita

omnes

idololatria obstetrice

adhuc utero

infulis

apud idola confectis

lucem.

Dianae ejulatur,

dum

nascuntur, dura

ipsi

redimiti, genimina sua

deemoniorum candidata profitentur, dum

pooitur,

alendi in utero

sollicitioribus mensibus, et Par-

in

partu Lucinae et

dum pertotam hebdomadam Junoni mensa produm prima

ultima die fata scribenda advocantur,

etiam constitutio infantis super terram Statinae deae sacrum

Quis non exinde aut totum

filii

est.

caput reatui vovet, aut aliquem

excipit crinem, aut tota novaculaprosecat, aut sacrificio obligat,

aut sacro obsignat, pro gentica, pro avita, pro publica, aut


230

TERTULLIAN.

How

endured

Tertullian

what remarks he made

we have no information

death,

last

at the near

which every reader must


is

his

illness,

and

approach of

a circumstance

Nothing, indeed,

regret.

frequently more interesting or edifying than the

behaviour of eminent persons in their

ments

must

all,

solemn scene of

in that

sooner or

later,

act

life.*

in

last

mo-

which we

important a

so

part.

We learn

from Jerome, that he lived to a very

advanced and decrepit age,

though he records

not the time of his death.

It is

was

he

probable that

worn out by the decays of

gradually

nature, and expired about the middle of the third

u So he gave up the ghost, an old

century;

man, and

of years

full

and was gathered

to his

people/*

Thus

died Tertullian, about the ninetieth year

of his age; justly censured for the severity and

harshness of his manners; and as deservedly praised


for

the

variety of his

learning,

and

the

talents, the extent of his

sincerity

and stedfastness

of

his piety.

privata derotione

Sic igitur et

daemonicUs inyenit.

daemonum nomen

Sie

est,

utique ethnicorum.

et

Socratem puerum adhuc spiritus

omnibus genii deputantur quod

adeo nulla ferme nativitas munda

Hinc enim

et

apostolus

est,

ex sanctiiicato

alterutro sexu sanctos procreari ait, tarn ex seminis praerogativa

quam ex

institutionis disciplina>"

&c.

Tertul. de Anima.

231

RIG EN

CHAPTER
Origen

is

I.

piously instructed by his father.

mysterious meanings of Scripture.

Is

Alexandria. Observations on Clement


The martyrdom of Origen father
at

Seeks for

sent to the school


,

president.

its

We

among

are informed, that there was a law

the ancient Egyptians, authorising* proper persons


to

sit

in

judgment on the characters of the de-

ceased, that they might ascertain the degree of


praise or censure due to their memories.

may

It

be supposed that

sucli

a practice was calculated to

produce a happy

effect

on the morals of survivors.

The

prospect of posthumous celebrity would

mulate

the

ingenuous

whilst the profligate


evil courses

in

the

career of

would be restrained

sti-

virtue,
in their

by the dread of future infamy.

Every biographer should consider himself as


vested

with

an

Egyptian judges.
tially to

office

He

similar

to

that

of

these

should endeavour impar-

weigh the excellencies and defects of the

232

ORIGEN.

different subjects of his narratives

may tend

in such a manner,, as

to

emulate

the

and

them

to lead his readers

and avoid

former,

relate

the

latter.

These observations are of general application


but they will be more especially useful in estimat;

ing the character of Origen.

There

is,

father most
in

him

indeed, something in this celebrated

strange and complex.

We

behold

unquestionable piety, ardent zeal, unre-

mitting industry, and

uncommon

disinterestedness,

blended with such singularity and austerity of manners,


as

and such daring and fanciful speculations,

have caused ascetics

ries,

the

in

the succeeding centu-

present day, and

the

self-righteous in

him as

heretics in every age, to claim

The

their friend.

writer despairs of doing justice to so extraor-

dinary a character

he

however, wilfully

will not,

misrepresent him.

Origen was born

the city of Alexandria, in

in

the sixth year of the emperor

Commodus, and

the year of our Lord

He was surnamed

185.

in

Adamantius, probably on account of his invincible


fortitude in the cause of religion,

perseverance in a
mortification.

and

his inflexible

of voluntary poverty and

life

His father, whose name was Leo-

nides, appears to have

been

in easy circumstances.

His family consisted of seven children, of which

Origen was the


information

Of

eldest.

and who,

it

the

rest

we have no

has been enquired, can

hope, that of any progeny more than one shall


deserve to be mentioned.

Leonides was a Christian

233

ORIGEN.

of genuine piety and simplicity of character,, and,


as will afterwards be seen, a martyr.

Under

rudiments of classical literature, and the

the

in

Origen was instructed

his paternal roof

principles of Christianity

first

pious father, at

his

mind

a very early age, endeavouring to impress his

with the nature and importance of Divine things.

For

purpose he read and explained

this

Sacred Scriptures, habituated him daily

them

in private,

and directed him

ent portions to memory.

to

to

him the
peruse

to

commit

differ-

In this pleasing employ-

ment he met with every encouragement which the


docility

Born

and genius of a pupil could

afford.

and naturally averse to gaiety,

for research,

young Origen applied himself with


and perseverance

assiduity

in those of a

to all his

religious nature his

At the same time

engaged.
dissatisfied

astonishing-

studies; but

whole soul was

his inquisitive

mind,

with what he deemed a superficial ac-

quaintance with the Scriptures, led him to seek


for deep

He would

and mysterious meanings.

occasionally, while

engaged

in

also,

attendance on his

father's instructions, put such questions to him, as

the

good man was not always prepared

to

an-

swer.

Leonides

now

experienced

natural to

a fond

increasing

manifestations

parent,

standing in a beloved child.


that,

as

a Christian

trembling/'

that pleasure so

all

on discovering daily

of genius and
It is also to

parent,

he

He must have been

ce

under-

be hoped,

rejoiced with

aware, that piety

234

0RIGE5.

not necessarily

is

genius

and

that

piety be

their

connected

men

with

precocity

of

of eminent talents, though

have

unquestionable,

not unfre-

quently been far exceeded in depth of piety and

inferior attainments.

by persons of very

views

clearness of religious

Whatever were

the feelings

of Leonides on this subject, he had the prudence


to

check the juvenile curiosity of Origen, and to

admonish him not

to dive too

deeply into the things

of God, but to be satisfied with the plain and obvious

they had

Origen and

for

strictly

Thus from
fest

Happy would

meaning of the Scriptures.

have been

it

his learned admirers, if

attended to this imoprtant advice.

his earliest years did

Origen mani-

a cordial reverence and love for the Sacred

Records, though unhappily blended with a taste

hidden and fanciful interpretations

for

of

mind which,

in after-life,

a turn

operated but too suc-

cessfully in obscuring his view s of Gospel truth.


T

The fact affords


common remark,

us a

striking illustration

that

the

child

is

the

of a

man

in

miniature; and that the distinguishing characteristics

of each

individual are not

unfrequently the

same through the whole course of life.

may here be recorded

pleasing anecdote

Leonides, which cannot

fail

parent.

He

when he

lay asleep, offered

to interest every pious

frequently entered his son's chamber

up earnest prayers

the Divine blessing upon him

ing his breast,


of affection

of

kissed

it,

for

and then uncover-

with a mingled feeling

and reverence,

as

honoured with the

235

ORIGEN.

Thus happy

indwelling of the Divine Spirit.

he account himself,
mising a son

The

mentioning

sure in

author feels a greater pleathis

little

story,

because the

contemporary writers has but too

silence of

did

in being the father of so pro-

effec-

tually deprived these narratives of those delightful

and

details of private life

which constitute

habits,

the peculiar excellence of biography.

Not

to

name

the school, or the masters of

men,

has been represented as

for literature,

illustrious

a kind of historical fraud, by which honest fame

We will,

injuriously diminished.

trace our

young student through

of his education.

is

therefore, briefly

the whole process

At a very early age he W as comT

mitted bv his father to

the care of Clement,

of

Alexandria, the president of the famous school in


the

place of his nativity.

not less than

its

celebrity,

send him there, as he would

Probably

its

vicinity,

induced Leonides
still

to

enjoy the pleasure

of his son's society, and superintend his religious


pursuits.

Clement had been a pupil of Panta?nus, and


had unhappily imbibed

his master's love for Gentile

philosophy, a passion which never failed to tarnish


the Christianity of
says he,

(C

its

possessor.

"

espouse,"

neither this nor that philosophy, neither

the Stoic nor the Platonic, nor the Epicurean, nor


that-df Aristotle; but whatever

any of these

sects

and just; whatever teaches


hath said, that is
righteousness with a Divine and religious knowfit

ledge;

all this

I select,

and

call it

philosophy.'*

236

ORIGEN,

The

following observations of Mr. Milner, on

this singular confession,


it

"

are very judicious,

Is

not hence very evident, that from the time that

philosophizing spirit had

this

church through Justin,


respect to which

what

there, even in

is

it

had procured

way

merit no

its

entered

good

into

the

to itself

entitled

For

it ?

ethics, in all the philo-

sophers, which Clemens might not have learnt in

the

New

Testament; and much more perfectly,

and without the danger of pernicious adulterations

many

Doubtless,

valuable

purposes

are

answered by an acquaintance with these writers


but to dictate to us in religion, Clemens should

have known, was no part of their business.


world by wisdom knew not God
philosophy/

The

dually learning to
tions

He

The

Beware of

Christian world

was now gra-

neglect these

Scriptural cau-

and Divine knowledge

high a term for any

:'

human

is

certainly

much

too

doctrine whatever.

succeeded/' continues Mr. Milner, " his

master, Pantaenus, in the catechetical school

and

under him were bred the famous Origen, Alexander,

bishop of Jerusalem,

men.

with

no

and other eminent

read the following passage of Clemens,

waters the

pleasure, c As
soil,

and then

the

husbandman

casts in his seed

first

so the

notions which I derive out of the writings of the

Gentiles serve

first

to water and soften the earthy

parts of the soul, that the spiritual seed

the better cast

of men.'

in,

and take

vital

may be

root in the minds

This,

The

ORIGEN.

287

not

a Christian dialect.

certainly,

is

Apostles neither placed Gentile

on the foundation, nor believed that


assist in raising the

On

philosophy

would

it

at all

superstructure of Christianity.

the contrary, they looked on the philosophical

of their

religion

own

much rubbish
mere reason

times as so

but, in all ages, the blandishments of

on such subjects deceive us

Vain man would

be wise."*

Under

juvenile Ori-

this celebrated teacher the

gen soon

displayed

that

prodigy

of intellectual

powers, for which he was afterwards so renowned.


Indeed,

highly probable, that he never would

it is

have arrived

at

such a degree of celebrity,

had not had such a man as Clement


Yet,

in

a religious point of view,

if

he

for his tutor.

who can

help

lamenting that so promising a plant should be


placed in this ungenial
his

soil.

The

day may justly be compared

blast,

to

philosophy of
a pestilential

which invariably checked the fruitfulness of

Christian knowledge, though

destroy

it

did not necessarily

its life.

After some years, though the exact period cannot

now be

ascertained, Origen

became the pupil

Ammonius Saccas, one of the


and eloquent men of his time, and a

of the celebrated

most learned

master of great eminence in the Platonic school.

Under him Origen made himself

perfectly

ac-

quainted with the different sentiments of the Pla-

* Milner's History of the Church of Christ.

238

ORIGEN.

tonics, Pythagoreans,

and Stoics

allegorical

and learned the

and mystical mode of

interpretation,

which he afterwards unhappily employed

in eluci-

dating the Holy Scriptures.

Although constantly occupied by


Origen resided under

studies,

We

until the time of his father's death.

but hope that


out

its

this

different

his

his paternal

cannot

very circumstance was not with-

though he did not derive

benefit,

advantage we

roof

all

that

might reasonably have expected.

One would have supposed

that the recollection of

the tender endearments and social pleasures of his


father's house
his

would have

cast a milder lustre over

subsequent views of religion

that he

have perceived that Christianity, while

would

requires

it

the mortification of fleshly lusts, and selfish propensities,

demands not

that rigour of bodily disci-

pline which he afterwards adopted

he regarded

his

and that while

pious parent surrounded by

his

family circle, he would forcibly have been reminded

of one of the

ment

saints,

most eminent of the Old Testa-

who walked

with

God

after

he

begat Methuselah 300 years, and begat sons and


daughters. "*

Thus,

like

a perennial stream, gently gliding

through a picturesque and

fruitful region,

away the youthful days of Origen.


all

passed

Possessed of

the comforts which the house of a tender parent

could afford, and delighted with his various stu-

* Gen.

t.

22.

239

ORIGEN
dies, the

world appeared before him like a distant

sun-gilt prospect; but this cheerful scene

exchanged

to be
like

for clouds

was soon

and tempests, whilst he,

a shipwrecked mariner, would in vain reflect

upon

his

now

former comforts,

Origen had not arrived at

when

the emperor Severus

irrecoverably

lost.

seventeenth year,

his

commenced a general

He was

persecution against the Christians.

returned victorious from the East

just

and the pride

of prosperity, united with a desire to gratify his

Pagan

induced him to forbid, under the

subjects,

heaviest penalties, the propagation of Christianity.


Its professors,

God

however, thought

They

rather than man.

it

right to obey

believed also

the

preaching of the Gospel to be of too much import-

ance to be silenced, or suspended, by the veto of

They

an intolerant emperor.

could not but testify

and from house to house, the things


which they had believed and known. The Usual

publicly,

cruelties were, in

consequence, exercised against

them.

The

persecution raged every where

cularly at Alexandria,

amusing himself with the


of the place.
that

more

had

At length,

tasted

ferocious.

but parti-

where the emperor was then


rarities

like

and antiquities

some savage beast

human gore, the tyrant became


Not satisfied with inflicting tor-

ments on the most innocent of

his

subjects,

he

caused their celebrated teachers to be brought

from

all

parts of

Egypt

to Alexandria, as to a noble


240

ORIGEN.

stadium

where he might be present at their execution, and feast his eyes on their dying agonies.
;

Human

nature shudders at the barbarity of the

royal persecutor!
beast,

injurious

is

To compare

when

fierce inhabitant of the forest,

food, puts off


this

somewhat of

to

a ferocious

The

brute creation.

the

to

him

savage nature

his

with

satisfied

but

merciless tyrant manifested his cruelty, at

and without abatement.

seasons,

In the

were so

mean

far

time, the sufferings of the martyrs

from damping the zeal of Origen, that

they seemed only to inflame

honour of martyrdom
self to

all

He

it.

panted for the

and needlessly exposed him-

At length, learning

danger.

was condemned

to be beheaded,

that his father

he determined to

follow him to prison, and to suffer with him.

His

mother, having

in vain

im-

prudent zeal by

intreaties,

attempted

to allay his

one night concealed

all

his clothes, in order that she

might

vent his leaving the house.

But, though baffled in

design by

his

this

effectually pre-

stratagem, he determined, at

least, to manifest the spirit of a martyr.

purpose he wrote
his

to his father in prison, to

For

this

prevent

being depressed with the forlorn condition

which he was
ren.

One

likely to leave

his

widow and

in

child-

line only of his letter has escaped

the

ravages of time; but, as Tillemont justly observes,

"

it

is

worth

many volumes."

ec

Take

heed,

FATHER, THAT YOUR CARE FOR US P0 NOT MAKE

YOU CHANGE YOUR RESOLUTION

!"

ORIGEN.

This conduct of Origen

when we consider

that he

is

241
the

more

interesting,

was now scarcely seven-

But Jerome properly remarks,


" he was a great man from his childhood, and the
teen years of age.

true son of a martyr.

He was one who

the world under his feet,

trampled

having* vanquished the

love both of pleasure and of riches/'

242

ORIGEN

CHAPTER

II.

Leaves her house,


and commences teacher of philosophy. His veneration
martyrs. A specimen of
method
for

Origen

is

patronized by a rich matron.

the

his allegorical

of interpreting the Scriptures.

On

the death of Leonides, the whole of his pro-

perty was confiscated by the emperor, and his

At

family reduced to the greatest distress.

this

juncture Providence raised up a friend for Origen


in the

person of a rich matron of Alexandria,

having heard of

him

into

his destitute

who

received

situation,

her family, and treated him with the

greatest kindness.

This lady

is

represented as a

woman

of piety;

and her house as an asylum for the Christians.

Among

other

family,

was a man of

said to

who now resided in her


the name of Paul, who is

persons,

have been notorious for heresy, though at

same time much esteemed by his patroness,


and by several Christians, on account of his great
While Origen
abilities and oratorical powers

the

remained under

this hospitable roof,

sarily obliged to associate

he was neces-

with Paul.

He

however, would be present during any of


gious exercises

never,

his reli-

so strongly, even from his youth,

243

ORIGEN.

own

use his

to

t(

expression, did he

abominate

all

heretical doctrines/'

What was
why

the nature of this heresy of Paul, or

a lady of piety would patronize such a cha-

racter; and, indeed,

a season

of

how

she was enabled, during

bloody persecution,

provide an

to

asylum for the oppressed Christians, we have no


information.

Several ingenious conjectures might

be formed on each of these subjects


jecture

find

it

may be

better to leave the matter as

It is difficult also

it.

judgment respecting
matter.

but as con-

a very unsatisfactory substitute for his-

is

toric verity,

we

If the

to

form an accurate

the conduct of Origen in this

errors of Paul did

not interfere

it was
young man, under such peculiar circumstances, to make so decided a stand against

with the essential doctrines of Christianity,

wrong

them.

for a

On

the other hand,

if,

as

is

generally sup-

posed, the heresy of Paul entered into the very

essence of revealed religion, he acted like u the


true son of a martyr/'

rather

to

and (what

more

in

manifesting a readiness

be deprived of his present provision,


to

an ingenuous mind would be

distressing)

to

be charged with ingratitude

to his patroness, than to connive at a gross

version of

si

still

the glorious Gospel

per-

of the blessed

God"
During

his

residence at this lady's house, with

a resolution equal

to his abilities,

and a

spirit

which

neither poverty nor persecution could depress, our

young student attended

to

r2

his

different philoso*

241

ORIGEN.

phical pursuits with astonishing success.


1

It is also

truly pleasing to add, that whilst he followed with

intense avidity these favourite speculations, he in-

dedicated a

variably

considerable portion of his

time to a serious perusal of the Holy Scriptures.

Origen was

not,

content to wear

however, one of those who are

away

time

their

entered early into active

life

and,

He

in closets.
till

the time of

his death, was not more attentive to his private


studies, than to an industrious discharge of his

public duties.

Scarcely a year had elapsed from the martyrdom


of his father,

when Origen opened

a school, to

give instruction in the classics and philosophy; and

thereby provided, before he was eighteen years of


age,

and

a comfortable maintenance for his mother


himself.

From
mother
it.

we hear no more

this

period

it is

probable that she did not long survive

She

lived,

of Origen's

however, long enough to see her

son eminent both for erudition and for piety


privilege with which

The

few parents are favoured.

reputation of Origen increasing with his

knowledge, he was soon regarded as a prodigy of


philosophical and biblical learning, and one

was well

qualified

Christian religion.

though

still

sophers

to

give

He was

instruction

in

who
the

frequently consulted,

a youth, by grave and learned philo-

he was even attended occasionally by

some of the principal


impartially

heretics,

weighed; and

whose opinions he

in several instances

was

245

ORIGEN.
the honoured instrument of converting

more Scriptural

to

creed.

was

Persecution
Christians

them

on

carried

still

against

and Origen again manifested

and veneration for the persons

terable attachment

He

of the martyrs.

the

his unal-

them

visited

in

prison,

at-

tended them to the place of execution, and publicly

On

embraced them.

one of these occasions he

narrowly escaped being stoned to death by an

mob.

irritated

Indeed

was

his life

in

such constant

danger, that for some time he could not safely pass

through the streets of Alexandria, and found

it

necessary to be continually changing his place of

Notwithstanding, he

residence.
tunities

for instructing the people

whom crowded
among

We

to

found oppor-

still
;

multitudes of

and were classed

hear him,

his disciples.

should rejoice

to

terated Gospel of Christ

think

allegorical,

the unadul-

was on these occasions

invariably inculcated by him.


losophical,

that

But, alas

and

the phi-

method of

mystical

explaining the Scriptures, which he had imbibed

from

his

acquaintance with the Platonic school,

had but too direct a tendency


plicity of Christian doctrine,
spirit
It

to debase the sim-

and

to impair

its

vital

and energy.

may

not be unsuitable, in this place, to give

the reader a specimen of Origen's

preting Scripture.

For

this

method of

purpose

is

inter-

subjoined

an extract from one of the homilies of Origen,

246

ORIGEN.

Dr.

with

upon
<s

Adam

judicious

Clarke's

Every friend of rational piety and genuine


must lament that a

Christianity (says Dr. Clarke)

man

observations

it.

of so much learning and unaffected godliness

much

should have been led even to countenance,


less

to

recommend, a plan of interpreting the Di-

many

vine oracles, in

the most

respects

futile,

absurd, and dangerous, that can possibly be con-

Let

ceived.

genuine way

once be

admitted as

it

only

in

which the Old and

New

the

Testa-

ments are to be understood, and then every thing


certain

For

and

solid

vanishes.

and spiritualizing, neither

allegorizing

to

instantly

religion

in

rules nor limits can be prescribed.

Fancy and

imagination may sport endlessly

the wildest

theories,

in

one man having an equal right

to inter-

pret a text according to what he conceives to be


its

spiritual

meaning

as

any other; and, though

contradictory in their expositions, they both have

equal pretensions to credibility, because there are

no data by which
examined, as each
of his

own

their
is

left

interpretations

Again,

fancy.

can be

to the boundless
if it

range

be once granted

that the Scriptures are to be interpreted in this

way, there can be no certainty that we understand


the

meaning of a

single text, unless

give a special revelation to

sense of that which

we have no

He

God

and determine the

fix

had already given.

clue of this kind

should

But

therefore, on the

24?

ORIGEN.

allegorizing system, Valentin, with his sublime non-

sense about JEons and Pleroma

ingenious

with

allegories; Ketch,

stupid metaphors;

theosophy

Origen, with his

Behmen, with

and Baron Swedenburgh, with

ternal and

may

put

all

his in-

and dangerous and

senses,

celestial

indecent reveries

and

dull

his

his unintelligible

infallible interpreters of the

claims as

their

in

word of God

while

the simple of heart, amidst confusion, confounded

by confusion,

upon a mighty

feels his faith afloat

ocean without a star to guide, a compass

to direct,

God

certainly

or a helm to regulate, his course.

never gave a revelation

liable to

be for ever mis-

understood by such extravagant theories, and fanciful interpretations.


(C

short extract will be sufficient to

shew the

reader the method pursued by Origen, in explain-

Who

ing the Scriptures.

account given, Exod.


to

be understood

in

would suppose that the

15

i.

22.

and

110.

ii.

any other way than as a plain

narration of facts ? Moses

that Pharaoh,

tells us,

observing that the Israelites

multiplied greatly,

notwithstanding their severe servitude, fearing


they

should

is

become

more numerous than

lest

the

Egyptians, and possess themselves of the land, or


get out of their bondage,
to spare all the

While

males.

Moses

is

commanded

the midwives

female children, and destroy the


this

born; and,

commandment
after being

in

is

hid for

months, his parents, fearing the wrath of


king,

put the child

in

a basket

of

force,

three

this cruel

bulrushes.

ORIGEV

248

smeared with pitch and bitumen,


pervious to the water

to render

im-

it

and. committing him to the

care of Providence, set

it

on the rive; Nile

afloat

where the daughter of


Pharaoh usually came to bathe. The child was
discovered by the attendants of the princess ; was
contiguous

a place

to

own

taken up and committed to his

nursed

be
all

daughter

Pharaoh's

for

mother, to

who was

the while ignorant whose the child was, and

whom

to

had entrusted

she

second homily on

Exodus,

ing

on

interpretation

facts

this

Origen,

it

in

simple

relation

tc

Pharaoh, king of Egypt, is the devil


male and female children are the animal
rational faculties of the soul

wishes to destroy

may

tend

all

to.

Pharaoh, the

the males,

and spiritual

rationality

i.

science,

e.

and seek heavenly things

pi*opensities of

and

sensual, carnal,

" when you see a


ing, pleasures,

the king of

Egypt has destroyed

which

Testaments.
signifies

that sort of instruction

devil,

the

but he

e. all

i.

those

Hence," says

gratification,

preserved the females alive.

Sephora,

and

he,

living in luxury, banquet-

and sensual

the Old and J\~ew

the

man by which he becomes

devilish.

man

of

the seeds of

by which

wishes to preserve the females alive,

animal

his

imposes the follow-

all

know

that

the mates, and

The midwives are


The one is called

a sparrozc,

and means

by which the soul

is

led to

soar aloft and investigate heavenlv things.

The

other

is

called

Phua, which

signifies

ruddy of

249

O RIG EN.
Gospel, which

bashful, and indicates the

is

ruddy

With the blood of Christ, spreading the doctrine of

By

His passion over the world.

Church, and edu-

souls are born into the

wives,

cated

in

these two, as mid-

and evangelical

spiritual

truths.

Pha-

raoh, the devil, wishes to corrupt these midwives,


that

all

the males, the spiritual and heavenly pro-

pensities,

vours' to

may be destroyed
do by bringing

But

opinions.

He

built

and

i.

and corrupt

in heresies

God

the midwives feared

them houses

the two

e.

he endea-

this

therefore

Testaments

teach and inculcate the fear of God, which

is

the

beginning of zcisdom, and thus the houses of the


Church are built in different parts of the world

By Pharaoh's daughter, the church is to be understood, who leaves the house of her impious and
word of the
daughter, and consider,

iniquitous father, according to

prophet,

Hearken.

the

own

incline thine ear; forget also thine

thy father's house

font,

to the

she obeys

waters to bathe

that she

Moses

i.

in

in

word, and

the baptismal

the stains she

her father's house.

Here she

an ark of bulrushes among the

flags, daubed over with pitch;


after baptism

the

e. to

may be washed from

had contracted
finds

so shall the king greatly desire

Thus

thy beauty.'*

comes

people, and

with

i.

e.

being

filled

bowels of compassion, Pha-

raoh's daughter, the church, finds Moses, the law,


in

an ark made of reeds, daubed with pitch and

* Psa.

xiv. 10, '11,

250

ORIGEM.

bitumen, deformed and obscuredhy the absurd and


carnal glosses of the Jews, by which

and elegance had been concealed


continued

necessarily
of,

till

given into the care of those


strip

it

the

who

then

it

means

Church, more respectable even


Jews, according

move them
a people

to jealousy with
I

acquires strength

the

of

up,

and

Christian

in the sight of the


f
:

I will

which are not

those

provoke them

will

being-

proper

its

it

the saving of Moses

to

it

are spiritual, they

Moses grows

and thus

becomes^ through

which

child,

and give

of us carnal glosses,

and excellence

thus

the Gentiles, receives

Moses, the law, as her own

spiritual interpretation

and

the church formed out

among

and coming from

beauty

all its

anger with a

to

foolish nation.'"*

"

When

Moses was grown up, he was brought

into the palace of Pharaoh's daughter

have cast aside our


baptismal waters,
true

and

evil

we

so

when we

ways, and have come

to the

receive Jloses, the laic, in

meaning, and see no more

spiritual

any thing base or


g^ant,

vile,

and excellent

all

being magnificent,

and we put

it

in

its
it

ele-

into the palace

He
would reveal and shew us more and more how
And this He does
great and sublime Moses is,
To
by His Holy Spirit, to whomsoever He will.
of our heart,

and pray the Lord Jesus that

Him, therefore, be glory and dominion


ever!

Amen/'
*

Deut. ixxii. 21

for ever

and

251

ORIGEN.
ce

the

Who

at the

deny

(continues Dr. Clarke) can

merit both of piety and ingenuity

same

this

but who,

time, does not see, that on this plan

of interpretation,

the

Sacred

Writings

may be

obliged to say any thing, every thing, or nothing,

according to the fancy, peculiar creed, or caprice,


of the interpreter ?"*

* See Dr. Clarke's Succession of Sacred Literature.

252

ORIGEN,

CHAPTER
Origen

appointed president of the school at Alexandria.

is

ffis

III.

bodily austerities.

argument against

its

The

abuse of philosophy no

legitimate use.

The

martyrdoms

of Rais and Potamicena.

By

this

time the fame of Origen had so recom-

mended him
qualified.,

even at so early an age, to have the sole

management of
in

was deemed

to public notice,, that he

Alexandria,

the celebrated catechetical school


to

which he was

in

consequence

appointed by Demetrius, the bishop of the place.


after his entering

Shortly

he deemed

it

to religious subjects.

conduct
ing his

is

on

his

new

situation,

advisable to confine his instructions

The

disinterestedness of his

well worthy of notice.

By

relinquish-

former employment, he necessarily deprived

himself of his pecuniary

resources

and,

unwilling to receive assistance from those

being

whom he

instructed in the principles of Christianity, he sold


all his

literary

works, which he had collected with

great care, and contented himself with four oboli


[or fivepence] to be paid him daily by the purchaser.*

From

this

period the celebrated Origen lived for

* Eusehius.

2b3

ORIGEN.

many
and

years a conspicuous

To

self-denial.

monument

disarm concupiscence

mitted to a most painful operation

mortifications.

poverty

lie

sub-

subdue

Familiar with cold, nakedness, and

and fastings

his body,

to

bare-footed, abstaining from wine, and

every indulgence of the appetite


vigils

and

he practised the severest

craving,

every bodily

of industry

in

he

frequent

endeavoured

to

in

macerate

order to make, as he used to say, a

readier course for the shining of the inward light,

and the access of Divine

Some

truth.

of his

fol-

lowers were offended at the severity of his manners,

and

ties

and others were disgusted

fanciful

his

unwillingness to receive their gratuiat his forced

of Scripture

interpretations

were more of them who regarded both

and

but there
his

senti-

ments and conduct with admiration, and not a few

who

imitated his excessive austerities.

Whilst the judicious Christian

will

invincible integrity, the fervent zeal,

proachable sanctity, of
servedly

condemn

and the

irre-

great man, he will de-

the severity of that discipline by

which he endeavoured
tions,

this

venerate the

to

subdue

his sensual inclina-

and regulate the affections of his animal nature.

Mortification

and

self-denial,

however, are so much

neglected in the religicn of the present

day, that

may be more useful to improve the example


before us, by way of excitement to such habits of
it

self-government as are expedient or necessary for


the mortification of our bodies and spirits, than to

subjoin a caution against such as are violent, and,

254

ORIGEN.

therefore, inconsistent with the mild

and generous
Excessive

nature of the Christian dispensation.


bodily austerities,

it is

allowed, have, a tendency to

generate a servile or self-righteous


with the

patible

made

us free

;" but

sideration that

and

purity
ec

<c

crucify the

we

liberty
it is

spirit,

incom-

wherewith Christ hath

a far more important con-

shall not

be able to preserve the

spirituality

of

religion,

flesh with

its

affections

unless

and

we

lusts/'

or run with certainty in the Christian race, unless

we

ci

keep under the body, and bring

into sub-

it

jection."

With

respect to the attempt of Origen to amal-

gamate the doctrines of Revelation with the prin-

Heathen philosophy,

ciples of

remarked, that

it

is

it

may properly be

lamentable to find that this

pious father could so strangely have lost sight of


the simplicity of the Gospel.
religion

And, indeed, had not

awfully declined in Alexandria from

its

only proper standard, the plain and simple truth


as

it is

in

Jesus, a man,

who had

thus

woven so

unnatural a union into his theology, could never

have been allowed to give lectures from the chair,


or disfigure the pure

word of God by

his extrava-

gant rhapsodies.
Whilst, however, the reader laments that the
religious sentiments of Origen,
in his day,

were so unhappily deteriorated by the

inventions and conceits of

him

and those of others

not hastily infer

human

philosophy,

that sound learning

tional inquiry cannot be

let

and ra-

employed about religion

255

ORIGEN.

without certain detriment to the interests of real

When men

godliness.

minds and

of enlarged

extensive knowledge give themselves to the study

of the

Scriptures,

learning

may be

and apply

and

talents

their

a legitimate manner, the best results

in

Learning cannot be otherwise

expected.

when used
when used to

than beneficial to religion

in

department

ascertain the

that

is,

blish

and best manuscripts

when used to esta-

Divine authority by comparing

its

proper

Volume, by collating the

true text of the Sacred


earliest

its

con-

its

tents with the principles of natural religion,

and

its

evidences with those alleged in support of other

pretended oracles, and such as might reasonably

be presumed would be given


revelation from

explain

human

its

in

support of a real

God ; when used

history

trines, promises,

by that of

and

writings,

to illustrate

contemporaneous

to elucidate its various doc-

and precepts, by a

and dispassionate, consideration of


its

different books.

usefully

employed

and

Human

serious, candid,

import

its

reasoning

in tracing analogies

may

in all

also

be

between the

and those which are disco-

subjects of revelation

vered by the light of nature, for the purpose of

shewing that the truths of Scripture are not contrary

to

although

probability,

they are

received simply on the testimony of

God

to

be

in his

Word.

But learning and philosophy are alike


productive of mischief to religion, when, instead of
performing the

office

of a hand-maid, they usurp

the station of a mistress

when they

hold forth the

256

ORIGEN.

conjectures and speculations of the

truths of
to

God

render

doctrines

human

mind,

same weight and importance with

as of the

or so

expound His revealed

ie

will as

coincident with the principles and

it

most

congenial

with

natural and

the

depraved inclinations of men.

How much

wood; hay, and stubble, may be built

on the true foundation, the great, the

judgment must

charity

Christian

decide.

hope that not only Origen, whose piety

many

indubitable, but also

" root of the matter

that not a few of them, as

sessed
**

that

may

indeed

is

of his followers, had the

We

them."

in

day of

fiery

are certain,

well as himself,

noble characteristic

pos-

Christianity,

of

the loving not their lives unto the death,"

and

manifested a readiness to be bound or suffer death


for the

name

From

the

of the

Lord Jesus.

numerous instances

which occurred amongst them, we


refer to those of

martyrdom

of

merely

shall

two female converts of

Origen,,

The

whose names were Rais and Potamiaena.


former,

who had been but

Christianity,
tl

up

was,

heaven."

markable for

and

Origen's

expression,

mounted
young woman rethe beauty of her person, but more

baptized with
to

use

to

recently converted to

fire,

The

in those flames

latter,

and the constancy she

so for her mental purity

afterwards manifested in the hour of

having been threatened

in

be abused by some of the

vain, that

trial,

vilest characters,

she renounced her religion, was

first

after

she should
unless

cruelly beaten.

257

ORIGEN,
then

covered

endured

all

with

scalding pitch

with a patience worthy of her Christian

character, was at length burnt in the

own

her

and, having;

same

fire

with

mother.

singular circumstance occurred during Pota-

martyrdom.

miaena's

Basilides,

soldier,

who

presided at her execution, treated her with great

humanity, and protected her as far as he durst from


the insolence of the rabble.

She acknowledged

to

pray to God for his

after,

Basilides being re-

his kindness,

and promised

conversion.

Not long

quired on a certain occasion by his fellow-soldiers


to

swear profanely, he confessed himself

Christian.

At

first his

to

be a

comrades disbelieved him

but finding him serious, they called him before the


judge,

who

him

sent

to

prison.

questioned by some Christians,

who

Upon being
visited

him,

as to the cause of his sudden change, he declared,

that Potamiaena,

three days after her martyrdom,

had appeared

him by night, and assured him

to

that she had performed her promise,

should shortly

die.

and that he

After this he suffered

mar-

tyrdom.*

Divine admonitions, by means of dreams and


visions,
this

appear

to

have been not uncommon during

period of the Church.

Origen refers

to

many

instances of this sort, having in his mind, no doubt,

the story above given, as well as others.

* Eusebius.
s

((

Many/*

258

ORIGEN.

says he,

by the

e(

have been brought over

Spirit of

God

to Christianity,

giving a sudden turn to their

minds, and offering visions to them by day or by


night

so that instead of hating the

Word,

have become ready to lay down their


it.

lion."

have seen many examples of

this

lives

they
for

descrip

259

oaiGE*.

CHAPTER
The Church for

An

persecution.-*

account of the introduction

and progress of philosophy

Church.

in the

The pecu-

of Origen.

God was

In the year 211,


oppressed people

from

pleased to liberate His

this

thirty-eight years,

if

we except

quiet reign of Maximin, the

tinued calm.

by the

persecution,

And

death of the tyrant Severus.

for the space of

the short and un-

Church enjoyed a con-

Caracalla, the son and successor of

Severus, though in other

wickedness,

from

several years free

Origerfs popularity.

liar notions

IV.

respects a monster in

had imbibed, during the years of

his

childhood, a predilection in favour of the Christians.

He

had been acquainted with the person who had,

in so extraordinary

his father,

Christian

and was

woman

insufficient to

a way, recovered the health of


also nursed in

his infancy

engage

his affections

Author of that religion, yet excited


partiality

by a

which circumstances, although

towards His disciples.

to

the Divine

in

him a great

When

he was

only seven years old, on observing one of his playfellows beaten, for following Christianity, he could
not, for

some time, behold

father of the child,

his

who was
s

own

father,

or the

the instrument of that

260

O RIG EN

punishment, without manifesting a degree of generous indignation.

For some years subsequent

Origen

to this period,

not only delivered his lectures without molestation

from the Heathen, but was attended by an auditory


of learned

veneration

men from amongst them.


paid

occasionally

Such

great

to

though exerted in an unpopular cause

Pagan hearers perceived


lar,

the

is

abilities,

Whilst

his

him the admired scho-

in

they were contented to forget the despised

Christian

It is to

be feared

also, that his Platonic

notions were so intermixed with his statements of


Christian truth, and so tinctured his instructions,
as to render

them more acceptable

to the preju-

diced and darkened minds of his Gentile audience.

Doubtless the purest lessons of moral conduct, and


the most sublime doctrines of the Gospel,

might

often have been extracted from his lectures

but a

teachable,

discriminating, and

only alembic by

honest mind,

the

which the unadulterated truth

could be obtained, was,

we

fear,

but seldom to be

expected in such an auditory.

That the reader may form a more correct opinion


of the

nature of Origen 's theology, and of the

influence which his peculiar sentiments

were

culated to have on himself and his disciples,

be proper
rise

to introduce

Christ.

may

here a short account of the

and progress of Gentile philosophy

Church of

it

cal-

In doing which

an opportunity of entering

we

in

shall

fully into the

the

have

meaning

and necessity of that caution of the apostle

<c
:

Be-

261

ORIGEN,

ware,

any man

lest

phy and vain

spoil

you through philoso-

after the tradition

deceit,

of men,

rudiments of the world, and not after

after the

Christ."*

Until the middle of the second century, though


the Christians were far from treating

human

ing with contempt, they wisely avoided the

blending
period,

with religion.

But

philosophizing

spirit

it

learnevil

of

shortly after that

crept

into

the

Church, and spread with an astonishing rapidity


in

every direction.

introduced

within

This foreign plant was


the sacred enclosure by

Gentile philosophers, who,


Christianity,

still

first

some

when brought over

to

retained a relish for their former

studies,

and occasionally recommended them to

others.

Under

may be classed the


whose history we have already

this description

celebrated Justin,
given.

But of

all

the early propagators of Gentile phi-

losophy amongst the Christians, Clement, of Alexandria, takes the lead


abilities

and responsible

while his acknowledged


situation, as

president of

the famous school in that city, gave a wide diffusion

and a specious authority


grand

object,

to

his

opinions.

The

which he pursued with the greatest

ardour, was to form an imaginary coalition

be-

tween the principles of Gentile philosophy, and


those of the
this

Christian religion.

To

accomplish

purpose, he did not scruple to declare, that

* Col.ii. 8.

262

OEIGEN,

the former was to the Pagans what the law

Moses was

of

Jews, namely, a communication

to the

from God through the administration of angels

and that both


vation,

way

religions pointed out the

of sal-

the one to the Pagans, and the other to

the Jews.

Both,

adulterated with

however, at length becoming

human

additions,

God was pleased


human

graciously to impart to the whole of the

race a more perfect wisdom through Jesus Christ.

But philosophy, being of Divine


to

be superseded by

Judaism.

Christianity,

was merely

It

origin,

to

was not

any more than

be purified from

its

different errors; and then the leading principles

of Christianity would be found to accord with the

maxims of

the wisest philosophers.

Agreeably

to these

dangerous premisses Clement

proceeded to avow explicitly that


intention to

it

was not

hand down Christian truth

his

in a simple

and unmixed way, but " associated with, or rather


and shrouded under, the precepts of phi-

veiled by,

According

losophy."

to

him, the

rudiments, or

seeds of celestial wisdom, communicated by Christ


world,

to the

lay

hid in

the philosophy of the

Greeks, after the same manner as the esculent part


of a nut

is

concealed within the

according to his theory,

it

was

shell.

And

hence,

the duty of Christians

industriously to penetrate this exterior covering, so


as to discover the true relation between

human and

Divine wisdom.
In
ciate

this

unhal'owed attempt to reconcile and asso-

the principles of

Heathen philosophy

willy

263

ORIGEN,

many were

of Christianity,

those

delusive hope of their being

by

actuated by a

this

means able

to

give a greater dignity to the Gospel, and thereby


to

recommend

it

Hence

to their learned opposers.

they were sometimes led to declare that the differ-

ence between Christianity and philosophy was but


trifling,

and consisted

chiefly in the

former being of

Nor

a nature more perfect than the latter.

did

they adopt this scheme without occasionally meet-

ing their reward.

and then embrace

man would now


as a new species

speculative

Christianity,

of philosophy, but his religion remained nearly the

same, or was of so amphibious a description, as to


render
a

impossible to determine whether he were

it

Pagan or
In

this

a Christian.

human

strange mixture of Divine and

wisdom, Plato's sentiments constituted the priningredient

cipal

he

as

was supposed to have

retained the most genuine opinions respecting the


Deity,

The

the

souls of

men, and the nether world.

errors of Origen, which shall

related,

from

his

we have reason

now be

briefly

to think chiefly originated

attachment to the sentiments of

this cele-

brated Grecian philosopher.

Origen supposed that men, angels, and


originally possessed the

same nature

and

devils,

that the

atonement of Christ would be attended with benefit


to

each of them.

He

imagined that good and bad

of them corporeal

spirits

were both

the good being clothed with

bodies of a refined texture, and the bad with those

264

ORIGEN.

of a more or less dense nature, according to the


atrocity of their sins.

He

conceived there were divers kinds

spirits

presiding",

and having each

peculiar

their

of evil

over different vices,

so to say,

Legions

chief.

of daemons, some of pride, others of anger, others

of avarice, or of fornication, laboured incessantly

under the orders of their respective leaders,

men from

seduce

them

into the

* This

the path of virtue, and to turn

ways of

fanciful,

sin.*

though

last sentiment,

somewhat

to

at

was not peculiar

sight

first

to

Origen

it

may appear

nor

is it

wholly

If the Scriptures teach us that there

destitute of probability.

an incalculable number of

evil spirits

or

demons

is

resident in the

neighbourhood of our earth, and permitted to go to and' fro for


the trial of the righteous, who are informed that they wrestle
not merely u against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world,
against spiritual wickedness in high places;"

the same source,^ that these

over the wicked


will,"

and

in

who "

spirits exercise

we

learn from

are taken captive by the devil at his

whom he " worketh,"

their corrupt passions,

if

a certain dominion

and inflaming

instigating

and leading them to such outward crimes,

as the restraining grace of

God

called the devil, or

if we are
command
Beelzebub, who

surely

not an irrational

does not prevent

and

farther taught that all the powers of hell are under the

of one great fallen

employs the

spirit,

rest as his agents

it

is

or improbable Conjecture, that these are distributed in different

companies, and are dispatched in every direction under heaven,


to execute such commissions as are

most congenial with their

own depraved taste and character; and that while some are spirits
which " lust to envy," others are " unclean spirits," and others
again severally instigate to pride, anger, aud covetousness.

2 Pet

>i.

5.

Epfc.

ii.

2. vi. 12.

James

iv.

7, &c.

See

265

O RIG EN.

Proceeding on latitudinarian principles, respecting

the

intelligent beings,

agency of

voluntary

Origen thought that men might so improve them-

and holiness

selves in virtue

become,

as to

in the

order of Providence, not only " like the angels"


future state,

their

rank
lie

but actually advanced to

in tfre

And on

creation.

same

the

in

that

principles,

believed that angels might be degraded to the

human

inferior rank of the

kind,

in

consequence

of committing offences against the Divine govern-

ment

and

that

even

might

evil spirits

reinstated in the condition from

finally

be

which they have

fallen.

Following the principles of Plato, he taught the


pre-existence

of

human

souls;

and derived the

doctrine of original sin from their transgression in


a former state, instead of simply abiding by the
scriptural account of the

At times he seemed

to

fall in

Adam.

speak of grace as infused

into souls, according to the merits they possessed

before they were united to their present bodies;

and not unfrequently expressed himself

manner

as

appeared

to imply,

that

in

such a

merely human

endeavours, without the aid of grace, might conduct us to the saving knowledge of God.

He seemed
persons

who

to
fall

think

it

questionable,

into gross

sin

after

whether

they have

received the Holy Ghost could obtain pardon

and

therefore maintained that Peter had not been a

partaker of the Holy Spirit's influence previous to

266

O RIG EN.
of Christ; and that, destitute of

his denial

was impossible

for

him not

to sin.

It

this,

it

was pro-

bably on the same principle that he would not

admit David's sin in the


literal

affair

of Uriah, in the

sense of the statement given in Scripture,

but had recourse to a hidden and abstruse meaning.

Origen supposed the


peopled by

spirits

The

earth.

stars to

be animated, and

superior to those

blessedness

who

departed

of

live in this

(he

spirits

maintained) consisted in a union with God, but


that

some time elapses

was,
earth

that

the

deceased

was

in a

till it

from

after their separation

the body before they arrive at heaven.


spirit

His theory

remained on

measure purified

the

after that,

and instructed by angels

it

was taken into the

it

then passed through several places, continuing in

air,

each a considerable time


the highest heaven,

firmament
retain

them

is

but a

in

and

at last

it

arrived in

comparison of which the

The more

hell.

our souls

of earth in them, the longer he supposed


to

be on

their journey.

According

to his

gloomy notions, even when they have arrived


the greatest degree of

of security

but may

bliss,

still

at

they are not in a state

fall

from their integrity

and happiness, and be sent into other bodies for a


renewed trial. So that, according to Origen, the
blessedness of heaven and the miseries of hell

may

each have their termination.

He

believed the present world was created as a

267

ORIGENo
place of banishment for intellectual souls

conceived that there were

and

be man}- after

will

He

many worlds

originally

the coats of

skins,

and he

before

this,

it.

imagined the paradise

Eve were

in

Adam and

which

placed was In heaven

God

with which

have cloathed them,

be

to

merely a

and

said

is

to

figurative

description of his confining their souls to mortal


bodies.

What

preceding sentiments of

the

in

a farrago of learned lumber

grievously different too

is

the adoption of

apostle Paul " to

and Him

crucified

it

exhibited

Origen

How

this Platonic Christianity

from the simplicity of the Gospel


site

is

to the

and how oppo-

determination of the

know nothing

but Jesus Christ,

and not

preach with the

to

enticing words of man's wisdom, but with those

which the Holy Ghost teaches/'*


It

alleged, in palliation of Origen, that

is

of his works

now

many

exist only in a mutilated state,

or a suspicious translation

that he not frecpiently

brought forward these peculiarities rather as the


opinions of others than his

ments

made
Is

it

this

own

deliberate senti-

and that considerable allowance must be

for

his

fondness for tropes and allegories

added, that where a man's piety, like that of

eminent

father,

is

unquestionable, instead of

venting fulminations against supposed errors,


* The reader may

find, in

Du

we

Pin's History of Ecclesiastical

Writers, copious and specific references to such of the works


of Origen as contain his peculiar notions,

268

ORIGEN.

should put the

most favourable construction on


ambiguous expressions ? All this is readily allowed.
But, after

truth obliges us to acknowledge, that

all,,

there was an extravagancy in some of his notions


totally

incompatible with the simplicity of Christian

doctrine.

And

Church

Origen had been contented

if

would have been well

it

to

religious creed on the plain testimony of

Word, and

to

for the

form

God

his

in his

remain ignorant of those mysteries,

which Omniscience has not thought proper to


" The written Word," remarks
reveal to mortals.
'

bishop Hopkins, " contains whatsoever


to

be known

whosoever

is

in

is

necessary
;

and

is

wise

order to eternal salvation

wise above what

only in impertinences.'

is

written,

ORIGEN.

CHAPTER
Origen composes

the

Mammw.a

Scriptures at

favourable

macy

wiik

He

is

V,

Hexapla.His

an Arabian governor

instructs

pounds

his

0(59

to

in

Cues arc a.

popularity.

He

Christianity.

Ex-

Alexander

Christianity.

Origen'

and
inti-

Ambrose. His homilies and commentaries.


ordained by foreign bishops, and compelled to
leave Alexandria.

In the year 211, about the commencement


of
Caracalla's reign, Origen travelled to

anxious to
religion.

ancient scat of learning and


At that time Zephyrinus occupied the

Origen, however, soon returned to Alexan-

see.

dria,

Rome, being

visit that

and resumed

his catechetical office.

mean lime,
such numbers flocked
In the

his

fame &di\y increasing,

him for instruction, as


precluded him from having that leisure for retireto

ment, meditation, and the study of the Holy Scriptures, on which he justly laid the greatest
stress.

He, therefore, thought


friend

and

it

proper

pupil, Heraclas, the

to entrust to his

instruction

of the

more ignorant, while he undertook the care of


more advanced disciples.
Having, by

this

time, attained

his

a considerable

Hebrew language, Origen purchased from the Jews the most authentic copies
of

proficiency in the

270
the

Olll GEN.

Scriptures

original

" probably

Clarke) the autograph of Ezra

Jews would

is

(says

Dr.

intended, for the

part with any thing for money'

and

not long after he began to compile his valuable


of different editions of the Scriptures.

collations

This work, which was entitled Hexapia, contained,


columns, the four versions of Aquila,

in parallel

Symmachus,
the
ters,

Hebrew
making

and Theodotion, with

the Septuagini,
text,

in

in all six

Chaldee and Greek characcolumns.

Some

years after,

Origen added two other versions, one of which

was found by him

at Jericho,

of his scholars at Nicopolis.


are

now

lost,

and the other by one


Both of these works*

with the exception of a few frag-

ments, scattered through different ancient authors,

which were carefully collected and published at


Paris in 1713, in two folio volumes, under the

title

of Hexapia Origenis.

The

following

is

an extract from the Hexapia,

displaying at one view,

Hebrew

in

collateral columns, the

original in Chaldee and

Greek characters,

with the versions of Aquila, Symmachus, the Seventy, and Theodotion

* Different

titles

have been given to these celebrated works

of Origen by different authors.

Epiphanius, and some others,

from the number of columns, (including the original

in

Chaldee

and Greek characters) have styled the former Hexapia, and the
latter

Octapla: whilst others, reckoning the -number of ver-

sions only,

Hexapia.

jbave

entitled the

one Tetrapla and the other

^2/1

OKIGEN

o
j

o
i5i

..

~'

V ^
3 ^ b
,

o
w

&,

b I *

* w .0
3 _ b

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'O b

D W a ' JT"
U g b

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Vj

3 w
v\_

a>

.-

o~

.1?

*w

b b
*

N i. b

'Uj

;j

3_

*5^

b.p /-

-O

b b 5^ b O-

u*

b
.'

k " o.>
ex3

b
S

S*

-t3

*UJ

v.

^ w

VA

b ^

TS1

'5
^_ 3

b 3

J^*

J3

1*1

UJ

^ ^

^^

s
0J

W
-0
^

3 3^!

b b .a
<,'

3 *^

'3-

N;

'"*

J=J

'S'S ^ 3

<1

CD

i^aV^

5 3
v,

b-^


S>

v.

^-'

O-

b 51

K-

<
ao

i.S
8 8 S

ti tz

8Q.
n

x,

tz tz

a
Q/>

O)

rz

no

8t
'

-a

w S

,^

i**

b^b^

,<

'b'S

o
<

* 5

<<

3~3~

vo

b5*-Js

A
*Vi

r.

fi

fc-

rz

n r

272

ORIGEN,

These works not only deservedly increased


reputation of Origen, but also drew from

numbers of learned men, anxious

to

the

parts

all

reap the

benefit of his instructions.

Heretics and Pagan philosophers were now


numbered amongst his constant hearers
and
not a few were classed amongst his followers.
But it is to be feared, that too many of these
;

learned

converts

knowledge

saving

much of

remained

still

of

the

ignorant

regard for Origen,

their

of

hear

and of

their

reverence for his philosophical attainments;


of their

tle

Redeemer
<c

sin,

or

Ci

love

lit-

for

the

Superior parts and learning/'

Milner,

kind

conviction of

We

truth.

command

always

but,

what are

now

which we have

all

remarks Mr.

the esteem

of

man-

the labours of Origen

before us, but vain attempts

mix things which the Holy Ghost has declared


The mischief which actually
will not incorporate ?
to

Characters were con-

followed was to be expected.

founded
the

and henceforward, among the learned,


between Christian godliness and

distinction

human philosophy
gen had

is

but faintly marked.

simply and

learned auditors
the Gospel, I

plainly

If Ori-

expounded

to

his

the peculiar and vital truths of

cannot but suspect that

them would have ceased

to

attend

his

many

of

instruc-

tions/'*

Vbout the year 217, an Arabian governor, hav-

* History of the Church of Christ.

273

ORIGEN.

ing heard of the splendid reputation of Origen,

wrote

to

the bishop of Alexandria,

Demetrius,

requesting that he would send him to instruct him

Origen

the nature of the Christian religion.

in

willingly undertook the journey;

and having exe-

cuted his commission, returned back to his catechetical school.

He had
at

not, however,

long resumed his labours

Alexandria, before he deemed

to leave that city, in

it

prudent again

consequence of the intention

of Caracalla to attack

To

it.

avoid this emperor's

rage, he retired into Palestine, and fixed his resi-

Whilst at that

dence at Caesarea.
still

a layman, he publicly

city,

though

expounded the Scrip-

tures to a

number of

request.

This step proved highly offensive

own

bishops, at their particular


to his

who declared, that it was


unprecedented, and commanded him to return to
bishop, Demetrius,

Alexandria.

His learned audience hereupon de-

fended him, and proved by several instances that


his

conduct was by no means uncommon.

No-

thing, however, which they could advance proving


satisfactory

to his

diocesan,

Origen returned

Alexandria, and applied himself with

his

to

usual

vigour to his former charge.

About the year 219, the emperor Alexander,


and his mother Mam m sea, came to Antioch. They
were both persons of candour and probity and
rather countenanced than opposed Christianity.
;

Indeed the former manifested, somewhat


gular manner,

his

good

will to

in a sin-

the cause of the

274

oriew.

We are informed,

Christian religion.

that he

had

a domestic chapel, where every morning he worshipped the most celebrated of his predecessors;
their

being placed among those of the

statues

Pagan

deities.

Into this

company he introduced

Apollonius of Tyana, Jesus Christ, Abraham, and

Orpheus

mark of respect for


mankind in
modes of addressing their homage to

deeming

them, as persons
the various
the
at

it

a suitable

who had

Supreme and Universal

instructed

Deity.

It is said, that

one time he designed even to erect a temple to

Christ,

and

to enrol

Him

regularly in

the

list

of

the gods.

Whilst the emperor continued at Antioch, his


mother, either from a desire of knowing the truth,
or, as

it is

be feared, a mere

to

idle curiosity, sent

a military guard to escort Origen to her palace.


Neither the particulars of his

produced by

by

it,

are known.

visit,

It is

that he

ecclesiastical historians,*

doctrines of Christianity,

nor the effects

merely recorded

opened the

gave many demonstra-

tions of the faith of Christians

and, after he had

continued with the princess a considerable time,

was honourably dismissed by

her, to his old charge

at Alexandria.

But whilst the emperor and

his

mother mani-

fested so questionable a regard to Christianity, a

purer

faith,

as well as worship,

fessed and practised

was openly pro-

by numbers of

* Jerome and Eusebius.

their house-

275

ORIGEN.
-

hold.

Bishops and presbyters were now, perhaps,

for the

first

time, seen at court; several of

upon the death of Alexander, were involved


promiscuous massacre of

Origen now

lived

whom,
in the

his favourites.

on terms of the nearest

inti-

macy with a person named Ambrose, who had


some time before been brought over, by his exertions,

from the Valentinian heresy, and who ap-

pears to have been a


spirit.*

They

man

of a truly devotional

united in religious exercises, not

merely at the commencement and conclusion of


their daily studies, but also during* their intervals

of recreation

and

refreshment.

Indeed such a

vein of piety appears to have run through

intercourse

all

their

common

with each other, that their

conversations not unfrequently wore the appear-

ance of religious

and

solemnities,

their

meab

resembled sacraments.

Through

Ambrose, who was

sistance of

stances,

the earnest desire, and pecuniary as-

Origen was induced

in affluent

to

compose homilies

and commentaries on the Scriptures


-having procured for him several

transcribers to write

down

circum-

his friend

amanuenses and

the dictates of his exu-

* Ambrose was himself a deacon, but whether of the church


at Alexandria, or of that at Ceesarea,

is

uncertain.

On

account

of his faithfulness under persecution, he obtained the title of

He was

Confessor.

also a married

man, and the father of seve-

ral children.

His wife, whose name was Marcella,

by Origen,

a letter to Africanus, as a real Christian and a

most

in

faithful wife.

?2

is

spoken of


276

ORIGEN.

For some time Origen had declined


undertake the work through distrust of his being

berant mind.
to

properly

qualified

for

At length, however,

it.

being overpowered by the importunity of Ambrose,

he reminded him,

in

one of

his prefaces,

of the

solemn account they would both have to give at

day of judgment, and entreated

the

his

friend

earnestly to pray for him, that he might seek the


truth in a right manner,

ver

and be enabled

to disco-

it.

long quotation from one of his homilies has

already been laid before the reader, for the pur-

pose of displaying his unhappy fondness for

A few more

gory.

extracts

may

here appropriately

be introduced, though some of them were


not

written

till

after

alle-

evidently

They

he was ordained.

will manifest the piety of their author, without be-

ing deteriorated with the charge of fancifulness.

Though

himself eminently circumspect in his con-

and not more recommending the

duct,

Christ by

his

preaching than

his

religion of

life,

he thus

modestly expresses his fears of disgracing his profession

by any unsuitable demeanour.

are the devices of the devil.


for

me who

preach

in

He

hence

that they

who

all

fall

my

conduct.

may

And

are placed in public situa-

tions are especially buffeted

the

Many

often lays snares

the Church, that he

confound the whole assembly by


it is

tc

by the enemy, that by

of such a person as cannot be concealed,

may be

stumbled, and the faith be obstructed by

the infamous behaviour of a few clergymen/'

277

ORIGEN.

In several of his homilies Origen refers to that


humility of mind,

by which the pastors of the


Church should be especially characterised. " He
that

is

called

of a bishop,

the office

to

not

is

appointed to be the master, but the servant, of the

whole Church." In another place he exclaims,


" How many persons that are appointed presbyters

have forgotten their humility

though they were ordained,


might cease

to

be humble

vating humility,

act as

instead of rather culti-

consequence of their exalted


In another homily he remarks, " More

situation i"
will

They

in order that they

in

be expected of

me

than of a deacon

a deacon than of a layman

but most of

more of

all will

be

required from a bishop."

In his commentary on the parable of the marriage of the king's son, Origen makes the following

observations

(c
:

good

All are to be invited,

anxl

bad: the bad, however, must not continue so; but

changing

their garments,

and laying aside such as

are unsuitable to the wedding solemnity, they must


f

put on wedding garments,

humbleness of mind, meekness, long-

kindness,
suffering

when

the

bowels of mercies,

;'

these

are wedding garments.

King comes

the dinner

He

and

one of them, who,

finds

been invited,

has prepared

and

had not reformed

Hence,

in to see the guests, before


is

set

before them,

though

had accepted the


his

conduct,

wedding garment, He says

he

had

invitation,

nor put on the

to him,

How

earnest

278

ORIGEN.

thou in hither, not having on the wedding gar-

ment

" *

?'

In one of
bers,

his homilies

having quoted the apostle's words,

not Israel,

who

Num-

from the book of

All are

are of Israel/ Origen declares that

water baptism and spiritual regeneration are not


" All who have
necessarily connected together.

been baptized with water are not


with the Holy Ghost

as,

on the contrary,

chumens are not strangers


Holy

I find in

Spirit.

also baptized

the

to,

all

or destitute of, the

Divine Scriptures some

catechumens accounted meet for the Holy

and others

cate-

Spirit

after baptism unfit for the gifts

of the

Spirit.

Cornelius was a catechumen, who, before

he came

to the water,

was meet

Holy

for the

whereas Simon, although baptized,

Spirit

was refused

the gift of the Holy Spirit, because he asked hypo-

Nor would I that you should doubt


that there are now some Corneliuses among the
Thy alms
catechumens, to whom it may be said,
critically.

and thy prayers are come up


again, there are
to

whom

it

heaven/

to

some Simons among

may be

said,

'

full

of

the faithful,
all

thou child of the devil, thou enemy of


* Augustine,
nearly similar

garment
bad.

in

his

sermons on

this parable,

remark, " What," says he, "

It is evidently

It is not baptism,

phecy, nor miracles

something not

is

common

nor the eucharist, nor

And

subtilty,

righte-

all

has

made

wedding

this

good and

to

faith,

nor pro-

but charity out of a pure heart, and of a

good conscience, and of

faith unfeigned-"

Tim.

i.

5.

279

ORIGEN.
ousness.'

These things

for myself,

and not for my

speak by

am one of them that hear the word


The following exhortations to
tures, selected

way

hearers only

of caution
for I also

o f God."

read the Scrip-

from different parts of

his homilies,

confirm what. has already been said of Ongen's

will

great love and reverence for the Sacred Writings,

and appropriately close our quotations from them

" Let us read the Scriptures of the Old Testament, and imitate the excellencies for which any

commended, and

are
for

carefully shun

which they are censured.

New

books of the
apostles

those things

Let us also read the

Testament, the words of the

and having read them,

let

it

be our care

that they be written on the tablet of our hearts,

that

we may not

receive a

bill

of divorce, but
{C

enter into the holy inheritance. "

he

in

<c

another place remarks,

regimen and medicines

may

Physicians/'

prescribe certain

but whilst

we eat

this food,

and take these medicines, we do not perceive any


immediate benefit.
Scriptures.

We

So

may

also

not,

it

is

with the Holy

at the time of reading

them, derive any sensible advantage

ultimately be found profitable for

yet they will

strengthening

holy affections, and eradicating those of a contrary


nature."

In another homily he observes,

Lord Jesus Christ


this description,

He

find us

engaged

will not only, as

(C

If our

in studies
it

of

were, par-

take with us,

but,

perceiving such a feast pre-

pared by

He

will

Him."

us,

bring

the
l

Father with

280

ORIGEN.
probable, that about the year

It is

227 Origen

wrote his Treatise concerning Principles, in four


books, in which he defends the excellence and pro-

This work

fitableness of philosophical studies.

extant in a Latin translation, by Rufinus.*

still
*'

is

contains," says Dr. Clarke,

It

information,

much

" much curious

and much exception-

allegory,

able theory on things both Divine and natural."

During the following year Origen was sent by


Demetrius into Achaia,

to suppress

some

which the Church was harassed

with
parts.

From

heresies
in

those

thence he travelled into Palestine

and, whilst at Caesarea, he was ordained presbyter

by Theoctistus, bishop of the


bishop of Jerusalem.

It

place, and Alexander,

is

conjectured that his

own

diocesan Demetrius had, through envy, cho-

sen

to

keep him

these bishops,

and anxious

in

the secular state;

sensible

of

his

piety

and that

and worthy

that his talents should to the utmost be

employed for the good of the Church, proceeded to


ordain him.f

Origen was now forty-three years of

age.

The
irritated

circumstance of his ordination

still

more

Demetrius against him, who now publicly

declared the former indiscreet self-mutilation

of

Origen, accused him of holding heretical opinions,

and used such means as at length made


for

him

to

retire

it

expedient

from Alexandria, having

first

resigned the chair of his catechetical school to

* Rufinus flourished A. D. 390.

f Jerome.

281

ORIGEN.
Heraclas,

who had

assisted

him

the duties of that situation.

for several years in

This happened

in the

year 231.
Shortly after Origen had

left

Alexandria,

trius

convened two councils against him.

first

Origen was deprived of the

office

DemeBy the
he had

enjoyed there, and forbidden to return to that

By

the second he

city.

was deposed from being pres-

byter, and, according to Jerome, excommunicated.

Demetrius

also

against him,

wrote

who

to

letters

several

bishops

in general joined in condemning

him, with the exception of the bishops of Palestine,


Arabia,
still

Phoenicia, and Achaia, by

honoured.

he was

Demetrius did not long survive the

meeting of the second council


all

whom

and

after his death

animosity excited against Origen appears gra-

dually to have subsided.

He was succeeded in his


whom Origen had left

bishopric by Heraclas, with


the care of his school.

282

ORIGEN,

CHAP VL
Origen

travels to Palestine,

Martyrdom. An

Writes

his

Exhortation to

account of Gregory Thaumaturgus

Origen reclaims Beryllus.

Being now excluded from

his native

city,,

sought an asylum in Palestine, where


Theoctistus

him.*

He

disciples,

and

Alexander

was here

cordially

also followed

who esteemed

Origen

his friends

welcomed

by many of

his

a peculiar privilege to be

it

favoured with his instructions.

Among

the rest,

the famous Gregory Thaumaturgus, and his brother Theognostus, attended his theological lectures,

which, even in his

exile,

Origen delivered

in

his

usual manner.

In the year 235, Maximin, during his short reign,

commenced a persecution

against the Christians.

Ambrose, the friend of Origen, and Protoctetus,


presbyter of Caesarea, suffered
of

it;

and Origen

much

in the

wrote an Exhortation to Martyrdom,


dedicated to them.

admirable work

;."

course

himself, being obliged to retire,

Dr. Clarke

stiles

which he
this

(C

an

and adds, what, however, may

be deemed but an ambiguous proof of

* A. D. 231,

its

excel-

283

ORIGEN.
(C

lence,

that

many

incited

it

the primitive

in

church to court, rather than shun, martyrdom/'


Having- in this work appropriately applied to the
case of his friend our Lord's encouraging' declaration to his persecuted people,

"

There
or

house, or brethren,

that hath left

father, or mother,

is

no man
or

sisters,

or children, or lands,

or wife,

My

sake and the Gospel's, but he shall receive


an hundred fold/' &c. he continues, " As it was

for

said to those

know

who

Abraham's seed

that ye are

were Abraham's children

ye

works

;'

so

it

be said

will

to

would

ye

Ambrose

;'

more

after

nued with
has laid
also lay

they will do

down His
down our

for ourselves,

and

our martyrdom/'

He
life

his

know

1
c

If

ye

his works.'

if

you had

conti-

afterwards adds, " Jesus

Let

for us.

life,

do

If

you helping them

so.

your departure than


them."

'

and,

were the seed of Ambrose, ye would do

And perhaps

and again,

;'

your children,

that ye are the children of

Abraham,

are of the seed of

I will

for those

us,

therefore,

not say for Him,

who may be

At length he

closes

but

edified
this

by

tract

with the following truly pious and humble declaration

cc
:

These things

according to

my

ability,

have w ritten unto you


r

praying that they may be

of some use to you in your present conflict.

But

knowledge of the mysteries of religion, with which you are favoured, especially in
if

the abundant

your present honourable condition, afford you better counsel,

and more suited

you can only look upon what

to
I

your

case,

so that

have offered as the

284

ORIGEN.

observations of a child,

My

aim

my

assistance, but

may

no more than

it is

not that you should obtain the crown by

is,

and surpassing

excellent,

And

by any means whatever.

be obtained by what

it

I desire.

all

most Divine and

is

human

capacity, the

words and wisdom of God."


" It is glorious/' remarks Dr. Lardner,
write in this

manner

io

his chief de-

pendence, as Origen had upon Ambrose.


true friendship

this is to

to

a beloved and excellent

upon whom too a man has

friend,

<c

This

is

esteem heaven above the

world, and to prefer religion to our

Such

interest.

exhortations

as

own private
these may be

reckoned next to suffering for Christ ourselves;

some of the

best proofs of our integrity,

and of our

true love both of Christ and our friends."*


It

tion

is

supposed that during

Origen

this

season of persecu^

lived in retirement at Caesarea,

he not only wrote

his

where

Exhortation to Martyrdom^

but also diligently employed himself in his Hexapla.

This celebrated work, which


take

many

emphatically entitled,

being

at

it

once the

The Work

regretted that

it

It is

and a pub-

much

this

to

be

has not escaped the ravages of

which may be principally ascribed

immense pains
About

of the Church,

fruit of great labour,

lication of extensive usefulness.

time,

would necessarily

years to complete, was by the ancients

and charge

of

to

transcribing

the
it.

period Origen seems to have finished

* Credibility of the Gospel History.

285

ORIGEN.

Commentaries on Ezekiel, and

his

have begun

to

those on the Song* of Solomon.

Gregory Thaumaturgus and


mained

On

years

five

brother

his

re-

under the tuition of Origen.

Gregory delivered an eloquent


of his tutor, before a numerous

their departure,

oration in praise

auditory

a testimony at once of his gratitude and

of his rhetorical powers.

Shortly after his depar-

ture Origen sent him a letter, in which he seriously

exhorted him to read the Scriptures attentively, not


to

speak or judge of them

to

pray for the illumination of the Holy

lightly,

and fervently
Spirit,

without whose assistance he could not understand

them.*
*

It

was once the author's intention

rate life of

Gregory Thaumaturgus,

man of eminent

piety

to have written a sepa-

as he appears to have been

and superior

But finding so

talent.

much fabulous and dubious matter intermixed with the

ac-

counts which are given of him, he was induced to lay aside his
design.

The following

short abstract,

however,

may

not be

uninteresting to the reader.

This eminent man,

and educated by
superstitions.

we

are informed,

his parents,

On

who were

way

own

five years.

Some time

after

from him, he was ordained bishop of Neocaesarea^

where there were


his

in Neocaesarea,

Pagans, in their

the death of his father, he became a pupil of

Origen, under whose care he remained


his departure

was born

at that time only seventeen Christians.

On

to his charge he was benighted, and obliged, by the

inclemency of the weather, to take up his lodging in a celebrated

Heathen

temple; upon which the daemon,

who had

before presided there, acknowledged to the priest that he could

appear no more in that place.

Irritated

by

this

circumstance

the priest arrested our prelate, and threatened him with jmpri*

86

ORIGEN.

Should

how ope who could give


and who, we have every

be here asked,

it

such excellent advice,

reason to believe, seriously attended to


nevertheless

gion

It

many odd

into so

fell

may be

himself,

it

notions in

replied, that there

is

reli-

a consider-

able difference between doctrine and conjecture

implored,

will

errors, yet

we

Spirit,

are not to expect

them from a roving fancy.


nature

their

He

preserve

will

Origen's inquisitive

mind was always leading him


in

to account for things

unaccountable,

and

explain

to

sonment, when. Gregory, to demonstrate his power over

wrote on a

spirit?,

of paper,

slip

Gregory to Satan

EiasA^s.

" Tp^yop^o;

Enter."

devil instantly appeared,

and

evil

^oltclvo,'

it

is

added, the

became a Christian.

his priest

entered upon his episcopal

office,

he

is

have been but an indifferent Divine, though a good

said to

Christian.
died.

first

tui

After this singular

account, the reader will not be surprised that

When Gregory

when fervently
indubitably keep men from all fatal

and that although the Holy

But

his

incompetency

in

theology was soon reme-

For, as his biographer Gregory of Nyssan informs us,

he was more perfectly instructed

in

the doctrines of Christianity

by means of a creed, which he received

in a vision

from John

the Evangelist and the Virgin Mary.

We

omit referring to several miracles which Gregory

is

re-

ported to have performed, and merely add, that the church,

which was
been the

built

by him

first edifice

Christian worship.

in

Neocsesarea,

which was erected

He

is

said to

is

supposed to have

for the

tants except seventeen, and to have died full

Holy

Spirit

rejoicing that there

sole purpose of

have converted aH the inhabi-

were

in

of faith and the

Neocsesarea, at the

conclusion of his ministry, no more Pagans than there were


Christians at

its

commencement.

things inexplicable.

ORIGEN.

287

And because he had no

cor-

work upon, he was continually

responding" truth to

launching forth into the regions of conjecture.

Hence,

to

account for the origin of

evil,

man, &c. he imagined a pre-existent

made

out, as

for,

were,

it

The

mediate one.

all

nor, on the other hand,

womb
able,

till

truth

is

state,

purposely concealed;

is

men from attempt-

hinder

known

Indeed

and

all is

con-

from the

is

it

is

brought forth by undeniable

length

at

Only we ought always

to distinguish

between things of possible and impossible


this,

we have

but a

it

seems evident, Origen did

we may grope

light,

little

what we want

find

and

of conjecture that truth, latent but ascertain-

inference.

gation

of

moreover, though prayed

ing to look into hidden things.


jecture

fall

the machinery of an inter-

Spirit,

not reveal what

will

the

investinot.

If

about, and

but Origen looked into the

dark, and delighted himself with the delusive forms


that played before

him

that he ventured to call


sity

was

vain, because

and therefore

it

was

There are few

who have

turn

though

them
it

it

does not appear

His curio-

realities.

could not be gratified

his folly to

religious

indulge

men

of a speculative

not occasionally had their minds

harassed with regard to some doctrines of

gion

but,

it.

where the heart

is

reli-

right, such exercises

commonly terminate in a more decided attachment


Thus it was about this time with
to the truth.
Beryllus, bishop of Bostra, in

Arabia.

He was

perplexed with some singular and erroneous no-

288

ORIGEN.

tions respecting the state of our

Lord before His

incarnation, and was disposed to deny the Divine

Personality of the eternal

Word.

Origen on

this

occasion was sent to rectify his views, which office

he performed

in

so

satisfactory

a manner that

Beryllus acknowledged his error, and ever after


cordially

esteemed him.

reflects equal

circumstance which

honour on the candour of

and the good sense of Origen.

Beryllus,,

289

ORIGEN.

CHAPTER
The outward peace of
decline in piety.

He

the

Religion,

book against Celsus.

his

during the Decian 'persecution.

death.

has frequently been

it

seldom known

Church accompanied with a

Origen writes

suffers severely

Dies a natural

VII.

to flourish

outward prosperity.

observed,

is

during a period of great

In such a season humility and

growth and strength

self-denial, so essential to the

of every Christian virtue, meet with every thing to

check their progress, whilst self-indulgence and


the pride of

human nature

are fostered to luxu-

riance.

The
fied

at this

The

period.

of

Maxi min's

of religion.

professors
state

of religion

the short interrup-

persecution,

lamentable declension of

in

veri-

long peace which the

Church had enjoyed, with only


tion

was awfully

truth of this observation

vital

had produced a

piety

amongst the

Origen's account of the


time

his

is

widely different

from any thing that could be found

in the

two

first

centuries,,

and does but too much remind us of

later times

centuries,

we

Indeed,

if

we except

shall find the

fessing Christians have, in

the

two

first

greater part of pro-

all

ages, endeavoured to

reconcile the incompatible service of both worlds

290

ORIGEN.

and have shewn too

plainly.,

by

conduct, to

their

what master they belonged.


Origen remarks

in

one of

his homilies,

cc

Several

come to church, not for instruction, but diversion


some go out as soon as they have heard the lecture,
:

neither conferring with, nor asking their pastor

any questions

others stay not

till

the lecture

ended; whilst some pay no attention


course,

to the

is

dis-

themselves together in a

but entertain

corner of the Church."

About the year 242, Origen was

diligently

em=

ployed in Arabia in confuting the errors of those

who

denied the intermediate state of souls, which

office

he appears to have executed with

good success.

his usual

In a numerous assembly, convened

on the occasion, he

said to

is

have discoursed with

such strength of reason that they who had denied


the above-mentioned doctrine acknowledged that
their sentiments

were erroneous.

About the year 249, our author composed


Apology for the Christians,
answer

to

in

eight books,

in

a blasphemous publication of Celsus, an

unprincipled Epicurean philosopher.

of Origen

his

is

considered by

Du

This work

Pin not merely

superior to any of his other writings, but also the

most complete and best Apology for the Christian


" In this
religion which the ancients have left us.
work/' remarks Dr.

Adam

cc

he not only
overthrows the objections of Celsus, but destroys
their very foundation
religion, not

and

Clarke,

establishes the Christian

by adducing reasons merely, but by

291

ORIGEN.

producing

facts

by

This

ciples.

remains of

is

prophecies

the

Christ, His miracles,

and the holy

concerning"

of His dis-

lives

most valuable work which

the

voluminous writer."

this

In one part of his Apology, after having acknow-

ledged that miraculous operations were more rare

day than

in his

in the

preceding ages of the Church,

Origen maintains that they were


exhibited

occasionally

still

and amongst other miracles then per-

formed he especially notices healing the

sick,

and

name

casting out devils by invocation of the

of

Christ.

In his third book he thus refers to one of the

grand internal evidences to the truth of Christi" We are induced/' says he, " to give
anity:
from noticing

credit to the writers of the Gospels,

and

the marks of piety


their writings
fice,

in

which pervade

integrity

which there

is

no

deceit, or arti-

or cunning, or design."

In his

fifth

book, he thus describes that happy

union of Christian zeal and charity which should


characterize

ever

conduct of

the

the

believer.

" Following the doctrines of Jesus, and endeavouring to regulate

our thoughts,

actions by His precepts,

being persecuted,

we

we

suffer

it;

we

and

bless

being defamed,

entreat;' not daring to say injurious things of

those

who

think differently from

ourselves to the utmost to convert


vice

words,

being reviled,

of the only

world, and to

true

us.

We

men

to the ser-

exert

God, the Creator of the

engage them

u2

to act in

all

respects

292

0RIGEN.

judged

as those that shall be

words of our Lord,

'

but, considering the

Blessed are the peaceable,

and blessed are the meek/ we do not hate those

who

corrupt the

nor give op-

Christian religion,

probrious names to such as are in error.

In his seventh book, after referring to the out-

ward peace which the Church then enjoyed, he


reverts

to

the rapid progress which Christianity

had made during seasons of the severest persecu-

By the good providence of God," says


"
he,
the Christian religion has so flourished and
lc

tions.

continually

increased,

that

it

now preached

is

there were a

freely without molestation, although

thousand obstacles

God
all

spreading the doctrine

to the

of Jesus in the world.

But

as

it

was the

will of

that the Gentiles should have the benefit of

it,

men against the Christians were


And by how much the more kings, and

the counsels of

defeated.

governors of provinces,

where strove

to depress

and the people, every

them

so

much

the more

have they increased and prevailed exceedingly."


Origen's Apology abounds with testimonies to
the atonement and divinity of Christ.
to

our Saviour he remarks, that

He was

of a mortal body, and was God.


quires,

Ci

possessed

Who,"

he en-

can save the soul of man, and raise

Almighty God, except the Word, who


in the

Referring
cc

is

it

to

God? He

beginning was with God, and became incar-

nate for the sake of those

who were

in

bondage

to

the flesh, and were after the flesh, and otherwise

could not behold Him, that

He

might be received

ORIGEN.

by them as

was God

(lie

293

Word, who was with God, and who

?"

In his eighth book, he asserts, in very sublime

language, the dignity of the Son of God


whom
he terms the brightness of His Father's glory, the
;

express image of His person, the emanation of His

power, the pure stream of Omnipotent Majesty,

beam of eternal

the

light,

the

unsullied mirror of

God's energy and goodness.


that the true offerings

the

souls

He

also

and dedications

of men, purified and

to

moulded

remarks,

God

are

con-

in

formity to the Divine precepts, in justice, fortitude,

temperance, piety, wisdom, and

all

the example of the incarnate Jesus,


likeness of the

invisible

after

virtues,

who was

God, and was the only

begotten God.

The

variety and learning of Origen's writings

are the
of his

the

strongest

indications

genius, and

the

of

intensity

the

superiority

of his applica-

Statesmen and warriors may be rendered

tion.

illustrious

by a happy concurrence of unexpected

incidents

but permanent reputation in literature

is

unpurchaseable

the

meed

of

and

industry

talent.

Shortly

after

the

accession

of Decius

to

throne, the merciless executioners were once


let loose to

The

commit

their ravages

the

more

upon the Church.*

sw ord of persecution will lay open the real


r

* A. D. 250,

294

ORIGEN.

character of professors, and separate the precious

from the

In such seasons those whose hearts

vile.

are not right with God, nor established by grace,


will turn aside
cc

from the way of righteousness, and

On

deny the Lord that bought them/*

the

other hand, those whose faith stands not in the

wisdom of man, but in the power of God, will


cc
glorify the Lord in the fires/' continue faithful
unto death, and become entitled to a crown of
everlasting

By
But

this

old

life.

time Origen was far advanced in years.

age neither screened

the

followers

of

Christ from the fury of their enemies, nor incapacitated

them from

sustaining

it

with

Origen suffered considerably during

fortitude.

this

persecu-

Imprisonment, chains, the pressure of an

tion.

iron chair, the distension of his feet to the utmost

distance for

many

days, and several other tortures,

were patiently endured by him.


Eusebius refers to the

wrote during

many devout

epistles

season of suffering.

this

C(

he

What

words he uttered on these occasions," remarks this


ee
and how useful to those who
ancient historian,
need consolation, many of

no

less truth

letters

his epistles declare

than accuracy."

have long since been

spared to our
displayed the
Christian, as

own

Unhappily these

lost.

days, they would,

Had they been


we trust, have

meekness and resignation

much

with

of the

as his other writings exhibited

the knowledge and investigation of the scholar*

295

ORIGEN.
Pleasing'

the consideration that there

is

ce

is

a book

of remembrance written/' which neither time nor


violence can deface

Origen's sufferings,

He

fatal.

no account

It is to

of

the

Judging from

existence.

and from

severe,,

were not

survived them a few years, and at length

died a natural death.

have

though

resignation

his

be regretted that

closing
his

scene of

general

to

God

his

character,

and piety during the

Decian persecution, we may conceive that

moments were

we

his last

was most

those in which he

alive

and that he regarded the awful visage of

the king of terrors as

if it

had been the face of an

angel.

" The chamber where


Is privileg'd

Of

virtuous

You

this side death,

Origen died
his

his fate

quite in the verge of heaven

man, you

Heaven waits not the

On

good man meets

beyond the common walk


life,

see the

the

at

see his hold of heaven.


last

moment

owns her

and points them out

Tyre,

to

friends

men."

in the seventieth

year of

age, and in the year of our Lord 251.

Origen was a man of superior


ble industry,
piety.

He

talent, indefatiga-

eminent disinterestedness, and genuine


spent his days in communicating

reli-

gious instruction to others, and his nights in prayer

and

study, allowing himself but

little

sleep,

and

As a writer,
Jerome has remarked, he exceeded the most labo-

that generally on the bare ground.

rious of the

Greeks and Latins

and adds,

that to

296

ORIGEN.

obtain Origen's knowledge of the Scripture, he


the obloquy he met

would

willingly endure

with.

His fondness for the writings of Plato,

united

to

all

a naturally inquisitive

carried him

mind, at times

beyond the sacred bounds of Scriptural

But

orthodoxy.

so far

was he from

intentionally

encouraging heresy, that the Church found

him

in

a most faithful and zealous defender, and heretics


as sturdy

long

life

During a

and successful an opponent.

he maintained an irreproachable character,

and that not only

in seasons of poverty, persecution,

and torture, but

also

splendid reputation.

under the severer


cc

Some

there are/' he re-

marks, with equal humility and truth,


us more than

tageously

we

iC

who

love

deserve, and speak more advan-

of us and our

approve of;

of a

trial

whilst

performances than

others

calumniate

our

we
dis-

by accusing us of sentiments we never

courses,

Neither of these keep to the rule of justice

held.

the one deviates from hatred^ the other from partiality/'

" The opinions of every man,"

it

has been said^

" must be learned from himself; concerning


practice,

Where

it is

safest to trust the evidence of others.

these testimonies concur, no higher degree

of historical certainty can be obtained."*


try the sentiments
tests,

mony

his

and we

Let us

and conduct of Origen by these

shall find that their

proves, that

concurring

testi-

he possessed a roving fancy,

* Dr. Johnson,

29?

ORIGEX.

but
ries

ff

an honest and good heart;" that the reve-

of philosophy pleased his imagination, but the

simple truths of the Gospel sanctified and cheered


his
idle

his

was his companion for an


"
but that
God was the strength of

soul; that Plato


hour,

heart

and

his

portion

for ever."

298

CYPRIAN

CHAPTER

Cyprian's original situation and character.


sion to Christianity.

-His

His own account of

on the vanity of
against the Jews,

If

tracts

we wish

lencies of

to

any

form a

idols^

fair estimate

individual

we

His converhis conversion*

and testimonies

of the excel-

should consider them

not merety in themselves, but also in connection

with the times that gave them birth.

who
day,

is

The man

enabled to rise superior to the errors of his

deserves a brighter

who merely

meed of honour than he

excels in those attainments which are

sanctioned by the popular suffrage, and are the


objects

of general admiration.

mind we

shall

Bearing

this

regard Cyprian as a star of the

in

first

magnitude, rising in a period of general gloom,

which had now begun


hemisphere.

We

to

darken the Christian

shall perceive that his piety

had

in a great measure escaped the corruptions of the

299

CYPRIAN.

age, and was also accompanied with a considerable

of that fervour and simplicity so conspi-

portion

cuous

in the religion

of the

first

century.

Thascius Caecilius Cyprian was born at Carthage,


towards the conclusion of the second century, of

He

respectable parents.

possessed an ample for-

and considerable prospects

tune,

in

life.

His

understanding, naturally sound, was improved by


a

good

education

but

oratory, of which he

was

particular fort

his

was

a celebrated professor in

the city of his nativity.

Dr. Lardner supposes, from a passage of Augus-

Cyprian taught rhetoric

that

tin,

to

most of the

principal gentlemen's sons residing near him, as

who were

well as to those

He

educated for the bar.

composed pleadings,

that he

also conceives,

harangues, panegyrics, and other discourses, from

which he derived considerable emolument.


Previous to his conversion to Christianity, Cyprian lived in great pomp, and appears to have been

very ostentatious

and

in his dress.

his retinue stately

mentions

in

one

lc

His garb superb,

never going abroad (as he

of his

epistles)

without being

attended with a crowd of clients and followers."

In

manner

this

his life,

did

Cyprian pass the meridian of

possessed of every thing the world consi-

ders as desirable, whilst his soul

many

irregular

passions,

was enslaved

to

and obscured by the

darkness of Pagan superstition.

The happy
arrived.

period of his deliverance at length

About the year 246 a presbyter, of the


i

800

CYPRIAN.

name

of CsbcIIius, was, under God, the honoured

instrument of bringing him to a saving knowledge


of the truth.

As a token of respect

Cyprian assumed

father,

manifested

the

his

for his spiritual

name; and

confidence he placed

grity and piety of his son in the Gospel,

in

Ceecilius

the inte-

by appoint-

ing him, a short time previous to his death, the sole


guardian of his widow and children.

From

the period of his conversion to that of his

martyrdom Cyprian was a remarkable example of


purity and self-denial.
So tender, also, was his
sympathy for the destitute and indigent, that he is
said

have sold whole estates for their

to

relief.

Such instances of generosity and disinterestedness


were by no means unusual
Christianity; and,

in

the

first

ages of

however we may doubt the pro-

priety or prudence of such a conduct, especially as

we

are ignorant of the circumstances which gave

birth to

it

in

we must admire
men freely to make

particular instances,

the principle which could lead

such sacrifices for the benefit of their fellow- creatures.

Cyprian's progress in
remarkable.

Divine knowledge was

Instead of being led on, like most

by slow and regular

others,

steps,

he appears

almost immediately to have arrived at maturity


whilst in a great measure he happily avoided that

philosophizing spirit which tarnished the religion


of his Eastern brethren.

To

adopt the tumid but

expressive language of his deacon and biographer


" No one expects to reap as soon as
Pontius
:

CYPRIAN.
has sown.

lie

moment

after

no one seeks

No

one dreams of a vintage the


he lias prepared the ground for it;
ripe fruit from a tree,

for

has just planted.

rence of
if

ali

301

But

in

which he
him there was a concur-

these incredible circumstances:

we may venture

to affirm

what

will so

in

him,

hardly meet

with credit, the harvest came,

in a manner, before
the seed-time; the vintage before the
grape was
budded and ripe fruit before the tree was
well
rooted in the ground."
;

Our purpose

quoting

in

sanction the eulogy,

have pronounced upon

to

this

passage

which the author of

not to

is

seems

it

this distinguished

conbut to proclaim the praise justly due


to the
grace of God which was displayed in him,
vert

and

to

direct the attention of the reader to the

power and
which made the impure,
haughty, and ambitious Cyprian eminently
chaste^
humble, and spiritual.
efficacy of that religion,

We
the

may here

operations

also appropriately observe,

of

that

Divine

grace are admirably


adapted to the peculiar character of the recipient.

The

philosophic Justin was led

painful

research

to

by a slow and

a saving knowledge of the

truth, whilst the fervid

Cyprian was carried, as it


were, by a single effort, from the gloomy depths
of

Pagan impurity

to

the

triumphant heights of
Each, however, was "equally
indebted to Divine mercy.
Conversion, if it be
but genuine, is alike the Spirit's work,
whether
effected by a long succession of intermediate
Christian

holiness.

causes.

302

CYPRIAN.

or produced by the more immediate and obvious


interposition of God.
{C

forgotten, that
gift,

is

It

a truth never to be

is

every good

gift,

and every perfect

from above, and cometh down from the

Father of lights/*

Although Cyprian exhibits no marks of very


extensive learning, he evidently possessed a sound

He

judgment, and a cultivated mind.


read with

considerable

volume of human
ance with

his

own

life

the

attention

had also

instructive

and, from a deep acquaint-

heart,

he was enabled

no incorrect opinion of that of

form

to

To

others.

adopt

the truly appropriate language of Newton, "

had found the way of transgressors

to

be hard;

and he could describe the present attending

and the alarming danger of the path

if

He

evils^

persisted in,

not merely from what he had read, but from what

he had

He knew the depravity of human


man who, by inspecting a map,

felt.

nature, not as a

can form some confused ideas of a country which

he never saw

but as one

the land, and had explored

who had long

lived in

with attention.

it

a sense of the love of Christ to himself

filled

And
him

with love and compassion to the souls of men.

Like a traveller who had mistaken

his

way, when

the Lord was pleased to bring him into the right


road, he redoubled his speed

and

his diligence in

redeeming the uncertain remainder of


*"
seldom been equalled.
* Newton's Life of Grimshaw.

his time has

303

CYPRIAN.

An

extract from one of his letters will afford us a

happy

delightful view of the

mind

at this period.

It

of Cyprian's

state

was written by him, shortly

after his conversion, to an intimate friend,

whom

he

affectionately urges to seek after that satisfactory

acquaintance with God, which he had obtained, and

which he could not but wish every one

should

else

enjoy.*

am

my

aware,

dear Donatus, of your an-

You

xiety to converse with me.

turn

away your

eyes from the various beautiful objects that sur-

round you, and

fix

your affection

afraid that

cipate greater profit

My

expect.

them

upon me.

steadily

for

me

leads

abilities

unfruitful.

judicature

I will,

they are poor

however, make the attempt


is

all

on

my

Let

side.

of ambition be adopted in courts of

but

to anti-

are far from resembling the

and the subject-matter


plausible arts

am

than you ought reasonably to

luxuriant vine teeming with plenty

and

you

when we speak

of the Lord God,

plainness and sincerity, not the powers of oratory,

should be used.

Hear, then, things not eloquent,

but important;

not flattering and polished, but

faithful

and

sincere.

Thus

should

the

Divine

goodness be celebrated.

Hear, then, an account of

that which

it

collected

is

felt

before

is

learnt

which

is

not

by a long course of speculation, but

instilled into

the soul through the

ing of Divine grace.

* Epistle to Donatus,

summary

is

teach-

304

CYPRIAN.

" Whilst

lay

a stale of awful darkness,

in

tossed about amidst the billows of a tempestuous

my own

age, ignorant of

and

truth

and

light,

thing,

difficult

me

a most strange

my manners

then were, to

appeared

it

as

and alienated from

life,

to

what the Divine grace had promised

obtain

necessary to salvation

be born again

namely, that a

man

and that being animated

as

should

new

to a

by the salutary washing of regeneration, he

life,

should strip himself of what he was before

and,

though the body remained the same, he should


his

mind become altogether a new man.

How

in

can

so great a change, I enquired, be possible, as that


a

man

should suddenly and at once put off what

nature and habit have confirmed in him?

deeply rooted and

are

evils

How

fixed in us.

he learn abstemiousness, who has been used to

shall

And how

expensive and magnificent feasts?


he,

These

who

attire,

dress

shone

has

condescend

Can

in

'

purple,

and

costly

to the simplicity of a plebeian's

who was

he,

gold,

shall

honours of ambition,

with

the

and obscure?

So

delighted

live private

powerful are the allurements of vice, that intemwill necessarily invite, pride inflate,

perance

anger

inflame, rapacity disquiet, cruelty stimulate, ambition

and

delight,

lust

precipitate,

their former

votaries.

" These
attention,
errors,

reflections

for

engaged

was myself entangled

from which

extricated.

frequently

Hence

I did not think


I

it

in

my

many

possible to be

yielded to the evil propensi-

CYPRIAN.
of

ties

was

my

nature, and,

through despair of what

my

favoured them as part of

better,

frame and constitution.


tion of

305

my former

life

But

very

after that the pollu-

was washed away by help of

the water of regeneration, light from above infused

my

itself into

breast,

now

purified

and cleansed:

through the effusion of the Holy Spirit


from heaven, a second birth had made me a new

after that,

creature

indeed, immediately, and, in an amazing manner, confirmation succeeded doubt, hidden


things were
into light

made manifest, obscurity was turned


and what before seemed difficult, or

rather impossible, to be effected,

and practicable.
born after the

now appeared easy

perceived that that which was

flesh,

and had hitherto

lived in the

bondage of

sin, was earthy; and also that that


which the Holy Spirit had now animated derived

its

existence from God.*

The

writer of these narratives feels no inclination to enter

into the long

contested controversy respecting the nature and

efficacy of baptism

he feels himself, however, called upon by

the above passage from Cyprian to remark, that the fathers seem
to have supposed that a measure of spiritual grace generally

accompanied the outward

we have

rite

of baptism

he says generally, for

already seen (page 278), that Origen has expressly

declared that there was no necessary connection between them,


Justin Martyr, towards the close of his Apology, observes,

u As many
true,

as are persuaded that the things taught

and are determined

prayer for the pardon of their

where there

manner

that

is

by us are

to live accordingly, after fasting


sins,

are led

by us

and

to a place

water, and are there regenerated after the same

we were

regenerated before them

for they are

306
"

CYPRIAN.

You know

and

as well as I do,

recollect,

conversion from a death of sin to a

life

own

speak

in one's

praise

is

odious

of virtue.

my
To

however,

that,

name of God the Father and Lord of all,


Holy Spirit." TerTreatise on Baptism, exclaims, " Blessed is our

there washed in the

of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the

and

tullian, in his

Sacrament of water, for by

it

the sins of our former blindness are

washed away, and we are made


wards adds,

runner of our Lord, prepared His way


minister,]

who

ing of the

Holy

have

Spirit

by the washing away of

Holy

the fore-

way for

the com-

sins, M'hich faith,

accomplishes."

Spirit,

present bishop of Gloucester appears to the writer to

,at

once so happily preserved the mean between lowering

the ordinance of baptism to a mere initiatory


it

after-

so the angel,, [bishop or

dispenses baptism, prepares the

sealed in the Father, Son, and

The

" As John,

unguarded language,

in rather

He

free to eternal life."

rite,

and making

almost the whole of religion, and at the same time to have so

accurately expressed the sentiments of the early fathers, and


those of our

own Church on

this subject,

from inserting the following passage from

and recommending

it

to the serious

that he cannot refrain


his Lordship's

Charge,

attention of the clergy of

the establishment

<C

would therefore wish," remarks

his

Lordship,

generally

to restrict the term [regeneration] to the baptismal privileges

and considering them

as

not only a covenanted


the Gospel but even a degree of

admission into the visible Church


to the pardon
spiritual aid

comprehending, not only an external

and grace of

vouchsafed and ready to offer

ance or rejection at the dawn of reason.

title

itself to

our accept-

would recommend

a reference to these privileges in our discourses, as talents which


the hearer should have so improved as to bear interest, as seed

which should have sprung up and produced

fruit.

But, at the

same time, I would solemnly protest against that most serious


error
just

(which has arisen probably from exalting too highly the

view of baptismal regeneration) of contemplating

all

the

307

CYPRIAN.

cannot be called an expression of boastings but of


gratitude, which ascribes nothing to the

man, but declares

So

of God.

to

all

now,

that

virtue of

proceed from the grace

we

if

cease from sin,

it

from faith in Him, even as our former sins


were justly chargeable to our own depravity. From

arises

God alone, I say, we derive all our powers; in


Him we live; from Him we receive our strength
;

and by Him, even whilst

our present

in

are encouraged to look beyond

Only

it.

be the guardian of innocence; only

who

heed that the merciful Lord,


into our

we

state,

let

let

fear

us

take

hath kindly shone

minds with an effusion of heavenly grace,

be detained as our guest by the steady obedience


of the soul, delighting in

beget carelessness,

Him

and the

lest

old

pardon received

enemy break

in

afresh.
tc

But

if

you walk

righteousness

do not

slide

heart and

if,

in the

path of innocence and

you proceed with footsteps that

if

depending on God with

your strength,

all

course, which you have

converted

known the truth, and entered upon


though some may have wandered from it, and

all

once

made

little

progress

nature, and most,

and

as not,

it is

'

will find

as

having

the right path,


others

may have

requiring (what all

by

to be feared, through defective principle

practice, require) that

the mind,' that

therefore,

your

you continue the

commenced, you

individuals of a baptized congregation as

all

transformation by the renewing of

putting off the old man, and putting on the

new man,' which is so emphatically enjoined by St. Paul to his


baptized Romans and Ephesians."
Bishop Ryder's primary

Charge

to his Clergy.

x2

SOS

CYPRIAN.

that your enjoyments will be proportionate to your

For no bound or measure can be

spirituality.

assigned to the reception of the heavenly

The Holy

the case with earthly benefits.


copiously streaming forth,
restrained by no barriers

is

as

gift,

Spirit,

confined to no limits,

but, flowing perpetually,

Let our

bestows His blessings in rich abundance.

hearts only thirst and be open to receive them

much capacious

&s

faith

is

as

we

bring,

for

much

so

abounding grace do we draw from Him.


sc

In order that you

may have

festation of the Divine goodness

the truth,

I will

of the world

a clearer mani-

by a discovery of

present to your view the

and

for this purpose will

thick darkness which envelopes

it.

evil state

remove the

Suppose your-

a short time withdrawn to the top of a high

self for

mountain, inspecting from thence the appearance


of things below you, and viewing them with the
indifference of a person unconcerned in

the

va-

rious fluctuations of the world


you will then pity
mankind and, sensible of your own mercies, you
will be more thankful to God, and more joyful for
:

your escape."
Cyprian then proceeds to describe the vices and
the miseries of the world

and, afterwards, in glow-

ing language, contrasts with them the

solid

peace

ancl exalted piety of a real Christian.

" He
less

he

scene

lifts

delivered from the tempests of this rest-

is

up

he

is

stationed in the port of salvation

his eyes

from earth

to heaven,

admitted into the favour of the Lord.

and

is

Such a man

CYPRIAN.

approaches

in his

justly glory,

great

who

in

is

that

human

309

God and may


what others deem sublime and

thoughts near to

greater than the world can desire nothing,

How

can want nothing, from the world.

unshaken a protection

How

fraught with eternal good


snares

He

is

C(

and

firm

divine

shelter,

loosed from the

of an entangling world, purged from

earthly dregs, and fitted for the light of


tality

He

beneath his notice.

affairs, is

its

immor-

When we

destructive

what the insidious rage of a

see

enemy was

surely be the

we

shall

what we

shall

plotting against us,

more compelled

to love

because we have now learned to know and to


condemn what we were. Nor is there any need of
price, of canvassing, of manual labour, or elaborate
be,

efforts to obtain this highest dignity of

man.

It is

the free gift of God, and may easily be procured.


As the sun shines freely, as the fountain bubbles,
as the rain moistens

so the celestial Spirit infuses

Only do you,

Himself.
fare

has

marked

whom

the heavenly warservice,

spiritual

for

preserve

untainted your sobriety and purity by the exercise

Be

of Christian graces.

times hear

Him speak

to

you by His precepts;

Whom

diligent in

Sometimes speak with God

reading.

God

you.
let

at

other

Him

instruct

dispose

of you.

Let

Him

prayer and

hath enriched none can impoverish.

There can be no penury with him, whose heart


has once been replenished with celestial bounty.

Roofs ornamented with gold, and houses inlaid with

310

CYPRIAN.

marble, will be vile in your estimation,

know

that your

and adorned
tion

own mind
that this

is

is

rather to be cultivated

a more valuable habita-

which the Lord resides as

in

when you

which the Holy Ghost has begun

a temple, in

in

to dwell.

Let us

paint this house with the paint of innocence

us illuminate
It will

age

nor

it

never

will

with the light of righteousness.


into ruin

its

through the decays of

colour or golden ornaments be

Whatever is not genuine is precarious,


but
to the owner no sure possession

tarnished.

and

affords

this

remains

spotless,

fall

let

in culture

perpetually vivid, in honour

splendour eternal.

in

extinguished

it

It

can

never be

will only receive a richer

form

ore

re-union with the body.

its

ful

We

are allowed/' he continues, " to be cheer-"

:but let not an hour

sistent with

of entertainment be incon-

Divine grace.

Let the sober banquet

resound with Psalms; and, as your memory

is

good,

and voice harmonious, continue to perform this


office as usual
Your friends will have the better
you enliven your meals with
discourse and religious harmony. ir

entertainment,
spiritual
It

is

if

probable that during the following year

Cyprian composed
Idols,

and

his Treatise

his three

books

on the Vanity of

of Testimonies from

Scripture against the Jews.


The following passage from the former of these tracts is worthy of
notice, as

it

contains a

summary of

the principal

doctrines insisted upon by the early fathers,

and

gives an affecting account of the forlorn state of

311

CYPRIAN.

them

the Jews, not less applicable to

in the pre-

sent day than in the time of Cyprian.


(C

This

is

the order, this the reason, of Christ's

coming, and of the manner of our salvation by

God

Him.

Thus

first

manifested His grace to the Jews.

were just and obedient

their ancestors

Hence proceeded

Divine precepts.

and flourishing

the grandeur

of their kingdom, and hence

state

the greatness of their nation.

came

to the

But when they be-

careless, unruly, proud, puffed

up with a vain

confidence in their fathers, and despisers of the

Divine precepts, they forfeited the favour that had

been conferred upon them

and they are now

scat-

tered as wanderers and vagabonds over the earth,


outcasts from their
in a strange

own

and climate, and aliens

soil

Moreover God had predicted

land.

come when He would

that the time should

select for

Himself, from every nation and people and place,

more

faithful

and obedient worshippers, who should

imbibe grace from those Divine

Jews

had despised and

grace, and discipline, the

Dispenser and Proprietor

sent to be the

He was

which the

gifts

Hence of this mercy,


Word and Son of God is

lost.

foretold

by

all

even as

the ancient prophets, as the

He is the
God He is His
virgin's womb;

Enlightener and Teacher of mankind.


virtue of

God He

wisdom and

is

glory.

the reason of

He was

in the

and by the operation of the Holy

Spirit,

having

He mingled Godhead
God He is the Christ,

cloathed Himself with flesh,

with manhood.

He

is

our

who, being the Mediator between two, hath put

312

CYPRIAN

on human nature to exalt

it

to a

union with the

Father."
Cyprian's Testimonies against the Jews consist
of

else than a collection of texts of Scripture,

little

under several heads


in

it

for there

properly his own,

In the

own

is

scarcely any thing

beside two short prefaces.

he proves, that the Jews

first

prophecies in rejecting Christ

fulfilled their

in the second,

that our Lord's nature was

Dhine and human; and

in the third, he delivers

various precepts for the

The

regulation of a believer's conduct.


extract from the second book

an

affords

following

important, as

is

it

indubitable proof of Cyprian's belief in

our Lord's divinity, and also comprises a judicious

on that subject.

collection of Scriptural authorities


ce

to

In Genesis

God

said to Jacob,

Bethel, and dwell there

altar unto that

go up

Arise,

and make there an

God who appeared

unto thee,

when

thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.


Also

Isaiah

in

baoth,

The

Thus

of the Ethiopians,
stature, shall

be

Thy

saith the

Lord God of Sa-

labour of Egypt, and the merchandize

and of the Sabeans

men

come over unto Thee, and they shall


come after Thee

servants, and they shall

bound with chains'


and pray

.to

and there

is

no God beside Thee.

Again,

Saviour.

it

not,

in the

is

Verily

O God

make

Thee,

in

Thou

art

of Israel, the

same author

The

of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the


;

Thee,

ind they shall worship

Thee, saying, Surely God

God, and we knew

the Lord

of

straight the paths of our

voice

way of

God.

So

313

CYPRIAN

Psalm

in the xlivth

Thy

O God,

throne,

and ever; a sceptre of righteousness

is

is

for ever

the sceptre

Thy kingdom. So in the xlvth Be still and


know that I am God. 1 will be exalted among the
of

Gentiles, and will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm

lxviith

make
West

Sing

in the

Lord, praise His name;

to the

way for Him who hath ascended to the


God is His name. So in the Gospel accordJohn In the beginning was the Word, and

a
:

ing

to

the

Word was

So

So

with God, and the

same Gospel, the Lord says

in the

Thrust

in here thy finger,

be not

faithless,

and see

to the

My

to

God.

Thomas,

hands

and

but believing.

And Thomas an-

My

Lord and my God.

swered and said unto Him,

So Paul

Word was

Romans

could wish that

were

my brethren, my kinsflesh, who are Israelites,

an anathema from Christ for

men according

to

the

whose are the adoption, and glory, and the covenant, and the giving of the law, and the service,

and the promises; whose are the

whom

is

Christ after

God

the flesh,

fathers;

who

is

from

over

all

So in the Revelation
I am A and &, Tiie Beginning and The End.
I
will give unto him that thirsteth of the water of

things

He

life freely.

things,

and

God, and

blessed for ever.

that

overcometh

their inheritance;

He

shall

be

My

shall possess those

and

I will

be His

son."*

seemed proper to retain Cyprian's references to the


Psalms, although they do not accord with our own.
It

314

CYPRIAN.

CHAPTER
Cyprian

II.

ordained presbyter, and soon afterwards bishop,

is

of Carthage. Pontius s character of him. He leaves


Carthage during the Decian persecution.
The Church

of Rome

exhorts his people to constancy.

Cyprian's

them.

letters to

Possessed of such deadness to the world, exalted


piety,

and zeal

in the cause of the

Redeemer,

it is

not surprising that Cyprian regarded the work of


the ministry as affording him at once a sphere of

the most extensive usefulness, and an opportunity


of offering

up the

Bestower of

all

richest oblation to the Divine

good.

He was

consequence

in

ordained presbyter within two years after his conversion.

Little is

except what
quotation

"

is

stated

of this period of his

by Pontius,

in the

life,

annexed

Many

things/' he remarks,

whilst yet a layman


to the

known

" Cyprian did

many when he was promoted

degree of a presbyter

wherein, closely

fol-

lowing the example of ancient worthies, he laboured,

by a scrupulous attention

to

every religious duty,

to obtain the approbation of the Lord.

"

It

was

his

custom, when he read of any one be-

ing particularly

commended by God,

to lead us to

enquire what were the circumstances which ren-

315

CYPRIAN.

dered him so pleasing to the Most High.

were referred

for instance,

to,

who

is

If Job,

so famous for

the testimony borne to him by God, as His faithful

worshipper, and one whose fellow could not be

found on the earth, Cyprian would exhort us to


imitate him

that,

by

following* his

we

example,

might also obtain the same honourable testimony.


he would observe,

Job,'

above the

of his

loss

from

profit

was

raised so

fortune, and

much

derived such

graces which were then called into

his

exercise, as scarcely to

appear sensible of those

temporal calamities which attended his


Neither want nor

affliction

were able

to

religion.

break

his

His wife's persuasions did not seduce him

spirit.

nor did the dreadful sufferings of his body discon-

him

cert

but his piety maintained

being too well founded to be


these tempests.
devil could

trials.

temptation or attack of the

overpower him, or cause him

hold his grateful


all his

No

ground,

its

shaken by any of

to with-

acknowledgments from God amidst

His house was open to every comer.

No

widow ever departed with her bosom empty


no traveller, who was ignorant of the road, was
The weak found supdismissed without a guide.
port,

and the lame were conveyed by him on

journey
ful

and whomsoever the hand of the power-

had oppressed he stepped

in to rescue.

(Cyprian would say) should they act


please
all

their

God/

And

who

so, referring to the

Thus

desire to

examples of

the most eminent saints, and transcribing

them

316

CYPRIAN.

into his

own

practice, he

became himself

a pattern

for imitation."

Shortly after his being ordained presbyter, he

was chosen bishop of Carthage, by the general and


earnest

desire

Five

of the people.

however, opposed

election,

his

occasioned him no small uneasiness.

presbyters,

who afterwards
The prospect

of his elevation to the episcopate afforded Cyprian

He

no

satisfaction.

to

the discharge of

considered himself inadequate

important duties

its

nestly requested the people to select

had been longer


so high

fill

in

the Church, as

Afterwards,

a station.

that his reluctance only


to

he

might

avoid

farther

house, however, was surrounded

dered impossible;

and

when he found

made them more anxious

nominate him, he determined to

that

and ear-

some one, whomore proper to

at

retire,

in

order

solicitation.
;

length,

His

his retreat ren-

through much

persuasion, he accepted the painful pre-eminence.


i:

How

Cyprian now conducted

claims Pontius,

(t

who

is

himself,'-'

able to relate

his zeal, his compassion,

His pietv,

and the steadiness of

whole administration, were

all

ex-

his

His \ery

admirable.

aspect displayed such sanctity and grace as arrested

the attention of every beholder.

was

grave,,

His countenance

but cheerful, and equally distant from

the extremes of levity and moroseness

was

doubtful whether he

respect,

him.

though both

so

that

more deserved love

it

or

would readilv be awarded

His garb was of a piece with his counte-

317

CYPRIAN.

maintaining a happy

nance,

renounced

his

medium.

He had

former secular pomp, but avoided

the appearance of affected penury.

How

if

he was to the poor when a

attentive

bishop, who, whilst

only a

catechumen, was so

tender of them, deserves the notice of the clergy,

who

bound and instructed by the

are

rules of their

sacred office to pay the greatest attention to works

As to Cyprian, the episcopal chair created in him no new dispositions for


his office
but found him already possessed of every
of charity and mercy.

qualification."

No

sooner was Cyprian advanced to the episco-

pate than he began to exert himself to the utmost


to repress

the abuses, which had

alarming height

in

now

Christendom.

In consequence

many

of the cessation of outward troubles,

heart-

converts had crept within the sacred enclosure

less

of

arisen to an

the

Church,

who,

whilst

they

professed

to

approve of the doctrines of Christianity, remained


too

much

covetous,

like their

and

Pagan neighbours

sensual.

ambitious,

Such persons are not

unfrequently found to be more hopeless characters,

and more injurious


than

the

most

to the cause of vital godliness,

open

and virulent opposers of

religion.

The

account which Cyprian, in

his

Tract con-

cerning the Lapsed, gives of the state of Christianity in the

West,

is

truly lamentable.

We

might

suppose that more modern times had sat for the


portrait.

Professors of religion were in general

318

CYPRIAN.

immersed

Luxury

gain.

dress

in worldly
in

mindedness, and greedy of

banquets, and effeminacy in

and manners, were very prevalent

profane-

ness was unrestrained, and the intermarriage of


Christians and Heathens by no means rare.

The

most outrageous quarrels and disputes were carried

on amongst them, with

bitter

and malignant

Even bishops were not only negligent of

mony.

their flocks,

but utterly deserted them.

fraudulent, and usurious,

Covetous,

they travelled

distant provinces in quest of pleasure

Thus

acri-

through

and gain.

the declension, which had long before

menced

in

com-

the days of peace and prosperity,

now advanced

had

with hasty strides, and called aloud

for the persecuting sword of a Decius, and the rigid


discipline of a Cyprian, to elicit the latent sparks of

Christian

fidelity,

and

to restore the

Church

to its

former purity.

The

death of the emperor Philip,

who had been

the friend and protector of the Christians, intro-

duced, with the change of masters,

government, so oppressive

anew

to them,

system of

that their for-

mer condition, ever since the time of Domitian,


was represented as a state of perfect freedom and
security, when compared with the rigorous treatment which they experienced under the short reign
This prince, who ascended the throne
of Decius.*
about the time our African prelate entered on
episcopal

office,

was indeed
* A. D. 249^

his

most inveterate

319

CYPRIAN.

enemy of

Christianity

possible,

to

exterminate

Daring

earth.

and seemed determined,

its

very name from the

his reign the

bishops of the most

considerable cities were removed by

death

trates,

if

exile or

by

and such was the vigilance of the magisthat the clergy of

Rome were

prevented,

during sixteen months, from proceeding to a

So

election.

great,

indeed,

Decius to the Christians, that

was
it

new

enmity of

the

was supposed he

would more patiently have endured a competitor


for the purple, than a bishop in the capital.

For some
to

time, however, the persecution appears

have been far

name

theless,

Africa than in

Cyprian remarks, that

other places.
the

less fierce in

many

it

deserved

of trial rather than persecution.

Never-

on the

first

promulgation of the impious

edicts of this tyrant, before the magistrates sat, or

the informers

produced an accusation, crowds of

nominal Christians ran to exculpate themselves,

and

to offer the prescribed sacrifices.

rous to

be

all

Too nume-

admitted to the proof immediately,

they regretted the delay of another day to brand


themselves apostate,

and begged they might be

allowed to attest their infidelity that very night.

At

first

the venerable prelate continued openly to

support his

own people and wrote


;

consolatory and

hortative letters to the suffering brethren at

The

Rome.

persecution, however, soon increasing, and the

Pagan populace expressly demanding

that Cyprian,

the leader of the Christians, should be thrown to

the lions;

it

became necessary

for

him to

retire

320

CYPRIAN.

immediately to a place of safety, or to expect the

crown of martyrdom.

Thus circumstanced, he

properly withdrew from Carthage to an obscure


solitude,

and concealed himself so

place of his retreat

well, that the

He was

was never discovered.

then proscribed by the government, and the greater


part of his property confiscated.*

Mr. Gibbon has well described, and


accounted

for,

satisfactorily

the tumultuary proceedings of the

Pagans against the

Christians, which

were espe-

cially adopted by them during the season of the


" Whilst the
celebration of their public festivals.

numerous spectators," he remarks,

ic

crowned with

garlands, perfumed with incense, purified with the

blood of victims, and surrounded with the altars

and

statues of their tutelar deities, resigned them-

selves to the

enjoyment of pleasures, which they con*

sidered as an essential part of their religious wor-

ship

they recollected, that the Christians alone ab-

horred the gods of mankind, and, by their absence

and melancholy on these solemn

festivals,

seemed

to insult or to lament the public felicity.

If the

empire had been

afflicted

by any recent calamity,

by a plague, a famine, or an unsuccessful war if


the Tyber had, or if the Nile had not, risen beyond
;

its

banks;

if

the earth had shaken, or

if

the tem-

perate order of the seasons had been interrupted,


the superstitious Pagans were convinced, that the

crimes and the impiety of the Christians,

* A. D. 200.

who were

321

CYPRIAN.

spared by the excessive lenity of the government,

had

at length

not

among

provoked the

justice.

Divii.

It

was

a licentious and exasperated populace,

that the forms of legal proceedings could be ob-

served

was not

it

in

an amphitheatre, stained with

the blood of wild beasts and gladiators,, that the


voice of compassion

clamours of

tient

The impa-

could be heard.
the

denounced the

multitude

Christians as the enemies of gods and men,

them

to the

doomed

severest tortures; and, venturing to

accuse by name some of the most distinguished of


the

new

mence
and

required with irresistible vehe-

sectaries,

that they should be

apprehended

instantly

cast to the lions."*

Cyprian's retreat, however, prevented

not his

maintaining a constant correspondence with his


clergy,

or

watching

his

<c

fering Churches.
cc

serves,

spirit

in

among them."

Absent

and

Many

with

unabated

own and

other suf-

over,

vigilance, the welfare of his

in

person,"

in advice

was active

of his beautiful letters were

written during the time of his concealment


replete with
love,

and are

tenderest effusions of Christian

and the most important maxims of Christian

We

wisdom.
the

the

he ob-

presbyters

answer

to

learn also, from a letter written by

of

Rome

to his

own Church,

one which he had forwarded

to that

in

com-

munity, that, though some of the opulent members,

and even

pastors,

had apostatized from the Church

* Decline and Fall of

the

Roman

Empire*

322
at

CYPRIAN.

Rome,

yet a noble body of confessors held their

and a good conscience amidst

faith

all

the pains of

imprisonment, torture, and death.

We

cc

cc

would not/* say they,

most

beloved

brethren, find you hirelings, but good shepherds

you know how exceedingly awful

for
if

you were not


idolatry.

only

but,

from us
duties,

to

Nor

would be,

exhort your brethren to stand

to

be

stedfast in the faith, lest they

by

it

totally

subverted

we thus exhort you in words


as you may learn from many who went
you, we sedulously discharge the same
do

through the Divine assistance, though at the

imminent hazard of our

lives

we have

for

before

our eyes the fear of God and of eternal punishment,


rather than the fear of men, and of a temporary

We

evil.

them

do not desert our brethren, but exhort

to stand

in the faith,

follow their Lord

ourselves to recal to the

up

and

to

be prepared to

even as we have also exerted

Church those who went

to sacrifice.
ic

do,

You

see then, brethren,

in order

that those

what you ought

who have

fallen

to

may be

stimulated by your exhortation, in case they are

again apprehended,

to confess

thus correct their former error.


also,

desire

to
it,

receive again into

are driven

advise you,

communion any who

sick, those in

prison,

is

and those

from their habitations, ought

attended to by suitable persons.


it

We

Saviour, and

and manifest genuine repentance.

widows, the

office

their

to

And

those

The
who

to

be

whose

bury the dead, should consider the


3


323

CYPRIAN.

interment of the martyrs as a matter of indispensable obligation.

"

May

trust in

God, who does

who

things for those

all

Him, grant that we may

all

be found occu-

The

pied in our respective callings.

who

brethren

are in bonds, the presbyters, and the whole Church,


affectionately salute you,

and

all

who

We beseech

name of the Lord.


remember us."*

call

you

upon the

in return to

Cyprian's letters to his flock are written in the

same

spirit,

and evince him

to

He

and experienced Christian.


supply the brethren
every necessary

have been the wise


exhorts them to

who were imprisoned with

inculcates the duty of manifesting

due subordination

to their teachers

cautions the

confessors against indulging spiritual pride

and

be deemed by those who know the

(what

will

human

heart,

and the deceitfulness of sin, no unne-

cessary caution) warns them against

He

which war against the soul/

'

fleshly lusts,

even mentions

the evil conduct and impurity into which some,

who had

confessed Christ in the face of torments

and death

itself,

had afterwards

few quotations from these

fallen.

letters will

unfold

the character of Cyprian, and will probably not be

The

unacceptable to the reader.

following salu-

tary and seasonable letter appears to have been

written by Cyprian, a short time after bis retire-

ment

* Epis.

y2

8.

324:

CYPRIAN,

" Being
I salute

God,

hitherto preserved by the grace of

you, dearest brethren, and rejoice to hear

of your safety.

Since the present posture of

my

does not allow of


you, by your

faith,

being with you,

and by the

affairs

conjure

of religion, to

ties

discharge your duties, in conjunction with mine


that nothing be wanting as

also,

pline or diligence.

who

supplied,
sion

beg

respects disci-

it

that their necessities be

are imprisoned for a glorious profes-

and avowal of

their

God, or who labour under

the pressure of indigence and poverty, since the

whole

ecclesiastical

fund

is

in

the hands

number may

clergy for this very purpose, that a

have

in their

it

power

to relieve the

of the

wants of

indi-

viduals.
iC

beg

means

tial

that

you

further, that
to

you

will

u?e every pruden-

procure the peace of the Church

will direct the brethren,

our

who may

and

chari-

worthy confessors, upon

tably

wish to

whom

the Divine goodness hath thus far shone, to

do

visit

this cautiously,

and not

in

crowds,

lest

any

unnecessary offence be given, and the liberty of


access be altogether prohibited.

ought

to

vants of

In

all

things

we

be meek and humble, as becomes the ser-

God

to

consider the times, to have a

regard for peace, and to provide for the welfare of

our people.
(C

Most dearly beloved and longed

you

all

us.

Salute

prosperity,
all

and entreat you

the brethren.

Victor,

for,

to

I wish

remember

the deacon,

325

CYPRIAN.

and those that are with

Fare-

you.

salute

us,

well."*

The

following' letter, addressed to the presbyters

and deacons of

his

Church, contains several practi-

cal rules of humility

and watchfulness, well deserv-

ing the serious attention of Christians in every

age

4f

Let the confessors know what the laws of

cipline, as

them

dis-

deduced from the Scriptures, require of

namely, that they be humble, modest, and

peaceable; that they preserve their reputation unsullied,

and be as exemplary

conduct, as

in

the

noble avowal of their

Thus approving themselves


Lord, they

the whole of their

in

in

be found meet for the

will at length

glory of a heavenly crown.

Let them remember,

that the greatest trial yet remains, for


{

'

Praise no

Be thou

crown of

man

faithful
life ;'+

before his death

unto death, and

and our Lord

imitate

the

The

;'-f

I will

written,

and again,
give thee a
e

He

that

be saved/

shall

Lord, whose humility

was never more conspicuous than


His passion, when

it is

also saith,

endureth to the end, the same

" Let them

faith.

things to the

all

He washed

at the

eve of

His disciples'

feet.

apostle Paul too, after he had been repeatedly

imprisoned, scourged, and exposed to wild beasts,


still

continued meek and humble

* Epis. 5.
t Rey.

ii.

+ Ecclus.
10.

nor did

xi. 28.

Matt. x. 22.

his

ele-

326

CYPRIAN.

vation to paradise and the third heaven excite in

him any arrogance.


" These different

duties, I beseech you,

The

into the minds of the brethren.

more

indeed,

upon

who

season now,

them

to stand

guard against the snares of the enemy,

their

is

particularly requires

instil

especially anxious to attack those

who have

most distinguished themselves for courage, and to


revenge the disgrace which he has already sustained from

The Lord
to see my

them.

shortly be permitted

grant that I

may

people again, and

personally to exhort them to preserve the glory they

have acquired.
<f

am

grieved to hear that there are some of

the confessors
insolently

who run about

idly,

foolishly,

and

fomenting divisions, and even polluting

by fornication those members which had confessed


Christ.

Instead of being willingly subject to the

deacons and presbyters, they act

in so

scandalous

a manner as to tarnish the glory of many excellent


confessors.

He, indeed, alone

is

worthy of the

honourable name of a confessor, on whose account


the

Church

will

never have occasion

to be

ashamed,

but always to glory.


<c

As

to the circumstance concerning

which

my

presbyters have written to me, I can answer no-

thing by myself.
the episcopal

From my

office, I

first

appointment to

have determined to do nothing

without your advice, and the approbation of the


people.

When, by

the favour of God, I shall have

327

CYPRIAN.

returned to you.

we

will consider all these things

together."*
In another letter, after having strongly urged
the great importance

and

spirit of unity

cultivating a

of Christians

and reminded them of the

love,

nature and solemnity of their baptismal vow, he


continues

cc
:

Let us strengthen one another, with

mutual exhortations, and strive

when

proficiency in the Lord, that,

He

we may

He

peace which

shall give us that

Church

return to the

that both our brethren

make greater

to

in

His mercy

has promised,

new men and


Gentiles may per-

as

and the

we are reformed and


much admire the future

that in every respect

ceive,

amended; and may

as

excellency of our morals and discipline as they did

our fortitude during the persecution. "f


Having remarked, in another letter, that the sufferings they experienced were just punishments for
their sins,

he adds,

c:

Let us pray with our whole

heart and soul for mercy, for


said,

'

My

has graciously

loving kindness will I not utterly take

Let us ask, and we

from them.'
if

God

shall receive

and

His answer to our prayers be delayed, because we

have grievously offended,


that knocketh

it

shall

let

us knock

for to

him

be opened, when prayers,

groans, and tears, beat at the door."

He

afterwards adds, " Persecution

is

the exami-

nation and test of our sincerity.

God would have

He

will not withhold

us to be sifted

and

tried

* Epis. 14.

but

+ Epis. 13.

328

CYPRIAN.

His help in
lift

trials

up our eyes

who

from those

believe.

to heaven, lest this earth., with its

allurements and fascinations, seduce


of us pray to God,
all

If

Let each

us.

not for himself alone, but for

the brethren, even as

by the Lord.

Let us

He

we have been

shall

instructed

observe us to be peace-

able and humble, united to each other in love, fearful of

His displeasure, and reformed by our present

corrections,

He

of the enemy
rection

we

will

and

rescue us from the persecutions

as

we have been under His

shall receive

His pardon.

continue to pray with stedfast


contrition

let

us behave like

the ruins of those

who

of such as are

in danger

still

men

and genuine

placed between

are fallen, and the remnant

of the sick, and the few

between a multitude

who have escaped

pestilence/'*

faith,

cor-

Let us only

Epis. 11,

the

329

CYPRIAN,

CHAPTER

Cyprian's joy on
boldness of the martyrs. He laments the

The persecution rages


account of the

III.

at

Carthage.

hastiness of the confessors in giving letters to the lapsed.

The

Church of

Rome

writes to

him respecting

the

lapsed.

The

persecution at Carthage was

truly tremendous.

number

now become

At the same time the awful

of apostates

added fresh horrors to the

scene, and called forth the Christian graces of their

bishop and of the remnant of true believers into


full exercise.

We learn

from Cyprian's epistles that some were

beheaded with swords, or pierced through with


spears

others

were scourged,

rack, roasted before fires,


their bodies with

and

by the

tortured

their flesh torn

from

burning pincers; others were at

the same time tormented with more instruments of

pain than they had members

in their

body

whilst

the lives of some were studiously prolonged, in

order that the intensity and continuance of their


sufferings might at last lead

them

to apostatize.

At length, however, Cyprian having heard that

many

displayed the constancy which true religion

will alone inspire in the midst of

rejoiced greatly,

such persecutions,

and represented them as wiping

330

CYPRIAN.

away, by their

and perseverance, the tears

faith

which the Church had shed

He

children.

conceived even Christ Himself look-

down with complacency,

ing-

quering"

His

in

and

servants,

"

But

his feel-

in his

own

is

present in the

encouraging,

strengthening,

Christ/' says he,

glorious encounter:

them

affording

ings on this occasion are best described

words.

and con-

fighting,

strength in proportion to their faith.

<:

of her

for the blood

He

and animating His warriors and confessors.

who once overcame


epistle

death for us.

Towards

us."

in

the

always overcomes

conclusion

of

same

the

he consoles with the following suitable argu-

ments those who, though they had not yet suffered^

were preparing

dom

cc
:

If,

in

spirit for the

through

the

crown of martyr-

mercy of God,

should be restored before the day of your


let

peace

trial,

yet

your hearts continue well-affected, and your con-

Let none

sciences testify year glorious intentions.

of you be dejected, as falling short of those who,

having overcome the world, are gone

to their

Lord

by the honourable road of martyrdom.

If the

Lord

be a searcher of the reins and heart. His testimony


will

be

sufficient to

you are
thren,

The

safer

immediately

victory

Wherefore,

solicitous.

both conditions are

glorious.

God

secure you the crown for which

is

truly

that

my

dearest bre-

honourable and

which carries you

to

on the consummation of your

but the more joyful

is

that which,

the honour of your confession, allows you


flourish amidst the praises of the Church.

after

still

to

331

CYPRIAN.

" Thrice blessed


condescended

is

our Church, which

God

has

these times to render so illustrious

in

by the blood of martyrs

She was before arrayed

but
white by the active piety of our brethren
her
she is now clothed in purple by the blood of

in

Amidst her flowers, the

martyrs.

Wherefore

are conspicuous.

let

lily

and the rose

each of us con-

tend for one or both of these honours ; for the


white crown of piety, or the purple one of suffering'.

"*

This holy exultation of Cyprian, however, was


He considered the purity and
not without alloy.

honour of the Church endangered by an irregular

and too easy re-admission of the lapsed into her


bosom. The confessors, it appears, had inconsiderately granted to

and

them recommendatory

the Church, even

without

This

conduct excited

degree of indignation

he

the advice of their

bishop, had again received them into her


nion.

letters

in

commu-

Cyprian

confessed

that

some c
their

petulant behaviour had considerably damped his


joy on account of the patient sufferings of the martyrs.

Such proceedings, he remarked, were quite

unprecedented

that after lesser offences a regular

time of penitence was required from the members,

and a certain course of discipline enforced, and that


they were even then only re-admitted to communion by the united imposition of the hands of the

bishop and his clergy.

* Epis. 10.

i Epis. 16.

332

CYPRIAN.

These censures of our African prelate are not


merely to be justified, but to be commended. For
surely it was highly for the good of the whole, that
some signal mark of humiliation should be affixed
to those

who had

"

not his senses stupified ?" exclaims Cy-

Were

shamefully denied their Lord,

prian, whilst he eloquently arraigns the conduct of

who had

those

speech

fail

him

cc

lapsed into idolatry.

Did not

roof of his mouth

How

his

Did not

tongue cleave

could the servant of

stand there and renounce Christ,

who had

before renounced the devil and the world?

not the aitar a sort of funeral


himself was about to die

have

fled

wretch
altar;

from

it

salvation
in

little

Was

Should he not then

Unhappy

bring a sacrifice to the


with supplications,

sacrifice,

when

you yourself the

There you have immolated your own


your faith and hope you have consumed

those fatal

continues,

ec

sins

impose

upon,

or deceive

only to the Lord.

No

committed against God, but

who bore our

whom God

Let no one," he afterwards

fires.

Mercy belongs
pardon

God

on which he

pile,

with abhorrence

why need you


why offer a victim
!

you yourself are the


victim

his

to the

sins,

delivered

who
up

suffered for

himself.

one can

He

alone,

our sakes,

for our offences."*

.The power, indeed, assumed by martyrs and


confessors, as well as the awful declension of the
lapsed, appears, on this

occasion, to

* His Treatise on the Lapsed.

have been

333

CYPRIAN.

Pride

highly culpable.

is

even martyrs may

every bosom

It is well for

them as

inmate of

the native
feel

its

for us, that there

bears the iniquity of our holy things.

is

workings.

One, who

The

blood

of atonement need be sprinkled on the expiring


corpse of the martyr in the flames.

But

for this

the martyr would perish, and the flames would be


eternal.*

During the whole of the persecution, a

friendly

correspondence was maintained between Cyprian

and the clergy of the Church,

at

Rome.

In one

of their letters to him they thus graphically describe the impatience

and insubordination of the

lapsed, and condole with the bishop in

trying situation

most

his

" THE PRESBYTERS

AND DEACONS, DWELLING AT

ROME, TO POPE CYPRIAN, GREETING:*


cc

We

have carefully read, brother, the

you sent us by Fortunatus, your sub-deacon

letter
;

and

are greatly distressed to learn, that, in the midst of


so severe a persecution, you are harassed by the

immoderate petulancy and arrogance of the lapsed.


But, though these circumstances have greatly af-

* See Haweis's Church History.


+ The unvarying style of equality which pervades the corres-

pondence between Cyprian and the bishops of


ing attention.

Each

Rome

is

deserv-

ascribes to the other the honourable title

of Pope, or father, and at the same time addresses him with the
Cimiliar appellation of brother.

384

CYPRIAN.
yet the weight of our sorrow

fiicted us,

is

considera-

bly lighten d by your firmness and strict adherence

You

to the discipline of the Gospel.

repressed their

them
tural

presumption

have shewn them the scrip-

to repentance,

way of

that, at

we

Indeed

salvation.

are astonished

a time so mournful and unseasonable as the

and

present,
great,

have properly

and, by exhorting

and

when

especially

their

apostasy

their crime

was so

scandalous,

so

they

should proceed to such lengths as rather to claim

Church

their re- admission into the

to implore

their
cc

it

and even

as a grace,

pardon was already sealed

Never

as a right than

cease, brother,

in

in

to affirm

that

heaven.

your charitable en-

deavours to quiet the minds of the lapsed, and to


offer the

proper medicine to the erroneous, though

the inclination of the sick


attention

lapsed

is still

ing; but
will

may

we

fresh,

and

its

often dislike the

This wound of the

of the physician.

tumours are yet increas-

feel assured that, at length, their heat

and they themselves

subside,

will

then be

thankful for that delay which was absolutely necessary for a wholesome cure, unless officious persons

arm them against

In another

their

own

letter, after

safety.'

expressing their complete

acquiescence with Cyprian in sentiment, respecting


those

who had

fallen,

they give the following im-

portant and truly Christian advice.


*

Epis. 36.

cc

Let us com-

335

CYPRIAN.
fort,

fortify,

and arm one another with mutual


Let us pray for the lapsed, that

supplications.

they may be raised again for those who stand, that


they may not be tempted to their ruin
and for
those who are reported to be already fallen, that
they may become sensible of the greatness of their
crime, and may have the wisdom not to desire a
premature and momentary restoration.
;

" Let them knock

at the doors of the

but not break them open.

Let them approach

threshold, but not leap over

its

Let them watch

it

at the gates of the heavenly camp, but


that modesty which

Church,

armed with

becomes those who remember

they have been deserters.

Let them again take up

the trumpet of supplication, but not presume to

Let them arm themselves,

sound a charge.
deed,

in-

with the weapons of humility, and resume

that shield of faith which


their fear of death

armed against
against

the

but

their

Church,

let

they dropped through

them see that they be

adversary,

which

fell."*

* Epis. 30.

the

mourns

devil,

for

not
their

336

CYPRIAN.

CHAPTER
Cyprian returns

to

Carthage.

IV.

Finds

Church

his

rent

with schisms. His judicious conduct. The Novatian


His
Schism. Cyprian's conduct on
the occasion.

tract

on the Lord's Prayer.

On

the death of Decius, the distracted state of

affairs

in the empire, rather than a

malice, moderating the persecution,

in

Cyprian re-

His Church by

turned to Carthage.*

was

cessation of

a most miserable

Many

state.

time

this

of her

mem-

bers had apostatized during the late persecution,


whilst

numbers of those

remained were torn

that

asunder by schisms, and deprived, to an ajarming


degree, of their former purity.

The

chief cause of these divisions was the unruty

conduct of

five

presbyters,

branded with infamy

for

length one of them, whose

was

some of whom were

immoral conduct.

elected bishop in opposition to Cyprian,

his cause espoused

At

name was Fortunatus,

by a considerable party.

and

To

accommodate the appropriate observation of Mr.


Cecil to the case before us,

iC

is

a restless

man, even while the Gospel remains, and


administered by a Cyprian : this, with the charm

spirit in
is

there

A. D. 251.

337

CYPRIAN.
of a

new

thing, and the love of being something,

somewhere, prompts him


tions,

to listen to trivial objec-

imagined improvements, and specious pro-

He

posals.

will

then stumble at a straw in his

former church or minister, as


out him,

the evil was with-

if

where

instead of being,

it

generally

is,

within him.

" Unmindful now of the old advice, divide and


conquer, he

will

even sometimes be found crawling

from the cedar to the bramble, saying, Rule over


us.

need not remind the reader

how

mourned over needless and pernicious


and laboured

this sort,

prevent them.

to

the apostle
divisions of

To divide

martyrdom

for the truth's sake

is

divide for straws

the spirit of schism, and stands

among

is

the spirit of

to

the works of the flesh."

Cyprian's strong natural penetration, good sense,

and knowledge of human nature, were now


into exercise,
tion

in

and enabled him,

called

in the trying situa-

which he was placed,

manifest such

to

promptitude and decision as at once astonished

who were

witnesses of his conduct

the Divine blessing,


ble benefit to his

and, through

were attended with incalcula-

The

people.

was seriously considered and


Carthage,

all

case of the lapsed

settled, in a council at

under the direction of

Cyprian and

several neighbouring bishops; whose decision was


alike distant

from undue severity and unseasonable

Those who manifested signs of genuine


the case of doubtful
repentance were restored
characters was deferred; and at the same time
lenity.

338

CYPRIAN.

every method of Christian charity was adopted to


repentance, and facilitate their re-

lead them' to

Fortimatus and

admission.

sunk

time

into

flock

insignificance.

was restored

authority

bis

Cyprian's just

brought into a state of unanimity; and at

among

his

however, of a somewhat similar kind

Church of Rome,

own

his people.

division,

in the

least

shortly afterwards took

partial revival of religion

place

little

Church was again

his

in

which Novatus, one of

in

presbyters, was concerned, occasioned

him

a series of far greater troubles, and involved him

most painful disputes.

in the

In consequence of the persecution, the


clergy had suspended,

He

is

now

new
mean time Novatus,*

for sixteen months, a

In the

election to their see.

generally called Novatian; but Dr.

appears satisfactorily to have proved that his true

The

Novatus.

by

1.

*2.

author in support of his opinion

This presbyter of

Rome

is

generally called Novatus by the

writers.

There are

still

remaining

Latin authors traces of their

in

agreement with the Greek writers upon


3.

Lardner

name was

following are the principal arguments adduced

this laborious

Greek

Roman

The

this

head.

appellation of his followers shews, that his

Novatus, not Novatian.

would have been

If his

name was

name had been Novatiau, they

called Novatianists

whereas they are always

called Novatians, from Novatus.


4.

The Dr. knows not

tian; whereas
5.

many were

of any one, in any age, called

Some learned moderns seem

name of

this

Nova-

called Novatus.

person was Novatus.

to

have supposed that the

339

CYPRIAN.

Roman

presbyter,

grew high

in the

rally

man

allowed to have been a

but rigid and tenacious

in his

esteem of

He

so>re of the bishops and confessors.

is

gene-

of genuine piety,

ideas of discipline,

supposing that those who lapsed during a time of


persecution ought to be for ever excommunicated.

Two

were unhappily formed on

parties

ject:

the one, which

rous, held the

was

by far the

sub-

this

more nume-

more lenient doctrine of restoration

on repentance; and the other, the more rigid sen-

The consequence

tence of final exclusion.

was,

what might reasonably be expected, each party


elected a bishop.
Cornelius was chosen by the

former,

and Novatus by the

was>

consequence convened, of neighbouring

in

latter.

council

bishops and presbyters, to decide respecting this

unhappy controversy, and to restore peace and


unity to the distracted Church at Rome.
This
object, however, was not gained.
Animosity preDr. Lardner then replies to what he considers the only objection of

moment

to his

opinion,

written Novatian by Cyprian,

have

it

that his

own

viz.

that his

name

is

always

presbyter, Novatus, was the principal author

Rome and
Rome Novatian,

of the disturbances at

the presbyter of

by observing that Cyprian would

that on this account he called


as

sion to mention these

if

he had been only a fol-

Moreover, having often occa-

lower of Novatus, of Carthage.

two presbyters together, no shorter way

of distinguishing them could be thought

of,

than to

call

one

Novatus, and the other Novatianus; which mode of expression


the Dr. supposes was also readily adopted by
writers.

many

other Latin

See Credibility of the Gospel History, chap,

where Dr. Lardner

treats at large

on each of these

z2

topics.

xlvii,

340

CYPRIAN*

Consciousness of power on

vailed over charity.

the one side, and obstinate pertinacity of sentiment

on

the

prevented

other,

a coalescence

of the

parties.

On

this occasion

recourse was had to the advice

and influence of Cyprian.

he disapproved of the stern discipline

to say, that

of

necessary

It is scarcely

Novatus and

his party

general approbation of the

that he considered the

Roman Church

as giving

validity to the consecration of Cornelius; and, con-

sequently, represented the appointment of Novatus


as unlawful.

So
and

far all

was suitable

to the

wisdom, gravity,

piety, of the prelate of Carthage.

he did not stop here.

Irritated in

But, alas

the course of

the controversy, he occasionally spoke of his oppo-

nents with the most unreasonable severity; and,


indeed, during the whole of the contest, manifested

more of the spirit of an angry polemic, than of a


meek disciple of Christ. So difficult it is to preserve the composure of our mind in the turbulent
atmosphere of religious disputation.
ec

Unhappily the spirit of self," remarks a late


amiable writer, " which has too much influence,
even in good men, has often made them watchful

and vehement
liarities

in

defending or enforcing the pecu-

of their party, greatly to the prejudice of

that union

and love which our Lord thought

fit

to

appropriate as the discriminating mark of His true


disciples.

Hinc

bella,

horrida bella.

From hence

wars and fightings amongst those whose hopes are

341

CYPRIAN.

upon the same foundation, and whose

built

and aims are

in the main,

governed by the same

and

rules.

in

lives

other respects,

The combatants on

both sides profess to engage in defence of the cause

God and

of

truth

the pretence

even were the point

in

is

specious

but

dispute of great importance,

which has not often been the case among those

who

hold the head, unless the mind of a dealer in

controversy be powerfully guarded by humility and


love,

soon becomes his

it

own

The honour

cause.

of God, and the cause of truth, are both

and

self alone is exalted

What

test.

wounded

and gratified by the con-

fierce invective,

what harsh censures,

what gross misrepresentations, have we seen

in.

who

sup-

posed they were contending for the cause of

God

print, in

and

our own time, amongst those

These things have made those of the

truth.

truly godly,

who had no

and the world laugh.


with a shrewd

but

part in the fray, weep,

remember

titles

have met

mortifying remark,

Monthly Reviewers, some years since


the

to

of

the

after giving

of three or four controversial pamphlets^

not very replete with moderation or candour, they


added,

'

Will these

spiritual gladiators

never cease

and slash each other for the diversion of the


public/ "*
to cut

It

would be neither interesting nor instructive to

enter into the particulars of the dispute between

Cornelius and Novatus.


a

work,

single quotation from

which Cyprian published


* Newton's Life of Grirashaw.

during

this

342

cyprian:

wiH manifest the nature and extent of his


mistake.
It will also shew what controvertists

period,

do not always attend to- that the man who opposes error in an unhallowed spirit

in

is

danger of

introducing' greater evils than tnose he

is

endea-

vouring- to obviate.

In his Treatise on the Unity of the Church


Cyprian observes, " "Whosoever is separated from

Church

the

is

joined to an adulteress, and

from the

rated

Church obtains not


an

alien,

infidel,

that

man

the

Church

to

He who

promises.

have
for

God

for his Father,

mother.

his

may he hope
pale

of the

Spirit,

And

any one, then,


tiated

in

celestial

who has not


the ark, then

in
is

out

of

the

again of the Father, Son. and Holy

the

These Three are One.'* Can

believe, that this union,

Divine

sacraments,

The man who

substan-

and cemented by

nature,

may be severed

and a schism formed by the


wills?

an

The Lord has given us a


when He says, I and My Father

written,

it is

is

any one could

If

who

He

Church.

suitable caution,

are one/

escape

to

the

impossible for

It is

escape, who was not with Noah

sepa-

leaves

the reward of Christ.

an enemy.

is

in the

Churchy

collision of opposite

retains not this unity retains

not the law of God, retains not the faith of the

Father and the Son, and retains not the truth

which

is

necessary to salvation/'

* Cyprian,

in this passage, evidently alludes to the contested

text of the Three Witnesses.

John

7. 7.

o 43

CYPRIAN.

Thus we

find a great

and good man carried on

promote the peaceful


subordination and general unanimity of the Church,
into all the acrimony and vehemence of the most
from a laudable anxiety

contracted bigot.

ing schism

to

Cyprian commenced with oppos-

he ended with enforcing intolerance.

unnecessary to say, that his conduct tended

It

is

to

increase the prejudices of the Novatians, and

them

confirm

In

their

unreasonable separation.

Prompt, vigorous, and persevering, he did not


always

regulate

his

zeal

in

behalf of what

he

esteemed excellent by the dictates of Christian


moderation, or limit his opposition

to

what ap-

peared censurable by the wholesome restraints of


prudence.

Some

circumstances,

however,

may

fairly

be

alleged as palliations of the very strong and bitter

expressions employed by Cyprian during his argu-

ment with the Novatians.

well founded dread of

schism and heresy, and the circumstance of one


of his

own

presbyters being engaged as a promi-

nent character

in the opposite party,

deeply affect him.

After

all,

it

could not but

must be acknow-

he knew not what


" The servant of the Lord must

ledged, that on this occasion


spirit

he was

not strive
patient

in

of.

but be gentle unto

all

men, apt

to teach,

meekness instructing those that oppose

themselves/'*

* 2 Tim.

ii.

24, 25,

344

CYPRIAN.

It is

generally supposed, that about the year

Cyprian composed
Prayer.

by an

This

though occasionally disfigured

and an undue fondness

and abounds with important and

ner,

The annexed

observations.

and

truly spiritual

quotations will give

the reader no inadequate idea of


excellencies

for

general written in a nervous man-

in

is

Exposition of the Lord's

his

tract,

inflated style,

mysticism,

252

its

characteristic

defects.

After having explained at large the meaning of


the petition,

Thy

will be

heaven, he continues,

done on earth as

ie

it is

in

farther interpretation

may be given of this passage. Since the Lord


commands us to love our enemies, and to pray for
those that persecute us, we pray for them who yet
are mere earth, not having attained a heavenly
nature, that the will of

God may be done

in

them

which Christ by His great undertaking for the


vation of

The

man, has gone

so far towards fulfilling.

we know,

are not called by Christ

disciples,

earth, but the salt of the earth;

man

asserts the first

second of heaven.
ple of
rise

sal-

God

on the

to

be of the earth, but the

Wherefore, following the exam-

the Father,
evil

and the apostle

who maketh His sun

to

and on the good, and sendeth rain

on the just and on the unjust/ and being further


admonished by Christ, we so offer up our prayers
as to take in

God

is

done

the interests of
in

heaven, that

sequence of our

faith, are
i

all.

is,

As

the will of

in us who., in

of heaven

con-

so also

we

345

CYPRIAN.

pray that the will of


that

is,

in

be done on earth

them who are not yet believers

who from

they

God may

may, by

their first birth are earthy,

being born of water and of the

so thai

Spirit,

become

heavenly.

" Proceeding* further

may be understood
sense

to

Christ

us.

He

but

is

say,

This petition

either in a spiritual or literal

and both, through the Divine

be useful
life

we

our prayer,

in

Give us this day our daily bread.

indeed, the Bread of

is,

not so

blessing-, will

to

all,

but to us only.

Wherefore, as we say Our Father, because


is the
Father of such as know and believe

Him

so

we

He
in

Bread ours, because Christ

call this

who partake of His body.


This
Bread we desire may be daily given us lest we
who are in Christ, and daily receive the eucharist

is

our Bread

nourishment of our

for the

souls,

should,

by the

of some heinous sin, be deprived of

commission

the heavenly Bread

communication, be

and, by the sentence of ex-

far

removed from the prospect

of salvation."

Towards

the conclusion of this tract he observes,

that the three stated hours, set apart by Daniel

and

his companions, for the solemn worship of God,

bore allusion to the doctrine of the Trinity


that each of these seasons
lized

the

by remarkable events
descent of

the

Holy

and

was afterwards signa:

the third

Spirit

the

the admission of the Gentiles into the

Church

hour,

by

sixth,

by

Christian

and the ninth, by the completion of our

3i6

CYPRIAN.

Lord's sufferings, whereby our sins were washed

away

His blood, and our souls redeemed and

in

quickened.
then adds, " But for us,

He

my beloved brethren,

besides these anciently appointed times, the hours

The morn-

and reasons for prayer are increased.


ing

is

sacred to the purposes of devotion,

because

then the early resurrection of our Lord should be

At sun-set, when the day

celebrated by prayer.

we must again

ends,

since Christ

offer

up our prayers for,


we are
;

the true sun and the true day,

is

properly reminded, at the close of the natural day,


to

pray that His light may descend upon

us,

and

coming of Christ may afford us the grace


Moreover if, in the language of
the Sacred Scriptures, Christ be the true Sun and

that the

of eternal light.

the true Day, there can be no hour in the day, with

exempt from the duty of worshipping-

Christians,

And when

God.
course,

those

ren

it

who

night returns in

can bring no

evil in its

are engaged in prayer

of the light there

is

the light,

gloomy shades
;

to

for to the child-

it,

who

are not yet

and the Jews who, having deserted

now

abide

beloved brethren,
the

appointed

day even during the night.

Let the Gentiles, then, look to


enlightened

its

in

who

darkness; but

let

us,

my

are always in the light of

Lord, remember the particular advantages of

which we are partakers, and make no difference

between the day and the night.


by the grace of God, and

should anticipate our future


3

Being born again

spiritually

renewed, we

employment

in

the

317

CYPRIAN.

kingdom of God, where there


to

interrupt the

in

the

we
to

day.

even

night

shail hereafter

Cod,,

ourselves

and

in

to

thanksgiving."

as

shall

be no night

Let us be wakeful, then,


in

day

the

and since

always be engaged

praising Him,

unintermitted

let

acts

us

of

in

praying

here enure

prayer

and

348

CYPRIAN.

CHAPTER

V.

Cyprian congratulates the Church of Rome on its constancy during the persecution of G alius.
He writes on
a similar occasion

to

another

Church. His

Tract

to

Demetrian.

The gleam

of sun-shine, which had lately bright-

ened the Christian hemisphere, was soon succeeded

by a gloomy and tempestuous night. About the


252., GalJus, who had now succeeded to the

year

throne,

commenced

Christians,

sided at

a sharp persecution against the

and especially against those who reAn extract from a letter of Cyprian

Rome.

to their bishop

on

this

occasion will at the same

time shew the fervent piety of the writer, and the

exemplary fortitude of the sufferers.


"
have been acquainted, dearest brother,

We

with the glorious proofs of your faith and constancy

and we have received the notice of them

with such joy as

if

we

ourselves were joint par-

we have
but one Church, one mind, and one common intetakers of your deserved applause.

rest,

what bishop

rejoices

For

as

not in the honours of a

own ?

Or what brethren
do not every where exult in the common joy of
We cannot express how great
their fraternity?

brother bishop as in his

349

CYPRIAN.

was our triumph and satisfaction upon hearing


that you were the leader of the confession, and
moreover that the confession of the leader strengthened a disposition

numbers

we

confess in the brethren

which most

and steadiness of your

mony and unanimity


of the bishop

admired

in

The courage

way was

publicly
in follow-

ing him was proved beyond contradiction.


there

is

but one mind and one voice

the whole

Church of Rome may be

joined in

the

The

confession.

the

or the har-

faith,

of the brethren.

and the union of the brethren

so

Thus

celebrate,

to

leading the

you stimulate

to glory

be companions of your glory.

to

are at a loss

alacrity

to

you lead the way

that while

Whilst

among

you,

said to

have

blessed

apostle

foresaw, through the Spirit, your faith and firmness


is

and what he commended

in

your forefathers

applicable to you their children, and was intended

to excite

you

" With
attack

to imitate them.

terrible violence the adversary

upon the camp of Christ

made

his

but was repulsed

He

with a courage equal to his own.

fancied that

he had another opportunity of supplanting the servants of

God

and that he should

raw and undisciplined

soldiers,

find

whom

them

like

he could

But he soon perceived that


the army of Christ was on its guard, sober, and

easily

put to the rout.

accoutred for the battle

conquered

that in

that Christians cannot be

dying they are invincible, be-

cause they fear not death

that they resist not their

350

CYPRIAN.

aggressors,

because

though innocent,

up

readily give

not lawful

is

it

and

to kill the guilty j*

their

own

hearts'

for

them,

that they

blood in order to

depart more quickly from a world so

full

of wick-

edness and barbarity.

What

<c

was

a gallant spectacle

immediate eyes of God

What

under the

this

a source of joy to

the Church, that her soldiers advanced in the pre-

sence of Christ to the attack which

enemy

the

made upon them, not in detached parties, but with


army together
How many of the lapsed

the whole

were then restored by

their

who

glorious confession,

bravely maintained their ground, and derived

additional courage from

now be

shame and grief

their

former misconduct.

their

Their previous

fall

for

may

the effect of sudden

justly considered as

tremor, for they have returned to their real character

and, deriving true faith and strength from the

fear of

God, they have sought, with a due mixture

of patience and zeal, not merely for the pardon of


their former sin, but for the
iC

For my own

has pleased

God

approaching

my

part,

my

and

it,

celestial

of our

fasting,

arms, which

our ground with con-

These

plain proof that the Christians

virtue under the

by watching,

These are our


courage.

me

it

cease not earnestly to exhort

will enable us to maintain

stancy

dearest brother, since

graciously to admonish

trial,

people to prepare for

and prayers.

crown of martyrdom.

are

still

most unjust treatment.

our

spiritual

retained their passive

351

CYPRIAN.
fortresses,

which

security.

Let us remember each other

us

afford

us

our

relieve

and

pressures

And whosoever

mutual charity.

affection be
sisters,

still

by

distresses

of us shall

first

let

our

expressed for our brethren and our

never ceasing prayers unto the Father

in

Dearest brother,

for them.

No

our

in

be called hence by the favour of the Lord,

you.

and

protection

Let us be unanimous and united; and

prayers.
let

will

my

best wishes attend

Farewell."*

one can refrain from admiring*

ful display

this

wonder-

of the genius and power of Christianity.

Animated by the

spirit of vital godliness,

Cyprian

regards nothing as important which tends not to

promote the Divine glory, and exhibit the excellency of religion


sufferings,

whilst worldly privations, bodily

and death

congratulation,

are subjects of heartfelt

itself,

when instrumental

in

effecting so

suffering

Church, he

important an object!
In

another

writes,

cc

No

to

letter

one

is

Christ to solace him

alone

presence.

assailed

who

The

by robbers,

is

may,

be

indeed,

among the
may be afflicted by
he may be drowned

or wild beasts,

he

famine, by cold, and by thirst

a tempest at sea

or whose heart,

kept from defilement by

Christian

mountains and deserts;

in

has the company of

in his retreat;

as the temple of God,

His

but the Saviour Himself

while notices the conduct of His

* Epis. 60.

soldier,

all

the

and

is

352

CYPRIAN.

ready to bestow, at the resurrection, that reward

He

which

has assigned to such as are persecuted to

the death for His name's sake.

Nor

is

the glory of

such a martyrdom disparaged, because he does not

and surrounded by spectators, since

suffer publicly

he

still

The

suffers in the cause of Christ."

holy bishop at length closes his letter with


fC

these animating words,


rious will that day be,

the

Lord

adjudge

shall

to

my

O how

beloved brethren, when

begin to recount His people, and to

them

their several

guilty into hell, to

rewards

gracious

What

glory

God

to

all

salute

to send the

What

joy

to

Abraham,

to

to the

bestow on us

and

piety.

be admitted

to see

retribution of our

condemn our persecutors

punishment of eternal flames, and


the

great and glo-

faith

Isaac,

and Jacob, and

the patriarchs and prophets, apostles and mar-

tyrs

which

to rejoice in the pleasures of that immortality,


will

be assigned us

in

heaven with the right-

eous and the friends of God/'*


It

was probably about

wrote

his

Tract

to

of the Christians.
Cyprian's.
in

this

time that our prelate

Demetrian, a noted persecutor

The

style

Having exposed

and subject are

the folly of the

truly

Pagans

charging the miseries of the times upon the

Christians, he displays their

own

awful condition as

persecutors, and affectionately urges

them

to

em-

brace the religion of Christ, as the only means of


avoiding eternal misery.

* Epis. 58,

SbS

CYPRIAN.

terrors of the

judgments nor the


Most High can turn you to Him,

remember

that

there remain hereafter an eternal

prison, a

constant flame, and perpetual

If (he exclaims) neither the

ment, where the groans

of supplicants

punishnot

will

be heard, because hero they disregarded the terror


of God's indignation.

We

offer

cause

Provide therefore for your

and

security

we

life, whilst you have an opportunity.


you the most salutary counsel and be;

are forbidden to hate you, or to return

we exhort

evil for evil,

you, whilst you have the

opportunity, whilst you continue

in tins

world, to

labour to appease God, and to emersre from


gross darkness

of superstition into the pure light

We

of true religion.
tages, nor do

We

God.

the

envy none of your advan-

we conceal from you

the mercies of

return good will for your hatred

and

requite the torments and punishments with which

you have loaded


of salvation.

us,

by directing you

Believe

and

live

to the

paths

and do you, who

persecute us for a time, rejoice with us for ever.


cc

Upon your removal

place for

taining

repentance

with

reconciliation

tire fruit

eternal salvation.

of faith, provision

Nor

let

man remains

mercy

is

No

life

is

is

made

for

anyone be discouraged,

either by his sins or his years,

obtain salvation.

Here

God.

Here, by the worship of

either lost or secured.

God and

hence, there will be no

nor any possibility of ob-

repentance

in this world.

from seeking to
is

The

too late while

door of Divine

open, and access to the truth

is

easy to

CYPRIAN.

354t

who

those

exit of

diligently seek

and

faith,

confesses his

goodness

may

living;

for

pardon

is

granted to him

who

and thus

pass from the verge of death to

This advantage

immortality.

from the gracious undertaking of


the

and

and true God, with confes-

conferred on the believer

is

sins,

and the saving grace of Divine

sin,

man

blessed

the very

in

pray for the pardon of your

life,

implore the only


sion

Even

it.

is

This

Christ.

derived
is

He

peculiar trophy of His cross, by which

redeemed the believer even with the price of His


by which

blood,

Father,

them a

He

reconciled

and quickened

the dead,

celestial regeneration.

follow

man

Let us

Him,

let us

roll,

and marked with His signature.

He

all

the

obtaining for

be possi-

if it

be found on His

ble,

all

God

to

He

opens to

us the

way

will at

length bring us to His heavenly kingdom.

of

life

restores us to Paradise,

By Him, being made sons of God, we


with Him for ever; and, redeemed by His
shall rejoice with Him for ever,"

and

shall

bloody

live

we

355

C\PRIAN.

CHAPTER
A dreadful

VI.

pestilence rages in Africa.

on the

occasion. His

makes a

collection

Treatise

Ci/priarfs conduct
on Mortality. He

for the redemption of the Numidian

captives.

The

short reign of Gallus was distinguished

During the

a great variety of public calamities.


present year * a

dreadful pestilence raged in dif-

ferent parts of the

Roman

empire, and especially

which not merely carried

in Africa,

dividuals, but exterminated


rified

by

this

by

whole

off various in-

Ter-

families.

awful providence, the Pagans neg-

lected the last office of humanity, and suffered their

dead

to

remain unburied

in the streets.

This was an occasion which Cyprian took care


to improve, for bringing into exercise the graces of

Christianity.
tiated

them, that

than

He

assembled his people, and expa-

on the subject of mercy.


if

He

pointed out to

they did no more than others, no more

the heathen or the publicans did, in shewing

kindness to their

own

people, there would be no-

thing particularly admirable in their conduct

that

Christians ought to overcome evil with good, and


to love their enemies after the

example of their hea-

* A. D. 252.

2 a 2

356

CYPRIAN.

venly Father,

who makes

his

sun

on the

to rise

evil

and on the good, and sends rain on the just and


on the unjust. " Why does not he," continued
Cyprian,"

who

of God,

son

himself a

professes

imitate the example of his heavenly Father

ought

to

and not

behave in a manner suitable


to disgrace

We

our birth,

to

our new relationship

but be

solicitous to evidence the genuineness of our son-

by imitating the goodness of our Parent."*


This pious exhortation of Cyprian received
additional weight from his own personal piety and
ship

active benevolence.

He was

the

first

to practise

the advice which he gave to others.

M Beside

And

the bed where parting

life

was

laid.

sorrow, guilt, and pain, by turns dismayed.

The reverend champion


Despair and anguish

stood.

lied

At

his controul

the struggling soul

Comfort came down the trembling wretch

And

his last falt'ring accents

Animated by
tians

his advice

were divided into

whispered

to raise,

praise."

and example, the Chris-

different classes for the pur-

pose of more effectually relieving the public


tress.

cording

dis-

Those who had property contributed acto their

gave, what was

ability
still

and those who had none,

more

valuable, their labour,

with extreme hazard of their

lives.

Their Pagan

neighbours beheld with astonishment the benevolent influence of Christianity,

and had a salutary

* Pontius's Life of Cyprian,

357

CYPRIAN.

opportunity of contrasting the holy disinterestedness of the Christians with

their

own

selfishness

and inhumanity.
Cyprian,

desirous

improving' every

of

event,

wrote on

this occasion his Treatise on Mortality, in


which he feelingly expatiates on the vanity of this

present

life;

and, in language almost seraphic, de-

scribes the blessedness of those

and fear of God.


dearest

of

brethren,

die in the faith

The kingdom

just

is

who

hand.

at

of God, my
The reward

the joy of eternal salvation, perpetual glad-

life,

ness,

lc

and the possession of Paradise which we had


are

forfeited,

world

is

ries are

approaching to

us,

now

the

that

Heavenly and eternal glo-

passing away.

succeeding earthly fading

What

trifles.

cause can there then be for anxiety, solicitude, or

and hope are

sadness, unless faith

who

only can fear death,


Christ

but he
is

is

deficient

He

unwilling to go to

nor can any one be loth to go to Christ,

who
c

written

fears that he will not reign with

the just shall live by faith/

Him.

If then

It

you

are just and such as live by faith, and really believe


in

God, why do you not rejoice on your being

called to

be with Christ,

fully relying

on the pro-

mise of the Lord.

" Durable peace, sound


petual security,
to

come

we

shall

but in this

petual conflict with

we

tranquillity,

experience

and per-

in the

world

are in a state of per-

our spiritual enemy, and are

always on the defensive against his various assaults.

Surely then we ought to be joyful in the

358

CYPRIAN.

prospect of hastening to Christ by a speedy de-

How

parture.

on

this

does our Lord Himself instruct us

very head

'

Ye

the world shall rejoice

shall
;

weep and lament, but

and ve

be sorrowful,

shall

Who
Who

but your sorrow shall he turned into joy/


does not wish

would

be free from sorrow

to

not hasten to joy with alacrity

to see Christ

is

rejoice,

to

Him, we can have no


ness and infatuation is it

and

true joy

see

and

pressures, troubles,

since,

be

to

tears,

Since then

we do

till

what blindwith

in love

the

of the world, and

not rather to hasten to that joy which can never

be taken away.
c<

Let that man indeed fear to

born again of water and of the


to the fires of hell

the

cross

To

because

it

life

is

delays his sufferings.


is

dreads eternal

a desirable object,

Wherefore, as the

awfully destructive to Jews,

Heathens, and the enemies of Christ


faithful

of

servants

removal.

The

obnoxious

who, not being a partaker of

such an one

mortality

who, not being

Spirit, is

and passion of Christ,

flames.

present

die,

God

does

it

so

afford

to

the

a salutary

righteous are called to a place of

refreshment, and the wicked are hurried to a place

of punishment.

Believers

state of security

enter sooner upon

and unbelievers anticipate

their

doom.
<e

May we

not further remark, that

gracious purposes
mortality.

to accomplish

Through

distress, the

in

God

has

a season of

fear of sharing in the general

lukewarm are inflamed, the negligent

359

CYPRIAN.
are awakened, the
tates are

are

induced

to

to the

Church, and heathens

Many

believe.

God

servants of

are stimulated, apos-

slothful

brought back

and

old

faithful

are dismissed to their peaceab'e

home, and fresh and numerous forces are

enlisted

for future battles.


'

Let us therefore welcome, beloved brethren,

that day which will consign each of us to our pro-

per habitation,

will

rescue us from the various per-

and restore us

plexities of the world,

Who

and the kingdom of heaven.


a foreign land would

country

Our

not

hasten

country, so

let

to

that sojourns in

return to his

to

us

Paradise

deem

is

it,

radise,

even as we reckon the patriarchs our

thers.

There great numbers of dear

pect

Our

us.

our arrival
of their

and

a large and goodly company, secure

own

eternal felicity, and only solicitous for

to us,

What

great will be

when we

licity

there

see

the

mutual joy to them

and embrace each other

be the pleasures of

will

we

kingdoms, where
fear

of dying

shall live

What

those heavenly
eternally without

perfect and perpetual fe-

There is the glorious choir of apostles


company of exulting prophets there
:

the

the innumerable multitude of martyrs


victory over

in food

and

trials

triumphant virgins

filled

for

How

ours.

fa-

friends ex-

sons, long

parents, brothers,

Pa-

sufferings

crowned with
there chaste

there the compassionate, who,

and benefaction

to

the poor, formerly ful-

the righteous precept of our Lord, are gra-

ciously rewarded,

and receive heavenly

riches, in

360

CYPRIAN.

To

exchange for earthly possessions.


beloved brethren, or rather

with

perceive that this

and the

He

settled

is

the grand object of our desires,

purpose of ou r mind and

faith.

bestow the most ample rewards of glory

will

Him."

to such as manifest the greatest love to

hasten

Let God and our Lord Christ

avidity.

all

my

these,

to Christ, let us

short

time after

dreadfir pestilence, the

this

and

Christian benevolence of Cyprian

was again

called into

savages, having

exercise.

his

Some

people

hoards of

irruption into Numidia,

made an

away with them a great number of Christians into captivity.


Cyprian was informed of this
melancholy event by some of the bishops of that
carried

He

country,

in

consequence immediately collected

a considerable sum of money for the redemption


of

brethren,

captive

his

which

he

forwarded

with the annexed letter of condolence to the bi-

His feelings and conduct on

shops of Numidia.
this occasion

will

be best described

in

his

own

words.

" With much


tears,

we

read the letters, which you

wrote to us

your tender solicitude for our captive brethren

in

and

sisters.

For who can withhold

such occasions, or refrain from


grief of his

brother as

Paul himself remarks,


the

members

joice, all the


'

and not without

heartfelt sorrow,

Who

is

weak, and

on

considering the

The apostle
his own ?
If one member suffer, all
it
and if one member re-

'

suffer with

members

his tears

rejoice

am

with

not weak

it ;'
?'

and again,

We

should

36

CVPRIAN

therefore regard the captivity and afflictions of our

brethren as our own,

we

since

are

incorpo-

all

rated togeiher as one body."

He

afterwards

We

"

adds,

have

agreed,

all

with great cheerfulness, to send a liberal contribution for the assistance of

ligion

at

vine a work

prompts us

times

all

aggravated

of

the Lord says,

was

cir-

Whereas

affliction.

gospel,

in his

re-

perform so Di-

to

but more especially under such

cumstances

Our

our brethren

and ye

sick

how much more will it turn to our


account when He will say,
I was a captive, and
ye redeemed me
When again He says I was
in prison and ye came unto me,' how much more
visited me,'

!'

must

Him

honourable for

us,

was

barbarians, immured and bound

a slave

fetters

to

my

slaverv

from the Lord

We

indeed

feel

of our

fields,

hope

harvest.

We

in
in

judgment

in

your
a

solicitude,

work

and

to

for adin so

ex-

for offering us such

which we may deposit the seeds


full

expectation of an abundant

have sent you a hundred thousand

sesterces*, the collection of the clergy

belonging

!'

very thankful to you

in

and necessary

fruitful

to say,

ye shall receive a recompence

the day of

in

mitting us to share
cellent

be for

by them, and ye rescued me from the dun-

geon of
*

it

my

church, which

It is calculated that this

you

sum would amount

and people
will

to above

take

780L

which must have been a very considerable sum in that day*

when money was

so

much more valuable than

in ours,

S62

CYPRIAN.

We hear-

care to distribute in a proper manner.

wish that no such occasion may happen in fu-

tily

ture,

and that our brethren may be protected by

God from

the favourable providence of


lamities.

If,

however, for the

and charity, any such


fal

should again be-

you, do not hesitate to inform us

heartily unite

of our faith

trial

affliction

sured that our church and

similar ca-

and

rest as-

our brethren

all

will

with you in prayer and in liberal

contributions/'*

Thus

did Cyprian exemplify the generous nature

of pure and undefined religion

which pervades

this

letter

whilst the spirit

shews

us

from what

source his graces flowed, and at the same time com-

municates a liveliness to his style which cannot

fail

to interest the reader.

We

may

observe, in

all

character of their author.


fervent in

himself,

Cyprian's writings, the

He

is

always pious and

and therefore animated and

copious in his language.

The

stores of nature are

explored for imagery whereby to express the


ness of his soul

ful-

and, though his analogies are not

always chaste and simple, they evidently appear to

be the

effect of holy contemplation,

impress upon his

and are used

own mind, and on

to

that of his

readers, the importance of his subject.

Those who are conversant with the writings of


Tertullian will be struck with the similarity between

the style of Cyprian and that father, though they

* Epis. 62.

363

CYPRIAN.
will

probably be disposed to assign the merit of

greater energy and terseness to Tertullian,


that of a
little

more luxuriant fulness

to

anecdote recorded of Cyprian

account for the similarity


the distinctive
as satisfactorily

to

will

naturally

noticed, whilst

character of the two fathers will

account for the difference.

secretary of Cyprian,

accustomed

we have

Cyprian.

and

who long

relate, that

The

survived him, was

Cyprian never passed

a day without reading something from Tertullian

and that he would often say

my

master,'

meaning thereby

to

him,

that author.

Bring me

364

CYPRIAN,

CHAPTER
Ci/prian

attends

Curiibis.

He

His

returns to

do?n,

and

different councils.
letter

to

He

Carthage. His

the

first

mines.

condemnation, martyr-

part of the reign of Valerian,*

the Christians were not

merely exempt from per-

secution, but experienced

approbation.

The

many marks

of public

emperor's palace was

and he himself appeared

banished te

is

the Christians in the

character.

During

them

VII.

to

filled

with

be their friend

and protector.

Nothing remarkable
1

is

mentioned of Cyprian

during* this period, except that he


letters

on different important subjects

individuals

and Churches, and

to

to

the

to

various

also occupied a con-

spicuous place in several councils

seem

wrote several

some of which

have been convened on subjects unsuitable


dignity of such

meetings, unless indeed

matters of greater importance engaged their attention than

those which are specifically referred to

by Cyprian.

These assemblies were frequently convened after


the close of the second century, when the deliberations of the bishops were assisted by the advice
* A. D. 253 to 257.

365

CYPRIAN.

of a few distinguished presbyters, and sanctioned

by the approbation of the Christians who attended.


At

first,

it

probable that

is

all

were present were on a perfect equality

but, in

time, the advantage of a

com-

head or president being perceived, that

office

the course of a

mon

who

the bishops

little

was naturally assigned

command

who seemed

prelate

to a

to

additional respect, either from the extent

of his diocese, or the superiority of his

This circumstance, which

in

abilities.

origin appeared

its

beneficial to the cause of religion, ultimately proved

most injurious

to

it.

The

presidents carried from the

assembly too elevated ideas of their

own

dignity

Metropolitans and Primates,


which were soon after bestowed upon them, were
and the

lofty titles of

imperceptibly preparing them for usurping authority

Nor

over their episcopal brethren.

did the evil

After a time, a desire of pre-eminence

stop here.

and power prevailed

amongst the metropolitans

themselves, each affecting to display the claims of

own see to
Hence originated,

his

dignity

peculiar
in

after ages,

contentions between the bishops

brated

cities in

Christendom

and respect.

the

feuds

and

of the most cele-

and hence

at length

were generally awarded to the Roman Church


that supreme deference and respect, which it had

own

po-

being the supposed

re-

long claimed on the twofold plea of


litical

importance, and

its

its

sidence of the apostle Peter.

But, to return to the time of Cyprian, on one


occasion

it

was canvassed, whether

infants might

866

CYPRIAN.

be baptized within the second or third day after


birth, or

their

whether they ought

eighth, according
cision.

The

council

to wait

the

till

ancient law of circum-

the

to

unanimously

adopted

who appears

to

the

former opinion.
In a letter to Fid us,

on that subject, Cyprian,

sulted the council

name

have conthe

in

of that assembly makes the following obser-

" As to the case of infants, who should

vations.
not, as

you conceive, be baptized within the second

or third day after their birth

but, according

to

the time appointed by the law for circumcision, receive the sanctifi cation of baptism on the eighth

day

we were

all

We

of the contrary opinion.

unanimously concluded that the mercy and grace of

God ought
For
of

not to be denied to any child of man.

since the

man

is

Lord

not come to destroy men's

save them/

as far as in us lies,

endeavours that no soul be


cision

His gospel,

says, in

ought not

to

we

lost.

remission of sins

they

but to

Spiritual circum-

tism and from grace

Moreover,

granted to believers, though

is

may formerly have been

be

lives,

be deferred by any law which

against God, and no one

to

The Son

should use our

was appointed for carnal circumcision.


if

debarred, who,

is

much

the greatest sinners

prohibited from
less

bap-

ought an infant

being just born,

can be

guilty of no sin, except that, being carnally pro-

duced according to Adam, he hath, by


birth,

contracted the infection

of

the

his

first

original

367

CYPRIAN.

Our

death*.

decision,

therefore, dearest brother,

the council was, that

in

baptism and the grace of God,

bited by us from

who

no one should be prohi-

And as
this rite is generally to be observed
so we think
it especially regards new-born
infants, who have
merciful, kind,

is

and loving,

to

all.

more

affecting claims

mercy, because

in that early

plicate with cries

The

upon our help and the Divine

and

age they can only sup-

tears. "f

preceding quotation from Cyprian

portant, as

is

im-

exhibits a clear testimony of the faith

it

of the ancient Church in the doctrine of original


sin, and at the same time affords a powerful argument in favour of infant baptism. " Here is an

assembly of sixty-six pastors," remarks Mr. Milner,


iC

men

stood the fiery

trial

of some of the severest perse-

cutions ever known.

question

is

it is

all

this holy

none contradicted

right to baptize

the eighth day


ail

Before

this

but whe-

them immediately, or on

Without a

single

negative they

determined to baptize them immediately.

transaction passed in the year 253.


consider,
it

assembly a

brought, not whether infants should be

baptized at
ther

who have

of approved fidelity and gravity,

if

This

Let the reader

infant baptism had been an innovation,

must have been now of a considerable standing.

The

disputes

concerning Easter, and other very

uninteresting points, shew that suck an innovation

* Contngium mortis aniiquae prima nativitate contraxir,


+ Epis. 64.

368

cVpiuan.

must have formed a remarkable aerain the Church,

The number
very great.

practice

apostolical

marked.

of heresies and divisions had been

Among*

To me

it

them^il! such a deviation from


as

this

appears impossible

had ever been allowed


custom was that of the

Whilst the pacific

to

re-

account

but on the footing that

for this state of things,

nued

must have been

it

and, therefore, that the

first

churches."*

spirit

of Valerian

still

conti-

to protect the Christians, a controversy arose

among them, which

reflects

no honour on Cyprian

The

and the other bishops of Africa.

question

was, whether persons returning from heresies into


the

Church ought

ject there

to

was a difference of opinion

the head of which was Stephen,

acknowledged the
it

this

sub-

one party, at

bishop of

Rome,

validity of such baptism, provided

were performed

and Holy Ghost

On

be re-baptized.

in the

name

and the

of the Father, Son,

other,

consisting

of

eighty-seven bishops, assembled in council at Carthage, totally denied

its

efficacy.

The

latter senti-

ment was not merely adopted by Cyprian, but


in a spirit and language unworthy of so
good a man. In the council, and afterwards in

maintained

various letters, he persisted in declaring that the

baptism performed by
void

those

and

insisted

who had

admission

into

separatists was null and


on the necessity of re-baptizing
all

received this ordinance before their


the

communion

of

the

Church.
* History of the Church of Christ.

general

369

CYPRIAN.

The

different suffrages

retained

of each bishop are

To

Cyprian's works.

in

still

the professed

admirers of ecclesiastical antiquities the perusal of

may he

the whole

interesting

of readers

will

same time

entertained,,

probably be

but the generality

satisfied,

and

at the

by a small selection from

them.
I

know

Church

Ccec ilius, of Bilta

of but one baptism, and that only in the

any out of

it is

a perfect nullity, &c.

III.-Poli/carp, of Adrametum.

They who

hold the validity of heretical baptisms

do, in effect, disallow of our's.

IX.

My
upon

Nicomedes, of Segermce.

opinion

is,

that heretics should be baptized

their being admitted into the

out of

sinners cannot obtain

it

Church, because
the remission of

their sins.

XVIII. Sedatus, of Thuburbo.


Just as the

Church by
sins

as

it

water, being consecrated

in

the

the prayer of the bishop,

washes away

when

polluted, and,

so does

it

increase them,

were, cankered by the words of heretics.

Wherefore we ought
induce those,

who

to receive the true

to use

all

pacific

means

to

are tainted with heretical error,

and only baptism of the Church,

2 B

370

CYPRIAN.

without which they will be excluded from the king-

dom

of heaven.

XXXYIl. Vincentius,

We are

of Thibaris.

well assured that heretics are worse than

Heathens.

they are brought

therefore,,

If,

sense of their wretched state, and wish to

we have an unerring

over to the Lord,

proceed by, which our Lord gave


apostles,
in

My

them

saying,

name, and
cc

place,

iS

Go

in the

ye,

Go

in

rule

charge

to

to

His

ye and lay on your hands

And

cast out devils/'

and teach

name

to

come

all

in

another

nations, baptizing

of the Father, and of the Son,

and of the Holy Ghost.'* Wherefore it appears


that they may obtain the promises of Christ, first
by imposition of hands in their exorcism, and afterwards by regeneration

know

in

their

baptism

way of

of no other lawful

their

and

being ad-

mitted.

LX.

Rogatianus, of Nova.

Christ was the founder of the Church, the devil

of

heresy.

Satan be
Christ

How
entitled

then
to

can

administer the

heretic cannot give

much
had.

synagogue

of

baptism of

LXX. Verulns,

the

less

of Rusiccade.

what he does not

a schismatic, who has

lost

possess,

what he once

371

CYPRIAN.

LXXXVII. Cyprian,
The

letter

Jubaianus,

which

fully

of Carthage.

have written to our colleague,

my

expresses

heretics, being- called,

on

opinion, viz. that

authority both

the

evangelists and apostles, adversaries of Christ


antichrists,

when they come over

should,

of

and

to the

Church, be baptized with the only baptism of the

may become

Church

friends,

and from antichrists Christians.

The

so that from adversaries they

administration of the emperor Valerian

distinguished by a levity and inconstancy


to the gravity of the

Roman

Censor.

ill

was

suited

In the former

part of his reign he surpassed in clemency those

who had been suspected

princes

to the Christian faith.

In the

of an attachment

last

half, listening to the insinuations

his Praetorian prefect,

three years

and

of Macrianus,*

he adopted the maxims, and

imitated the severity, of his predecessor.

Our

African prelate,

who had escaped

the ra-

vages of the two preceding persecutions, at length


fell

a victim to the present

* This worthless

minister,

who

but by slow degrees,

rendered his master formidable

only to the oppressed subjects, and contemptible to the enemies


of

Rome, was fondly attached

Eusebius,

magical practices
orgies he

new-born

to the superstitions of Egypt.

on the authority of Dionysius, charges him


;

and

with.

relates, that in celebrating these horrid

slaughtered children, and tore out the intestines of


infants.

2b2

372

CYPRIAN.

and under circumstances

of comparative

His character, indeed, as well as his


to

mark him out

station,

lenity,

seemed

most conspicuous object of

as the

envy and of danger.


In the
Africa,

Paternus, the proconsul of

year 257,

summoned Cyprian

He

his council-chamber.

to

appear before him

in

there acquainted the holy

prelate with the imperial mandate,

which he had

just received, requiring that those

who had aban-

doned the

Roman

religion

should

immediately

return to the practice of the ceremonies of their


ancestors.
cc

to

fk

am

a Christian/' replied Cyprian,

devoted to the worship of the true and only Deity,

whom

I offer

up

daily supplications for the safety

and prosperity of the two emperors,


sovereigns."

On

being threatened

ment by the proconsul,

my

lawful

with banish-

unless he returned to the

Roman religion, he exclaimed, " He is no exile


who has God with him for the earth is the Lord's,
and the fulness thereof." The pro-consul then
;

enquired, where

they

might

find his

presbyters.

With modest confidence Cyprian pleaded

the privi-

lege of a citizen, in declining to answer this question,

and reminded him of the edicts made by the

best emperors against informers.


not, therefore," he added,

cc

to

"They

ought

be discovered by

me; and you yourselves do not approve of men,


who offer themselves voluntarily to you." " I will
make you discover them by torments," replied
tc
By me," the intrepid bishop calmly
Paternus.
cc
u
they shall not be discovered."
Our
rejoined,

373

CYPRIAN.
princes/'

exclaimed

that Christians

should hold no conventicles

whoever breaks
c

" have directed,

Paternus,

and

this rule shall be put to death."

Do what you

are directed/'

was the reply of

Cyprian.

The

proconsul, however, was not disposed to

hurt him.

Probably he respected the character of

who by

the man,

esteemed

in Africa,

and

talents

this

time must have been highly

on account of
benevolence.

active

made some
attempts to work on his
therefore,

CurubiS,

small

Many

Carthage.

additional
fears,

town,

his

commanding

After

and

having",

ineffectual

he banished him to

about

fifty

miles from

mitigations, however,

nied the exile of this bishop.


pleasant, the air good, and by

accompa-

The situation was


his own desire he

was accommodated with private lodgings. His solitude was also frequently enlivened by the letters,
visits,

and congratulations, of the

Whilst Cvprian continued

in

faithful.

exile,

formed that nine bishops, with several

he was
priests

in-

and

number of Christians, of all


ages and both sexes, were condemned to labour
deacons, and a great

in

the mines, and treated

Always ready

for the

with every indignity.

performance of every good

work, the venerable prelate addressed a

them on
from

it

this

occasion.

The

letter

to

following extract

strikingly exhibits the character

and piety of

the writer.

"

The honour due

to you, blessed

brethren, would have called

me

and beloved

to visit

and em=

374

CYPRIAN.

brace you, had I not,

name

of Christ, been myself confined within cer-

tain boundaries
I

my

but, in such

my company.

give you

to visit
spirit

confession of the

for the

you

and

in person,

and

affection,

will

endeavour

not indeed in suffering-, but

of love.

How

glorious

things of

can I be

silent,

my

am

able^

in

express

to

How

letter

in your honours, and reckon myself

you

as 1

Though I am not allow ed


am present with you in

my

very soul to you in

manner

do

communion

the

when

hear such

whom

brethren,

dearest

exult

partner with

Some of

Divine providence has so distinguished.

you have already finished the course of martyrdom,

and are now receiving crowns of righteousness


from the Lord

whilst others, yet

confined in

prisons or in the mines, by the very delay of their


sufferings

encourage our brethren


and

and constancy,

same time ensure to

the

at

in their fortitude

themselves a greater reward in heaven.


feet,

bound

at present with fetters,

will here-

freedom with the Lord

after enjoy an everlasting

The

you

happy

malice and cruelty of your persecutors may

detain you for a season in bonds

pass from earth and

heaven.

sorrows to the kingdom of

its

In the mines

you have not a bed on

which the body may repose

and consolation.

no baths,

in

but Christ

Your limbs,

have only the ground to

punishment so

to lie

which

lie

you are inwardly and

is

your

rest

fatigued with labour,

upon but surely

down with

to

but you will soon

Christ.

wash your

it is

You

defiled limbs

spiritually cleansed

no

have
;

from

but
all

375

CYPRIAN.

Your
but man

at present

pollution.

allowance of bread

scanty

doth not live by bread alone, but

You

by the word of God.


to defend

on Christ
hair

are in want of clothes,

you from the cold


is

is

who

but he

has put

The

abundantly covered and adorned.

of your head half shaved presents a dismal

appearance

but

your head,

Christ,

head

since the

illustrious for the

How

Lord, must needs be comely.

man

of the

name

is

of the

will all these

deformities, which appear so detestable in the eyes

of the Gentiles, be recompensed with proportionable honours

How

and transient

short

will this

punishment be exchanged

reward of

for a bright

when our Lord will change our vile


maybe fashioned like unto His glorious

eternal glory,

body, that

it

body/'*

On

the arrival of

Maximus, Cyprian was

new

proconsul, Galerius

from banishment

recalled

and, though not allowed entire liberty, he was per-

own

mitted to reside in his

gardens, in the neigh-

bourhood of Carthage, and was enabled again to


direct the affairs of the Church.

This was, how-

ever, but a short respite to his afflictions

he soon

heard that the rage of the persecution was becoming more violent in the
ing that

it

Roman

capital

would speedily spread

its

and, expect-

desolating fury

over the African Church, he begged that the

gence might be circulated

* Epis. 76, according

to the

invariably referred to, in this

in all places

Oxford

life.

edition,

intelli-

among

which

is

the

the one

376

CYPRIAN.

brethren, not to excite their fears, but that having


the image of death

before them they migft

themselves against

with Christian principles,, and

it

might be prepared

in the fulness of faith

to

arm
meet

the anproaching events with joy.

At length,
first

one year after Cyprian was

xactly

apprehended, an imperial warrant was issued

against the Christian teachers


that from the

eminence of

his

rank and character

he should be selected as one of the

Cyprian was

at

inclined lo

first

safety by flight.

Conscious

in Africa.

But judging

it

earliest victims,

provide

and employed himself

his

improper, under

existing circumstances, he soon returned to h

residence,

for

in

usual

exhorting and

comforting his people, being anxious

to

be taken

He

by the messengers of death whilst so engaged.

was accordingly seized

in his

garden by two

officers

of rank, deputed by the proconsul for that purpose,

who

placed him between them in their chariot, and

conducted him to

one of their own houses

in

Carthage, as the proconsul was not then at leisure


to

examine him.

greatest courtesy.

He was
\n

here treated with the

elegant supper was pro-

vided for

him; and

allowed

enjoy his society, whilst the streets were

filled

to

his

Christian

friends

were

with a great multitude of the faithful, watch-

ing around the doors


afflictive

all

night, in anxious

and

expectation of the fate of their revered

bishop and father.

On

the

morning of the following day Cyprian

was carried before the tribunal of the proconsul

377

CYPRIAN

Who, after informing* himself of


tion,

him
" I

commanded him

his

to oiler sacrifices,

situa-

and pressed

on the consequences of disobedience.


" you would
pity your case/' he continued
to reflect

judge better

consult your

to

<e

despise the gods."

replied the martyr, "

My

safety,

"

You

whom

must, then,"

example

to the

by the shedding of your blood they may

learn their duty."


in

to

strength/'

Christ the Lord,

is

rejoined the proconsul, " be an


rest, that

and not

my

safety and

ever."

serve for

desire to

him

name and

He

then passed sentence upon

the following terms

" Let Thascius Cyprian

be immediately beheaded, as the enemy of the gods


of

Rome, and

as the chief

minal association,

which

and ringleader of a

lie

cri-

has seduced into an

impious resistance against the laws of the most holy


" God be
emperors, Valerian and Gallienus."
praised," exclaimed the intrepid martyr, whilst a

general cry of "


arose from

who were

The

We

will die with

the attending multitude of Christians,

waiting at the gates of the palace.

scene that

now

followed

conceived than described.

was apparent

in

may more

The

who have no

but

hope.

it

it

be

Keen was

the

was not the sorrow

They were now

ding an adieu to their beloved pastor


as

easily

deepest dejection

every countenance.

anguish of their minds


of those

our holy bishop,"

final,

respected this world, but not eternal.

of hope illumined the darkness

bid-

indeed,

ray

that surrounded

them, and enabled the mourners to look beyond the


cloud of time to the regions of eternal day.

Faith

378

CYPRIAN.

pictured to their minds the exhilarating prospect

of immortality, and whispered in their ears the

when

assurance of another and a blessed meeting,

God would wipe away


and sorrow and

As soon

tears from their eyes,

all

sighing" flee

as the sentence

away

for ever.

was pronounced against

him, Cyprian was led away, under a guard of

tri-

bunes and centurions, to a spacious plain,

the

neighbourhood of the

city,

in

surrounded with

trees.

great multitude of spectators were already assem-

Immediately on

bled.

his arrival

Cyprian took

off

his mantle, and, kneeling down, engaged in fervent

who were

His presbyters and deacons,

prayer.

permitted to accompany him, then tied his hands,

and several Christians spread linen on the ground

The

receive his blood.

to

that five
to the

martyr then directed

and twenty pieces of gold should be given

executioner

and shortly

after,

with one

blow, his head was severed from his body.*

His corpse remained for some hours exposed to


the

Christians

bourhood
tyrdom

of

in

it

Pagans.

the

removed

wards buried

fifty

of

curiosity

it

At

length

the

during the night, and after-

a splendid manner, in the neigh-

Carthage.

in the year of

Cyprian

suffered

mar-

our Lord two hundred and

eight.

Thus terminated the earthly career of this emiFrom the gentle manner of his
nent father.
martyrdom, and the respectful treatment that was

* See Acts of

his

martyrdom, and Pontius's Life of Cyprian.


3

379

CYPRIAN.

shewed him during


infer

of

both

Christians,

Europe and

in

eminently revered and loved

Augustine informs

as

Amongst

enemies.

his

after ages,

in

the anniversary of his

us,

martyrdom was every where observed.


knowledge of

the

Christ,

the

he was

Africa,

and

we may
commanded

trial,

possessed virtues that

that he

veneration

the

preceding

his

Called to

as he himself remarks,

on the borders of old ag," he made an astonish-

te

ing progress in Divine things


years of his
fatigably

life

and

employed

promoting the

in

living

heretical professors,
tered,

among

and

his

his

cause of

own

people,

Agitated by labours

in distant countries.

afflictions,

and the subsequent

were most zealously and inde-

Christian piety, not only

but also

amongst open enemies and

his spirit

was

at times embit-

language harsh and intolerant; yet

he was always an affectionate pastor to his people,

liberal

benefactor to the indigent, and a wise and

As a bishop,

tender counsellor to the confessors.


his zeal

at the

and

activity

same time

have never been exceeded;

his

attention to discipline

equally removed from the

extremes of negligent
cc

remissness and impracticable severity.


to

was

adopt the language of one of

his

In fine/'

celebrated

(C
if he had not been a
admirers and biographers,
Christian, one might have held him forth to the

world as a great man

if it

be the part of a great

man to unite, in a large and


many virtues, and each of them

capacious
in a

mind,

high degree

380

CYPRIAN.

of perfection
in

their

virtues,

nature, and

consistence

in

the

too,

which are opposite

which rarely meet

same subject

for

in

firm

example,

vigour and mildness, magnanimity and mercy, fortitude

and prudence, warmth of temper and accu-

racy of judgment; and^ above

all,

zeal

and

cretion/'*

* Milner's History of the Church of Christ*

dis-

381

DIONYSIUS,
BISHOP OF ALEXANDRIA.

CHAPTER

I.

Dionj/sius appointed Catechist of Alexandria, and after-

wards bishop.
the reign
secution.

and

the

His

of Philip.

account of the persecution, under

He

retires

during the Decian per-

His conduct respecting


controversy

on

the

heretical

Novation schism,
baptism.

He

is

banished during the Valerian persecution.

The farther we

proceed

in

the third century, the

more we are struck with the declension,

in doctrine

and conduct, which had now so generally taken


place amongst the professors of Christianity.

In-

stead of beholding- the admirable simplicity which

pervaded the creed of the primitive Christians,


find their sentiments corrupted

we

by the unhallowed

mixtures of Gentile philosophy, the chimeras of


metaphysicians adopted as articles of

faith,

and the

noble and invincible integrity which characterised


their

early

predecessors, in

too

many

instances.

382

DIONYSIUS.

lowered down

to the

diminutive standard of their

Heathen neighbours.
ciples,

however,
(i

of Jerome,)

Lord was

whom

warm, and whose

;"

men who

nature

was

lively

real religion

is

inva-

that the external form of

may change with

Christianity

faith

not merely shewed to

whole of their deportment that


its

dis-

but demonstrated by the

they belonged,

riable in

some

still

whose breasts the blood of our

in

still

and vigorous

There were

adopt the emphatic language

(to

the

manners of the

age, and the circumstances of the day, but the


spirit of

it is

Among

always

like that of its

persons of

Author.

this description the

subject of

the present narrative occupies a conspicuous place.

For many years he


Alexandria

filled

an important station in

where, with apostolic zeal, he incul-

cated the pure doctrines and precepts of Christianity

and by

his

own

what proficiency a

may make

in the

cc

personal attainments shewed

fallen

but

renewed creature,

excellency of the knowledge of

Christ Jesus our Lord."

Dionysius

is

generally supposed to have been a

native of Alexandria
is

not known.

He

but the exact time of

is

said to

his birth

have been descended

from an honourable and wealth)' family, and for

some years to have been involved in the darkness


and errors of Paganism. Having manifested from
his childhood a love of learning, he became at
length a pupil of the

whom

illustrious

Origen,

he made a suitable improvement

branches of literature.

We have

under

in various

no information

383

DIONYSIUS.
respecting* the time
to Christianity,

and manner of

his conversion

except from a short extract of one

of his letters, in which he mentions, that, by care-

and examining the books that came

fully reading-

he was converted

his hands,

to

His

to the faith.

however, affords us a decided evidence of the

life,

reality

and genuineness of

his piety.

In the year 232 Heraclas,

Origen

in the

who had succeeded

presidency of the celebrated school

of Alexandria, was promoted to the bishopric of

His removal from the school made

that place.

Dionysius

for

faithfully

who

for sixteen

way

successive years

performed the important duties of the

catechetical office

and was then chosen bishop of

Alexandria, in the room of Heraclas,

who

died dur-

ing the preceding year.

Dionysius had not long entered upon his episcopate before a dreadful persecution broke out in
Alexandria, which deserves

corded, as Philip,

was always

who was

friendly to

the

more

at that time

to

be re-

emperor,

the Christians, and

mani-

fested a particular reverence for their ministers.

The

following

is

the

account which

Dionysius

gives of the origin and circumstances of this persecution, in a letter to Fabius, bishop of Antioch
<c

certain

man, a soothsayer and poet, and what-

ever else he was, a promoter of great disorder in

our

city,

stirred

up the malice of the Gentiles

against us, and inflamed them with zeal in behalf

of their own superstitions.

and receiving

full

Stimulated by him,

permission to put their wicked

384

DI0NY5IUS.

purposes into execution, they considered the putting us to death as merely a


seized

first

work of

They

piety.

upon an aged man, named Metras, and

ordered him to utter certain atheistical words; and,

on

comply, they struck him on the

his refusing to

body with clubs, pricked him

the face and eyes

in

with sharp reeds, and at length, dragging him to

They

the suburbs, they there stoned him to death.

woman, whose name was


Quinta, to the idol-temple, and urged her to worship the gods
and on her turning away, and
then hurried a faithful

manifesting the greatest abhorrence


posal, they

the rough

bound her

feet,

pro-

at the

and dragged her over

pavement through

They

the city.

all

then dashed her against mill-stones, and scourged

her; and at length, having led her back to the

same place, they put her


one accord, they
godly

whom

After

to death.

knew

to

his

The more

valuable part of

their goods they retained for themselves

were made of wood, or were of

burnt
it

in the streets

flight,

and such

less value,

they

so that the city appeared as if

had been taken by an enemy.

hereupon

neighbours,

be of that description, spoiling

and plundering them.

as

with

broke into the houses of the

all

each rushing into those of

he

this,

The

brethren

withdrew, and secreted themselves by

taking joyfully the spoiling of their goods,

spoken of by Paul.

like

those

that

any of them who

fell

Nor do

know

into their adversaries'

hands denied the Lord, with the exception of a


single individual.

About the same time they

seized

385

DIONYSIUS.

an aged

virgin, a

name was

they dashed

till

kindled a

burn her

truly admirable

whom

Apollonia,

fire

out

alive, unless

diately leaped into

then

Apollonia requested a short

the

fire,

upon

seized

whom

They then

she repeated after them cer-

which being granted

respite,

They

teeth.

before the city, and threatened to

impious words.

tain

they smote on the face

her

all

woman, whose

her, she

to

imme-

and was consumed.

Serapion,

in

own

his

manner, and broke all his bones, and then cast him
down headlong from an upper room. There was

house,

they tortured

now no road for us


which we could pass
day

in safety,

either by night or

for in every direction the people

were conti-

whoever refused

to

repeat

blasphemous words should be dragged away

and burnt.
until,

the most cruel

(neither public nor private)

nually crying out, that


their

id

So things continued for a long time;

a sedition and

civil

war breaking out among

them, these wretches mutually inflicted on each


other those cruelties which

they had previously

exercised upon us, and thereby afforded us some


intermission of their fury."*

The freedom from


tians

now

nuance.

persecution, which the Chris-

experienced, was, indeed, of short conti-

On

the following year

their bitterest enemies,

by

ascended the throne

his bloody edicts, revived their

and that not only

Decius, one of

in Alexandria,

* Eusebius.

and,

former sufferings,
but throughout

886

DIONYSIUS.

To

the whole of his extensive empire.

heighten

the horrors of the persecution appears to have been

one of the principal employments of the magisduring the short reign of

trates,

this cruel tyrant.

Swords, wild beasts, iron chairs, racks for stretching the human body, and hooks for tearing

it,

were

instruments in high requisition against the Chris-

Every malignant passion was stimulated

tians.

promote their apprehension, and every


ingenuity

forth

called

punishment.

Numbers

effort

to

of

modes of

to invent fresh

of the Christians fled from

Alexandria to the neighbouring woods and mountains to avoid their assassins

whom were

several of

devoured by wild beasts, and others, being seized

by the Arabs and barbarous Saracens, were reduced


to the

many

trial

During

most abject slavery.

was

still

fied

God

apostatized from the faith

a glorious

(C

army of martyrs,
what

time of

but there

who

glori-

is

most remark-

their greatest enemies

were miracu-

in the fires;" and,

able,

some of

lously

and suddenly converted

Shortly

this

after

to Christianity.

the emperor's persecuting

arrived at Alexandria, Sabinus, the

Roman

nor, gave orders for apprehending Dionysius,


his life

The

was on

execute

supposing

this order,

must necessarily have absconded

of such imminent danger,

every where,

But

this occasion singularly preserved.

officer sent to

that he

edict

gover-

except in

made a

in

a time

diligent search

the bishop's

own

house,

where Dionysius continued four days after the commencement of the search but on the fifth day,
:

387

DIONYSIUS.

having received a special direction (we are informed) from God, he removed, accompanied by
his servants

He was

and many of the brethren.

soon, however, seized by a band of soldiers, and in

a short time again remarkably delivered by a com-

pany of drunken men, who, having* terrified the


guards, and insulted the bishop and his companions,

suffered

molestation.

them

Thus

to

without farther

depart

liberated from

their enemies,

they retired to a desert part of Libya, where they


lay concealed

till

the storm

was over.

In the year 251, the death of Decius abating


the violence of the persecution,

Dionysius again

returned to his Church, which he found, as might

be expected, considerably

diminished,

in

conse-

quence of the great numbers that had denied the


faith,

to

and lapsed into

remain

in the

He was

idolatry.

permitted

undisturbed possession of his see

for the five succeeding years;

he actively engaged himself


interests of his people,

during which period

in

promoting the best

and was, doubtless, an

incal-

culable blessing to them.

In the

mean time Dionysius was not an uncon-

cerned spectator of the schism of Novatus,* which

appears to have excited general


Eastern

churches,

Having heard

and as general

interest

in

the

dissatisfaction.

that he professed that he

had been

compelled, by some of his brethren, to the separa=

* See the reasons for calling him Novatus, and not Novatian ?
In the life of Cyprian, page 338.

388

DIONYSIUS.

Dionysius addressed to him the following;

tion,

f(

Dionysius sends greeting to our brother

Novatus.

If you have been ordained unwillingly,

letter:

as

you

tion

say,

for

it

make

it

appear by a voluntary resigna-

better to undergo any thing than to

is

Even martyr-

rend asunder the Church of God.

dom on

this

account would,

in

my opinion,

be more

For

glorious than for refusing to sacrifice to idols.


in the latter case a

man

suffers

soul; but in the former,

whole Church.

Now,

own

merely for his

for the welfare of the

you can oblige

therefore, if

or persuade the brethren to unanimity, your merit

no longer

would exceed your

defection.

be imputed

that will be applauded.

find

at

it

to

you

This

will

If

you

impracticable to draw over the disobedient,

any rate save your own

soul.

wish you to be

strong in the Lord, and studious of peace/'*

About the same time Dionysius was

also

engaged

in the controversy respecting the validity of heretical

baptism.

He

appears to have inclined to-

wards Cyprian's opinion

in considering

it

as void,

though he evidently manifested more temper and


moderation in the controversy than the prelate of
Carthage.

Dr. Cave, indeed, conceives, that

engaged more
to

Stephen

((

he

as a mediator than a party, writing

to use moderation

in the case; as

he

did also to Sixtus, his successor, and most other

bishops of that time/'f

In the year 257 the emperor Valerian, who, at

* Eusebius.

f Cave's Life of Dionysius.

389

DIONYSIUS.

commencement

the

of his reign, had been kind to

the Christians,, began to persecute them, and con-

tinued his opposition with such malignity for three

years and a half, that Dionysius considered him to

be the beast foretold

whom was

the Revelations

in

{<
;

to

given a mouth speaking great things

and blasphemies

and power

to continue forty

and

two months."*
In the

year of

first

Dionysius

this persecution

was brought before iEmilian, the prefect of Egypt,


and ordered to recant
At the same time it was
intimated to him, that his doing so might have a

good

on others.

effect

mands and the

man

worshipped. "

We

ec

to

be

Hear the clemency of the empe(c


;

you are

provided you return to a natural duty

who

com-

ought to obey God rather

worship God, who alone ought

rors/' rejoined the prefect

gods

tm?se

accompanying them,

insinuations

he boldly replied, "


than

Unmoved by

protect the empire

all
:

pardoned,

adore the

and forsake those

things which are repugnant to nature/* Dionysius


answered, " All men do not worship the same

gods; but merely such as they severally suppose


to

But we worship the One God, the

be gods.

Maker

of

all

things,

who gave

the empire to the

most clement emperors, Valerian and Gallienus;


and

to

Him we pour

prosperity

out incessant prayers for the

and permanence of

tion."

* Rev.

xiii. 5.

their

administra-

390

DtONYSltS.

But

it

was

fer to the

or

to

in vain for the holy prelate to re-

acknowledged loyalty of the Christians,

appeal to the

unalienable

science and private judgment.


right

rights

Destitute of

and

sentiments of religion,

indifferent

or fashion of the times might assume,

contemptuously exclaimed,

the reason

why you may

not

still

of your's, on supposition that he

junction with Our gods ?"


that

all

to

of worship which the supposed folly

the modes

fect

of con-

To

the pre-

What

ie

can be

adore that
is

God

a god, in con-

which, fully aware

no idolatrous worship could, without

guilt,

be

joined with that of the true God, the venerable

bishop exclaimed,

ec

The prefect then


Cephro, situated

We adore no other god*"*

banished him to a village called

in

one of the most comfortless

parts of the desert of Libya

and

at the

prohibited his holding any assemblies.

same time

Nor

could

Dionysius obtain a delay of a single day, though

he was then

in a

bad

state of health.

Eusebiiis*

391

DIONYSIUS.

CHAPTER
The persecution of Valerian,

II.

He taken prisoner.*
Alexandria
is

Galerius protects the Christians.


sively afflicted

by

civil

is

war, famine, and pestilence.

Dio/iysius's conduct on the occasion.


in which he was engaged.

The

succes-

The

controversies

His death.

bleak and dreary aspect of the country to

which Dionysius was banished, was no improper

emblem of

the state of

its

inhabitants.

an ignorant and brutish people

They were

wild as the beasts

prowled about their mountains, and unculti-

that

vated as the barren sands that surrounded them.

On

his

first

arrival they treated

him very roughly,

and pelted him with stones but, ere long, he was


made the means of civilizing their manners, and
converting several of them from idolatry to the
;

Christian faith.
in

And

thus, not at

Cephro

only, but

several other places, during his banishment, he

turned desolate wildernesses into gardens of the

Lord.

Nor,

in the

mean

time, could

all

the malice

and fury of the persecutors suppress the Christian


assemblies at Alexandria, during the absence of
their

beloved pastor;

abounded

by Him."

"

for,

as their sufferings

for Christ, so their consolations

abounded

392

DlONYSItfS.

In one of his letters, having referred to the suc-

which

cess

attended

his

Dionysius continues,

preaching at Cephro,

When

({

our ministry was

God removed us to another place.


when we were ordered to depart, I under-

here completed,

At

first,

took the journey

knew

with cheerfulness, although

not the place of our destination.

wards,

when

we were

heard

go

to

But

after-

to the neigh-

bourhood of Colluthio, they that were with me can


tell

what an

claim

to

it

rately,

effect

my

because

tute of brethren

it

At

was reported

to

and of good men

However,

mind.

pro-

grieved immode-

first

to disturbances of travellers,

robbers.

my

had upon

it

shame.

be a place

and

desti-

also exposed

and the incursions of

was greatly comforted upon

the brethren suggesting to

me

that,

though Cephro

had brought us many bishops out of Egypt, so that


we could hold large assemblies yet Colluthio, from
;

vicinity to the city,

its

quently to enjoy
friends

With such
did

the

And

this

so,

fre-

company of our beloved

and acquaintance, and

suburbs.

its

would enable us more

to hold assemblies in

indeed,

it

turned

out/*

and ingenuousness of mind


worthy bishop acknowledge his undue
simplicity

depression of

spirits,

and

his

subsequent consola-

tions.

In another
account of the
to

letter

he gives the following brief

afflictions

of others, which deserves

be transcribed as an evidence of the severity of

Valerian's persecution.

"

It is needless to specify

by name our numerous martyrs,

as you are not

393

DIONYSIUS.

acquainted with them.


to assure

It

may

suffice,

therefore,,

you, that persons of both sexes, and of

every age and condition, have been crowned as

conquerors
stripes,

in this

others

heard how

combat; some having endured

and Caius, and Faustus, and Peter,

I,

and Paul, when we were


and

You have

others the sword.

fire,

led

bound by a centurion

his soldiers, were seized by certain

men

of

But

at

Mareota, and drawn away by violence.


present

I,

and Caius, and Peter, being alone, and

separated from the rest of the brethren, are shut

up

a dreary and

in

Libya,

most uncomfortable part of

journey from
afterwards adds, " Some perthree

distant

being'

He

ParaBlontum."

sons have hid themselves

days'

in the city, that

may

they

Maximus, Dioscorus,
Paustinus and Aquila,

secretly visit the brethren; as

and Lucius, presbyters

for

being more generally known, wander up and down


in

Egypt.

All

the deacons died of the plague

God

except Faustinus, Eusebius, and Chaeremon.

empowered and strengthened Eusebius from


beginning diligentiy to attend
prison,

and

to

bury the bodies of the holy martyrs,

For the

not without imminent danger to himself.

governor to
those

who

this

in prisons

day ceases not

his cruelty

are brought before him

and torturing

others, or leaving

and

any person

to

the

to the confessors in

fetters.

them

towards

killing some,

to pine

away

At the same time he forbids

approach them, and

strictly

whether any one has been seen to do

enquires

so.

God,

394

D10NYSIUS.

however,

still

refreshes the afflicted

by the assiduous

and kind attention of the brethren.''*


Dionysius probably continued in banishment
the year 260,,

when

till

Valerian, having undertaken

an expedition against Sapor, king of Persia, was


vanquished, and carried in triumph to the capital

This cruel persecutor now

of the Persian empire.


learnt,

from

what

bitter experience,

it

was to be

power of a merciless tyrant.


Bound with chains, and, at the same time, invested
with the imperial purple, we are told, he was shewn
and that, whenas a spectacle of fallen greatness
given

up

to

the

ever the Persian monarch mounted his horse, he


placed his foot upon the neck of this royal captive.

At length, when Valerian sunk under the accumulated weight of years, shame, and grief, his skin
was stuffed with such materials as made it retain
the likeness of a

human

figure

and

in this state

was preserved for ages in one of the most celebrated temples of Persia.

The

accession

of Gallienus, the son and col-

league of Valerian, to the undivided government


of the empire, whilst

it

increased the general cala-

mities of his people, restored peace to the perse-

cuted Christians.

About the year 262 he published

edicts in their behalf;

and even condescended

to

send to the bishops letters of license to return to


their pastoral charges.

One

of these rescripts, as

* Eusebius.

395

DIONYSIUS.

preserved by Eusebius, runs thus: "


ror^

Caesar Publius Licinius Gallienus Pius Felix

Augustus, to Dionysius,

the

Demetrius,

Pinna,

We

the rest of the bishops.


that

The empeand

have commanded^

indulgence of our favour be published

throughout the whole world, and that

all

persons

withdraw from such places as are devoted

to reli-

For

gious uses.
to

make use of

this

purpose you are empowered

the authority of our rescript, that

no one may molest you.


is

you

lawful for

granted by
high

And

this,

indeed, which

been for some time

to execute, has

Wherefore Aurelius Cyrenius, the

us.

steward, will observe the rescript which I

have sent. "

By another

that the places in

edict the

emperor directed

which the Christians buried their

dead should be restored to them.

now

Dionysius, though
his people,

The

was

far

permitted to return to

from being

captivity of Valerian,

in

a place of safety.

and the insolence of

his

son, having relaxed the authority of the laws, the

abandoned them-

inhabitants

of Alexandria had

selves to the

ungoverned rage of their passions, and

converted their unhappy country into the theatre


of a

civil

war.

All intercourse

was cut

off

between

the several parts of the city, every street was polluted with blood, and every building of any strength

employed as a
in banishment,

citadel

so that Dionysius, as if

was forced

with his people by


tells us,

letters.

still

to transact all his affairs

"

It

was

safer/' as

he

" to travel from the East to the West than

from one part of Alexandria to another/*

396

DIONYSIUS.

This gloomy period of history was distinguished


by an awful assemblage of human calamities. The

war was followed by a severe


famine, the natural consequence of rapine and
oppression
which at the same time destroys the
present produce and the hope of a future harvest.
The famine was quickly succeeded by a dreadful
plague, which was partly the effect of scanty and
unwholesome food, though its extent and awful
scourge of

civil

ravages point out that other causes must have contributed to

During

it.

five successive

years the

pestilence continued, without interruption, through-

out every province,

Rome

and almost every family,

For some time 5000 persons died

of the empire.
daily in

city,

and several towns that had escaped

the ravages of the barbarians were entirely depopulated.

During
no means

this distressing season

inactive.

was abundantly

Now

Dionysius was by

his faith in

the Gospel

fruitful in those self-denying duties

and beneficent exertions which the Christian principles

can alone effectually and uniformly produce.

In imitation of
earth

displayed

his

Divine Master, whose

the most

life

on

perfect example of

all

human excellence, this benevolent prelate " went


about doing good." He was employed from day to
day in the twofold capacity of a physician for the

body and the

soul, for whilst

",

he bound up the

broken in heart and comforted those who mourned," he also in a literal sense " gave them medicine
to heal their sickness."

" The pure and undefiled

397

dionysius

which he possessed made him ready not

religion"

only

<c

and widows

to visit the fatherless

tious disease

and pining want, from which

were not willing to


work of mercy, fled
Alluding to

this

sacrifice

far

even

who

life itself, in this

awful season Dionysius remarks,

All places are full of lamentation,

is

a mourner.

and every one

Groanings are heard through the

on account of the multitude of corpses

city,

and the

all

away.

(S

whole

in their

but to attend the chambers of infec-

affliction,"

daily deaths."

He

afterwards adds,

<c

Many

of our brethren, through their excessive love and


brotherly affection, neglected themselves in conse-

quence of

their

whilst they

cleaving

to

another.

For

upon the

sick,

one

incautiously attended

and most

carefully ministered to them,

them

Christ,

in

they

and healed
with them,

willingly died

having brought the diseases of others upon themselves.

In this manner died the best of our bre-

thren

of

deacons,
people.
their

whom some were

presbyters,

some

and others the most esteemed of our


that their deaths, being occasioned by

So

eminent piety and constant

are not less

faith,

honourable than those of the martyrs."


Dionysius then remarks with what affectionate
care the Christians attended the funerals of their
friends, whilst the

Pagans

in the

same

city,

through

fear of receiving the infection, deserted and neg-

These are pleasing evidences of the


effects of Christianity, when really im-

lected theirs.
beneficial

planted in the heart of

its

professors.

<e

Non loqui-

398

DIONYSIUS.

mur magna,

sed vivimus,"*

the appropriate

is

motto of ever,y genuine believer.


During- the few

remaining years of

besides the daily care of his

own

his

life,

Church, Dionysius

was zealously engaged

in

with which the

some was corrupted. Sabel-

faith of

refuting several heresies,

lianism seems now, for the


its

appearance.

It

attempt to remove
trine

made

all

mystery from the sacred doc-

of the Personality of the Son and Spirit.

makes the following remarks on

Dionysius

dangerous heresy, in a

Many

fS
:

and disputations
opinion
polis,

time, to have

of the Trinity, by a confusion, or rather

denial,

Rome

first

consisted of a specious but vain

now

letter to

this

Xystus, bishop of

brethren have sent their books


writing to me, concerning the

in

agitated at Ptolemais, a city of Penta-

which contains much impiety and blasphe-

God and Father of our


and also much infidelity re-

mies against the Almighty

Lord Jesus Christ

specting His only begotten Son, the


of every creature, and the
lastly,

Holy

much
Spirit.

have sent them some

which, according to

given me,
I

begotten

incarnate; and,

ignorance relative to the

senseless
I

Word

first

the ability which

have written

at large

letters,

God

in

has

of which letters

forward you the copies."


In another

letter,

which he wrote

presbyter of the Church of

to

Philemon, a

Rome, he

refers to his

being favoured with a special revelation from God^

* Minucius Felix,

399

DIONYSIUS.

encouraging him to examine the different heresies


" I have read/' says he, " the works
of the day.
and traditions of the heretics; defiling my mind,
undoubtedly,

from them, that

and al<o

One

a while,

for

But then,

opinions.

with

execrable

their

have derived

this

advantage

can more easily confute them

an increasing detestation of them.

feel

of the brethren, a presbyter, would have dis-

suaded me from

course, fearing the

this

quence, and telling

conse-

me that my mind would be


am sensible he spoke truly.

defi'ed; and, indeed, I

Nevertheless,
mination,

was confirmed

ever comes to

examine and

to this effect

your hands,
try all things

for

and

occasion of your embracing the


gladly

my

original deter-

by a vision from heaven

commanded me

voice

in

in

'

which a

Read what-

you are able


this

faith.'

was the
I

to

first

therefore

received the vision, as agreeing with the

apostolical precept, directed especially to such as

are strong:

Some

Be ye

skilful

money

changers.' "*

expressions of Dionysins, during the Sa-

bellian controversy,

not being considered as well

guarded as they might have been, against the


opposite extreme of what was afterwards denomi-

nated Arianism, he published another short tract,


in

which he explained

and shewed that


the

error

his

his

sentiments more

views were not

of Sabellianism,

less clear

fully,

from

which confounds the

Persons, than that of Arianism, which divides the

* Eusebius.

400

DIONYSIUS.

This statement appeared satisfactory

substance.
to the

whole Church, and was allowed

to contain

the sense of the Christian Scriptures on that im-

portant subject.
Different ages have had their peculiar temptation* with regard to the doctrine of the

The

period in which Dionysius lived, and espe-

cially the

succeeding century, were distinguished

by subtle attempts
present,
less

Trinity.

it

explain this mystery

to

has but too justly been observed,

characterized by attempts to subvert

latter is

more dangerous

doubtless the

the

is

not

it.

evil f

The
but

both are pregnant with pernicious consequences.


It

were well

every Christian would receive the

if

grand doctrines of revelation, simply on the authority of their

Divine Author, ever bearing in mind,

that our religion

is

a sea which no

fathom, a mountain whose gigantic


excite our admiration, but
in everlasting clouds,

human line can


base may justly

whose summit

is

wrapped

which the eye of God Himself

can alone penetrate.

By

far the

most noted heretic in that day was

Paul of Samosata, who attempted

to

rob the Lord

Jesus Christ of His Divinity; and, indeed,


trinal sentiments

modern

may be

Besides his heretical notions,

Socinians.

Paul appears

to

have been

haughty and immoral conduct.


to the

he

is

his doc-

identified with those of the

notorious

for

his

In a circular letter

primitive churches throughout the empire

represented as most cruel and oppressive in

the discharge of his

episcopal
1

office

frequently

401

DIONYSIUS.
large

extorting

money from

sums of

opulent people, and converting to

his

more

his private

use

a considerable part of the revenue of the Church.

Nor were

his pride

and ostentation

less

conspi-

Tiie tribunal and throne

cuous than his extortion.

pomp

with

abject

multitude

which he

lie

had

erected,

paraded

the

streets,

solicited

his

ments

which he was continually engaged, gave

that

in

the
the

attention,

who

and the secular employ-

him rather the appearance of a


than of a primitive bishop.

civil

magistrate

In his addresses from

On

the pulpit his conduct was highly irreverent.


these occasions he frequently
trical

made use of

thea-

gestures and artifices, by which he called

forth extravagant acclamations of praise from


servile admirers,

who dared

to resist his

his vanity.

Thus was

power, or refused

an

instrument

tyranny.
life,

But

can conceive converted

of avarice,

office,

and

his sentiments,

became
and

Several councils were convened,

refutations of his errors published,

terminated

selfishness,

at length the irregularity of Paul's

and the heterodoxy of

intolerable.

to flatter

the most benign and holy

religion that imagination

into

his

whilst he publicly rebuked those

in his

which

at length

being degraded from the episcopal

by the joint suffrages of upwards of 70

bishops.*

Advanced age^ and increasing

infirmities pre-

rented Dionysius from attending on this occasion.

* See Eusebius.

2d

402

He
ing

DIONYSIUS.

wrote, however, to the assembled bishops, giv-

and manifesting

his advice,

his

abhorrence of

the conduct and sentiments of the heretic.

This

was the

who

last

public act of this servant of God,

died shortly after, in the J2th year of the reign of


Gallienus. and in the year of our Lord 265.
sincerely to be regretted that the accounts

It is

we have

of this venerable father are so short and

In consequence of his eminent wisdom

defective.

and attainments, Dionysius has not unfrequently


been

called the

and

zeal

great

give

honourable

title

been severely

and

his piety,

him an equal claim


of the good.

felt

especially by his

His

benevolence,
to

loss

by the Eastern Churches

own

at Alexandria, over

THE EXD.

St.

and

which he

had presided upwards of seventeen years.

Printed by J. and T. Clarke, 38,

more

the

must have

John's Square, London,

ERRATA.
Page 11, line 13, for day read days.
33, last line, for the cordiality read they cordially.
88, line 4, dele notwithstanding his youth.
98, line

1,

for the sin

of covet ousness read

sin through

covetousness.

234. line 13, for inwprtant read important.


267, line 21, for frequently read unfrequently.
'^12,

line 7, for in the first read in the first booh.

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