apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

434 EPISTLE OF S. POLYCARP.
himself a whole offering to God, by prayer and study of the scriptures,
by spareness of diet and simplicity of clothing, by liberal almsgiving.
He was bashful and retiring, shunning the busy throngs of men and
consorting only with those who needed his assistance. When he met
an aged wood-carrier outside the walls, he would purchase his burden,
would carry
it himself to the city,
and would give
it to the widows
living near the gate. The bishop Bucolus cherished him as a son, and
he in turn requited his love with filial care and devotion.
When he was of sufficient age, Bucolus ordained him deacon with
the approval of the whole church. As a deacon, he was rich in good
works and powerful in preaching, though such was his modesty that
Bucolus could with difficulty persuade him to speak in public. He
wrote many treatises and discourses and letters {o-vyypdfji/xaTa
koi d/xiXiat
Kol eTTLCTToXai),
which were destroyed by the heathen during the persecution
that arose upon his martyrdom but their character
; may be seen
from his extant writings, especially from his Epistle to the Philippians.
He also took care in his exhortations to recommend virginity, not as
a matter of necessity or of commandment, but as a state voluntarily
chosen and bearing the promise of a higher reward.
At length the time arrived when he should be promoted to a higher
office. His hairs were now whitening with his advancing years. His
age was sufficient, and his godly life was in advance of his age.
Bucolus therefore, seeing that he was a fit counsellor and fellow labourer,
ordained him presbyter to the great joy of the whole church,
but with much reluctance on his own part.
The moment came at length when Bucolus must leave this present
world. It had been foretold him more than once in visions that he
would have one like Polycarp
for his successor. At the hour of his
departure therefore he took hold of Polycarp's hand and pressed it
his own breast and face, to signify that the graces which reside in
these organs — the graces of heart and eyes and ears— were all committed
to him. This done, he cried ' Glory to thee, O Lord ',
and fell
asleep. After he was laid in his grave, the bishops gathered together
from the neighbouring cities, and the church was thronged with crowds
from the towns and villages round about. Then a glory of heavenly
light shone about them all, and wonderful visions were seen by certain
brethren. One beheld a white dove in a circle of light hovering over
the head of Polycarp ;
another saw him, before he had taken his seat,
as if seated already. To one he appeared to have the form of a soldier
and to be girded with a belt of fire ;
to another to be robed in purple,
his face gleaming with an unwonted light while to a
;
third, a holy virgin,
on