apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

454 EPISTLE OF S. POLYCARP.
fessed himself a Christian.
mixed throng of Jews and Heathens.
A howl of savage vengeance arose from the
They
cried to the Asiarch to let
a lion loose upon him. This Philip declined to do, for the festival had
lasted some days and these sports were now over. Then they clamoured
that he should be burnt alive.
Three days before his apprehension he
had dreamed that his pillow was on fire, and this dream he had interpreted
as foretelling the manner of his death. His vision was now to
be fulfilled.
Timber and faggots were hastily gathered together from the workshops
and the baths — the Jews working with exceptional
zeal at this
unholy task. The pyre was heaped up ;
the old man threw aside his
cloke and girdle ;
he tried also to take off his shoes, but his strength
failed him ;
he had long been accustomed to depend on the eager aid
of those around him for such kindly ofifices. The executioners would
have nailed him to the stake, but at his own request they desisted, and
he was tied with cords. To the simple bystanders, who afterwards
narrated the incident, he seemed like some goodly ram, the leader of
the flock, bound and ready for sacrifice. Then he offered his last
prayer — words of praise and thanksgiving that God had deigned to
accept him that day as a sacrifice well-pleasing to Himself
No sooner had he uttered the final Amen, than the fire was lighted
and blazed up. Then the bystanders witnessed a marvellous occurrence.
The fire arched itself around him, like the bellying sail of a ship ;
and
he appeared in the centre, like precious metal in the refiner's furnace.
At the same time a fragrant scent was perceived, as of costly spices.
At length, seeing that the fire refused to do its work, they called for
the officer of the arena whose duty
it was to despatch wounded or
dangerous beasts, and bade him thrust a dagger into the old man. To
the marvel of the spectators a quantity of blood flowed from the wound,
sufficient to extinguish the flames.
The Christian brethren were anxious to secure the remains of the
martyred victim, but they were thwarted in their wishes. The Jews,
here as ever, were their chief enemies. Guarding the body, they
induced Nicetes to intercede with the proconsul that it might not be
surrendered, 'lest the Christians, abandoning the worship of the crucified
one, should begin to adore this man'. 'They knew not', say the
narrators, ' that we can never either desert the Christ or worship any
other'. The centurion therefore placed the body in the centre of the
flames, and it was consumed. Then the brethren gathered up the bones,
more precious than jewels, and laid them in a suitable place, where
they might year by year celebrate the day of the martyr's heavenly