apostolicfathers0201clem - Carmel Apologetics

LETTER OF THE SMYRNyEANS. 615
notably at the martyrdoms of Savonarola' and of Hooper^. Again
there is the sweet scent, as of incense, issuing from the burning pyre
(§ 15) ;
but this phenomenon also, however we may explain it, whether
from the fragrance of the wood or in some other way, meets us constantly
^ In another early record of martyrdoms, the history of the
persecutions at Vienne and Lyons, a little more than twenty years later,
we are told (Euseb. H. E. v. i, § 35) that the heroic martyrs, as they
stepped forward to meet their fate, were ' fragrant with the sweet odour
of Christ, so that some persons even supposed that they had been
anointed with material ointment' ((jcrre evtous 8d^at kox /xvpu) Koa-fxiKia
Ke)(pLa6aL avTov). Yet there was no pyre and no burning wood here,
so that the imagination of the bystanders must have supplied the
incident. Indeed this account of the Gallican martyrs, indisputably
occurrences than
written by eyewitnesses, contains many more startling
the record of Polycarp's fate.
3.
More or less closely connected with the miraculous element
is the prophetic insight attributed to Polycarp. But what does this
amount to It is stated indeed that 'every word which he uttered
was accomplished and will be accomplished' (§ 16).
But the future
tense, 'will be accomplished,' is itself the expression of a beHef, not
the statement of a fact. We may indeed accept this qualification as
clear testimony that, when the narrative was written, many of his forebodings
and predictions had not been fulfilled. The only example
of a prediction actually given in the narrative is the dream of his
burning pillow which suggested to him that he would undergo martyrdom
by fire. But what more natural than this presentiment, when persecution
was raging around him and fire was a common instrument of death.
I need not stop here to discuss how far a prescience may be vouchsafed
to God's saints. Even ' old experience ' is found to be gifted with
^
See Villari Savonarola and his Times midst of the mass of flame to bless the
(Eng. Trans.) 11. p. 362 'A blast of wind people who were burning him.'
diverted the fire for some time from the
^
Foxe Acts and Monuments vi.
658 (ed. Cattley) At ' length it burned
p.
three bodies, upon which many fell back
in terror, exclaiming A viiracle, a miracle. about him, but the wind having full
But the wind soon ceased; the bodies of strength in that place (it was a cold and
the three friars w ere enveloped in fire it ; lowering morning) blew the flame from
and the people again closed around them. him, so that he was in a manner no more
The flames had caught the cords by but touched by the fire.' The fire was
which the arms of Savonarola were three times lighted before it took effect.
pinioned, and the heat caused the hand to ^
See an article by A. Harnack in
move; so that, in the eyes of the faithful Zcitsckr.f. Kirclicngcsch. II. p. 29 1 sq.
he seemed to raise his right hand in the