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Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

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298 THE SECOND AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.gods. Justin replied : No one <strong>of</strong> right mind desertspiety to fall into error and impiety. <strong>The</strong>Prefect Rusticus said: Unless you be willing toobey our commands, you will suffer torments withoutmercy. Justin answered : What we most desireis to suffer tormentsfor our Lord Jesus Christand to be saved : for this will procure for us salvationand confidence before that terrible tribunal<strong>of</strong> the same our Lord and Saviour, at which bydivine command the whole world shall attend.<strong>The</strong> same likewise said all the other martyrs, adding: What thou wilt do, do quickly; for we areChristians and sacrifice not to idols." <strong>The</strong> Prefect hearing this pronounced the followingsentence: Let those who have refused tosacrifice to the gods, and to obey the emperor'sedict, be beaten with rods, and led away to capitalpunishment, as the laws enjoin. And so the holymartyrs praising God were led to the accustomedace, and after being beaten were struct with theaxe, and consummated their martyrdom in theconfession <strong>of</strong> the Saviour. After which certain <strong>of</strong>the faithful took away their bodies, and laid themin a suitable place, by the help <strong>of</strong> the grace <strong>of</strong> ourLord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever anever."As the pillars <strong>of</strong> Trajan and Antonine faithfullyrecord the deeds <strong>of</strong> those whose names theybear, and stand before posterity as a visible history,so, I conceive, the judgment <strong>of</strong> Ignatius by

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