11.07.2015 Views

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS
  • No tags were found...

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

THE SECOND AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.299Trajan, and that <strong>of</strong> Justin by Eusticus, unde as it were <strong>of</strong> Marcus Aurelius and in hisnbody to us perfectly the mind and conductthose great emperors towards Christians. Thmarble <strong>of</strong> Phidias could present no moresculpture, the pencil <strong>of</strong> Apelles no more breathingpicture, than the simple transcription <strong>of</strong> the judi-d si veil above. In the mind <strong>of</strong> Mthe jealousy <strong>of</strong> the old Eoman for his country'sworship joined with the philosopher's dislike <strong>of</strong>Christian principles to move him from that moreequable temper which dictated the later moderation<strong>of</strong> his immediate predecessor. It scarcelyneeded the spirit which ruled at Eome to kindlepassionate outbreaks against Christians in the variouscities <strong>of</strong> the empire. We have just seen theimpassive majesty <strong>of</strong> Eoman law declaring at the<strong>of</strong> power that to be a Christian is a catal crime. If we go at the same time to Smythpopulace are demando that an agfed man venerable through the whfor his innocent life and his virtues, be castto the lions, because he is " the teacher <strong>of</strong> impietythe father <strong>of</strong> the Christians, the destroyer <strong>of</strong>gods, who has instructed many not to sthem or adore them."er scene amono-othe deeds <strong>of</strong> men is preserved to us, as describedby his own church at the time, than thmartyrdom <strong>of</strong> Polycarp, as after eighty-six yearf Christian service he stood bound at the st

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!