Million Book Collection - The Fishers of Men Ministries

THE THIRD AGE OF THE MARTYR CHURCH.339the Gnostics all agreed in this, that it was not ne-cessary or desirable to suffer martyrdom for thfaith. Their view was, that they couldwith their minds whatever they pleased, thoughan enemy might force them by threats of sufferingto utter with the mouth what they abhorred; andwith this convenient distinction they escaped imprisonment,poverty, bereavement, and death. Butthe Christian was bound-when the fitting circum-stances came-to repeat the confession of his Lordbefore Pilate. Joined therefore to his baptismalbelief, and to the utter change of life involved inhis conversion, was the bond of common sufferingwhich held together Christians as one Bodythroughout the world : whence an old martyrbishop said: u The Church, for that love which sheears to God, in every place and at every timesends forward a multitude of martyrs to theFather, whereas all the rest not only have nothing among themselves to show, but deemnot even such a witness necessary."17Moreover, as WNJ a t^ fourth JLV^ 1^-L U-UL cause, V>CAJ \A kJ \s*the historic originof their name and belief led them up to that dayof Pentecost when the descent of the Spirit of Godconstituted the formation of that body in belongingto which was all their hope and trust; withthe existence of which their faith was identified;in the communion of which their charity was engendered.As the birth and the life and the pas-17 S. Irenasus, lib. iv. 33 g.