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THE DYING CHRISTIAN.

SECTION I.

The Christian Martyrs.

PATRIOTS have toil'd, and in their country's cause
Bled nobly; and their deeds, as they deserve,
Receive proud recompense. We give in charge
Their names to the sweet lyre; the' historic muse,
Proud of the treasure, marches with it down
To latest time; and sculpture, in her turn,
Gives bond in stone and ever-during brass
To guard them, and to'immortalize her trust
But fairer wreaths are due, though never paid,
To those, who, posted at the shrine of Truth,
Have fallen in her defence.

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In confirmation of the noblest claim-
Our claim to feed upon immortal truth,
To walk with God, to be divinely free,
To soar and to anticipate the skies!

Yet few remember them. They lived unknown,
Till persecution dragg'd them into fame,

And chased them up to heaven. Their ashes flew
-No marble tells us whither. With their names
No bard embalms and sanctifies his song!

And history, so warm on meaner themes,

Is cold on this. She execrates indeed

The tyranny that doom'd them to the fire,

But gives the glorious sufferers little praise.-CowPER.

THE history of Christian martyrdom at once illustrates the depth of man's depravity, and the richness and power of Divine grace. The first three centuries of the Christian era was an age illustrious for the persecutions suffered by Christians, no less than for the signal triumphs of Christianity. In the ten persecutions that mark that age, the millions that suffered for the cause of Christ will never be numbered on earth. The variety and cruelty of their torments almost tran

scend the power of belief. Robanus thus enumerates the modes of torture they suffered: "Some were slain with the sword; some burnt with fire; some scourged with whips; some stabbed with forks of iron; some fastened to the cross or gibbet; some drowned in the sea; some had their skins plucked off; some their tongues cut off; some stoned to death; some killed with cold; some starved with hunger; some their hands cut off, or otherwise dismembered, have been so left naked to the open shame of the world." The very refinement of cruelty seemed to have been attained under Nero. He had some sewed up in the skins of wild beasts, and then worried by dogs till they expired. He had others dressed in garments made stiff with wax, fastened them to axle-trees in his gardens, and then set them on fire. In the persecution under Domitian, racking, searing, broiling, burning, scourging, and worrying, were resorted to. Some were torn piecemeal with redhot pincers, and others thrown upon the horns of wild bulls. In other persecutions, many were obliged to walk, with their already wounded feet, naked, upon thorns, nails, and sharp shells. Others were scourged till their sinews and veins lay bare, and after suffering the most excruciating tortures, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths. But Saint Augustine says of all these martyrs, that diverse and terrible as were their deaths, their constancy and firmness were one. These were they who "had trial of cruel mockings, and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonments; they were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword; they wandered about in sheepskins and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented; they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." By these sufferings did they "declare plainly, that they sought a country "-a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

In all these persecutions, they realized the fulfilment of the words of their Lord, "Ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake." But in the severest and most fearful conflict, the consolations of the Gospel sustained them; and the crown of glory now constitutes their eternal and abundant reward.

The martyrs are an innumerable host. In almost every land has their blood been shed; and in almost every clime have the slaughtered followers of our Lord borne witness to the truth, that religion is better than life. On earth, the Church will hold them in everlasting remembrance; in heaven, their souls yet cry from beneath the altar, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth!"

1. OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

THE first martyr to Christianity was Christ himself. After closing his public ministry in Jerusalem, he celebrated the Passover with his disciples, and instituted that sacred rite which was to be observed by his followers as a perpetual memorial of himself. Conscious that his end was drawing nigh, he predicted the events that were to happen to him, and continued till a late hour to instruct and console his disciples-holding up before them his own love for them as an example of the affection that should ever unite their hearts together. The affecting and impressive scene was closed by a fervent and solemn prayer to the Father, in behalf of his followers in the world. This being concluded, the whole company, with the exception of Judas, who had already gone away to betray his Master, went forth to the Mount of Olives. Then exclaimed he to his disciples, "All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is

written, I will smite the shepherd and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad." Though they all protested that though they should die with him, yet would they not deny him; yet he, knowing the weakness of human courage, said to the boldest and most confident of them, "Verily I say unto thee, that this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice."

They then entered into Gethsemane, a garden beyond the brook Kidron, where he had often resorted with his disciples. Having entered the garden, he said to the disciples, "Sit here while I go and pray yonder." Then taking with him Peter, and James, and John, he said, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even unto death; tarry ye here and watch with me. And he went a little farther, and fell on his face and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Returning to the disciples, he found them asleep, and said to Peter, "Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch. with me one hour?" Again he went away and prayed in the same language. On returning, he found them again asleep, for their eyes were heavy; and they were perplexed what to answer him. And the third time he went away and prayed, saying, "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done." "And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was, as it were, great drops of blood falling down to the ground." Rising from prayer, he returned a third time to his disciples and found them again asleep. Then said he to them, "Behold the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners; he is at hand that doth betray me."

And while he was yet speaking, Judas, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and

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