6 THE SABBATH. 



Quadratus. 'I will reason with you,' replied Polycarp, 

 * because our precepts oblige us to show respect to 

 those in authority ; but I refuse to plead my cause 

 before a mob.' His resolution was made known to the 

 crowd, who shouted for the lions. They were informed 

 that for that day the beasts had finished their work. 

 ' To the flames, then ! ' cried the people ; and the aged 

 man was led to the stake. There he publicly thanked 

 God for admitting him amongst those who had suffered 

 death for his name. The fate of Polycarp reminds one 

 of that of the Jew Eleazar, described in the sixth 

 chapter of the Second Book of Maccabees. The Apo- 

 crypha, I would remark, ought to be bound up with all 

 your Bibles ; it COD tains much that is beautiful and 

 wise, and there is in history nothing finer than the 

 description of Eleazar's end. 



The fortitude of the early Christians gained many 

 converts to their cause ; still, when the evidential value 

 of fortitude is considered, it must not be forgotten that 

 almost every faith can point to its rejoicing martyrs. 

 Even the murderers of Polycarp had a faith of their 

 own, the imperilling of which by Christianity spurred 

 them on to murder. From faith they extracted the 

 diabolical energy which animated them. The strength 

 of faith is, therefore, no proof of the objective truth of 

 faith. Indeed, at the very time here referred to we 

 find two classes of Christians equally strong Jewish 

 Christians and Gentile Christians who, while dying 

 for the same Master, turned their backs upon each 

 other, mutually declining all fellowship and communion. 

 The forces which, acting on a large scale, had differen- 

 tiated Christianity from paganism, soon made them- 

 selves manifest in details, producing disunion and 

 opposition among those whose creeds and interests 

 were in great part identical. Struggles for priority, 



