THE CHURCH-AND WHAT IT IS.

(Continued from page 274.)

In entering on the consideration of the third century, we must indeed say, that the darkness and obscurity increases. So many Christian truths were ready to die (Rev. iii.), so much was the gospel marred with philosophy and vain deceits, and, comparatively speaking, so general was become the profession of the Christian name, that it is no marvel we should find still fewer traces of a life of vital godliness amongst those who had a name to live. However, no doubt even then there was the remnant according to the election of grace whom the Lord had reserved to himself, as in the time of Elijah the prophet. The Roman empire had been thrown into the greatest confusion, and amidst the conflicting rivals for the throne Severus became the successful one. We have before mentioned him as the governor of Lyons during the persecution in the last century. Mr. Gibbon thus speaks of his general government: "Salutary laws executed with inflexible firmness soon corrected most of the abuses with which, since the accession of Commodus, every part of the government had been infected. In administration of justice the judgments of the emperor were characterized by attention, discernment, and impartiality; and whenever he deviated from the strict line of equity, it was generally in favour of the poor and distressed; not so much, indeed, from any sense of humanity, but from the natural propensity of a despot to humble the pride of greatness, and to sink all his subjects to the same common level of absolute dependance." During the first ten years of his reign he does not seem to have persecuted the Christians, but about the year 202 his former ferocity against them revived, and a most severe persecution followed. From the account given above of his general government, it is clear that this hostility to the Christians arose from enmity against the truth, and it clearly shows us what is to be expected from godless rulers, who may, in other respects, act prudently in their government; and it is most important to have this ever in remembrance. Severus commanded that the gospel should not be preached, and severely punished those who chose to obey God rather than man; and it was in Egypt more particularly that this persecution raged.

Among those that suffered at Alexandria was Leonidas, the father of Origen. He was for some time confined, and Origen, in the ardency of youth and false zeal, wished to join his father in his martyrdom, but was forcibly restrained by his mother. He was at last beheaded. It would seem that he endeavoured to instruct his son in the knowledge of the Scriptures, but he also allowed him to pursue the dangerous system of philosophy, on the quicksands of which it is to be feared that Origen

2 c

at last perished. The following judicious remarks of Milner are worthy of serious attention: "The penetrating genius of Origen led him in the course of his employment to investigate the sense of Scripture, and to ask his father questions beyond his ability to solve. The father checked his curiosity, reminded him of his imbecility, and admonished him to be content with the plain grammatical sense of Scripture which obviously offered itself, but inwardly rejoiced, it seems, that God had given him such a son.

And it would not have been amiss if he had rejoiced with trembling ; perhaps he did so; and Origen's early loss of such a father, who probably was more simple in Christian faith and piety than he himself ever was, might be an extreme advantage to him. Youths of great and uncommon parts, accompanied as is generally the case with much ambition and boundless curiosity, have often been the instruments of Satan in perverting divine truth; and it is not so much attended to as it ought to be by many truly pious and humble souls, that the superior eminence in parts and good sense of young persons whom they love and respect, is by no means a prognostic of the like superiority in real spiritual knowledge and the discernment of divine things. Men of genius, if they meet with encouragement, will be sure to distinguish themselves in whatever line of life they move. But men of genius, and even of very remarkable endowments, though sincere in Christianity, may not only in the practice but even in the perception of gospel truths be far outstripped by others who are naturally much their inferiors; because the latter are by no means so exposed to the crafts of Satan, are not so liable in their judgments to be warped from Christian simplicity, are more apt to look for understanding from above, and are less disposed to lean on an arm of flesh. We seem to discover, in the very beginning of Origen, the foundation of that presumptuous spirit which led him afterwards to philosophise so dangerously in the Christian religion, and never to content himself with plain truth, but to hunt after something singular and extraordinary." At his father's death he was seventeen years of age. His father's property was confiscated, but Origen was provided for in the house of a rich lady, where he continued the pursuit of his studies, and after a short time gave himself to the work of catechising, which had been stopped by the persecution. In this attendance upon the martyrs he encountered the greatest dangers.

He practised the greatest austerities of life, which much fostered that spirit of self-righteousness with which Origen seems to have been eaten up. The following are Milner's remarks of this part of Origen's life:— "A strong spirit of self-righteousness meeting with a secret ambition too subtle to be perceived by him who is the dupe of it, and supported by a natural fortitude of mind, and by the active exertion of great talents, hath enabled many in external things to seem superior in piety to men of real humility and self-diffidence, who, penetrating more happily into the genius of the gospel by the exercise of faith in the Son of God, and that genuine charity which is its fruit, are led into a course of con. duct, less dazzling indeed, but much more agreeable to the gospel." Again: "How much better had it been for him to have continued a

scholar for some time longer, and not to have feasted the pride of the human heart by appointing him a teacher. But the lively flow of genius seems to have been mistaken for great growth in Christian knowledge and piety." I have referred to these circumstances in the life of Origen, not that I can rank him amongst the church of Christ, but rather as an enemy of that church, for he was one of the greatest enemies employed at this time by that old serpent, the devil, to corrupt the word of God. When we consider the great flood of errors, fables, and superstitions, which was thus poured out to destroy the true church, it is indeed marvellous in our eyes that there is still a remnant left. But it was the Lord's own doing, and so it shall be done till the end come. Yes, even in this day, when floods of error of every description are sent forth, the Lord keeps a few faithful to Himself and to the testimony of His word. It would be useless to mention the names of those who suffered martyrdom, when we have nothing more to record of them; but amongst them was Potamiæna, a young and beautiful woman, who after suffering the greatest indignities, had boiling pitch poured upon her. Her conduct seemed to have softened the heart of Basilles, a soldier who presided at her execution, for some time after on his refusing to swear profanely he was accused as a Christian, and suffered martyrdom as such.

In Scillita, a city of Africa, in the province of Carthage, twelve persons were brought before Saturninus the Pro-consul, the chief of whom were Speretus, Marzal, and Citten; and three women, Donata, Secunda, and Vestina. When they came before him he said to them all, "You may expect the emperor's pardon if you return to your senses and observe the ceremonies of our gods." To which Speretus replied, "We have never been guilty of anything that is evil, nor been partakers of injustice. We have even prayed for those who persecute us unjustly, in which we obey OUR EMPEROR, who prescribed to us this

* Among his other extravagances was the making of himself a eunuch in order to escape temptation. At first the Bishop of Alexandria encouraged and commended him; afterwards. through the power of envy on account of his growing popularity, he published the fact abroad. However the bishops of Cæsarea and Jerusalem protected and supported him, and ordained him a presbyter in the church. He continued to keep the management of the school, and owing to his great love to secular and profane learning, he induced many philosophers to profess themselves Christians, and much fostered the philosophising spirit that had already been introduced into the professing church. Milner remarks: "No doubt Origen's success was great; but much I fear that, in return, the pure gospel suffered greatly by an admixture of Gentilism."

How common is this accusation made by the world against the Lord's renewed people, and not indeed without foundation. A manifested child of God has that in him which is born of the Spirit, which a natural man does not possess. A spiritual man, so to speak, has then a sixth sense, which must often lead him to act quite contrary to what the five common senses would generally do. Hence the charge of madness, folly, enthusiasm, so continually brought upon the children of God by those who are incapable of discerning their thoughts and actions.

rule of behaviour." Saturninus continued to urge them, but they persevered in refusing to swear by the genius of the emperor, and they were consequently ordered to be put into fetters and cast into prison. On the next being again brought before the governor, he said to the women, "Honour our prince and do sacrifice to the gods." Donata replied, "We honour Cæsar as Cæsar; but to God we offer prayer and worship." The whole of them, notwithstanding the threats, persevered in calling themselves Christians, and refusing to worship the emperor or the heathen gods; they were therefore condemned to be beheaded, and met their death joyfully, rejoicing in Christ Jesus. At Carthage four young catechumens were taken up, and also Vivia Perpetua, a lady of quality, about twenty-two years of age; she was married, and was then pregnant; and moreover, she had a young child at her breast. Her father, who was a Pagan, entreated her to give up her profession of being a Christian, and on her refusal treated her very roughly. They were cast into a dark prison, which, to Perpetua especially, who had been accustomed to the luxuries of life, was a great trial. Her concern for her infant was extreme; but she committed him to the care of her mother. At first she was much concerned for the troubles she had brought upon the family, but became more reconciled when she remembered in whose cause she suffered-and this turned her prison into a palace. Her father some time after came to the prison overwhelmed with grief, which, in all probability, was augmented by the reflections he had made on his own rough and angry behaviour to her at their last interview. "Have pity, my daughter," says he, "on my grey hairs; have pity on your father, if I was ever worthy of that name. If I myself have nurtured you to this age; if I have preferred you to all your brethren, make me not a reproach to mankind: respect your father and your aunt." These it seems were joined in the interests of Paganism, while the mother appears to have been a Christian, otherwise his silence concerning her seems scarcely to be accounted for. "Have compassion on your son, who cannot survive you; lay aside your obstinacy, lest you destroy us all; for if you perish we must all of us shut our mouths in disgrace." The old gentleman with much tenderness kissed her hands, threw himself at her feet, weeping and calling her no longer his daughter, but his mistress-the mistress of his fate! Perpetua, though inwardly torn with filial affection, would offer him no other comfort than to desire him to acquiesce in the divine disposal. The next day they were all brought into the court and examined in the presence of vast crowds. There the unhappy old man appeared with his little grandson, and taking Perpetua aside, conjured her to have some pity on her child. The procurator Hilarian joined in the suit, but in vain. The old man then attempted to draw his daughter from the scaffold. Hilarian ordered him to be beaten; and a blow which he received with a staff was felt by Perpetua very severely. Hilarian condemned them to be exposed to the wild beasts. They then returned cheerfully to their prison. Felicitas, one of the martyrs, was eight months gone with child; and seeing the day of the public

shows to be near, she was much afflicted lest her execution should take place before her delivery. Her companions joined in prayer for her three days before the spectacles; and she was with great difficulty delivered of a child. One of the door-keepers, who perhaps expected to have found in her a stoical insensibility, and heard her cries, said, "Do you complain of this? what will you do when you are exposed to the beasts? Felicitas answered with a sagacity truly Christian, "It is I that suffer now, but then there will be another with me that will suffer for me, because I suffer for his sake." Her new-born daughter was delivered to a Christian woman, who nursed it as her own.

On the day previous to the execution they converted their last meal into a kind of love-feast, and their friends were allowed to be present, and the keeper of the prison was himself converted. They talked to the people, and warned them to flee from the wrath to come: they pointed out to them their happy lot, and smiled at the curiosity of those who ran to see them.

"Observe well our faces," cries Satur, with much animation, "that ye may know them at the day of judgment." The Spirit of God was much with them on the day of trial: joy rather than fear was painted on their looks. Some idolatrous garments were offered them by the Pagans. "We sacrifice our lives," said they, "to avoid everything of this kind." The tribune desisted from his demand. They were scourged previous to being thrown to the beasts. Perpetua and Felicitas were stripped, put into nets, and exposed to a wild cow. spectators were shocked at the sight; for the one was an accomplished beauty, and the other had been recently delivered of a child. After having been torn, Perpetua seeing her brother, said to him, "Continue firm in the faith-love one another; and be neither frightened nor offended at our sufferings."

The

Thus were these martyrs added to the number of the faithful witnesses. There seems to be no doubt of the above narration, notwithstanding the many fictions and lies that have been added to the true account; but it was in this way that the devil and his children sought to give authority to the lies they introduced.

There seems no doubt that many suffered most severely during this time, and among them Irenæus, Bishop of Lyons, where the persecution was again revived. It would seem that some churches escaped persecution by paying sums of money not only to the magistrates, but also to the informers and soldiers, who were appointed to search them

out.

In the year 211, after a reign of eighteen years, the tyrant Severus died; and the Church found repose and tranquillity under his son and successor Caracalla, though a monster of wickedness. This mildness of Caracalla towards the Christians seems to have arisen from associations in early life with a Christian nurse and a Christian physician, otherwise he was of the most ferocious temper and ferocious manners: he reigned six years. In fact, it pleased God to give great quiet and rest to the Church for the space of near forty years from the death of Severus, with a very small exception. J W GOWRING.