Foxs Book of Martyrs | Page 9

favour.
Adrian dying A. D. 138, was succeeded by Antoninus Pius, one of the
most amiable monarchs that ever reigned, and who stayed the
persecution against the Christians.
The fourth persecution, under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, A. D. 162.
This commenced A. D. 162, under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Philosophus, a strong pagan.
The cruelties used in this persecution were such, that many of the
spectators shuddered with horror at the sight, and were astonished at
the intrepidity of the sufferers. Some of the martyrs were obliged to
pass, with their already wounded feet, over thorns, nails, sharp shells,
&c. upon their points, others were scourged till their sinews and veins

lay bare, and after suffering the most excruciating tortures that could be
devised, they were destroyed by the most terrible deaths.
Germanicus, a young man, but a true christian, being delivered to the
wild beasts on account of his faith, behaved with such astonishing
courage, that several pagans became converts to a faith which inspired
such fortitude.
Polycarp, the venerable bishop of Smyrna, hearing that persons were
seeking for him, escaped, but was discovered by a child. After feasting
the guards who apprehended him, he desired an hour in prayer, which
being allowed, he prayed with such fervency, that his guards repented
that they had been instrumental in taking him. He was, however,
carried before the proconsul, condemned, and burnt in the market-place.
Twelve other christians, who had been intimate with Polycarp, were
soon after martyred.
The circumstances attending the execution of this venerable old man, as
they were of no common nature, so it would be injurious to the credit
of our professed history of martyrdom to pass them over in silence. It
was observed by the spectators, that, after finishing his prayer at the
stake, to which he was only tied, but not nailed as usual, as he assured
them he should stand immoveable, the flames, on their kindling the
fagots, encircled his body, like an arch, without touching him; and the
executioner, on seeing this, was ordered to pierce him with a sword,
when so great a quantity of blood flowed out as extinguished the fire.
But his body, at the instigation of the enemies of the gospel, especially
Jews, was ordered to be consumed in the pile, and the request of his
friends, who wished to give it christian burial, rejected. They
nevertheless collected his bones and as much of his remains as possible,
and caused them to be decently interred.
Metrodorus, a minister, who preached boldly; and Pionius, who made
some excellent apologies for the christian faith; were likewise burnt.
Carpus and Papilus, two worthy christians, and Agathonica, a pious
woman, suffered martyrdom at Pergamopolis, in Asia.
Felicitatis, an illustrious Roman lady, of a considerable family and the

most shining virtues, was a devout christian. She had seven sons, whom
she had educated with the most exemplary piety.
Januarius, the eldest, was scourged, and pressed to death with weights;
Felix and Philip, the two next had their brains dashed out with clubs;
Silvanus, the fourth, was murdered by being thrown from a precipice;
and the three younger sons, Alexander, Vitalis, and Martial, were
beheaded. The mother was beheaded with the same sword as the three
latter.
Justin, the celebrated philosopher, fell a martyr in this persecution. He
was a native of Neapolis, in Samaria, and was born A. D. 103. Justin
was a great lover of truth, and a universal scholar; he investigated the
Stoic and Peripatetic philosophy, and attempted the Pythagorean; but
the behaviour of one of its professors disgusting him, he applied
himself to the Platonic, in which he took great delight. About the year
133, when he was thirty years of age, he became a convert to
christianity, and then, for the first time, perceived the real nature of
truth.
He wrote an elegant epistle to the Gentiles, and employed his talents in
convincing the Jews of the truth of the christian rites; spending a great
deal of time in travelling, till he took up his abode in Rome, and fixed
his habitation upon the Viminal mount.
He kept a public school, taught many who afterward became great men,
and wrote a treatise to confute heresies of all kinds. As the pagans
began to treat the christians with great severity, Justin wrote his first
apology in their favour. This piece displays great learning and genius,
and occasioned the emperor to publish an edict in favor of the
christians.
Soon after, he entered into frequent contests with Crescens, a person of
a vicious life and conversation, but a celebrated cynic philosopher; and
his arguments appeared so powerful, yet disgusting to the cynic, that he
resolved on, and in the sequel accomplished, his destruction.
The second apology of Justin, upon certain severities, gave Crescens

the cynic an opportunity