IRENAEUS, PART 2.
SOME heathen servants, being seized, accused the Christians of eating human flesh, and of various unnatural crimes. This incensed the multitude to madness, and then was fulfilled the Lord’s word: “The time will come when whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.” The martyrs now sustained tortures which exceed the powers of description, Satan laboring thereby to extract something slanderous against christianity.
Four names stand out pre-eminent: Sanctus, of Vienne, a deacon; Matarus, a late convert; Attalus, of Pergamos, “the pillar and support of the church at Lyons.”
Blandina, a slave.
“Through this last one Christ sheaved, that those things, that appear contemptible among men, are most honorable in the presence of God, when love to His Name is exhibited in real energy, and not in boasting and pompous pretenses. . . . It was an evident refreshment, support, and an annihilation of all her pains, to say, ‘I am a Christian, and no evil is committed among us.’”
Sanctus, also, having sustained in a manner more than human the most barbarous indignities, would neither give his own name, nor that of his nation or state, nor say whether he was a freeman or slave; but to every interrogatory he answered in Latin: “I am a Christian.” “This, he repeatedly owned, was to him both name, and state, and race, and everything.” Having exhausted the usual methods they affixed brazen plates to the most tender parts of his body, and heated them red hot. His body was one continued bruise. In this man the view of Christ’s suffering wrought great marvels, confounded the adversary, and encouraged the brethren, chewing “that nothing is to be feared where the love of the Father is; and that nothing is painful where the glory of Christ is exhibited.” He survived these tortures, and was brought out to die with his companions on a day of the extraordinary shows, afforded to the people on account of the Christians.
On this day he and Maturus again underwent various tortures in the amphitheater, as though they had suffered nothing before. They sustained again, as they were led to execution, the blows usually inflicted on those condemned to the lions; they were exposed to be dragged and torn by the beasts, and to all the barbarities which the mad populace with shouts exacted; and, above all, to the hot iron chair, in which their bodies were roasted. But not a word could be extorted from Sanctus, besides those which he first had uttered— “I am a Christian.” They expired at length, more than conquerors through Him that loved them.
Blandina, on the same day, suspended from a stake, was exposed as food for the wild beasts, but none of them touched her. She was, therefore, taken down, and cast again into prison.
Attalus also was reserved, but from a different reason. He was led round the amphitheater preceded by a tablet with the inscription, “This is Attalus, the Christian.” The populace would have had him dispatched at once, but the Governor, understanding that he was a Roman, ordered him back to prison, until he should receive instructions from the Emperor.
During this interval many of those who had denied Christ, now dared to profess their Saviour, and approaching the tribunal, desired a fresh opportunity of being interrogated by the Governor.
Caesar sent orders that the confessors of Christ should be put to death, and that the apostates should be dismissed. Roman citizens had the privilege of being beheaded, the rest were to be exposed to wild beasts. And now was our Redeemer magnified in those who had apostatized. They were interrogated separate from the rest, as persons soon to be dismissed. To the surprise of the Gentiles, they confessed, and so were added to the list of martyrs. A small number remained in apostasy, but they were those who had not a spark of divine faith, and whose lives had brought reproach on Christianity.
During this examination a Phrygian physician, named Alexander, stood near the tribunal and by gestures encouraged those being questioned to profess the faith. The multitude, incensed by the courage of the lapsed, clamored against Alexander as the cause of their change. Upon this the Governor ordered him into his presence, and asked him who he was. He declared that he was a Christian. In great wrath the Governor instantly condemned him to wild beasts; and the next day he was brought forward, with Attalus. For the governor, willing to gratify the people, delivered Attalus, to the beasts. Alexander neither groaned, nor spake a word, but in his heart conversed with God. Attalus sitting on the chair, and being scorched, said to the multitude, “This, indeed, which ye do, is to devour men; but we devour not our fellow-creatures, nor practice any other wickedness.”
On the last day Blandina was again introduced, with Ponticus, a youth of fifteen. They had been brought in daily to see the punishment of the others. No pity was shown to the sex of the one nor the youth of the other. Their tortures were aggravated by all sorts of methods. Ponticus, animated by his sister, after a magnanimous exercise of patience, yielded up the ghost. Blandina, last of all, having endured stripes, the tearing of the beasts, the iron chair, —was enclosed in a net, and thrown to a bull. She was tossed for some time by the animal, but proved quite superior to her pains through the influence of hope, and the realizing views of Christ, and her fellowship with Him. She, too, at length breathed out her soul.
The sorrow of the Christians was augmented by being deprived of the melancholy satisfaction of burying, their friends. For the heathen burnt the bodies and scattered their ashes on the Rhone, that not the least particle of them might appear on earth any more. And this they did that they might deter others, as they said, from the hope of a future life, “on, which relying they introduce a strange and new religion, and despise the most excruciating tortures, and die with joy. Now let us see if they will rise again, and if their God can help them, and deliver them out of our hands.”
This, dear young readers, is a scene from the life of Irenaeus, and it is probable that the description of it was written by him. In my next I will tell you a little about himself and his work.
ML 08/30/1903