Proconsul commanded the crier to proclaim, "Polycarp has confessed himself to be a Christian." On this the populace, composed of Jews and Heathens, furiously cried out, "This is the teacher of impiety, the father of the Christians; the man who is for putting down our gods, and who is teaching many not to offer sacrifice or worship to the gods.' The Asiarch Philip was urged by them to set a lion on Polycarp, which he refused, alleging that he had finished the games, so far as exposing to beasts was concerned, and that therefore he had it not in his power. The general cry then was that he should be burned; and the multitude, among whom the Jews, as usual, especially distinguished themselves, although it was their sabbath, hastily got together wood and faggots from the workshops and the baths. A pile was soon raised, and Polycarp placed in the midst of it. All being ready, he stript himself for his last struggle; but for a long time he was unable to unloose his sandals, from the interruption of the faithful, who eagerly ran up to touch the body of the holy martyr.

When the faggots had been arranged around him, they were going to nail him to the stake; but he requested them to omit this part, saying, "Leave me

as

I am, for He that granteth me to endure the fire, will grant me to stand unmoved amid the pile without the security of your nails." They indulged him so far as only to bind him. In this position he offered up the following prayer :

"O Lord God Almighty, Father of Thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, through whom we receive the knowledge which telleth of thee, O God of angels, and powers, and of all the creation, and of all the family of the just, who live in Thy presence: I bless Thee that Thou hast thought me worthy of this day and hour, so that I should be a partaker in the number of Thy witnesses, in the cup of Thy Christ, unto the resurrection of everlasting life, both of soul and

body, in the incorruption of the Holy Spirit. Amongst whom may I be accepted before Thee this day, through a fat and acceptable sacrifice, according as Thou hast beforehand prepared, and manifested, and hast fulfilled, even Thou the unfailing and true God. On this account, and for all things also, I praise Thee, I bless Thee, I glorify Thee, together with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son: with whom, to Thee and the Holy Spirit, be glory now and for ever. Amen."

The fire was then lighted around him, and, when it had risen into a vast flame, swelling out on all sides like a sail, it encircled the martyr as it were in a chamber of fire, where his body remained unconsumed, like gold in the furnace. At the same time an exquisite fragrance, as of frankincense and other spices, issued forth, to the great comfort and delight of his flock. On seeing the resistance which his body offered to the flames, his impatient enemies ordered him to be run through with sword. The quantity of blood issuing from the wound was so great as to quench the fire. Thus the body was preserved; but his followers were not to have the satisfaction of paying it the last honours. It was denied to them, owing to the malicious misrepresentations of the Jews, who suggested that the Christians would forsake their crucified God, and worship him. The centurion placed it in the midst of the fire, and burnt it. The Church, however, gathered his bones, and reverently laid them up, as a treasure more precious than gems, in a place where they afterwards annually met, and celebrated this his birthday into everlasting life with joyful solemnities, in pious memory of those who had fought the good fight, and to the preparation and exercise of those who were to follow their example. This day was the 25th of April.

Thus the prince of this world extinguished the last lamp which had been kindled from the light of the living Apostles, and the Church lost a witness, who

had upheld her claims in her most difficult trials. But he bequeathed to her a school of well-trained champions to continue the victorious fight against fraud and error.-From Evans's Biography of the Early Church.

PRAYER FOR A BLESSED RESURRECTION TO ETERNAL LIFE.

ALMIGHTY GOD, whose works are great and marvellous, whose ways are just and true; Thou art infinite in power, and therefore nothing is impossible to thee; Thou art abundant in goodness and truth, and therefore whatever Thou hast promised shall come to pass. Fit and prepare me, O Lord, by the assistance of Thy grace, for that blessed immortality of body and soul, which Thou hast made the portion of all those that love and fear Thee. Let me never defile my body by sensual and brutish lusts, since Thou hast designed to make it immortal and incorruptible. Let me never sink under the burthen of my present infirmities and miseries; since Thou hast graciously promised to reward my patience and submission with a glorious body, no more liable to pains, or diseases, or dissolution. Let me not immoderately grieve for those friends and relations that sleep in the Lord, because they shall awake at the last day in greater perfection and glory. Let not the thoughts of death be any longer uneasy to me, for that it reduceth my body to dust; I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand upon the earth at the last day; and though after my skin, worms destroy my body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Oh, let these great and precious promises so influence my life and conversation, that I may escape the corruption that is in this world through lust, and by purifying myself as Thou art pure, may partake of the divine nature in Thy heavenly kingdom, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Saviour. Amen.-Nelson.

THE EVENING OF THE CHRISTENING.

"WHAT a blessing it is," said Henry Masham, the schoolmaster at Brunton, to the friends who were drinking tea with him one fine Sunday evening last summer. "What a blessing it is, to be able to believe that one's own dear infant is made by Baptism ' a member of Christ, a child of God, and an inheritor of the kingdom of ·

9 39

Here a knock was heard at the door, which cut off the last word of Harry's happy and thankful exclamation.

He immediately opened the door, and Robert Warburton came in: he was on his road, he said, from Emerton Church, and thought he would just call to see how Mrs. Masham was and the baby.

This was kindly taken, and Robert was pressed to stay, and take tea; "for we have but just begun,” said Martha Masham, "and it's a good step from Emerton to Brayford."

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"but I

"Yes it is a good step," said Robert, ought not to mind taking many a good step to hear the Gospel preached with such faithfulness and unction, as one may always reckon on from Mr. Volatt. I do wonder, Masham, how you can go on Sunday after Sunday listening to such a preacher as Mr. Stockton." Why, in the first place, Robert, I think Mr. Stockton a good preacher, because his matter is good: I am sure I have learnt a great deal from him, that I hope will do me good as long as I live: and as to manner, one soon gets over that. Mr. Stockton can't alter his voice, which is both bad and weak, certainly. However, you may be sure that if I did think him a bad preacher, I should stick to my own parish church, where I was baptized, and my father before me."

"And where my own dear girl that's gone lies buried, in the churchyard," added Martha, with a tear in her eye.

"Yes, Martha," said Henry kindly.

"And where

the dear little boy that God has since given us has been baptized. You must know, Robert, this is a christening feast. . . a fine feast perhaps you may think : here, take some of Martha's plum bun. That's right: take two bits."

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Do, Mr. Warburton," said Martha, "there's another you see at the fire, and I believe I can find a third in the cupboard."

Robert, being pressed in this hospitable way, took the two bits, and having said that he was a lucky man indeed to drop in on that Sunday of all Sundays in the year, he added: "But as to this matter of Baptism, I remember what you said to me last year, William, when you stood godfather for Charles Kirby's boy. I suppose you and Mrs. Harmsby have been standing for Masham's boy to-day."

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'Yes, and this is my cousin from Toft, who is the other godfather; you perhaps remember him, Mr. Warburton."

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'Oh, yes but it's a many years since I saw him. I hope you're well, Mr. John: and where do you live now?"

"I still live at Burfield, Mr. Warburton; but what was it that my cousin William said last year?"

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Why I was sorry to hear him say, that a child is regenerated in Baptism. I'm sure, Masham, you know the Gospel better than to think that a few drops of water sprinkled on a child's face can regenerate it.' I hope so, indeed, Mr. Warburton.'

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"That's right; I'm glad to hear you say that, Masham, for you're rather stiff in some things: people say you have oddish opinions on some points, for a scholar like you."

"Indeed, do they? You must tell them, I'm afraid, that one of these is, that I believe Baptism to be the new birth of a Christian."

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'Nay, Masham, you just said that you did not believe that you must know that regeneration and