As we read from the comfort of our home computers with no challenge to our faith I ask you this simple question: Should God remove the religious liberty we currently enjoy, what price are you willing to pay to serve Him? Would you joyfully give up your life to be openly acknowledged as a Christian? I hope with eyes firmly fixed on heaven the answer is always and easily yes. I pray this series helps to confirm that reality in each of our lives.
Today's martyred saint is Polycarp and is also taken from John Foxe, as many will be, and is dealing with the persecution of the saints under the rule of the Roman Empire. This specific account was taken from the faithful recording of the ordeal by his own church.
In the time of... Marcus [Aurelius] a great number of them which truly professed Christ suffered most cruel torments and punishments, among whom was Polycarp, the worthy Bishop of Smyrna.
Three days before he was apprehended, as he was praying at night, he fell asleep, and saw in a dream the pillow take fire under his head, and presently consumed. Waking thereupon, he forthwith related the vision to those about him, and prophesied that he should be burnt alive for Christ's sake... When the persons who were in search of him... arrived late in the day, [they] found him gone to bed in the top room of the house, whence he might have escaped into another house, if he would; but this he refused to do saying, "The will of the Lord be done."
Hearing that they were come, he came down, and spoke to them with a cheerful and pleasant countenance: so that they were wonder-struck, who, having never known the man before, now beheld his venerable age and the gravity and composure of his manner, and wondered why they should be so earnest for the apprehension of so old a man. He immediately ordered a table to be laid for them, and exhorted them to eat heartily, and begged them to allow him one hour to pray without molestation; which being granted, he rose and began to pray, and was so full of the grace of God, that they who were present and heard his prayers were astonished, and many now felt sorry that so venerable and godly a man should be put to death.
When he had finished his prayers, wherein he made mention of all whom he had ever been connected with, small and great, noble and vulgar, and of the whole catholic Church throughout the world... they... brought him to the city. There met him the irenarch Herod, and his father Nicetes, who taking him up into their chariot, began to exhort him, saying, "What harm is it to say 'Lord Caesar,' and to sacrifice, and save yourself?" At first he was silent: but being pressed to speak he said, "I will not do as you advise me." When they saw that he was not to be persuaded, they gave him rough language, and pushed him hastily down, so that in descending from the chariot he grazed his shin. But he, unmoved as if he had suffered nothing, went on cheerfully, under the conduct of his guards, to the Stadium. There, the noise being so great that few could hear anything, a voice from heaven said to Polycarp as he entered the Stadium, "Be strong, Polycarp, and play the man." No one saw him that spake, but many people heard the voice. When he was brought to the tribunal, there was a great tumult as soon as it was generally understood that Polycarp was apprehended. The proconsul... counselled him to deny Christ, saying, "Consider thyself, and have pity on they own great age"; and many other such like speeches which they are wont to make: - "Swear by the fortune of Caesar" - "Repent" - "Say, 'Away with the Atheists.'"
The proconsul then urged him, saying, "Swear, and I will release thee; - reproach Christ."
Polycarp answered, "Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never once wronged me; how then shall I blaspheme my King, who hath saved me?"
The proconsul again urged him, "Swear by the fortune of Caesar."
Polycarp replied, "Since you still vainly strive to make me swear by the fortune of Caesar, as you express it, affecting ignorance of my real character, hear me frankly declaring what I am - I am a Christian - and if you desire to learn the Christian doctrine, assign me a day, and you shall hear."
Hereupon the proconsul said, "I have wild beasts; and I will expose you to them, unless you repent."
"Call for them," replied Polycarp; "for repentance for us is a wicked thing, if it is to be a change from the better to the worse, but a good thing if it is to be a change from evil to good."
"I will tame thee with fire," said the proconsul, "since you despise the wild beasts, unless you repent."
Then said Polycarp, "You threaten me with fire, which burns for an hour, and is soon extinguished; but the fire of the future judgment, and of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly, you are ignorant of. But why do you delay? Do whatever you please."
The proconsul sent the herald to proclaim thrice in the middle of the Stadium, "Polycarp has professed himself a Christian." [After failing to release a lion on Polycarp] they then unanimously shouted, that he should be burnt alive... The people immediately gathered wood and other dry matter from the workshops and baths...
When they would have fastened him to the stake, he said, "Leave me as I am; for He who giveth me strength to sustain the fire, will enable me also, without your securing me with nails, to remain without flinching in the pile." Upon which they bound him without nailing him. So he said thus: - "O Father, I bless thee that thou hast counted me worthy to receive my portion among the number of martyrs."
As soon as he uttered the word "Amen," the officers lighted the fire. The flame, forming the appearance of an arch, as the sail of a vessel filled with wind, surrounded as with a wall, the body of the martyr; which was in the midst, not as burning flesh, but as gold and silver refining in the furnace. We received also in our nostrils such a fragrance as proceeds from frankincense or some other precious perfume. At length the wicked people, observing that his body could not be consumed with the fire, ordered the confector to approach, and to plunge his sword into his body. Upon this such a quantity of blood gushed out, that the fire was extinguished.Therein Polycarp expired with no regret and eagerly met his Lord that day. Notice, he never lost his ability to be both gracious and pious. He was willing to fulfill the Great Commission up to his dying breath and yet was bluntly insistent on defending the Gospel and serving his God with all sincerity of heart. May we never be faced with such a persecution; yet, if the Lord wills it to be so may He grant us the grace of Polycarp and the innumerable number of martyrs that are with Him in heaven today. Laus Deo!
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