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III.
And there were also some who, after the tortures,
were placed upon the stocks and had both their feet stretched through
all the four holes, so that they were compelled to lie on their back on
the stocks, as they were unable (to stand) in consequence of the fresh
wounds they had over the whole body from the scourging. And
others being thrown upon the ground lay prostrated there by the
excessively frequent application of the tortures; in which condition
they exhibited to the onlookers a still more dreadful spectacle than
they did when actually undergoing their torments, bearing, as they did,
on their bodies the varied and manifold tokens of the cruel ingenuity
of their tortures. While this state of matters went on, some died
under their tortures, putting the adversary to shame by their
constancy. And others were thrust half-dead into the prison,
where in a few days, worn out with their agonies, they met their
end. But the rest, getting sure recovery under the application of
remedies, through time and their lengthened detention in prison, became
more confident. And thus then, when they were commanded to make
their choice between these alternatives, namely, either to put their
hand to the unholy sacrifice and thus secure exemption from further
trouble, and obtain from them their abominable sentence of absolution
and liberation,1321
| 1321
τῆς
ἐπαράτου
ἐλευθέρίας. | or else to
refuse to sacrifice, and thus expect the judgment of death to be
executed on them, they never hesitated, but went cheerfully to
death. 1322
| 1322
[It is impossible to accept modern theories of the
inconsiderable number of the primitive martyrs, in view of the
abounding evidences of a chronic and continuous persecution always
evidenced by even these fragments of authentic history. See vol.
iv. p. 125.] | For they
knew the sentence declared for us of old by the Holy Scriptures:
“He that sacrificeth to other gods,” it is said,
“shall be utterly destroyed.” 1323
And again 1324
“Thou shalt have no other gods
before Me.” 1325
| 1325
Eusebius, after quoting these passages, adds:—“These
are the words of a true philosopher, and one who was no less a lover of
God than of wisdom, which, before the final sentence of his judge, and
while he lay yet in prison, he addressed to the brethren in his church,
at once to represent to them in what condition he was himself, and to
exhort them to maintain steadfastly, even after his speedy death, their
piety towards Christ.”—Tr. | E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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