“The Church of God, which is in Smyrna, to the Church in Philomela, and to all the branches [Greek:  paroikais] {92} of the holy Catholic Church dwelling in any place, mercy, peace, and love of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ be multiplied.” [Book i.  Hist. iv. c. xv. p. 163.]

“The Proconsul, in astonishment, caused it to be proclaimed thrice, Polycarp has confessed himself to be a Christian.  On this they all shouted, that the Proconsul should let a lion loose on Polycarp.  But the games were over, and that could not be done:  they then with one accord insisted on his being burnt alive.”

Polycarp, before his death, offered this prayer, or rather perhaps we should call it this thanksgiving, to God for his mercy in thus deeming him worthy to suffer death for the truth, “Father of thy beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, by whom we have received our knowledge concerning thee, the God of angels and power, and of the whole creation, and of the whole family of the just, who live before thee; I bless thee because thou hast deemed me worthy of this day and this hour to receive my portion among the number of the martyrs, in the cup of Christ, to the resurrection both of soul and body in the incorruption of the Holy Ghost; among whom may I be received before thee this day in a rich and acceptable sacrifice, even as thou, the true God, who canst not lie, foreshowing and fulfilling, hast beforehand prepared.  For this, and for all I praise thee, I bless thee; I glorify thee, through the eternal high-priest Jesus Christ thy beloved Son, through whom to thee, with him in the Holy Ghost, be glory both now and for future ages.  Amen.”

(I cannot help suggesting a comparison between the prayer of this primitive martyr bound to the stake, with the prayer of Thomas Becket, of Canterbury, as stated in the ancient services for his day, when he was murdered in his own cathedral, to which we shall hereafter refer at length.  The comparison will impress us with the difference between religion and superstition, between the purity of primitive Christian worship, and the unhappy corruptions of a degenerate age.  “To God and the Blessed Mary, and Saint Dionysius, and the holy patrons of this Church, I commend myself and the Church.”) {93}

After his death, the narrative proceeds, “But the envious adversary of the just observed the honour put upon the greatness of his testimony, [or of his martyrdom [Greek:  to megethos autou taes marturias],] and his blameless life from the first, and knowing that he was now crowned with immortality, and the prize of undoubted victory, resisted, though many of us desired to take his body, and have fellowship with his holy flesh.  Some then suggested to Nicetes, the father of Herod, and brother of Dalce, to entreat the governor not to give his body, ‘Lest,’ said he, ’leaving the crucified One they should begin to worship this man [Greek:  sebein];’ and this they said at the suggestion and importunity