repaired to the magistrate, presenting them to him, saying, "These are the true treasures of the Church."

Provoked at the disappointment, the governor ordered him to be immediately scourged. He was then beaten with iron rods, set upon a wooden horse, and had his limbs dislocated. He endured these tortures with such fortitude and perseverance, that he was ordered to be fastened to a large gridiron, with a slow fire under it, that his death might be the more tedious. But his astonishing constancy during these trials, and his serenity of countenance while under such excruciating torments, gave the spectators so exalted an idea of the dignity and truth of the Christian religion, that many immediately became converts.

Having endured this torture for a long time, and having been turned once upon the gridiron, he at length cheerfully lifted his eyes to heaven and calmly yielded his spirit to the Almighty.

11. JULIAN OF CILICIA.

JULIAN, according to St. Chrysostom, having been apprehended for being a Christian, and frequently tortured, remained inflexible in his determination to die rather than renounce Christ. He was frequently brought from prison, but as often remanded to suffer still greater cruelties. He was at length obliged to travel for twelve months together, from town to town, to be exposed to the insults of the populace. When all these efforts to make him recant his religion had failed, and he seemed as fixed as ever in his faith, he was brought before the judge, stripped naked, and scourged in a most terrible manner. But all without effect: nor did he shrink even when he was thrust into a leather bag, together with a number of scorpions, serpents, and other venomous rep

tiles. In this, the most shocking of all conditions, he was thrown into the sea. In the midst of all, and to the very last, his constancy was unshaken.

12. CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE.

THE martyrdom of Cyprian conferred a melancholy celebrity on the persecution of Valerian. He was, at that time, the most distinguished prelate of Western Christendom. He was supposed to be of honourable birth; but his learning and talents had raised him to eminence and wealth. He was already advanced in life when he embraced Christianity. He entered upon his new career with the mature reason of age, and with the ardour and freshness of youth. His wealth was devoted to pious and charitable purposes; his style of delivery was warm and impassioned, while his rhetorical studies. gave order and clearness to his language.

When the bishopric of Carthage became vacant, his reluctant diffidence was overpowered by the acclamations of the whole city, who environed his house and almost compelled him to assume the functions of the distinguished office. The fearful times which arose during his episcopate tried most thoroughly, but did not shake the firmness of his faith. The first rumour of persecution designated the bishop of Carthage for its victim; and the first cry of the pagans was, "Cyprian to the lions-Cyprian to the beasts!" When he received a summons to appear before the pro-consul, he would not listen to the earnest solicitations of his friends, who entreated him again* to consult his safety by withdrawing

-During the persecution of Decius, Cyprian had retired from the city and spent some years in a retreat, from which he addred encouraging and consolatory letters to the Church; and where also he wrote an affecting account of the persecutions suf

to some place of concealment. His trial was postponed for a day; and he was treated, while in custody, with respect and even delicacy. But the intelligence of the apprehension of Cyprian drew together the whole city— the heathen to behold the spectacle of his martyrdom; the Christians to watch in their affectionate zeal at the doors of his prison. In the morning he had to walk some distance, and was violently heated by the exertion. A Christian soldier offered to procure for him some dry linen, apparently from mere courtesy, but in reality to obtain some precious relics, steeped in the "bloody sweat" of the martyr. Cyprian intimated that it was useless to seek remedy for inconveniences which perhaps would that day pass away forever.

When the pro-consul appeared, he inquired, “Art thou Thasicus Cyprian, the bishop of so many impious men? The most sacred emperor commands thee to sacrifice." Cyprian calmly replied, "I will not sacrifice." The pro-consul then besought him to consider, whether he had not better cast a grain of incense into the fire, in honour of idols, than to die so degraded a death. Ilis noble reply was, "Execute your orders; the case admits of no consideration.” Galerius then consulted with his council, and finding all their efforts vain to induce the bishop to recant, reluctantly delivered his sentence in the following terms:

"Thascius Cyprian, thou hast lived long in thy impiety, and assembled around thee many men involved in the same wicked conspiracy. Thou hast shown thyself an enemy alike to the gods and the laws of the empire; the pious and sacred emperors have in vain endeavoured to recall thee to the worship of thy ancestors. Since, then, thou hast been the chief author and leader of these

fered by it. A second time he was banished from the city instead of being executed.

most guilty practices, thou shalt be an example to those whom thou hast deluded to thy unlawful assemblies. Thou must expiate thy crime with thy blood."

On hearing his sentence, Cyprian said, "God be thanked!" He was soon after carried into a neighbouring field and beheaded: his serene composure was maintained to the last.

13. JOHN HUSS.

JOHN HUSS was born at Hussenitz, in Bohemia, in the year 1380; and early in life gave evidence of uncommon endowments. He became bachelor of divinity in 1398, and was soon after chosen pastor of the church of Bethlehem, in Prague, and dean and rector of the university. He enjoyed here the highest reputation-as well for the sanctity of his life and the purity of his doctrines, as for his sound acquirements in knowledge. The light of reformation which Wielif had kindled in England, had shone into Bohemia; and great numbers. of the people received the doctrines he taught with joy and gladness. In the breast of Huss they found a ready and earnest response; and in 1407, he began openly to preach them to his flock. The archbishop of Prague, finding the reformists daily increasing, issued a decree for the suppression of Wiclif's writings; but this only stimulated the friends of reform to still greater activity. Huss, in particular, opposed the decree of the archbishop, and with some other members of the university appealed from his decision.

The affair being made known to the pope, he granted a commission to Cardinal Colonna, to cite John Huss to appear personally at the court of Rome, to answer the accusations laid against him-of preaching both errors and heresies. Huss desired to be excused from a per

sonal appearance, and was so greatly favoured in Bohemia, that king Winceslaus, the queen, the nobility, and the university, desired the pope to dispense with such an appearance.

Three proctors appeared for Huss before cardinal Colonna. They endeavoured to excuse his absence, and said, they were ready to answer in his behalf. But the cardinal declared Huss contumacious, and excommunicated him accordingly. From this unjust sentence, Huss appealed to a future council, but without success; and, notwithstanding so severe a decree, and an expulsion in consequence from his church in Prague, he retired to Hussenitz, his native place, where he continued to promulgate his new doctrine, both from the pulpit and with the pen.

In the month of November, 1414, a general council was assembled at Constance, in Germany, in order, as was pretended, for the sole purpose of determining a dispute then pending between three persons who contended for the papacy; but the real motive was, to crush the progress of the reformation.

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John Huss was summoned to appear at this council; and, to encourage him, the emperor sent him a safeconduct the civilities, and even reverence, which Huss met with on his journey, were beyond imagination. The streets, and sometimes the very roads, were lined with people, whom respect, rather than curiosity, had brought together. He was ushered into the town with great acclamations; and it may be said, that he passed through Germany in a kind of triumph. He could not help expressing his surprise at the treatment he received: "I thought," said he, "I had been an outcast. I now see my worst friends are in Bohemia."

As soon as Huss arrived at Constance, he immediately took lodgings in a remote part of the city. When it was known that he was in the city, he was immedi