Page images
PDF
EPUB

upon rashness and enthusiasm ; but as the love of life and the abhorrence of pain are universal passions, there seems wanting a cause as universal to overcome them in persons of all nations, ages, sexes, and conditions, and there is none which will operate uniformly, besides a divine assistance, none to which we may more reasonably ascribe it, as to the leading and principal cause, since it suits so well with the predictions and the promises of Christ. Some will call the doctrine of divine assistance fanaticism; but let them remember that many wise Pagans held it, for they will perhaps hearken to a Platonist or a Stoic. To suppose that God takes no care of good men in the violent trials and distresses which they undergo for his sake, is entertaining a mean opinion of Providence. This divine favour was not confined to the three first centuries: it hath been extended to multitudes who since that time have fallen innocent victims to antichristian tyranny, and have laid down their lives for their religion with as much constancy as the ancient Christians.

But it will be said, all Christian sects have had those whom they call martyrs; and shall we bestow that honourable appellation on the schismatical, or the erroneous? I see not how we can avoid it. If a person lays down his life for the name of Christ, or for what he takes to be the religion of Christ, when he might prolong his days by renouncing his faith, he must stand for a martyr in every reasonable man's calendar,

qui mente novissimus exit,

Lucis amor.

Statius.

+ Dodwell hath treated this subject very well in his Dissertation

De Fortitudine Martyrum.

calendar, though he may have been much mistaken in some of his opinions.

Unless Driedo had, unawares I think, acquainted me with the provost of Stenelda's Epistle to S. Bernard, I had not known either your [the church of Rome's] cruelty against the Albigenses, or Picards, as I suppose, or their constancy in suffering tortures in themselves most grievous, yet attended with usages as disgraceful; both for the manner or form of proceeding as injuriously inflicted, as the ground or matter of accusations brought against them were unjust and impious. The provost's epistle was to this effect.

66

"I would gladly be resolved (holy father) might I enjoy your presence, whence it is that in heretics, "the devil's members, there should be so great reso "lution for defence of their heresies, as the like can "scarce be found in very religious and faithful Chris"tians. There are (saith he) amongst us, heretics "which put no confidence in the suffrages of men "deceased, or prayers of saints: fastings and other "afflictions of the body usually undertaken for sin, "are not in their opinion necessary to the righteous:

66

66

66

purgatory after death they acknowledge none: denying the making of our Lord's body in the sacra"ment of the altar: the church they affirm to be amongst them, having neither fields nor possessions. "Of such we have known divers, by the multitude, "misled with too much zeal, violently haled against our will unto the flame; whose torments they not "only endured with patience, but entertained with joy. I would therefore be resolved by you, holy father, whence so great resolution in the devil's "members should spring." Driedo 1. iv. de Ecclesiæ Dog. et Scrip. c. 5.

66

66

[ocr errors]

No question but this provost, which esteemed no better of them, than as of heretics or Satan's members, did relate the worst opinions then known to be held by them; and yet he, as I would have the reader note, living in their time, lays no such odious tenets to their charge, as those that lived long after, or were employed by the Romish state to write against Wickliff, Huss, or Jerome of Prague, have charged them and their followers with, Driedo tells us, he finds no direct answer by way of epis tle or writing unto this venerable man's demand in particular: but out of S. Bernard's doctrine elsewhere delivered concerning like heretics, he finds this resolution, Nihil simile habet constantia Martyrum, et pertinacia hæreticorum, quia in illis pietas, in istis duritia cordis contemptum mortis operatur, The constancy of martyrs hath no affinity with the stubbornness of heretics; piety breeds contempt of death in the one, hardness of heart in the other. Homil. 66. in Cant, Such good-minded men as S. Bernard, I think, had least to do in the examination of such men, most obnoxious to misinformation in the particulars of their carriage: with which the civil magistrates of France, though Romish Catholics, better acquainted, have given them laudable testimonies for their honest and religious lives: and whether these mentioned by that provost were such as S. Bernard spake against, in the place last cited, is more than Driedo knew. Howsoever, in matters of this nature, it is most true, Bernardus non vidit omnia, T. Jackson's Works, vol. i. p. 278.

Mark, Bishop of Arethusa, a considerable man in the Arian, or rather in the Semi-Arian party, endured cruel torments from the irritated Pagans with astonishing bravery; and (besides Sozomen) Theodoret,

and

*

and Gregory Nazianzen, though Athanasian Bishops, have highly extolled him for it. He had escaped by flight; but hearing that many Christians were in danger of suffering upon his account, be returned and surrendered himself, to deliver his brethren.

Tillemont's distress on the constancy of this heretic is remarkable, and his diffidence well expressed. "This is what St Gregory, Theodoret, and Sozomen "have related concerning the fortitude of Mark of "Arethusa. The fact is too well supported to admit "of a doubt: but it is no small difficulty to know "whether this fortitude was a virtue purely human, "like that of the Reguli, the Scævolæ, and other he66 roes of Paganism, which in reality was only an "effect of their pride; or whether it was a Christian virtue, a gift of the grace of our Lord, and an ope"ration of that charity which maketh saints. For "the foundation of true virtue is true faith, without "which it is impossible to please God, as likewise it "is impossible that true virtue should not please "him. And history represents to us every where "this prelate as engaged in the belief, in the faction, "and in the intrigues of the Arians." H. Eccl. vii. 370. See also in p. 726. the distress of Tillemont,

[ocr errors]

Baronius,

* Chalcidius, a Christian philosopher, who did not admit the creation of matter, was an intimate friend of Hosius of Corduba. Bishops of learning, genius, and abilities (and such Hosius certainly was) did not quarrel with their friends for holding sentiments which caused heretics to be condemned with so much rigour, and to be loaded with so many calumnies. All bishops did not resemble Father Epiphanius. But perhaps they were more tractable in civil and familiar .commerce and conversation, than in councils, where moderation was hardly ever known, after that of the apostles. Beausobre Hist. de Manich. ii. 238.

Baronius, and Bollandus on this grievous difficulty. They know not where to place Mark of Arethusa, whether among the Saints, or among the Sinners, or in the Intermundia of the Epicurean gods.

Mark had demolished a pagan temple, in the reign of Constantius, and had built a church over its ruins, in doing which he seems to have shewed more zeal than prudence but this part of his conduct gives no pain to the Tillemonts and the Baroniuses. The best excuse that can be made for him is, that he had the permission of the emperor for acting as he did, though even that excuse is scarcely satisfactory.

Paul and Silas were severely beaten with rods, and then cast into a dungeon, and put in the stocks, which was a painful posture. At midnight, when such wounds and torments give the most uneasiness, instead of uttering sighs and groans, instead of praying to God to relieve them they sang praises to him with a loud voice, Acts xvi. 22. Hence we conclude that they were assisted by God, who alleviated their pain, and gave them not only resignation and patience, but exultation and joy. When a martyr suffers greater torments than these for the same cause, and shews the same undaunted and cheerful spirit, is it not just to suppose that he receives the same assistances? The behaviour of the man, the honour of religion, the promise of Christ, the goodness of God, all lead us to this determination.

The far greater part of the Martyrologies* is indeed so silly and contemptible as to be beneath all notice

and

* Plaustra mendaciorum is the properest name for most of them. See some conjectures concerning the pious lies in the Legends, in Bayle's Dict. VALERIUS,

« PreviousContinue »