The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1910, Page 11

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The Lutheran Pioneer.

11

Faithful Unto Death.

In the days of Julian the Apostate, emperor of
Rome, there lived a staunch and devout bishop,
Martin Arethusa. Emperor Julian, though reared

-in the Christian faith, set before himself the dia-
bolical task to drive Christianity out of his empire
and to enthrone heathenism once more in all its
former outward glory. Tle thereupon determined
to build a magnificent heathen temple, and sent
forth the command that it should be erected by the
labors of the Christians under the spiritual care of
Bishop Martin. He who should dare to refuse
would do so upon pain of death.

Trembling with fear, the Christians obeyed; but
upon the efforts of the bishop, who chided them
because of the weakness of their faith and of their
servile fear of man, their courage revived, and they
left their unholy work determined to die rather
than build a temple in honor of the heathen gods.

When the Emperor heard of this, he was enraged.
beyond measure and ordered Bishop Martin to be
summoned before him. He was shrewd enough to
know that the opposition of the Christians could
only be overcome by winning the bishop over to his
side, and to this task he zealously directed his
efforts.

“T have not summoned you to judgment,” said
Julian, “for I honor your spirit and your high and
holy calling. But in order to protect my authority
and deliver my commands from public contempt,
[ simply ask that you take one stone and carry it
to the temple. Upon so doing, you shall be free
to go your way in peace.”

Bishop Martin did not bestir himself, however
savage the glances the Emperor. cast upon him.
Fearless, he looked the monarch in the face and
said: “My sacred office demands that with all zeal
I build up the kingdom of God; I am not sent to
carry stones for the erection of your heathen
temple.”

“You area rich man,” cunningly replied Julian ;
“all I ask is that you contribute the trifle of a
farthing to this temple and I will set you free. If
you refuse, death is certain.”

“Then let death come,” was the : reply, “for I
am in your power; but all I have and hold belongs
to my King and Savior. How can I be guilty of
robbing Him of His own and laying it at the feet
of your false gods?”

“What is a farthing, Martin? Consider well,
for your life is hanging in the balance.”

“It is a sin you require of me, and my salvation
is hanging in the balance. There is nothing to
consider. Let your servants step forth to lead me
to death. I am ready!”

“No, Martin, I wish to save you. I admire your’
courage; but here is my last offer: Take the
smallest grain of the frankincense, which my serv-
ant shall offer you, and cast it into the incense
bowl here before the image of my god. Consider,
it is only a small grain; the bow] belongs to me;
you are at liberty to believe as you please, only go
through the form for my sake, Martin, and you
shall be free to preach and teach as you like. If
you refuse me this, to-day shall be your last.”

“You say it is but a grain, Emperor,” was the
heroic response of the bishop; “I tell you that this
small grain, whose touch I can scarcely feel with
my finger, would rest as the weight of a mountain
upon my soul in the eternal world were I now to
obey you. No, my lord, spare your pains, your arts,
and your threats. I have no offering for your gods.”

Julian’s rage now knew no bounds. Bishiop

 Martin’s body was stripped naked, besmeared.with

honey, bound to a stake, and given over to the merci-
less stings of wasps and other poisonous insects.
The Emperor had hoped to bring the bishop into
subjection by this torture, but in vain. The follow-
ing day the Emperor approached the body to find
that Martin had proved himself faithful unto death,
and he. left the city with a sense of shame and with
the conviction that some things in this world are
mightier than the word of an Emperor. The faith
of a true Christian, who will die rather than deny
his Lord, is greater than the scepter of kings.
From the German.

0

Hope in Affliction.

In a report of an asylum in one of our large
cities the following touching incident is related.

One of the inmates of the Home suffered under
a threefold aflliction. She was blind, deaf, and
dumb. The only way of communicating with her
was by the touch through her fingers. A gentle-
man, who knew well how to do this, asked her one
day to express the hope that she had under her sad
afllictions. She at once spelled on her fingers the
following passages from the Bible: “I have learned
in whatever state I am therewith to be content.”
“T can ao an things through Christ, who Baa
eneth me.”