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Such things happened to the churches of Christ under the
above-mentioned emperor, from which we may reasonably conjecture the
occurrences in the other provinces. It is proper to add other
selections from the same letter, in which the moderation and compassion
of these witnesses is recorded in the following words: "They were
also so zealous in their imitation of Christ who, being in the form of
God, counted it not a prize to be on an equality with God,' that,
though they had attained such honor, and had borne witness, not once
or twice, but many times, having been brought back to prison from the
wild beasts, covered 'with burns and scars and wounds, yet they did
not proclaim themselves witnesses, nor did they suffer us to address
them by this name. If any one of us, in letter or conversation,
spoke of them as witnesses, they rebuked him sharply. For they
conceded cheerfully the appellation of Witness to Christ ' the
faithful and true Witness,' and ' firstborn of the dead,' and
prince of the life of God; and they reminded us of the witnesses who
had already departed, and said, ' They are already witnesses whom
Christ has deemed worthy to be taken up in their confession, having
sealed their testimony by their departure; but we are lowly and humble
confessors.' And they besought the brethren with tears that earnest
prayers should be offered that they might be made perfect. They showed
in their deeds the power of ' testimony,' manifesting great boldness
toward all the brethren, and they made plain their nobility through
patience and fearlessness and courage, but they refused the title of
Witnesses as distinguishing them from their brethren, being filled
with the fear of God." A little further on they say: "They
humbled themselves under the mighty hand, by which they are now greatly
exalted. They defended all, but accused none. They absolved all,
but bound none. And they prayed for those who had inflicted cruelties
upon them, even as Stephen, the perfect witness, ' Lord, lay not
this sin to their charge.' But if he prayed for those who stoned
him, how much more for the brethren !" And again after mentioning
other matters, they say: "For, through the genuineness of their
love, their greatest contest with him was that the Beast, being
choked, might cast out alive those whom he supposed he had swallowed.
For they did not boast over the fallen, but helped them in their need
with those things in which they themselves abounded, having the
compassion of a mother, and shedding many tears on their account before
the Father. They asked for life, and he gave it to them, and they
shared it with their neighbors. Victorious; over everything, they
departed to God. Having always loved peace, and having commended
peace to us they went in peace to God, leaving no sorrow to their
mother, nor division or strife to the brethren, but joy and peace and
concord and love."
This record of the affection of those blessed ones toward the brethren
that had fallen may be profitably added on account of the inhuman and
unmerciful disposition of those who, after these events, acted
unsparingly toward the members of Christ.
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