CHAPTER VI.
THE CLOUD OF WITNESSES.
"These all died in faith."
The new convert soon learned more of the Christians. After a briefrepose he rose and was joined by Honorius, who offered to show him thenature of the place where they lived.
Those whom he had seen at the chapel service formed but a small part ofthe dwellers in the catacombs. Their numbers rose to many thousands, andthey were scattered throughout its wide extent in little communities,each of which had its own means of communication with the city.
He walked far on, accompanied by Honorius. He was astonished at thenumbers of people whom he encountered; and though he knew that theChristians were numerous, yet he did not suppose that so vast aproportion would have the fortitude to choose a life in the catacombs.
Nor was he less interested in the dead than in the living. As he passedalong he read the inscriptions upon their tombs, and found in them allthe same strong faith and lofty hope. These he loved to read, and thefond interest which Honorius took in these pious memorials made him acongenial guide.
"There," said Honorius, "lies a witness for the truth."
Marcellus looked where he pointed, and read as follows:
PRIMITIUS, IN PEACE, AFTER MANY TORMENTS, A MOST VALIANT MARTYR. HE LIVED ABOUT THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS. HIS WIFE RAISED THIS TO HER DEAREST HUSBAND, THE WELL-DESERVING.
"These men," said Honorius, "show us how Christians ought to die. Yonderis another who suffered like Primitius."
PAULUS WAS PUT TO DEATH IN TORTURES, IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT LIVE IN ETERNAL BLISS.
"And there," said Honorius, "is the tomb of a noble lady, who showedthat fortitude which Christ can always bestow even to the weakest of hisfollowers in the hour of need."
CLEMENTIA, TORTURED, DEAD, SLEEPS, WILL RISE.
"We do not die," said Honorius; "we but sleep, and when the last trumpshall sound we shall awake to be forever with the Lord. Here," hecontinued, "lies Constans, doubly constant to his God by a double trial.Poison was given to him first, but it was powerless over him, so he wasput to the sword:"
THE DEADLY DRAUGHT DARED NOT PRESENT TO CONSTANS THE CROWN WHICH THE STEEL WAS PERMTTED TO OFFER.
Thus they walked along, reading the inscriptions which appeared on everyside. New feelings came to Marcellus as he read the glorious catalogueof names. It was to him a history of the Church of Christ. Here were theacts of the martyrs portrayed before him in words that burned. The rudepictures that adorned many of the tombs carried with them a pathos thatthe finest works of the skillful artist could not produce. The rudelycarved letters, the bad spelling and grammatical errors, thatcharacterized many of them, gave a touching proof of the treasure of theGospel to the poor and lowly. Not many wise, not many mighty are called;but to the poor the Gospel is preached.
On many of them there was a monogram, which was formed of the initialletters of the name of Christ, "X" and "P" being joined so as to formone cypher. Some bore a palm branch, the emblem of victory andimmortality, the token of that palm of glory which shall hereafter wavein the hands of the innumerable throng that are to stand around thethrone. Others bore other devices.
"What is this?" said Marcellus, pointing to a picture of a ship.
"It shows that the redeemed spirit has sailed from earth to the haven ofrest."
"And what is the meaning of this fish that I see represented so often?"
"The fish is used because the letters that form its name in Greek arethe initials of words that express the glory and hope of the Christian.'iota' stands for 'Jesus,' 'chi' for 'Christ,' 'theta' and 'gamma' for'the Son of God,' and 'sigma' for 'Saviour,' so that the fish symbolizesunder its name 'iota chi theta gamma sigma,' 'Jesus Christ, the Son ofGod, the Saviour.'"
"What means this picture that I see so often--a ship and a huge seamonster?"
"That is Jonah, a prophet of God, of whom as yet you are ignorant."Honorius then related the story of Jonah, and showed him how the escapefrom the bowels of the fish reminded the Christian of his deliverancefrom the darkness of the tomb. "This glorious hope of the resurrectionis an unspeakable comfort," said he, "and we love to bring it to ourthoughts by different symbols. There, too, is another symbol of the sameblessed truth--the dove carrying an olive branch to Noah." He related tohis companion the story of the flood, so that Marcellus might see themeaning of the representation. "But of all the symbols which are used,"said he, "none is so clear as this," and he pointed to a picture of theresurrection of Lazarus.
"There too," said Honorius, "is an anchor, the sign of hope, by whichthe Christian, while tossing amid the stormy billows of life, holds onto his heavenly home.
"There you see the cock, the symbol for watchfulness; for our Lord hassaid, 'Watch and pray.' There also is the lamb, the type of innocenceand gentleness, which also brings to our mind the Lamb of God, who boreour sins, and by whose sacrifice we receive pardon. There again is thedove, which, like the lamb, represents innocence; and yet again you seeit bearing the olive branch of peace.
"There are the letters Alpha and Omega, which represent our Lord; foryou know that he said, 'I am Alpha and Omega.' And there is the crown,which reminds of that crown of immortality which the Lord, the righteousjudge, shall give us. Thus we love to surround ourselves with all thatcan remind us of the joy that lies before us. Taught by these, we lookup from the surrounding gloom and see above us the light of immortal life."
"Here," said Marcellus, pausing, "is something that seems adapted to mycondition. It sounds prophetic. Perhaps I too may be called upon to givemy testimony for Christ: may I then be found faithful!"
IN CHRIST, IN THE TIME OF THE EMPEROR ADRIAN, MARIUS, A YOUNG MILITARY OFFICER, WHO LIVED LONG ENOUGH, AS HE SHED HIS BLOOD FOR CHRIST, AND DIED IN PEACE. HIS FRIENDS SET UP THIS WITH TEARS AND IN FEAR.
"'In this world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I haveovercome the world.' Thus Christ assures us; but while he warns us ofevil, he consoles us with his promise of support. In him we can findgrace sufficient for us."
"May the example of this young officer be for me," said Marcellus. "Imay shed my blood for Christ like him. May I die as faithfully! To liehere among my brethren with such an epitaph, would be higher honor forme than a mausoleum like that of Caecilia Metella."
They walked on as before.
"How sweet," said Marcellus, "is the death of the Christian! Its horrorhas fled. To him it is a blessed sleep, and death, instead of awakeningterror, is associated with thoughts of rest or of victory."
THE SLEEPING PLACE OF ELPIS.
ZOTICUS LAID HERE TO SLEEP.
ASELUS SLEEPS IN CHRIST.
MARTYRIA IN PEACE.
VIDALIA IN THE PEACE OF CHRIST.
NICEPHORUS, A SWEET SOUL, IN THE PLACE OF REFRESMENT.
"Some of those inscriptions tell of the characters of the departedbrethren," said Honorius. "Look at these."
MAXIMIUS, WHO LIVED TWENTY-THREE YEARS, FRIEND OF ALL MEN.
IN CHRIST, ON THE FIFTH KALENDS OF NOVEMBER, SLEPT GORGONIUS, FRIEND OF ALL, AND ENEMY TO NONE.
"And here too," he continued, "are others which tell of their privatelives and domestic experiences."
CAECILIUS THE HUSBAND, TO CAECILIA PLACIDINA, MY WIFE, OF EXCELLETT MEMORY, WITH WHOM I LIVED TEN YEARS WITHOUT ANY QUARREL, IN JESUS CHRIST, SON OF GOD, THE SAVIOUR.
SACRED TO CHRIST THE SUPREME GOD. VITALIS, BURIED ON SATURDAY, KALENDS OF AUGUST, AGED TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS. SHE LIVED WITH HER HUSBAND TEN YEARS AND THIRTY DAYS. IN CHRIST THE FIRST AND THE LAST.
TO DOMNINA, MY SWEETEST AND MOST INNOCENT WIFE, WHO LIVED SIXTEEN YEARS AND FOUR MONTHS, AND WAS MARRIED TWO YEARS FOUR MONTHS AND NINE DAYS: WITH WHOM, I WAS NOT ABLE TO LIVE, ON ACCOUNT OF MY TRAVELING, MORE THAN SIX MONTHS, DURING WHICH TIME I SHEWED HER MY LOVE AS I FELT IT. NONE ELSE SO LOVED EACH OTHER. BURIED ON THE FIFTEENTH BEFORE THE KALENDS OF JUNE.
TO CLAUDIUS, THE WELL-DESERVING AND AFFECTIONATE, WHO LOVED ME. HE LIVED ABOUT TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN CHRIST.
"There is the tribute of a loving father," said Marcellus, as he readthe following:
LAURENCE TO HIS SWEETEST SON SEVERUS. BORNE AWAY BY ANGELS ON THE SEVENTH IDES OF JANUARY.
"And here of a wife."
Domitius in peace, Lea erected this.
"Yes," said Honorius, "the religion of Jesus Christ changes the natureof man, and while it awakens within him love to God, it makes himsusceptible of more tender affection to his friends and relatives."
Passing on, they found many epitaphs which exhibited this tender love ofdeparted relatives.
CONSTANTIA, OF WONDERFUL BEAUTY AND AMIABILITY, WHO LIVED EIGHTEEN YEARS SIX MONTHS AND SIXTEEN DAYS. CONSTANTIA IN PEACE.
SIMPLICIUS, OF GOOD AND HAPPY MEMORY, WHO LIVED TWENTY-THREE YEARS AND FORTY-THREE DAYS IN PEACE. HIS BROTHER MADE THIS MONUMENT.
TO ADSERTOR OUR SON, DEAR, SWEET MOST INNOCENT, AND INCOMPARABLE, WHO LIVED SEVENTEEN YEARS SIX MONTHS AND EIGHT DAYS. HIS FATHER AND MOTHER SET UP THIS.
TO JANUARIUS, SWEET AND GOOD SON, HONORED AND BELOVED BY ALL: WHO LIVED TWENTY-THREE YEARS FIVE MONTHS AND TWENTY-TWO DAYS.
HIS PARENTS LAURINIA, SWEETER THAN HONEY SLEEPS IN PEACE.
TO THE HOLY SOUL, INNOCENS, WHO LIVED ABOUT THREE YEARS.
DOMITIANUS, AN INNOCENT SOUL, SLEEPS IN PEACE
"Farewell, O Sabina; she lived viii years, viii months and xxii days, Mayst thou live sweet in God."
IN CHRIST: DIED ON THE KALENDS OF SEPTEMBER, POMPEIANUS THE INNOCENT, WHO LIVED SIX YEARS NINE MONTHS EIGHT DAYS AND FOUR HOURS. HE SLEEPS IN PEACE.
TO THEIR DESERVING SON, CALPURNIUS, HIS PARENTS MADE THIS: HE LIVED FIVE YEARS, EIGHT MONTHS AND TEN DAYS, AND DEPARTED IN PEACE ON THE THIRTEENTH OF JUNE.
"Unto the epitaph of this child," said Marcellus, "they have added thesymbols of peace and of glory." He pointed to a child's tomb, upon theslab of which was engraved a dove and a laurel crown, together with thefollowing inscription:
RESPECTUS, WHO LIVED FIVE YEARS AND EIGHT MONTHS, SLEEPS IN PEACE.
"And this one," continued Marcellus, "has a palm branch, the symbol ofvictory."
"Yes," said Honorius, "the Saviour has said, 'Suffer little children tocome unto me,'" and he read the following inscription:
MACUS, AN INNOCENT BOY. YOU HAVE ALREADY BEGUN TO BE AMONG THE INNOCENT ONES. HOW ENDURING IS SUCH A LIFE TO YOU. HOW GLADLY WILL YOUR MOTHER, THE CHUCH OF GOD, RECEIVE YOU, RETURNING TO THIS WORLD! LET US RESTRAIN OUR GROANS AND CEASE FROM WEEPING.
Their attention was also attracted by epitaphs over the graves of womenwho had been wives of Christian ministers.
MY WIFE LAURENTIA MADE ME THIS TOMB. SHE WAS EVER SUITED TO MY DISPOSITION, VENERABLE AND FAITHFUL. AT LENGTH DISAPPOINTED ENVY LIES CRUSHED. THE BISHOP LEO SURVIVED HIS EIGHTIETH YEAR.
THE PLACE OF BASIL THE PRESBYTER AND HIS FELICITAS. THEY MADE IT FOR THEMSELVES.
ONCE THE HAPPY DAUGHTER OF THE PRESBYTER GABINUS, HERE LIES SUSANNA, JOINED WITH HER FATHER IN PEACE.
CLAUDIUS ATTICIANUS, A LECTOR, AND CLAUDIA FELICISSIMA HIS WIFE.
"I see here," said Marcellus, "a larger tomb. Are two buried here?"
"Yes, this is a 'bisomum,' and two occupy that cell. Read the inscription:"
THE BISOMUM OF SABINUS. HE MADE IT FOR HIMSELF DURING HIS LIFETIME IN THE CEMETERY OF BALBINA IN THE NEW CRYPT.
"Sometimes," continued Honorius, "three are buried in the same grave. Inother places, Marcellus, you will see that large numbers are buried; forwhen persecution rages it is not always possible to pay to eachindividual the separate attention that is required. Yonder is a tabletthat marks the burial place of many martyrs whose names are unknown, butwhose memories are blessed." He pointed to, a slab bearing the followinginscription:
MARCELLA AND FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MARTYRS OF CHRIST.
"Here is a longer one," said Marcellus, "and its words may well find anecho in the hearts of all of us." With deep emotion they read thefollowing:
IN CHRIST. ALEXANDER IS NOT DEAD, BUT LIVES ABOVE THE STARS, AND HIS BODY RESTS IN THIS TOMB. HE ENDED HIS LIFE UNDER THE EMPEROR ANTONINE, WHO, ALTHOUGH HE MIGHT HAVE FORESEEN THAT GREAT BENEFIT WOULD RESULT FROM HIS SERVICES, RENDERED UNTO HIM HATRED INSTEAD OF FAVOR. FOR WHILE ON HIS KNEES, AND ABOUT TO SACRIFICE UNTO THE TRUE GOD, HE WAS LED AWAY TO EXECUTION. O SAD TIMES! IN WHICH EVEN AMONG SACRED RITES AND PRAYERS, NOT EVEN IN CAVERNS COULD WE BE SAFE. WHAT CAN BE MORE WRETCHED THAN SUCH A LIFE? AND WHAT THAN SUCH A DEATH? WHERE THEY CANNOT BE BURIED BY THEIR FRIENDS AND RELATIONS! AT LENGTH THEY SPARKLE IN HEAVEN. HE HAS SCARCELY LIVED WHO HAS LIVED IN CHRISTIAN TIMES.
"This," said Honorius, "is the resting place of a well loved brother,whose memory is still cherished in all the Churches. Around this tomb weshall hold the 'Agape' upon the anniversary of his birthday. At thisfeast the barriers of different classes and ranks, of different kindredsand tribes and tongues and peoples, are all broken down. We are allbrethren in Christ Jesus, for we remember that as Christ loved us, soought we also to love one another."
In this walk Marcellus had ample opportunity to witness the presence ofthat fraternal love to which Honorius alluded. He encountered men,women, and children of every rank and of every age. Men who had filledthe highest stations in Rome associated in friendly intercourse withthose who were scarcely above the level of slaves; those who had oncebeen cruel and relentless persecutors, now associated in pleasant unionwith the former objects of their hate. The Jewish priest, released fromthe fetters of bigotry and stubborn pride, walked hand in hand with theonce hated Gentile. The Greek had beheld the foolishness of the Gospeltransformed into infinite wisdom, and the contempt which he had oncefelt for the followers of Jesus had given place to tender affection.Selfishness and ambition, haughtiness and envy, all the baser passionsof human life, seemed to have fled before the almighty power ofChristian love. The religion of Christ dwelt in their hearts in all itsfullness, and its blessed influences were seen here as they might not bewitnessed elsewhere; not because its nature or its power had beenchanged for their sakes, but because the universal persecution whichpressed on all alike had robbed them of earthly possessions, cut themoff from earthly temptations, and by the great sympathy of commonsuffering had forced them closer to one another.
"The worship of the true God," said Honorius, "differs in one respectfrom all false worship. The heathen must enter into his temple, andthere through the medium of the priest offer up his prayers and hissacrifice. But for us Christ has made a sacrifice once for all. Everyone of his followers can now approach God for himself, for each one ismade, through Jesus, a king and a priest unto God. To us, then, it is amatter of no moment, as far as worship is concerned, whether our chapelsare left unto us, or whether we are banished from them out of the sightof earth. Heaven is the throne of God and the universe is his temple,and each one of his children can lift up his voice from any place and atany time to worship the Father."
Marcellus's journey extended for a long time and for a great distance.Prepared as he was to find a great extent, he was still astonished atits vastness. The half had not been told him! and though he hadtraversed so much, he was told that this was but a fraction of the wholeextent. The average height of the passage ways was about eight feet, butin many places it rose to twelve or fifteen feet. Then the frequentchapels and rooms which had been formed by widening the arches gavegreater space to the inhabitants, and made it possible for them to liveand move in greater freedom. In some places, also, there were narrowopenings in the roof, through which faint rays of light passed from theupper air. These were chosen as places for resort, but not for living.The presence of the blessed light of day, however faint, was pleasantbeyond expression, and served in some slight degree to mitigate thesurrounding gloom.
Marcellus saw some
places which had been walled up forming a suddentermination to the passage way, but other paths branched off andencircled them and went on as before. "What is this place which is thusinclosed?" he asked.
"It is a Roman tomb," said Honorius. "On excavating this passage theworkmen struck upon it, so they stopped and walled up the place andcarried on their excavation around it. It was not from the fear ofdisturbing the tomb, but because in death, no less than in life, theChristian desires to follow the command of his Lord, and 'come out fromamong them and be separate.'"
"Persecution rages around us and shuts us in," said Marcellus. "How longshall the people of God be scattered, how long shall the enemy distressus?"
"Such are the cries of many among us," said Honorius, "but it is wrongto complain. The Lord has been good to his people. Throughout the empirethey have gone on for many generations protected by the laws andunmolested. True, we have had terrible persecutions, in which thousandshave died in agony, but these again have passed away and left the Churchin peace.
"All the persecutions which we have yet received have served only topurify the hearts of the people of God and exalt their faith. He knowswhat is best for us. We are in his hands, and he will give us no morethan we can bear. Let us be sober and watch and pray, O Marcellus, forthe present storm tells us plainly that the great and terrible day solong expected is at hand."
Thus Marcellus walked about with Honorius, conversing and learning newthings every hour about the doctrines of God's truth and the experiencesof his people. The sight of their love, their purity, their fortitude,their faith, sank deeply into his soul.
The experience which he too had felt was not transient. Every new sightbut strengthened his desire to unite himself with the faith and fortunesof the people of God. Accordingly, before the following Lord's day hewas baptized in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
On the morning of the Lord's day he sat around the table of the Lord incompany with other Christians. There they held that simple and affectingceremony by which the Christians showed forth the death of Jesus.Honorius offered up the prayer for blessing on the repast. And for thefirst time Marcellus partook of the wine and the bread, the sacredsymbols of the body and blood of his dying Lord.
"And when they had sung a hymn, they went out."