Beyond this we have the voice
from heaven calling to Polycarp in the stadium to play the man (Sec.
9). But the very simplicity of the narrative here disarms criticism.
The brethren present heard the voice, but no one saw the speaker.
This was the sole ground for the belief that it was not a human
utterance. Again, there is the arching of the fire round the martyr
like a sail swelled by the wind (Sec. 15). But this may be explained
as a strictly natural occurrence, and similar phenomena have been
witnessed more than once on like occasions, notably at the
martyrdoms of Savonarola and of Hooper. Again, there is the sweet
scent, as of incense, issuing from the burning pyre (Sec. 15); but
this phenomenon also, however we may explain it, whether from the
fragrance of the wood or in some other way, meets us constantly. In
another early record of martyrdoms, the history of the persecutions
at Vienne and Lyons, a little more than twenty years later, we are
told (Euseb. _H.E._ v. 1, Sec. 35) that the heroic martyrs, as they
stepped forward to meet their fate, were 'fragrant with the sweet
odour of Christ, so that some persons even supposed that they had
been anointed with material ointment' ([Greek: hoste enious doxai
kai muro kosmiko kechristhai autous]).
Pages:
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219