tries us, to barter for a momentary gratification of the fleshly mind that which no gold can buy. But it was far otherwise with Phocas, for his eye was fixed on the things which are eternal. He knew that the hour might come again when Christians would be called to seal their testimony with their blood; and day by day for many a year he had sought so to walk in all meekness of faith, and patience of hope, and lowliness of love, working with his hands the thing that was good, that he might have to give unto them that needed, that so, if called to the trial, he might find grace to lay down his life also for His sake Who so loved us, and gave Himself for us. No doubt to this end he exercised himself in all holy self-denial, keeping under his body, and bringing it into subjection, that he might present it a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable service; and how his desire was granted, we learn from the writings of S. Chrysostom and others.

It was about the year 303, when the Emperors Dioclesian and Maximian issued their

cruel edicts for the persecution of the Christians. At first Dioclesian confined himself to commanding their Churches to be pulled down, and all copies of the Holy Scriptures to be burned. After this, he began, as we are told by Eusebius, by putting the Christian soldiers in his camp to the choice, whether, renouncing their faith, they would retain their places in his army, and approve themselves worthy of his favour; or whether they would lay aside their armour and lose their places, rather than comply with his command to sacrifice unto his gods. Indeed such was the pride and impiety of Dioclesian, that after some victories which he had gained, he gave commandment that he himself should be worshipped as GOD, calling himself the brother of the sun and of the moon, and adorning his shoes with gold and silver, he commanded that the people should kiss his feet. The Christian soldiers, however, were neither to be moved by threats nor by allurements, and they answered courageously, and yet dutifully, that they were ready at his commandment not only to lay

aside their armour and their weapons, but to suffer death also rather than to sacrifice unto idols. Another edict was quickly published commanding that all the Bishops and Priests should be imprisoned, and in a little time the persecution extended to their flocks also, and the most cruel tortures unto death followed the refusal of those who were apprehended to sacrifice. And now because it was well known that neither threats nor tortures would compel the holy man who lived at Sinope, to renounce his faith, and because perhaps his influence over the minds of others was feared, special messengers were despatched to seek out Phocas, and put him to death wherever they might find him, without the formality of a trial. It might be thought that if he were brought to trial, the fame of his great charity might move the people in his behalf, and so the order was not sent to the authorities in Sinope, but executioners were sent from a distance, and though as strangers they neither knew Phocas nor in which of the many houses round about Sinope he lived, they had no doubt of finding some one

who in ignorance of the nature of their errand would at once direct them to the man they sought. On reaching Sinope, they found they could not enter the city, probably because arriving late, the gates were already closed for the night; but the house of Phocas was at hand, and he, as was his wont, invited the travellers to take up their lodging with him. They did so gladly, and his courteous entertainment of them so won upon their confidence, that while at supper they disclosed to him the errand upon which they came, and desired him to inform them where this Phocas might be most easily met with. Now it was evident to Phocas that the time to suffer was come, for even had he been inclined to evade the question, it could only have excited a suspicion of the truth which further inquiry would have soon discovered, for not even to save his life might the Christian use deceit or prevarication, so with a calm and cheerful countenance he told them he was well acquainted with the man, and would give them certain intelligence of him the next morning, with which they were well

satisfied, and still as before, Phocas served them with all readiness; and having prepared a chamber for them, as soon as they had retired to rest, he went out into the garden to prepare for his approaching end.

He did not think of flight, for even had it been possible, he had made a promise which the truth of a Christian man required him to fulfil, and so commending himself unto Him Who had counted him worthy of this honour, he took up for the last time his spade, and in the garden where for so long a time he had laboured in the sweat of his brow for the bread which he had divided with the stranger and the poor, he dug for himself a grave. Perhaps the moon and stars looked down upon him, and who can tell what were the martyr's thoughts in the clear radiance of that quiet solemn hour! What prayers for others, what praises for himself went up like incense from that garden? Or was it like the garden of Gethsemane, a scene of agonizing prayer? Nay, for He Who then trod the winepress alone, was with His servant now, upholding him with conso