by Andrew
Miller
Let us turn to the scene of the
second persecution under the reign of Roman Emperor Aurelius. It took place in France in A.D. 177. The information about this comes from a circular letter from the
Churches of Lyons and Vienne (France) to the Churches in Asia.
Blandina, a female slave, was
distinguished above the rest of the martyrs for the variety of tortures she
endured. Her tormentors urged her to deny Christ and confess that the private
meetings of the Christians were only for their wicked practices, and they would
cease their tortures. But no! her only reply was, "I am a Christian, and
there is no wickedness amongst us." The scourge, the rack, the heated iron
chair, and the wild beasts had lost their terror for her. Her heart was fixed
on Christ, and He kept her in spirit near to Himself. Her character was fully
formed by her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy
Spirit.
Day after day she was brought
forth as a public spectacle of suffering. Being a female and a slave, the
heathen expected to force her to a denial of Christ, and to a confession that
the Christians were guilty of the crimes reported against them. But it was all
in vain. In her greatest agonies she found strength and relief in looking to
Jesus and witnessing for Him. "Blandina was endued with so much
fortitude," say the letter from the Church at Lyons, "that those who
successively tortured her from morning to night were quite worn out with
fatigue, and owned themselves conquered and exhausted from their whole
apparatus of tortures, and were amazed to see her still breathing while her
body was torn and laid open."
Before narrating the closing
scene of her sufferings, we would notice what appears to us to be the secret of
her great strength and constancy. Doubtless the Lord was sustaining her in a
remarkable way as a witness for Him, and as a testimony to all ages of the
power of Christianity over the human mind. Still, we would say particularly,
that her humility and godly fear were the sure indications of her power
against the enemy, and of her unfaltering fidelity to Christ.
When on her way back from the
amphitheater to the prison, in company with her fellow-sufferers, they were
surrounded by their sorrowing friends when they had an opportunity, who in
their sympathy and love addressed them as "martyrs for Christ." But
this they instantly checked, saying, "We are not worthy of such an honor;
the struggle is not over, and the dignified name of Martyr properly belongs to
Him only who is the true and faithful Witness, the Firstborn from the dead, the
Prince of life; or, at least, only to those whose testimony Christ has sealed
by their constancy to the end. We are but poor humble confessors." With
tears they besought their brethren to pray for them that they might be firm and
true to the end.
Thus their weakness was their
strength, for it led them to lean on the mighty One. And so it always is, and
ever has been, in small as well as in great trials. But a fresh sorrow awaited
them on their return to the prison. They found some who had given way through
natural fear, and had denied that they were Christians. But they had gained
nothing thereby; Satan had not let them off. Under a charge of other crimes
they were kept in prison. With these weak ones Blandina and the others prayed
with many tears, that they might be restored and strengthened. The Lord
answered their prayers, so that when they were brought up again for further
examination, they steadfastly confessed their faith in Christ and thus passed
sentence of death on themselves and received the crown of martyrdom.
The noble and blessed Blandina
was at last brought up for her final examination. Like a mother who was needed
to comfort and encourage her children, she was kept to the last day of the
games. She had sent her children on before her, and now was longing to follow
after them. They had joined the noble army of martyrs above and were resting
with the Lord, as weary warriors rest, in the peaceful Paradise of God.
She was ordered to swear by the
gods; she firmly refused, but was calm and unmoved. The multitude was incensed
at her patience. The whole round of barbarities was inflicted on her again.
After she had endured stripes she was seated in a hot iron chair; then she was
enclosed in a net and thrown to a bull; and having been tossed some time by the
animal, a soldier plunged a spear into her side. No doubt she was dead long
before the spear reached her, but in this she was honored to be like her Lord
and Master. Bright indeed will be the crown amidst the many crowns in heaven of
the constant, humble, patient, enduring Blandina.
But the fierce and savage rage of
the heathen, instigated by Satan, had not yet reached its height. They began a
new war with the dead bodies of the saints. Their blood had not satiated them.
They must have their ashes. Hence the mutilated bodies of the martyrs were
collected and burned and thrown into the Rhone River, with the fire that
consumed them, lest a particle should be left to pollute the land. But rage,
however fierce, will finally expend itself; and nature, however savage, will
become weary of bloodshed; and so, many Christians survived this terrible
persecution.
(From Short Papers on Church
History.)