"This is the account of the Martyrdom of the Holy Felix, Bishop of Tubyza 1, who for GOD's Law, was beheaded on the 18th of the Calends of February 2." [ccciv.]

IN those days Diocletian and Maximian, (both surnamed Augustus,) being Consuls, the former for the eighth time, the latter for the seventh time, there went out a decree from these same Cæsars or Emperors over the whole face of the earth, and it was set forth through all the colonies and cities to the princes and magistrates, to each one in his place," that they should seize the sacred books of the Christians out of the hands of the Bishops and Presbyters."

Whereupon this proclamation was published in the city of Tubyza, on the day of the nones of January, [Jan. 5th.] Then

1 Tubyza does not appear in the maps. In a list of persons present at a conference held at Carthage, in the time of Honorius, (June, 411,) appears "Maurentius Tuburzicensis.'

2 xviii. Kalendas Febr. i. e. the 15th of January. There must, however, be some mistake, if the Programma was set forth on the Nones of January, (i. e. the 5th,) as there were at least thirty-five days between that day and the day of Felix's Martydom at Nola.

3 Libros deificos.— Tertull. Apol. §. 11." " Deum deificum.” Cypr. Ep. Ixviii. & De Zelo, “deifica disciplina.” Ep. lxxv. “spiritalis et deifica sanctitas." Crescens a Cirta, in Concil. Carthag. "testimonia ex scripturis deificis descendentia."

A

Magnilian, the mayor' of that city, ordered the Presbyters to be
brought before him (because Felix, their Bishop, was gone to
Carthage,) he ordered, I say, Januarius, the Presbyter, and
Fortunatus and Septimius, the readers, to be brought before him.
To whom Magnilian, the mayor, said--" Have you a Bishop?"
Januarius, the Presbyter, answered-" We have."
Magnilian." Where is he?"

Januarius.- "I know not."

Magnilian. "Have you any sacred books?"

Januarius.- "We have."

Magnilian." Give them up that they may be burnt.”

Januarius, Fortunatus, and Septimius.--"Our Bishop has them at his own house," [or, "with him."]

Magnilian." Well then, you must remain in custody till you appear before Anulinus, the Proconsul, to answer for your conduct."

But the next day Felix, the Bishop, came from Carthage to Tubyza. And when Magnilian had notice of his arrival, immediately he ordered him to be taken into custody, and brought before him. Accordingly, he came with all possible speed, and as soon as he was come, Magnilian said to him-" Art thou Felix, the Bishop of this city?" Felix answered" I am."

Magnilian." Deliver up to me all books or parchments of what kind soever which may be in thy possession."

Felix.-"I have some in my possession. But I shall not deliver up the law of my adored LORD and Master."

Magnilian." What then, is your GoD greater than our

gods?"

Felix." Our GOD is great, and greatly to be feared. He it is who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all things that are therein. Whereas your gods are of stone, the work of men's hands; of whom it is written,They have eyes, and see not. They have ears, and hear not. They have mouths, and speak not. They that make them are like unto them, and all who trust in them.'"

Magnilian." The Emperors' command is the chief thing to

1 Curator, a High-Bailiff or Mayor, or perhaps Sheriff.

So give

be attended to, and what thou talkest of is all nothing. up all the books which thou hast, that they may be burnt with fire, according to the decree."

Felix." It were better that I should give up my body to the fire, than that the LORD's Scriptures should seem to be burnt by my means. For it is good to obey GoD, the immortal, everlasting King, rather than an Emperor of the world, when he commands that which is wicked to be done."

Magnilian." I have already told thee, that the Emperors' command is the chief thing to be regarded, and not what you talk of."

Felix.

-"The chief thing is to keep the commandments of God, rather than to obey men."

Magnilian." I allow thee a space of three days wherein to recollect thyself. For if here, in thy own city, thou refuse to fulfil the decree, thou must go to the Proconsul, and plead before his court the things which thou hast now been saying."

After three days Magnilian, the mayor, commanded the holy Bishop, Felix, to be brought into his presence. And when he

was brought in, Magnilian said, "Hast thou deliberated with thyself, and come to any better determination ?"

Felix. 66 'My word is one and the same; where it began, there also by God's grace it shall finish. For the things which I said at first, the same I now also say, and before the Proconsul, I shall not utter any thing else whatever.”

Magnilian." Well, then, thou shalt go straight to the Proconsul, and there give an account for thyself, as he shall examine thee."

Then he thus spoke to his men.

"Inasmuch as Felix the Bishop is in no respect willing to act according to the decrees of the Emperors, which they had graciously communicated to us, let him be taken to Carthage, and do you accompany him' thither."

To which Felix answered," GOD be praised.".

Then one Vincentius, a Senator', of the city of Tubyza, was

1 Decurio, a Senator in the Colonies.

appointed to have the charge of him, and so Felix set out for Carthage.

When he was arrived there, he presented himself before the Lieutenant of the Proconsul. And this Lieutenant said to him, "What is thy reason for not giving up these foolish writings (Scriptures)?"

The Bishop answered,- "I confess I have them in my possession, but I will not part with them. The Scriptures which we have are not foolish, nor can they on any account be given up by us."

Upon this the Lieutenant ordered him to be put into the dungeon. Into which when the Bishop was entered, he offered this prayer to the LORD his GOD, saying,

"O LORD GOD! Creator and Governor of all things! O LORD JESU CHRIST! I beseech Thee, do not forsake me, seeing that for Thee and Thy Testament I suffer these things. Have pity on me, O LORD! and receive my spirit; let my mortal body perish in this world, that according to Thy gracious promise I may be counted worthy to be clothed with immortality with Thee. For ever living in Thee, O LORD, death shall have no power against me."

But sixteen days afterwards, at the fourth hour of the night, the Bishop was brought forth from the prison, and at once introduced into the presence of Anulinus, the Proconsul.

And Anulinus said to him,-" What is thy name?"

Felix.-"I am a Christian.",

Anulinus."I did not inquire concerning thy profession,-, but I asked by what name thou art called."

Felix. "As I said before, so now I say to thee again, I am a Christian and a Bishop."

Upon this, Anulinus being angry that he had refused to tell him his name, said to him," Hast thou any foolish writings?” The Bishop answered, "I have some writings, but they are not foolish, as thou dost assert; and know thou for certain, that I will on no account ever give them up." ·ཏ ཎྜམས་། 1 Go a

Upon this the Proconsul ordered that he should be sent off to Rome, to the Prefect of the Guard.

When Felix the Bishop had come thither, and had presented himself before the Prefect, he ordered that he should be taken to prison, and bound with greater chains.

But after twelve days, the Prefect of the Guard ordered him to be put on ship-board, to sail after the Emperors.

So the Bishop went on board the ship very heavily laden with chains, and was in the hold of the ship four days and four nights, under the horses' feet, having no bread to eat, nor a drop of water to drink. And in this famishing state he came to Nola. Then the Chief Judge' of that city, as soon as the Bishop came, ordered him to be brought into his presence loaded as he was with very heavy chains.

And the Judge said to him,-"Felix, how camest thou hither?" The Bishop answered,-" As it pleased GOD."

Then said the Judge,-" If in thy own city, or at Carthage, thou wouldst have given up your divine scriptures, thou wouldst not have come all this way to me."

To whom the Bishop replied,—" I have, I confess, the divine Scriptures; but as thou art not ignorant of the answer I have returned to others who have questioned me, so now to thyself I make known with all possible assurance, that I shall on no account whatever give them up."

The Judge answered,-" If thou dost not give up your sacred Scriptures, thou wilt forfeit thy life."

The Bishop replied,- "I am more ready to forfeit my life than to give up the LORD's books into sacrilegious hands."

Then the Judge bethought himself to have the Emperors' decrees recited. And when they had been read by Vincentius, the Secretary, the Judge said :-" Since this man hath remained so long in the same confession, according to the decree, I give sentence, that this same Bishop, Felix, shall be beheaded with the sword."

Upon this, the Bishop raised his eyes to Heaven, and said, “O GOD, I thank Thee. Thou who hast graciously enabled me to remain faithful to Thee in this world, during six and fifty

1 Cognitor, properly, a Proctor or Attorney,-here a Criminal Judge.