Martyrs Mirror 217SECOND EXAMINATION OF THE THREE AFORE; MENTIONED CHRISTIANS

When Maximus held court the second time over these faithful witnesses of Jesus Christ, and sat upon his judgment seat, he said: "Call in the ungodly Christians." Demetrius the captain, answered: "Here I am, my lord!" Then said the Proconsul to Tharacus: "Knowest thou not, that age is honored in many respects? Hast thou, then, not considered it, whether thou wilt still persist in thy first intention? Yea, advise with thyself, and sacrifice to the gods, for the prosperity of the princes; that thou mayest attain to honor."

Tharacus answered: "If the princes and others who are of the same opinion with you, knew what there is in this honor, they themselves would turn away from the blindness of their'vain conversation."

Tharacus put on the rack the second time. The Proconsul said to his beadles: "Strike him on the mouth with stones, and say to him: Desist from thy folly." Tharacus answered: "If I did not exercise more care for my salvation than you people do, I would be as foolish as you are."

The President said to him: "See, they have knocked thy teeth out; do have compassion upon thyself."

Tharacus replied: "Do not imagine this; for though thou shouldest cause everyone of my members to be crushed, I could still remain strong and steadfast in Him who strengthens me."

The President said: "Believe me, it is better for thee, that thou sacrifice."

Tharacus answered: "If I knew that it were better for me, I would not wait for this advice from thee."

When Tharacus ceased to speak, the Proconsul said to his hangmen: "Smite him on the mouth and make him speak."

Tharacus replied: "My cheeks are knocked to pieces; how can I answer any longer?"

Maximus said: "And wilt thou, madman, not yet consent to worship, and sacrifice to the gods?"

Tharacus answered: "Although thou hast deprived me of my voice, so that I cannot cry aloud, thou shalt nevertheless not injure my soul; but thou hast in this hour greatly strengthened me in my opinion."

Maximus said to his servants: "Bring fire! stretch out his hands, and put fire on them."

Tharacus replied: "I do not fear thy temporal fire; but I would have to fear eternal fire, if I should obey thee."

When the glowing fire was laid upon his hands, the President said: "See, the fire is consuming thy hands; desist, therefore, from thy folly and sacrifice to the gods."

Tharacus answered: "Thou speakest to me, as though because of thy cruelty I had already yielded to thy wish; however, but through the grace of God I am, in all my sufferings, as strong as ever."

The Proconsul said: "Tie his feet together, and hang him up by his heels, and make a thick smoke under his face."

Tharacus replied: "I neither regard thy fire, nor do I fear thy smoke."

When he was hung up, Maximus said to him

"There shalt thou hang, until thou consentest to sacrifice to the gods."

Tharacus answered: "Thou mayest sacrifice; for thou art accustomed to sacrifice human beings; but for me it is not lawful."

Maximus said to his servants: "Bring vinegar mixed with salt, and pour it into his nostrils."

NOTE. Here a whole leaf is wanting in the original, namely, of the tortures which Tharacus, Probus, and Andronicus suffered in the second examination on the rack; however, concerning Andronicus the following additional was found.

The Proconsul said (namely, to Andronicus): "All this nonsense can avail thee nothing. But come, and sacrifice to the gods, that thou mayest not perish under the punishment."

Andronicus replied: "It is the same that thou hast heard the first and the second time; for I am not a child, to be moved or turned by words."

The President said: "You shall nevertheless neither conquer me, nor despise my tribunal."

Andronicus answered: "We do not conquer thee, but our Lord Jesus Christ strengthens us."

The President said: "The next time we hold court over these men, let other modes of torture be put in practice. In the meantime put him (Andronicus) in irons, and keep him in prison until tomorrow, and let no one see him."