Apples of Gold
When Babylas was to die, he required this favor, to have his chains buried with him as the ensigns of his honor. But,
7. Seventhly, I answer, That by a wise and gracious behavior under the reproaches you meet with for Christ's sake, you may be instrumental to win others to Christ.
It was a noble saying of Luther, the church converted the whole world by blood and prayer.
Many have been won to Christ by beholding the gracious carriages of Christians under their sufferings and reproaches for Christ.
We read of Cecilia, a poor virgin, who, by her gracious behavior under all her sufferings and reproaches for Christ, was the means of converting four hundred to Christ.
Adrianus, beholding the gracious, cheerful behavior of the martyrs under all their sufferings and reproaches, was converted to Christ, and afterwards suffered martyrdom for Christ.
Justin Martyr was also converted by observing the holy and cheerful behavior of the saints under all their sufferings and reproaches for Christ. During the cruel persecutions of the heathen emperors, the Christian faith was spread through all places of the empire, because the oftener they were mown down, says Tertullian, the more they grew.