Section 180
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. 149 and his uniform walk and conversation, and him now crowned with the crown of immortality, and bearing off the indisputable prize, had provided that not even his corpse could be obtained by us, though many of us eagerly wished it, so as to have commu nion with the sacred body. Some, therefore, secretly engaged Nicetas, the father of Herod and brother of Dalce, to go to the go vernor, so as not to give the body, lest, said they, abandoning him that was crucified, they should begin to worship this one. And this they said on the suggestion and urging of the Jews, who were also watching and looking out whilst we were preparing to take him from the fire. Not knowing, howrever, that we can never abandon Christ, who suffered for the salvation of those that are becoming saved from all the world, nor even worship any other. For him we worship as the Son of God ; but the martyrs we de servedly love as the disciples and imitators of our Lord, on ac count of their exceeding love to their king and master. Of whom may we only become true associates and fellow-disciples. The centurion then seeing the obstinacy of the Jews, placed him in the middle, and burnt it according to the custom of the Gen tiles. Thus, at last, taking up his bones, more valuable than precious stones, and more tried than gold, we deposited them where it was proper they should be. There, also, as far as we can, the Lord wrill grant us to collect and celebrate the natal day* of his martyrdom in joy and gladness, both in commemoration of those who finished their contest before, and to exercise and pre pare those that shall hereafter." Such is the account respecting the blessed Polycarp, who, together with the twelve from Phila delphia, was crowned a martyr. Who, however, is rather men tioned alone by all, so that he is spoken of by the Gentiles in every place. Of such an end, then, was the admirable and apostolic Polycarp deemed worthy, according to the account which the brethren in Smyrna recorded in the epistle that we have quoted. In this same epistle, also, respecting him, othei martyrdoms are also recorded, which took place in the same city, * The martyrdom of Polycarp is here called his natal day, as his birthday foi a better world.