Section 181
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150 ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. and about the time of Polycarp's death. Among these, also, was Metrodorus, a follower of Marcion's error, but who appears to have been a presbyter, and who was committed to the flames. A very celebrated martyr of those times was Pionius. Those who feel inclined to know respecting him, we refer to that epistle that has been imbodied in the work on the ancient martyrs col lected by us, in which is given a very full account of his parti cular confessions, of the freedom with which he spoke, of his defence of the faith before the people and rulers. Also his in structive exhortations; moreover his strong invitations to those that fell away under the temptation of persecution, the consola tions which he presented to the brethren that came in to him in prison, what excruciating tortures he also endured besides, when he was secured with spikes, his firmness on the pile, and after all his extraordinary sufferings, his death. There are, also, records extant of others that suffered martyrdom in Pergamus, a city of Asia. Of these we mention only Carpus and Papylus, and a woman named Agathonice ; who, after many and illustrious testi monies given by them, gloriously finished their course. CHAPTER XVI. How Justin, the philosopher, suffered martyrdom, asserting the doctrine of Christ. ABOUT this time, the same Justin who was mentioned by us a little before, after having given a second defence of our doc trines to the abovementioned rulers, was crowned with divine martyrdom, at the insidious instigation of Crescens the philoso pher, who was called a cynic, and emulated the life and manner indicated by the name he bore. After having frequently refuted him in discussion, in the presence of many hearers, he at length also bore away the palm of victory, in the truth which he assert ed, by his own martyrdom. It is also plainly stated by the same excellent and most learned author, in the Apology already quoted