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affirms, that a learned heathen who lived an hundred years before Chriſt’s nativity, gives an account at large of the number, writings, country and ayes of the ten Sybils, and the author that mention’d them before his time.
Q. What is related in antient hiſtory concerning the ſeven ſleepers?
A. They were born in the city of Epheſus, in the time when Decius, the Heathen Roman emperor perſecuted the chriſtians, theſe good men being of that profeſſion: whoſe names were Maxamillian, Malobus, Marchianus, Dorinas, John Sarophrom, and Conſtantius, to avoid torture and the worſhip of idols fled into a cave, in mount Celion, after long praying, watching and faſting, they fell aſleep, the emperor expecting they were in that cave, cauſed the mouth thereof to be ſtopt up with ſtones, ſo that they might die with hunger, Decius and that generation being dead, Theodocious a chriſtian emperor after many years ſucceeded, at which time a citizen of Epheſus deſigning to make a lodge for his ſhephrrds in that cave, and the workmen opening the mouth of it, theſe ſeven chriſtians that had ſlept all this time awaked and ſaluted each other, verily ſuppoſing they had ſlept but one night and began to remember their heavineſs the day before They ſent Malobus to buy bread in the city, and gave him live ſhillings; coming to the mouth of the cave he wondered to ſee the maſons at work: and going into the city he found all things altered, and the croſs ſet up on the churches: he ſoon went to the, they ſold bread, and they ſpoke of Chriſt, at which he much wondered that there ſhould be ſuch a change ſince yeſterday when none durſt ſpeak of the true God, but he was now profeſſed openly. But when he offered, the baker money for bread, the coin was moulded, then the people ſaid, “Sure this young man hath found ſome antient treaſure!” Upon which they carry’d him before the biſhop and counſel; where declared that he and ſix more had hid themſelves yeſterday in a cave to eſcape the cruelty of Decius, and had taken that money with them. The emperor Theodocius being made acquainted therewith, he with many others went and found the other ſix chearful and hearty, their garments not being worn by age or time; the emperor thereupon glorified God, embracing and weeping over each of them for joy, ſaying, “I receive you like ſo many Lazaruſes riſen from your graves!” they continued alive ſome ſhort time after, and then died, and were buried in great pomp and ſtate by the emperor. It appeared they had ſlept two hundred and eight years.
FINIS.
