Far on
beyond the prime of manhood, even upon the borders of old age, Lucullus
found the Saviour. For years the world had lost all charms. Wealth and
honor and power were nothing to him; his life was tinged with sadness
that nothing could cure. But the Spirit of God at length entered into
his heart, and through his divine power he at last was enabled to
rejoice in the love of that Saviour, of whose power over the human heart
he had witnessed so many striking proofs.

Fifteen centuries have rolled over the city of the Caesars since the
persecution of Decius drove the humble followers of Jesus into the
gloomy Catacombs. Let us take our stand upon the Appian Way and look
around.

Before us goes the long array of tombs up to the ancient city. Here the
mighty men of Rome once found a resting-place, carrying with them even
to their graves all the pomp of wealth, of glory, and of power. Beneath
our feet are the rude graves of those whom in life they cast out as
unworthy to breathe the same air of heaven.

Now what a change! Around us lie these stately tombs all in ruins, their
sanctity desecrated, their doors broken down, their dust scattered to
the winds. The names of those who were buried here are unknown; the
empire which they reared has fallen forever; the legions which they led
to conquer have slept the sleep that knows no waking.

But on the memory of the persecuted ones who rest below a world looks
back adoring their sepulcher has become a place of pilgrimage; and the
work in which they took such a noble part has been handed down to us to
be perpetuated for evermore.

Humbled, despised, outcast, afflicted, fame may not have written their
names upon the scroll of history, yet this much we know,

"These are they which came out of great tribulation
And have washed their robes
And made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God
And serve him day and night in his temple;
And He that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more; neither thirst any more;
Neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat;
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them,
And shall lead them unto living fountains of waters,
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."

THE END.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Martyr of the Catacombs, by Anonymous

*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE M