us, or whether we are banished from them out of the sight
of earth. Heaven is the throne of God and the universe is his temple,
and each one of his children can lift up his voice from any place and at
any time to worship the Father."

Marcellus's journey extended for a long time and for a great distance.
Prepared as he was to find a great extent, he was still astonished at
its vastness. The half had not been told him! and though he had
traversed so much, he was told that this was but a fraction of the whole
extent. The average height of the passage ways was about eight feet, but
in many places it rose to twelve or fifteen feet. Then the frequent
chapels and rooms which had been formed by widening the arches gave
greater space to the inhabitants, and made it possible for them to live
and move in greater freedom. In some places, also, there were narrow
openings in the roof, through which faint rays of light passed from the
upper air. These were chosen as places for resort, but not for living.
The presence of the blessed light of day, however faint, was pleasant
beyond expression, and served in some slight degree to mitigate the
surrounding gloom.

Marcellus saw some places which had been walled up forming a sudden
termination to the passage way, but other paths branched off and
encircled them and went on as before. "What is this place which is thus
inclosed?" he asked.

"It is a Roman tomb," said Honorius. "On excavating this passage the
workmen struck upon it, so they stopped and walled up the place and
carried on their excavation around it. It was not from the fear of
disturbing the tomb, but because in death, no less than in life, the
Christian desires to follow the command of his Lord, and 'come out from
among them and be separate.'"

"Persecution rages around us and shuts us in," said Marcellus. "How long
shall the people of God be scattered, how long shall the enemy distress
us?"

"Such are the cries of many among us," said Honorius, "but it is wrong
to complain. The Lord has been good to his people. Throughout the empire
they have gone on for many generations protected by the laws and
unmolested. True, we have had terrible persecutions, in which thousands
have died in agony, but these again have passed away and left the Church
in peace.

"All the persecutions which we have yet received have served only to
purify the hearts of the people of God and exalt their faith. He knows
what is best for us. We are in h