Page:New historical catechism (2).pdf/23

 by eminent signs and tokens, keeping our prophet from us, who prefixed a time to return with all happiness to his people; so that there are forty years past by our account. And doubtless this strange and fearful vision is a presage of some great troubles and alterations; for either the opening of the book in the women's hand doth foretel our falling off from the first intent of our laws, whereat the armed men do part, as confounded with the guilt of their own consciences; or else it signifies some other book wherein we have not yet read, and against which no power shall prevail. So that I fear our religion will be proved corrupt, and our prophet Mahomet an impostor; and then this Christ, whom they talk of shall shine like the sun, and set up his name everlastingly."

Q. What is related in ancient histories 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 Maximilian, Malchius, Martianus, Dorinus, John, Serapion, and Constantius, to avoid torture, and the worship of idols, fled into a cave in mount Celion, where, after long praying, watching, and fasting, being refreshed with some food they had secretly sent for from the city, they for heaviness fell asleep. Shortly after the emperor, suspecting they were in that cave, caused the mouth thereof to be stopped up with stones, that so they might die with hunger. After which Theodosius and Ruffinus, two christian authors, wrote an account of their martrydom, supposing them to be dead, and enclosed it secretly among the stones. Decius and that generation being dend, Theodosius, a christian emperor,