Page:Tracts for the Times Vol 2.djvu/545

Rh be attended to, and what thou talkest of is all nothing. So give up all the books which thou hast, that they may be burnt with fire, according to the decree."

Felix.—"It were better that I should give up my body to the fire, than that the Scriptures should seem to be burnt by my means. For it is good to obey, the immortal, everlasting King, rather than an Emperor of the world, when he commands that which is wicked to be done."

Magnilian.—"I have already told thee, that the Emperors' command is the chief thing to be regarded, and not what you talk of."

Felix.—"The chief thing is to keep the commandments of God, rather than to obey men."

Magnilian.—"I allow thee a space of three days wherein to recollect thyself. For if here, in thy own city, thou refuse to fulfil the decree, thou must go to the Proconsul, and plead before his court the things which thou hast now been saying."

After three days Magnilian, the mayor, commanded the holy Bishop, Felix, to be brought into his presence. And when he was brought in, Magnilian said, "Hast thou deliberated with thyself, and come to any better determination?"

Felix.—"My word is one and the same; where it began, there also by grace it shall finish. For the things which I said at first, the same I now also say, and before the Proconsul, I shall not utter any thing else whatever."

Magnilian.—"Well, then, thou shalt go straight to the Proconsul, and there give an account for thyself, as he shall examine thee."

Then he thus spoke to his men. "Inasmuch as Felix the Bishop is in no respect willing to act according to the decrees of the Emperors, which they had graciously communicated to us, let him be taken to Carthage, and do you accompany him thither."

To which Felix answered,—" be praised."

Then one Vincentius, a Senator of the city of Tubyza, was