TRACTS FOR THE TIMES.
RECORDS OF THE CHURCH.
No. XIII.
THE HOLY CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD DOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THEE.
Justin Martyr.
Justin, surnamed the Martyr, was born at Sichem in Samaria, where was Jacob's well. His parents were heathens, and he grew up to man's estate, ignorant of the true God, yet dissatisfied with what the wise men of this world taught on the subject of religion. He was of an inquiring turn, and successively attached himself to various sects of philosophers, beginning with the Stoics, who are mentioned in Acts xvii. 18. At length he fancied he was making progress in the discovery of the unseen world, when one day he wandered out by the sea-side to enjoy his meditations undisturbed. To his surprise he found himself joined by an old man of grave but mild countenance. Justin stopped and steadily gazed on him. The other asked him if he knew him, that he eyed him so earnestly. On Justin's expressing surprise at meeting any one in so solitary a place, the old man accounted for the accident, and then fell into conversation with him, which ended in his preaching to him Jesus Christ, and Justin's receiving impressions which led to his conversion to the true faith. This took place, A.D. 132, about thirty years after St. John's death. About eighteen years after he fixed his abode at Rome, where he employed himself in various writings in defence of the Gospel. At length he was called upon to die for it, under circumstances which are detailed in the following ancient account.
