162 MATTHEW OT WESTMnrSTEB. A.D. 156. the same time. Saint Pontianue, at the command of the emperor Antoninus, arrived nobly at the glory of martyrdom, and received the palm of a martyr after the fire of many tribulations. A.D. 146. Mark succeeded to the bishopric of Alexandria. About the same time, at Smyrna, Saint Polycarp was delivered to the flames in the time of the emperor Antoninus ; and being thoroughly tried, and found pure, deserved a crown from the Lord. A.D. 147. The heretic Valentinue became notorious, and prevailed till the time of Nicetus. About the same time, the Blessed Philip, bishop in the city of Cortina, being made perfect in holiness, fell asleep in the Lord. A.D. 148. Vesomedius of Crete, a musical poet of lyric poems, flourished. A.D. 149. Taurus Hyresius, an illustrious philosopher of the Platonic sect, flourished. About the same time, Saint Papyrus, the bishop, became a glorious martyr at Pergamus. A.D. 150. Hyginus became pope, and sat in the Roman chair four years, three months, and six days. He arranged the order of the clergy, and settled the différent ranks in regular order. A.D. 151. Apollonius the Stoic, and Basilida, both eminent philosophers, flourished. About the same time, Maria, a virgin, went to the Lord happily, being made a martyr by the command of the emperor Antoninus. A.D. 152. Adrian of Nicomedia, and Maximus of Tyre, flourished. At the same time, Saint Félicitas and her seven sons were beheaded for Christ's sake, by command of the emperor Antoninus. A.D. 153. Celadion flourished as bishop of the Church at Alexandria. A.D. 154. Pius satin the Roman chair ; he ruled his see for eleven years, three months, and twenty-one days, and it was vacant twenty-two days. A.D. 155. Hermes wrote a book, which is called the " Shepherd's Book," in which is contained the precept of an angel* that Easter should be always celebrated on the Lord's day. A.D. 156. Polycarp, a disciple of the blessed Saint John, came to Rome, and delivered many men from the taint o f heresy, who had been lately corrupted by the doctrine o f Valentine and Cerdo.