{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/001/0010109.htm","path":"chr/ecf/001/0010109.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/001/0010109.htm","text":"The proconsul then said to him, \u201cI have wild beasts at hand; to these will I cast thee, except thou repent.\u201d But he answered, \u201cCall them then, for we are not accustomed to repent of what is good in order to adopt that which is evil; 449 and it is well for me to be changed from what is evil to what is righteous.\u201d 450 But again the proconsul said to him, \u201cI will cause thee to be consumed by fire, seeing thou despisest the wild beasts, if thou wilt not repent.\u201d But Polycarp said, \u201cThou threatenest me with fire which burneth for an hour, and after a little is extinguished, but art ignorant of the fire of the coming judgment and of eternal punishment, reserved for the ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou wilt.\u201d\nLiterally, \u201crepentance from things better to things worse is a change impossible to us.\u201d\n41:450\nThat is, to leave this world for a better.","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol I: POLYCARP: Chapter XI.\u2014No threats have any...","type":"page"}