Marinus was a nobleman of the city of Caesarea in Palestine, and an officer in the Roman army. Whether he had fought many battles or not history does not record; but he was a true and brave soldier, and faithful in his allegiance to his emperor.
Now it came to pass that a certain honorable and much-desired office in Caesarea fell vacant, and according to the ordinary rule of promotion in the Roman army, Marinus was the man to whom it should, by right, be given. The governor of the city was, therefore, about to appoint him to it, when another officer stood forward and objected. This man was the one who would, in due course, succeed to the place next after Marinus, but he laid claim to it at once. “For,” said he, “Marinus cannot lawfully hold such an office, because he worships not the gods of the Romans.”
When the governor heard this he was much disturbed, and sending for Marinus, he questioned him as to whether this report was true. And Marin confessed that it was; he did not worship the heathen gods. “For”, said be, “I am a Christian.”
Then the governor waxed very wroth, and said that no Christian could hold any office in the Roman State; nay, more, no Christian had any right to live under the Roman laws. Therefore he gave Marinus his choice—either would he deny the faith of Christ, offer sacrifice to Jupiter, and receive the appointment? or would he remain a Christian, and die by the headsman’s sword?
He should have three hours to decide. Three hours! And the question was life or death!
Yes, Marinus, but life that leads to eternal death, or death that leads to eternal life.
Yet the soldier hesitated, for life looked very bright before him, rich with many hopes; and it was hard, in the midst of health and strength, to lay it down deliberately at three hours’ notice. Was it worthwhile to be a Christian at such a cost?
But as he stood alone considering, the door of his room opened, and an old man entered. He was the bishop of the Church of God in Caesarea. He had heard of the governor’s order, and he had come to help Marinus.
He took him by the hand, and led him to the place where the Christians were wont to meet, for worship, and there he placed before him two things—a sword and a book—and bade him choose which he would have. The book was the New Testament.
And Marinus looked. The sword reminded him of many things which he had hitherto valued very highly—of earthly honor and glory, and power and authority. But the book made him think of One who had left the glory of heaven, and laid aside His power, had been obedient, even unto death, and had endured the shame of the cross. It made him think of the Son of God, who had loved him, even him, Marinus, and had given Himself for him, and who was, as it were, saying to him now, “Marinus, wilt thou follow Me?”
Then the soldier hesitated no longer, for what are earthly honors and glories, what is life itself, even at its best, compared with the love of Jesus? So Marinus left the sword, and chose the book.
He presented himself before the governor at the end of the three hours, and told him that he would still be a Christian; and forthwith, without further delay, he was led forth to the place of execution.
Thus Marinus, the soldier, had his place among the noble army of martyrs, and passed that day into the presence of Christ, who has said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”
And a very wealthy and noble senator of Rome; who had witnessed the constancy and death of the martyr, took up his dead body, and wrapping it in a rich garment, himself bore it away, and buried it with honor.
ML 11/08/1903