42z VIC I atinonp oftie bene 2itttíbutc Chap. z r , incredible that ever Malice fhould be fo ingenious to in- -.. vent, or Cruelty fo hardened to inflict them. Ifall the Furiesof Hell had come forth to fuggef' new Tortures, they could not have deviled worfe. Neither was their merefuffering fuch Torments fo aflonifhing, as their readinefs to encounter them, and their behaviour un- der them. They maintained their Faith in the prefence Ignatius fail of the mot' formidable Princes. Some who might by to theRomans favour, , were afraid to efcape the common Perfecution, hint fromfuf efteeming no Deathprecious but Martyrdom. They jeering, Ignoo cue mihi filio_ contended carnally to fuffer, and envied others theho- Ji, quid mini nourable Ignominy and happy Torments that were en- profit ego feio Htercn De dured for their beloved Redeemer. We have aninftance Script. of their Courage in Îiburtius, who thus fpake to his E "tefiafi. Judges : Bindme to Racks and Wheels, condemnme, banifh me, loadme with Chains, burnme, tear me, o- mit no kind of Torment. Ifyou banifh me, the lmal- left corner of the Earth (hall be tome as thewhole World, becaufe I (hail find myGod there : Ifyou kill me, by the fame at you will give me the happy Liberty I figh after, and deliver me from a Prifon on Earth to reign in Heaven : Ifyou condemn me to the fire,I have quencht other flames in refittingConcupifcence : Or- dain what Torment you pleafe, it (hall not trouble me, fince my Heart is filled withLove to fuffer and defire it. Tuse efi quo(' They were thankful to thole who condemned them, ibidem featen- tiis vcùr;s era_ and regarded their Executioners with the fameeye, as tia.s agimus St. Peter did the Angel that brake off his Fetters to Te't' reflore him to Freedom. They chearfuily received them, as thofe who brought the keys of Farad!:re in the fame hands wherewith they brought their Swords.They entred into the Fire with joy, and werenot only patient but triumphant in their Sufferings ; as if they hadbeen glorified in their Souls, and impailïble to theSuffer- ings ofrheir Badies, I have fe_n, faithEr'ifebius, the Execu-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=