tit Cout tbíng ,11.° .n'OUebtatption, 4-z; Executioners tired with tormenting them, lie down Chap. 2I. panting and breathing, and others not lefs fierce, but u more freth, fuceed in their cruel Service : But Inever eft habitus faw the Martyrs weary ofSufferings, nor heard them vidoriæ no delirea Truce, much lefs Deliverance from them. if f}tæ, hæc Pal- mata veíis,ta- thejud es were foftned with their Blood, and by the r curtntrium_ force of Nature were compelled to be compaffionate, fo Phamus. Ter_ as tooffer them a releafe ifthey wouldbut feign to de- ny Chrift ; Theywere filled with indignation, efteem- citcumfett, & ing it the wort} injury, that their Perfecutors expected uqansuo velit fert. they would beguiltyofbut the fhadowof Infidelity to *Ht. ad Nar* their dear Saviour. Theywereambitious ofthe langeft and molt terrible Sufferings, forhis fake to be Martyrs in every member. They fang the Praifes of Chrift (their Tongues being harmonious with the affections of their Hearts) in the Flames, they preached Him from theCroffes, their rejoiced in him as their only Good, in the midft ofdevouring Resits. Briefly, Theypreferved an inviolable Faith to Him, notwithftanding the molt furious Batteries againft them. The barbarousEnemy might tear their Hearts from their Breafts, but never Chrift from their Hearts, to whom they were infe- parably united by Love, stronger than the molt cruel Death. Now,what lefs than the DivinePower could fupport them under thofe Torments, which 'tis almoft incre- dible that Bodies madeof flefh could endure e I will not Difpute whether it exceeds all natural force to fuffer fuch, from a vicious affectionofPride or Obftinacy : but the frequency of it exceeds all Natural Poflibility. 'Twas not impofïible for Mutios Scevola one ofthe Ro- rnans,being tranfported with indignation for mitring his defign,to holdhis right hand unmoved in the fire,(more grieved at the.errour than theburning of it) to extin- guiih in the King their Enemy all hopes ofdrawing from him
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