424 DDe armonpoft it Zit*2ittributol Chap. "z z , him the fecret ofhis Country by the force of torments: But though it were but the fufferingofone part, andfor a fliort time,yet it was not poffible that many thoufands fuch fhould have been in Rome. For then that Tingle Ex- ample hadnot been fo wonderful in all Antiquity ; But the Noble Army of Martyrs who overcame in the moft bloodybattels,was numerous beyond"account ; andcorn- pos'd ofall forts ofPerlons, of the agedand infirm, of tender Youths, ofdelicate Women, of thehonourable and obfcure ; Yet in that difference ofAges,and Sexes, Latto"es &, °- and States, there appeared fuch an equality of Verrue, buRi corporis viriejufmodi that it was vifible, the fame Heavenly Spirit inspired Lacerations them all with Courage,and by alluring ,hemof Eternal perfene ne- .pueunt, excia_ Life made them defpife prefent Death. Such heroical mane sz gemi- and frequent Confta.ncy rnuft be afcribed to the Breft- tus edam, quia .<ee$ ibis in- plate o, f'Faith and Love, ofa Coeleflial temper, where- fpitata patien- with the Almighty had arm'd them. tia. Noíiti au- tem,ut de viris Ifitbe Paid that fome have died for a falfeReligion,fo taccam, pueri that the extraordinary affiftance ofHeavenwas not ne- & mulierculæ tottotes funs ceWary to encourage the Chriftian Martyrs: the Anfwer tacité vincunt, is clear There is a vaft difference between thenumber 3c exprimere illis gemitam of the Sufferers, and manner oftheir Sufferings. nec ignis Po- I , Some few moved by Vanityand Melancholy, or teii LrtfPan. com ell'd have fuffered for a falfe Reli ion that was Lib, f. C. T3. p g authorifedby theCuftomoftheir Country for many A- ges: But innumerable Chriflians animated by the exam- ple oftheir Crucified King, freely facrificed themfelves for the teítimonyoftheGofpel upon the first Revelation ofit, before any humane refpeEts gave colour to ít. z. In thofewho fuffered for a falfe Religion were vi- fible either Fear or Vain -glory, Stubbornnefs or Rage ; but the Chrifiians in their greateft Sufferings expreft Magnanimity without Pride,Conflancy without Fierce- nefs, Patience.without Stupidity, and fuch an admirad ble Compaffion to their Enemies, as perfwaded force of
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