.-..._.... Chap.io. arcoreling to Sr M A TT id E VV. ¡Revel. 2.23. and fentcnce him, as an apof}ate, unto double damnation. He that loreth his lift for my f ke, &c. ] For elf: all's 1oÍ1 : fith it is not prom, but caul that makes a Martyr. Chrift and the thieves were in the fame condennation : Sam/ân and the phi. liffinu in tie fame deflruciion, by the downfall of the houfe: Siffxilie pcena, dfmilis camp , faith Áaagu'line. Martyrdom is a crown, as old age, if it be found in the way of righteouf- neffe. One Martyr cried out, Blared be God that ewer I was born to this happy hour. To another, when it was laid, Take leis Patraes:. heed; it is an hard matter to burn : Indeed, laid he, it is for Rtl. andMos. him that bath his foul linked to his body, as a thief's foot in a pair of fetters. Shallfinde it 3 For the lineofhie loft lifè4a11 be hid ira the endlefre- rnazeofGodsireffinercies. The pal1iou daies oftheMartyrs,were therefore anciently called,Natalitiaflubs, the birth daies offalva- tion,the day-break of cterrall brightncs. Thofe poor feduced fouls Hill ofholy: that loft theirlrves in the holy Wars, as they called rhem, and were. Warne, perfwaded that thereby they made amends to Chrift for his death, were much to be pittied. Vcrfe 40. He that receiveth you , receivetk me ] And who would not be glad to entertain the Lord Chrift ? Elizabeth held it a great matter that the mother of' her Lord fhould come to her,. Lak! t43. Behold Chrift comes to us in his fervants, in his Mi nifters efpecially. Receive them therefore, as fo many Angel,,,. yea, as Chrift htmfelf, 92/.4 14. accounting their very fee.t(how much more their faces ?) beautiful!. We know with what great refpcet Cornelius entertained `Peter. Nan tanttesfum, ut vet allo- guar, faidTertullian to certainMartyrs. He tels us alto that it wasia cuflom of fome in them times, to creep to the Martyrs. bonds in way ofhonour to : which perhaps, was more then' cuts martyr was meet. Tea. Receiveth him thatfont me.] The Heathens held it a great ho- n.%ur toentertain their gods ; and the Poets tell us of much evil that befell thofe that refufed to do fo. That Which we have heard and f ens; faith S.7.ohn, declare roe unto you, that ye ale may havefil- '1°11.1 34 loza flip with tai. But what fo great matter isthat, might f.irne fay? You and your fellows are but menofmean condition. True, fait h the Apo`.11e, but as mean as we 'are, our fällowfhip is with theFather, andwith hid SonneJefmCbrf, whowill.alfocane in and fup with. lath,, 34'. Mow
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