S. Augustine saith,1 that he would be content, to endure the torments of hell to gain this joy, rather then to lose it. ⟨p. 216⟩Ignatius (Pauls Scholar) being threatened (as he was going to suffer,) with the cruelty of torments, answered with great courage of Faith:2 Fire, Gallows, Beasts, breaking of my bones, quartering of my members, crushing of my body, all the torments of the Devil together, let them come upon me, so I may enjoy my Lord Jesus and his Kingdom. The like constancy showed Polycarp, 3who could not by any terrors of any kind of death, be moved to deny Christ in the least measure. With the like resolution answered Basil his persecutors, when they would terrify him with death;4 I will never (said he) fear death, which can do no more then restore ⟨p. 217⟩me to him that made me. If Ruth left her own country,5 and followed Naomi her Mother in Law, to go and dwell with her in the Land of Canaan, (which was but a type of heaven,) only upon the fame which she heard of the God of Israel (though she had no promise of any portion therein,) how shouldest thou follow thy holy mother the Church, to go unto Christ into the heavenly Canaan, wherein God hath given thee an eternal inheritance, assured by an holy Covenant made in the words of God, signed with the blood of his Son, and sealed with his Spirit and Sacraments? This shall be thine eternal happiness in the Kingdom of heaven, where ⟨p. 218⟩thy life shall be a communion with the blessed Trinity, thy joy the presence of the Lamb, thy exercise singing, thy ditty Alleluia, thy consorts, Saints and Angels: where youth flourisheth that never waxeth old; Beauty lasteth that never fadeth; love aboundeth that never cooleth; health continueth that never slaketh; and life remaineth, that never endeth.
S. Augustine saith,1 that he would be content, to endure the torments of hell to gaine this ioy, rather then to lose it. ⟨p. 216⟩Ignatius (Paules Scholler) being threatned (as hee vvas going to suffer,) vvith the crueltie of torments, answered with great courage of Faith:2 Fire, Gallowes, Beasts, breaking of my bones, quartering of my members, crushing of my body, all the torments of the Diuell together, let them come vpon me, so I may enioy my Lord Iesus and his Kingdome. The like constancie shewed Polycarpe, 3who could not by any terrors of any kinde of death, be moued to deny Christ in the least measure. With the like resolution answered Basil his persecutors, when they would terrifie him with death;4 I will neuer (said hee) feare death, which can doe no more then restore ⟨p. 217⟩mee to him that made me. If Ruth left her owne country,5 and followed Naomi her Mother in Law, to goe and dwell with her in the Land of Canaan, (which was but a type of heauen,) onely vpon the fame which she heard of the God of Israell (though shee had no promise of any portion therein,) how shouldest thou follow thy holy mother the Church, to go vnto Christ into the heauenly Canaan, wherin God hath giuen thee an eternall inheritance, assured by an holy Couenant made in the words of God, signed with the bloud of his Sonne, and sealed with his Spirit and Sacraments? This shall be thine eternall happinesse in the Kingdome of heauen, where ⟨p. 218⟩thy life shall be a communion with the blessed Trinitie, thy ioy the presence of the Lambe, thy exercise singing, thy ditty Alleluiah, thy consorts, Saints and Angels: where youth flourisheth that neuer waxeth olde; Beautie lasteth that neuer fadeth; loue aboundeth that neuer cooleth; health continueth that neuer slaketh; and life remaineth, that neuer endeth.
- 1Serm. 31. de Sanctu.
- 2Hier. in Catalogo. Iren. lib. 5. cont. Valen.
- 3Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 16.
- 4Nazianz. de de vita Basil.
- 5Ruth 1.16.
