Saintb Augustine saith, That he would be content to endure the torments of hell to gain this joy rather than to lose it. Ignatius (St. Paul's Scholar) Being threatened (as he was going to suffer) with the cruelty of Torments, answered with great courage of Faith;c 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 same constancy showedd Polycarp, who could not by any terrors of any kind of death be moved to deny Christ in the least measure. With the like resolution answerede Basil his persecutors▪ when they would terrify him with death; I will never (said he) fear Death, which can do no more than restore me to him that made me. Iff Ruth left her own Country, and followed Na••i her Mother-in-law▪ to go and dwell with her in the land of Canaan (which was by 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 shouldst thou follow thy holy Mother the Church, to go unto Christ, into the heavenly Canaan; ⟨p. 102⟩wherein God hath given thee an eternal inheritance assured by an holy Covenant, made in the word of God, signed with the Blood of his Son, and sealed with his Spirit and Sacraments; this shall be rhine eternal happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven, where thy life shall be a communion with the blessed Trinity; thy joy, the presence of the Lamb; thy exercise, singing; thy ditty, hallelujah; 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 slacketh; and •ife remaineth, that never endeth.
Saintb Augustine saith, That he would be content to endure the torments of hell to gain this joy rather than to lose it. Ignatius (St. Paul's Scholar) Being threatned (as he was going to suffer) with the cruelty of Torments, answered with great courage of Faith;c 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 same constancy shewedd Polycarp, who could not by any terrours of any kind of death be moved to deny Christ in the least measure. With the like resolution answerede Basil his persecutors▪ when they would terrifie him with death; I will never (said he) fear Death, which can do no more than restore me to him that made me. Iff Ruth left her own Country, and followed Na••i her Mother-in-law▪ to go and dwell with her in the land of Canaan (which was by 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 shouldst thou follow thy holy Mother the Chruch, to go unto Christ, into the heavenly Canaan; ⟨p. 102⟩wherein God hath given thee an eternal inheritance assured by an holy Covena•t, made in the word of God, signed with the Blood of his Son, and sealed with his Spirit and Sacraments; this shall be rhine eternal happiness in the Kingdom of Heaven, where thy life shall be a communion with the blessed Trinity; thy joy, the presence of the Lamb; thy exercise, singing; thy ditty, hallelujah; thy consorts, Saints and Angels; where youth fl•urisheth, that never waxeth old; beauty lasteth, that never fadeth; love aboundeth, that never cooleth; health continueth that never slacketh; and •ife remaineth, that never endeth.
- bSerm. 31. de Sanctis.
- cHieron. in Catalogue▪ Iren. l. 3. contra Valent.Hieron. in Catalog▪ Iren. l. 3. contra Valent.
- dEus•b. l. 4. cap. 16.
- eNazian. de vit. Basil.
- fRuth 1. 16.
