A word in season to this present generation, or, A sober and serious discourse…

Secondly, Will the Lord be signally present with his ¹People, in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses and most deadly dangers, then here you may see the true reason why the Saints are so comfortable, cheerful and joyful, ²in their greatest troubles, deepest distresses, and most deadly dangers; it is because of that signal presence of God with them. It was this signal presence of God with the Martyrs, that made them rejoice in the midst of their greatest sufferings, and that made them endure great sufferings, without any sensible feeling of their sufferings: As that young Child in Josephus, who when his flesh was pulled in pieces with pincers, by the command of Antiochus, said with a smiling countenance: ⟨p. 146⟩Tyrant, thou losest time, where are those smarting pains with which tho• threatenedst me? make me to shrink, and cry out if thou canst? And Bainam, an English Martyr, when the fire was flaming about him, said: You Papists talk of Miracles, behold here a Miracle, I feel no more pain than if I were in a bed of down, it is as sweet to me as a bed of Roses. Surely their strength ³was not the strength of stones, nor their flesh of brass, that they should not be sensible of so great sufferings; but this was only from that signal presence of God, that made them endure grievous pains without pain, ⁴and most exquisite torments without torment, and sore sufferings without feeling of their sufferings; and other choice souls there were, who though they were sensible of their sufferings, yet by the Divine presence they were filled with unspeakable courage, comfort and alacrity. Laurence when his body was roasted upon a burning Gridiron, cried out, This side is roasted enough, turn the other. Marcus of Arethusa, a worthy Minister, when his body was cut and lanced, and anointed with honey, and hung up a loft in a Basket, to be stung to death by Wasps and Bees, he looking down cheerfully upon the the Spectators said, I am advanced, despising you that are below; and when we shall see poor, weak, feeble Creatures like our selves, defying their tormenters and their torments, conquering in the midst of their greatest sufferings, and rejoicing and triumphing in the midst of their fiery trials, singing in Prison, as Paul and Silas did; kissing the stake as Henry Voes did; clapping their hands when they were half consumed in the flames as John Noyes did;