First, We shall have the greater assurance and persuasion of those Divine Truths upon our souls, that they are not the mere inventions of men, or delusions of our own souls. For how can it but greatly assure us, that if this were not the truth of God, they could never have that comfort, that courage, that evidence and demonstration upon their hearts: the presence of God with them in those exquisite sufferings, do demonstrate, that the truths are of God, as well as the power and comforts to be of him. It is true indeed the mere suffering, and that with some joy, the most exquisite torments. For a religious opinion doth not presently argue, that it is a divine truth, that it hath Gods superscription upon it. For many heretical and deluded spirits have demonstrated much confidence and comfort: yet on the other side, there cannot be an external greater sign of our love to the truth, and that it is of God, then by patient suffering for it. And therefore though Heretics die, though Papists die for their Religion, as well as the true Martyr, yet the frame of their spirits and concomitant dispositions are greatly different. For as their minds are corrupted with error, so also are their hearts and affections unsanctified, and therefore discover not the sweet and gracious workings of Gods Spirit upon them, as the true sufferer doth. So that it was not merely suffering; it was not merely torments, but the patience, faith and heavenly mindedness, their love even to their very enemies, that did draw out others to love them. So that when we see others can be imprisoned, executed for such Doctrines, and they be full of an heavenly, mortified, gracious heart at that time; this must needs work in us a greater assurance of the truth, especially this doth confirm the more, when we see it is not one or two, but multitudes, yea millions, which have given testimony to such truths and that by their blood, that so many should thus be willingly undone for that which is a falsehood, is very improbable. And therefore our Divines do usually bring the constancy of Martyrs, as an argument to prove the divine truths of the Scriptures. Oh then shalt thou doubt? Shalt thou question, whether this or that be truth, when thou hast such presidents of so many laying down their lives to confirm it?
First, We shall have the greater assurance and perswasion of those Divine Truths upon our souls, that they are not the meer inventions of men, or delusions of our own souls. For how can it but greatly assure us, that if this were not the truth of God, they could never have that comfort, that courage, that evidence and demonstration upon their hearts: the presence of God with them in those exquisite sufferings, do demonstrate, that the truths are of God, as well as the power and comforts to be of him. It is true indeed the meer suffering, and that with some joy, the most exquisite torments. For a religious opinion doth not presently argue, that it is a divine truth, that it hath Gods superscription upon it. For many heretical and deluded spirits have demonstrated much confidence and comfort: yet on the other side, there cannot be an external greater sign of our love to the truth, and that it is of God, then by patient suffering for it. And therefore though Hereticks die, though Papists die for their Religion, as well as the true Martyr, yet the frame of their spirits and concomitant dispositions are greatly different. For as their minds are corrupted with error, so also are their hearts and affections unsanctified, and therefore discover not the sweet and gracious workings of Gods Spirit upon them, as the true sufferer doth. So that it was not meerly suffering; it was not meerly torments, but the patience, faith and heavenly mindednesse, their love even to their very enemies, that did draw out others to love them. So that when we see others can be imprisoned, executed for such Doctrines, and they be full of an heavenly, mortified, gracious heart at that time; this must needs work in us a greater assurance of the truth, especially this doth confirm the more, when we see it is not one or two, but multitudes, yea millions, which have given testimony to such truths and that by their bloud, that so many should thus be willingly undone for that which is a falshood, is very improbable. And therefore our Divines do usually bring the constancy of Martyrs, as an argument to prove the divine truths of the Scriptures. Oh then shalt thou doubt? Shalt thou question, whether this or that be truth, when thou hast such presidents of so many laying down their lives to confirm it?
