An exposition with practical observations continued upon the eighth, ninth, & tenth chapters of…

There's a notable story I find concerning Cyprian when he came to suffer martyrdom,¹ and (you will say) that was a great service, to lay down his life for God: In his last prayer he had these two expressions, which are remarkable in it. The first expression was this,^* Lord (saith he) I am prepared to pour forth the very sacrifice of my blood for thy Name sake, yea, Lord, I am prepared here to suffer any torment whatsoever. These two expressions he had. You will say, Now surely this man might stand upon his terms with God. (But he goes on) But when thou doest lift up thy self to shake the Earth, Lord (saith he) under what cleft of the rock shall I hide my self, to what mountain shall I speak even to fall upon me? As if he should say, Lord, though I be here ready to give up my body to be massacred for thee, to give up my blood to be an offering, and to suffer any torment, yet when I consider what a God I have to do withal, if thou shouldest deal with me as I am in my self, Oh! I must cry to the Rocks to cover me, and the Hills to fall upon me. Oh! this should teach us to keep our hearts low and humble after we have done the greatest work whatsoever. I remember one of the Germane Divines when he was full of fears and doubts, when he was to die: say some to him, You have been so employed,³ and have been so faithful, why should you fear? Oh! (he gives this Answer) The Judgements of man and the Judgments of God are different; I am to go before the great and Al-seeing God: though it's true, God would not have us daunted with any terrible apprehensions of him, but yet he would have us be possest with reverence so as to be humbled when we think what a God it is we ⟨p. 455⟩have to do withal: you must reap in mercy, Oh! this shall be the song of the Saints to all eternity, Mercy, Mercy: Not unto us, Lord, not unto us, but unto thy Name be the praise.

There's a notable story I find concerning Cyprian when he came to suffer martyrdom,¹ and (you will say) that was a great service, to lay down his life for God: In his last prayer he had these two expressions, which are remarkable in it. The first expression was this,