The works of George Swinnock, M.A

2. Courage; A Christian should be a Volunteer in death; Many of the Martyrs were as willing to dye as to dine; went to the sire as cheerfully as to a Feast, and courted its pale and ghastly countenance, as if it had be a beautiful Bride. When King Lysimachus threatened Cyrenaeus Theodorus with Hanging;¹ Istis quaeso (inquit) ista horribilia minitare purpuratis tuis; Thedori quidem nihil interest, humine an sublime putrescat; Threaten these terrible things to thy brave Courtiers, Theodorus cares not whether he rot in the Air, or on the Earth. Cyprian said Amen to his own Sentence of Martyrdom. Hierom reports of Nepotianus, that he gave up his life so cheerfully, that one would have thought he rather walked forth then died. When Ignatius was led from Syria to Rome, to be torn in pieces of wild Beasts, he often wished by the way, that he were in the midst of those Beasts that were to devour him, and that their appetites might be whetted to dispatch him; fearing lest it should happen to him, as to some others, that the Lyons out of a kind of reverence, would not dare to approach them, being ready, he said, rather to provoke them to fight, then that they should suffer him to escape. Bradford being told by his Keepers Wife, that his Chain was a buying, and he was to die the next day, pulled off his Hat and thanked God for it. When some wondered that Adam Damplip could eat his food so well when his end was so near, he told them, Ah Masters, Do you think that I have been Gods Prisoner so long in the Marshalsea, and have not yet learned to die? Yes, yes, and I doubt not but God will strengthen me therein. Ann Askew subscribed her ⟨p. 641⟩Confession in Newgate, thus, Written by me Ann Askew, that neither wisheth for death, nor feareth his might, and as merry as one that is bound towards Heaven. Indeed its said of a wicked man, that his soul is required of him, and that God takes away his soul, Luk. 12. Job 27. 10. but of a godly man that he giveth up the Ghost, and he cometh to his grave, Gen. 25. 8. Job 4. ult. Nature will teach the Heathen, that death is the end of all outward miseries to all men, hence some of them drank of its cup with as much constancy and courage, as if it had been the most pleasant Julep;