ON THE GLORY OF MARTYRDOM. 239 still.For therewas one mind to allof them, which neither violencecould break down nor wrath could subvert; nor could the fearof death restrainthem from the obedienceof devotion. Whence by the Lord's grace ithappened,thatin thismanner the king himselfappearedratherto be punished in those men [who were slain],whilstthey escapewhom he had thought to slay. 13. And now, belovedbrethren,I shallcome tothatpoint whence I shallvery easilybe able to show you how highly the virtueof martyrdom is esteemed,which, although it is well known to all,and is to be desiredon account of the insigniaof itsinborn glory,yet in the desireof itsenjoyment has receivedmore enhancement from the necessityof the times. Because if any one be crowned at that seasonin which he supposeshimselfto be crowned, if perchance he should die,he isgreatlyrewarded. Therefore,sublimeand illustriousas martyrdom is,itisthe more needfulnow, when the world itselfisturned upside down, and,while the globe ispartiallyshattered,failingnatureisgivingevidenceof the tokens of itsfinaldestruction.For the rain-cloudhangs over us in the sky, and the very air stretchesforth the mournful rain-[curtain]; and as often as the blacktempest threatensthe raging sea,the glitteringlightning-flashesglow terriblyin the midst of the opening darknessof the clouds. Moreover, when the deep islashedintoimmense billows,by degrees the wave is liftedup, and by degrees the foam whitens,untilat lengthyou behold itrush in such a manner, that on those rockson which itishurled,itthrows itsfoam higher than the wave thatwas vomited forthby the swelling sea. You read thatitiswritten,thatwe must pay even the uttermost farthing. But the martyrs aloneare relievedof thisobligation; because they who trustto theirdesiresfor eternal salvation,and have overcome theirlongingsfor this life,have been made by the Lord's preceptsfreefrom the universalsuffering.Thereforefrom thisespecially,beloved brethren,we shallbe able to setforthwhat greatthingsthe virtue of martyrdom isableto fulfil. 14. And, to passovereverythingelse,we ought to remem