ON THE GLORY OF MARTYRDOM. 233
look into,the more the dreadfulsense of itsobligationis
gathered from itsvery aspect of venerable majesty. For
assuredlyyou ought to considerwhat glorythere is in ex
piatingany kind of defilementof life,and the foulnessof a
pollutedbody, and the contagionsgathered from the long
putrefactionof vices,and the worldlyguiltincurredby so
greata lapseof time,by the remedial agency of one stroke,
whereby both reward may be increased,and guiltmay be
excluded. Whence everyperfectionand conditionof lifeis
included in martyrdom. This is the foundationof lifeand
faith,thisis the safeguardof salvation,thisis the bond of
libertyand honour ; and althoughthereare alsoothermeans
whereby thelightmay be attained,yet we more easilyarrive
at nearnessto the promisedreward,by help of thesepunish
ments, which sustainus.
3. For considerwhat glory it is to setasidethe lustsof
thislife,and to oppose a mind withdrawn from allcommerce
with natureand the world,to allthe oppositionof the adver
sary,and to have no dread of the crueltyof the torturer;
that a man should be animated by the sufferingwhereby he
might be believedto be destroyed,and shouldtaketohimself,
as an enhancement of his strength,that which the punisher
thinks willaggravatehis torments. For althoughthe hook,
springing forthfrom the stiffeningribs,is put back again
into the wound, and with the repeatedstrokesof the whip
the returninglash1isdrawn away with the rent portionsof
the flesh;stillhe stands immoveable, the strongerfor his
sufferings,revolvingonly thisin hismind, thatin thatbru
talityof the executionersChristHimself issufferingmore in
proportiontowhat he suffers.For since,ifhe shoulddeny the
Liord,he would incurguilton His behalfforwhom he ought
to have overcome,itisessentialthatHe shouldbe seentobear
allthingsto whom the victoryisdue,even in the suffering.
4. Therefore,sincemartyrdom is the chief thing,there
are threepointsarisingout of it on which we have proposed
to ourselvesto speak: What it is,how great it is,and of
what advantage itis. What, then,ismartyrdom ? It isthe
1 " Habena;"butaccordingtoBaluzius" arena,"" an oat-straw."