AN EXHORTATION TO MARTYRDOM. 75 who persecuteand molestus is announced. " Then," saith he, "shall the righteousstand in great constancy before such as have afflictedthem, and who have taken away their labours; when they see it,they shallbe troubledwith a horriblefear: and they shallmarvel at the suddenness of their unexpected salvation,saying among themselves,re pentingand groaning for anguish of spirit,These are they whom we had sometime in derisionand as a proverb of re proach. We foolscounted theirlifemadness, and theirend to be without honour. How are they numbered among the childrenof God, and theirlotisamong the saints! There forehave we erredfrom the way of truth,and the lightof righteousnesshath not shined unto us,and the sun hath not risen upon us. We have been wearied in the way of un righteousnessand perdition,and have walked through hard deserts,but have not known the way of the Lord. What hath pride profitedus,or what hath the boastingof riches brought to us? All thesethings have passed away likea shadow." Likewise in the 115th Psalm isshown the price and the reward of suffering: " Precious,"it says," in the sightof the Lord isthe death of His saints."1 In the 125th Psalm also isexpressedthe sadnessof the struggle,and the joy of the retribution: " They who sow,"itsays," in tears, shallreap in joy. As they walked, they walked and wept, castingtheirseeds;but asthey come again,they shallcome in exultation,bearingtheirsheaves."1 And again,in the 118th Psalm : " Blessed are those that are undefiledin the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who search His testimonies,and seek Him out with theirwhole heart."* Moreover, the Lord in the Gospel, Himself the avenger of our persecutionand the rewarderof our suffering, says : " Blessedare theywho sufferpersecutionforrighteous ness' sake,for theirsis the kingdom of heaven."1 And again : "Blessed shallye be when men shallhate you,and shallseparateyou, and shallexpelyou, and shallrevileyour name as evil,forthe Son of man's sake. Rejoiceye in that day, and leap for joy ; for,behold,your reward is great in 1 Ps.cxvi.15. * Ps.cxxvi.5,6. 8 Ps.cxix.1,2. *Matt.v.10.