ON THE GLORY OF MARTYRDOM. 237 9. Moreover, belovedbrethren,regard,I beseechyou, this considerationmore fully; forin itboth salvationisinvolved, and sublimityaccountedof,althoughI am not unaware that you abundantlyknow thatwe aresupportedby the judgments of allwho stand fast,and that you are not ignorant that thisisthe teachinghanded down to us,thatwe shouldmain tainthe power of so greata name without any dread of the warfare: becausewe whom once the desireof an everlasting remembrance has withheld from the longing forthislight, and whom the anticipationsof the future have wrenched away, and whom the societyof Christso longed forhas kept aloof from allwickedness,shrink from offeringour soul to death exceptit be in the way of yieldingto a mischief,and that thosebenefitsof God must no longer be retainedand clung to by us,sincebeyond the burning up of these things the reward is so great as that human infirmitycan hardly attainsufficientlyto speak of it. Heaven liesopen to our blood— the dwelling-placeof Gehenna gives way to our blood ; and among allthe attainmentsof glory,the titleof blood issealedas the fairest,and itscrown isdesignatedas most complete. 10. Thus, whenever the soldierreturnsfrom the enemy laden with triumphant spoils,he rejoicesin his wounds. Thus, whenever thesailor,longharassedwith tempests,arrives at safe shores,he reckons his happinessby the dangersthat he has suffered.For,unlessI am mistaken,thatisassuredly a joyous labour whereby safetyis found. Therefore all things must be suffered,allthings must be endured ; nor should we desirethe means of rejoicingfor a briefperiod, and being punished with a perpetualburning. For you ought toremember thatyou arebound, asitwere,by a certain federalpaction,outof which arisesthe justconditioneitherof obtainingsalvation,or the meritedfearfulnessof punishment. You standequallyamong adverse thingsand prosperous,in the midst of arms and darts; and on the one hand, worldly ambition,on the otherheavenlygreatness,incitesyou. 11. If you fearto losesalvation,know that you can die; and, moreover,death shouldbe contemned by you, forwhom