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 For considerwhat glory it is to setasidethe lustsof thislife,and to oppose a mind withdrawn from allcommerce with natureand the world,to allthe oppositionof the adver sary,and to have no dread of the crueltyof the torturer; that a man should be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."