16. Of the benefits of martyrdom.

In the Proverbs of Solomon: “The faithful martyr delivers his soul from evils.”474 Prov. xiv. 25. Also in the same place: “Then shall the righteous stand in great boldness against them who have afflicted them, and who took away their labours. When they see them, they shall be disturbed with a horrible fear; and they shall wonder at the suddenness of their unhoped-for salvation, saying among themselves, repenting and groaning with distress of spirit, These are they whom some time we had in derision, and in the likeness of a proverb; we fools counted their life madness, and their end without honour. How are they reckoned among the children of God, and their lot among the saints! Therefore we have wandered from the way of truth, and the light of righteousness has not shined upon us, and the sun has not risen upon us. We have been wearied in the way of iniquity and of perdition, and we have walked through difficult solitudes; but we have not known the way of the Lord. What hath pride profited us? or what hath the boasting of riches brought to us? All these things have passed away as a shadow.”475 Wisd. v. 1–9. Of this same thing in the cxvth Psalm: “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.”476 Ps. cxvi. 5. Also in the cxxvth Psalm: “They who sow in tears shall reap in joy. Walking they walked, and wept as they cast their seeds; but coming they shall come in joy, raising up their laps.”477 Ps. cxxvi. 5, 6. Of this same thing in the Gospel according to John: “He who loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall find it to life eternal.”478 John xii. 25. Also in the same place: “But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought what ye shall speak; for it is not ye who speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.”479 Matt. x. 19, 20. Also in the same place: “The hour shall come, that every one that killeth you shall think he doeth service to God; but they shall do this also because they have not known the Father nor me.”480 John xvi. 2, 3. Of this same matter, according to Matthew: “Blessed are they which shall suffer persecution for righteousness’ sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”481 Matt. v. 10. Also in the same place: “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him which is able to kill the soul and body in Gehenna.”482 Matt. x. 28. Also in the same place: “Whosoever shall confess me before men, him also will I confess before my Father which is in heaven; but he who shall deny me before men, him also will I deny before my Father which is in heaven. And he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.”483 Matt. x. 32, 33. Of this same thing, according to Luke: “Blessed shall ye be when men shall hate you, and shall separate you (from their company), and shall drive you out, and shall speak evil of your name, as wicked, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice in that day, and exult; for, lo, your reward is great in heaven.”484 Luke vi. 22, 23. Also in the same place: “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that leaveth house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, and does not receive seven times as much in this present time, but in the world to come life everlasting.”485 Luke xviii. 29, 30. Of this same thing in the Apocalypse: “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar of God the souls of them that were slain on account of the word of God and His testimony. And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost Thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And unto every one of them were given white robes; and it was said to them, that they should rest still for a short time, until the number of their fellow-servants, and of their brethren, should be fulfilled, and they who shall afterwards be slain, after their example.”486 Rev. vi. 9–11. Also in the same place: “After these things I saw a great crowd, which no one among them could number, from every nation, and from every tribe, and from every people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb; and they were clothed with white robes, and palms were in their hands. And they said with a loud voice, Salvation to our God, that sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb. And one of the elders answered and said to me, What are these which are clothed with white robes? who are they, and whence have they come? And I said unto him, My lord, thou knowest. And he said unto me, These are they who have come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple; and He who sitteth upon the throne shall dwell among them. They shall neither hunger nor thirst ever; and neither shall the sun fall upon them, nor shall they suffer any heat: for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall protect them, and shall lead them to the fountains of the waters of life; and God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes.”487 Rev. vii. 9–17. Also in the same place: “He who shall overcome I will give him to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of my God.”488 Rev. ii. 7. Also in the same place: “Be thou faithful even unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”489 Rev. ii. 10. Also in the same place: “Blessed shall they be who shall watch, and shall keep their garments, lest they walk naked, and they see their shame.”490 Rev. xvi. 15. Of this same thing, Paul in the second Epistle to Timothy: “I am now offered up, and the time of my assumption is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. There now remains for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me in that day; and not only to me, but to all also who love His appearing.”491 2 Tim. iv. 6–8. Of this same thing to the Romans: “We are the sons of God: but if sons and heirs of God, we are also joint-heirs with Christ; if we suffer together, that we may also be magnified together.”492 Rom. viii. 16, 17. Of this same thing in the cxviiith Psalm: “Blessed are they who are undefiled in the way, and walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they who search into His testimonies.”493 Ps. cxix. 1, 2.

CAP. XVI.---DE BONO MARTYRII.

In Proverbiis Salomonis: Liberat de malis animam 0743B martyr fidelis (Prov. XIV, 25). Item illic: Tunc stabunt justi in magna constantia adversus eos qui se angustiaverunt et qui abstulerunt labores eorum. Videntes turbabuntur timore horribili, et mirabuntur in subitatione insperatae salutis, dicentes inter se , poenitentiam habentes , et per angustiam spiritus gementes: Hi sunt quos aliquando habuimus in derisum et in similitudinem improperii. Nos insensati vitam illorum aestimabamus insaniam et finem illorum sine honore. Quomodo computati sunt inter filios Dei, et inter sanctos sors illorum est! Ergo erravimus a via veritatis, et justitiae lumen non luxit nobis, et sol non est ortus nobis. Lassati sumus in iniquitatis via et perditionis, et ambulavimus solitudines difficiles, viam autem Domini 0743C ignoravimus. Quid nobis profuit superbia, aut quid divitiarum jactatio contulit nobis? Transierunt omnia illa tamquam umbra (Sap. V, 1-9). De hoc ipso in Psalmo CXV: Pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum ejus. Item in Psalmo CXXV: Qui seminant in lacrymis, in exultatione metent. Ambulantes ambulabant et plorabant mittentes semina sua, venientes autem venient in exultatione tollentes gremia sua. De hoc ipso in Evangelio cata Joannem: Qui amat animam suam perdet illam; et qui odit animam suam in isto saeculo, in vitam aeternam inveniet 0744A illam (Joan. XII, 25). Item illic: Cum autem tradiderint vos, nolite cogitare quid loquamini. Non enim vos estis qui loquimini, sed Spiritus Patris vestri qui loquitur in vobis (Matth. X, 19). Item illic: Veniet hora ut omnis qui interficit vos , arbitretur officium se Deo facere. Sed et hoc facient, quoniam non cognoverunt Patrem neque me (Joan. XVI, 2). De hoc ipso cata Matthaeum: Beati qui persecutionem passi fuerint propter justitiam , quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum (Matth. V, 10). Item illic: Ne timueritis eos qui occidunt corpus, animam autem non possunt occidere. Magis autem metuite eum qui potest animam et corpus occidere in gehennam (Matth. X, 28). Item illic: Quicumque me confessus fuerit coram hominibus, et ego confitebor illum coram Patre meo qui 0744B in coelis est. Qui autem me negaverit coram hominibus, et ego negabo eum coram Patre meo, qui in coelis est. Qui autem sustinuerit usque in finem, hic salvus erit (Ibid. XXXII, 22). De hoc ipso cata Lucam: Beati eritis cum vos oderint homines, et separaverint vos et expulerint, et maledixerint nomini vestro quasi nequam propter Filium hominis. Gaudete in illa die et exultate; ecce enim merces vestra multa in coelis (Luc. VI, 22). Item illic: Amen dico vobis, nemo est qui relinquat domum, aut parentes , aut fratres, aut uxorem, aut filios propter regnum Dei, et non recipiat septies tantum in isto tempore, in saeculo autem futuro vitam aeternam (Luc. XVIII, 29). De hoc ipso in Apocalypsi: Et cum aperuisset quintum signum , vidi sub ara Dei animas occisorum propter Verbum 0744C Dei et martyrium suum, et clamaverunt magna voce dicentes: Quousque, Domine sanctus et verus, non judicas et vindicas sanguinem nostrum de his qui in terris inhabitant? Et datae sunt eis singulis stolae albae, et dictum est eis ut requiescerent brevi adhuc tempore , donec impleatur numerus conservorum et fratrum eorum, quique postea occidentur exemplo ipsorum (Apoc. VI, 7-11). Item illic: Post haec vidi turbam multam, quam dinumerare ex his nemo poterat, ex omni gente, et ex omni tribu, et ex omni populo et lingua, stantes in conspectu throni et in conspectu Agni, 0745A et erant amicti stolas albas, et palmae fuerunt in manibus eorum, et magno clamore dicebant: Salus Deo nostro sedenti super thronum et Agno. Et respondit unus ex senioribus dicens mihi : Qui amicti sunt stolis albis, qui sunt? et unde venerunt? Et dixi ei: Domine mi, tu scis . Et ait mihi: Hi sunt qui venerunt ex magna tribulatione, et laverunt stolas suas, et candidas eas fecerunt in sanguine Agni. Ideo sunt in conspectu throni Dei, et serviunt ei diebus et noctibus in templo ejus, et is qui sedet in throno inhabitabit super eos. Neque esurient , neque sitient umquam, sed neque sol super eos cadet, neque ullum aestum patientur : quoniam Agnus qui in medio throni est, teget eos, et deducet eos ad fontes vitae aquarum, et absterget Deus omnem lacrymam ex oculis eorum (Apoc. VII, 0745B 9-17). Item illic: Qui vincet, dabo illi edere de ligno vitae quod est in paradiso Dei mei. Item illic: Esto fidelis usque ad mortem, et dabo tibi coronam vitae (Apoc. II, 7-10). Beati erunt qui vigilabunt et servabunt vestimenta sua, ne nudi ambulent et videant turpitudinem suam (Apoc. XVI, 15). De hoc ipso Paulus ad Timotheum in secunda: Ego jam delibor , et tempus instat meae assumptionis . Bonum agonem certavi, cursum perfeci, fidem servavi. Jam superest mihi corona justitiae, quam mihi reddet Dominus in illo die justus judex; non solum autem mihi, sed et omnibus qui dilexerint adventum ejus (II Tim. IV, 6-8). De hoc ipso ad Romanos: Sumus filii Dei. Si autem filii, et haeredes Dei, cohaeredes autem Christi; siquidem compatiamur , ut et commagnificemur (Rom. 0745C VIII, 16). De hoc ipso in Psalmo CXVIII: Beati qui immaculati sunt in via et qui ambulant in lege Domini . Beati qui perscrutantur martyria ejus .