[348] The seven brethren that suffered in Africa under Hunnericus, Incedebant cum fiducia ad supplicium quasi ad epulas, decantantes, Gloria Deo in excelsis, &c. Votiva nobis hæc est dies, et omni solennitate festivior. Ecce nunc tempus acceptabile, ecce nunc dies est salutis, quando pro fide nunc domini dei nostri perferimus præparatum supplicium, ne amittamus acquisitæ fidei intumentum. Sed et populi publica voce clamabant: Ne timeatis populi Dei, neque formidetis minas atque terrores præsentium tribulationum, sed moriamur pro Christo, ut ipse mortuus est, redimens nos pretioso sanguine salutari. Victor. Uticens. p. 368. In Paulo quinque gloriationes observavi. Gloriatur in imbecillitate, in cruce Christi, in bona conscientia; in afflictionibus, in spe vitæ æternæ. Bucholtzer.
[349] Idololatria tam altas in mundo egit radices, ut non possit extirpari: ideo optimum est confiteri et pati. Bucholtzer. Victor. Uticensis saith, that Gensericus commanded that when Masculinus came to die, if he were fearful, they should execute him, that he might die with shame, but if he were constant, they should forbear, lest he should have the honour of a glorious martyrdom. And so his boldness saved his life. Et si martyrem invidus hostis noluit facere confessorem, tamen non potuit violare.
[350] Anacharsis (in Laertio) percontanti quædam esset securissima navis: ea inquit, quæ in portum venerit: in heaven we shall be quiet from all these tumults.
[351] Ingenii philosophici est ex inimicorum odio decerpere aliquid quod vertat in suum bonum. Paul. Scalig. p. 728.
[352] Extinctus amabiter idem.
[353] Heb. x. 31, 26, 27, 29; xii. 29.
[354] Qui propter timorem reticet veritatem, veritatis proditor est. Hincmar. Rhemens. Dialog. de Statu. Eccl.
[355] See Isa. vii. 4; xxxv. 4; xli. 10, 13; xlii. 2, 8; liv. 4; Jer. v. 22.
[356] Plus dicam: tanto est melius juste etiam damnari quam in juste absolvi, quanto est pejus impunitum crimen quam punitum: in hoc enim celeri juncta justitia est: malo magno bonum ingens: in illo autem scelus el impunitas, quæ nescio, an scelere ipso pejor fit. Plutarch. dial. 66. li. 2.
[357] See after, part iii. c. 29. tit. 3. and c. 30.
[358] Even sorrow that profiteth not, may testify a just affection. It is said by Laertius, that when Solon was reproved for mourning for his son, with a Nihil proficis; he answered, At propter hoc ipsum illachrymor, quia nihil proficio.
[359] That very old book of Hermes, called "Pastor," notably showeth how much grief and heaviness is an enemy to christianity and the Spirit of God.
[360] Pittaci sententia fuit, prudentiam virorum esse prius-quam adversa contingant, providere ne veniant: fortium vero, cum illa contigerint, æquo animo ferre. Laert. in Pittac.
[361] Acts viii. 8.
[362] Libenter feras quod necesse est: dolor patientia vincitur. Martin. Dumiens. de Morib. Tristitiam sin potes, ne admiseris: sin minus: ne ostenderis. Id. ib.
[363] See Mr. Fenner's book of Wilful Impenitency.
[364] Even Anaxagoras, a philosopher, could say to one that asked him, Nullane tibi patriæ cura est? Mihi quidem patriæ cura est, et quidem summa: digitum in cœlum intendens. Laert. p. 85.
[365] See more of the cure of doubting, ch. 25. part ii.
[366] John iii. 3, 5; Heb. xii. 14; Matt. xviii. 3; Luke xiii. 3; Rom. viii. 7, 9, 13; 2 Cor. v. 17; Gal. v. 24.
[367] Judas perished not merely by despair; but he had no such repentance as renewed his soul, nor any love to God and holiness.
[368] John i. 11, 12; iii. 16, 18; Rev. xxii. 17; 1 John v. 11, 12; John v. 40; Luke xix. 27.
[369] Though the troubles of some call for a larger discourse of this sin, yet having written a Treatise of it, I must not here be tedious in reciting what is there said already.
[370] It seemeth to be Isaac's repentance which Esau found no place for. But if it be spoken of the unacceptableness of his own repentance, when it was too late, it signifieth not that any man's is too late in this life as to salvation.
[371] De quâ vide Tract. Rob. Baronii of Mortal and Venial Sin.
[372] Luke vii. 47.
[373] John v. 40.
[374] Luke xv. 20, 22, 23.
[375] Deut. vi. 6-8; xi. 18-20.
[376] Eph. iv. 19.
[377] Psal. xxxiii. 18; xlii. 5; xliii. 5; cxlvii. 11; lxxi. 14.