Imatges de pàgina
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13, 14.

&c.

Rev. vii. upon our Account; and in acquiring a Title to a Degree of Glory superior to what other Saints Mat. v. 10.shall be made Partakers of. Which made the blessed Martyr St. Ignatius profess, that till the Sentence of Condemnation was passed upon him, he never began to be a true Disciple of Christ.

Epist. ad.

Rom.

Q. How did the Primitive Christians generally embrace Martyrdom?

A. With great Readiness and Cheerfulness of Mind; with Comfort and Satisfaction, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the Name of Christ. And not only the Clergy but the Laity, Women as well as Men, young and old, encountered Death with great Fortitude, though it was armed with all the Variety of Torments that the Malice and Cruelty of their Enemies could invent. Q. To what Causes may we attribute this great Courage and Resolution of the Primitive Christians?

A. Next to the plentiful Effusion of supernatural Grace upon such Occasions, the great Piety and Virtue of their Lives might be a proper Foundation for this Christian Confidence. They were not only innocent, but extremely mortified; they kept their Minds free from Guilt; inured their Bodies to Hardships and severe Usage, and never softened themselves with the Pleasures and Diversions of the Age. They had a lively Sense of the Rewards of the next Life, with which the Sufferings of this are not to be compared. Their Minds were inflamed with great Love to their Lord and Master Jesus Christ, whose Blood was yet warm, and whose Sufferings for their Sakes were fresh in their Memories. Besides, many of the Rich, in Times of Persecution, reduced themselves to a voluntary Poverty, distributing what they had among the Poor, that they might be in a Readiness for Martyrdom. But the wonderful Manner sometimes of bearing their Torments; as the burning of their Bodies without a Shriek, and their rejoicing in the Midst of Flames,

must be attributed to the wonderful Work of God; either in taking away the great Sense of Pain from the holy Martyrs in the Time of their Execution: or by giving them such a lively Sense and assured Prospect of their Reward, as made the most exquisite Torments supportable to them; and we may reasonably suppose, when Women and Children despised the Cross, the Rack; and wild Beasts, that they were supported with particular Assistances from that good God, who will not suffer us to be 1 Cor. x. tempted above that we are able, or, with the Tempta-13. tion, will find a Way for us to escape, that we may be able to bear it.

THE PRAYERS.

I.

sake all for

GRANT, O merciful God! that, as thy holy For ReadiApostle St. James, leaving his Father and all that ness to forhe had without Delay, was obedient unto the Christ. Calling of thy Son Jesus Christ, and followed him, so I, forsaking all worldly and carnal Affections, may be evermore ready to follow thy holy Commandments, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

II.

in a mean

ALMIGHTY God, who, in thy wise Providence, For Conhast constituted several Ranks and Qualities tentedness of Men, that they might mutually assist to the Condition. Support of each other: teach me to be content with the Station wherein thou hast been pleased to place me, honestly and diligently to discharge the Duties of my Calling; without Anxiety to depend upon thy Blessing, for the Success of my lawful Endeavours. That, however contemptible my Profession may be in the Eyes of Men, my Fidelity and Industry may be acceptable in thy Sight; that they may bring me in the Return of a convenient Subsistence and Provision for my Family in this Life; and, in the next, the Reward that thou hast

For the
Govern-

Zeal.

promised to all that truly love and fear thee, through the Merits of Jesus Christ. Amen.

III.

GRACIOUS God, who, by the Precepts of the

ment of Gospel, and by the Example of the blessed Jesus, hast taught us the Art of governing our Passions; let not the specious Pretence of Zeal for thy Service, betray me into any unreasonable Heats, but much less to such Actions as thou hast forbidden; let not any Difference in Religion destroy in me that Charity which is a peculiar Mark of thy Disciples; but teach me to compassionate those that are in Error, and to pity those Prejudices which have so unhappily misled them: Grant that, with Meekness and Moderation, I may endeavour their Recovery, if peradventure God will give them Repentance to the Acknowledgment of the Truth: Make me ready to exercise all Acts of Kindness to their Persons, and to implore thy Grace in their Behalf, which is able to subdue the most inveterate Errors; that though they continue Enemies to thy Truth, I may never sacrifice my Patience and Meekness; but by a continuance in well-doing, wait for Glory, Honour, and Immortality, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

For the

Martyr.

dom.

IV.

BLESSED Jesus, who, for my Sake, didst Grace of endure the most painful and shameful Death of the Cross, let the Sense of this mighty Love so constantly inflame my Soul, that whenever thy Providence shall make it my Duty, I may readily and cheerfully embrace Death, though armed with the utmost Terror, rather than forsake thee. Grant that I may rejoice in such a happy Occasion of testifying the Sincerity and Fervour of my Affection towards thee, of shewing that thou art the Delight of my Soul, that I not only prefer thee before all the Pleasures and Satisfactions of Life, but that the

T

Torments and Pains of a violent Death are not able to separate me from thee. Inspire me with Courage and Resolution from above, that no Difficulties nor Dangers may affright me from thy Service, and that the Apprehension of them may never transport me beyond the Bounds of Christian Decency and Moderation. Whither shall I go? thou hast the Words of eternal Life. O! let the firm Belief of the immortal Joys and glorious Rewards thou hast prepared for those that suffer for thee, support me under all the Cruelties of the most merciless Persecutors. Let the Examples of thy holy Martyrs, who had Trial of cruel Mockings and Scourgings, of Bonds and Imprisonments, who were stoned, who were sawn asunder, and slain with the Sword, of whom the World was not worthy, stir me up to Patience and Fortitude, that I may be a Follower of them, who through Faith and Patience, inherit the Promises. Make me careful to do thy holy Will, that I may have Comfort and Joy in suffering for it. Grant this, O blessed Lord, who diedst for me, and rosest again, and now sittest at the Right Hand of the Father, to intercede for me, and all thy faithful Disciples. Amen.

CHAP. XXIX.

SAINT BARTHOLOMEW.-AUGUST 24. Q. WHAT Festival doth the Church celebrate this Day?

A. That of St. Bartholomew the Apostle.

Q. Was he one of the twelve Apostles?

A. Yes; the Evangelical History is most express Mat. x. 3. and clear as to that Matter. But he being no farther taken Notice of, than the bare Mention of his Name, many, both anciently and of later Times, have supposed that he lay concealed under the Name of Nathanael, one of the first Disciples, John i. 47. that came to Christ.

John xxi. 1, 2.

John xxi. 14.

Q. Why are Nathanael and Bartholomew thought to be the same Person under two different Names?

A. Because, as St. John never mentions Bartholomew in the Number of the Apostles, so the other three Evangelists never take Notice of Nathanael : And as in St. John, Philip and Nathanael are joined together in their coming to Christ, so, in the Rest of the Evangelists, Philip and Bartholomew are constantly put together; and afterwards we find them joint Companions in the Writings of the Church.

Q. What renders this Matter still more probable? A. That Nathanael is particularly reckoned up with the other Apostles, to whom our Lord appeared at the Sea of Tiberias after his Resurrection, where there were together Simon Peter, Thomas, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the two Sons of Zebedee, and two others of his Disciples, who were probably Andrew and Philip.

Q. How doth it appear, that by Disciples is here meant Apostles?

A. Partly from the Names of those that are reckoned up; partly because it is said, that this was the third Time that Jesus appeared to his Disciples: It being plain, that the two foregoing Appearances were made to none but the Apostles. Besides, if Nathanael had not been one of the Twelve already, no tolerable Reason can be given, why he, who was so eminently qualified, was not pitched upon to fill up the Place of Judas.

Q. What signifies the Word Bartholomew?

A. It imports a relative Capacity, either as a Son or a Scholar, rather than a proper Name. As a Son, it denotes his being born of Tholmai: As a Scholar, it may relate to him as a Disciple of some particular Sect among the Jews; and, among several other Institutions of that Nature, some learned Men reckon the Tholmaans from Tholmai, of which Order Nathanael seems to have been, and hence called Bartholomew, the Son or Scholar of the Tholmeans. And many of the Learned concur in †

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