Exhortation to Martyrdom, Addressed to Fortunatus.

 Heads of the Following Book.

 On the Exhortation to Martyrdom.

 2. That God alone must be worshipped.

 3. What is God’s threatening against those who sacrifice to idols?

 4. That God does not easily pardon idolaters.

 5. That God is so angry against idolatry, that He has even enjoined those to be slain who persuade others to sacrifice and serve idols.

 6. That, being redeemed and quickened by the blood of Christ, we ought to prefer nothing to Christ.

 7. That those who are snatched from the jaws of the devil, and delivered from the snares of this world, ought not again to return to the world, lest t

 8. That we must press on and persevere in faith and virtue, and in completion of heavenly and spiritual grace, that we may attain to the palm and the

 9. That afflictions and persecutions arise for the sake of our being proved.

 10. That injuries and penalties of persecutions are not to be feared by us, because greater is the Lord to protect than the devil to assault.

 11. That it was before predicted that the world would hold us in abhorrence, and that it would stir up persecutions against us, and that no new thing

 12. What hope and reward remains for the righteous and for martyrs after the conflicts and sufferings of this present time,

 13. That we receive more as the reward of our suffering than what we endure here in the suffering itself,

9. That afflictions and persecutions arise for the sake of our being proved.

In Deuteronomy, “The Lord your God proveth you, that He may know if ye love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.”65    Deut. xiii. 3. And again, Solomon: “The furnace proveth the potter’s vessel, and righteous men the trial of tribulation.”66    Ecclus. xxvii. 5. Paul also testifies similar things, and speaks, saying: “We glory in the hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us.”67    Rom. v. 2–5. And Peter, in his epistle, lays it down, and says: “Beloved, be not surprised at the fiery heat which falleth upon you, which happens for your trial; and fail not, as if some new thing were happening unto you. But as often as ye communicate with the sufferings of Christ, rejoice in all things, that also in the revelation made of His glory you may rejoice with gladness. If ye be reproached in the name of Christ, happy are ye; because the name of the majesty and power of the Lord resteth upon you; which indeed according to them is blasphemed, but according to us is honoured.”68    1 Pet. iv. 12–14.

CAPUT IX.---AD HOC PRESSURAS ET PERSECUTIONES FIERI, UT PROBEMUR.

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In Deuteronomio: Tentat vos Dominus Deus vester, ut sciat si diligitis Dominum Deum vestrum ex toto corde vestro, et ex tota anima vestra, et ex tota virtute vestra (Deut. XIII, 3). Et iterum apud Salomonem: Vasa figuli probat fornax, et homines justos tentatio tribulationis (Eccli. II, 5). Paulus quoque paria testatur ac loquitur dicens: Gloriamur in spe claritatis Dei; non solum autem, sed et gloriamur in pressuris, scientes quoniam pressura tolerantiam operatur, tolerantia autem probationem, probatio autem spem: spes autem non confundit, quia dilectio Dei infusaest in cordibus nostris per Spiritum sanctum qui datus est nobis (Rom. V, 3). Et Petrus in Epistola 0663B sua ponit et dicit: Charissimi, nolite mirari ardorem accidentem vobis, qui ad tentationem vestram fit; nec excidatis, tamquam novum aliquid vobis contingat. Sed quotiescumque communicatis Christi passionibus, per omnia gaudete; ut et in revelatione facta claritatis ejus gaudentes exultetis . Si improperatur vobis in nomine Christi , beati estis, quia majestatis et virtutis Domini nomen in vobis requiescit: quod quidem secundum illosblasphematur, secundum nos autem honoratur (I Petr. IV, 12).