4. Therefore, since martyrdom is the chief thing, there are three points arising out of it on which we have proposed to ourselves to speak: What it is, how great it is, and of what advantage it is. What, then, is martyrdom? It is the end of sins, the limit of dangers, the guide of salvation, the teacher of patience, the home of life, on the journey to which those things moreover befall which in the coming crisis might be considered torments. By this also testimony is borne to the Name, and the majesty of the Name is greatly enhanced: not that in itself that majesty can be diminished, or its magnitude detracted from, by the guilt of one who denies it; but that it redounds to the increase of its glory, when the terror of the populace that howls around is giving to suffering, fearless minds, and by the threats of snarling hatred is adding to the title whereby Christ has desired to crown the man, that in proportion as he has thought that he conquered, in that proportion his courage has grown in the struggle. It is then, therefore, that all the vigour of faith is brought to bear, then facility of belief is approved, when you encounter the speeches and the reproaches of the rabble,4    [Ps. lxiv. 3. The revilings of the multitude are reckoned by the Psalmist among the most cruel tortures of Christ; and we cannot doubt that the early Christians found the like cruelty of the heathen a daily martyrdom, before they came to their crowning passion. Compare Tertullian, vol. iii. p. 712.] and when you strengthen yourself by a religious mind against those madnesses of the people,—overcoming, that is, and repelling whatever their blasphemous speech may have uttered to wrong Christ in your person; as when the resisting breakwater repels the adverse sea, although the waves dash and the rolling water again and again beats upon it, yet its immoveable strength abides firm, and does not yield even when covered over by the waves that foam around, until its force is scattered over the rocks and loses itself, and the conquered billow lying upon the rocks retires forth into the open spaces of the shore.

IV. Igitur, quoniam res summa martyrium est, tria sunt quae ex eo nobis proposuimus esse dicenda: quid sit , quantum sit, cui rei prosit. Quid est ergo martyrium? Delictorum finis, periculi terminus, dux salutis, patientiae magister , domus vitae, quo profecto etiam ea occidunt quae in futuro discrimine potuissent tormenta reputari. Per hoc et testimonium nomini redditur, et majestas nominis redampliatur; non quod per se ipsa minui possit vel de scelere retractantis magnitudo ejus infringi, sed quod redundet 0790B ad gloriae cumulum, dum circumstrepentis populi terror impavidos animos dat dolori, et minis frendentis invidiae addit ad titulum quod tantum sibi mens crescat in pugna quantum se ille putaverit vincere per quem Christus hominem voluerit coronare. Tunc ergo omne fidei robur expeditur, tunc credulitas comprobatur, cum in sermones vulgi atque in opprobrium veneris, cumque te contra illas populare insanias religiosa mente firmaveris, convincens scilicet ac repugnans quicquid sub persona tua in injuriam Christi profanus sermo jactaverit; ut cum adverso mari moles opposita reluctatur, feriant licet fluctus, et revolutum aequor identidem pulset, tamen haeret immobilis virtus, nec undis circumspumantibus adoperta succumbit, donec per scopulos vis digesta se 0790C supprimat, et superjacens saxis in aperta littoris spatia victum aequor evadat.