And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem.
13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
Ver. 13. What mean you to weep?] Ecclesiastical history mentioneth one Phileas, a nobleman and a martyr, who going to execution, seemed as one deaf at the persuasions and blind at the tears of his friends; Nam quomodo potest terrenis lachrymis flecti cuius oculi coelestem gloriam contuentur? said one Philoramus defending him, and was therefore beheaded with him.
I am ready, not to be bound] This was a brave Roman resolution. Necesse est ut eam, non ut vivam, said Pompey. The Lacedaemonians were wont to say, It is a shame for any man to flee in time of danger; but for a Lacedaemonian, it is a shame for him to deliberate. How much more for a Christian, when called by God to suffer! Go (said Luther), I will surely go (since I am sent for) in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, yea, though I knew there were so many devils to resist me as there are tiles to cover the houses in Worms. Spalatinus had sent to Luther, to inquire whether or no he would go to Worms, and appear in the gospel's cause, if Csesar summoned him; Omnia de me praesumas (said he) praeter fugam, et palinodiam. Fugere nolo, multo minus recantare. Ita me confortet Dominus. Socrates would not hearken to his friend Criton, persuading him to shift for himself by a dishonourable flight. And when some friends dealt with Dr Taylor, martyr, not to appear before Stephen Winchester, but to flee; Flee you (said he), and do as your conscience leads you; I am fully determined, with God's grace, to go to the bishop, and to his beard to tell him that he doth naught. True zeal is of a most masculine, disengaged, courageous nature, and ready to say, Shall I change mine opinion, because Hoc Ithacus velit? does Ithacus wish this? remit of my diligence for fear of death? Oh, that I might enjoy those wild beasts prepared for my torments, said blessed Ignatius. a And oh, that it might be so with me, said Basil, threatened with death by Valens the Arian emperor. b So we read of another holy bishop, who when his hand was threatened to be cut off, cried out, Seca ambas, nay, cut off both.
a Οναιμην των θηριων των εμοι ητοιμασμενων .
b Ειθε γενοιτο μοι .