a HOLY LIFE. 19 



There is indeed a degree of Bodily Pain, 

 which may be faid to be xaf a.vdqu7rov, not 

 exceeding the meafure of Man's Patience 5 

 and there is a degree which we are not a- 

 ble to bear, which takes up the whole 

 Mind, not iuffering it to divert its thoughts 

 one Minute to any other Objeft. 



Away then with the fooliili vaunts of the 

 proud Stoicks, who boait that their Wife 

 Man is happy in Thalaris his Bull; whom 

 * St. Augufline thus fmartly and ingenioufly 

 checks and confutes, If Life may be happy 

 in extreme bodily torment^ why do they ad- 

 <vife a man afflicted with the mofl grievous 

 fains to depart out of it ? Why does not 

 their IVifeman rather continue in it* that 

 he may enjoy the happinefi of it ? Is a happy 

 life to be forfaken and fled from ? But if 

 fuch a Life be really miferable^ what elfe 

 but pride hinders them from confejjing it to 

 be fo. 



You will fay, Did not the holy Martyrs 

 endure the greateft Bodily Torments with 

 invincible patience, yea fotne of them with 

 joy and exultation. 



I anfwer, 'Tis true indeed they did fo ; 

 but then I fuppofe, that as their Tempta- 



* Epffl. 51. . 



C i tions 



