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And now the Matchless Theodora came to the place, whence her aspiring Soul was to take its flight to Heaven. In order to which, she first look’d about her with a kind of pity, on those, that either never, or later than she, were to be admitted into the felicity she was presently to possess: And afterwards she paus’d a while, to recover from some disorder that she was put into; not so much to see her self environ’d with Guards, as surrounded with Gazers: and then, though her Bashfulness made it more uneasie to her to speak to the Assistants, because her speech must be a publick one, than because it must be her last; yet with a Voice and Gestures, wherein the Modesty of a Virgin, and the Courage of a Martyr, were happily temper’d, she address’d her self to those that were about her, in such as the following terms.
Since Custom has made it a kind of Duty, that those that come to this place, should say something to the Spestators; and make a publick Confession of their Guilt, or protestation of their Innocence; I shall in part do both the one and the other. For I will not deny, that I am, what the Laws have condemn’d me for being. Yes; I own my self a Christian, and in spight of all my past and approaching sufferings, I declare, that I think it an honour and a happiness to be so. But on the other side, I can most truly protest, that I have transgress’d no other Roman Laws, than those that are repugnant to those of God and Reason. And since we Christians are taught by our great masters Example, as well as Precepts, not only to forgive, but to love our Enemies, and pray for our Persecutors; I think my self oblig’d, and by his assistance find my self enabled, not only to forgive, as I heartily do, the procurers of my Death, but ardently to implore for them, the Blessing, and the unmolested Exercise of a Religion, that they see I value more than I do my Life. And I hope, those in Authority will, by the frequent Executions that daily succeed one another in this place, be at length convinc’d, how ineffectual, as well as inhumane, a way they take, to extirpate Christianity: Which being an Heavenly Light, can be as little ruin’d by the Violence employed against it on Earth, as Tempests can Extinguish the Sun. And because ‘tis likely that Charity or Curiosity has, among other Spectators, brought hither some Christians, I shall now address my self to Them; yet not to desire their Pity, but their Prayers, That I may be enabled to overcome the last Enemy, Death, and finish my Course, in such a way, as may neither blemish my past Life, nor the glorious Cause I gladly loose it for. But the chief part of my Request regards your selves, not me. For I must beg you to remember, that, besides an All seeing Eye, there are many other Eyes upon you, that pry into your Actions with strong desires to find them Criminal: And that though the truth, nor the subsistance of Christianity does not, yet the Credit of it does much, depend upon the Nature of your Actions. For, as all your personal faults will be imputed to your Religion, so your shining Vertues, will probably bring many Infidels first to admire, and then to embrace Christianity; justly concluding, that That Religion must be excellent, that makes its professors so; and enables, as well as enjoins them, to live blameless in the World, and go joyfully out of it. If you lead such lives, you will not be much afraid of Martyrdom; which will but send you sooner to receive those inestimable rewards of them, that Gods goodness hath promis’d and provided. I wish you may never have cause, nor upon occasion want Courage, to enter into Life at that streight Gate, that I am now going to pass through. But if you be call’d to that way of glorifying God, let neither the ignominy, nor the painfulness of it, deter you. ‘Tis not shameful, but glorious, to suffer for God, for Truth, and for a Crown; and my Example may encourage the weakest of you to expect, that Gods strength will be made manifest in your Infirmity; and that there’s no Temptation but may be resisted and vanquished, by the weakest hand, that is supported and strengthen’d by an Almighty Arm. And though the distance between Heaven and Earth, our Mortal and our Immortal state, be very great; yet the passage between them may be very short: and a few moments may bring us to exchange our Agonys for Extasies, and pass from the Lamentations of our Friends, and the reproaches of our Persecutors, to the Congratulations of Angels, and the solemn Welcoms of Him, whom even those Heavenly Spirits adore.
As soon as she had ended this Discourse, though her Soul, abandoning such a Body as hers, could scarce any where but in Heaven, find an advantage by a change of Mansion; yet it cheerfully dispos’d it self to a Separation, that would give it a closer and more immediate Union with the Divine Object of its Coelestial love. And after she had decently and calmly, made all the preparation that on her part was requisite for what she was to suffer, she thought fit to make her Lifes last actions, as most of the rest had been, acts of Piety, and Charity. And therefore elevating her Eyes and Hands towards Heaven, where her Heart, as well as her Treasure, had been plac’d long before; she first paid her God most humble thanks, for the Grace and opportunity he had vouchsaf’d her; not only to believe in his Divine Son, but to suffer for him; and then made a short, but very fervent Prayer, for the Church, for her Enemies, and for her self. Which done, with a Countenance wherein serenity was mingled with joy, she gave a sign to the Executioner to do his Office; who thereupon did all that was necessary to compleat her Martyrdom. And the glad Soul was by the Angels, (whom she had aspir’d to resemble in Purity and Devotion) carry’d to that happy place, whose Glorys are neither to be Conceiv’d, (1 Cor. 11. 9) by those that have not seen them, nor Describ’d by those that have; (2 Cor. 12. 4) such supernatural Felicities, as much Transcending mans Idea’s and his Expressions as they surpass his Merit.