Martyrdom of Faithful

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Judgment and martyrdom of Faithful

And so they did; therefore he was presently condemned to be had from the place where he was, to the place from whence he came, and there to be put to the most cruel death that could be invented.

They therefore brought him out, to do with him according to their law; and first they scourged him, then they buffeted him, then they lanced his flesh with knives; after that they stoned him with stones, then pricked him with their swords; and last of all they burned him to ashes at the stake. Thus came Faithful to his end.

Now I saw that there stood behind the multitude a chariot and a couple of horses, waiting for Faithful, who (so soon as his adversaries had dispatched him) was taken up into it, and straitaway was carried up through the Clouds, with sound of Trumpet, the nearest way to the Celestial Gate.

Brave Faithful, bravely done in word and deed;

Judge, Witnesses, and Jury have,

instead Of overcoming thee, but shewn their rage:

When they are dead, thou'lt live from age to age.

But as for Christian, he had some respite, and was remanded back to prison; so he there remained for a space:

But He that over-rules all things, having the power of their rage in His own hand, so wrought it about, that Christian for that time escaped them, and went his way. And as he went he sang, saying,

Well Faithful, thou hast faithfully professed unto thy Lord;

with whom thou shalt be blessed,

When faithless ones, with all their vain delights,

Are crying out under their hellish plights:

Sing, Faithful, sing, and let thy name survive;

For though they kill'd thee, thou art yet alive.

Interpretation:

Some warriors attain physical martyrdom in the hands of pagans opposed to Christ. Some warriors who fight the False Prophet in the churches of God attain excommunication but God uses them mightily in the Body of Christ.

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