Page:Awful memorial of the state of Francis Spira (1).pdf/15

[15] bitterneſs of his ſpirit, ſaid, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living G!"

The violence of his paſſion and action, did amaze many of the beholders ſo much, that ſome of them ſaid, with whiſpering voices, that he was poſſeſſed. He overhearing it, ſaid, Do you doubt it? A whole legion of devils have taken up their dwelling in me, and poſſeſs me us their own! and juſtly too, for I have denied Chriſt.

Did you it wittingly, or not? ſaid they.- That is nothing to the purpoſe, ſaid Spira; Chriſt hath ſaid, "Whoſoever denies me before men, him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven." Chriſt will not be denied, no not in a word; and therefore it is enough, though in heart I never denied him.

They obſerving his diſtemper to ariſe from the ſenſe and horror of the pain of hell, aſked him, if he thought them worſe pains than what he endured for the preſent? He ſaid, that he knew there were far worſe pains than thoſe he then ſuffered: "For the wicked ſhall riſe to their judgment; but they ſhall not ſtand in judgment,". Pſalm i. This I tremble to think of! yet I do deſire nothing more, than that I might come to that place where I might be ſure to feel the worſt, and to be freed from fear of worſe to come." Ay, but you are to conſider, ſaid one, that thoſe opinions, for which you were accuſed before the Legate, were impious; and therefore you are not to think you denied Chriſt, but rather that you confeſſed him, acknowledging the infallible truth of the Catholic Church. Truly, ſaid he, when I did deny thoſe opinion, I did think them to be true, and yet I did deny him.

Sir, ſaid another, try to believe now that they are true. Now I cannot, ſaith he; God will