doeth the will of God abideth for ever.'

"These things were well understood by our holy and inspired
fathers; and mindful of the Apostle's word that we must through
much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, they strove,
after holy baptism, to keep their garment of immortality spotless
and undefiled. Whence some of them also thought fit to receive
yet another baptism; I mean that which is by blood and martyrdom.
For this too is called baptism, the most honourable, and reverend
of all, inasmuch as its waters are not polluted by fresh sin;
which also our Lord underwent for our sakes, and rightly called
it baptism. So as imitators and followers of him, first his
eyewitness, disciples, and Apostles, and then the whole band of
holy martyrs yielded themselves, for the name of Christ, to kings
and tyrants that worshipped idols, and endured every form of
torment, being exposed to wild beasts, fire and sword, confessing
the good confession, running the course and keeping the faith.
Thus they gained the prizes of righteousness, and became the
companions of Angels, and fellow-heirs with Christ. Their virtue
shone so bright that their sound went out into all lands, and the
splendour of their good deeds flashed like lightning into the
ends of the earth. Of these men, not only the words and works,
but even the very blood and bones are full of all sanctity,
mightily casting out devils, and giving to such as touch them in
faith the healing of incurable diseases: yea, and even their
garments, and anything else that hath been brought near their
honoured bodies, are always worthy of the reverence of all
creation. And it were a long tale to tell one by one their deeds
of prowess.