II. Chilon,[75] one of the seven wise men of Greece, already mentioned upon another occasion, affords us a dying testimony of great example. It is related thus by A. Gellius: when his life drew towards an end, ready to be seized by death, he spoke thus to his friends about him: "My words and actions, in this long term of years, have been, almost all, such as I need not repent of; which, perhaps, you also know: truly, even at this time I am certain I never committed anything the remembrance of which begets any trouble in me, unless this one thing only: which, whether it were done amiss or not, I am uncertain. I sat with two others as judge, upon the life of my friend: the law was such, as the person must of necessity be condemned, so that either my friend must lose his life, or some deceit be used towards the law. Revolving many things in my mind, for relief of a condition so desperate, I conceived that which I put in practice to be of all others the most easy to be borne: silently I condemned him, and persuaded those others who judged, to absolve him: thus I preserved in so great a business, the duty both of a judge and a friend. But from that act I received this trouble: that I fear it is not free from perfidiousness and guilt, in the same business, at the same time, and in a public affair, to persuade others contrary to what was in my own judgment best." Oh, tender conscience! Yet an Heathen's. Where dwells the Christian that excelleth? Hard to be found among the great rabbies of Christendom.
III. Ignatius,[76] who lived within the first hundred years after Christ, left this, amongst other things, behind him, who was torn in pieces of wild beasts at Rome, for his true faith in Jesus, "There is nothing better than the peace of a good conscience;" intimating there might be a peace to wicked consciences, that are past feeling anything to be evil, but swallowed up of the wickedness of the world. And in his epistles to the churches at Ephesus, Magnesia, Trallis, and Rome, upon his martyrdom, saith, "Now I begin to be a disciple, I weigh neither visible nor invisible things, so that I may gain Christ." Oh, heavenly-minded man! A blessed martyr of Jesus indeed.
[76] Ignatius Epist. ad Ephes. Mag. Trall. Eus. 1. iii. c. 32, Rom.