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ELOGIE OF SALOMONA.
THe Mother of the Macchabees was peradventure the first Gallant Woman who sought without Arms and overcame by death. She was the Daughter of holy Conquerers, and the Mother of Mar∣tyrs, and gave to Jud•••• a Christian Heroess before Christianity. In the common ruine of her Countrey, and general Martyrdom of her Nati∣on, all sorts of Engin•• were applyed to withdraw her Children from the Religion of their Parents. They were put to defend themselves against objects both of delight and terrour, and to overcome a Tyrant armed with favours and punishments.
The Couragious Mother assisted at all their Combats, and contri∣buted her voice, her ••eal, and spirit to their Victory: so far was she from concealing them from Torments and Death, that she produced them one after another, armed with her Vertue, and fortified with her Admonitions: she animated them with her faith, and warmed them with her tears▪ she gathered together their ••lead skins, and their mu∣t••lated members, as the matter both of their Crowns and of her own; and as many deaths as she numbred, so many accomplished Victories she counted in her Thoughts.
Not that she was lesse a Mother then the tender and weeping ones 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Her soul endured Iron and Fire in the bodies of her Children, she ••ell in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 with their Members, and her Heart melted away through the•••• Wounds. But she knew the order and quality of her obligation: It was her belief that she owed more to God, then to her own blood, and more to Religion, then to her Race: And knowing that a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Death is more happy then a sinner who lives and reigns, she chose rather to make a Family of Saints then of Apostates; and to be rather a Mother in Heaven, then upon Earth.