They were Martyrs for God. To prove this, read the History of the _Maccabees_, and if we like not so farre to owne what is Apocryphall, turne to _Heb._ 11. which is a booke of the _Jewish_ Martyrs, a Catalogue of them that suffered under _Antiochus_, and those _Syrian_ Tyrants. And they were not few that suffered, but many; nor light punishments, but unspeakeable torments. Now God takes it so kindly that we give up our lives to torments, and to death for his Name, that commonly he owes that person a good turne in his posterity. And if upon these accounts God hath an eye upon them, we also should be like minded, and love them too. _Seventhly_, It is a duty which we owe to Gods expresse command, for so I take that in the literall sence, in _Isa._ 62.6, 7. _Ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence, and give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make_ Jerusalem _a praise in the earth_. This duty the Prophet himselfe performed in vers. 1. _For_ Sions _sake I will not hold my peace, and for_ Jerusalems _sake I will not rest, till the righteousnesse thereof goe forth as brightnesse, &c._ And also the Church in her affliction, _Psal._ 137.5, 6. And now that _Sion_ is in the dust, if we that beleeve among the _Gentiles_, did pitty her, and compassionate her in her ruines, it were an argument that God is about to arise, and have mercy upon her; as may be urged from Psalme 102.13, 14. _Lastly_, They minded our conversion to God. This appeares in the writings of almost all their Prophets, especially in the Psalmes, _Isaiah_, _Jeremiah_, _Hoseah_, _Malachi_. Now then for us to love the notion, and in what we may, help forward their returne, what is it but an honest and just retaliation?