her to dâ—e for his Truth and to wear his Livery meaning the Haltar which the Hangman had put about her neck Then sitting down at Table to break her fast with the three other condemned Servants of Christ giving thanks to God she exhorted them to be of good courage and to trust unto the end in his free and onely mercy She then called for a clean linen Wastcoat making her self ready Ward pag. 151. as if she had been going to a Wedding Mr. Ward tells us that sâ—e put on her Bracelets for I go said she unto my Husband Being commanded as she was led to execution to take a Torch into her hand and to acknowledge she had offended God and the King Away away said she with it I have neither offended God nor the King according to your meaning nor in respect of the cause for which I suffer I am I confess a sinful woman but I need no such light for helping me to ask forgiveness of God for my sins past or present Use such things your selves who sit and walk in the darkness of ignorance and errour Then one of her Kinsfolks met her in the way presented to her view her little children praying her to have compassion on them I must needs tell you said she that I love my children dearly but yet neither for the love I bear to them or any thing else in this world will I renounce the Truth or my God who is and will be a Father unto them to provide better for them then I should have done and therefore to his providence and protection I commend and leave them When she saw the three men about to die silent and not to call on God she exhorted them thereto and gave them an example Glover Mr. Robert Glover in his Letter to his Wife hath many memorable passages Fox Vol. 3. pag. 422. the chief I shall collect I thank you heartily most loving Wife for your Letters sent to me in my imprisonment I read them with tears more than once or twice with tears I say for joy and gladness that God hath wrought in you so merciful a work 1 An unfeigned repentance 2 An humble and hearty reconciliation 3 A willing schmâ—ssion and obedâ—ence to the will of God in all things These your Letters and the hearing of your godly proceedings have much relieved and comforted me c. and shall be a goodly Testimony for you ar the great Day against many worldly and dainty Dâ—mes which set more by their own pleasure and praise in this world than by Gods Gâ—ory little regarding as it appeareth the everlasting health of their own souls or others So long as God shall lend you continuance in this miserable world above all things give your self continually to Prayer lifting up pure hands without anger wrath or doubting forgiving as Christ forgives And that we may be the better willing to forgive it is good often to call to remembrance the multitude greatness of our sins which Christ daily and hourly pardoneth and forgiveth us And because Gods Word teacheth us not onely the true manner of praying but also what we ought to do or not to do in the whole course of our life what pleaseth or displeaseth God Joh 12. and that as Christ saith The Word of God that he hath spoken shall judge us Let your Prayer be to this end especially that God of his great mercy would open and reveal more more daily to your heart the true sense knowledge and understanding of his mest holy Word and give you grace in your living to express the fruit thereof And forasmuch as Gods Word is as the Holy Ghost calleth it The Word of affliction 1 Cor. 1. i.e. it is seldome without hatred persecution peril danger of loss of goods and life c. Call upon God continually for his assistance casting your accounts what it is like to cost you endeavouring your self through the help of the Holy Ghost by continuance of prayer to lay your foundation so sure that no storm or tempest shall be able to overthrow it remembring alwayes as Christ saith Lots wife Luke 17. i. e. to beware of looking back to that thing that displeaseth God and nothing more displeaseth God than I dolatry that is false worshiping of God otherwise than his Word commandeth They object they be the Church c. My answer was The Church of God knoweth and acknowledgeth no other head but Jesus Christ the Son of God whom ye have refused and chosen the man of sin the Son of perdition enemy to Christ Pa. 423. the Devils Deputy and Lieutenant the Pope Christs Church heareth teacheth and is ruled by his Word John 1 as he saith My Sheep hear my voice If you abide in me and my Word abide in you you be my Disciples Their Church repelleth Gods Word forceth all men to follow their traditions Christs Church dares not add nor diminish alter or change his blessed Testament Acts 7. but they be not afraid to take away all that Christ instituted and go a whoring as the Scripture saith with their own inventions c. The Church of Christ is hath been and shall be in all ages under the Cross persecuted molested and afflicted the world ever hating them because they are not of the world but these persecute murther slay and kill such as profess the true doctrine of Christ be they in learning living conversation and other vertues never so excellent Christ and his Church referred the trial of their doctrine to the Word of God John 5. and gave the people leave to judge thereof by the same Word search the Scriptures But this Church taketh away the Word from the people and suffereth neither learned nor unlearned to examine or prove their doctrine by the Word of God The true Church of God laboureth by all means to resist and withstand the Iusts desires motions of the world the flesh the Devil these for the most part give themselves to all voluptuousness c. I likened them to Nimrod whom the Scripture calls a mighty Hunter telling them That that which they could not have by the Word they would have by the Sword and be the Church whether men will or no. Beware of such as shall advertise you something to bear with the world as they do for a season There is no dallying with Gods matters It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God Remember the Prophet Elias 1 Chr. 18 Luke 9. Why halt ye on both sides Remember what Christ saith He that putteth his hand to the Plough and looketh back is not worthy of me And seeing God hath hitherto allowed you as a good Souldier in the foreward play not the Coward neither draw back to the rere-ward Saint John numbreth among them that shall dwell in the fiery Lake such as be fearful in Gods Cause Set before your eyes alwayes the examples of such as have
disdained as slaves misers and wretches The Bishop laid to my charge my not coming to Church Here I might have dallied with him and put him to his proofs Notwithstanding I answered him through Gods merciful help that I neither had nor would come at their Church as long as their Mass was used there to save if I had them five hundred lives The Bishop asking me who should judge the Word I told him Christ was content that the people should judge his Doctrine by searching the Scriptures and so was Paul Methinks ye should claim no farther priviledge nor preâ—eminence than they had The Bishop telling me He was my Bishop and therefore I must believe him If you say black is white said I must I also say as you say and believe the same because you say it is so Pa. 425. If you will be believed because you be a Bishop Why find you fault with the people that believed Mr. Latimer Mr. Ridley Mr. Hooper c. that were Bishops Because they were Hereticks said the Bishop And may not you erre quoth I as well as they I looked for learning at my Lords hand to perswade me and he oppressed me onely with his Authority He said I dissented from the Church and asked me where my Church was before King Edward's time I desired him to shew me where their Church was in Elias time and what outward shew it had in Christs time The tidings that I should be carried to Lichfield did at first somewhat discourage me fearing least I should by reason of my great sickness through extream handling which I looked for have died in the Prison before I should come to my answer But I rebuked immediately with Gods Word this infidelity in my self c. after this manner What make I of God Is not his power as great in Lichfield as Coventry Doth not his providence extend as well to Lichfield as Coventry Was he not with Habakkuk Daniel Meshach Jeremy in their most dangerous imprisonments He knows what things we have need of them He hath numbred all the hairs of our head The Sparrow falleth not to the ground without our heavenly Fathers will much more will he care for us if we be not faithless whom he hath made worthy to be witnesses of his truth So long as we put our trust in him we shall never be destitute of his help neither in prison nor in sickness nor in health nor in death nor before Kings nor before Bishops Not the Devil himself much less one of his Ministers shall be able to prevail against us With such like meditations I waxed chearful of good consolation and comfort So that hearing one say They could not provide Horses enough for us I said Let them carry us in a Dung-Cart for lack of Hoeses if they list I am well content for my part I told Jephcot the Chancellors Servant That they should have judgement without mercy that she weâ— no mercy and this mercy I found at his hand at Lichfield He put me into a Prison that same night where I continued till I was condemned in a place next to the Dungeon c. very cold with small light and there he allowed me a bundle of Straw instead of a Bed without Chair Form or any other thing to ease my self withall God of his mercy gave me great patience through prayer that night so that if it had been his pleasure I could have been contented to have ended my life In the time of my imprisonment I gave my self continually to prayer and meditation of the merciful promises of God made unto all without exception of persons that call upon the Name of his dear Son Jesus Christ I found in my self daily amendment of health of body increase of peace in conscience many consolations from God by the help of his holy Spirit sometime as it were a taste and glimmering of the life to come All for his onely Son Jesus Christs sake To him be all the praise for ever and ever The enemy cease not many times sundry wayes to assault me Oftentimes objecting to my conscience my own unworthiness of the greatness of the benefit to be accounted amongst those that suffer for Christ for his Gospels sake Against him I replied with the Word of God on this sort What were all those whom God had chosen from the beginning to be his Witnesses and to carry his Name before the world Were they not men Acts 24. Rom. 11. Rem 4. John 1. as well subject to sin and imperfections as other men be Who gave first unto him What hast thou that thou hast not received All have received of his fulness They were no bringers of any goodness to God but altogether receivers They chose not God first but God chose them They loved not God first but he loved them first Yea he both loved and chose them when they were his ene mies full of sin and corruption as well as void of all goodness He is and will be the same God as rich in mercy as mighty as able as ready as willing to forgive sins without respect of persons to the worlds end of all them that call upon him God is near he is at hand he is with all with all I say and refuseth â—one excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call upon him in what hour what place or what time soever it be It is no arregancy nor presumption in any man to burden God as it were with his promise and of duty to claim and challenge his aid help and assistance in all our perils dangers and distress calling upon him not in the confidence of our own godliness but in the trust of his own promises made in Christ His Word cannot lye Call upon me in the day of trouble Psal 50. and I will hear thee and thou shalt praise me I answered â—he enemy also on this manner I am a sinner and therefore unworthy to be a witness of this truth What then Must I deny his Word because I am â—ot worthy to profess it What bring I to pass in â—o doing but add sin to sin What is greater sin â—han to deny the truth of Christs Gospel He that 〈◊〉 ashamed of me or of my words saith Christ of him â—lso will I be ashamed before my Father and all his â—ngels I might also by the same reason forbear to â—o any of Gods Commancments When I am provoked to pray the enemy may say to me I am 〈◊〉 worthy to pray therefore I shall not pray c. 〈◊〉 When the Bishop came to Lichfield he perswaded me to be a Member of his Church which had continued so many years As for our Church as he called it it was not known he said but larely in King Edward's time I profess my self to be a Member of that Church said I that is builded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone And the Church hath been
In English thus If God pretect me malice cannot end me If not all I can do will not defend me After dark night I hope for light H. Haggar He was persecuted for saying A. 1520. Fox Vol. â— pag. 44. that There should be a battel of Priests and all the Priests should be slain and that the Priests should a while rule but they should all be destroyed for making of false gods That the men of the Church should be put down and the false gods that they make and after that they should know more and then should be a merry world Hale When Thomas Hale was taken by an Alderman of Bristow and another he said unto them Fox Vol. 3. pag. 892. You have sought my blood these two years and now much good do it you He was bâ—rned A. 1557. for saying The Sacrament of the Altar is an Idol Hall Nichalas Hall in his Answer to the first Article against him granted himself a Christian man Fox Vol. 3. pag. 38â— and acknowledged the determinations of the holy Church i. e. of the Congregation or Body of Christ but denied to call the Catholick and Apostolick Church his Mother because he found not this Word Mother in the Scripture To the second he said That whereas before he held the Sacrament to be but onely a token or remembrance of Christ's death now he said that There is neither token nor remembrance because it is now misused and clean turned from Christs institution c. Hallewin Harman When Cornelius Hallewin of Antwerp had received a sharp Letter Fox Vol. 3. Cont. p. 7. sent him from the Minister of the Flemish Church upon the occasion of a recantation spread and falsly fathered upon Cornelius the blood gushed out of his nose he spread abroad his arms and made pitiful out-cries What to deny the Truth said he God forlid O that the faithful should conceive so hardly of me Good God thou knowest I am innocent nor have I this way offended When he was condemned to die the Margrave offered him that he should die a more easie kind of death if he would give ear to the Priests which he had brought to him to Prison No Sir said he God forbid I should do such a thing Do ye with my body what ye will As they bound him and Harman of Amsterdam Harman wâ—lled the Margrave to take heed what he did for said he this will not go for payment in Gods sight in bereaving us thus of our Lives I wish you therefore to repent before it be too late You cannot long continue this tyrannous course for the Lord will shortly avenge it A Cross being offered them and a promise that they should be beheaded and not burnt if they would take it into their hands they said They would not give the least sign that might be of betraying the Truth and that it was all one to them what death they were put to so they died in and for the Lord. The punishment they said could last but for a while â—ut the glory to come was eternal At the Stake Cornelius fell on his knees praying God to forgive his enemies who had sinned through ignorance When the Margrave of Antwerp offered Hallewin and Harmar mitigation of torments upon abjuration Ward pag. 157. We are resolved said they these momentary afflictions are not worthy that exceeding weight of glory that shall be revealed Hallingdale Articles against John Hallingdale Fox Vol. 3. pag. 856. 3 That during the reign of King Edward he did depart from his former Faith and Religion and so doth continue and determineth so to do as he saith to his life's end 4 That he hath divers times said That the Faith Religion and Ecclesiastical Service received observed and used now in this Realm is not good but against Gods command c. And that he will not in any wise conform himself to the same but speak and think against it during his natural life 5 That he absenteth himself continually from his Parish Church c. 6 That he will not have his Child by his will as he saith confirmed by the Bishop Unto all which Articles he made this answer that he confessed all and every part to be true He told Bonner that the blood of the Prophets Revel 18 and of the Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth was found in the Babylonical Church which is the Church where the Pope is head Because I will not come to your Babylonical Church therefore you go about to condemn me Being demanded whether he would recant he answered That he would continue and persist in his Opinions to the death When the Sentence was read He openly thanked God that he never came into the Church since the abomination came into it Hallywell When William Hallynell and the twelve more that were burnt in one Fire at Stratford the Boâ— near London were condemned Fox Vol. 3. pag. 708. and carried down thither to be burnt they were divided into two parts in two several Chambers Thereupon the Sheriffe came to the one part and told them That the other had recanted and their lives therefore should be saved willing and exhorting them to do the like and not to cast away themselves unto whom they answered That their Faith was not built on man but on Christ crucified Then the Sheriffe went to the other part and said the like to them but they answered as their Brethren had done before That their Faith was not built on man but on Christ and his Word Hamelin Mr. Philibert Hamelin of Tournay Fox Vol. 3. Cont. p. 5. refusing offers of escape out of Prison said I esteem it altogether unbeseeming for a man that is called to preach Gods Word unto others to run away and to break Prison for fear of danger but rather to maintain the Truth taught even in the midst of the flaming fire After Sentence of death was past upon him he eat his meat as joyfully as though he had been in no danger speaking to them of the happiness of eternal life evidencing that A good conscience is a continual feast When he was apprehended Fox Vol. 2 pag. 151. there was apprehended with him his Host whom he thought he had converted but afterward he renounced Christ and his Word Whereupon he said unto him O unhappy and more than miserable Is it possible for you to be so foolish as for the saving of a few dayes which you have to live by the course of nature so tostart away and deny the Truth Know you therefore that although you have by your foolishness avoided the corporal fire yet your life shall be never the longer for you shall die before me and God shall not give you the grace that it shall be for his Cause and you shall be an example to all Apostates Immediately after as he was going out of the Prison he was slain by two Gentlemen that had a quarrel with him whereof when
leave the living God and his most holy commandment c. promising the world at will to all that will fall down and for a mess of pottage sell and set at naught the everlasting Kingdome of Heaven Therefore I am bold in bond as entirely desiring your everlasting selicity to warn you and most heartily desire you to watch and pray On the high mountains doth not grow most plenty of graâ—s neither are the highest trees farthest from danger but feldome sure and alwayes shaken of every wind that bloweth Such a deceitful thing saith our Saviour is honour and riches that withour grace it choketh up the good seed sown c. It maketh a man think himself somewhat that is nothing at all for though for our honour we esteem our selves and stand in our own light yet when we shall stand before the living God there shall be no respect of persons for riches helpeth not in the day of vengeance nor can we make the Lord partial for money Though the world rage Prov. 1. and blaspheme the Elect of God ye know that it did so unto Christ his Apostles and to all that were in the Prinitive Church and shall be unto the worlds end I beseech you in the bowels of Christ my Lord Jesus stick sast unto the Truth let it never depart out of your hearts and conversations c. Yours in him that liveth for ever In his Letter to his Wife Pa. 267. after his Condemnation I exhort you to love God with all your heart and soul and mind c. To lay sure hold on all his promises that in all your troubles you may run strait to the great mercy of God c. And be sure that neither Devil Flesh nor Hell shall be able to hurt you But if you will not keep his holy Precepts and call for Gods help to walk in the same but will leave them and do as the wicked world does then be sure to have your part with the wicked world in the burning lake Beware of Idolatry which most of all stinks in Gods Nostrils and hath been of all good men derested from the beginning of the world for the which what Kingdomes c. God hath punished with most terrible plagues c. to the utter subversion of them is manifestly to be seen through the whole Bible yea for this he dreadfully plagued his own people c. But how he hath preserved those that abhorred superstition and idolatry c. is also to be seen from the beginning out of what great danger he hath delivered them yea when all hope of deliverance was past as touching their expectation c. I exhort you also in the bowels of Christ that you will exercise and be stedfast in Prayer the onely mean to obtain of God whatsoever we desire so it be askt in Faith O what notable things do we read in Scripture that have been obtained through fervent Prayer Whatsoever you desire of God in Prayer ask it for Jesus Christ's sake for whom and in whom God hath promised to give us all things necessary Though what we ask come not by and by continue still knocking and he will at length open his treasures of mercy c. Yet once again I warn you that ye continue fervent in Prayer c. In his Letter to Mr. Pa. 268. Throgmorton Whereas the love of God hath moved you to require my Son to be brought up before your eyes and the self same love hath also moved me to leave him in your hands as a Father in my absence I shall require you in Gods behalf according to your promise that ye will see him brought up in the fear of the Lord and instructed in the knowledge of his holy Word that he may learn to leave the evil and know the good c. And this I require you to fulfill or cause to be fulfilled as ye before the Living God will make answer for the same Yours and all mens in Christ Jesus Hector Bartholomen Hector being condemned Fox Vol. 2 pag. 155. was threatned that if he spake any thing to the People his Tongue should be cut off yet he did not forbear He pray'd for the Judges That God would forgive them and open their eyes He refused a Pardon offered him at the Stake At his Death many wept saying Why doth this man die who speaketh of nothing but of God When he was called before Authority to be examined Fox Vol. 3 cont pag. 5. he would answer them to nothing before he had made his Prayer to God Whereupon falling down upon his knees he said Lord open my mouth and direct my Speech to utter that onely that may tend to thy honour and glory and the edification of thy Church When he was bound to the Stake Gunpowder and Brimstone was brought to be placed about him he lifting up his eyes to Heaven said Lord how sweet and welcome is this to me Hernaudes Mr. Julian Hernaudes Fox Vol. 3. cont p. 14. a Spanish Martyr came from the Wrack and the Tortures of the Inquisition inflicted on him for bringing with him and causing to brought into Spain many Books of the Holy Scriptures in Spanish as from a Conquest saying to his Fellow-prisoners as he past by them These Hypocrites are gone away confounded no less than wolves that have been long hunted When he was brought forth to his Execution he said to the rest Courage my valiant and constant Brethren non is the hour come in which as the true Champions of Jesus Christ we must witness his Truth before men and for a short tryal for his sake we shall triumph with him for ever and ever Herwyn When John Herwyn of Flanders Fox Vol. 3. Cont p. 17. was led to Prison the Baâ—liffe meeting certain Drunkards in the Street and saying They say we have many Gospellers in Houscot but it little appears by these disorders he replied Mr. Bailiffe is drankenness a sin What of that said the Baâ—liffe Why then said Herwyn commit you not these fellows to Prison seeing it is your office to punish vice and to protect such as fear God After he was in Prison because he was not called forth before the Magistrates assoon as he desired and expected he grew heavy and sad asking Why they so delayed the matter for his he art was fired with an holy zeal to confess Christ before his Judges When he was brought forth he admonished his Judges to examine the Doctrine of the Roman Church by the true Touch-stone which is the holy Scripture that so they might discern how opposite and contrary the one is to the other Consider also said he what the words of St. Peter import where he affirms That we ought to obey God rather that man c. When he craved for Justice either one way or another they urged him to desist from his Opinion but he answered That his faith was not built on an Opinion Psal 14. but said he
Citiâ— require but of such Laws as men have ordaineâ— for the Church of Christ which should be now anâ— for ever governed by the word of God Tâ—â—â— Law must-prevail We must obey God rather thâ—â— man The example hereof we have in Dauiel 〈◊〉 the Three Children who chose rather to burn 〈◊〉 the fiery Furnace than to worship the Image thâ— Nebuchadnezzar had made So did the Apostleâ— Acts. 5. Cursed be those that make such Lawâ— and cursed be those that with sophistry deseâ— them ch 5. The Authority of Gods word requireth me to pronounce this true Judgement in the case of Images that be not worshipped in the Church that their presence in the Church is against Gods Word as well as to say Sancta Maria 〈◊〉 pro nobis The old Testament saith Exod. 20. Deut. 6. Thou shalt make no Image The New saith that Christ came not to destroy the Law but to fulfil it Matth. 5. Christ therefore hath left the commandments of the old Law unto the Church in which he saith Thou shalt not make any Image Of late years Images were in the Temple and honoured with pater moster heart and mind leg and knee Now they be applied to another use to teach the people to be Lay-mens books as Damascene c. saith O blasphemous and devillish Doctrine The most perfect Churches of the Prophets Christ and his Apostles used no such mean and we ought to follow them and the Word of God writ by the Prophets and Apostles The words of Gregor ad Seren. Episcop Massil part 10. Ep. 4. should move no man though he say Quod legentibus Scriptura hoe ideotis pictura praftat cernentibus This is but Gregory's opinion Epiphanius was not of his mind He willed the occasion of ill to be taken out of the Church as Paul commandeth 1 Thes 5. This Doctor was as all men know of singular learning and vertue Again against the Authority of Gregory the Great I set the Authority of Athanasius the Great who denieth in express words the Images to be the Books of the Lay people Lactantius Firmianus crieth so out against Images that he saith there can be no true Religion where they be Tertullian judgeth the same Loved we God we would be content with the Scripture Shall not the Patriarks Prophets Christ and his Apostles suffice the Church of God What although many learned men have approved Images should their wisdome maintain any contrary to the Word of God Such as defend them have nothing but sophistical arguments to blind the people with The Scripture nor Apostles Church used none Had all Asia Africa and Europe and Gabriel the Archangel descended from Heaven approved the use of Images forasmuch as the Apostles never taught nor wrote any such thing their Authority should have no place the Word of God solely and only is to be prefer'd which forbiddeth Images ch 10. The Office of Christ to sanctifie us according to John 17. I sanctifie my self that they may be sanctified doth abrogate all other things that mans constitutions attribute any holiness unto as bewitched water c. for only Christ sanctifieth and all holiness we must attribute unto him Sactaments must be used holily yet not have this Office of Christ added to them ch 11. In the latter dayes when Christ as King was to be born the Angel declâ—red the Power and Puissance of his Kingdome He shall reign over the house of Jacob and of his Kingdome there shall be no end Luke 1. Although the Commonwealth of the Church hath no certain place appointed where it shall remain as it was appointed in the old Law yet certain we be that this Kingdome of Christ remaineth upon the Earth and shall do till the Earth be burned Matth. 16.28 1 Cor. 15. Howbeit as Christ wan and obtained this Kingdome in the later dayes without shield or spear so doth he preserve it with his holy Spirit and not with carnal weapons My Kingdome is not of this world John 18. Meaning he would not reign in this world as a Prince of this world in pomp and pride but defend his people with his holy Spirit that the Devil and the World should not break their patience though many afflictions and sorrows should fight against them for the Truth 's sake Christ doth not deny to be King of the world but he meant not to reign worldlily to the hinderance and defacing of the Emperouts Dignity and Title as the Jews falsly accused him as Cyrillus l. 12. c. 10. in Johannem saith This Kingdome shall be ever perseâ—nted till the worlds end Isaiah the Prophet described the Church of this present life saying He will give you the bread of adversity and the water of afflictione but he will not remove thy teachers chap. 30.20 Thus the Church shall alwayes remain but in affliction I know such as favour not the Truth will interpret my words that I condemn all Princes and Kings as enemies of the Gospel because they peaceably enjoy their Kingdomes whereas I wish them alwayes so to do to the glory of God but of this one thing I will assure every Prince of the world The more sincere he is in the Cause of God the more shall be his Cross God indeed preserveth above humane reason his Ministers as he did Jacob from the hands of Esau David from Saul Daniel from the â—ons and Paul in the Ship when there was no humane hope of salvation Likewise he governeth his Church with his only Laws The only Law whereunto this Congregation is bound ist he Gosrel as Christ saith Joh. 4. The Holy Ghost shall teach you all things and brng to your remembrance all things which I have said unto you Here Christ bindeth the Apostles all the Church unto the things that he had taught them Such as teach the people to know the Commonwealth of the true Church by these signs the traditions of men and the succession of Bishops teach wrong Those two false opinions have given unto the succession of Bishops power to interpret the Scripture and power to make such Laws in the Church as it pleased them God hath given the Civil Magistrates power and authority to make such Laws for the Commonwealth as shall be agreeable with reason and not against Gods Law and likewise power to interpret the same Laws but this is not to be admitted in the Church unto whom God hath given the Gospel and interpreted the same by his only Son taught the meaning and contents thereof himself The adversaries of the Truth defend many an error under the name of the holy Church when the Church therefore is named diligently consider when the Articles they would defend were accepted of the Church by whom and who was the Author of them Leave not till the matter be brought unto the first original and most perfect Church of the Apostles If thou find by their writings that their Church used the thing that the Preacher would prove then accept it or
A CLOUD OF WITNESSES OR THE Sufferers Mirrour Made up of The SVVANLIKE-SONGS and other CHOICE PASSAGES of several MARTYRS and CONFESSORS to the Sixteenth Century in their Treatises Speeches Letters Prayers c. in their Prisons or Exiles at the Bar or Stake c. Collected out of The Ecclesiastical Histories of Eusebius Fox Fuller Petrie Scotland And Mr. Samuel Ward 's Life of Faith in Death c. and Alphabetically disposed By T. M. M. A. Hebr. 12.1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses let us run with patience the race that is set before us James 5.10 Take my Brethrea the Prophets who have spoken in the Name of the Lord for an example of suffering affliction and patience London Printed for Robert Boulter at the Turks Head in Bishopsgate-street 1670. Renowned Mr. Samuel Ward of Ipswich gives the following testimony to the living speeches of dying Christians which he collected AS for their last Speeches and Apothegms pity it is no better mark hath been taken and memory preserved of them The choice and prime I have culled out of ancient Stories and later Martyrologies English Dutch and French The profit and pleasure hath paid me for the labour of Collecting and the like gain I hope shall quit the cost of thy Reading By these which are but an handful of Christs Camp-Royal it sufficiently appears they had their Faith fresh and lively in the face of their grand Enemy Death and by vertue of their Faith their Spirits Witts and Tongues untroubled and undismayed The learned and ingenious Author of the Preface to Mr. Frith's Treatises of preparation to the Cross under the Title of Vox Pisces or the Book-Fish gives the following Testimony to several of the remarkable passages in this Collection PErhaps unto some Palats no Liquor seemeth desirable but that which hath a delicious tang of the curiosity of these later Times both for method and stile For my part I say with the words in the Gospel Luke 5.39 The old Wine is better And accordingly contemplating and comparing the devout Discourses written in our Language upon the breaking forth of the Light of Reformation I am far more deeply taken with the solid simplicity and powerful Spirit which methinks I find in the Writings of those Confessors and Martyrs who watered the Garden of Reformation with their own blood in this Land than with the more elaborate and artificial composures written more lately in the Times of our Peace Who in reading the Letters and Ghostly Meditations of blessed Bradford Taylor Philpot c. yea even of other their Brethren less learned that wrote and spake with that Hand Heart and Breath which they were most ready to yield up for the testimony of the Truth doth not therein perceive that lively warmth of holy zeal which is able to awake even a dull and sleepy soul Among which Martyrs as this worthy Frith is one of the first for antiquity so well may he be in the foremost rank for comfortable exhortation and soundness of Doctrine The Collectors Preface THe Speeches of dying men are remarkable the Speeches of dying Christians are much more remarkable How remarkable then are the Speeches of dying Witnesses for Christ It is rationally expected that dying men much more that dying Christians and most of all that dying Witnesses for Christ should speak best at last It is their last These are the last words of David 2 Sam. 23. And the Sun shineth brightest at setting They are immediately to give in their last account They are upon the borders of Eternity And the motions of Nature are more intense as they draw nearer the Center To be sure Saints are most heavenly when nearest Heaven Rivers the nearer the Sea the sooner are met by the Tide We have good Scripture-ground to expect that dying Christians especially dying Witnesses for Christ should have extraordinary assistances from on high for their last Discourses That the Wine of the Spirit should be strongest in them at their last They have Gods Word for it That in that hour it shall be given them Mat. 10.19 what they shall speak for it is not they that speak but the Spirit of their Father One observeth that when Stephen was to deliver his last speech and to suffer he was filled with the Holy Ghost so that all that sate in the Council looking stedfastly on Stephen Act. 6.5 saw his face as if it had been the face of an Angel His soul was so warmed by the love of God that he looked both his Adversaries and the tempestuous approaching Storm our of countenance When he was stoned he got a larger sight He saw the Heavens opened and his majestick Glorious Master the light-giving Diamond of Heaven Act. 7.55 standing at his Fathers right hand And this he got no doubt as for himself so to hearten all those that were to come after he being the first Martyr after Christ Hence it hath been often found that their last Speeches have been Oraculous and Prophetical Zenophon personates Cyrus as inspired whilst he is breathing out his last requests The nearer we return to the Original Divinity â—s Plâ—tinus speaketh the more Divine we grow One observeth from a Scripture instance That what hath been asserted by dying Witnesses hath most speedily come to pass Zachariah told the children of Israel 2 Chr. 24 20 24. Because ye have forsaken the Lord he hath also forsaken you For this he was immediately stoned and the Lord sealed his Word very speedily afterwards For the Assyrians coming with a small company against them the Lord delivered a very great multitude into their hands and so without delay in their sight sealed the words of his dying Witness Zachariah And why his word sooner then Isaiah's Jeremiah's Ezekiel's c. By them he pleaded much longer with his Apostatizing Church I know none but this It was the Lords pleasure and to shew his respect to dying Witnesses that he would have what they say taken special notice of It may be that he might shew that whatever fail the words of dying Witnesses shall not fall to the ground It is true we must not lay such weight upon these sayings 1 Pet. 1.9 as we must lay upon Scripture prophesies for though such sayings may be true prophesies yet we are not infallibly assured that these are prophesies till they be accomplished yet their sayings while dying for and in the Lord do give good encouragement to them that remain alive and so to be much esteemed by them whether they respect the honour of God or the good of souls The last Speeches of Christs dying Witnesses have extorted even from Heathens acknowledgments to the honour of God Vere magnus est Deus Christianorum Calocerius that truly the Christians God is a great God yea by them sinners have been converted Justin Martyr and others by observing the end the Martyrs made were brought out of love with the wayes
Christ shall be on the same Augustine Boughs fall off trees said he and stones out of buildings Ward pa. 140. and why should it seem strange that mortal men dye Austine Austine a Barbar Fox Vol. 2. pag. 124. born about Hennegow in Germany as he was led to execution being desired by a Gentleman to have pity upon himself and if he would not favour his life yet that he would favour his own soul He answered What care I have of my soul you may see by this that I had rather give my body to be burned than to do that thing that were against my conscience B Babilas Babilas Bishop of Antiâ—ch St. Chrysost cont Gentiles being cast by Decius into a filthy stinking Prison for the name of Christ with as many irons as he could bear intreated his Friends that visited him that after his death they would bury with him the signs and tokens of his valour meaning his bolts and fetters Now said he will God wipe away all tears Ward pag. 141. and now I shall walk with God in the land of the living Bainham Mr. James Bainham Fox Vol 2. pag. 300. when he repented of his Recantation in Austin's Church in London He declared openly with weeping eyes that he had denyed God and prayed all the people to beware of his weakness and not to do as he did For said he If I should not return again unto the truth this Word of God he having a New Testament in his hand would damn me both body and soul at the Day of Judgement He perswaded them to die by and by rather than to do as he did for he would not feel such an hell again for all the worlds good When he was at the Stake in the midst of the flaming fire which had half consumed his Arms and Legs he spake these words O ye Papists Behold ye look for miracles and here now you may see a miracle for in this fire I feel no more pain than if I were in a Bed of Down it is to me as a Bed of Roses Barbevil John Barbevil said to the Friers that called him ignorant Ass Ward pag. 162. Well Admit I were so yet shall my bloud witness against such Balaams as you be Bale Mr. John Bale in his excellent Paraphrase in Apocalyps See the image of both Churches printed 1550. In his Preface He that will live godly in Christ Jesus and be a patient sufferer he that will stand in Gods fear and prepare himself to temptation he that will be strong when adversity shall come and avoid all assaults of Antichrist and the Devil let him give himself wholly to the study of this prophesie He that knoweth not this Book knoweth not what the Church is whereof he is a member It containeth the universal troubles persecutions and crosses that the Church suffered in the Primitive Spring what it suffereth now and what it shall suffer in the later Times by the subtilties of Antichrist and his Followers the cruel Members of Satan and it manifesteth what Promises what Crowns and what Glory the said Congregation shall have after this present Conflict with the Enemies that the promised Rewards might quicken the hearts of those that the Torments feareth Unto St. John were these Mysteries revealed when he was by the Emperor Domitianus exiled for his Preaching into the Isle of Patmos at the cruel Complaints of the Idolatrous Priests and Bishops and by him writ and sent out of the same exile into the Congregations The Contents of this Book are from no place more freely and clearly opened nor told forth more boldly than out of exile Flattery dwelâ—ing at home and sucking there still his Mothers breasts may never tell out the truth he seeth so many dangers on every side as displeasure of Friends decay of Name loss of Goods offence of Great men and jeopardy of Life c. The forsaken wretched sort hath the Lord provided alwayes to rebuke the world of sin hypocrisie blindness for nought is it therefore that he hath exiled a certain number of believing Brethren the Realms of England of the which afflicted Family my faith is that I am one Whereupon In have considered it is no less my bounden â—â—uty under pain of damnation to admonish Christs flock by this present Revelation of their perils past and dangers to come for contempt of â—he Gospel which now reigneth there above all 〈◊〉 the Clergy Graciously hath the Lord calâ—ed them especially now of late but his voice is â—othing regarded His Servants have they impriâ—ned tormented and slain having his Verity in much more contempt then before We looked for a time of peace saith the Prophet Jeremiah and we fare not the better at all we waited for a time of health and we find here nothing else but trouble And no marvel considering the Beasts head that was wounded is now healed up again so workmanly as Rev. 13. mentioneth The abominable hypocrisie idolatry pride and filthiness of those terrible termagaunts of Antichrists holy houshold those two-horned Whoremongers those Conjurers of Egypt and lecherous Locusts leaping out of the bottomless Pâ—t which daily deceive the ignorant multitude with their Sorceries Charms must be shewed to the World to their utter shame and confusion To tell them freely of their wicked works by the Scriptures I have exiled my self for ever from mine own native Countrey Kindred Friends Acquaintance which are the great delights of this life and am well contented for the sake of Christ and for the comfort of my Brethren there to suffer poverty penury abjection reproof and all that shall come beside Here are we admonished before-hand of two most dangerous evils neither to agree with those Tyrants that wage war with the Lamb in his elect Members nor yet to obey those deceitful Bishops thaâ— in hypocrisie usurp the Churches Titles O those hath our heavenly Lord premonished us in this heavenly work of his and graciously called us away from their abominations lest we should be partakers of their sins and so receive of their plagues If we unthankfully neglect it the greateâ— is our danger Barlaam He holding his hand in the flame over the Altar Fox Vol. 1 pag. 118. Ward pag. 141. sung that of the Psalmist Thou teachest my hands to war and my fingers to fight I have been reported said Dr. Fox Vol. 2 pag. 527. Barnes at the Stake to be a Preacher of Sedition and disobedient to the Kings Majesty but here I say to you that you are all bound by the command of God to obey your Prince with all humility and with all your heart and that not onely for fear of the sword but also for conscience sake before God Yea I say further If the King should command you any thing against Gods Law if it be in your power to reâ—ist him yet may you not do it Basil When Valens the Emperour sent his Officers to him seeking to turn him from the
contrary to the Word of God and their own Laws and Doctors I do not believe saith he that ever God will suffer long so great Tyranny against his Word and so violent Oppressions of Christians as they now use and that in the Name of Christ and his Holy Church Now it is come to that that whoever he be high or low poor or rich wise or foolish that speaketh against them and their vicious living he is either made a Traytor to your Grace or an Heretick against Holy Church as though they were Kings or Gods If there be any men that Preach Dispute or put forth in Writing not any thing touching them though it be never so blasphemous against God the Blood of Christ and his Holy Word they will not once be moved therewith But if any man speak against their Cloaked Hypocrisie or against any thing belonging to them by which their abominations are disclosed nothing can excuse but he must either to open shame or cruel death and that under the accusation of Treason But who is he that would be â— Traitor or maintain a Traitor against your Majesty Sure no man can do it without the great displeasure of the eternal God The Doctrine of the Gospel teacheth all obedience to Rulers and not Sedition and such as have preached the Word of God onely have never been the movers of disobedience or rebellion against Princes but they have been ready to suffer with all patience whatsoever Tyranny any Power would minister unto them giving all people example to do the same whereas the Papists exempt the Pope and Priests from being bound to obey Magistrates Yea as to the people they teach that the words requiring Subjection are a Counsel and not a Command and that the Popes Authority is sufficient to Dispense with all the Commandments of God Wherefore most gracious Prince I lowly and meerly desire your Majesty to Judge between the Bishops and me which of us is truest and faithfullest to God and to your Majesty The following Articles were some of Dr. Barnes his Position in his Sermon which the Bishops condemned for Heresie 1 If thou believe that thou art more bound to serve God to morrow which is Christmas day or on Easter day or on Whitsunday for any holiness that is in one day more than another thou art superstitious 2 Now dare no man preach the Truth and the very Gospel of God especially they that be feeble and fearful but I trust yea I pray to God that it may shortly come that false manifest errours may be plainly shewed c. 3 We make now adayes Martyrs I trust we shall have many more shortly for the Verity could never be preached plainly but persecution followed 6 I will never believe neither can I believe that one man may be by the Law of God a Bishop of two or three Cities yea of a whole Countrey for it is contrary to Saint Paul Tit. 1. who â—aith I have left thee behind to set in every City a Bishop 7 It cannot be proved by Scripture that â— man of the Church should have so great temporal possessions 8 Sure I am that they cannot by â—he Law of God have any Jurisdiction secular 9 They say they be the Successors of Christ and his Apostles but I can see them follow none but Judas for they bear the purse and have all the money To burn me or to destroy me saith he in his Defence of the Two and twentieth Article cannot so greatly profit them for when I am dead the Sun and the Moon and the Stars and the Elements yea and also Stones shall defend this Cause against them rather than the Verity should perish As for me I do promise them here by this present Writing and by the fidelity I owe to my Prince that if they will be bound to our noble Prince after the manner of his Law and after good conscience and right that they shall do me no violence nor wrong but discuss and dispute these Articles and all other that I have written after the holy Word of God and by Christs holy Scripture with me then will I as soon as I may know it present my self unto our most noble Prince to prove these things by Gods Word against you all He also writ unto King Henry the Eighth an excellent Treatise to prove from the Scriptures of Truth and out of the Writings of the Fathers thaâ— faith onely justifieth before God Prefacing it thus Now if your Grace do not take upon you to hear the Disputation of this Article out of the ground of holy Scripture my Lords the Bishops will condemn it before they read it as their manner is to do with all things that please them not and which they understand not and then cry they Heresie Heresie an Heretick an Heretick he ought noâ— to be heard c. He writ also several other Treatises as what the Church is what the Keys of the Church be and to whom they were given Against free-will thaâ— it is lawful for all men to read the holy Scriptures that mens constitutions which are not grounded in Scripture bind not the Conscience c. In which Treatise he tells us there be two manners of Powers a Temporal and a Spiritual Power The Temporal is committed to Magistrates in this Power the King is chief and full Ruler c. Unto this Power must we be obedient in all things that pertain to the ministration of this present life and of the Commonwealth not onely for avoiding of punishment but for conscience sake So that if this Power command any thing of Tyranny against right and law alwayes provided it repugne not against the Gospel nor destroy our Faith our Charity must needs suffer it Nevertheless if he command thee any thing against right or do thee any wrong if thou canst by any reasonable and quiet means without sedition insurrection or breaking of the common Peace save thy self or avoid his Tyranny thou mayest do it with good Conscience But in no wise mayest thou make any resistance with sword or with hand but obey except thou canst avoid as I have shewed thee But now it will be enquired if it please the King to condemn the New Testament in English and to command that none of his Subjects shall have it under displeasure whether they be bound to obey this Command or no To this he answers having shewed why the King should not lay any such Command on his Subjects If the King forbid the New Testament or any of Christs Sacraments or the preaching of the Word of God or any other thing that is against Christ under a temporal pain or under the pain of death men should first make faithful prayers to God and then intercede the King for a release of the Command If he will not do it they shall keep their Testament with all other Ordinances of Christ and let the King exercise his Tyranny if they cannot flee and in no wise under
my friends get ye hence The presence of God to whose goodness I commend my soul is abundantly sufficiently for me Colver Sheep we are for the slaughter said Francis Colver to his two Sons Ward pa. 163. massacred together with himself this is no new thing let us follow millions of Martyrs through temporal death unto eternal life Coo. Roger Câ—â— being asked by the Bishop of Norwich Fox Vol. 3419. whether he would not obey the Kings Laws answered As far as they agree with the Word of God I will obey them Whether they agree with the Word of God or no we are bound to obey them said the Bishop though the King were an Infidel Coo replyed If Shadrach Meshach and Abednego had so done Nebuchadnezzar had never confessed the Living God Constantine Being carried with other Martyrs in a Dung-Cart to the place of Execution Ward pa. 154. he spake thus Well yet are we a precious odour and a sweet savour to God in Christ Cornford John Cornford one of the last five that suffered Martyrdome in Queen Mary's dayes when the Sentence should have been passed Fox Vol. 3. pag. 893. and they should have been executed by the Papists being moved in Spirit with a vehement zeal for God in the name of them all pronounced Sentence of Excommunication against the Papists in these words In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of the most mighty God and by the power of the holy Spirit and the authority of his holy and Apostolick Church We do hereby give into the hands of Satan to be destroyed the bodies of those Blasphemers and Hereticks that do maintain any errour against his most holy Word or do condemn his most holy Truth for Heresie to the maintenance of any false Church or seigned Religion so that by this thy just judgment against thy Adversaries thy true Religion may be known to thy great glory and our comfort to the edifying of all our Nation Lord Jesus So be it It is observable that within six dayes after this Excommunication Quen Mary died and the tyranny of all English Papists with her Conlogue Brethren and Sisters said Peter Conlogue of Breda at the Stake be you alwayes obedient to the Word of God and fear not those that can kill the body Fox Vol. 3. pag. 50. for on the soul they can have no power as for me I am now going to meet my glorious Spouse the Lord Jesus Christ Cranmer When Dr. Thomas Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury was Excommunicated he said Fox Vol. 3. pag. 92. From this your Judgement and Sentence I appeal to the just Judgement of God Almighty trusting to be present with him in Heaven for whose presence in the Altar I am thus condemned In his Letter to Mr. Wilkinson Pa. 677. The true Comforter in all distresses is onely God through his Son Jesus Christ Whosoever hath him hath Comfort enough although he were in a Wilderness all alone He that hath twenty thousand in his company if God be absent is in a miserable Wilderness In him is all comfort and without him is none Wherefore I beseech you seek your dwelling there where you may truly and rightly serve God dwell in him have him ever dwelling in you After he had recanted and was brought to Saint Mary's Church in Oxford where Dr. Cole after he had preached bitterly against him shewing why he was to be executed notwithstanding his Recantation prest him to evidence to the people his conversion to Popery Dr. Cranmer entreated the people to pray with him and for him that God would pardon his sins especially his Recantation After he had prayed he told them Pa. 669. It is a sad thing to see so many so much dote upon the love of this false World and be so careful of it and so careless of Gods love or the World to come therefore this shall be my first exhortation that you set not your minds overmuch upon this glozing World but upon God and the World to come to learn to know what this Lesson meaneth which St. John teacheth That the Love of this World is hatred against God Let rich men consider and weigh three Scriptures Luke 18. It is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of Heavin 1 John 3. He that hath the substance of this world and seeth his Brother in necessity and shutteth up his mercy from him how can he say that he loveth God James 5.1 2. Go to now ye rich men weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you your riches are corrupted Another exhortion is That next under God you obey your King and Queen willingly gladly without murmuring or grudging They are Gods Ministers Whosoever resisteth them resisteth the Ordinance of God And now I come said he to the great thing that so much troubleth my Conscience more than any thing that ever I did or said in my whole life and that is the setting abroad a Writing contrary to the Truth which now here I renounce and refuse as things written with my hand contrary to the Truth which I thought in my heart and written for fear of death and to save my life if it might be And forasmuch as my hand offended writing contrary to my heart my hand shall first be punished therefore for may I come to the fire it shall be first burned At the Stake when the fire began to burn near him he stretching out his arm put his right hand into the flame which he held so stedfast that all men might see his hand burned before his body was touched His eyes lifted up to Heaven he cried out even as long as he could speak O his unworthy hand His last words were the words of Stephen Lord Jesus receive my spirit Cromwel Thomas Lord Cromwel Earl of Essex Fox Vol. 2. pag. 529. the morning that he was executed having chearfully eaten his break-fast passing out of the Prison down the Hill in the Tower met the Lord Hungerford going to Execution for other matter and â—erceiving him to be heavy and doleful he willed him to be of good comfort for if you repent said he of what you have done there is mercy enough for you with the Lord who for Christs sake will forgive you and though the break-fast we are going to be sharp yet trusting in the mercy of the Lord we shall have a joyful dinner In his Prayer on the Seaffold O Lord Jesus Pa. 515. who art the onely health of all men living and the everlasting life of them which die in thee Being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed to thy mercy willingly now I leave this frail and wicked flesh in sure hope that thou will in better wise restore it to me again at the last day in the resurrection of the Just I see and acknowledge there is in my self no hope of salvation but all my considence hope and trust is in
O ye generation of vipers who hath taught you to flie from the wrath to come But I will wound you no more with the words of the Prophets Pag. 64. or of this holy Saint of God John Baptist but with our Saviour Christs two most sweet parables of the two Sons and of the Tilmen to whom he set his vineyard I will labour to set before your eyes your rebellion hypocrisie and cruelty if so I can bring any of you to repentance He hath called you by his Word many a time to work in his vineyard I ask what you have answered Some of you have said plainly like rebellious children That ye would not do it that ye would not work in your Fathers vineyard Shall I apply this part to Scotland Scotland was indeed called most plainly and evidently through the mercies of God both by their own faithful Countreymen Pag. 65. and also by earnest travel of our English Nation to come into the Lords vineyard in the time of King Edward the Sixth but refused That time as ye know the vineyard in England by the children of God was not altogether neglected and then most earnestly were ye O Brethren of Scotland required to joyn hands with us in the Lords work but Satan alas would not suffer it His old fostred malice and Antichrist his Son could not abide that Christ should grow so strong by joyning that Isle together in perfect Religion c. Iest this one Island should become a safe Sanctuary as it began to be to all the persecuted in all places God hath also by the blood of his Saints shed amongst you by favour and friendship by war and the sword yea by famane and pestilence and also by all other means called you to labour in his vineyard but to this day alas we hear not of your humble obedience but still ye say with stubborn faces We will not labour we wil not be bound to such thraldome c. Yet think perchance I am too sharp and that I accuse you more than you deserve for amongst you many do know the will of your Father and many make profession of his Gospel but consider Brethren that it is not enough to know the Commandment and to profess the same in mouth bâ—t it is necessary that ye refuse your selves your own pleasures appetites and your own wisdome if ye shall be judged faithful labourers in the Lords vineyard and that ye bear the burthens together with your Brethren and suffer heat and sweat before ye taste the fruits with them God will not be content that ye look over the Hedge and behold the labours of your Brethren but he requireth that ye put your hands also to the labours that ye travel continually to pluck up all unprofitable weeds though in so doing the Thorns prick you to the bone that ye affist your Brethren in their labours though it be with the jeopardy of your lives the loss of your substance and displeasure of the whole earth I must needs leave thee Pag. 68. O Scotland after I have advertized thee of this that thou follow not the example of England but let thy reformation be full and plain according to Gods holy Will and Word without addition Let all the plaints which thy Heavenly Father hath not planted be rooted out at once Let not avarice blind thee nor worldly wisdom discourage thy heart let none bear the name of a Teacher that is known to be a Fosterer of Superstition or any kind of wickedness Thus must thou O Scotland repent thy former inobedience if that thou wilt be approved of the Lord. And now do I return to thee O England I do liken thee to the second Son in the Parable which answered his Father with flattering words saying I go Father but yet he went not at all For since the time I had any remembrance our Heavenly Father of his great mercies hath not ceased to call thee into his Vineyard and to these late dayes thou hast alwayes said That thou wouldest enter and be obedient In the time of King Henry the Eighth when by Tyndal Frith Bilney and other his faithful Servants God called England to dress his Vineyard many promised full fair but what fruit followed nothing but bitter grapes yea briars and brambles the wormwood of avarice the gall of cruelty the poyson of filthy fornication flowing from head to foot the contempt of God and open defence of the Cake-idol by open Proclamation to be read in the Churches instead of Gods Scriptures It grieveth me to write these evils of my Countrey Pag. 70. save onely that I must needs declare what fruit were found in the Vineyard after you promised to work therein to move you to Repentance and to justifie Gods Judgements how grievously soever he shall plague you hereafter Wherefore I desire you to call to remembrance your best state under King Edward when all men with general consent promised to work in the Vineyard ye shall have cause I doubt not to lament your wickedness that so contemned the voice of God for your own lusts for your cruelty for your covetousness that the name of God was by your vanities evil spoken of in other Nations God grant you all repentant hearts for no order or state did any part of his duty in those dayes But to speak of the best whereof you use to boast your Religion was but an English Mattins patch'd forth oâ— the Popes portess Many things were in your great Book superstitious and foolish all were driven to a present service like the Papists that they should think their duties discharged if the number were said of Psalms and Chapters Finally there could no Discipline be brought into the Church nor correction of manners Pag. 71. To what contempt was Gods Word and the admonition of his Prophets come in all estates before God did strike some men are not ignorant The Preachers themselves for the most part could find no fault in Religion but that the Church was poor and lacked living Sure many things should have been reformed before that the Kitchin had been better provided for our Prelates in England It was most evident that many of you under the cloak of Religion served your own bellies some were so busie to heap benefice upon benefice some to labour in Parliament for purchasing of Lands that the time was small which could be found for the Reformation of abuses and every little that was spent upon the feeding of your flocks In a word the Gospel was so lightly esteemed that the most part of men thought rather that God should bow stoop to their appetites than that they should be subject to his holy Commandments Even the Nobility and Council would suffer no rebukes of Gods Messengers though their offences were never so manifest let those that preached in the Court the Lent before King Edward deceased speak their conscience and accuse me if I lye yea let a writing of Northumberland's
indignation hangeth continually over the heads of such ready to be poured down upon them when they shall find no comfort but utter despair with Judas who for this worldly riches as he did have sold their Master Pa. 221. seeking either to hang themselves with Jadas to murther themselves with Francis Spira to drown themselves with Justice Hales or else to fall into a raging madness with Justice Morgan What comfort had Judas then by his money received for betraying his Master was he not shortly after compelled to cast it from him with this pitiful voice Mat. 27. Pa. 222. I have sinned in betraying innocent blood Then dear Brethren in Christ what other reward can any of you look for committing the like offences There is no trust but in God no comfort but in Christ no assurance but in his promise by whose obedience onely you shall avoid all danger Mat. 10. And whatsoever you lose in this world and suffer for his Name it shall be here recompenced with double according to his promise and in the world to come with life everlasting which is to find your life when you are willing to lay it down at his Commandment I am not ignorant how unnatural a thing it is contrary to the flesh willingly to sustain such cruel death as the Adversaries have appointed to all the Children of God who mind constantly to stand by their profession yet to the Spirit notwithstanding is easie joyful for though the flesh be frail the Spirit is prompt and ready Pa. 223. Whereof praised be the name of God you have had notable experience in many of your Brethren very Martys for Christ who with joy patiently and triumphing have suffered and drunk with thirst of that bitter Cup which nature so much abhorreth wonderfully strengthened no doubt by the secret inspiration of Gods holy Spirit so that there ought to be none among you so feeble weak or timerous whom the wonderful examples of Gods present power and singular favour in those persons should not encourage bolden and fortifie to shew the like constancy in the same Cause and Profession Nevertheless great cause we have thankfully to consider the unspeakable mercy of God in Christ who hath farther respect to our infirmity that when we have not that boldness of Spirit to stand to the death as we see others he hath provided a present remedy that being persecuted in one place we have liberty to flee into another When we cannot be in our own Countrey with a safe conscience except we would make open profession of our Religion which is every mans duty Pa. 224. and so be brought to offer up our lives in sacrifice to God in testimony that we are his he hath mollified prepared the hearts of Strangers to receive us with all pity and gladness where you may be also not onely delivered from the fear of death and the Papistical Tyranny practised without all measure in that Countrey but with great freedom of conscience hear the Word of God continually preached the Sacraments of our Saviour Christ purely and duely ministred without all dregs of Popery or Superstition of mans invention to the intent that you being with others refreshed for a space and more strongly fortified may be also with others more ready and willing to lay down your lives at Gods appointment for that is the chiefest grace of God and greatest perfection to fight even unto blood under Christs Banner and with him to give our lives Pa. 225. But if you will thus flee Beloved in the Lord you must not chuse unto your selves places according as you fancy as many of us who have left our Countrey have done dwelling in Popish places among the enemies of God in the midst of impiety some in France as in Paris Orleance Roan some in Italy as in Rome Venice Padua which persons in fleeing from their Queen run to the Pope fearing the danger of their bodies feek where they may poyson their souls thinking by this means to be less suspected of Jezebel shew themselves afraid ashamed of the Gospel which in times past they have stoutly professed And lest they should be thought favourers of Christ have purposely ridden by the Churches and Congregations of his Servants their Brethren neither minded to comfort others there nor to be comforted themselves wherein they have shewed the coldness of their zeal towards Religion given no small occasion of slander to the Word of God which they seemed to profess Pa. 226. This manner of fleeing then is ungodly c. Neither is it enough to keep you out of the Dominions of Antichrist and to place your selves in corners you may be quiet and at ease and not burthened with the charges of the poor thinking it sufficient if you have a little exercise in your houses in reading a Chapter or two of the Scriptures and then will be counted zealous persons and great Gospellers No Brethren and Sisters this is not the way to shew your selves manful souldiers of Christ except you resort where his Banner is displayed Pa. 227. and his Standard set up where the Assembly of your Brethren is and his Word openly preached and Sacraments faithfully ministred for otherwise what may a man judge but that such either disdain the company of their poor Brethren whom they ought by all means to help and comfort according to that power that God hath given them for that end onely and not for their own ease or else that they have not that zeal to the House of God the Assembly of his Servants and to the spiritual gifts and graces which God hath promised to pour upon the diligent hearers of his Word as was in David who desired being a King Rather to be a door-keeper in the House of God Psal 84. than to dwell in the tents of the ungodly lamenting nothing so much the injuries done to him by his Son Absalom which were not small as that he was deprived of the comfortable exercises in the Tabernacle of the Lord which then was in Sion Neither doth there appear in such persons that greedy desire whereof Isaiah makes mention which ought to be in the Professours of the Gospel Pa. 228. Isa 2. who never would cease or rest till they should climb up to the Lords hill meaning the Church of Christ saying one to another Let us ascend to the hill of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob and he will teach us his wayes and we shall walk in his footsteps for the Law shall come forth of Sion and the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem Which zeal the Prophet doth not mention in vain but to shew what a thirst and earnest desire should be in true Christians and how the same appeareth in seeking and resorting to those places where it is set forth in greatest abundance and perfection as was after Christs Ascension in Jerusalem And as that zeal shewed them to
of sound doctrine he began with a loud voice to recite the Psalm which begins thus O Lord my Rock be not thou silent to me c. Psa 28. He changed not his countenance upon the Scaffold though they had gagged him there because he comforted and freely exhorted one of his Sisterâ— to be constant When the time was come that those which should be burned were brought to the place of Execution they were every one commanded to recite the Articles of their belief which they willingly did but when they came to the Article I believe the holy Catholick Church they were bid to add the word Romanâ— but they were silent Then did the Monks and Friers importune Gonzalve's Sisters c. to repeat the word Romane who answered They would if they might hear Gonzalve pronounce it He being ungagged the first word he spake was That they should be of good courage and not to add one word more than what they had recited Grange The Bishop of Arres telling Mr. Foâ— Vol. 3. Cout p. 39. Peragrine delâ— Grange that he was sorry to see him in that condition in Prison Sir said he as for the base estate in which you now see me God hath so comforted me therein with his grace that I do without any great difficulty patiently suffer what he hath pleased to lay upon me yea I praise and bless his Name that he hath ballanced the weight of my afflictions according to the strength which he hath given me so as I sink not under the burden for as my sufferings in Christ abound he causeth his consolations by Christ to abound in me also It is usual said the Bishop with such as you are to glory in this kind of speech 2 Cor. 1.3 for as soon as any afflictions do befall you you by and by stile them the sufferings of Christ and if any of you be put to death than it is for Gods truth but when things are laid to the touchstone the matter is nothing so nor so Sir said Mr. Grange if your meaning be of such as have died for the Doctrine for which I am bound with this Chain and thus settered with Irons I doubt not but they have given such a reason of their Faith that whosoever shall read their Answers and weigh the same without partiality must needs judge as we do And for my own part I am ready to make it good 1 Tim. 6.3 Deut. 12.32 That the Doctrine I now hold and teach is according to godliness taken out of the pure Fountains of the holy Scriptures without adding thereto diminishing or varying any way therefrom We read said the Bishop that in all times men have been wont to shelter themselves under the title of Gods Word even the old Hereticks c. I am not ignorant hereof said Mr. Grange in regard that Satan knows how to transform himself into an Angel of light thereby to establish his delusions causing darkness to be taken for light But the Holy Ghost who is the Spirit of truth hath in such wise discovered his juglings that none are deluded thereby but those who at noon day close their eyes that they may not behold the light Do you think said the Bishop that the Holy Ghost hath given you such an illumination that the truth should onely be revealed to you and to none other God forbid Sir said Mr. Grange I should have any such thought I am not of the mind of those Dreamers who brag of their having particular Revelations of the Holy Spirit but I speak of an ordinary and general Revelation such as is taught us out of the Bible c. I am neither Calvinist nor Papist I am a Christian and what I hold concerning Religion is taken out of Christs Doctrine who is the onely Doctor of his Church What Calvin hath taught conformable to the Word of God I am of the same mind with him And whereas you call your Religion the Old Religion and ours the New iâ— troubles me not at all since the Father of Lieâ— hath long since forged the same to disgrace the Truth c. In his dispute with the Bishop concerning the Real Presence See pa. 39 40 41 42. c. We may see what holy boldness mixed with meekness the Lord had endued this holy Servant of his with When the Provost gave him and Monsieur de Brez of whom before notice that they should die that day they magnified God for his goodness and gave the Provost thanks for the good news which he had brought them Monsieur la Grange going to the rest of the Prisoners Pag. 43. said I am this day to die for the Truth and then the heavenly in heritance is prepared for me My name is written in the Book of Life Phil. 4.3 Rom. 11.29 never to be blotted out because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance He called for a Brush to brush his Hat Cloak causing his Shoes to be blacked for now said he I am bidden to the marriage of the Lamb where I am to feast with him for ever and ever Being askt Whether he meant to suffer with those Shackles on his heels I would I might said he yea and that they would bury them with me too that they might manifest the inhumanity of my adverfaries He told his friends he felt such joy of the Holy Ghost in his heart that he could not with tongue express adding that God shewed him a thousand times more favour by taking him after this manner out of this transitory life than if he had let him die in his bed by sickness for now I shall die said he enjoying the benefit of all the powers of my soul praying the Lord to have mercy on me Monsieur la Grange and de Brez were sentenced to be hang'd for administring the Lords Supper against an express charge by the King given them to the contrary When la Grange was upon the Ladder he protested with a loud voice that he died onely for preaching to the people the pure truth of God taking Heaven and Earth to witness the same with him Gratwick Mr. Stephen Gratwick Fox Vol. 3. pag. 790. seeing the Bishops that sate upon to laugh said unto them Why do ye laugh Are ye confederate together for my blood and therein triumph You have more cause to look weightily upon the matter for I stand here before you upon life and death But you declare your selves what you are You are lapped in Lambs apparel but you are bent to have my blood Seeing you will have my blood Pa. 792. let me say a little more for my self On Sunday last you preached this Truth If any man think himself Religious and bridleth not his tongue the same mans Religion is vain And yet in the mean time you seduced your tongue to slander us poor Prisoners there present in Iron bands burdening us with the names of Arrians Herodians Anabaptists Sacramentarians Pelagians And
he had before spoken in open audience in commendation of M. Wickliff and Mr. Hus He said unto them I take Gâ—d to my witness and I protest here before you all that I do belive and hold the Articles of the Faith aâ— the holy Catholick Church doth hold and believe the same but for this cause shall I now be condemned for that I will not consent with you to the condemnation of those most holy and blessed men aforesaid whom you have most wickedly condemned for their detesting and abhorring your wicked and abominable life After the Bishop of Londy had ended his Sermon which was but an exhortation to condemn Mr. Hierome he said unto them You shall condemn me wickedly and unjustly but I after my death will leave a remorse in my conscience and a nail in your heart and here I cite you to answer unto me before the most high and just Judge within an hundred years This Prophesie was printed in the Coin called moneta Hussi Pa. 830. of the which Coin I my self saith Mr. Fox have one of the Plates having the following sperscription printed about it Centum revolutis annis Deo respondebitis mihi An hundred years come and gone With God and me you shall reckâ—n After Sentence was pronounced against him Pa. 837. a long Mitre of paper painted about with red Devils was brought to him whereupon he said Our Lord Jesus Christ whenas he should suffer death for me most wretched sinner did wear a Crown of Thorns upon his Head and I for his sake instead of that Crown will willingly wear this Mitre or Cap. When the fire was kindled he said Pa. 838. Clarks Mart. of Eccl. Hist pag. 223. Into thy hands O Lord I commend my Spirit O Lord God Father Almighty have mercy upon me and pardon mine effences for thou knowest how sincerely I have loved thy Truth When the Executioner began to kindle the fire behind him he bade him kindle it before his face for said he If I had been afraid of it I had not come to this place having had so many opportunities offered to me to escape it At the giving up of the ghost he said Hanc animam in flammis offero Christe tibi This soul of mine in flames of fire O Christ I offer thee In his Letter to Mr. Fox Vol. 1. pag. 830. John Hus. My Master in those things which you have both written hitherto and also preached after the Law of God against the pride avarice and other inordinate vices of the Priests go forward be constant and strong and if I shall know that you be oppressed in the cause and if need shall so require of mine own accord I will follow after to help you as much as I can Petrie 's Church Hist Gent. 15. p. 539. In the Letter of Poggius Secretary to the Council of Constance to Leonard Aretine concerning Hierome's death I profess I never saw any man who in talking especially for life and death hath come nearer the eloquence of the Ancients whom we do so much admire It was a wonder to see with what words with what Eloquence Arguments Countenance and with what confidence he answered his Adversaries and maintained his own Cause that it is to be lamented that so fine a wit had strayed into the study of Heresie if it be true that was objected against him When it was refused that he should first plead his own Cause and then answer to the railings of Adversaries he said How great is this iniquity that when I have been three hundred and forty dayes in most hard prisons in filthiness in dung in fetters and want of all things ye have heard my Adversaries at all times and ye will not hear me one hour Ye are men and not gods ye may slip and err and be deceived and seduced c. When it was demanded what he could object to the Articles against him It is almost incredible to consider how cunningly he answered and with what Arguments he defended himself He never spake one word unworthy of a good man that if he thought in his heart as he spake with his tongue no cause of death could have been against him no not of the meanest offence In the end Poggius saith O man worthy of everlasting remembrance among men This Epistle is in Fasciculrer expetend fol. 152. Holland A Friend of Mr. Roger Holland's thanking the Bishop for his good will to his Kinsman and beseeching God that he might have grace to follow his Councel Sir said Mr. Holland You crave of God you know not what I beseech God to open your eyes to see the light of his Word Roger said his Kinsman hold your peace lest you fare the worse at my Lords hands No said he I shall fare as it pleaseth God for man can do no more then God doth permit him The Register asking him Fox Vol. 3 pag. 875. Whether he would submit himself to the Bishop before he was entred into the Book of contempt I never meant said he but to submit my self to the Magistrate as I learn of St. Paul Rom. 13. yet I mean not to be a Papist they will not submit themselves to any other Prince or Magistrate than those that must first be sworn to maintain them and their doings Bonner telling him Roger I perceive thou wilt be ruled by no good counsel c. He answered I may say to you my Lord as Paul said to Felix and to the Jews Acts 22. 1 Cor. 15. It is not unknown to my Master whose Apprentice I was that I was of this your blind Religion c. having that liberty under your auricular Confession that I made no conscience of sin but trusted in the Priests absolution c. So that Letchery Swearing and all other vices I accounted no offence of danger so long as I could for money have them absolved Pa. 876. And thus I continued till of late God hath opened the Light of his Word and called me by his grace to repentance of my former idolatry and wicked life The antiquity of our Church is not from Pope Nicholas or Pope Jone but our Churchis from the beginning even from the time that God said to Adam that the seed of the woman should break the Serpents head c. All that believed this promise were of the Church though the number were oftentimes but few and small as in Elias dayes when he thought there was none but he that had not bowed the knee to Baal c. Moreover of our Church have been the Apostles and Evangelists the Martyrs and Confessors that have in all Ages been persecuted for the testimony of the Word of God After Sentence was read against him Pa. 877. he said Even now I told you that your Authority was of God and by his sufferance and now I tell you God hath heard the prayer of his Servants which hath been poured forth with tears for his afflicted Saints which daily
you persecute This I dare be bold in God to speak which by his Spirit I am moved to say that God will shorten your hand of cruelty that for a time you shall not molest his Church And this shall you in short time perceive my dear Brethren to be most true for after this day in this place shall there not be any by him put to the trial of Fire and Fagot Which accordingly came to pass He was the last burnt in Swithfield Then he began to exhort his Friends to repentance Pa. 878. and to think well of them that suffered for the testimony of the Gospel The day that Mr. Holland and the rest suffered a Proclamation was made that none should be so bold as to speak to them or receive any thing of them upon pain of imprisonment Notwithstanding the people cried out desiring God to strengthen them and they prayed for the people and the restoring of his Word At length Mr. Holland embracing the Stake and the Reeds said Lord I most humbly thank thy Majesty that thou hast called me from the stake of death unto the light of thy heavenly Word and now unto the fellowship of thy Saints that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts-Lord into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord bless these thy people and save them from idolatry Hooper Mr. John Hooper in his exile writ a Declaration of Christ and his Office and a Declaration of the holy Commandments of Almighty God c. In his Epistle before his Declaration of Christ and his Office to the Duke of Somerset See his Declar. of Christ and his Office Printed at Zurick An. 1547. Because the right of every just and lawful Heir is half lost and more when his Title and Claim is unknown I have written this little Book containing what Christ is and what his Officeis that every godly man may put to his helping hand to restore him again to his Kingdome who hath fastained open and manifest wrong this many years as it appeareth by his evidence and writings the Gospel sealed with his precious blood In his Declaration ch 3. Jesus Christ in all things executed the true Office of a Bishop to whom it appertained to teach the people which was the chiefest part of the Bishops Office and most diligently and straitly commanded by God As all the Books of Moses and the Prophets teach and Christ commanded Peter John 20. and Paul all the Bishops and Priests of his time Acts 20. Christ left nothing untaught but as a good Doctor manifested unto his Audience all things necessary for the health of man John 4. He gave also his Apostles and Disciples after his resurrection commandment to preach and likewise what they should preach Go into allthe world and preach the Gospel to every creature teaching them is observe what I have commanded Matt. 28. As they did most sincerely and plainly without all glosses or additions of their own inventions and were 〈◊〉 testimonâ—es of the Truth and not the Authors thereof Alwayes in their Doctrine they taâ—ght the thing that Christ first taught and Gods holy Spirit inspired them Gal. 1.2 Cor. 3. Holy Apostles never took upon them to be Christs Vâ—car in the Earth nor to be his Lieutenant But said Let a man so account of us as of the Ministers of Christ and Stewards of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4. 1. And in the same Epistle the Apostle Pâ—â— biddeth the Corinthiuns to follow him in nothing but where he followed Christ chap. 11. They ministred not in the Church as though Christ was absent although his most glorious Body was departed into the Heavens above but as present that alwayes governeth his Church with his Spirit of Truth as he promised Matth. ult Behold I will 〈◊〉 with you to the end of the world In the absence of his Body he hath commended the protection and governance of his Church to the Holy Ghost one and the same God with the Father and himself It was no little pain that Christ suffered in washing away the sins of this Church therefore be will not commit the defence thereof to man It is no less glory to defend and keep the thing won by force than it is by force to obtain the victory Therefore he keepeth the defence and governance of the Church onely and solely himself in whom the Devil hath not a jot of right Though the Apostles were instructed in all truth c. they were but Ministers Servants Testimonies and Preachers of this verity and not Christ's Vicars on earth c. but only appointed to approve â—he thing to be good that God's Law commanded and that to be ill which the Word of God condemned Seeing that Christ doth govern his Church alwayes by his holy Spirit and bindeth all the Miâ—isters thereof unto the sole Word of God what â—bomination is this that one Bishop of Rome c. â—hould claim to be Christ's Vicar on Earth and â—ake upon him to make any Laws in the Church of God to bind the Conscience beside the Word of God and by their Superstition and Idolatry put be Word of God out of his place All that â—â—e not blinded with the smoke of Rome know the â—shop of Rome to be the Beast John describeth in â—e Apocalyps as well as the Logician knoweth that â—ibilitate distinguitur homo a caeteris animantibus â—hrists supremacy and continual presence in the â—hurch admits no Lieutenant nor general Vicar â—kewise it admitteth not the Decrees and Laws of â—en brought into the Church contrary unto the â—ord and Scripture of God which is only sufâ—ient to teach all verity and truâ—h for the salvaâ—n of man ch 4. This Law teacheth man sufficiently as well what he is bound to do unto God as unto the Princes of the world Row 13. 1 Pet. 2. Nothing necessary for man but in this Laâ— it is prescribed Of what decree vocation or calling soever he be his duty is shewed unto hi mâ— the Scripture And in this it differeth from mâ—â— laws because it is absolutely perfect and never 〈◊〉 be changed nothing to be added to it nor taken from it And the Church of Christ the more iâ— was and is burdened with mans laws the farther it is from the true and sincere verity of Godâ— Word Though Basil Ambrose Epiphanius Aâ—gustine Bernard and others erred not in any principle Article of the Faith yet they did inordinately and more then enough extol the Doctrine anâ— Tradition of men and after the death of the Apostles every Doctors time was subject to sâ—d Ceremonies and manners that were neither proâ—fitable nor necessary Unto the writing of Scripture only and onâ—unto the writings of men God hath bound anâ— obligated his Church In this passage I admonisâ— the Christian Reader that I speak not of the Luâ—of Magistrates and Princes that daily order neâ— Laws for the preservation of their Commonuealthâ— as they see the necessity of their Realms or
else not Be not amazed though they speak of never so many years nor name never so many Doctors If either the Authority of Bishops of the greater part should have power to interpret the Scripture the sentence of the Pharisees should have been prefer'd before the sentence of Zachary Simeon Elizabeth or the blessed Virgin Consider the true Church is many time but a small Congregation as Isaiah saith Unless God had left us a remnant we had been as Sodom Therefore the interpretation of the Scripture is not obligated to ordinary power nor the most part Beware of deceit when thou hearest the name of the Church The verity is then assaulted They call the Church of the Devil the holy Church many time Remember Christian Reader that the gift of interpreting the Scripture is the Light of the Holy Ghost given unto the humble and penitent person that seeketh onely to honour God and not unto those persons that claim it by title or place because be is a Bishop or followed by succession Peter oâ— Paul Remember therefore to examine all Doctrine by the Word of God for such as preach it aright have their infirmities and ignorance they may depart from the Truth or else build some superstition and false Doctrine upon the Gospel of Christ Superstition is to be avoided false Doctrine to be abhorred whosoever be the Author thereof Prince Magistrate or Bishop As the Apostles made answer Acts 5. We ought to obey God rather than man ch 13. The Law is necessary for a justified man to teach him with what works he should exercise his faith will and obedience unto God We may not chuse works of our own wisdome to serve him withal He would have us to be governed by his Word as David saith Thy Word is a light unto my feet And Christ In vain do they worship me by the commands of men In the second Declaration See his Declaration of the holy ten Com. of Almighty God Printed Anne 1548. pag. 8 9. Moses commandeth Deut. 4. that no man should decline from this Law neither to the right nor left hand i.e. That no man should add to or take any thing from it but simply to observe it as it is given or written to us From this right line and true rule of Gods Word man erreth divers wayes Sometimes by ignorance because he knoweth not or will not know that only the express Word of God sufficeth He holdeth with the most part and condemneth the better as it is to be seen at this present day This reason taketh place it is allowed of the most part and established by so many holy and learned Bishops therefore it is true c. Another way that leadeth from the Word of God is many times the power and authority of this world as we see by the Bishop of Rome and all his adherents who give more credit to one Charter and gift of Constantine than to the whole Bible Another erreth by mistaking of the time making his superstition far elder than it is c. One saith thus My Father believed and should I believe the contrary Pag. 11. Whereas no Law at all should be spoken of conscience but the only Word of God which never altered nor can be altered Mat. 5. Luk. 10. Psal 18.119 If Heavens and Earth made by word cannot be altered how much more the Word it self Unto which Law the conscience of man in matters of faith is bound only Pag. 13. Such as can interpret nothing will say I have an ill opinion of God in Heaven and of the superiour Powers on Earth because I damn the Disciples of the false Doctors with the Doctors and take from all Powers on Earth authority to prescribe unto their Subjects any Law touching Religion of the soul As concerning those that be seduced by false Teachers St. Luke c. 6. Ezekiel 3. and 13. judge as I do Both he that leadeth to damnation and he that is led Pag. 14. falleth into the pit Notwithstanding I believe that in the midst of darkness when all the world as far as man might judge had sworn unto the Bishop of Rome Christ had his Elect that never consented to his false Laws as it was in the time of Elias 1 Kings 19. where God saith He had preserved seven thousand that had not bowed the knee to Baal Pag. 15. As many as die before us seduced by false Teachers without repentance the Scripture condemneth As many as believed them not but trusted to the Scripture or else deceived yet repented before they died live eternally in joy and solace and are saved as John saith Rev. 13. in the blood of the Lamb. As touching the superiour Powers of the Earth it is not unknown to all men that have read and marked the Scripture that it pertaineth nothing to their Office to make any Law to govern the consciences of their Subjects in Religion but to reign over them in this case as the Word of God commandeth Pag. 16. Howbeit in their Realms they make what Laws they will and as many as they will command them to be kept as long it pleaseth them and change them at their pleasure as they shall see occasion for the wealth commodity of their Realms Unto the which superiour Powers we owe all obedience both of body and goods and likewise our daily prayer for them to Almighty God c. And as many divers Commonwealths as there be so many divers Laws there may be Howbeit all Christian Kings and Kingdomes with other Magistrates should reign by one Law and govern the Churches of their Realms solely by the Word of God Pag. 17. which is never to be changed Thus Christ commanded his Apostles to teach and their Audience to hear the things he commanded Matth. 28. Mark 16. Pag. 26. Moses prescribeth unto his Audience seven Rules wherewith he prepareth them to the receiving of the ten Commandements 1 A right perswasion of Gods word that God will undoubtedly give the good promised to the good and inflict the evil threatned against the evil Pag. 29. 2 To have a right opinion of the Magistrates and superiour Powers of the Earth to give them no more nor any less honour and reverence than the Word of God commandeth For lack of this preparative the world hath erred from the Truth this many years Men do not look what Gods Word saith but extol the authority of mans Laws preferring the decree of a general or provincial Council before the Word of God Pag. 30. 3 Another preparative is obedience both to God and man It were as good nere read the Law in case we mind not to be obedient Pag. 31. Pag. 32. Pag. 34. 4 To observe jus gentium 5 To esteem the Doctrine of the Commandments as it is worthy 6 A true and right understanding of the Law not to constrain the letter against the mind of the Text but behold alwayes the consent of the Scripture
pretence of the true Religian c. that have killed more souls with heresie and superstition than all the Tyrants that ever killed bodies by fire sword or banishment c. and all souls that trust to these Hypocrites live to the Devil in everlasting pain as is declared by Hells following the pale Horse These pale Hypocrites stave stirred up Earthquakes i. e. he Princes of the world against Christs Church They have darkned the Sun and made the Moon bloody and have caused the Stars to fall from Heaven i.e. they have darkned with mists and daily darken the Sun of Gods word Pa. 159. imprisoned and chaised and butchered Gods true Preachers which â—nch only light at the Sun of Gods Word that their light cannot shine unto the world as they would Whereupon it comes to pass that many Christians fall from Gods true Word to hypocrisie most devillish superstition and idolatry In his Letter to Bishop Farrar Dr. Taylor Mr. Bradford and Mr. Philpot Prisoners in the Kings Bench in Southwark I am advertised that we shall be carried shortly to Cambridge there to dispute for the faith and for the Religion of Christ which is most true that we have and do profess I am as I doubt not ye be in Christ ready not only to go to Cambridge but also to suffer by Gods help death it self in the maintenance thereof I write this to comfort you in the Lord that the time draweth near and is at hand that we shall testifie before Gods enemies Gods Truth Yours and with you unto death in Christ J. H. May 6. 1554. In his Letter to his Wife Pa. 160. As the Devil hath entred into their hearts that they themselves cannot or will not come to Christ to be instructed by his holy Word so can they not abide any others to become Christians and lead their lives after the Word of God buâ— hate persecute rob imprison and kill them whether male or female though they have never offended Gods or Mans Law yea though they daily pray for them and wish them Gods grace having no respect to Nature The Brother persecuteth the Brother the Father the Son and most dear Friends are become most mortal Enemies And no marvel for they have chosen sundry Masters the one the Devil the other God The one agree with the other as God and the Devil agree between themselves Gen. 21. Gal. 4. As he that was born after the flesh persecuted in times past him that was born after the Spirit even so it is now Therefore forasmuch as we live in this life amongst so many great perils and dangers the only remedy is what Christ hath appointed Luke 21. Ye shall possess yourselves in patience When troubles come we must be patient and in no case violently nor seditiously to resist our persecutors because God hath such care of us that he will keep in the midst of all troubles the very hairs of our heads c. And seeing he hath such care of the hairs of our head how much more doth he care for our life it self Their cruelty hath no farther power than God permitteth and that which cometh unto us by the will of our heavenly Father can be no harm loss destruction to us but rather gain wealth and felicity That the spirit of man may feel these consolations the giver of them the heavenly Father must be prayed unto for the merits of Christs Passion for it is not the nature of man that can be contented until it be regenerated and possessed with Gods Spirit to bear patiently the troubles of mind or body When the mind of man sees troubles on every side threatning poverty yea death except the man weigh these brittle and uncertain treasures that be taken from him with the riches of the life to come and this life of the body with the life in Christs blood and so for the love and certainty of the heavenly joyes contemn all things present doubtless he shall never be able to bear the loss of goods and life The Christian mans faith must be alwayes upon the resurrection of Christ when he is in trouble and in that glorious Resurrection he shall see continual joy yea victory and triumph over all persecution trouble sin death hell the Devil and all other persecutors the tears and weepings of the faithful dried up their wounds healed their bodies made immortal in joy their souls for ever praising the Lord in conjunction and society everlasting with the blessed company of Gods Elect in perpetual joy Col. 3. If ye be risen with Christ seek the things which are above where Christ sitteth at the right hand of God the Father When he biddeth us seek the things that are above he requireth that our minds never cease from prayer and study in Gods Word untill we see know and understand the vanities of this world the shortness end misery of this life and the treasures of the world to come the immortality thereof the joyes of that life and so never cease seeking until such time as we know certainly and be perswaded what a blessed man he is that seeketh the one and findeth it and careth not for the other though he lose it and in seeking Pa. 161. to have right judgement between the life present and the life to come we shall find how little the pains imprisonment standers lies and death it self is in the world in respect of pains everlasting the Prison infernal and Dungeon of Hell the Sentence of Gods judgement and everlasting Death When a man hath by seeking the Word of God found out what the things above be then must he seâ— his affections upon them And this Command is more hard than the other for mans knowledge many times sees the best men know that there is a life to come better than this present c. Yet they set not their affection upon it they do more affect and love indeed a trifle of nothing in this world that pleaseth their affection than the treasure of all treasures in Heaven We must set our affections on things above i. e. when any thing worse than Heaven offereth it self to be ours if we will give our good wills to it and love it in our hearts then ought we to see by the judgement of Gods Word whether we may have it without Gods displeasure if we cannot if the riches of this world may not be gotten nor kept by Gods Law neither our lives continued without the denial of his honour we must set our affections upon the riches and life that is above and not upon things that be upon the earth This second Command requires that as our mind judgeth Heavenly things to be better than Earthly and the life to come better than the present life so we should chuse them before other and prefer them c. These things be easie to be spoken of but not so easie to be used and practised Read Psa 88. wherein is contained the prayer of
unto him But as Jerusalem stood in the way and was an impediment to the Wise men so doth the Synigogue of Antichrist that beareth the Name of Jerusalem i. e. the Vision of Peace and among the people now is called the Catholick Church standeth in the way that Pilgrims must go by through this world to Bethlem i. e. the house of bread or plentifulness is an impediment to all Christian Travellers yea and except the more grace of God be will keep the Pilgrim still in her that they shall not come where Christ is at all and to stay them indeed they take away the Star of Light which is Gods Word that it cannot be seen Ye may see what great dangers hapned unto these Wise men whilst they were learning of Lyars where Christ was 1 They were out of their way And 2 They lost their Guide and Conductor If we come into the Church of men and ask for Christ we go out of the way and lose also our Conductor and Guide that only leadeth us streight thither Sister take heed you shall in your journey towards Heaven meet with many a monstrous beast have salve therefore of Gods Word therefore ready you shall meet husbands children lovers and friends that shall if God be not with them be very le ts and impediments to your purpose You shall meet with slander and contempt of the world and be accounted ungracious and ungodly you shall hear and meet with cruel tyranny to do you all extremities you shall now and then see the troubles of your own conscience and feel your own weakness you shall hear that you be cursed by the sentence of the Catholik Church with such like terrours that pray to God and follow the Star of his Word and you shall arrive at the Port of Eternal Salvation by the merits onely of Jesus Christ Hudson When Thomas Hudson of Ailesham in Norfolk saw the Constable come to his house to apprenend him Fox Vol. 3 Pag. 869. he said Now mine hour is welcome friends welcome you be they that shall lead me to life in Christ I thank God therefore and the Lord enable me thereto for his mercies sake for his desire was and he ever prayed if it were the Lords will that he might suffer for the Gospel of Christ When Berry threatned him saying I will write to the Bishop my good Lord c. O Sir said he there is no Lord but God though there be many lords and many gods Wilt thou recant said Berry the Priest or no The Lord forbid said Hudson I had rather die many deaths then to do so When he came first to the Stake Pa. 870. he was very sad not for his death but for lack of feeling his Christ and therefore came from his Fellow-sufferers under the Chain and fell down upon his knees and prayed and at last he rose with great joy as a man new changed even from death to life and said Now I thank God I am strong and pass not what man can do unto me Hullier Mr. John Hullier Conduct in Kings Colledge at Camâ—ridge suffered martyrdome at Cambridge April 2. A. 1556. In his Letter to the Christian Congregation Fox Vol. 3. pag. 696. It standeth now most in hand O dear Christians all them that look to be accounted of Christs flock at the great and terrible day when a separation shall be made c. faithfully in this time of great affliction to hear our Master Christs voice the onely of true Shepherd of our souls who saith Mat. 24. Whosoever shall endure to the end shall be saved In this time we must needs either shew that we be his saithful Souldiers Ephes 6. and continue in his battel to the end putting on the Armour of God the buckler of Faith the breast-plate of Love the helmet of Hope and Salvation and the Sword of his Holy Word with all instance of supplication prayer or else if we do not work and labour with these we are Apostates and false Souldiers shrinking most unthankfully from our Gracious and Soveâ—reign Lord and Captain Christ and leaning to Belial for he saith plainly Whosoever beareth not my Cross and followeth me cannot be my Disciple Luke 14. and No man can serve two Masters for either he must hate the one and love the other Mat. 6. or else he shall lean to the one and despise the other Elias also said unto the people Why halt ye between two opinions 1 Kin. 18. If the Lord be God follow him or if Baal be he follow him If Christ be that onely good and true Shepherd that gave his life for us then let us that bear his mark and have our consciences sprinkled with his blood follow altogether for our salvation his heavenly voice and calling according to our profession and first promise If we shall not certainly say what we can though we bear the Name of Christ John 10. we are none of his Sheep indeed for he saith manifestly My sheep hear my voice and follow me A stranger they will not follow but will flee from him for they know not the voice of a stranger The craft and wiliness of our subtile enemy is manifold and divers and full of close windings At this present day if he cannot induce one throughly as others do to savour his devillish Religion of good will and free heart to help to uphold the same yet he will inveigle him to resort to his wicked and whorish School-house to keep company with his Congregation there and to hold his peace and say nothing whatsoever he think c. by that subtile means flattering him that he shall both save his life and also his goods and live in quiet But if we look well on Christs holy Will Testament we shall perceive that he came not to make any such peace upon Earth nor that he gave any such peace to his Disciples I leave peace with you saith he my peact I give you John 14.15 16. not as the world giveth it give I unto you Let not your heart be troubled and fearful These things have I spoken unto you that in me ye should have peace in the world ye shall have affliction but be of good cheer I have overcome the world Luke 14. The Servant is not greater then his Lord and Master if they have persecuted me they shall also persecute you If any man come to me and hateth not his father and mother c. yea and moreover his own life it is not possible for him to be my Disciple Blessed be ye that now weep for ye shall laugh and woe be unto you that now laugh Pa. 697. for ye shall mourn and weep He that will find his life shall lose it Therefore the God of that true peace comfort preserve us that we never obey such a false Flatterer who at length will pay us home once for all bringing for temporal peace and
also by him written De Sacerdotum Monachorum carnaliuns abominatione speaking Prophetically of the reformation of the Church he hath these words Moreover hereupon note and mark by the way that the Church of God cannot be reduced to its former dignity or be reformed before all things first be made new The truth whereof is plain by the Temple of Solomon As my mind now giveth me I believe that there shall arise a new people formed after the new man which is created after God of the which people new Clerks and Priests shall come and be taken which all shall hate covetousness and the glory of this life hastening to an heavenly conversation All these things shall come to pass and be brought by little and little in order of times dispensed of God for the same purpose and this God doth and will do for his own goodness and mercy and for the riches of his great longanimity and patience giving time and space of repentance to them that have long lain in their sins to amend and flie from the face of the Lords fury whilest in the mean time the carnal people carnal Priests successively shall fall away and be consumed as with the moth c. In another Letter You know how I have detested the avarice and inordinate life of the Clergy wherefore through the grace of God I suffer now persecution which shortly shall be consummate in me neither do I fear to have my heart poured out for the Name of Christ Jesus If you shall be called to any Cure in the Countrey let the honour of God and the salvation of souls move you thereunto and not the having of the living or Commodities thereof See that you be a Builder of your Spiritual House being gentle to the poor and humble of mind and waste not your goods in great fare I fear if you do not amend your life ceasing from your costly and superfluous apparel lest you shall be grievously chastised as I also wretched man shall be punish'd which have used the like being seduced by custome and evil men and worldly glory whereby I have been wounded against God with the spirit of pride And because you have notably known both my preaching and outward conversation even from my youth I have no need to write many things to you but to desire you for the mercy of Jesus Christ that you do not follow me in any such levity and lightness which you have seen in me You know how before my Priesthood which grieveth me now I have delighted oftentimes to play at Chess and have neglected my time and have unhappily provoked both my self and others to anger by that Play Wherefore besides other my innumerable faults for this I desire you to invocate the mercy of the Lord that he will pardon me This Letter to this Minister was not to be opened by him before he was srue of Mr. Hus his death In a Treatise De Sacerdotum c. Fox Vol. 3. pag. 381. before mentioned he hath these words In writing these things and what else I have written before nothing else hath moved me hereunto but onely 〈◊〉 love of our Lord Jesus crucified whose prints anâ— stripes according to the measure of my weakneâ— and vileness I covet to bear in my self beseechinâ— him to give me grace that I never seek to gloâ— in my self or in any thing else but onely in 〈◊〉 Cross and in the inestimable ignominy of 〈◊〉 Passion I do not therefore doubt but these thing will like all such as unfeignedly love the Loâ— Christ crucified and will not mislike not a little all such as be of Antichrist durst not have so written unless the Lord Jesus Christ crucified by hâ— inward motion had so commanded me Hyperius Ward 's Living Speeches c. pag. 155 O what a difference is there said Martin Hâ— perius betwixt this and eternal fire Who woâ—â— shun this to leap into that FINIS