There is no day in the whole yeere vnto which the number of fiue thousand Martyrs cannot be ascribed except onely the first day of Ianuarie THus gentle Reader not meaning to be offensiue with long circumstances I haue briefely described the liues and martyrdomes of the twelue Apostles amongst which I haue writ of S. Peter more at large then any of the rest and if you deigne fauourably to reade this small ensuing Poeme to the ende you shall encourage mee hereafter to present you with some other worke that may be more pleasing to your kinde view Thus I commit thee courteous Reader to the reading of that which followeth The Argument DID Peter wash his silly soule with teares vnfainedly with true repentance weeping And yet t'was long ere ioy bereau'd his cares Twixt ioyfull hope and sad despaire infleeting How can we then the loathed lumpe of sinne VVithout repentance Ioyes celestiall winne For euery teare that trickled downe his cheekes From the moyst springs of his dimme bleared eies Ten thousand sinnes our sinfull closet keepes VVhile hardened hearts not one Peccaui cries His teares were infinite and past recount Our teares are nothing yet our sinnes surmount Did Peter sinne and did he then repent Did Peter sinne and did he after weepe Did Peter sinne and for his sinne lament Did Peter sinne and was his sorrow deepe Oh did he shedde whole flouds of teares for sinne Before he could his Masters fauour winne How dare we then presuming hope for grace How may we hope more sinfull farre then he How can we hope for heauen Christes resting place VVhere none but Saints and holy Angels be Except with blessed Peter we repent And for our sinnes with earnest teares lament Vbi abundauit peccatum Superabundauit gratia FINIS SAINT PETERS PATH to the Ioyes of Heauen Luke 22. 62. Peter went out and wept bitterly RISE Sinfull man looke on the heauenly light Bee not by Sathan to Hels Bondage brought Let not despairing thoughts thy soule affright To stroy the Treasure Christ so deerely bought Say not with Cain the Lorde cannot forgiue His oyle of grace will thy sicke soule relieue His life preseruing-mercy passeth all The glorious workes that euer he did make For whosoeuer faithfully doth call On his great Name he neuer doth forsake Though skarlet sinnes thy soule doe ouergrow Yet his sweet blood wil wash them white as snow Cast not thy lookes against the sullen ground But looke on Christ fast nayled to the Crosse His death of life did death and hell confound And therewithal redeem'd thy greatest losse Adam wreckt our soules Christ was soules life beginner His blood sau'd thee me the vildest sinner If thy lewd heart all wicked sinnes had wrought Or that the worlds whole sinnes in thee did lie Yet our great GOD that made all things of nought Can banish them with one winke of his eie He can and will if thou in him doe trust And make thy soule copartner with the Iust But if thou aske my Name that is so bold Firmely to vrge Heauens mercie thus to thee And Christs compassion to thy heart vnfold Let thy sicke soule giue healthfull eare to mee Of Christ's Apostles I was counted one But sinful'st wretch that euer men look't on To ' this worldes sight was neuer man more hatefull Or that committed greater sinne then I Nor for Gods blessings could be more vngratefull Who did my heauenly Master flat denie Falsely swearing I did neuer know him When diuers folks to my dull sight did show him Then which fowle fact what could be greater sinne More wickednesse did neuer man commit Yet true repentance did new life beginne Christ did forgiue and all my sinnes forget Repent therefore and faithfully beleeue Then God in mercy will thy sinnes forgiue I will declare my fowle offences storie To giue true comfort to despairing soules But most of all to manifest Gods glorie Whose glorious greatnesse Angels still extols Then beare in minde his all sufficient might And in thy heart engraue what I recite In launcing out the scumme of my fowle crimes Whose vlcer smell impoysoneth cleerest sence Compare therewith thy faults of former times Then note the scope twixt thine and mine offence Flie fast to Christ and imitate my teares If sight thereof affright thy soule with feares Teares shed in time doth winne a blissefull hower For they perfume the soule with lustre ioy The more in plentie greater is their power Combind in blisse from Sathans fowle annoy Then let thy teares for sinne in streames arise Till death damme vp the welsprings of thy eyes Such pearled deaw allureth God to grace Stil'd in the lymbecke of submissiue mindes With heat of contrite heart which brings in place The liquid iuice that fowlest parts refines My suite lay dead and was defer'd by sinne Til teares true Oratours did my verdict winne Confession first makes way to mercies seat Next true Repentance mooues the Iudge to pittie Condemne thy selfe for thy offences great So on thy faultes accusers cannot iettie Christ is thy Iudge thy Sauiour meeke and kinde Then haue no doubt for mercie thou shalt finde Impious wretch vile obiect of disgrace The mappe of shame the excrement of earth A wretched impe the spring of Iones race In faire Bethsaida Citie first tooke breath There tooke I life that true lifes Lord denide The mynt of lies that trueth it selfe defide At mans estate a Fisher I became That with hard toile maintained my simple charge With my poore brother Andrew cald by name Plunged among the mounting waues at large Where we with labour moyld and wearied sore For succour sayld to Galilean shore What time behold on pleasant bancke did stand Our sweet Messias Sauiour of mankind Whose heauenly voyce did call vs both to land Vnworthy men did such great fauour find Come follow me the Prince of peace did say Fishers of men I'le make you both this day Thus from a base and seruile kind of life Vnto a sacred Function were we cald Exempt from former sorrow care and strife Whereto before our heauie heartes were thrald And in this holy seruice did we see The power of God and his great Maiestie Attending on our Master most diuine Vnto a blessed Marriage was he bidden There turnd he water into holesome wine Shewing his Godhead which before lay hidden A foule infected Leaper did he heale Who to the Priestes the same did soone reueale The Captaines seruant that lay sicke in bed And with the shaking palsie sore was grieu'd So soone as Christ the blessed word had said His trembling ioints with helth were straight relieu'd From men possest he threw fierce diuels away And with his word rebukt the raging sea He did restore the blind vnto their sight Lame crippled persons he did make to goe The dumbe to speake and by his powerfull might The dead he rais'd that long lay stinking so And with fiue loaues of bread he did suffice Fiue thousand men before my sinfull eyes
he askt me if I loued him Thrice I confest and three times I replyde Thou knowest my God my loue to thee is firme And meete it was that thrice I should replie I loued him whom thrice I did denie Full fortie daies did Christ on earth remaine After his glorious rising from the dead Shewing himselfe to his Disciples plaine In most familiar manner breaking bread When all was done his Godhead had intended Most suddainely the bright heauens he ascended In faire Bethania did he leaue vs all While blessing vs with his aboundant grace He was tane vp with power maiesticall A glorious cloude his body did imbrace We gazing after did his power adore Whom Heauen inclosde and we beheld no more On right hand of the fathers brightest cleare In glory great he sitteth euery hower Till in the cloudes he shall againe appeare To iudge the world by his eternall power Lord send our soules to that most blessed place To see the splendor of Iehouahs face Our mightie God as Daniel plaine doth shew In throne doth sit the Sheepe from Goats to cull His raiment all more white then winters snow His siluer hayre like to the purest wooll His seate bright shining like a fierie flame And thousand thousands for to serue him came God make vs seruants to so great a Lord To know his mercie and admired loue Whose praise all Angels sing with one accord By whom all earthly creatures liue and moue With him is life that neuer shall decay Soules perfect ioy doth in his presence stay The wounded heart by hatefull sinne misled His grace doth cure and makes for euer sound The bitter teares that contrite sinners shed Within his citie is preseru'd and found Sinne death nor hell cannot that soule destroy Whom this most mighty Lord preserues for ioy For he will lay it in a bed of peace And lap it round with ioy on euery side Where is no sorrow mourning shall surcease No cause of griefe shall in that place abide It is a kingdome fraught with all delight Such as no heart can thinke no pen can write No tribulation of this mortall life No smart no sorrow that can happen here No torment torture no heart-killing strife Is worthie of the ioy prepared there Then come all griefes that euer eye did see From loue of Christ they shall not sep'rate mee If I doe suffer for Christ Iesus name His dearest Saints haue been as fore afflicted Some sawne asunder some on suddaine slaine Imprisoned stoned and extreamely whipped But yet most blest were they though pained so Heauen is their meede where is no taste of woe And thither is our Sauiour gone before For vs a glorious kingdome to prepare Where we shall liue and raigne for euermore In heauenly pleasure passing all compare Then feare no foes to them it is damnation But vnto vs a signe of sure saluation For why this is a doctrine firme and sure Worthie of all men to be still imbraced Christ came on earth the sinfull soule to cure To saue all such whom Sathan hath disgraced And when we end this life so transitorie We shall be crownde with euerlasting glorie Then Peter cease thy ouer-mournfull dittie In highest heauens remaines thy greatest treasure And with Saint Iohn describe that holy Cittie Which is the pallace of eternall pleasure Where Angels dwell and Saints all clothed be In purest white with palmes of victorie All pau'd with golde are those Celestiall streets With precious stones and Diamonds enterlaced Twelue gates of pearles call'd Margarets The wals foundation preciouslie is placed With Chalcedon Em'rald Birle Topaz Iasper Chrisolet Sardonex Amthest and Sapher Christ in this heauenly Citie is the light In midst whereof his glorie doth appeare There needs no sunne for there is neuer night And from his seate descends a riuer cleare Whose precious springs with christall streames are rife The bankes all set with trees of lasting life Into this Citie enters none at all But such as are within the booke of life No discord no aduersitie doth fall No sinne no shame no sorrow paine or strife Among those soules which there so blessed be Nor ought that tasteth of mortalitie But there is ioy and mirth without all sadnes Rest without labour gaine without all losse Health without pain abundance ioynde with gladnes Life without death and cleannesse without drosse All ioy vnspeakable in Gods most glorious sight Where Saints and Angels sing both day and night O ioy of ioyes ioy without all measure Where Saints doe bathe in euerlasting blisse And swim in streames of euer during pleasure Where all the hoast of noble Martyrs is Where Abraham Isaacke and all Patriarkes be Singing sweete Alleuia's of eternitie Mirth to the heart and musicke to the eares Is the fruition of Gods sacred sight Health to the soule and ioy for bitter teares And to the grieued conscience sweet delight The crowne of saints the diademe of grace Whose powrefull deitie rules in euery place O when shall I beholde this heauenly sight When shall I heare my blessed Sauiours voyce When shall I enter in this glorious light When shall my soule on Syon hill reioyce Most mightie Lord protector of my will Let me sing Himnes vpon thy holy hill Let all sicke soules laden with extreme sinne Come vnto Christ in faith and trembling feare Feare ioynde with loue though they haue dazeled bin Christ on the Crosse did all offences beare And then will he by his imperiall might Blot their transgressions cleane out of his sight Stand stedfast man and striue thou to attaine That high immortall Crowne of puritie Till death approach still faithfull doe remaine So shalt thou finde Heauens true felicitie Most glorious God oh heare my mournefull cryes With wings of mercie wipe my watrie eyes And so let all relenting sinners say With faith and hope in this vnstable state With trust in God driue damnd dispayre away And so come boldlie to Gods mercie gate In christian armour wrestle striue and venter Vntill thy soule the blissefull citie enter Wher's full fruition of thy soules saluation Where holy Angels still doe sing and laude Where Saints shall triumph at thy blest crownation And all the heauenly court thy ioyes applaude Warrant this Lord free vs from Sathans den Forget forgiue sweet Iesus say Amen FINIS Matth. 4. 18. Iohn 1. 42. Luke 6. 14. Marke 1. 16. Luke 5. 10. Marke 3. 16. Matth. 16. 17. Iohn 21. 15. Hieron lib. de viris illustr Anton. Chro. part 1. tit 6. cap. 4. parag 1. Actes 12. 4. verse 8. Eusebius eccle hist lib. 3. ca. 9. Matth. 8. 14. * 1. Pet. 1. Luke 4. 38. Mark 1. 31. Matth. 14. 29. * This was vpon Mount Thabor Matth. 17. 2. Marke 9 5. Luke 9. 35. * Iohn 21. 18. Euseb Eccle. hist lib. 3. ca. 1. An. Christi 70. Matth. 4. 21. Mark 3. 17. Clem. lib. 7. hypot. Actes 12. 2. Pet de natal lib. 6. cap. 133. Mat. 4. 21. Policrates B. of Ephesus Euseb lib. 3. cap. 16. An. Dom. 97. Ierenaeus lib. 5 Abdias The wordes of Iohn the Euangelist to the thiefe Tokens of true repentance Irenaeus lib. 2. cap. 39. Cleâ—n An. dom 99. Ierome saith he dyed the 68 yeere after the passion of Christ anno Dom. 101. Mat. 4. 18. Luk. 6. 14. Euseb lib. 3. cap. 1. Dorotheus Eccle. hist an Christi Luk. 6. 14. Marke 3. 18. Iohn 6. 9. Mat. 14. 19. Actes 8. 9. Anton. chron tit 6. cap 11. pet de natal de sanctis lib. 4. cap. 107. Iohn 20. verse 24 25 26 27 28. Agbasus wrot an Epistle vnto Christ acknoledging him to be the soone of God Christ writ to Agbarus againe Euseb lib. 1. cap. 15. Anton. chron Abdias Apost hist lib. 9. Luk 6. 14. Mark 3. 18. Mat. 10. 3. Dorotheus Abdias B. of Babilon pet de natal lib. 7. cap. 103. Anton chron tit 6. cap. 12. Mark 3. 18. Abdias hist aspost lib. 7. Euseb Eccle. hist lib. 2. cap. 22. Clemen lib. 6. Aegesippi s li. 5. Ioseph Antiq. lib. 20 cap. 16. Abd hist apo Dorotheus Anton. chron part 1. tit 6. cap. 8. anno DoÌ„ 6. Luk. 6. 15. Aegesippus writeth that Cleopas was brother to Ioseph Simon was the second B. of Ierusalem He was crucified anno doÌ„ 110. Euseb lib. 3. cap. 11. 29. Luk. 6. 16. Mark 3. 18. Dorotheus Eccle. hist Acts. 1. 26. Pet. de natal lib. 3. cap. 149. Anton. chron tit 6. cap. 15. Act. 7. 58. Act. 8. 3. Euseb lib. 2. cap. 1. Ex Hieron lib. de viris illust Euseb lib. 2. cap. 1. Act. 9. 4. Anno Chr. 35. Euseb lib. 3. cap. 27. Abdias de viris lib. 2. The summe of Paules doctrine Paul condemned Euseb lib 2. cap. 2. lib. 1. cap. 1. anno Christi 70. Dorotheus Eccle hist Euseb lib 2. cap. 16. cap. 25. Dorotheus Actes 6. 5. Euseb lib. 2. cap. 1. Actes 7. 59. Actes 8. 2. Luke 13. 34. Stephen signifieth a crowne Matth. 10. 38. 39. Matth. 16. 24 25. Psalm 34. 19. Matth. 10. 22. The number of Martyrs in the primitiue Church
to me a Wench and thus she said Thou sure art one of this Mans company For by thy countnance is the same bewraid But what she said I stiffely did denie O sinfull soule for this thy lacke of grace Weepe weepe till teares make gutters in thy face With that the quicke rebuker of my vice The wakefull cocke did then begin to crow Yet ere he crew I did denie him thrice And swore I knew him not whom I did know O sinne of sinnes O excrement of earth Forgiue me Christ though my desart be death Then Christ on me did cast a glorious view Like to a Star that glanced in the skie Whereby behold my foule offence I knew That my hearts thoughts were open to his eie And thereupon the Cocke againe did crow The heauie watch-word of my ouerthrow But when I saw his piercing eyes looke backe As I pronounst my periurie within O how my soule did feele a sudden wracke Thus strooke against the damned rocke of sinne Which made me straight to get me out of doore And on the thirstie earth my teares to powre And with a wofull bitter bleeding hart Thus I began to thunder out my crie Lord looke not on me after my desart I haue deseru'd eternall death to die Though I on earth haue here denyed thee Yet of thy Kingdome Lord deny not me Celestiall power Creations sole beginner View here thy poore Apostles relenting Meekely forgiue a true repentant sinner That with salt teares is euermore repenting But who a wretch vnworthy to be knowne A Saint O no not Gods nor yet his owne All weeping eyes resigne to me your teares From weeping will I neuer cease but weepe For why my sinnes haue fil'd my soule with feares And flouds of sorrowes breakes my soundest sleepe The more distils the liquid Oliue tree The better will the fruite in season be And that makes me lament my life so ill With streaming teares so long as I haue breath Least sinne and hell my spotted soule should spill Which dayly threatens my eternall death Though death eternall be my due desart Yet Lord forgiue my sad repenting heart Accusing Sathan fils my soule with feares Demaunding how I dare for mercie call A reeking voyce from hell rings in my eares That I of force must to perdition fall Whose foggy stem doth seeke my soule to blind That the true way to Christ I might not find Damn'd wretch say they how canst thou hope for grace Christs sacred word is precious and most pure Asham'd thou wast to know thy Masters face Therefore asham'd of thee he will be sure For feare of death thy life for to prolong Thou slew'st thy soule by rashnesse of thy tongue Christ in a parable plaine bewrayes this case He damn'd the slothfull seruant found asleepe And he that to the wedding forced was The foolish Virgins wanting care to keepe Their lampes with oyle when they with him should go Were for this trespasse throw'n to lasting woe See how seuerely Christ doth sinners vse He spar'd not Saul although his true annoynted But cast him off and did him quite refuse For sparing Agag otherwise appoynted If Christ spar'd not chiefe branches of his tree Then sinfull soule what shall become of thee Then bootles spend not thou thy loathed breath In vaine thou dost for grace and mercie crie Thou hast with Iudas won a traytors death He sold his Lord and thou dost him denie O wretched soule nay most accursed deuill For none but fiends would doe so bad an euill Thou maske of shame badge of a guiltie mind Thou mappe of sinne thou common foe of fame Out-cast on earth thou whelpe of Tygres kind God from his booke hath blotted out thy name At thy complaint the Lord doth stop his eares He nought respects thy grones or bitter teares Curse wretched man the time that thou wast borne On thy birth day soule sinne imbraste thee fast To vanquish thee and make thee thus forlorne Thereby from grace to haue thee quite out cast What then a saint no no a beast nay worse Abiuring Christ thou hast a lasting curse False fainting heart which feare did ouerthrow To saue thy life thou didst thy promise breake How canst thou thinke that Christ will mercie shew When as thy faith was found to him so weake To adde small time vnto a fleeting life Thy soule is fild with sorrow woe and strife O purchase base to length thy life by sinne Infamous wretch deseruing death for meede Wouldst thou permita womans words to winne Thy loue from Christ euen in his greatest neede What fauour canst thou finde that Christ deluded Angels for sinne from Heauen were excluded Wherefore was such a caytife namde a Saint Whose speeches vowed spit and bitter gall That in Christs quarrell cowardly did faint Could an Apostle catch so fowle a fall Blacke fiends of hell hereat doe laugh and smile That they did Peter in such sorte beguile Dispaire and dye rip thy foule intrals out To search thy conscience make no long delay T'is foule and guiltie therefore out of doubt T'will witnes be against thee at that day Both clarke and Iudge and iurie will it bee For to condemne but not to set thee free Thus sinne and Sathan did my soule accuse Setting the filth of sinne before my eyes My heart with terror did he sore abuse Who saide that Christ my praiers would despise But yet defying him though flesh were fraile Through grace I gan my faults thus to be waile Most mightie Lord sicke is my soule within To thinke that I against my God offended Sweete Christ forgiue the greatnes of my sin Saue me Lord Iesu else I am condemned Rent hart weep eyes pleade thou wicked tougue Pleade thou for mercy that did Christ such wrong O holy spirit that seest my restles teares Reade ioyfull lessons to my painting hart For Sathan speakes of nought but rufull feares And griefe conceales my soules incessant smart My guiltie eyes that still pursues my sin Each moment doth my griefe afresh begin Looke on the thoughts of a perplexed mind Their irksome dayes that leades a loathsome life There is no ioy or comforts I can find Such vaine illusions keeps me still in strife O brittle life that vadeth like a flower Vnstable mind oft changed in an hower This world allur'd me with deceiuing howers Liuing I find a Lab'rinth voyd of measure A groue of griefe a field of blasted flowers A stony ground where growes no sparke of pleasure A witching phrenzie pleasant to the eares A dreadfulll den a surging riuer of teares O splendent Christ which suffred for my sin Celestiall Substance let me tast thy sweet That my poore soule may be refresht within Which this false world doth clog with cares vnmeet The holy Ghost to my poore spirit applie That on thy mercy I may still relie Behold my eyes with dayly weeping teares Are blear'd and parcht for my offences done Thy grace I craue my heart thy Iustice feares With trembling ioynts
breath remained in him he was beheaded 8. MAtthew the Euangelist was chosen to be an Apostle of Christ he wrote the Gospell of our Lord Iesus in the Hebrew tongue and deliuered it to Iames the sonne of Alpheus he preached the Gospell in Aethiopia he was by the commandement of Hyrtacus runne through with a sworde 9. IAmes the sonne of Alpheus Marie sister to Marie the Lords mother called the brother of Christ was the first Bishop of Ierusalem he liued vertuously he vsed no woollen vesture but wore a Syndon his knees were after the guise of a camels knee benumd and bereft of the sence of feeling by reason of his continuall kneeling in supplication to God he continued Bishop thirtie yeeres and was martyred by the Iewes but especially by Ananias the high Priest who set him vpon a pinackle of the Temple to preach to the people threw him downe headlong he hauing breath after his fall one came with a Fullers club knockt him on the head and brained him 10. SImon the Cananite sonne to Cleopas surnamed Zelotes the Lordes cousin germaine hee was chosen to bee one of the twelue Apostles of Christ he preached the Gospel throughout Mauritania Aphricke Aegypt and Persia he returned thence and succeeded Iames in the Bishopricke of Ierusalem the heretickes accused him that he lineally descended of the stocke of Dauid and that he was a Christian which profession they hated he was scourged for the space of many dayes together so that Aticus the Iudge and his company was marueilously amased and marueiled how that he being an hundred and twentie yeeres old was able to abide that bitter torment in the end he dyed a death agreeable with the passion of Christ 11. IVde the brother of Iames called also Thaddeus was called to be an Apostle he preached vnto the Edessians through all Mesopotamia he was slaine at Berito in the time of Agbarus king of Edessa 12. MAtthias one of the seuentie Disciples was chosen to be an Apostle in the roome of Iudas the traytor hee preached the Gospell first in Macedonia then in Aethiopia about the hauen called Hissus and the riuer Phasis afterward he went into India where the Iewes stoned him and last of all he was beheaded with an axe after the Romaine manner Thus endeth the commemoration of the liues and deaths of the twelue Apostles HERE FOLLOWETH the Election Liues and Martyrdoms of S. Paul Marke the Euangelist and Stephen one of the seuen Deacons PAVL which before was called Saule was an Apostle of Christ yet out of the number of the twelue was borne in Iurie in a towne called Gascalis which towne beeing taken by the Romanes he with his parents fled to Tharsus a towne in Cilicia afterwards hee was sent vp to Ierusalem and there brought vp in the knowledge of the Law at that time when Stephen suffered martyrdome Paul was a persecutour in raging against the Church of God entring into the houses of the faithfull and gaue forth precepts that both men and women should be imprisoned he was conuerted to beleeue in Christ by a voice that spake to him from heauen as he went towards Damascus and from a persecutour he was made a professor an Apostle a martyr a witnes of the Gospel and a chosen vessell not of men neither by men but by reuelation from Iesus Christ among other his manifold labours and trauelles in spreading the doctrine of Christ hee wanne Sergius Paulus the Proconsul of Ciprus to the faith of Christ whereupon his name was turned from Saul to Paul he began to preach the Gospell of Christ at Ierusalem and went on still to Ilyricum Italie and Spaine his Epistles are extant at this day full of heauenly wisedome hee was accused before the Emperour Nero for teaching a new doctrine and stirring vp sedition against the Empire whereupon Nero commanded him to declare the order of his doctrine which was to teach all men peace and charitie how to loue one another that rich men should not bee puft vp in pride nor to put their trust in their treasure but in the liuing God meane men to be content with food and raiment and with their present state poore men to reioyce in their pouertie with hope fathers to bring vp their children in the feare of God children to obay their parents husbands to loue their wiues wiues to loue their husbands citizens and subiectes to be true to their Prince This was the summe of Paules teaching which hee receiued from Iesus Christ which spake to him from heauen When Nero had heard this he gaue sentence of death that Paul should bee beheaded vnto whose executiō Nero sent two of his Esquires Feraga Parthemius to bring him word of Paules death he was beheaded at Rome the last yeere of Nero the third calends of Iuly and was buried in the way to Ostia in the thirtie sixt yeere after his conuersion thirtie seuen yeeres after the Passion of Christ MArke the Euangelist was the first Bishop of Alexandria he was the first that preached Christ vnto the Egyptians in the time of Traian hee had a cable rope tyed about his necke and drawne through the streetes of Alexandria that his flesh was rent in pieces and the stones coloured with blood he was drawne from Blocus to a place called Angels where hee was burned to ashes by the furious Idolaters in the moneth of April and buried at Blocus STephen was chosen to bee one of the seuen Deacons by prayer and laying on of the Apostles hands for the publike administration of the Church affaires hee was stoned to death at Ierusalem by them that slew the Lorde he was the first of the triumphing Martyrs of Christ and as they stoned him he said Lord Iesu receiue my spirit and kneeling downe he cryed with a lowde voyce Lord lay not this sinne vnto their charge and so fell asleepe in the Lord. This is to beare the crosse of our Sauiour this is to drinke of one cuppe with Christ Christ saith He that taketh not vp his crosse and followeth after me is not worthie of me hee that will saue his life shall loose it and he that looseth his life for my sake shall saue it Great are the troubles of the righteous but the Lord deliuereth him out of them all Through many tribulations wee haue to enter into the king dome of heauen but hee that endureth to the ende he shall be saued Infinite are the number of the Saints of God that haue suffered for the testimonie of Christ as Hierome in his Epistle to Chromatius and Heliodorus saith Nullus esset dies quinon vltra quinque millium numerum martyrum reperiri posset ascriptus excepto die kalendarum Ianuarij