A01980:200
A recovery from apostasy Set out in a sermon preached in Stepney Church near London at the receiving of a penitent renegado into the Church, Octob. 21. 1638. By William Gouge D.D. and min. in Black-Friars London Herein is the history of the surprisal and admirable escape of the said penitent.A recovery from apostacy Set out in a sermon preached in Stepny Church neere London at the receiving of a penitent renegado into the Church, Octob. 21. 1638. By William Gouge D.D. and min. in Black-Friers London Herein is the history of the surprizall and admirable escape of the said penitent.
London: printed by George Miller for Joshua Kirton, 1639London: printed by George Miller for Ioshua Kirton, 1639
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Walter Mille, who suffered Martyrdom in Scotland, being solicited to recant, made this resolute reply, Ye shall know that I will not recant the truth: for I am corn, I am no chaff; I will not be blown away with the wind, nor burst with the flail: but I will abide both.
Walter Mille, who suffered Martyrdome in Scotland, being sollicited to recant, made this resolute reply, Yee shall know that I will not recant the truth: for I am corne, I am no chaffe; I will not be blowne away with the winde, nor burst with the flaile: but I will abide both.
Mr. John Rogers, the first Martyr in Queen Mary's days, being solicited to revoke his doctrine for saving his life, said, That which I have preached I will seal with my blood.
Mr. Iohn Rogers, the first Martyr in Queene Maries daies, being sollicited to revoke his doctrine for saving his life, said, That which I have preached I will seale with my blood.
John Hooper Lord Bishop of Gloucester, upon the sight of a pardon cried out, If ye love my soul away with it; if ye love my soul away with it.
Iohn Hooper Lord Bishop of Glocester, upon the sight of a pardon cried out, If yee love my soule away with it; if yee love my soule away with it.
Thomas Hawks a Gentleman in Essex, on a like occasion gave this resolute answer, If I had an hundred bodies I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces rather then abjure or recant.
Thomas Hawks a Gentleman in Essex, on a like occasion gave this resolute answer, If I had an hundred bodies I would suffer them all to be torne in peeces rather then abjure or recant.
Bishop Ridley to like purpose thus, So long as the breath is in my body, I will never deny my Lord Christ and his known truth.
Bishop Ridly to like purpose thus, So long as the breath is in my body, I will never denie my Lord Christ and his knowne truth.
Old Father Latimer used such a speech to one that advised him to spare himself, as Christ did to Peter on a like occasion, which was this, Get thee behind me Satan.
Old Father Latimer used such a speech to one that advised him to spare himselfe, as Christ did to Peter on a like occasion, which was this, Get thee behind mee Satan.
In like manner all the holy, constant Martyrs refused to accept deliverance: some after a more zealous, others after a more mild manner.
In like manner all the holy, constant Martyrs refused to accept deliverance: some after a more zealous, others after a more milde manner.
Many were the motives whereby Martyrs in all ages have been induced to be not only careless, but even prodigal also of their lives.1 Therein they had respect to Christ, to the Church, to the Faith, to their Brethren, to Themselves, to Persecutors, to Satan.
Many were the motives whereby Martyrs in all ages have beene enduced to be not onely carelesse, but even prodigall also of their lives.1 Therein they had respect to Christ, to the Church, to the Faith, to their Bretheren, to Themselves, to Persecutors, to Satan.
11 Christ much rejoiceth in such servants. For constancy of Martyrs unto death (of such Martyrs as profess the name of Christ and suffer for his Truth) is a great honour unto Christ. Is it not an high honour to a King to have such Captains and Champions as will not yield to their Sovereigns enemies, but stand it out to the uttermost till they get the victory, though it cost them their life to get it? Yet no mortal King can (as Christ doth) put spirit, courage, or strength into a subject: only it is conceived that such valorous soldiers as are ready to hazard their lives for their Sovereign, serve a good Master. Thus do Martyrs give persecutors to understand that they serve a good Master:2 and that they believe in him who hath done more for them then their dearest blood is worth, who enables them with courage, and comfort to endure whatsoever for his names ⟨p. 52⟩sake can be inflicted on them, and therein [Greek or Hebrew] to be more then conquerors: and after all give such recompense as their sufferings are not worthy to be compared with, Rom. 8.18, 37. Is not this an honour to Christ?
11 Christ much rejoyceth in such servants. For constancy of Martyrs unto death (of such Martyrs as professe the name of Christ and suffer for his Truth) is a great honour unto Christ. Is it not an high honour to a King to have such Captaines and Champions as will not yeeld to their Soveraignes enemies, but stand it out to the uttermost till they get the victory, though it cost them their life to get it? Yet no mortall King can (as Christ doth) put spirit, courage, or strength into a subject: onely it is conceived that such valourous souldiers as are ready to hazard their lives for their Soveraigne, serve a good Master. Thus doe Martyrs give persecutors to understand that they serve a good Master:2 and that they beleeve in him who hath done more for them then their dearest bloud is worth, who enables them with courage, and comfort to endure whatsoever for his names ⟨p. 52⟩
12. The Church which breedeth, and sendeth forth such courageous and resolute children as are ready to spend their blood in their mothers cause, is much honoured. Never did any Church bring up such children as the Church of Christ. She hath the glory of invincible Martyrs. Of it, it may truly be said, O blessed Church, which is honoured with so divine renown: which the glorious blood of Martyrs doth beautify.
12. The Church which breedeth, and sendeth foorth such couragious and resolute children as are ready to spend their blood in their mothers cause, is much honoured. Never did any Church bring up such children as the Church of Christ. She hath the glory of invincible Martyrs. Of it, it may truely be said, O blessed Church, which is honoured with so divine renowne: which the glorious blood of Martyrs doth beautifie.
13. The Faith which such Martyrs profess by their standing steadfast therein unto death, is sealed and confirmed. The blood of Martyrs is a seal of that Faith for which they shed their blood. By this kind of ratifying the Christian Faith many have been brought to embrace the Christian Faith: As of old *many were induced to believe in Christ by the miracles which he himself did, and which his Apostles did in his Name. If the tortures whereby sundry Martyrs were put to death, and their manful, cheerful, and joyful enduring of them (whereof before) be duly weighed, we shall find their enduring to be so miraculous, as their sufferings may well be accounted miracles.
13. The Faith which such Martyrs professe by their standing stedfast therein unto dea•h, is sealed and confirmed. The blood of Martyrs is a seale of that Faith for which they shed their blood. By this kinde of ratifying the Christian Faith many have beene brought to embrace the Christian Faith: As of old *many were enduced to beleeve in Christ by the miracles which he himselfe did, and which his Apostles did in his Name. If the tortures whereby sundry Martyrs were put to death, and their manfull, cheerefull, and joyfull enduring of them (wherof before) be duly weighed, we shal find their induring to bee so miraculous, as their sufferings may well be accounted miracles.
14. The Brethren which believe and profess the same Faith, are by the constancy of Martyrs much strengthened. For the invincible courage ⟨p. 53⟩of some putts life and spirit into others. In an army valorous Leaders much animate the rest of the soldiers,2 and embolden them to follow their leaders. Now the Church is as an army with banners (Cant. 6.4.) Martyrs are as Leaders: they courageously and victoriously make the on-set: Other Christians by their example are pricked on as occasion serveth to follow them. Read Phil. 1.13.
14. The Bretheren which beleeve and professe the same Faith, are by the constancy of Martyrs much streng•hened. For the invincible courage ⟨p. 53⟩of some putts life and spirit into others. In an army valourous Leaders much animate the rest of the souldiers,2 and embolden them to follow their leaders. Now the Church is as an army with banners (Cant. 6.4.) Martyrs are as Leaders: they couragiously and victoriously make the on-set: Other Christians by their example are pricked on as occasion serveth to follow them. Reade Phil. 1.13.
15. They procure to themselves even for the present in their souls much peace, comfort and joy. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in them, so their consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Cor. 1.5.) Then especially are the comforts of the Holy Ghost even poured upon a Christian soul. For athey could never endure such torments in the flesh, unless they had much peace in their soul. For the future, on earth they leave a most sweet savour of a renowned name: When their bodies are consumed their name is as an ointment poured out, and bthey thereby do light a torch of Fame to posterity. cForth Church was wont to celebrate the memory of Martyrs: For which end they had set days in the year, whereon Christians in full assemblies met together, rehearsed catalogues of Martyrs, and gave solemn praise to God for the power of his Spirit, manifested in their admirable patience and perseverance. And in Heaven they have the highest degree of glory. For though God do not reward men simply for their works, namely for the merit of them, yet he rewards according to ⟨p. 54⟩their works (Rom. 2.6.) and proportions the degree or measure thereof, according to the kind of work which on earth is done, and according to the measure of grace whereby he enables men to do it.
15. They procure to themselves even for the present in their soules much peace, comfort and joy. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in them, so their consolation also aboundeth by Christ. (2 Cor. 1.5.) Then especially are the comforts of the Holy Ghost even poured upon a Christian soul. For a
But Martyrdom is the most difficult, the most acceptable and honourable work that on earth can be done: Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, (saith the Apostle Phil. 1.29.) not only to believe in him, BUT ALSO to suffer for his sake. Martyrdom therefore is in Heaven crowned with the highest degree of Glory. GREAT is their reward in Heaven, Math. 5.12. On this ground they who set down the different degrees of celestial glory by the different fruits which the good ground brought forth, Some thirty, some sixty, some an hundred, apply thed hundred fold, which is the highest and greatest degree of glory, to Martyrdom.
But Martyrdome is the most difficult, the most acceptable and honourable worke that on earth can be done: Vnto you it is given in the behalfe of Christ, (saith the Apostle Phil. 1.29.) not only to beleeve in him, BVT ALSO to suffer for his sake. Martyrdome therefore is in Heaven crowned with the highest degree of Glory. GREAT is their reward in Heaven, Math. 5.12. On this ground they who set down the different degrees of celestiall glory by the different fruites which the good ground brought forth, Some thirty, some sixty, some an hundred, apply thed hundred fold, which is the highest and greatest degree of glory, to Martyrdome.
16. ePersecutors and torturers of Martyrs have by their admirable constancy unto death bin exceedingly astonished and even confounded. They have so long continued even from morning to evening and that by course to torture Christians (among others, a woman, Blandina by name) as they were weary, and acknowledged themselves to be overcome. And fthe Governors themselves who commanded them to be tortured, and stood by to see execution done, were confounded that their tortures nothing prevailed, and that they were overcome by women: and gthey who sate as ⟨p. 55⟩assistants by the Governors were affrighted thereat. So as Christians condemned were enabled to endure whatsoever was inflicted on them, and their Judges much affrighted. Yea hby the undaunted and invincible courage of Martyrs, some of their executioners and tormenters have been converted, have professed them selves to be Christians, and suffered with the Martyrs, and received the crown of Martyrdom. These are the victories, triumphs and trophies of constant Martyrs. Thus they lead captivity captive.
16. ePersecutors and torturers of Martyrs have by their admirable constancy unto death bin exceedingly astonished and even confounded. They have so long continued even from morning to evening and that by course to torture Christians (among others, a woeman, Blandina by name) as they were weary, and acknowledged themselves to be overcome. And fthe Governours themselves who commanded them to be tortured, and stood by to see execution done, were confounded that their tortures nothing prevailed, and that they were overcome by woemen: and
17. The Devil himself is by Martyrs constancy exceedingly disappointed. For he sets his instruments on work to deal with Christians, as Haman intended to deal with the Jews (Hest. 3.23.) namely, to destroy, to kill, iand cause to perish all Jews both young and old, little children and women. But with like success did the Devil plot against Christians. For, as by the disappointment of Hamans device, many of the people of the Land became Jews. (Hest. 8.17.) So while Satan's instruments sought to make an end of Christians, they increased the more. For,k the blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church. We read (Reve. 13.3.) of a Beast whose head was wounded to death. Surely the Devil with his fiends were wounded even unto death by Martyrs resisting unto blood. The time of the ten fierce persecutions, and of the purity and power of Religion that followed thereupon contain those thousand years wherein Satan was bound. Rev. 20.2.
17. The Divell himselfe is by Martyrs constancy exceedingly disappointed. For hee sets his instruments on work to deale with Christians, as Haman intended to deale with the Jewes (Hest. 3.23.) namely, to destroy, to kill, iand cause to perish all Iewes both young and old, little children and woemen. But with like successe did the Divell plot against Christians. For, as by the disappointment of Hamans device, many of the people of the Land became Iewes. (Hest. 8.17.) So while Satans instruments sought to make an end of Christians, they increased the more. For,k the blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church. Wee reade (Reve. 13.3.) of a Beast whose head was wounded to death. Surely the Divell with his feends were wounded even unto death by Martyrs resisting unto blood. The time of the ten fierce persecutions, and of the purity and power of Religion that followed thereupon containe those thousand yeares wherein Satan was bound.
