N20568:14934
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
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.
THE Spirit of consolation be with you, aid you, and make you strong to run to the fight that is laid before you, wherewithal God in all ages hath tried his elect, and hath found them worthy of himself, by coupling to their head Jesus Christ; in whom, whoso desireth to live godly, the same must needs suffer persecution. For it is given unto them, not only to believe, but also to suffer. And the servant or scholar cannot be greater than his lord and master: but by the same way the head is entered, the members must follow: no life is in the members which are cut from the body: likewise we have no life but in Christ: for by him we live, move, and have our being. My dear sons, now departing this life to my great advantage, I make change of mortality with immortality, of corruption to put on incorruption, to make my body like unto the corn cast into the ground, which except it die first, it can bring forth no good fruit. Wherefore death is to me great advantage: for thereby the body ceaseth from sin, and after turneth into the first original; but after shall be changed, and made brighter than the sun or moon. What shall I write of this corporal death, seeing it is decreed of God, that all men shall once die? Happy are they that die in the Lord, which is to die in the faith of Christ, professing and confessing the same before many witnesses. I praise my God I have passed the same journey by many temptations, the devil is very busy to persuade, the world to entice with promises and fair words: which I omit to write lest some might think I did hunt after vain glory, which is farthest from my heart. Lastly, the danger of some false brethren, who before the bishop of London purposed to confess an untruth to my face: yet the God that ruled Balaam, moved their hearts; where they thought to speak to my accusation, he made them speak to my purgation. What a journey (by God's power) I have made these eight days before this day, it is above flesh and blood to bear: but as St. Paul saith, I may do all things in him which worketh in me, Jesus Christ. My course, brethren, have I run, I have fought a good fight, the crown of righteousness is laid up for me, my day to receive it is at hand. Pray, brethren, for the enemy doth yet assault. Stand constant unto the end, then shall you possess your souls. Walk worthily in that vocation wherein you are called. Comfort the brethren.
Salute one another in my name. Be not ashamed of the gospel of the cross, by me preached, nor yet of my suffering; for with my blood I affirm the same. I go before, I suffer first the baiting of the butcher's dogs; yet I have not done what I should have done; but my weakness▪ I doubt not, is supplied in the strength of Jesus Christ; and your wisdom and learning will accept the small talent, which I have distributed unto you, as I trust, as a faithful steward: and what was undone, impute that to frailty and ignorance, and with your love cover that ⟨p. 508⟩which is and was naked in me. God knoweth ye are all tender unto me, my heart bursteth for the love of you. Ye are not without your great pastor of your soul, who so loveth you, that if men were not to be sought out, (as God be praised there is no want of men) he would cause stones to minister unto you. Cast your care on that rock, the wind of temptation shall not prevail: fast and pray, for the days are evil. Look up with your eyes of hope, for the redemption is not far off (but my wickedness hath deserved that I shall not see it). And also that which is behind of the blood of our brethren, which shall also be laid under the altar, shall cry for your relief. Time will not now suffer me to write long letters. The Spirit of God guide you in and out, rising and sitting, cover you with the shadow of his wings, defend you against the tyranny of the wicked, and bring you happily unto the port of eternal felicity, where all tears shall be wiped from your eyes, and you shall always abide with the Lamb.
JOHN ROUGH.
IT is before related, that in the company of John Rough, was burned one Margaret Mearing, who, as the register maketh mention, was at one time and day brought with the said Rough forth to examination: where the bishop having no private matters to charge her withal, did the 18th day of December object against her those common and accustomable articles mentioned before. To which she answered as follows:
1. THAT there is here on earth a catholic church, and that there is the true faith of Christ observed and kept in the same church.
2. ITEM, That there were only two sacraments in the church, namely, the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, and the sacrament of baptism.
3. ITEM, That she was baptized in the faith and belief of the said church, renouncing there, by her godfathers and godmothers, the devil and all his works, &c.
4. ITEM, That when she came to the age of fourteen years, she did not know what her true belief was, because she was not then of discretion to understand the same, neither yet was taught it.
5. ITEM, That she had not gone from the catholic faith at any time; but she said that the ma•• was abominable before the sight of God, and before the sight of all true christian people, and […] it is the plain cup of fornication, and the who•• […] Babylon. And as concerning the sacrament of the altar, she said, she believed there was no such […] in the catholic church. Also she said, […] she utterly abhorred the authority of the bishop […] Rome, with all the religion observed in the […] Antichrist's church.
5. ITEM, That she had not gone from the catholic faith at any time; but she said that the ma•• was abominable before the sight of God, and before the sight of all true christian people, and 〈…〉 it is the plain cup of fornication, and the who•• 〈…〉 Babylon. And as concerning the sacrament of the altar, she said, she believed there was no such 〈…〉 in the catholic church. Also she said, 〈…〉 she utterly abhorred the authority of the bishop 〈…〉 Rome, with all the religion observed in the 〈…〉 Antichrist's church.
6. ITEM, She answered to the sixth article▪ […] the first before specified.
6. ITEM, She answered to the sixth article▪ 〈…〉 the first before specified.
7. ITEM, That she hath refused to come to the parish church, because the true religion of […] was not then used in the same; and further […] that she had not come unto the church for […] space of one year and three quarters, then last […] neither yet did mean any more to come […] same in these idolatrous days.
7. ITEM, That she hath refused to come to the parish church, because the true religion of 〈…〉 was not then used in the same; and further 〈…〉 that she had not come unto the church for 〈…〉 space of one year and three quarters, then last 〈…〉 neither yet did mean any more to come 〈…〉 same in these idolatrous days.
8. ITEM, As touching the manner of her app•••hension, she said, That Cluney, the bishop's […], did bring her to the bishop.
8. ITEM, As touching the manner of her app•••hension, she said, That Cluney, the bishop's 〈…〉, did bring her to the bishop.
