The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being…
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].
John Foxe 1516–1587New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
2 v. : ill. ; 28 cm. (4to) · 1.2M words · Evans 26991
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.
GRACE and comfort in Christ Jesus, our only comfort in all extreme assaults, Amen. Fain would this flesh make strange of that which the spirit doth embrace. Oh! Lord, how loth is this loitering sluggard to pass forth in God's path? It fancieth much fear, and were it not for the force of faith, and of hope, great likelihood there were of fainting by the way. But blessed, and everlastingly blessed be that heavenly Father of our's, who in his Christ, our sufficient Saviour, hath vouchsafed to shine in our hearts, that he giveth us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ: and having "this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power might be God's, and not our's; we are (according to his good will) troubled on every side, yet are we not without shift; we are in poverty, but yet not without what is sufficient; we s•ffer persecution, but are not forsaken therein; we are cast down, nevertheless we perish not; we bear in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus might also appear in our body." Wherefore by the grace of our Christ we shall not be wearied, neither be dismayed by this our probation through the fire of affliction, as tho' some strange thing had happened unto us: but by his power we shall rejoice, inasmuch as we are partakers of Christ's passion, that when he doth appear, we may be merry and glad, knowing that "our tribulation, which is momentary and light, prepareth an exceeding and eternal weight of glory unto us, while we look not on the things which are seen, but on the things which are not seen. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. For he that goeth on his way weeping and scattering his good seed, shall doubtless come again with joy, and bring his whole sheaves with him." Then, then shall the Lord wipe away all tears from our eyes. Then, then shall be brought to pass that saying which is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is thy sting? Hell, where is thy victory? Yea, thanks be to God, which hath given the victory thro' our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen."
IN the mean season it remaineth for us to follow St. Peter's advice: "Let them (saith he) that are troubled, according to the will of God, commit their souls to him with well-doing, as a faithful creator and maker."
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.
He is our maker, we are his handy-work and creatures, whom now when he hath made, he doth not leave and forsake, as the shipwright doth the ship, leaving it at all adventures to be tossed in the tempest, but he comforteth us his creatures, and in him we live, move, and have our being: yea, not only that, but now that he hath in his dear Christ repaired us, being before utterly decayed, and redeem•• us, purging
⟨p. 440⟩
us unto himself as a peculiar people by the blood of his Son; he hath put on a most tender good will and fatherly […] to forget us: unto whom by such promises he hath ••light•• such faith, that though it were possible that the mother could forget her infant, and not be tender-hearted to the child of her womb ye• may not it be, that his faithful believers should be forgotten of him. He exhorteth us to cast all our care on him, and saith, that assuredly he careth for us. And what though for a season he doth suffer us to be tossed in the turbulent tempests of temptation, and seemeth as in much anger to have given us over, and forgotten us? Let not us for all that leave off to put our trust in him, but let us with godly Job conclude in ourselves and say, "Even though he kill me, yet will I put my trust in him." Let us with the blessed Abraham in hope, even contrary to hope, by belief lean unto that our loving Lord, who, though for our probation he suffereth us to be afflicted, yet "will he not be always chilling, neither keepeth he his anger for ever: for he knoweth whereof we are made; he remembereth that we are but dust. Wherefore, look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth, so great is his mercy towards them which fear him. Look how wide the east is from the we•• so far hath he set our sins from us. Yea, like as a […] ••tieth his own children, even so is the Lord merciful un•o them that fear him." Oh! what great cause of rejoicing have we in our most gracious God? We cannot but burst forth in the praising of such a bountiful benefactor, and say with the same Psalmist; "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
Dear wife, riches I have none to leave behind me, wherewith to endow you after the worldly manner:
He is our maker, we are his handy-work and creatures, whom now when he hath made, he doth not leave and forsake, as the shipwright doth the ship, leaving it at all adventures to be tossed in the tempest, but he comforteth us his creatures, and in him we live, move, and have our being: yea, not only that, but now that he hath in his dear Christ repaired us, being before utterly decayed, and redeem•• us, purging ⟨p. 440⟩us unto himself as a peculiar people by the blood of his Son; he hath put on a most tender good will and fatherly 〈…〉 to fo•get us: unto whom by such promises he hath ••light•• such faith, that though it were possible that the mother could forget her infant, and not be tender-hearted to the child of her womb ye• may not it be, that his faithful believers should be fo•gotten of him. He exhorteth us to cast all our care on him, and saith, that assuredly he careth for us. And what though for a season he doth suffer us to be tossed in the turbulent tempests of temptation, and seemeth as in much anger to have given us over, and forgotten us? Let not us for all that leave off to put our trust in him, but let us with godly Job conclude in ourselves and say, "Even though he kill me, yet will I put my trust in him." Let us with the blessed Abraham in hope, even contrary to hope, by belief lean unto that our loving Lord, who, though for our probation he suffereth us to be afflicted, yet "will he not be always chi•ling, neither keepeth he his anger for ever: for he knoweth whereof we are made; he remembereth that we are but dust. Wherefore, look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth, so great is his mercy towards them which fear him. Look how wide the east is from the we•• so far hath he set our sins from us. Yea, like as a 〈…〉••tieth his own children, even so is the Lord merciful un•o them that fear him." Oh! what great cause of rejoicing have we in our most gracious God? We cannot but burst forth in the praising of such a bountiful benefactor, and say with the same Psalmist; "Praise the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."
Dear wife, riches I have none to leave behind me, wherewith to endow you after the worldly manner:
but th•• treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is unto hungry consciences, (whereof I thank my Christ, I do feel part, and would feel more) that I bequeath unto you, and to the rest of my beloved in Christ, to retain the same in sense of heart always. Pray, pray. I am merry, and I trust I shall be merry, in spite of all the devils in hell. I utterly refuse myself, and resign myself unto my Christ, in whom I know I shall be strong, as he seeth needful. Pray, pray, pray.
LAURENCE SAUNDERS.
but th•• treasure of tasting how sweet Christ is unto hungry co••sciences, (whereof I thank my Christ, I do feel part, and would feel more) that I bequeath unto you, and to the rest of my beloved in Christ, to retain the same in sense of heart always. Pray, pray. I am merry, and I trust I shall be merry, in spite of all the devils in hell. I utterly refuse myself, and resign myself unto my Christ, in whom I know I shall be strong, as he seeth needful. Pray, pray, pray.
LAURENCE SAUNDERS.
WHEN Mr. Saunders was in prison, an order was sent to the keeper, that no person should speak with him; but his wife coming to the prison-gate with her young child in her arms, to visit her husband, the keeper, though he durst not, on account of his charge, suffer her to come into the prison, yet took the infant out of her arms, and brought him unto his father. Mr. Saunders, seeing the child, said. That he rejoiced more to have such a boy, than he should if two thousand pounds were given him. And to the stande•• by, who praised […] goodliness of the child, he said, "What […] fearing God, would not lose this life, rather, than by prolonging it, •he should adjudge this boy to be a bastard, his wife a wh•re, and himself a whoremonger? Yea, if there […] other cause, for which a man of my estate should lose his life, yet who would not give it, to vouch this child to be legitimate, and his marriage to be lawful and holy."
WHEN Mr. Saunders was in prison, an order was sent to the keeper, that no person should speak with him; but his wife coming to the prison-gate with her young child in her arms, to visit her husband, the keeper, though he durst not, on account of his charge, suffer her to come into the prison, yet took the infant out of her arms, and brought him unto his father. Mr. Saunders, seeing the child, said. That he rejoiced more to have such a boy, than he should if two thousand pounds were given him. And to the stande•• by, who praised 〈…〉 goodliness of the child, he said, "What 〈…〉 fearing God, would not lose this life, rather, than by prolonging it, •he should adjudge this boy to be a bastard, his wife a wh•re, and himself a whoremonger? Yea, if there 〈…〉 other cause, for which a man of my estate should lose his life, yet who would not give it, to vouch this child to be legitimate, and his marriage to be lawful and holy."
I do, good reader, (says Mr. Fox) recite this saying, not only to let you see what he thought of priests' marriage; but chiefly to let all married couples and parents learn to bear in their boso•• true affection: natural, but yet seasoned with the true salt of the Spirit, unfeignedly and thoroughly mortified to do the natural works and offices of married couples and parents, so long as with their doings they may keep Christ with a free confessing faith in a clear conscience: otherwise both they and their own lives are so to be forsaken, as Christ required them to be denied, and given in his cause.
AFTER this good and faithful martyr had been kept in prison one year and a quarter, the bishops at length called him, as they did his fellow-prisoners, openly to be examined; and the purport of his examination, as written by himself, here followeth:
The EXAMINATION of the Rev. Mr. SAUNDERS before the QUEEN'S COUNCIL, GARDINER, Bishop of Winchester, the then Chancellor, and other Bishops, being present.
L. CHAN. IT is not unknown that you have been a prisoner, for such abominable heresies and false doctrine as have been sown by you; and now it is thought good that mercy be showed to such as seek for it. Wherefore if now you will show yourself conformable, and come home again, mercy is ready. We must say that we have fallen in manner all: but now we are risen again, and returned to the catholic church; you must rise with us, and come home unto it. Give us forthwith a direct answer.
L. CHAN. IT is not unknown that you have been a prisoner, for such abominable heresies and false doctrine as have been sown by you; and now it is thought good that mercy be shewed to such as seek for it. Wherefore if now you will shew yourself conformable, and come home again, mercy is ready. We must say that we have fallen in manner all: but now we are risen again, and returned to the catholic church; you must rise with us, and come home unto it. Give us forthwith a direct answer.
SAND. My lord, it is no time for me now to paint. And as for pride, there is no great cause why it should be in me; my learning I confess to be but small; and as for riches or worldly wealth I have none at all▪ Notwithstanding, it standeth me in hand to answer your demand circumspectly, considering that one of these two extreme perils are like to fall upon me, the losing of a good conscience, or the losing of this my body and life. And I tell you truth, I love both life and liberty, if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my conscience.
SAUND. My lord, it is no time for me now to paint. And as for pride, there is no great cause why it should be in me; my learning I confess to be but small; and as for riches or worldly wealth I have none at all▪ Notwithstanding, it standeth me in hand to answer your demand circumspectly, considering that one of these two extreme perils are like to fall upon me, the losing of a good conscience, or the losing of this my body and life. And I tell you truth, I love both life and liberty, if I could enjoy them without the hurt of my conscience.
SAND. The Lord is the knower of all men's consciences. And where your lordship layeth to my charge this dividing myself from the church, (as you do mean, and is now among you concluded upon, and I do understand) I do assure you that I live in the faith wherein I have been brought up since I was fourteen years of age; being taught that the power of the bishop of Rome is but usurped, with many other abuses springing thereof. Yes, this I have received even at your hands that are here present, as a thing agreed upon by the catholic church and public authority.
SAUND. The Lord is the knower of all men's consciences. And where your lordship layeth to my charge this dividing myself from the church, (as you do mean, and is now among you concluded upon, and I do understand) I do assure you that I live in the faith wherein I have been brought up since I was fourteen years of age; being taught that the power of the bishop of Rome is but usurped, with many other abuses springing thereof. Yes, this I have received even at your hands that are here present, as a thing agreed upon by the catholic church and public authority.
SAND. My lord, it is less offence to cut off an arm, hand, or joint of man, than to cut off the head. For the man may live though he doth lose an arm, hand, or joint; but he cannot without his head. Now you, all the whole sort of you, had agreed to cut off the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, whom now you will have to be the head of the church again.
SAUND. My lord, it is less offence to cut off an arm, hand, or joint of man, than to cut off the head. For the man may live though he doth lose an arm, hand, or joint; but he cannot without his head. Now you, all the whole sort of you, had agreed to cut off the supremacy of the bishop of Rome, whom now you will have to be the head of the church again.
