N20568:5919
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 communion of saints."
WHICH most holy congregation, (being, as St. Paul teacheth, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ being the head corner stone) tho' it be by tyranny of Satan and his ministers persecuted, some by imprisonment, some by death, and some by other afflictions and painful torments; yet doth it remain in one perfect unity, both in faith and fellowship: which unity is knit in an unspeakable knot, as well of them which are departed from this mortal life, as of them which now be living, and hereafter shall be in the same, and so shall continue until they all do meet in the kingdom, where the head Jesus Christ, with all his holy members, (of which number thro' Christ I assuredly believe I am one) shall be fully complete, knit, and united together for evermore.
"THE forgiveness of sins."
I do believe that my sins, and all their sins which do rightly believe the holy scripture, are forgiven through Jesus Christ, of whom I do profess that I have my whole and full salvation and redemption, which St. Paul saith, cometh not thro' our works and deservings, but freely by grace, lest any should boast himself. Thro' the blood of the cross all things in heaven and earth are reconciled, and set at peace with the Father; without him no heavenly life given, nor sin forgiven.
"THE resurrection of the body."
I do believe, that by the same my Saviour Christ; I and all men shall rise again from death; for he, as St. Paul saith, is risen again from the dead, and is become the first fruits of them which sleep. For by a man came death, and by a man cometh the resurrection from death. This man is Christ, through the power of whose resurrection I believe that we shall all rise again in these our bodies; the godly clothed with immortality to live with Christ forever; the wicked also shall rise immortal to live with the devil and his angels in death everlasting.
"AND the life everlasting."
THRO' the same Jesus, and by none other, I am sure to have life everlasting. He only is the way and entrance into the kingdom of heaven. "For God so loved the world, that he did give his only Son Jesus Christ, to the end that so many as do believe in him might have everlasting life." Which I am sure to possess so soon as I am dissolved, and departed out of this tabernacle, and in the last day both body and soul shall possess the same for ever, to which God grant all men to come.
I believe, that the sacraments, that is to say, of baptism and of the lord's supper, are seals of God's most merciful promises towards mankind. In baptism, as by the outward creature of water I am washed from the filthiness which hangeth on my flesh, so do I assuredly believe, that I am by Christ's blood washed clean from my sins, thro' which I have sure confidence of my certain salvation. In the partaking of the Lord's supper, as I receive the substance of bread and wine (the nature of which is to strengthen the body) so do I by faith receive the redemption wrought in Christ's body broken on the cross, life by his death, resurrection by his resurrection, and in sum, all that ever Christ in his body suffered for my salvation, to the strengthening of my faith in the same. And I believe, that God hath appointed the eating and drinking of the creatures of bread and wine in his holy supper according to his word, to move and sti• up my mind to believe these articles above written.
THIS is my faith; this do I believe; and I am content by God's grace to confirm and seal the truth of the same with my blood.
By me, JOHN WARN.
By me, JOHN WARNE.
THE peace of God be with you. You shall right well perceive that I am not gone back, as some men do report of me, but as ready to give my life, as any of my brethren, that are gone before me, altho' by a policy I have a little prolonged it, and that for the best, as already it appeareth unto me, and shall shortly appear unto all. That day that I recant any point of doctrine, I shall suffer twenty kinds of death, the Lord being mine assistance, as I doubt not but he will. Commend me to my friend, and tell him no less. May the Lord strengthen you, me, and all his elect: my riches and poverty are as they were wont to be, and I have learned to rejoice in poverty as well as riches, for that I account now to be very riches. Thus fare you well in Christ. Salute all my brethren in my name. I have conf•••ed with some of my adversaries, learned men, and I find that they be but sophists and shadows.
MR. CARDMAKER being condemned, and in Newgate, one Mr. Beard came to him two or three days before he suffered death, and said unto him, Sir, I am sent unto you by the council, to know whether you will recant or no?
CARD. From which council are you come? I think you are not come, nor yet sent from the queen's council, but rather from the commissioners, unto whom (as I suppose) you belong. And where•• you would know, whether I will reca•t or […], thus I pray you report of me to those whom you said sent you. I know you are a tailor by your occupation, and have endeavoured yourself to be • cunning workman and thereby to get your living▪ so I have been a preacher these twenty years, and ever since that God by his great mercy hath opened mine eyes to see his eternal truth, I have by his grace endeavoured myself to call upon him, to give me the true understanding of his holy word and I thank him for his great mercy: I hope I have discharged my conscience in the setting forth of the same, to that little talent that I have received.
CARD. From which council are you come? I think you are not come, nor yet sent from the queen's council, but rather from the commissioners, unto whom (as I suppose) you belong. And where•• you would know, whether I will reca•t or 〈…〉, thus I pray you report of me to those whom you said sent you. I know you are a taylor by your occupation, and have endeavoured yourself to be • cunning workman• and thereby to get your living▪ so I have been a preacher these twenty years, and ever since that God by his great mercy hath opened mine eyes to see his eternal truth, I have by his grace en•eavoured myself to call upon him, to give me the true understanding of his holy word and I thank him for his great mercy: I hope I have discharged my conscience in the setting forth of the same, to that little talent that I have received.
BEARD. Yea, sir; but what say you to the blessed sacrament of the altar?
