N20568:7694
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.
3. Item, That all persons who teach, preach, believe, affirm, hold, maintain, or say within the diocese of Canterbury, otherwise than our holy mother the church doth, are excommunicate persons, and heretics, and as excommunicate and heretics ought to be named, reputed, and taken.
4. Item, That thou, contrary to the catholic faith and determination of our holy mother church, within the diocese of Canterbury, hast openly spoken, maintained, holden, affirmed, and believed, and yet dost hold, affirm, and believe, that in the blessed sacrament of the altar, under the forms of bread and wine, there is not the very body and blood of our Saviour Jesus Christ in substance, but only a token, sign, and remembrance thereof, and that the very body and blood of Christ is only in heaven, and no where else.
5. Item, That thou contrary to the catholic faith, and determination of our holy mother church, hast within this diocese of Canterbury openly spoken, said, maintained, holden, affirmed, and believed, and yet dost hold, maintain, affirm, and believe, that it is against God's word, that the sacrament of Christ's church should be ministered in an unknown tongue; and that no man with a safe conscience, or without peril of sin, receiveth any sacrament administered in any tongue that he understandeth not.
5. Item, That thou contrary to the catholic faith, and determination of our holy mo•her church, hast within this diocese of Canterbury openly spoken, said, maintained, holden, affirmed, and believed, and yet dost hold, maintain, affirm, and believe, that it is against God's word, that the sacrament of Christ's church should be ministered in an unknown tongue; and that no man with a safe conscience, or without peril of sin, receiveth any sacrament administered in any tongue that he understandeth not.
6. Item, That thou, contrary to the catholic faith of our holy mother church, hast, and yet dost hold opinion, and say, that it is against God's word, that the sacrament of the altar should be administered in one kind; and that no man may with a safe conscience so receive it.
7. Item, That the premises be true, and that there is a common fame upon them within the diocese of Canterbury.
TO these articles Mr. Bland, answering again in order as they were objected to him, saith to the first, granting the same, that he was a priest, and of the diocese of Canterbury.
TO the second also he answereth affirmatively.
TO the third he answereth, that the article is true, meaning the catholic church to be Christ's church.
TO the fourth article he answered as touching the first part thereof, he doth confess, that he hath preached and taught it, as it is contained in the same. And as touching the second part of the article, he doth confess, that he doth now also hold and say, as he preached and taught before.
THE fifth article he granteth.
TO the sixth, he preached, held, and doth hold, as is contained in the article.
TO the last article he granteth the same, &c.
THIS done, and his answers and confession taken, respite was given him yet a few days to deliberate with himself. And on the 25th day of the said month of June he appeared again in the chapter-house, and there boldly and firmly withstood the authority of the pope; whereupon he was condemned and committed to the secular power.
THE Lord Jesus, for whose love I do willingly leave this life, and desire rather the bitter death of his cross, with the loss of all earthly things, than to abide the blasphemy of thy holy name, or else to obey man in breaking thy commandments; thou seest, O Lord, that whereas I ⟨p. 712⟩might live in worldly wealth to worship false gods, and honour thy enemy, I chose rather the torments of this body, and loss of this my life, and have counted all things but vile dust and dung that I might win thee: which death is more dear to me than thousands of gold and silver. Such love, O Lord, hast thou laid up in my breast, that I hunger for thee, as the deer that is wounded desireth the soil. Send thy holy comforter, O Lord, to aid, comfort, and strengthen this weak piece of earth which is void of all strength of itself. Thou rememberest, O Lord, that I am but dust, and not able to do any thing that is good. Therefore, O Lord, as thou of thy accustomed goodness hast bidden me to this banquet, and counted me worthy to drink of thine own cup amongst thine elect; give me strength against this element, that as it is to my sight most irksome and terrible, so to my mind it may be at thy commandment, as an obedient servant, sweet and pleasant; and through the strength of thy Holy Spirit I may pass through the strength of this fire into thy bosom, according to thy promise, and for this mortality to receive immortality, and for this corruptible to put on incorruption. Accept this burnt offering and sacrifice, O Lord, not for the sacrifice itself, but for thy dear Son's sake my Saviour; for whose testimony I offer this free-will offering with all my soul. O heavenly Father, forgive me my sins as I forgive the whole world. O sweet Saviour, spread thy wings over me. O God, grant me thy Holy Ghost, through whose merciful inspiration I am come hither. Conduct me unto everlasting life. Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit; Lord Jesus receive my soul. So be it.
