N20568:8201
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].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Volume 1 › Book 2 › Chapter 11 › The last Examination of Mr. SMITH.
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.
Smith. Well, good friends, you have seen and heard the great wrong that we have received this day, and you are all witnesses that we have desired the probation of our cause by God's book, and it hath not been granted: but we are condemned, and our cause not heard. Nevertheless, my lord mayor, forasmuch as you have here exercised God's sword causeless, and will not hear the right of the poor, I commit my cause to Almighty God, who will judge all men according to right, before whom we shall both stand without authority; and there will I stand in the right, and have judgment, to your great confusion, except you repent, which the Lord grant you to do, if it be his will. And then was I with the rest of my brethren carried away to Newgate.
THUS, gentle reader, as near as I can, I have set forth the truth of my examination, and the verity of mine unjust condemnation for the truth, praying to God that it may not be laid to the charge of thee, O England, requiring your hearty prayers to God for his grace and spirit of boldness, with hope even shortly to set to my seal at Uxbridge the 8th day of August, by God's grace: pray that it may be to his honour, my salvation, and your consolation, I pray you. Da gloriam Deo. ROBERT SMITH.
THUS art thou (good reader) not only to note, but also to follow in this man a singular example of christian fortitude, who so valiantly stood in defence of his master's cause: and as thou seest him here boldly stand in examination before the bishop and doctors; so was he no less comfortable also in the prison among his companions: which also is to be observed no less in his other fellow-prisoners, who being together in an outward room in Newgate, had godly conference with themselves, with daily praying and public reading, which they to their great comfort used in that room together; amongst whom Smith was the chief; whose industry was always solicitous, not only for them of his own company, but also his diligence was c full for other prisoners, whom he ceased not to dissuade from their old accustomed iniquity; and many he converted to his religion.