N20568:8926
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.
to all that call upon him in truth." God i• near, he is at hand, he is with all, with all I say, and refuseth none, excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call upon him, in what hour, what place, or what time soever it be. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man, to burden God (as it were) with his promise, and of duty to claim and challenge his aid, help, and assistance in all our perils, dangers, and distress, calling upon him, not in the confidence of our own godliness, but in the trust of his promis•• made in Christ, in whom, and by whom, and for whose sake, whosoever boldly approacheth to the mercy-seat of the Father, is sure to receive whatsoever is expedient or necessary, either for body or soul, in a more bountiful manner, than he can well wish, or dare desire. His word cannot lie, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt praise me." I answered the enemy also on this manner; I am a sinner, and therefore unworthy to be a witness of this truth. What then? must I deny his word, because I am not worthy to profess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but add sin to sin? What is greater sin than to deny the truth of Christ's gospel? As Christ himself beareth witness, "He that is ashamed of me or of my words, of him also will I be ashamed before my Father and all his angels." I might also for the like reason neglect obedience to any of God's commandments. WHEN I am provoked to pray, the enemy […] say to me, I am not worthy to pray, therefore I shall not pray: and so in like manner of all the commandments, I shall not forbear swearing, stealing, or murdering, because I am not worthy to keep any commandment of God These be the delusio•• of the devil, and Satan's suggestions, which must be overcome by continual prayer, and with the word of God applied according to the measure of every man's gift against all assaults of the devil. AT the bishop's first coming to Litchfield, after mine imprisonment, I was called into a bye chamber next to my prison, to my lord. Before whom when I came, and saw none but his officers, chaplains, and servants, except it were an old priest, I was partly amazed, and lifted up my heart to God for his merciful help and assistance. MY lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment; I gave him no answer touching that question.
to all that call upon him in truth." God i• near, he is at hand, he is with all, with all I say, and refuseth none, excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call upon him, in what hour, what place, or what time soever it be. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man, to burthen God (as it were) with his promise, and of duty to claim and challenge his aid, help, and assistance in all our perils, dangers, and distress, calling upon him, not in the confidence of our own godliness, but in the trust of his promis•• made in Christ, in whom, and by whom, and for whose sake, whosoever boldly approacheth to the mercy-seat of the Father, is sure to receive whatsoever is expedient or necessary, either for body or soul, in a more bountiful manner, than he can well wish, or dare desire. His word cannot lie, "Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt praise me." I answered the enemy also on this manner; I am a sinner, and therefore unworthy to be a witness of this truth. What then? must I deny his word, because I am not worthy to profess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but add sin to sin? What is greater sin than to deny the truth of Christ's gospel? As Christ himself beareth witness, "He that is ashamed of me or of my words, of him also will I be ashamed before my Father and all his angels." I might also for the like reason neglect obedience to any of God's commandments. WHEN I am provoked to pray, the enemy 〈…〉 say to me, I am not worthy to pray, therefore I shall not pray: and so in like manner of all the commandments, I shall not forbear swearing, stealing, or murdering, because I am not worthy to keep any commandment of God These be the delusio•• of the devil, and Satan's suggestions, which must be overcome by continual prayer, and with the word of God applied according to the measure of every man's gift against all assaults of the devil. AT the bishop's first coming to Litchfield, after mine imprisonment, I was called into a bye chamber next to my prison, to my lord. Before whom when I came, and saw none but his officers, chaplains, and servants, except it were an old priest, I was partly amazed, and lifted up my heart to God for his merciful help and assistance. MY lord asked me how I liked my imprisonment; I gave him no answer touching that question.
He proceeded to persuade me to be a member of his church, which had continued so many years. As for your church (said he to me), it was not known but lately in Edward's time. I profess myself to be a member of that church (said I) that is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone; and so alleged the place of St. Paul to the Ephesians. And this church hath been from the beginning (said I), tho' it bear no glorious show before the world, being ever, for the most part, under the cross and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted; my lord contended on the other side, that they were the church. So cried all the clergy (said I) against the prophets of Jerusalem, saying, "The church of the Lord, the church of the Lord." And always when I was about to speak any thing, my lord cried, Hold thy peace, I command thee by the virtue of thy obedience to hold thy peace, calling me a proud arrogant heretic. ⟨p. 779⟩I desired my lord to lay something to my charge in particular, and then to convince me with some scriptures and good learning. THEN my lord began to move certain questions. I refused to answer him in corners, requiring that I might make my answer openly. He said I should answer him there. I stood with him upon that point till he said I should go to prison again, and there have neither meat nor drink till I had answered him. THEN I lifted up my heart to God, that I might stand and agree with the doctrine of his most holy word. THE first question was this, How many sacraments hath Christ instituted to be used in the church? THE sacrament of baptism, said I, and the sacrament that he instituted at his last supper. No more, said he? THEN said I, To all those that declare a true and unfeigned repentance, a sure hope, trust and confidence in the death of Christ, to such, ministers (I grant) have authority to pronounce, by the authority of God's word, the remission of sins. HERE interrupting me, he would needs bear me in hand that I called this a sacrament. I would not greatly contend with him in that point, because the matter was of no great weight or importance; although he in so doing did me wrong, for I called it not a sacrament. HE asked me further, Whether I allowed their confession? I answered, No. THEN the bishop would know my mind what I thought of the presence of Christ's body in the sacrament.
He proceeded to persuade me to be a member of his church, which had continued so many years. As for your church (said he to me), it was not known but lately in Edward's time. I profess myself to be a member of that church (said I) that is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone; and so alledged the place of St. Paul to the Ephesians. And this church hath been from the beginning (said I), tho' it bear no glorious shew before the world, being ever, for the most part, under the cross and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted; my lord contended on the other side, that they were the church. So cried all the clergy (said I) against the prophets of Jerusalem, saying, "The church of the Lord, the church of the Lord." And always when I was about to speak any thing, my lord cried, Hold thy peace, I command thee by the virtue of thy obedience to hold thy peace, calling me a proud arrogant hereti.
I answered, That their mass was neither sacrifice nor sacrament, because (said I) you have taken away the true institution, which when you restore again, I will tell you my judgment concerning Christ's body in the sacrament.
AND thus much did this worthy martyr of God leave behind him in his own hand-writing, concerning the manner of his usage in prison, and also of his disputes with the bishop and his chancellor. More Examinations he had (no doubt) with the bishop in the public consistory, when he was brought forth to be condemned, which he would also have left unto us, if either length of life, or leisure of time, or haste of execution, had permitted him to finish what he intended; but by reason of the writ of his burning being come down from London, want of time did neither serve him so to do, neither yet could I get the records of his last examination, wheresoever they are.
ONLY this which I could learn by the relation of one Augustine Bernher, a minister, and a familiar friend of his concerning the going to his death, I can report; that the said Robert Glover, after he was condemned by the bishop, and was now at a point to be delivered out of this world, it so happened, that two or three days before, his heart being heavy, and desolate of all spiritual consolation, felt in himself no aptness or willingness, but rather a heaviness and dullness of spirit, full of much discomfort to bear the bitter cross of martyrdom ready to be laid upon him.
WHEREUPON fearing in himself left the Lord had utterly withdrawn his wonted favour from him, made his moan to this Augustine, his friend abovementioned, signifying unto him how earnestly he had prayed day and night unto the Lord, and yet could receive no motion nor sense of any comfort from him.
UNTO whom the said Augustine answering again, desired him patiently to wait the Lord's pleasure, and howsoever his present feeling was, yet seeing his cause was just and true, he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same, and to play the man, nothing misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him, and satisfy his desire with plenty of consolation; whereof (he said) he was right certain and sure; and therefore desired him, whensoever any such feeling of God's heavenly ⟨p. 780⟩mercies should begin to touch his heart, that then he should show some signification thereof, whereby he might witness with him the same, and so departed from him.
UNTO whom the said Augustine answering again, desired him patiently to wait the Lord's pleasure, and howsoever his present feeling was, yet seeing his cause was just and true, he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same, and to play the man, nothing misdoubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him, and satisfy his desire with plenty of consolation; whereof (he said) he was right certain and sure; and therefore desired him, whensoever any such feeling of God's heavenly ⟨p. 780⟩mercies should begin to touch his heart, that then he should shew some signification thereof, whereby he might witness with him the same, and so departed from him.
THE next day, when the time came of his martyrdom, as he was going to the place, and was come within sight of the stake, (although all the night before praying for strength and courage he could feel none) suddenly he was so mightily replenished with God's holy comfort and heavenly joys, that he cried out, clapping his hands to Austin, and saying these words, "Austin, he is come, he is come," &c. and that with such joy and alacrity, as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly danger to liberty and life, than as one passing out of the world by any pains of death. Such was the change of the marvellous working of the Lord's hand upon that good man.
IN the same fire with Mr. Glover, Cornelius Bungey, of Coventry, was likewise burnt, who was condemned by the said bishop of Coventry and Litchfield. As concerning the articles which were objected to him, the effect thereof was this.
FIRST, It was objected against him, that these three years last, in the city of Coventry and Litchfield, and places thereabout, he did hold, maintain, argue, and teach, that the priest hath no power here to absolve any sinner from his sins.
SECONDLY, That by baptism sins are not washed away, because he said that the washing of the flesh purgeth the flesh outwardly, and not the soul.
THIRDLY, That there be in the church only two sacraments, that is, baptism and the Lord's supper.
FOURTHLY, That in the sacrament of the popish altar, was not the real body and blood of Christ, but the substance of bread and wine there remaining still, because St. Paul calleth it bread and wine, &c.
FIFTHLY, That he, within the compass of the said years and time, did hold, maintain, and […] that the pope is not the head of the visible chu••• here on earth, &c.
FIFTHLY, That he, within the compass of the said years and time, did hold, maintain, and 〈…〉 that the pope is not the head of the visible chu••• here on earth, &c.
SIXTHLY, That he was of the diocese and jurisdiction of the bishop of Coventry and Litchfield, &c.
