N20568:8930
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.
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.
SEVENTHLY, That the premises are true, manifest, and notorious, and that upon the same there hath been and is a public voice and fame, as well i• the places above rehearsed, as in other quarters also about, &c.
TO which articles he answered again:
TO the first he granted, and to every part thereof, meaning after the popish manner of absolution.
TO the second he granted first, after revoked […] same.
TO the second he granted first, after revoked 〈…〉 same.
