N20568:9833
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.
AFTER the rehearsal of the said abominations, and remembrance of a number of many more, which (the Lord knoweth) it grieveth me to think upon, and were too long to describe; when I consider on the other side the eternal word of God that abideth for ever, and the undefiled law of the Lord which turneth the soul from all wickedness, and giveth wisdom unto the innocent babes, I mean that milk that is without all guile, as Peter calleth it, that good word of God, that word of truth that must be engraven within the heart, and then is able to save men's souls; that wholesome seed, not mortal, but immortal, of the eternal and everlasting God, whereby the man is born anew, and made the child of God, that seed of God, whereby the man of God so b•ing born, cannot sin, as John saith, (he meaneth so long as that seed abideth in him) that holy scripture which hath not been devised by the wit of man, but taught from heaven by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, which is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct, and to give order in all righteousness, that the man of God may be whole and sound, ready to perform every good work: when, I say, I consider this holy and wholesome true word that teacheth us truly ⟨p. 927⟩our bounden duty towards our Lord God in every p•int, what his will and pleasure is, what his infinite great goodness and mercy is, what he hath done for us, how he hath given us his own dearly beloved Son to death for our salvation, and by him hath sent us the revelation of his blessed will and pleasure, what his eternal word willeth us both to believe, and also to do;
AFTER the rehearsal of the said abominations, and remembrance of a number of many more, which (the Lord knoweth) it grieveth me to think upon, and were too long to describe; when I consider on the other side the eternal word of God that abideth for ever, and the undefiled law of the Lord which turneth the soul from all wickedness, and giveth wisdom unto the innocent babes, I mean that milk that is without all guile, as Peter calleth it, that good word of God, that word of truth that must be engraven within the heart, and then is able to save men's souls; that wholesome seed, not mortal, but immortal, of the eternal and everlasting God, whereby the man is born anew, and made the child of God, that seed of God, whereby the man of God so b•ing born, cannot sin, as John sai•h, (he meaneth so long as that seed abideth in him) that holy scripture which hath not been devised by the wit of man, but taught from heaven by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, which is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct, and to give order in all righteousness, that the man of God may be whole and sound, ready to perform every good work: when, I say, I consider this holy and wholesome true word that teacheth us truly ⟨p. 927⟩our bound•n duty towards our Lord God in every p•int, what his will and pleasure is, what his infinite great goodness and mercy is, what he hath done for us, how he hath given us his own dearly beloved Son to death for our salvation, and by him hath sent us the revelation of his blessed will and pl•asure, what his eternal word willeth us both to believe, and also to do;
and hath for the same purpose inspired the holy apostles with the Holy Ghost, and sent them abroad into all the world, and also made them and other disciples of Christ inspired by the same Spirit, to write and leave behind them the same things that they taught (which as they did proved of the Spirit of truth, so by the confession of all them that ever were endued with the Spirit of God, were sufficient to the obtaining of eternal salvation) and likewise when I consider that all that man doth profess in his regeneration, when he is received into the holy catholic church of Christ, and is now to be accounted for one of the lively members of Christ's own body, all that is grounded upon God's holy word, and standeth in the profession of that faith, and obedience of commandments which are all contained in God's holy word.
and hath for the same purpose inspired the holy apostles with the Holy Ghost, and sent them abroad into all the world, and also made them and other disciples of Christ inspired by the same Spi•it, to write and leave behind them the same things that they taught (which as they did prooved of the Spirit of truth, so by the confession of all them that ever were endued with the Spirit of God, were sufficient to the obtaining of eternal salvation) and likewise when I consider that all that man doth profess in his regeneration, when he is received into the holy catholic church of Christ, and is now to be accounted for one of the lively members of Christ's own body, all that is grounded upon God's holy word, and standeth in the profession of that faith, and obedience of commandments which are all contained in God's holy word.
AND furthermore, when I consider whom our Saviour Christ pronounceth in his gospel to be blessed, and to whom Mos•s […] in the law, what ways the law▪ the prophets, the psalms, and all holy scriptures, both new and old, do declare to be the wa•s of the Lord, what is good for man to obtain and abide in God's savour, which is that faith that justifieth before God, and what is that charity that doth pass and excel all, which be the properties of heavenly wisdom, and which is […] undefiled religion which is allowed of God, which things Christ himself calleth the weighty matters of the law, which thing is that which is only available in Christ, and what knowledge is that that St. Paul esteemed so much, that he counted all else vanity, what shall be the manner of the extreme judgment of the latter day, who shall judge, and by what he shall judge, and what shall be required at our hands on that fearful day, how all things must be tried by the fire, and that only shall stand for ever which Christ's words shall allow, which shall be the judge of all flesh, to give sentence upon all flesh▪ and every living soul, either of eternal damnation, o• of everlasting salvation, from which sentence there shall be no place to appeal, no wit shall serve to elude, nor any power to withstand or revoke. When (I say) I consider all these things, and confer to the same again and again all those ways wherein standeth the substance of the Romish religion (whereof I spake before) it may be evident and easy to perceive, […] these two ways, these two religious, the one of Christ, the other of the Romish see, in these latter days be as far distant the one from the other, as light and darkness, good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, Christ and Belial. He that is hard of belief, let him note and weigh well with himself those places of holy scripture whereupon this talk is grounded, and by God's grace he may receive some light. And unto the contemner I have nothing now to say, but to rehearse the saying of the prophet Isaiah, which Paul spake to the Jews in the end of the Acts of the Apostles.
AND furthermore, when I consider whom our Savi•ur Christ pronounceth in his gospel to be blessed, and to whom Mos•s 〈…〉 in the law, what ways the law the prophets, the psalms, and all holy scriptures, both new and old, do declare to be the was of the Lord, what is good for man to obtain and abide in God's savour, which is that faith that justifieth before God, and what is that charity that doth pass and excel all, which be the properties of heavenly wisdom, and which is undefiled religion which is allowed of God, which things Christ himself calleth the weighty matters of the law, which thing is that which is only available in Christ, and what knowledge is that that St. Paul esteemed so much, that he counted all else vanity, what shall be the manner of the extreme judgment of the latter day, who shall judge, and by what he shall judge, and what shall be required at our hands on that fearful day, how all things must be tried by the fire, and that only shall stand for ever which Christ's words shall allow, which shall be the judge of all flesh, to give sentence upon all flesh and every living soul, either of eternal damnation, o of everlasting salvation, from which sentence there shall be no place to appeal, no wit shall serve to elude, nor any power to withstand or revoke. When (I say) I consider all these things, and confer to the same again and again all those ways wherein standeth the substance of the Romish religion (whereof I spake before) it may be evident and easy to perceive, these two ways, these two religious, the one of Christ, the other of the Romish see, in these latter days be as far distant the one from the other, as light and darkness, good and evil, righteousness and unrighteousness, Christ and Belial. He that is hard of belief, let him note and weigh well with himself those places of holy scripture whereupon this talk is grounded, and by God's grace he may receive some light. And unto the contemner I have nothing now to say, but to rehearse the saying of the prophet Isaiah, which Paul spake to the Jews in the end of the Acts of the Apostles.
After he had expounded to them the truth of God's word, and declared to them Christ out of the law of Moses and the prophets, all the day long from morning to night, he said unto them that would not believe, "Well spake the Holy Ghost unto our fathers, saying▪ Go unto this people and tell them, ye shall hear with your ears, and not understand, and seeing you shall behold, and not see the thing: for the heart of this people is waxed gross and dull, and with their ears they are hard of hearing, and they have shut together their eyes, that they should not see, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts, that they might return, and I should heal them, saith the Lord God."
ALAS, England, alas, that this heavy plague of God should fall upon thee. Alas, my dearly beloved country, what thing is it now that may do thee good? Undoubtedly thy plague is so great, that it is utterly incurable, but by the bottomless mercy and infinite power of Almighty God. Alas, my dear country, what hast thou done that thou hast provoked the wrath of God, and caused him to pour out his vengeance upon thee for thine own deserts? Canst thou be content to hear thy faults told thee? Alas, thou hast heard oft, and would never amend. England, thy faults of all degrees and sorts of men, of magistrates, of the ministers' and of the common people, were never more plainly told since thou bore that name, than thou didst ⟨p. 928⟩hear them of late, even before the magistrates in king Edward's days; but thou heardst them only, and didst amend never a whit. For even of thy greatest magistrates some (the king's highness then, that innocent, that godly-hearted and peerless young christian prince excepted) evermore unkindly and ungently, against those that went about most wholesomely to cure their sore backs, spurned privily, and would not spare to speak evil of them, even unto the prince himself, and yet would they towards the same preachers outwardly bear a jolly countenance and a fair face.
I have heard that Cranmer, and another whom I will not name, were both in high displeasure, the one for showing his conscience secretly, but plainly and fully in the duke of Somerset's cause, and both of late, but especially Cranmer, for repugning as they might, against the late spoil of church goods, taken away only by commandment of the higher powers, without any law or order of justice, and without any request or consent of them to which they did belong. As for Latimer, Lever, Bradford, and Knox, their tongues were so sharp, they ripped in so deep in their galled backs, to have purged them (no doubt) of that filthy matter that was festered in their hearts, of insatiable covetousness, of filthy carnality and voluptuousness, of intolerable ambition and pride, of ungodly loathsomeness to hear poor men's causes, and to hear God's word, that these men of all others these magistrates could never abide. Others that were very godly men, and well learned, that went about by the wholesome plasters of God's word, howbeit after a more soft manner of handling the matter, but, alas, all sped alike. For all that could be done of all hands, their disease did not diminish, but daily did increase, which, no doubt, is no small occasion in that state of the heavy plague of God that is poured upon England at this day. As for the common lawyers, it may be truly said of them, as of the most part of the clergy, of curates, vicars, parsons, prebendaries, doctors of the law, archdeacons, deans, yea, and I may say, of bishops also, I fear, for the most part, (although I doubt not but God had, and hath ever, whom he in every state knew and knoweth to be his) but for the most part, I say, they were never persuaded in their hearts, but from the teeth forward, and for the king's sake, in the truth of God's word, and yet all these did dissemble, and bear a copy of a countenance, as if they had been found within.
I have heard that Cranmer, and another whom I will not name, were both in high displeasure, the one for shewing his conscience secretly, but plainly and fully in the duke of Somerset's cause, and both of late, but especially Cranmer, for repugning as they might, against the late spoil of church goods, taken away only by commandment of the higher powers, without any law or order of justice, and without any request or consent of them to which they did belong. As for Latimer, Lever, Bradford, and Knox, their tongues were so sharp, they ripped in so deep in their galled backs, to have purged them (no doubt) of that filthy matter that was festered in their hearts, of insatiable covetousness, of filthy carnality and voluptuousness, of intolerable ambition and pride, of ungodly loathsomeness to hear poor men's causes, and to hear God's word, that these men of all others these magistrates could never abide. Others that were very godly men, and well learned, that went about by the wholesome plaisters of God's word, howbeit after a more soft manner of handling the matter, but, alas, all sped alike. For all that could be done of all hands, their disease did not diminish, but daily did increase, which, no doubt, is no small occasion in that state of the heavy plague of God that is poured upon England at this day. As for the common lawyers, it may be truly said of them, as of the most part of the clergy, of curates, vicars, pasons, prebendaries, doctors of the law, archdeacons, deans, yea, and I may say, of bishops aso, I fear, for the most part, (although I doubt not but God had, and hath ever, whom he in every state knew and knoweth to be his) but for the most part, I say, they were never persuaded in their hearts, but from the teeth forward, and for the king's sake, in the truth of God's word, and yet all these did dissemble, and bear a copy of a countenance, as if they had been found within.
HYPOCRISY and dissimulation St. Jerome doth well call a double wickedness; for neither it loveth the truth (which is one great evil) and also falsely it pretendeth to deceive the simple for another thing. This hypocrisy and dissimulation with God, in matters of religion, no doubt, hath wholly also provoked the anger of God. And as for the common people, although there were many good, where they were well and diligently taught; yet (God knoweth) a great number received God's true word and high benefits with unthankful hearts. For i• was great pity and a lamentable thing to have seen in many places the people so loathsomely and irreligiously to come to the holy communion, and to receive it accordingly, and to the common prayers, and other divine service, which were according to the true vein of God's holy word, and in all points so godly and wholesomely set forth, in comparison of that blind zeal, and undiscreet devotion which they had aforetimes to those things▪ whereof they understood never one whit, nor could be edified by them any thing at all.
AND again, as for our alms-deeds, which are taught in God's word, whereby we are certain that God is pleased with them, and doth and will require such at our hands, which are a put of true religion, as St. James saith, and such as he saith himself he setteth more by than by sacrifice; to provide for the fatherless, infants and orphans, for the same, aged, and impotent poor needy folk, and to make public provision that the poor that might labour, should have wherewith to labour upon, and so he kept from shameful beggary and stealing in these works: I say, how wayward were many, in comparison (I mean) of that great prodigality whereby in times past they spared not to spend upon flattering friars, false pardoners, painting and gilding of stocks and stones, to be set up and honoured in churches, plainly against God's word? And yet because no place is to be defrauded of their just commendation, London, I must confess, for such godly works in sir Richard Dobs, knight, then ⟨p. 929⟩lord mayor, his year being marvellous well: the Lord grant the same may so likewise persevere, continue, yea and increase, to the comfort and relief of the needy and helpless, that was so godly begun. Amen.
ALL these things do administer more matter of mourning and bewailing the miserable state that now is: for by this it may be perceived, how England hath deserved this just plague of God. And also it is greatly to be feared, that those good things, whatsoever they were that had their beginning in the time when God's word was so freely preached, now with the exile and banishment of the same, will depart again.
BUT to return again to the consideration of this miserable state of Christ's church in England, and to leave farther and more exquisite searching of the causes thereof unto God's secret and unsearchable judgments, let us see what is best now to be done for Christ's little flock. This is one maxim and principle in Christ's law; He that denieth Christ before men, him shall Christ deny, before his Father and all his angels in heaven. And therefore every one that looketh to have by Christ our Saviour everlasting life, let him prepare himself so, that he deny not his master Christ, or else he is but a castaway, and a wretch, howsoever he be counted or taken here in the world.
NOW then seeing the doctrine of Antichrist is returned again into this realm, and the higher powers (alas) are so deceived and bewitched, that they are persuaded it is the truth, and Christ's true doctrine to be error and heresy, and the old laws of Antichrist are allowed to return with the power of their father again: what can be hereafter looked for, by reason, to the man of God, and true christian, abiding in this realm, but extreme violence of death, or else to deny his Master? I grant the hearts of princes are in God's hands, and whithersoever he will he can make them bow: and also that christian kings in old time used a more gentle kind of punishment, even to them which were heretics indeed; as degradation, and deposition out of their rooms and offices, exile and banishment out of their dominions and countries: and also (as it is read) the true bishops of Christ's church were sometime intercessors for the heretics unto princes, that they would not kill them, as is read of St. Augustine. But as yet Antichrist's kingdom was not so e•ected at that time, nor is now accustomed so to order them th•• will not fall down and worship the beast and his image (but even as all the world knoweth) after the same manner that both John and Daniel hath prophesied before, that is, by violence of death▪ and Daniel declareth farther, that the kind of death accustomably should be by sword, fire, and imprisonment.
NOW then seeing the doctrine of Antichrist is returned again into this realm, and the higher powers (alas) are so deceived and bewitched, that they are persuaded it is the truth, and Christ's true doctrine to be error and heresy, and the old laws of Antichrist are allowed to return with the power of their father again: what can be hereafter looked for, by reason, to the man of God, and true christian, abiding in this realm, but extreme violence of death, or else to deny his Master? I grant the hearts of princes are in God's hands, and withersoever he will he can make them bow: and also that christian kings in old time used a more gentle kind of punishment, even to them which were heretics indeed; as degradation, and deposition out of their rooms and offices, exile and banishment out of their dominions and countries: and also (as it is read) the true bishops of Christ's church were sometime intercessors for the heretics unto princes, that they would not kill them, as is read of St. Augustine. But as yet Antichrist's kingdom was not so e•ected at that time, nor is now accustomed so to order them th will not fall down and worship the beast and his image (but even as all the world knoweth) after the same manner that both John and Daniel hath prophesied before, that is, by violence of death and Daniel declareth farther, that the kind of death accustomably should be by sword, fire, and imprisonment.
THEREFORE, if thou, O man of God, dost purpose to abide in this realm, prepare and arm thyself to die: for both by Antichrist's accustomable laws, and th•se prophesies, there is no appearance or likelihood of any other thing, except thou wilt deny thy master Christ, which is the loss at the last both of body and soul unto everlasting death▪— Therefore my good brother or sister in Christ, whatsoever thou be, to thee that canst and mayest so do, that counsel that I think is the best safeguard for thee, both for thy body, and most surely for thy soul's health, is that which I shall show thee hereafter▪ But first I warn thee to understand me to speak to him or her, which be not in captivity, or called already to confess Christ, but are at liberty abroad.
THEREFORE, if thou, O man of God, dost purpose to abide in this realm, prepare and arm thyself to die: for both by Antichrist's accustomable laws, and th•se prophesies, there is no appearance or likelihood of any other thing, except thou wilt deny thy master Christ, which is the loss at the last both of body and soul unto everlasting death▪— Therefore my good brother or sister in Christ, whatsoever thou be, to thee that canst and mayest so do, that counsel that I think is the best safeguard for thee, both for thy body, and most surely for thy soul's health, is that which I shall shew thee hereafter▪ But first I warn thee to understand me to speak to him or her, which be not in captivity, or called already to confess Christ, but are at liberty abroad.
MY counsel, I say, therefore is this, to fly from the plague, and get thee hence. I consider not only the subtleties of Satan, and how he is able to deceive by his false persuasions (if it were possible) even the chosen of God, and also the great frailty, which is oftentimes more in a man than he doth know in himself, which in the time of temptation then will utter itself: I do not only consider these things, I say, but that our master Christ, whose life was and is a perfect rule of the christian man's life, that he himself avoided oftentimes the fury and madness of the Jews, by departing from the country or place.
MY counsel, I say, therefore is this, to fly from the plague, and get thee hence. I consider not only the subtilities of Satan, and how he is able to deceive by his false persuasions (if it were possible) even the chosen of God, and also the great frailty, which is oftentimes more in a man than he doth know in himself, which in the time of temptation then will utter itself: I do not only consider these things, I say, but that our master Christ, whose life was and is a perfect rule of the christian man's life, that he himself avoided oftentimes the fury and madness of the Jews, by departing from the country or place.
PAUL likewise, when he was sought in Damascus, and the gates of the city were laid in wait for him, he was conveyed by night, being let down in a basket out at a window over the wall: and Elijah ⟨p. 930⟩the prophet fled the persecution of the wicked Jezebel: and Christ our Saviour saith in the gospel, "When they persecute you in one city, flee unto another:" and so did many good, great, learned▪ and virtuous men of God, who were great and stout champions nevertheless, and stout counsellors and maintainers of Christ and his truth, in due time and place. Of such was the great clerk Athanasius. But this is so plain to be lawful by God's word, and examples of holy men, that I need not to stand in it.
PAUL likewise, when he was sought in Damascus, and the gates of the city were laid in wait for him, he was conveyed by night, being let down in a basket out at a window over the wall: and Elias ⟨p. 930⟩the prophet fled the persecution of the wicked Jezabel: and Christ our Saviour saith in the gospel, "When they persecute you in one city, flee unto another:" and so did many good, great, learned▪ and virtuous men of God, who were great and stout champions nevertheless, and stout counsellors and maintainers of Christ and his truth, in due time and place. Of such was the great clerk Athanasius. But this is so plain to be lawful by God's word, and examples of holy men, that I need not to stand in it.
HAVING this for my ground, I say to thee, O man of God, this seemeth to me to be the most •ure way for thy safeguard, to depart and flee far from the plague, and that swiftly also: for truly before God, I think, that the abomination that Daniel prophesied of so long before, is now set up in the holy place. For all the doctrine of Antichrist, his laws, rites, and religion contrary to Christ, and so to the true serving and worshipping of God, I understand to be that abomination: therefore now is the time in England for those words of Christ, "Then they that be in Judea, let them flee into the mountains." Then (saith he) mark this Christ's (Then) for truly I am persuaded, and I trust, by the Spirit of God, that this (Then) is commanded; "Then (saith Christ) they that be in Jewry, let them fly unto the mountains, and he that is on the house top, let him not come down to take away any thing out of his house, and he that is abroad in the field, let him not return to take his clothes. Woe be to the great-bellied women, and to them that give suck; but pray (saith Christ) that your flight be not in winter, or on the sabbath-day."
HAVING this for my ground, I say to thee, O man of God, this seemeth to me to be the most •ure way for thy safeguard, to depart and flee far from the plague, and that swiftly also: for truly before God, I think, that the abomination that Daniel prophesied of so long before, is now set up in the holy place. For all the doctrine of Antichrist, his laws, rites, and religion contrary to Christ, and so to the true serving and worshipping of God, I understand to be that abomination: therefore now is the time in England for those words of Christ, "Then they that be in Judea, let them flee into the mountains." Then (saith he) mark this Christ's (Then) for truly I am persuaded, and I trust, by the Spirit of God, that this (Then) is commanded; "Then (saith Christ) they that be in Jewry, let them fly unto the mountains, and he that is on the house top, let him not come down to take away any thing out of his house, and he that is abroad in the field, let him not return to take his cloaths. Woe be to the great-bellied women, and to them that give suck; but pray (saith Christ) that your flight be not in winter, or on the sabbath-day."
THESE words of Christ are mystical▪ and therefore had need of interpretation. I understand all those to be in Jewry spiritually, which truly confess one true living God, and the whole truth of his word, after the doctrine of the gospel of Christ. Such as they whom Christ here biddeth, in the time or the reign of Antichrist's abominations, to fly unto the mountains; which signifieth places of safeguard, and all such things which are able to defend from the plague. That he biddeth him that is on the house top▪ not to come down, and him that is in the field, not to return to take with him his clothes; he meaneth that they should speed them to get them away betime, lest in their tarrying and trifling about working prevision, they be trapped in the snare ere ever they be aware, and caught by the back, and for gain of small worldly things, endanger and cast themselves into great perils of more weighty matters. And where he saith, Woe be so the great-bellied women, and to them that give suck; women great with child, and nigh to their lying down, and to be brought to bed, and not able to travel; and also those women which are brought to bed, and now give their babes suck: by these therefore Christ spiritually understandeth all such to be in extreme danger, which this word (Woe) signifieth: all such, I say, as are so hindered by any manner of means, that they no ways be able to fly from the plague. And where Christ saith, Pray you that your flight be not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day: in winter, the common course of the year teacheth us, that the ways be foul, and therefore it is a hard thing then to take a far journey, for many incommodities and dangers of the ways in that time of the year; and on the sabbath-day it was not lawful to journey, but a little way. Now Christ therefore meaning that we should have need, both to speed our journey quickly, which cannot be done in winter, for the badness of the ways, and also to go far, which cannot be done on the sabbath-day: he biddeth us therefore pray that our flight be not in the winter, nor on the sabbath-day; that is, to pray that we fly in time, and also far enough from the danger of the plague. Now, the causes why we should fly, follow in the same place of St. Matthew's gospel, which I now pass over; thou mayst read them there.
THESE words of Christ are mystical▪ and therefore had need of interpretation. I understand all those to be in Jewry spiritually, which truly confess one true living God, and the whole truth of his word, after the doctrine of the gospel of Christ. Such as they whom Christ here biddeth, in the time or the reign of Antichrist's abominaons, to fly unto the mountains; which signifieth places of safeguard, and all such things which are able to defend from the plague. That he biddeth him that is on the house top not to come down, and him that is in the field, not to return to take with him his cloaths; he meaneth that they should speed them to get them away betime, lest in their tarrying and trifling about working prevision, they be trapped in the snare ere ever they be aware, and caught by the back, and for gain of small worldly things, endanger and cast themselves into great perils of more weighty matters. And where he saith, Woe be so the great-bellied women, and to them that give suck; women great with child, and nigh to their lying down, and to be brought to bed, and not able to travel; and also those women which are brought to bed, and now give their babes suck: by these therefore Christ spiritually understandeth all such to be in extreme danger, which this word (Woe) signifieth: all such, I say, as are so hindered by any manner of means, that they no ways be able to fly from the plague. And where Christ saith, Pray you that your flight be not in the winter, nor on the sabbath day: in winter, the common course of the year teacheth us, that the ways be foul, and therefore it is a hard thing then to take a far journey, for many incommodities and dangers of the ways in that time of the year; and on the sabbath-day it was not lawful to journey, but a little way. Now Christ therefore meaning that we should have need, both to speed our journey quickly, which cannot be done in winter, for the badness of the ways, and also to go far, which cannot be done on the sabbath-day: he biddeth us therefore pray that our flight be not in the winter, nor on the sabbath-day; that is, to pray that we fly in time, and also far enough from the danger of the plague. Now, the causes why we should fly, follow in the same place of St. Matthew's gospel, which I now pass over; thou mayst read them there.
