N20568:9839
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.
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.
AND in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation, the angel is said to have cried mightily with a loud voice, "Flee, my people, out of Babylon, lest you be infected with her faults, and so to be made partners of her plagues: for her offences and sins are grown so great, that they swell, and are come unto the heavens." Certainly the time doth approach, and the Lord's day is at hand. Hear, I beseech you, also holy •aul▪ that blessed apostle, he plainly forbiddeth us, "•o join or couple ourselves with the unfaithful: for what fellowship can there be, saith he, of righteousness with unrighteousness, what […] ▪ any […] light with […], ⟨p. 931⟩or what agreement hath Christ with Belial? or what part can the faithful have with the unfaithful? or how doth the temple of God with images or idols? For you are the temple of the living God: as God hath said, I will walk and dwell in them, I will be their God, and they shall be my people: wherefore depart from amongst them, and get you from them, faith the Lord, and touch no unclean thing: and I will receive you, and be to you in the stead of your father, and you shall be unto me as my sons and daughters, saith the Almighty God.
AND in the eighteenth chapter of the Revelation, the angel is said to have cried mightily with a loud voice, "Flee, my people, out of Babylon, lest you be infected with her faults, and so to be made partners of her plagues: for her offences and sins are grown so great, that they swell, and are come unto the heavens." Certainly the time doth approach, and the Lord's day is at hand. Hear, I beseech you, a•so holy •aul▪ that blessed apostle, he plainly forbiddeth us, "•o join or couple ourselves with the unfaithful: for what fellowship can there be, saith he, of righteousness with unrighteousness, what 〈…〉 ▪ any 〈…〉 light with 〈…〉,
THIS counsel to depart the realm, I do not marvel it doth seem to divers (even of them, I mean, that bear favour to Godward) diversly. Many (I trust) that be learned shall think the counsel good. Others there be peradventure, that will think it rather a thing to be more tolerable, and that it may be indeed by God's word lawfully done, rather than to be counselled to be done, for they will peradventure say, we should counsel a man always to do that which is best of all, and of most perfection: but boldly in Christ's cause to spend a man's life, is best of all, and of most perfection, and to fly it may seem to smell of cowardice. In many things, that which is best for one at sometimes, is not best for all at all times, and it is not most perfection, nor meet for a child to covet to run before he can go. I will not here make a discourse in this matter, what might be here objected, and what might be answered again; I leave that to the witty and eloquent men of the world.
THIS counsel to depart the realm, I do not marvel it doth seem to divers (even of them, I mean, that bear favour to Godward) diversly. Many (I trust) that be learned shall think the counsel good. Others there be peradventure, that will think it rather a thing to be more tolerable, and that it may be indeed by God's word lawfully done, rather than to be counselled to be done, for they will peradventure say, we should counsel a man always to do that which is best of all, and of most perfection: but boldly in Christ's cause to spend a man's life, is best of all, and of most perfection, and to fly it may seem to smell of cowardice. In many things, that which is best for one at sometimes, is not best for all at all times, and it is not most perfection, nor meet for a child to covet to run before he can go. I will not here make a discourse in this matter, what might be here objected, and what might be answered again; I leave that to the wit•y and eloquent men of the world.
THIS is my mind, which I would thou shouldst know, O man of God, as I would wish, and I do pray to Almighty God it may be, that every true christian, either brother or sister (after they be called, and brought into the wrestling place, to strive in Christ's cause for the best game, that is, to confess the truth of the gospel, and of the christian faith, in hope of everlasting life) should not shrink nor relent one inch, nor give back, whatsoever shall bef••, but to stand to their tackle, and stick by it even unto death, as they […] Christ shall stick by them at the latter day▪ so likewise I dare not wish nor counsel […], either brother or sister, of their own acco•• to […] up into the stage, or to cast themselves, either before, and farther in danger than time and need shall require: for undoubtedly when God seeth his time, his pleasure is, that his glory shall be set forth, and his church edified by thy death and confession, means shall be found by his fatherly universal providence, that thou, without thine own presumptuous provocation, shalt be lawfully called, to do thy feat, and play thy part. The miserable end that one Quintus came unto, may be a warning, and a fearful example for all men to beware of presumption, and rashness in such things (as Eusebius writeth in his ecclesiastical history, lib. 4, cap. 15.) for ever.
THIS is my mind, which I would thou shouldst know, O man of God, as I would wish, and I do pray to Almighty God it may be, that every true christian, either brother or sister (after they be called, and brought into the wrestling place, to strive in Christ's cause for the best game, that is, to confess the truth of the gospel, and of the christian faith, in hope of everlasting life) should not shrink nor •elent one inch, nor give back, whatsoever shall bef••, but to stand to their tackle, and stick by it even unto death, as they 〈…〉 Christ shall stick by them at the latter day▪ so likewise I dare not wish nor counsel 〈…〉, either brother or sister, of their own acco•• to 〈…〉 up into the stage, or to cast themselves, either before, and farther in danger than time and need shall require: for undoubtedly when God seeth his time, his pleasure is, that his glory shall be set forth, and his church edified by thy death and confession, means shall be found by his fatherly universal providence, that thou, without thine own presumptuous provocation, shalt be lawfully called, to do thy feat, and play thy part. The miserable end that one Quintus came unto, may be a warning, and a fearful example for all men to beware of presumption, and rashness in such things (as Eusebius writeth in his ecclesiastical history, lib. 4, cap. 15.) for ever.
BUT a third sort of men there be, who also will be counted favourers of God's word, and are (I fear) in number far more, and worse to be persuaded to that which is the godly mean. I mean of such as will peradventure say or think, that my former counsel, which was to fly the infection of the antichristian doctrine by departing out of the realm, is more than needeth, and other ways and means may be found, both to abide, and also to be clear out of danger of the aforesaid plague. If that could be found, both to abide, and also to be clear out of danger of the aforesaid plague, truly agreeable to God's word, I would be as glad to hear it, God is my witness, as any other man. Yes, peradventure, will some say, thus it may be: thou mayst keep thyself, thy faith, and thy religion close to thyself, and inwardly and privily worship God in spirit and truth, and outwardly see thou be no open meddler, nor talker, nor transgressor of common order: so mayst thou be suffered in the commonwealth, and yet use thy religion without offence of thy conscience. In other countries somewhere this peradventure might be used, but in England what shall be, God knoweth: but it never was yet, so far as ever I have known or heard. And also how can it be, but either thou must transgress the common order, and the Romish laws and customs, which have been used in England, in times past of popery, and now (it is certain) they return again: I say, thou must either be a breaker of these rites, laws, and customs, and so bewray thyself, or else, if thou be indeed a man of God, thou shalt offend thy conscience; for in observing of them thou shalt be compelled to break God's law, which is the rule of conscience to the ⟨p. 932⟩man of God. For how canst thou resort every holy day to the church, and bear a face to worship the creature instead of the Creator, as thou must do, and peradventure confess it with thy mouth, and to sprinkle thyself with the conjured water.
THOU must be contributor also to the charges of all their popery, as of books of Antichrist's service, of lights of the rood-loft, of the sepulchre, for setting up and painting images (nay, indeed of idols), and thou must bear a face to worship them also, or else thou must be had by the back. Thou must serve the turn, to give the holy loaves as they call them, which is nothing else but a very mockery of the Lord's holy table. Thou must be contributor to the charges of all the disguised apparel, that the popish sacrificing priest, like unto Aaron, most play his part in. Yea, when the pardoner goeth about, or the flattering friar to beg for the maintenance of superstition, except thou do as thy neighbours do, look not long to live at rest. If any of thy family die, if thou wilt not pay money for ringing and singing, for requiem, masses, dirige, and commendations, and such like trumpery of the antichristian religion, thinkest thou that thou shalt be reckoned for a catholic man, or for Caesar's friend? An hundred things more may be reckoned, and many of more weight, and of more evident superstition and idolatry, than some of these which I have now rehearsed, which, God knoweth, be ill enough: but these are enough to declare, and to set before thine eyes, the thing that I intend, that is, if thou abide and wilt dwell in England, thou must either do these, and many other more contrary to God's word, which forbiddeth not only the thing which is evil, but also saith, Abstain from all things that have any appearance of evil; or else if thou wilt not do them, how thou canst live in England in rest, safe from the stake, truly I cannot tell.
BUT peradventure (as man is ready to find, and invent some colour to cloak his conscience, to do that thing that his heart desireth) thou wilt say, though at any time I shall be forced to do any of these things, and such like, yet will I have no confidence in them, but outwardly with my body; I will keep my heart unto God, and will not do that of my own mind willingly neither, but to avoid another inconvenience: I trust therefore God will hold me excused, for he shall have my heart: what can I do more?
