Justification of the Religion Now Professed in England, Chapter 10
CHAP. X. Of Martyrs.
MArtyr, is originally a Greeke word, and ſignifieth in Engliſh a witneſſe, which generall ſignification by an elegancy of ſpeech, is vſed by the Church, to note ſuch as teſtifie and beare witneſſe of true Religion, and of the right Seruice of God, and of faith in Ieſus Chriſt, euen by the ſuffering of death, rather then to deny the truth of God. So as in this ſence, Martyr is a witneſſe of true Religion, by his ſuffering of death for it.
Such in the time of the Prophets were Daniel, and his three noble kinſmen of the tribe of Iudah. Dan. 3.20.21.For theſe three rather then they would worſhip Nebuchadnezzars golden Image, and yeeld to an Idoll the honour due to the onelyonly true God, endu…ed to bee caſt into the furnace of fire. From which though God by miracle deliuered them, yo… are they worthily accounted Martyrs, for their moſt conſtant reſolution.Dan. 6.16. Likewiſe Daniel, rather then hee would not yeeld vntounto God the honor of prayer, endured to bee caſt into the denne of Lyons for his noble Profeſſion.
In the new Teſtament our Sauiour ſpeaking of Martyrdome, ſaith,Math. 5.11. Bleſſed are yee when men perſecute you for righteouſneſſe, and for my ſake. And ſorewarning his Diſciples of ſuch Perſecution, ſaith,Iohn. 15.27. Iohn. 16.2. You ſhall beare witneſſe of mee, and they will put you out of their ſynagogue; and whoſoeuer ſhall kill you ſhall thinke hee doth God good ſeruice. The Apoſtle Peter ſaith, If any man ſuffer becauſe hee is a Chriſtian, 1, Pet, 4.16.let him not bee aſhamed, let him rather glorifie God on this behalfe. Thus alſo wrighteth the Apoſtle Paul, alledging it out of the Pſalmes: Pſal. 44.22. Rom. 8.36.For thy ſake are wee put to death all the day long, wee are accounted as ſheepe for the ſlaughter. By theſe and many other like teſtimonies it appeareth, that a true Martyr dyeth for no other cauſe, but for a good, iuſt, and holy cauſe, and namely, for witneſſe bearing to true Religion; as for refuſing to worſhip Idols, and for profeſſing himſelfe a Chriſtian, and one that honoreth Chriſt, and auoweth the Doctrine of the Goſpel that hee taught, and profeſſeth to belieue to bee ſaued by him.
Which being thus proued, by theſe generall teſtimonies, ſhall bee likewiſe confirmed by the examples of ſuch true Martyrs, to the end that hereby it may appeare, that whoſoeuer are to bee acknowleged to hauehave beene true Martyrs, hauehave ſuffered for bearing witneſſe to ſome principall doctrine of the ſame Religion, that together with all Chriſtendome, is profeſſed at this day in England, and not for maintenance of any of the errors or falſe worſhip; maintained by the Sea of Rome, and wherein they being fallen away from the truth of the Goſpel, diſſent from many nations of the Chriſtian world.
They challenge indeed to themſelues, that all the Martyrs that dyed in the Primitiue Church, dyed for their Religion. But it is not to bee ſhewed that they dyed for that Corruption of Chriſtian Religion, that is properly called Popery, becauſe it hath beene and is ſtill maintained by the authority of Popes; but onelyonly for refuſing to worſhip Idols, & for profeſſing to beleeue in God, and in Ieſus Chriſt our Sauiour.
Which being the holy faith now profeſſed in England, and in many other nations of Chriſtendome, that agree with vsus therein, it will appeare that all the Martyrs of the primitiue Church dyed for the maintenance of that Seruice of God, and for that faith of Chriſt, which is now profeſſed in England, which is the other part that is deſired to be proued.
Now for the proofe let vsus firſt conſider of the Martyrs recorded in the new Teſtament. Whereof the firſt that obtained the Crowne of Martyrdome was Steuen, who had beene one of the Seuen Deacons of the Church of Ieruſalem: Of him it is manifeſt, that hee was ſtoned to death in a fury of the Iewes, after that hee had giuen notable teſtimony to Ieſus Chriſt. Firſt, by his great ſignes and wonders that hee did. Secondly, his ſo wiſe and Zealous reaſoning with men of the Synagogues and ſchools of the Iewes, of diuers nations that were in Ieruſalem, as they were not able to withſtand the wiſedome and ſpirit wherewith hee ſpake. Thirdly,Act: 6.10. Act. 7, 2, &c. V. 52. V. 55: V. 59 by his notable Apologie which hee made for himſelfe before the High-Prieſt, and the whole Conſiſtory, his face ſhining as an Angel, concluding it with charging their Fathers to hauehave ſlayne the Prophets, which had foreſhewed the comming of Chriſt, and themſelues to hauehave murdered Chriſt, that iuſt and righteous Perſon. Fourthly, by his conſtant teſtimony that hee beheld the heauens open, and the Sonne of man ſtanding at the right hand of God. Finally by his dying in the inuocation of the name of the Lord Ieſus.
By all which reaſons it is plaine, that Steuen dyed, for no other cauſe then onelyonly for profeſſing Ieſus Chriſt to bee the Sonne of God, and the Sauiour whom God had promiſed to ſend for the ſaluation of his people; and this faith our Church in England by Gods mercy doth conſtantly profeſſe, with all that call vponupon the name of the Lord Ieſus, and houldeth it moſt honorable to dye forbearring witneſſe to that moſt holy faith. Which being ſo, it is cleare that Steuen, whoſe head firſt had the honor to weare the Crowne of Martyrdome, dyed for that faith which is at this day profeſſed in England, & not for the Maſſe, nor the Popes Supremacy, nor any other Popiſh Corruption of Chriſtian faith whatſoeuer.
The like is to bee ſayd of the Apoſtle Iames whom Herod ſlew with the ſword, as it appeareth by that it is ſaid,Act. 12.1.2.3. that Herod vexed certaine of rhe Church, and that hee ſaw, that the killing of Iames had pleaſed the Iewes, who were the enimies of Chriſt, and by apprehending and committing of the Apoſtle Peter in like ſort.
In the Acts of the Apoſtles, the like cauſe appeareth of all the perſecution both of the Diſciples and of the Apoſtles. Wherefore vponupon occaſion the Apoſtle Paul profeſſeth ſaying, I am ready not onelyonly to bee bound,Act. 21.13. but alſo to dye at Ieruſalem for the name of the Lord Ieſus. In the Reuelation, the like teſtimony is giuen of Antipas, where it is written; I know thy workes, and where thou dwelleſt, namely where Sathans throne is; Reue. 2.13.I know that thou holdeſt my name, and haſt not denied my faith, no not in the dayes wherein Antipas my faithfull Martyr was ſlayne amongſt you, where Sathan dwelleth.
Of other Chriſtian Martyrs whoſe names are not mentioned in the Scriptures, the like appeareth both by the prophecies and performances of their ſufferings. In the ſecond of the Reuelation it is written in the 10 verſe, Feare nothing of that thou art to ſuffer; Behold the Diuell will cast ſome of you into priſon that yee may bee tryed, and yee ſhall hauehave affliction for ten dayes: Bee faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the Crowne of life.
In the ſixt Chapter, verſe the ninth, where the firſt ſeale was opened, it is ſayd: I ſaw vnderunder tht Altar the ſoules of thoſe which had beene ſlayne for the word of God, and for the teſtimony which they maintained. After to them crying to God to reuenge their blood, it is in the eleuenth verſe anſwered, That they ſhould reſt yet a little time vntill their fellow ſeruants, & their brethren might bee fulfilled, which were to bee ſlayne as well as they.
In the Chapter eleauenth, from the third verſe to the twelfth, is foreſhewed the Martyrdome of the two Witneſſes which bare witneſſe to the Goſpell of Chriſt, for the ſpace of 1260 dayes. Finally in Chap 20 verſe 4. it is ſaid, I ſaw the ſoules of thoſe which had beene ſmitten with the axe for the teſtimony of Ieſus and for the word of God, and which hauehave not worſhipped the beaſt nor the Image of the beaſt, nor hauehave the marke vponupon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they ſhall liue and reigne with Chriſt a thouſand yeares. Theſe are the Prophecies that make mention of Chriſtian Martyrs, by all which places and the comparing them one with another it may euidently appeare, that all ſuch Martyrs were to beare witneſſe to the Lord Ieſus Chriſt vntounto death, and to ſuffer not for any tradition or for any ordinance of the Church of Rome, but for the word of God, and for refuſing to become Idolaters, and to take the marke of the beaſt in their foreheads or in their hands.
Now the performance of theſe prophecies that hauehave beene fulfilled vntounto this time, doe likewiſe declare that the Chriſtian Martyrs, which hauehave ſuffered hitherto hauehave ſuffered death for profeſſing that they worſhipped onelyonly the true God, that had made heauen & earth; & his onelyonly begotten Sonne Ieſus Chriſt: and refuſed to worſhip the Pagan Emperours Idols, and the Idols of the heathen, that liued in any part of the Romane Empire. The certaine and vndoubted truth hereof, is to bee iuſtified by the Apologeticall and other writings of the ancient Fathers, by the hiſtory of Euſebius, & other writers of Eccleſiaſticall ſtory & namely of Martyrs; likewiſe by Aurelius Prudentius in his booke of the Crownes of Martyrs, and other of like argument.
By the teſtimony of theſe writers it appeareth for the tyme of the ten great and cruell perſecutions of the Romane Emperours, while they were yet heathen, euen to the reigne of Conſtantine the Great, which was the ſpace of aboue 300 yeares, and namely, in the laſt tenne yeeres perſecutions, vnderunder the fiue laſt heathen Emperours, which time is thought to bee forſhewed by the mention of tenne dayes ſpoken in the 2 Chap. of the Reuelation the 10 verſe: For by all theſe it is plentifully teſtified, that the Chriſtians were put to death for no other cauſe, but for profeſſing themſelues to bee Chriſtians, and refuſing to worſhip the Idols of the heathen.
The ſame is confirmed alſo by forraigne and heathen writers, and namely, by the edicts and proclamations of Emperors, by the commandements of their officers in their ſeuerall Prouinces, by their proceeding in Iudgment, the voyce of the cryer proclaming, that they which ſuffered death, profeſſed themſelues to bee Chriſtians, by a writing which was written in a table of ſuch their profeſſion, which was borne before the Martyrs; and finally, by the ſentences of their Iudges, for ſuch cauſe onelyonly, adiuding them to ſuffer diuers ſundry kindes of exquiſite torments and cruell deaths. To proue this by the particular report of all the Martyrs that ſuffered in that time to the reigne of the Great Constantine, would bee two long. But wee may take a few for example amongſt thoſe that are reported to ſuffer Martyrdome in that time. Heere may bee remembred Polycarpus, Paſtor of the Church of Smyrna, mentioned in the Reuelation, a tree that bare much fruite according to his name, and like the Date, or A…mond tree, which the more it is preſſed, is the more fruitefull. For of him it is written, that after horrible threatnings of wild beaſts and of fire, growing in conſtancy, and perſeuering ſtedfaſtly, in profeſſing himſelfe to bee a Chriſtian, and refuſing to worſhip the Idols of the heathen, the Cryer by commandement proclaimed and cryed thrice, Polycarpus hath confeſſed himſelfe to bee a Chriſtian: Likewiſe the people cryed out vponupon him, This is that Teacher of Aſia, the Father of the Chriſtians, the ouerthrower of our gods, which hath taught many that our gods are not to bee worſhipped. For theſe cauſes Polycarpus dyed as a faithfull ſeruant of Chriſt, whom hee ſayd hee had ſerued 86 yeares, and hauing found him alwayes his good maſter and gracious Lord, hee would not now deny him.
Attalus, another Martyr, was lead about the Amphitheater, and a table borne before him, wherein it was written, This is Attalus the Chriſtian.
It is written of one Saphyra a virgin of Antioch, that as a faire Saphyre, a Iemme, a Iewell, of great price, carying hir holy profeſſion without any ſtaine; being commanded to ſacrifice to the gods of the heathen, ſhee graciouſly anſwered that ſhee was a Chriſtian, and worſhipped almighty God, who had created all things; and that the gods of the Gentils were no gods, but diuels; for which worthy profeſſion ſhee was beheadded.
Happy Faelicitas according to hir name, a matrone and widdow of Rome, the mother of ſeauen children, was accuſed to the Emperour Antoninus, by the prieſts of the Idols, that ſhe worſhipped not their gods, but alſo perſwaded others, from doing them honor. Shee was exhorted to ſpare hir ſelfe, and to returne to the old Romane Religion, and to forſake the new doctrine of the Chriſtians, and to teſtifie the ſame by the offering of Sacrifice: But ſhee conſtantly profeſſed that ſhee was willing to dye for the faith of Chriſt. After, being exhorted to ſpare hir children, and to perſwade them, to redeeme and ſaue their liues by ſacrificing, ſhee anſwered the Magiſtrate, Thy mercy is impietie, and thy exhortation cruelty. For if my ſonnes ſhould ſacrifice to Idols, they ſhould not ſaue their liues, but caſt themſelues into hell fire. Then turning to hir Children ſhee ſaid, My deareſt ſonnes, perſeuere in the faith, and confeſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, hee expecteth you with all his Saints; fight for your ſoules, and ſhew your ſelues faithfull in the louelove of Chriſt.
Thus for worſhipping of Chriſt, and refuſing to worſhip Idols, this happy mother, hauing ſeene hir ſeuen ſonnes firſt ſlayne with ſundry deaths, and dying ſeauen times in them, at the laſt was alſo crowned with Martyrdome and receiued to euerlaſting felicity.
Theſe few examples of almoſt an infinite number, may ſuffice to ſhew, that the Martyrs which ſuffered vnderunder the heathen Romaine Enperours, to the time of Conſtantine the Great, which was 300 yeares and more, ſuffered all for profeſſing themſelues to bee Chriſtians, and refuſing to worſhip the Idols of the heathen Romaine Emperours. Which being thus declared, hereby is that proued (for the firſt 300 yeares after Chriſt) which was deſired, that is, that the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church dyed for that faith, which the Church of England, together with all the reformed Churches of Chriſtiandome doe profeſſe. For both theſe are in our Church ſo profeſſed, as wee hold it moſt honorable to dye in maintenance of the faith of Chriſt, and refuſing to worſhip any Idols, either of old Rome that worſhipped the Images of heathen men; or of new Rome, that adoreth the Images of Chriſtian men. For though the difference of a heathen, and of a Chriſtian man, bee exceeding great; yet in worſhipping of them both religiouſly, and much more in ſo worſhipping their Images, there is no difference, but ſuch Images are Idols alike, and the worſhippers of them are in like ſort Idolaters. But this diſputation belongeth to another place.
That which is heere to bee debated is, that ſeing our Church in England profeſſeth the faith of Chriſt, and abhorreth the Idols of the heathen, as all reformed Churches doe; that all the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church, for the firſt three hundreth yeres after Chriſt, dyed for the ſame faith and Religion, which is now profeſſed in England. After the time that Conſtantine the Great had preuailed againſt his enimies the heathen Princes which were partakers with him in the Empire, the perſecution of Chriſtians in the former manner ceaſſed in all the Romaine Empire, excepting the ſhort time of Iulian the Apoſtata; for notwithſtanding that there were grieuous troubles which the true Chriſtians ſ…ffered alſo after, eſpecially by the Arrians, and alſo by ſome other heretickes and ſchiſmatickes in their ſundry Countries, yet was there not any vniuerſall perſecution vntounto death in any degree like the former, for the cauſes aboue men…ioned, or by the heathen.
Wi…hin the Church there aroſe indeede great troubles generally by the authority of the Emperours, that fauoured the hereſy of Arius, and by the Arian Biſhops, and other of that hereſy, ſoliciting authority with all importunacy againſt Athanaſius, and other that maintained the ſound Orthodoxe, and holy faith of the Godhead of Chriſt of one and the ſame ſubſtance with the Father: In which worthy cauſe, whatſoeuer was ſuffered by any, and namely by Athanaſius, worthy to bee immortall, and to hauehave his name preſerued for euer in the Church with high regard and honour, they and Athanaſius ſuffered for that ſaith that is alſo profeſſed by all reformed Churches, and namely by our Church in England, as may appeare by Athanaſius Creede, or confeſſion of faith ſet downe in our booke of common prayer, & appoynted by publique authority to be openly read in all our Churches.
Other vniuerſall perſecutions for any matter of Chriſtian faith wee reade of none. And as for ſuch particular troubles as were raiſed in the Church, about any hereſy condemned by any of the foure firſt generall Councels, whatſoeuer thoſe Councels decreed againſt ſuch hereſies, is receiued and profeſſed by our Church in England. Thus it is proued that all the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church ſuffered for our Religion that is now profeſſed in England.
And in all ages whatſoeuer, true and right Martyrs there hauehave beene, that is, which ſuffered death for bearing witneſſe to the word of God and to any part of Chriſtian Religion, deliuered by Ieſus Chriſt and by his holy Apoſtles (for it is the cauſe and not the puniſhment onelyonly that maketh a Martyr) they dyed all for ſome Article or other of the Religion which is profeſſed in England. And of this ſort, for ſome laterages, eſpecially in this wherein wee liue, the barbarous Cruelty of the Romane Catholiques hath beene ſuch, as in this age, both England in ſome former times, and eſpecially in the reigne of Queene Mary, and many other kingdomes and countries of Chriſtendome, hauehave flowed with the Chriſtian blood that hath bene ſhed by them. They boaſt indeed of Martyrs that hauehave dyed for the defence of their Religion; for which if our Chriſtian Kings and States that hauehave reſtored the ſincerity of Chriſtian Religion, had made lawes for that purpoſe, and put them in execution vponupon ſome turbulent Perſons obſtinately ſeeking to depriue vsus of the true worſhip of God, and to bring vsus back againe to the blindneſſe, and ignorance, ſuperſtitions and will worſhips, errours and hereſies, Idolatries and blaſphemies of the Sea of Rome, who could iuſtly reproue ſuch proceedings? But it will bee hard to ſhew that our Chriſtian Princes and States hauehave yet hitherto ſo proceeded.
Poſſibly in the warres, and In the rage of battell, and in the fury of victory, ſome outrages may hauehave bene committed, which we do not iuſtifie. But that in time of peace when lawes might be obeyed, & the Iudges ſit quietly vponupon their benches, it will not be eaſy to ſhew that there hath bin any ſuch courſe. Their ſhameleſſe Legendaries report indeed, that we hauehave put men into Beares s…innes, and ſet dogges to worry them. But they t…at wrote …ch things, had neither truth, nor modeſty in ſo writ ng.
They complaine much alſo of ſome Ieſuits, Seminaries, and other Romane Catholiques, adiudged vntounto death in this Land. And it is true, that ſome ſuch hauehave beene executed, but not any, ſimply for any matter of Religion and diuine Seruice, but either for Fellonies, and Treaſons, and that ſome ſuch as the like were neuer heard of in any age; or for ſuch erronious, and hereticall poynts of Doctrine as directly impugneth the Soueraignty of the State, and inforced a neceſſity of ſuch Lawes, and execution of them vponupon ſome notorious Offendors, and ſeditious practiſers to ſeduce the ſubiects from their allegeance. But this is cleared in many other places, and heere it may ſuffice to ſhew, that which hath beene proued, That the Martyrs of the Primitiue Church dyed for that truth which is now profeſſed in England. Which hauing beene thus proued by this Treatiſe, there hath beene performed whatſoeuer is deſired. Which God grant may be of as good vſe to ſuch as hauehave deſired it: as the writer from his ſoule doth pray God may vouchſafe them.
FINIS.
End of the text · Walter Travers, Justification of the Religion Now Professed in England (1630)