A General Martyrology, Illustration – Encomium 2
The skilfull'st Physiognomers, who Scan
Each line and wrinkle in the face of man,
Can tell no more what Soules dwell there, then wee
By Seing Stars can tell what Angels be.
Then ask not at the door who 'tis: if so,
This Shadow cannot tell thee. Read and know.
A Generall Martyrologie, CONTAINING A COLLECTION Of all the greatest PERSECUTIONS which have befallen the CHURCH OF CHRIST From the Creation to our present Times, Both in England and all other Nations.
Whereunto are added two and twenty LIVES OF ENGLISH Modern Divines, Famous in their Generations for Learning and Piety, and most of them great Sufferers in the Cause of CHRIST.
As also the Life of the Heroical Admiral of France, slain in the Parisian Massacre, and of Joane Queen of Navar, poisoned a little before.
By Sa. Clarke, Pastor in Bennet Fink, London.
The second Edition, Corrected and Enlarged; having the two late Persecutions inserted: the one in Piemont: the other in Poland.
PSAL. 44.22.
For thy sake are we ki…led all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nihil crus se…tit in nervo, cum animus est in caelo,
Tertul.
Printed by Tho. Ratcliffe, for … and … in Saint Pauls Church-yard, near the little North-door. MDCLX.
TO THE CHRISTIAN READER; Especially to the suffering Saints in these three Nations.
Christian Reader.
THou hast here presented to thy view that strange sight which so much astonished Moses, Exod. 8.3. A bush burning with fire, and not consumed: A lively Emblem of the Church, oft times all on a light flame with the fire of Persecution,Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae. and yet so far from being consumed, that The bloud of the Martyrs proves the seed of the Church: And indeed she is the only, and true Salamander, that can live in the fire: Yet this, not by any strength of her own, but because the Angel of the Covenant, even the Lord Jesus Christ is in the bush, either to slack the fire, or to strengthen the bush, and make it incombustible. In this Book thou maiest see, as in a Mirrour, what hath been the lot and portion of the Church and people of God from the Creation hitherto, viz. Act. 14.22.Through many tribulations to enter into the kingdom of heaven. Here thou hast a certaine and infallible mark of the true Church of Christ, viz. To be hated and persecuted by the Devil and his instruments. Here thou maiest see what is the constant concommitant of the Gospel, when it is received in the love and power of it, viz. Persecution, according to that of the Apostle, Ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, 1 Thes. 1.4.having received the word in much affliction, &c. Neither yet is God an hard Master in dealing thus with his faithfull servants. He knows that heavy afflictions are the best benefactors to heavenly affections: and that grace is hid in nature here, as sweet water in rose leaves, which must have the fire of affliction put under to distill it out. He knows that when afflictions hang heaviest, corrupt affections hang loosest upon his children. Yet doth not the Lord afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men, to crush under his feet all the prisoners of the earth:Lam. 3.33, 34 but he will hereby try who are his indeed and in truth, not in name and profession only: For as the Eagle tries her young ones by turning their faces to the sun beams, so those Christians that can outface the sun of Persecution, are sincere indeed.
One thing is very remarkable in this History, that usually before any great Persecution befell the Church, the holy men of those times observed that there was some great decay of zeal, and of the power of godliness, or some mutuall contentions and quarrels amongst the people of God, or some such sin or other that provoked God against them; and then, as the shepherd sets his dog upon his sheep, when they go astray to bring them in, and then rates him off again: So God lets loose wicked Persecutors upon his own children, but it's only to bring them in unto him; and then, he not only restrains their rage, but casts the rod into the fire. If judgement begin at the house of God, Isa. 10.12. 1 Pet. 4.17.what shall the end be of them that obey not the Gospel of God? Much excellent use may be made of this History: As, teaching us,
That whosoever will take Christ truly, must take his Crosse as well as his Crown, his Sufferings as well as his Salvation.
That persecution is the bellows of the Gospel, blowing every spark into a flame; and that Martyrs ashes are the best compost to manure the Church, their bloud to water it, and make it fertill.
That Gods children are like Starres, that shine brightest in the darkest night: Like Torches that are the better for beating: Like Grapes that come not to the proof, till they come to the presse: Likes Spices, that smell sweetest, when pounded: Like young Trees, that root the faster for shaking: Like Vines, that are the better for bleeding: Like Gold, that looks the brighter for scouring. Like Glow worms, that shine best in the dark: Like Juniper that smels sweetest in the fire: Like the Pomander, which becomes more fragrant for chafing: Like the Palm tree, which proves the better for pressing: Like the Camomile, which the more you tread it, the more you spread it. Yea God knoweth that we are best, when we are worst, and live holiest, when we die fastest; and therefore he frames his dealing to our disposition, seeking rather to profit, then to please us.
That when God exposeth us to Persecution, he expects our speedy and thorow Reformation, if we desire the affliction to be removed. For as it were to no purpose for the Finer to put his gold into the fire, except it lie there till it be refined: So were it to small purpose for God to lay afflictions on us, if so soon as we whine and groan under his hand, he should remove them, before we be bettered thereby. Whereas afflictions, like Lots Angels, will soon away, when they have done their errand. Like plaisters, when the sore is once whole, they will fall off of their own acco…d.
That we should with patience submit to the afflicting hand of the all wise God, and our mercifull Father, saying with the Church, I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against him ▪ Micha 7.9.Considering also that impatience under affliction, makes it much more grievous. As a man in a feaver, that by tossing and tumbling, exasperates the disease, and encreaseth his own grief.
That all that will live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. It hath been the portion of all the Saints,1 Tim. 3.12 from the creation hitherto. What son is there whom the Father chasteneth not? One son indeed God had without sin,Heb. 12.7. but not without sorrow; for though Christ his naturall Son, was sine corruptione, without corruption, yet not sine correctione, without correction; though he was sine flagitio, with out crime, yet not sine flagello, without a scourge. And if they did these things to the green tree, what shall be done to the dry? And behold the wonderfull wisdom of God herein? who by these afflictions separates the sinne that hates, from the son that he loves,Luk. 23.31. and keeps him by these thorns from breaking over into Satans pleasant pastures, that would fat him indeed, but to the slaughter.
In an Appendix to this Book, I have added the Lives of sundry of our Modern Divines, which I conceive not to be heterogeniall to the rest of the Work; for though they were not Martyrs, yet may they well be stiled Confessors, in regard of the great Persecution and Sufferings, which most of them met withall whilest they lived here. And if any ask the reason why I have added no more? It is because my intelligence comes in so slowely; and if such as are able, will take the pains to inform me, I shall (if God spares life) adde more to the end of the next impression of my Lives of the Fathers, and modern Divines. I hope that these my weak and poor endeavours will not prove ungratefull, nor be judged unseasonable, considering the times wherein we live: For if the same sins abound amongst us in these daies, which have been the forerunners of persecutions formerly;Praemonitus praemunitus. we have cause to fear the worst, and to prepare for it; Forewarnd, forearmed. The reading of this History will manifest what wonderfull constancy and patience the Saints have shewed in their greatest sufferings: what hath been the power of Almighty God in their support: and what miserable ends many of their Persecutors have come to. My hearty desire is, That by reading of this Book, God may have the glory, and thy soul the comfort, and I shall be well appaied for my pains, Who am,
Thine in the Lord SA. CLARKE. From my study in Thridneedle-street, Octob. 10. 1659.
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Thomas Dugard. A. M. Rector Barfordiae.
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Tho. Dugard.
To the Reverend, the Author of the Book, CALLED A Generall Martyrologie, &c.
WHat? yet more Books? what spirit now inspires
Your Pen to write of Torments, Warres and Fires?
What? Will that Pen that drew to th' Life before,
Change stile, draw Death, and speak of Life no more?
What blustering Boreas rais'd these stormy Windes,
Which blew down Churches, shook the steddiest Mindes,
Sure Hell's broke loose, and Devils in the flesh
Are come out thence to try their wits afresh.
Who ever heard Troy's story with his ears,
And could restrain his eies from shedding tears?
I quake to hear what Saints in former daies
Ne're shook to feel, so they might win the Baies.
They conquer'd all; Their patient disposition,
O're came both Pope, and Spanish Inquisition.
They conquer'd Kings, and won the Crown at last;
Prest towards the Prize, forgetting what was past.
The Story's sad; 'tis true, yet the Authors skill
Hath made that pleasant which in't self is ill.
Away long-winded Volumes, Times disease;
This Author doth our phansies better please.
Large Books are endlesse; but 'tis his design
T'enclose great Volumes in his single Line.
Eli. Awn:
To the Reverend Mr. Sa. Clarke, ON HIS MARTYROLOGIE.
OH, Welcome home, Divine Drake, welcome home,
First girdle of the World of Martyrdome.
Who seeks for more, can no new thing descry,
Y' have left no room for new discovery.
These Maps and Charts you bring, nay every letter
Makes you the worlds great Patron, it your Debtor.
To call't a Map doth but a Part imply,
'Tis the whole Globe of Martyrologie.
Each Picture is a Map, each Figure breaths
A little hist'ry of the Martyrs deaths.
Pisgah's too farre to see the Holy-Land,
Stand here on Calvary, and view't at hand.
Let others brag at large, whose fancy 'tis
To say A SAINT by a Periphrasis.
Who doth this Book of yours with theirs confer,
Findes Saint and Martyr in one Character.
Though (some there be) that differ from the rest
In judgement, and account short-writting best:
Those I am sure will praise you when they eye
Your skill in Tachyhagiography.
Th'are many words make Volumes, do but look
And you shall see 'tis matter makes a Book.
All Volumes of this Subject here are set
As't were contracted in an Alphabet.
In characters, for brevity, 'tis good
That Vowels be by Cons'nants understood.
The least is best, if no essentiall be
Wanting to make't a perfect Entitie.
Man's but the World Epitomiz'd, but this
Compendium of Saints and Martyrs is.
Its commendation is it self, 'tis best
Though't were without this my Probatum est.
J. C.