An Alphabetical Martyrology, Title page – To the reader
ΜΑΡΤΥΡΟΛΟΓΙΑ ΑΛΦΑΒΕΤΙΚΕ OR, AN Alphabetical Martyrology.
CONTAINING THE Tryals and Dying Expressions OF MANY MARTYRS Of Note since CHRIST.
Extracted out of Foxe's Acts and Monuments of the Church.
WITH AN ALPHABETICAL LIST Of GOD'S JUDGEMENTS remarkably shown on many Noted and Cruel PERSECUTORS.
Together with an APPENDIX of things pertinent to the understanding this MARTYROLOGY.
By N. T. M. A. T. C. C.
—These all dyed in the Faith, Hebr. 11.13.
—In all these things we are more than Conquerors.
Rom. 8.37.
LONDON, Printed for R. Butler in Barbican, and are to be sold by Samuel Wooley Bookseller in Louth, in Lincolnshire. 1677.
ERRATA,
IN the Epistile Page 3. read 2 Cor. 4, 7, 8, 9. In the Book p. 25. l. 17. read Iames Bainham. p. 27. l. 18. put out then. p. 9. l. 5. read Pomponius. p. 53. l. 21. put out so. p. 69. l. 13. read cruel. p. 79. l. 2. read sparer in words. p. 80. l. 16. read Wind. p. 140. l. 20. read Wounds. p. 150. l. 17. read trailed. p. 167. l. 22. read must. p. 169. and 170. read Thiessen. p. 172. l. 24. read confuted. p. 185. l. 8. read Fool. p. 224. l. 10. Concerning Dr. London's Punishment in the former part of the Book. Add Page 174. p. 226. l. 12. read Maximinus. p. 230. l. 7. read Sute.
ADVERTISEMENT.
TWO Sermons of Hypocrisie, and the vain hope of self-deceiving Sinners.
A Vindication of Oaths, and swearing in weighty cases, as lawful and useful under the Gospel: And the Quakers Opinion and Practice against Oaths and Oath-taking, proved to be unscriptural, and without any just Reason; as also against their own Principles. Both written by Iohn Cheney, Minister of the Gospel. Printed for R. Butler, and are to be sold with the rest of his Works by Iohn Miller, at the Rose at the West-end of St. Paul's Church.
To the Christian READER, all encrease of Grace here, and all fulness of Glory hereafter.
SO great an enmity hath Satan evidenced, ever since his own Apostasie, against Mankind, that he must be conceded to have bin very sedulous and vigilant in all Ages to destroy Souls, one while alluring them to sin against God, by his foreign of worldly or sensual propositions, or else deterring them from adhering to God, vi & armis, by his assaults and persecutions; the verity of which hath been continuedly evidenced in the successive Ages of God's Church, wherein the first member dying, dyed a Martyr on the account of his Religion, and the several Prophets and Children of God before Christ have been so persecuted, sawn asunder, cast into Dungeons, fiery Furnaces, Lyons dens, &c. That if to these we add the consideration of St. Paul's Martyrology in Heb. 11. we may propose our Saviour's Enquiry; Which of the Prophets have they not slain? Nor did the fury of Satan and his Instruments terminate there; but when Christ the Son of God was incarnated and became Man for our Salvation, Satan the Arch-enemy of Man, assails him as Tempter; but being put to flight so, he becomes Accuser, and by his Instruments persecuted our dearest Saviour, not desisting till they had crucified the Lord of Life: Which being effected, this Serpentine Seed continued its enmity againg Christ in his Members; so that few of Christ's Apostles or Followers have escaped tribulation; as the Writings of the Sacred Writ aver, and the succeeding pages will much evidence, which seem in respect of their matter to be serviceable to the Church of God many wayes:
1. In demonstrating the verity of our Religion, and the great and sure foundation of our Faith, sealed by the Blood of many thousand Martyrs, who have as witnesses thereof, attested the verity of their Professions by their deaths.
2. In evidencing the state of God's People here, whose Life is but a foreign, a warfare, whilst they remain Members of the Church Militant on Earth, which may disswade us from singing Requiem's to our Souls, and may excite our constant watch.
3. In assuring us of the Triumph of Christ the Captain of our Salvation, who in himself and Members hath verified that foreign of the Seed of the Woman's breaking the Serpent's head, in that in the midst of all troubles the Saints of God have experienced joy, which may engage our running with patience the Race that is set before us.
4. In declaring God's fidelity to his People, who in the greatest misery hath shown them the greatest mercy, and often then hath most given his People assurance of their living with him, when they were going to dye for him; which may support our Spirits under pressures, in that they cannot separate us from God here or hereafter, Rom. 8.38. 2 Cor. 7.8, 9.
5. In proposing the Examples of many thousands of constant Martyrs, who chose rather to suffer than sin; and found more joy in dying for Christ than ever they did trouble in serving of Christ.
6. In shewing the sad effects of Apostasie upon many of God's People, who found all the wordly enjoyments without a Christ but foreign, bitter sweets, and have not acquiesced, till through God's Spirit they did reassume the Profession of Christ, and at last did dye for Christ, which may incite our holy jealousie over our selves.
7. In setting before us the care of God for his People in their Lives, and Death, and after death, by supplying their wants, comforting their Souls, mitigating their pains, and preserving their Names to succeeding Generations, verifying his own assertion, That the memory of the Just shall be blessed.
8. In representing the efficacy of Christianity and its Champions constancy, so as often to have influenced the very Persecutors of it and them; not onelyonly to pity them, but also to close with their Principles, and dye for the same Faith; so that we have no need to be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ.
9. In demonstrating the frustration of the grand design of Christ's Enemies (the extirpation of his Faith and Religion by Persecution) it being evidently manifested that Christianity hath been more propagated, the more it hath been persecuted; and it was long since observed that Sanguis Martyrum was Semen Ecclesiae. So that against all opposition the Faith of Christ and its Professors have been foreign, more than Conquerors; nor hath the gates of Hell hitherto prevailed against the Church of Christ.
10. In manifesting God's mercy and justice. His Mercy in preserving his true Religion and its Professors amidst all their Enemies, and his Iustice in his divers inflictions of punishments upon their Persecutors. Insomuch that some have confessedly acknowledged Christ Conqueror, his cause true, and themselves because Persecutors of it, damned.
This is the matter of the Pages humbly offer'd, and unfeignedly recommended to thy perusal. And as to the manner of the Epitome, an Alphabetical method, both as to Sufferers and Persecutors, seemed most apt for thy reaping advantage. The reasons moving the Epitomizing the voluminous works of the Author were these:
1. Because many who probably would read those greater Volumes, either cannot acquire them being scarce, or cannot purchase them being dear, or perhaps have not time to peruse them being great, to occur all which this abstract may suffice.
2. The Chief things in these Volumes desired by the Vulgar (whose instruction is chiefly designed hereby) is the Lives and deaths, the Constancy and Comforts of the Martyrs, which here are briefly contained as to the most remarkable Martyrs ever since Christ's time; which being portable, may serve as a Manual to be oft in our hands to be perused, till we get their experiences on our hearts.
And although in these Halcyon dayes of the Church (which God long continue) these endeavours way seem to some supervacaneous; yet if we consider that while we are in the World we must expect troubles, it is no small prudence to prepare for it. However, the ten premised Reasons may plead for thy acceptance of what is humbly tendred, and sincerely published for God's Glory, and thy Soul's good, by Thine in the Service of GOD,
N. T.