A Cloud of Witnesses, Title page 1 – Preface
A CLOUD OF WITNESSES; OR, THE Sufferers Mirrour, Made up of The SWANLIKE-SONGS, and other CHOICE PASSAGES of several MARTYRS and CONFESSORS, to the Sixteenth Century, in their Treatises, Speeches, Letters, Prayers, &c. in their Prisons, or Exiles; at the Bar, or Stake, &c.
Collected out of The Ecclesiastical Histories of
Eusebius,
Fox,
Fuller,
Petrie,
Scotland,
And Mr. Samuel Ward's Life of Faith in Death, &c. and Alphabetically disposed.
By T. M. M. A.
Hebr. 12.1.
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a Cloud of Witnesses, let us run with patience the race, that is set before us.
James 5.10.
Take, my Brethren, the Prophets, who have spoken in the Name of the Lord, for an example of suffering afflliction and patience.
London. Printed for the Author, and are to be fold by Robert Boulter in Saint Paul's Church-yard. 1665.
Gentle Reader,
THou art desired to take notice, that through the transposing of some Leaves of the Manuscript, the Authour living far distant, there hath been committed an Errour at the Press, in Mr. Iohn Bradford's Letters, beginning at Page 44. Line 26. immediately before Mr. Iohn Brown. Wherefore thou art entreated to turn to Page 68. Line 6. and read to Page 71. Line 26. and so the Mistake will be rectified.
Renowned Mr. Samuel Ward of Ipswich gives the following testimony to the living speeches of dying Christians, which he collected.
AS for their last Speeches and Apothegms, pity it is no better mark hath been taken, and memory preserved of them. The choice and prime I have culled out of ancient Stories and later Martyrologies, English, Dutch, and French. The profit and pleasure hath paid me for the labour of Collecting, and the like gain (I hope) shall quit the cost of thy Reading. — By these, which are but an handful of Christs Camp-Royal, it sufficiently appears, they had their Faith fresh and lively in the face of their grand Enemy, Death; and by vertue of their Faith, their Spirits, Wits and Tongues, untroubled, and undismayed.
The learned and ingenious Author of the Preface to Mr. Frith's Treatises of preparation to the Cross (under the Title of Vox Pisces, or the Book-Fish) gives the following Testimony to several of the remarkable passages in this Collection.
PErhaps unto some Palats no Lequor seemeth desirable, but that which hath a delicious tang of the curiosity of these later Times, both for method and stile. For my part I say with the words in the Gospel, Luke 5.39. The old Wine is better. And accordingly contemplating and comparing the devout Discourses written in our Language upon the breaking forth of the Light of Reformation, I am far more deeply taken with the solid simplicity and powerful Spirit, which methinks I find in the Writings of those Confessors and Martyrs, who watered the Garden of Reformation with their own bloud in this Land, then with the more elaborate and artificial composures, written more lately in the Times of our Peace. Who in reading the Letters and Ghostly Meditations of blessed Bradford, Taylor, Philpot, &c. yea even of other their Brethren less learned, that wrote and spake with that Hand, Heart, and Breath, which they were most ready to yield up for the testimony of the Truth, doth not therein perceive that lively warmth of holy zeal, which is able to awake even a dull and sleepy soul? Among which Martyrs, as this worthy Frith is one of the first for antiquity, so well may he be in the foremost rank for comfortable exhortation and soundness of Doctrine.
The Collectors Preface.
THe Speeches of dying men are remarkable; the Speeches of dying Christians are much more remarkable; How remarkable then are the Speeches of dying Witnesses for Christ? It is rationally expected that dying men, much more that dying Christians, and most of all that dying Witnesses for Christ should speak best at last.These are the last words of David, … Sam. 23.1 It is their last. And the Sun shineth brightest at setting. They are immediately to give in their last account. They are upon the borders of Eternity. And the motions of Nature are more intense, as they draw nearer the Center. To be sure, Saints are most heavenly, when nearest Heaven. Rivers, the nearer the Sea, the sooner are met by the Tide. We have good Scripture-ground to expect that dying Christians, especially dying Witnesses for Christ, should have extraordinary assistances from on high for their last Discourses: That the Wine of the Spirit should be strongest in them at their last. They have Gods Word for it,Mat. 10.19. That in that hour it shall be given them, what they shall speak: for it is not they that speak but the Spirit of their Father.
One observeth that when Stephen was to deliver his last speech, and to suffer, he was filled with the Holy Ghost, so that all that sate in the Council, looking stedfastly on Stephen, Acts 6.5.saw his face, as if it had been the face of an Angel. His soul was so warmed by the love of God, that he looked both his Adversaries and the tempestuous approaching Storm out of countenance. When he was stoned he got a larger sight. He saw the Heavens opened, and his Majestick Glorious Master, the light-giving Diamond of Heaven,Act. 7.55 standing at his Fathers right hand. And this he got, no doubt, as for himself, so to hearten all those that were to come after, he being the first Martyr after Christ. Hence it hath been often found, that their last Speeches have been Oraculous and Prophetical. Zenophon personates Cyrus as inspired, whilst he is breathing out his last requests. The nearer we return to the Original Divinity (as Plotinus speaketh) the more Divine we grow. One observeth from a Scripture instance, That what hath been asserted by dying Witnesses, hath most speedily come to pass. Zachariah told the children of Israel,2 Chr. 24.20, 24. Because ye have for saken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you. For this he was immediately stoned, and the Lord sealed his Word very speedily afterwards; For the Assyrians coming with a small company against them, the Lord delivered a very great multitude into their hands, and so without delay in their sight sealed the words of his dying Witness Zachariah. And why his word sooner then Isaiah's, Ieremiah's, Ezekiel's? &c. By them he pleaded much longer with his Apostatizing Church. I know none but this: It was the Lords pleasure; and to shew his respect to dying Witnesses, that he would have what they say taken special notice of. It may be, that he might shew, that whatever fail, the words of dying Witnesses shall not fall to the ground. It is true, we must not lay such weight upon these sayings, as we must lay upon Scripture prophesies;1 Pet. 1.9 for though such sayings may be true prophesies, yet we are not infallibly assured that these are prophesies, till they be accomplished: yet their sayings, while dying for and in the Lord, do give good encouragement to them that remain alive, and so to be much esteemed by them; whether they respect the honour of God, or the good of souls.
The last Speeches of Christs dying Witnesses, have extorted even from Heathens acknowledgments to the honour of God,Vere magnus est Deus Christianorum Calocerius that truly the Christians God is a great God: yea, by them sinners have been converted. Iustin Martyr and others by observing the end the Martyrs made, were brought out of love with the wayes of sin, and in love with the wayes of holiness.
These Speeches (here collected) are called Swanlike Songs for their remarkableness, A Cloud of Witnesses, and The Sufferers Mirrour for their usefulness. The Israelites found not onelyonly comfort in the shadow of the Cloud in the Wilderness, but a directive vertue therein, they were led by it. There is a double power in such instances both to Comfort, and to Assimulate.Solamen miseris, &c. 1 Cor. 10.13. To see that others have suffered worse is no small comfort to Sufferers. Iacob's Sheep conceived according to the colour of the Rods, that lay in the Troughs. Our conceptions will be like our visions: like the examples that are set before our eyes. Here (as in a Glass) even the best may see their spots; and all, especially Sufferers, may learn how to dress themselves for death. How can the best of us read these passages, without shame for our low attainments, for our little proficiency in the School of Christ? How unlike are our faces to the faces in this Mirrour? How self-denying were they? How selfish are we? How crucified to the world were they? How much glued thereunto are we? How easie was it for them to chuse the greatest Sufferings, rather then the least Sin? How hard is it for us not to chuse the greatest Sin, rather then the least Suffering? How willing were they to part with all for Christ? How unwilling are we to part with littles for Christ? What an honour did they esteem it to suffer for Christ, to be chain'd, to be whipt, to be wrackt, to be halter'd, to be stak'd for Christ? Have we such esteems of sufferings for Christ, and of such sufferings? Are not we ashamed of our glory? How patient were they under the greatest tortures? How impatient are we under very little troubles? How hot was their love to Christ, his Truths, Ordinances, People? How cold is ours? How zealous were they for the Honour of God? How luke-warm are we? How magnanimous were they? How cowardly and dastardly are we? How humble were they? How proud are we? How broken-hearted were they? How hard-hearted are we? What sympathizing spirits had they? How little fellow-feeling is there now among Christians? How active were they for the glory of God, and good of souls under their sufferings? How slothful are we? And how little do we for either under our sufferings? How strong was their Faith? How weak is ours? How fearless were they of man, who can only kill the body? How fearful are we? How many of these Worthies attained unto Assurance, and had their Evidences for Heaven clear? How are the most of us in the dark, as to an interest in God, and a right and title to Glory? How willing and desirous were they to die, even a violent death? How loth are we to die, even a natural death? How did they without the least fear play on the hole of this Asp, and with much courage put their hand into the Den of this Cockatrice? But how doth the fear of this King of Terrors make us subject to bondage? Thus they are useful to shame us: They are also usefull to prepare us to die, especially a violent death. Such examples chalk the way more plainly,Longum iter per praecepta, breve & efficax per exempla, Seneca. then bare direction: These encourage more heartily: these perswade more powerfully: these chide unbelief with more authority. I beseech you all, who are the Lords people, (said one lately) not to scare at suffering for the interests, of Christ; because of any thing you may see fall out in these days, as to the sufferings of his Servants: but be encouraged to do and suffer; for I assure you, in the Name of the Lord, he will bear all your charges. I do again assure you, in his Name, he will furnish all your expences, and bear all your charges. Mr. Rough learn'd the way to Martyrdome by seeing and hearing Austo at the Stake in Smithfield.
Coming from his burning, and being askt where he had been, he made answer, There where I would not but have been for one of mine eyes: & would you know where? Forsooth, I have been to learn the way. And soon after he followed him in the same place and the same kind of death. Now if one president made him so good a Scholar; what Dullards and Non-proficients are we, if such a Cloud of Instances work not in us a chearful ability to expect and encounter the same adversary, so often foiled before our eyes? I shall detain thee no longer from seeing these rare sights, but now invite thee in the words of Rev. 6.7.foreign, Come and see. The good Lord adde his blessing, that thine eye may affect thy heart, and that these Remarkable passages may be thus usefull to all our souls, and that the Cloud of Witnesses may not be a standing Witness against any of us. Farewell.