A Cloud of Witnesses, Part G – Part H

A Cloud of Witnesses · Part G – Part H

p. 101G.

Gardiner.

William Gardiner, Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 746.an English Merchant in Portugal, was so much troubled in spirit at the sight of the Idolatry, committed by the Priests in the Mass, at the solemnization of the Marriage between the King of P…rtugal's Son, and the King of Spain's Daughter, that he could not be quiet, till he had (though in the presence of the King, and of the Nobles, and whole City) the next Sabbath with one hand snatched away the Cake from the Priest, and trod it under his feet, and with the other overthrew the Chalice. The King asking him how he p. 102durst be so bold? He answered, Most noble. Kin… — The thing which you have seen, was not done nor thought of me for any contumely, or reproac… to your presence, but onelyonly for this purpose (a… before God I do clearly confess) to seek the salvation of this people.

Being ask'd who set him on? He answered▪ He was not moved by any man, but by his o… Conscience, there being no man under Heaven for whose sake he would put himself into so manifest a danger, but he owed his service first to God and secondarily to their salvation; wherefore if he had done any thing displeasing to them, the ought to impute it to themselves, who so irreverently used the Sacrament of the Lords Supper unto so great Idolatry, not without great ignomi… the Church, violation of the Sacrament, and the peril of their own soals, except they repented.

For this he was cruelty tormented, and burned and in the fire he …un…; Psal. 43. Iudge me, O God, and defend my … against the unmerciful … ple.

Gauderin.

Fox, Vol. 3. cont. 49.Christopher Gauderin, having been a Spend-thrift, was converted by Lewis St…llius, telling him, That he ought rather to distribute of his gettings to the poor, then to spend them so wastfully; for if he continued so, God would surely call him to an account for it, insomuch that he was chosen a Deacon in the Church; in the execution of which Office, he was taken and imprisoned, and being ask'd how he came to turn Heretick, seeing he learned not that of his Master the Abbot, he answered, I am no Heretick, but a right believing Christian, which he taught me not indeed, but rather, other p. 103vile qualities, which I am ashamed now to rehearse.

Some objecting to him his youth, being about the age of thirty, He told them, That mans life consisted but of two dayes, viz. the day of his birth, and the day of his death. And for my part (said he) I am now willing by death to pass into eternal life.

The morning that he was to be executed, He said to his Fellow-Prisoners (having put on a clean shirt, and washed himself) Brethren, I am now going to be married, I hope before noon to drink of the wine of the Kingdome of Heaven.

A Frier coming to them (as he said) to convert them; Christopher said unto him, Away from us, thou seducer of Souls, for we have nothing to do with thee.

One of his Fellow-sufferers (as the Hangman was gagging him) said, What, shall we not have liberty in this our last hour to praise our God with our voice and tongue. Brother (said Gauderin) let not this discourage us, for the greater wrong our enemies think to do unto us, the more assistance we shall find from God: And so he never ceased to comfort them, till he was gagged also, and burnt Iune 2, 1568.

Gerard.

About the year 1160. in the reign of Henry the Second,Clarks Martyrology pag. 41. came about thirty Waldens…s into England, Gerardus being their Minister, to labour to win Disciples to Christ. They were converted before a Council of Bishops at Oxford, and Gerard speaking for them all, said, We are Christians, holding and reverencing the Doctrine of the Apostles.—Being urged with arguments against their Doctrine, they answered, They believed as they were taught by p. 104Gods Word, but would not dispute their faith. — Being admonished to repent, and threatned if they did not, they despised their Counsel, scorned their threats, saying, Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousness sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.

They were excommunicated, burnt in the foreheads for Hereticks, Mr. Gerard both in the forehead and cheek; their cloaths were cut off to their Girdles, and so whipt through Oxford, they singing all the while, Blessed are ye when men hate you, and despitefully use you, &c.

Ghest.

Fox, Vol. 1. pag. 1012.Laurence Ghest had his wife and seven children brought to him (the Bishop hoping to overcome him by his nat…ral affection to them) and his wife beginning to exhort him to favour himself, He desired her not to be a block in his way, for that he was in good course, running toward the mark of his salvation.

Gibson.

Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 858.Some of the Articles exhibited against Mr. Richard Gibson. — (3) That he hath commended, allowed, defended, and liked both Cranmer, L…tim…r, Ridley, and all other Hereticks here in this Realm of England, according to the Ecclesiastical Laws condemned for Hereticks, and also liked their Opinions. (4) That he hath comforted, aided; assisted, and maintained both by words and otherwise, Hereticks and erroneous Persons, or at the least suspected and infamed of Heresies, &c. (5) That he hath affirmed that the Religion now used in this Realm, is in no wise agreeable to Gods Word and Commandment, &c.

The Bishop asking him, if he knew any cause why the Sentence should not be read against him, p. 105he said,Pag. 859. the Bishop had nothing wherefore justly to condemn him. Sentence being read, He again admonished Gibson to remember himself, and so save his soul. Mr. Gibson answered, That he would not hear the Bishops babling, boldly protesting that he was contrary to them all in his mind, though he aforet me kept it secret, for fear of the Law. And speaking to the Bishop, he said, Blessed am I, that am cursed at your hands, We have nothing now, but thus will I; for as the Bishop saith, so it must be. And no heresie is it to turn the truth of Gods Word into lies, and that do you.

Mr. Gibson also propounded Nine Articles to Bonner, by him to be answered by yea or nay, or else by saying he could not tell (1) Whether the Scriptures of God, written by Moses and other holy Prophets of God through faith, that is in Christ Jesus, be available Doctrine, to make all men in all things unto salvation learned, without the help of any other Doctrine, or no? (3) Whether the holy Word of God, as it is written, doth sufficiently teach all men, of what dignity, estate, or calling by Office whatsoever be or they be, their full, true, and lawful duty in their Office? and whether every man — be found upon the pain of eternal damnation, in all things to do, as he is thereby taught and commanded, and in no wise to leave undone any thing that is to be done, being taught and commanded by the same? (4) Whether any man (the Lord Jesus Christ, God and man only except) by the holy Ordinance of God, ever was, is, or shall be Lord over Faith? (5) By what lawful Authority or Power any man of what Dignity, Estate, or Calling soever he or they be, may be so bold as to alter or change the holy Ordinances of God, or any of them, or any part of them? p. 106(6) By what evident tokens Antichrist in his Ministers may be known, seeing it is written, That Satan can change himself into the similitude of an Angel of Light, and his Ministers fashion themselves, as though they were Ministers of righteousness? (7) What the Beast is, which maketh war with the Saints of God? and what the gorgeous and glittering Whore is, which sitteth upon the Beast? —

Gilby.

See Mr. Gilby's Admonition to England and Scotland to call them to repentance, Printed at Geneva, 1558. pag. 59.Mr. Anthony Gilby, an exiled Minister of Christ in Queen Mary's dayes, in his Admonition speaks thus. — Whereas many have written▪ many profitable Admonitions to you twain (O England and Scotland, both making one Island most happy, if you could know your own hapiness) — and others with Pen and Tongue, with Word, with Writing, with jeopardy and loss of Lands, Goods, and Lives, have admonished you both twain of that cankered poyson of Papistry, that ye foster and pamper to your own perdition and utter destruction of your selves and yours, souls and bodies, for now and ever. I thought it my duty (seeing your destruction to mans judgement to draw so near) hom much or how little soever they have prevailed,Pag. 60. yet once again to admonish you both to give testimony to that truth, which my Brethren have written, and especially to stir your hearts to repentance, or at the least to offer my self a witness against you, for the justice of God, and his righteous judgements, which doubtless (if your hearts be hardned) against you both are at hand to be uttered. Thus by our writing, whom it pleaseth God to stir up of your Nations all men that now l…ve, and that shall come after us, shall have cause also to praise the mercy of God, that so oft admonisheth p. 107before he strikes, and to consider his just punishment, when he shall pour forth his vengeance. Give ear therefore betimes, O Britain (for of that name both rejoyceth) whilest the Lord calleth, exhorteth, and admonisheth: that is the acceptable time, when he will be found. If ye refuse the time offered, ye cannot have it afterward, though with tears (as did Esau) ye do seem to seek it. Yet once again in Gods behalf I do offer you the very means, which if God of his mercies grant you grace to follow, I doubt nothing, but that of all your enemies speedily ye shall be delivered. Ye rejoyce at his Word, I am sure, if ye have any hope of the performance. Then hearken to the matter which I write unto you, not forth of mens Dreams and Fables, nor forth of prophane Histories, painted with mans wisdome, vain eloquence, or subtile reasons, but forth of the infallible Word of God. — Is not this Gods curse and threatning (amongst many others) pronounced against the sinful Land and disobedient people?Deut. 28.Deut 28 That strangers shall devour the fruit of thy Land, and be above thee, &c. and thy strong walls wherein thou trusted, shall be destroyed, &c. And doth not Isaiah reckon this also as the extremity of all plagues, for the wickedness of the people to have women raised up to rule over them?Isa. 3.Isa 3 But what saith the same Prophet in the beginning of his prophesie, for a remedy against these and all other evils,Pag. 61. Y…ur hands are full of blood (saith he) O ye Princes of Sodom and people of Gomorrah; but wash you, make you clean, take away your wicked thoughts forth of my sight, …ease to do evil, learn to do well, &c. Then will I turn my hand to thee, and purge out all thy dross, and take away thy tynne, and I will restore thy Iudges as aforetime, and Counsellors as of old. And Moses said before in the place alledged, p. 108That if thou wilt hear the voice of the Lord … God, Deut. 28.Deut 28and do his Commandments, thou shalt be blessed … the Town, and blessed in the Field. The Lord shall ca… thine enemies, that rise up against thee, to fall befo… thee, &c. Lo the way in few words, O Britany, … win Gods favour, and therefore to overcome thin… enemies. But to print this more deeply upon your hearts, O ye Princes and people of that Island whom God hath begun to punish, seek (I want you) no snifting holes to excuse your faults▪ no political practises to resist Gods vengeance▪ — Submit your selves to him,Pag. 62. who holdeth you… breath in your nostrils, who with one blast of hi… mouth can destroy all his enemies. Embrace hi… Son Christ, and repent betimes for your obstinacy against him and his Word, and for your cruelt… against his Servants. Repent, repent. For repentance is the onelyonly way of your redress and deliverance. — Consider how the Lord hath intreated Israel and Iuda, his own people, how oft they trespassed, and how he gave them over into the hands of their enemies: But whensoever they repented and turned again to God unfeignedly, he sent them Judges and Deliverers, Kings and Saviours. — Noah pronounceth, that within a hundred and twenty years all flesh should be destroyed. We have many Noahs, that so cry in our times▪ yet no man repenteth. All the time that Noah was preparing for the Ark to avoid Gods vengeance, the multitude derided this holy Prophet, as the multitude of you two Realms doth at this day deride all them that by obedience to Gods Word seek the means appointed to avoid Gods judgments. Then the people would not repent,Pag. 63. but as if they should live for ever they married, they banqueted, they builded, they planted, deriding Gods messenger. p. 109Do not you the like? I appeal to your own consciences. The Lord calleth to fasting (saith the Prophet Isaiah) to mortifie themselves, and kill their lusts, but they kill Sheep and Bullocks. Ieremy cries for tears and lamentation; They laugh and mock-Malachi crieth to the people of his time, Turn unto me, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts, and they proudly answer, Wherein shall we turn? Are you not such? Do you not ask, Wherein shall we turn, when ye will not know your sins? Ye will not confess and acknowledge your faults, though ye go a whoring in every Street, Town, and Village with your Idols: though the blood of the oppressed cry every where against you for vengeance. So that seeing no taken of repentance, I cannot cry unto you with Iohn Baptist, O ye generation of vipers, who hath taught you to flie from the wrath to come? Pag. 64.— But I will wound you no more with the words of the Prophets, or of this holy Saint of God Iohn Baptist, but with our Saviour Christs two most sweet parables of the two Sons and of the Tilmen, to whom he set his vineyard, I will labour to set before your eyes your rebellion, hypocrisie, and cruelty, if so I can bring any of you to repentance. — He hath called you by his Word many a time to work in his vineyard. I ask, what you have answered. Some of you have said plainly, like rebellious children, That ye would not do it, that ye would not work in your Fathers vineyard. Shall I apply this part to Scotland? Scotland was indeed called most plainly and evidently through the mercies of God both by their own faithful Countreymen,Pag. 65. and also by earnest travel of our English Nation to come into the Lords vineyard in the time of King Edward the Sixth, but refused. That time (as ye know) the vineyard p. 110in England by the children of God was not altogether neglected, and then most earnestly were ye… (O Brethren of Scotland) required to joyn han… with us in the Lords work, but Satan alas would not suffer it. His old fo…tred malice, and Antichris… his Son, could not abide, that Christ should grow… to strong by joyning that Isle together in perfect Religion, &c. lest this one Island should become a safe Sanctuary (as it began to be) to all the persecuted in all places. — God hath also by the blood of his Saints, shed amongst you, by favour and friendship, by war and the sword, yea by famine and pestilence, and also by all other means called you to labour in his vineyard; but to this days alas! we hear not of your humble obedience, But still ye say with stubborn faces, We will not labour, we will not be bound to such thraldome, &c. Ye think perchance I am too sharp, and that I accuse you more then you deserve; for amongst you many do know the will of your Father, and many make profession of his Gospel, but consider, Brethren, that it is not enough to know the Commandment, and to profess the same in mouth, but it is necessary, that ye refuse your selves, your own pleasures, appetites, and your own wisdome, if ye shall be judged faithful labourers in the Lord… vineyard, and that ye bear the burthens, together with your Brethren, and suffer heat and sweat, before ye taste the fruits with them. God will no… be content, that ye look over the Hedge, and behold the labours of your Brethren, but he requireth that ye put your hands also to the labours, that ye travel continually to pluck up all unprofitable weeds, though in so doing the Thorns prick you to the bone; that ye assist your Brethren in their labours, though it be with the jeopardy of your p. 111lives, the loss of your substance, and displeasure of the whole earth.Pag. 68. — I must needs leave thee, O Scotland, after I have advertized thee of this, that thou follow not the example of England, but let thy reformation be full and plain, according to Gods holy Will and Word, without addition. Let all the plants, which thy Heavenly Father hath not planted, be rooted out at once. Let not avarice blind thee, nor worldly wisdome discourage thy heart; let none bear the name of a Teacher, that is known to be a Fosterer of Superstition, or any kind of wickedness. — Thus must thou, O Scotland, repent thy former inobedience, if that thou wilt be approved of the Lord. And now do I return to thee, O England, I do liken thee to the second Son in the Parable, which answered his Father with flattering words, saying, I go Father, but yet he went not at al…. For since the time I had any remembrance, our Heavenly Father, of his great mercies, hath not ceased to call thee into his Vineyard, and to these late dayes thou hast alwayes said, That thou wouldest enter and be obedient. In the time of King Henry the Eighth, when by Tyndal, Frith, Biln…y, and other his saithful Servants, God called England to dress his Vineyard, many promised full fair, but what fruit followed, nothing but bitter grapes, yea, briars and brambles, the wormwood of avarice, the gall of cruelty, the poyson of filthy fornication, flowing from head to foot, the contempt of God, and open defence of the Cake-idol, by open Proclamation to be read in the Churches, instead of Gods Scriptures.Pag. 70. — It grieveth me to write these evils of my Countrey, save onelyonly that I must needs declare what fruit were found in the Vineyard, after you promised to work therein, to move you to Repentance, and to justifie Gods Judgements, how p. 112grievonsly soever he shall plague you hereaft… Wherefore I desire you to call to remembranc… your best state under King Edward, when all me… with general consent promised to work in th… Vineyard, and ye shall have cause I doubt not to …a…ment your wickedness, that so contemned the voic… of God for your own lusts, for your cruelty, for your covetousness, that the Name of God was by your vanities evil spoken of in other Nations▪ —God grant you all repentant hearts, for no order or state did any part of his duty in those dayes. B… to speak of the best, whereof you use to boast, your Religion was but an English Mattins, patch'd forth of the Popes portess. Many things were in your great Book superstitious and foolish, all were driven to a present service, like the Papists, that they should think their duties discharged, if the number were said of Psalms and Chapters. Finally, there could no Discipline be brought into the Church nor correction of manners.Pag. 71. — To what contempt was Gods Word, and the admonition of his Prophets come in all estates before God did strike, some men are not ignorant. The Preachers themselves for the most part could find no fault in Religion, but that the Church was poor, and lacked living. — Sure many things should have been reformed, before that the Kitchin had been better provided for our Prelates in England. It was most evident that many of you under the cloak of Religion, served your own bellies; some where so busie to heap benefice upon benefice, some to labour in Parliament for purchasing of Lands, that the time was small, which could be found for the Reformation of abuses, and every little that was spent upon the feeding of your flocks. — In a word, the Go…spel was so lightly esteemed; that the most part of p. 113men thought rather that God should bow and stoop to their appetites, then that they should be subject to his holy Commandments. — Even the Nobility and Council would suffer no rebukes of Gods Messengers, though their offences were never so manifest; let those that preached in the Court, the Lent before King Edward deceased, speak their conscience, and accuse me if I lie; yea, let a writing of Northumberland's to Mr. Harlow be brought to light, and it shall testifie, that he was not ashamed to say, That the liberty of the Preachers tongues would cause the Council and Nobility to rise up against them, for they could not suffer so to be entreated. These were the fruits in the time of Harvest, a little before the Winter came, and of the time of Mary what should I write? — It hath cast off the Truth known, and confessed, and followeth lies and errours,Pag. 72. which once it detested. It buildeth the building which once it destroyed; it raiseth up the idols, which once were there confounded. — They persecute, they banish, they burn Christ the Son of God in his members.Pag. 73.—But to be short, this onelyonly remaineth for both these Nations, that they repent, and return into the Vineyard, with the first Son, and bring forth the fruits of Repentance. The fruits of Repentance I call not onelyonly to know your sins, and to lament them, but to amend your lives, and to make strait the Lords paths by resisting Satan and Sin, and obeying God in doing the works of righteousness, and executing Gods Precepts and Judgements, so long amongst you contemned,Mat. 3.Matt 3 for even now is the Axe put to the root of the tree, &c. Th… Lord hath now his Fan in his hand, and will purge his floor, &c. Repent therefore whilst you have time, before you be …anned,Pag. 74. hewn down, and fired. — Here have we p. 114to lament the miserable state of mankind, which i… so seduced by the subtile Serpent, that he canno… know his misery, when he is admonished, nor perceive his perdition, when it draweth so near. Whe… the Servants of God set forth his Truth, they are charged to trouble Realms and Countreys, as wa… Elias, when they warn men to joyn hands with wicked Kings and Princes, they are counted Traytors, as was Isaiah and Ieremiah, such is mans malice. —

Wherefore I do admonish and exhort you both in the Name of the living God, that howsoever yo… have hitherto shewed your selves the Servants o… men, to bear and flatter with the world, that no… ye learn in Gods cause to despise the faces of men to bend your selves against this wicked world, neither regarding the Visors of Honours, vain Titles nor dignities, any farther then they seek Gods onelyonly Glory, for his Glory will he not suffer to be contemned for any cause; no, he will pour contemp… on those Princes that strive against his Truth, b… those that glorifie him,Pag. 75. will he glorifie. — Behold, your onelyonly remedy remaining, is to repen… your time of ignorance, of stubbornness, of cruelty of idolatry, wherein ye have so long continued Mourn for your ignorance, and now with all diligence seek for knowledge of the World of God and openly profess the Gospel, which is the powe… of God, whereof ye ought not to be ashamed. Cease at the last from your old stubbornness, and labour in the Vineyard with all meekness. Cease from your cruelty against Christs Members, and learn t… suffer for Christs sake, if ye will be true Christians. Banish all Idolatry and Popish Superstitio… from amongst you, else can ye have no part i… Christs Kingdome, no more then Christ can be partaker p. 115with Antichrist. Pray to the Lord of Hosts and Armies to give you the courage, strength, and means. The Lords Arm is not shortened now, no more then of old. Be strong therefore in the Lord, for the defence of the Truth, though all the World rise against it. Now when the battel is fierce against the living God for dead idols, against the Gospel of Christ for the inventions of Antichrist, against Christ members for Popish ceremonies; can any of you that will be accounted Gods Children, still halt of both hands?Pag. 76. — If you will maintain Gods truth in the Earth, he will receive you as his Children into the Heavens, if you confess his Christ before this wicked Generation, Christ shall confess you before his Father in the Heavens, in the presence of his Angels: But if you persist stubbornly to banish Gods Word, and his Son Christ in his Members forth of your Earthly Kingdomes, how can ye look for any part in his Heavenly Kingdome?Pag. 77.—Lo here is the choice of life and death, of misery and wealth offered to you by Gods mercies, and the means how you may win Gods favour opened, whereby onelyonly ye may prevail against your enemies. God grant you hearts to answer as the people did to Ioshua, Josh. 24.Josh 24offering the like choice. God forbid (say they) that we should forsake God, we will serve the Lord our God, and obey his voice, for he is our God. And we your ban…shed Brethren, by the Power of God, to provoke you forwards, will thus pronounce with Ioshua, That we and our F…milies will serve the Lord God, though all Nations run to Idols, though all people do persecute us. We know that Satan hath but a short time to rage, and that Christ our Captain right speedily will crown his Souldiers, to whom as he is the eternal God with his Father be all honour and glory for ever and ever. So be it.

p. 116See it at the end of the Dialogue.A short Prayer which Mr. Gilby made for t… faithful in those dayes. O Lord God, and most merciful Father, we beseech thee for the honour of th… Holy Name to defend us from that Antichrist … Rome, and from all his detestable enormities, manners, laws, garments, and ceremonies. Destroy tho… the counsel of all the Papists and Atheists, enemi… of thy Gospel, and of this Realm of England. D…close their mischiefs and subtile practises. C… found their devices. Let them be taken in the… own wiliness. And strengthen all those that mai… tain the Cause and Quarrel of thy Gospel, with i… vincible force and power of the Holy Spirit, so th… they fail not to proceed and go forward to that tr… Godliness, commanded in thy Holy Word, with … simplicity and sincerity, to thy Honour and Glor… the comfort of thine Elect, and the confusion … thine enemies, through Jesus Christ our Lord an… Saviour. Amen, Amen. And say from the hear… Amen.

Glee.

Fox, Vol 3. cont. p. 24.When the Friers told Madam La Glee, that … was in a damnable estate: It seems so indeed (sai…sne) being now in your hands; but I have a … that will never leave me, nor forsake me, for … that. Thou hast (said they) renounced the Faith It is true (said she) I have renounced your faith which I am able to shew is rejected, and accurse… of God, and therefore deserves not so much as … be called Faith.

Pag. 25.When news was brought her, that she was co…demned to be hang'd, she fell down upon he… knees, and blessed God, for that it pleased him … snew her so much mercy as to deliver her by such kind of death, out of the troubles of this wretche… world, and to honour her so far, as to call her … p. 117die for his Truth, and to wear his Livery (meaning the Haltar, which the Hangman had put about her neck) Then sitting down at Table to break her fast with the three other condemned Servants of Christ, giving thanks to God, she exhorted them to be of good courage, and to trust unto the end in his free and onelyonly mercy. She then called for a clean linen Wastcoat, making her self ready, as if she had been going to a Wedding.Ward, pag. 151. Mr. W…rd tells us, that she put on her Bracelets; for I go (said she) unto my Husband.

Being commanded (as she was led to execution) to take a Torch into her hand, and to acknowledge she had offended God and the King: Away, away, (said she) with it. I have neither offended God, nor the King, according to your meaning, nor in respect of the cause, for which I suffer. I am I confess a sinful woman, but I need no such light, for helping me to ask forgiveness of God for my sins past, or present. Life such things your selves, who sit and walk in the darkness of ignorance and errour.

Then one of her Kinsfolks met her in the way, and presented to her view her little children, praying her to have compassion on them. I must needs tell you (said she) that I love my children dearly; but yet neither for the love I bear to them, or any thing else in this world, will I renounce the Truth, or my God, who is and will be a Father unto them, to provide better for them, then I should have done, and therefore to his providence and protection I commend and leave them.

When she saw the three men about to die silent, and not to call on God, she ex…orted then thereto, and gave them an example.

p. 118Glover.

Fox. Vol. 3. pag. 412.Mr. Robert Glover in his Letter to his Wife ha… many memorable passages, the chief I shall collec… — I thank you heartily (most loving Wife) … your Letters sent to me in my imprisonment. read them with tears more then once or twic… with tears (I say) for joy and gladness, that Go… hath wrought in you so merciful a work; (1) … unfeigned repentance. (2) An humble and heart reconciliaton. (3) A willing submission and ob…dience to the will of God in all things. — The… your Letters, and the hearing of your godly pr…ceedings have much relieved and comforte… me, &c. and shall be a goodly Testimony for you at the great Day, against many worldly and dain… Dames, which set more by their own pleasure an… praise in this world, then by Gods Glory, little re…garding (as it appeareth) the everlasting health … their own souls or others. — So long as God shal… lend you continuance in this miserable world above all things give your self continually to Prayer, lifting up pure hands without anger, wrath, o… doubting, forgiving as Christ forgives. And that w… may be the better willing to forgive, it is good ofte… to call to remembrance the multitude and greatness of our sins, which Christ daily and hour… pardoneth and forgiveth us.— And because God… Word teacheth us, not onelyonly the true manner … praying, but also what we ought to do or not to … in the whole course of our life, what pleaseth … displeaseth God,John 12.John 12 and that as Christ saith, The Wo… of God, that he hath spoken, shall judge us. Let you… Prayer be to this end especially, that God of hi… great mercy would open and reveal more and mor… daily to your heart the true sense, knowledge, an… understanding of his most holy Word, and gi… p. 119you grace in your living, to express the fruit thereof. And forasmuch as Gods Word is, as the Holy Ghost calleth it,1 Cor. 1.1 Cor 1 The Word of affliction, i. e. it is seldome without hatred, persecution, peril, danger of loss of goods and life, &c. Call upon God continually for his assistance, casting your accounts what is like to cost you, endeavouring your self, through the help of the Holy Ghost by continuance of prayer, to lay your foundation so sure, that no storm or tempest shall be able to overthrow it;Luke 17.Luke 17 remembering alwayes (as Christ saith) Lots wife, i. e. to beware of looking back to that thing that displeaseth God: and nothing more displeaseth God then Idolatry, that is, false worshiping of God, otherwise then his Word commandeth. — They object they be the Church, &c. My answer was, The Church of God knoweth and acknowledgeth no other head, but Jesus Christ the Son of God, whom ye have refused, and chosen the man of sin, the Son o… perdition,Pag. 423. enemy to Christ, the Devils Deputy and Lieutenant, the Pope. Christs Church heareth, teacheth, and is ruled by his Word, as he saith,Iohn 10.John 10 My Sheep hear my voice. If you abide in me, and my Word a…ide in you, you be my Disciples. Their Church repelleth Gods Word, and forceth all men to follow their traditions. Christs Church dares not adde nor diminish, alter or change his blessed Testament;Acts 7.Acts 7 but they be not afraid to take away all that Christ instituted, and go a whoring (as the Scripture saith) with their own inventions, &c. The Church of Christ is, hath been, and shall be in all ages under the Cross, persecuted, molested, and afflicted, the world ever hating them because they are not of the world; but these persecute, m…rther, slay, and kill such as profess the true doctrine of Christ, be they in learning, living, conversation, p. 120and other vertues never so excellent. Chri… and his Church referred the trial of their doctrine to the Word of God, and gave the people leave to judge thereof by the same Word;Iohn 5.John 5 search th… Scriptures. But this Church taketh away the Wor… from the people, and suffereth neither learned nor unlearned, to examine or prove their doctrine by the Word of God. The true Church of Go… laboureth by all means to resist and withstand the lusts, desires, and motions of the world, the flesh, and the Devil: these for the most part give themselves to all voluptuousness, &c. — I likened them … Nimrod, whom the Scripture calls a mighty Hunter, telling them, That that which they could no… have by the Word, they would have by the Sword and be the Church whether men will or no. — Be…ware of such as shall advertise you something … bear with the world, as they do, for a season. Ther… is no dallying with Gods matters. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of God. Remember the Prophet Elias, 1 Chr. 18. Luke 9.1 Chr 18Luke 9Why halt ye on both sides? Remember what Christ saith, He that putteth his ha… to the Plough, and looketh back, is not worthy of me. And seeing God hath hitherto allowed you as a good Souldier in the fore-ward, play not the Coward▪ neither draw back to the rere-ward. Saint Ioh… numbreth among them, that shall dwell in the he…y Lake, such as be fearful in Gods Cause. Set before your eyes alwayes the examples of such, as have behaved themselves boldly in Gods Cause, as Stephen, Peter, Paul, Daniel, the three Children, the Widows Sons, and in your dayes Anne Askew, La… rence Sanders, Iohn Bradford, &c. Be afraid in n… thing (saith Saint Paul) of the adversaries of Christ… Doctrine, Phil. 1.Phil 1the which is to them a sign of perdition, b… to you of everlasting salvation. Christ commandeth p. 121the same, saying, Fear them not. Let us not follow the example of him, who asked time first to take leave of his Friends. If we do so, we shall find few of them, that will encourage us to go forward in our business, please it God never so much. We read not that Iames and Iohn, Andrew and Simon, when they were called, put off the time, till they had known their Fathers and Friends pleasure, but the Scripture saith,Mat. 13.Matt 13 They forsook all, and by and by followed Christ. Christ likened the Kingdome of God to a precious Pearl, the which whosoever findeth, selleth all that he hath to buy it. Yea, whosoever hath but a little taste or glimmering how piecious a treasure the Kingdome of Heaven is, will gladly forego both life and goods for the obtaining of it. But the most part now adayes be like to Aesops Cock, which when he had found a precious stone, wished rather to have found a barley corn: so ignorant be they how precious a jewel the Word of God is, that they choose rather the things of this world, which being compared to it, be less in value then a barley corn. If I would have given place to worldly reasons, these might have moved me; the foregoing of you and my children; the consideration of the state of my children, being yet young, apt and inclinable to vertue and learning, and so having the more need of my assistance; I was never called to be a Preacher or Minister; and (because of my sickness) fear of death in Prison before I should come to my answer, and so my death to be unprofitable. But these and such like, I thank my heavenly Father (which of his infinite mercy inspired me with his Holy Ghost, for his Sons sake, my onelyonly Saviour and Redeemer) prevailed not in me. But when I had by the wonderful permission of God fallen into their hands, at the first sight of the Sheriffe, p. 122nature a little abashed; yet ere ever I came to the Prison, by the working of God and through his goodness, fear departed. — Little justice was shewed by Mr. Sheriffe; but the less justice a ma… findeth at their hands, the more consolation in conscience shall he find from God; for whosoever is o… the world, the world will love him. After I came to Prison, and had reposed my self there a while, I wept for joy and gladness my belly full, mu…i…g much of the great mercies of God, and (as it were) saying to my self after this sort, O Lord, who am I, on whom thou shouldst bestow this thy great mercy, to be numbred among the Saints that suffer for the Gospels sake? And so beholding and considering on the one side my imperfection, unableness, sinful misery and unworthiness, and on the other side the greatness of Gods mercy, to be called to so high promotion, I was as it were amazed and overcome for a while with joy and glad…ess, concluding thus; O Lord, thou shewest power in weakness, wisdome in foolishness, mercy in sinfulness. Who shall let thee to choose where and whom thou wilt? As I have ever zealously loved the confession of thy Word,Pag. 424. so ever thought I my self unworthy to be partaker of affliction for the same. Some travelling with me to dismissed upon bonds, to them my answer was (to my remembrance) after this sort; Forasmuch as the Masters have imprisoned me, having nothing to burthen me withal, if I should enter into bonds, I should in so doing accuse my self: and seeing they have no matter to lay to my charge, they may as well let me pass without bonds, as with bonds. Secondly, if I shall enter into bonds, covenant and promise to appear, I shall do nothing but excuse, colour, and cloak their wickedness, and indanger my self nevertheless, p. 123being bound by my promise to appear. — Afterward debating the matter with my self, these considerations came into my head. I have from time to time with good conscience (God I take to record) moved all such as I had conference with to be no dalliers in Gods matters, but to shew themselves after so great a light and knowledge, hearty, earnest, constant, and stable in so manifest a truth, and not to give place one jot contrary to the same. Now thought I, if I shall withdraw my self, and make any shifts to pull my own neck out of the Coller, I shall give great offence to my weak Brethren in Christ, and advantage to the enemies to slander Gods Word. It will be said, he hath been a great emboldner of others to be earnest and fervent, to fear no worldly perils and dangers, but he himself will give no such example. Wherefore I thought it my bounden duty both to God and man, being (as it were) by the great goodness of God called and appointed hereunto, to set aside all fear, perils and dangers, all worldly respects and considerations, and like as I had before, according to the measure of my small gift, within the compass of my vocation and calling, from the bottome of my heart unfeignedly moved, exhorted, and perswaded all that pro…ess Gods Word, manfully to persist in the defence of the same, not with sword and violence, but with suffering and loss of life, rather then to de…ile themselves again with the whorish abominaon of the Romish Antichrist. So the hour being come with my fact and example to ratifie, confirm, and protest the same to the hearts of all true Believers, and to this end (by the mighty assistance of Gods holy Spirit) I resolved my self with much peace of conscience, willingly to sustain whatsoever the Romish Antichrist should do against me. p. 124— When Mr. Warren the Chancellor willed … chief Jaylor to carry me to the Bishop, I laid … his charge the cruel seeking of my death; a… when he would have excused himself, I told h… he could not wipe his hands so: He was as g… of my blood before God, as though he had mu…thered me with his own hands. He departed fro… me, saying I needed not to fear if I would be … his belief. God open his eyes, and give him gra… to believe this, which he and all of his inclinatio… shall find (I fear) too true for their parts, that … they which cruelly, maliciously, and spitefully pe… secute, molest, and afflict the Members of Chri… for their Conscience sake, and for the true test…mony of Christs Word, and cause them to be mo… unjustly slain and murthered, without speedy re…pentance shall dwell with the Devil and his Ange… in the fiery lake everlastingly, where they sha… wish and desire, cry and call, but in vain (as the… right companion Epulo) to be refreshed of them whom in this world they contemned, despised, disdained, as slaves, misers, and wretches. — The Bishop laid to my charge my not coming to Church Here I might have dallied with him, and put him to his proofs. — Notwithstanding I answered him through Gods merciful help, that I neither ha… nor would come at their Church, as long as their Mass was used there, to save (if I had them) … hundred lives. — The Bishop asking me wh… should judge the Word? I told him, Christ wa… content that the people should judge his Doctrine by searching the Scriptures, and so was Paul. Methinks ye should claim no farther priviledge no… preheminence then they had. — The Bishop telling me, He was my Bishop, and therefore I mu… believe him: If you say black is white (said I) p. 125must I also say as you say, and believe the same, because you say it is so?Pag. 425. — If you will be believed because you be a Bishop, Why find you fault with the people, that believed Mr. Latimer, Mr. Ridley, Mr. Hooper, &c. that were Bishops? Because they were Hereticks (said the Bishop) And may not you erre (quoth I) as well as they? I looked for learning at my Lords hand to perswade me, and he oppressed me onelyonly with his Authority. He said I dissented from the Church, and asked me where my Church was before Kings Edward's time; I desired him to shew me, where their Church was in Elias time, and what outward shew it had in Christs time? — The tidings that I should be carried to Lichfield did at first somewhat discourage me, fearing least I should by reason of my great sickness through extream handling (which I looked for) have died in the Prison, before I should come to my answer: But I rebuked immediately with Gods Word this infidelity in my self, &c. after this manner, What make I of God? Is not his power as great in Lichfield as Coventry? Doth not his providence extend as well to Lichfield as Coventry? Was he not with Habakkuk, Daniel, Meshach, and Ieremy in their most dangerous imprisonments? He knows what things we have need of them. He hath numbred all the hairs of our head. The Sparrow falleth not to the ground without our heavenly Fathers will, much more will he care for us, if we be not faithless, whom he hath made worthy to be witnesses of his truth. So long as we put our trust in him, we shall never be destitute of his help, neither in prison, nor in sickness, nor in health, nor in death, nor before Kings, nor before Bishops. Not the Devil himself, much less one of his Ministers shall be able to prevail against us. With such p. 126like meditations I waxed chearful of good consolation and comfort. So that hearing one say, They could not provide Horses enough for us, I said, Let them carry us in a Dung-Cart for lack of Horses, if they list, I am well content for my part.— I told Iephcot the Chancellors Servant, That they should have judgement without mercy, that shewed no mercy, and this mercy I found at his hand at Lichfield. He put me into a Prison that same night, where I continued till I was condemned, in a place next to the Dungeon, &c. very cold, with small light, and there he allowed me a bundle of Straw instead of a Bed, without Chair, Form, or any other thing to ease my self withall. God of his mercy gave me great patience through prayer that night, so that if it had been his pleasure, I could have have been contented to have ended my life.— In the time of my imprisonment I gave my self continually to prayer and meditation of the merciful promises of God, made unto all, without exception of persons, that call upon the Name of his dear Son Jesus Christ. I …ound in my self daily amendment of health of body, increase of peace in conscience, and many consolations from God by the help of his holy Spirit, & sometime (as it were) a taste and glimmering of the life to come, All for his onelyonly Son Jesus Christs sake. To him be all the praise for ever and ever. The enemy ceased not many times sundry wayes to assault me: Oftentimes objecting to my conscience my own unworthiness of the greatness of the benefit to be accounted amongst those that suffer for Christ, for his Gospels sake. Against him I replied▪ with the Word of God on this sort. What were all those whom God had chosen from the beginning to be his Witnesses, and to carry his Name before the p. 127world?Acts 24. Rom. 11. Rom. 4. Iohn 1.Acts 24Rom 11Rom 4John 1 Were they not men, as well subject to sin and imperfections, as other men be? — Who gave first unto him? What hast thou that thou hast not received? All have received of his fulness. They were no bringers of any goodness to God, but altogether receivers. They chose not God first, but God chose them. They loved not God first, but he loved them first: Yea he both loved and chose them when they were his enemies, full of sin and corruption, as well as void of all goodness. — He is and will be the same God, as rich in mercy, as mighty, as able, as ready, as willing to forgive sins without respect of persons to the worlds end of all them that call upon him. God is near, he is at hand, he is with all, with all (I say) and refuseth none, excepteth none, that faith…ully in true repentance call upon him, in what hour, what place, or what time soever it be. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man to burden God (as it were) with his promise, and of duty to claim and challenge his aid, help, and assistance in all our perils, dangers, and distress, calling upon him not in the confidence of our own godliness, but in the trust of his own promises made in Christ. — His Word cannot lye,Psal. 50.Ps 50 Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, and thou shalt praise me. I answered the enemy also on this manner; I am a sinner, and therefore unworthy to be a witness of this truth. What then? Must I deny his Word, because I am not worthy to pro…ess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but adde sin to sin? What is greater sin then to deny the truth of Christs Gospel? He that is ashamed of me or of my words (saith Christ) of him also will I be ashamed before my Father, and all his Angels. I might also by the same reason forbear to do any of Gods Commandments. When I am provoked p. 128to pray, the enemy may say to me, I am not worthy to pray, therefore I shall not pray, &c.—

When the Bishop came to Lichfield — he perswaded me to be a Member of his Church, which had continued so many years. As for our Church (as he called it) it was not known, he said, but lately in King Edward's time. I profess my self to be a Member of that Church (said I) that is builded upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone. And this Church hath been from the beginning (said I) though it bear no glorious shew before the world, being ever for the most part under the Cross and affliction, contemned, despised, and persecuted. The Bishop contended on the other side that they were the Church. So cried all the Clergy against the Prophets of Ierusalem (said I) saying, The Church, the Church, &c. So much out of Mr. Glover's choice Letter.

Pag. 427.After he was condemned, his heart was lumpish and desolate of all spiritual consolation; whereupon fearing least the Lord had utterly withdrawn, he made his moan to Mr. Austine Bernher, his familiar friend, telling him how he had prayed night and day to God, and yet had no sense of comfort from him. The Minister desired him to wait patiently the Lords leisure; and howsoever his present feeling was, yet seeing his cause was just, he exhorted him constantly to stick to the same, and to play the man, not doubting but the Lord in his good time would visit him, and satisfie his desire with plenty of consolation, whereof (said Mr. Bernher) he was right certain and sure, and therefore desired him, whenever any such feeling of Gods heavenly mercies should begin to touch his heart, that then he should shew some signification p. 129thereof. The next day, as he was going to the place of his Martyrdome, and was come within light of the Stake, although all the night before, praying for strength and courage, he could feel none; suddenly he was so mightily replenished with Gods holy comfort, and heavenly joys, that he cried out, clapping his hands to Austine, and saying in these words, Austine, He is come, he is come, &c. and that with such joy and alacrity, as one seeming rather to be risen from some deadly danger to liberty of life, then as one passing out of the world by any pains of death.

Godfrey.

When one called Godfrey de H…mmele Heretick,Ward, pag. 157. he said, No Heretick, but an unprofitable Servant, yet willing to die for his Lord, and reckoning this death no death, but a life.

Goodman.

Mr. Christopher Goodman, See his Sermon on Act. 4.19. Enlarged and Printed at Geneva. 1558.Acts 4:19an exiled Minister of Christ in Queen Mary's dayes, declaring the cause of all the then misery in England, and the onelyonly way to remedy the same, writes as followeth from Geneva.

— If all in whom the People should look for comfort,Pag. 216, &c. be altogether declined from God (as indeed they appear to be at this present time in England, without all fear of his Majesty, or pity upon their Brethren) — Then assure your selves (dear Brethren and Servants of God) there can be no better counsel, nor more comfortable or present remedy (which you shall prove true, if God grant you his Spirit and Grace to follow it) then in continual and daily invocation of his Name, to rest wholly and onelyonly upon him, make him your shield, buckler, and refuge, who hath so promised to be to all them that are oppressed and depend upon him; p. 130to do nothing commanded against God and your conscience, preferring at all times the will of God to the will of men, saying and answering to all manner of persons, This God hath commanded, this we must do: That God hath forbidden, that we will not do. If you will rob us and spoil us for doing the Lords will, to the Lord must you make answer, and not to us; for his goods they are, and not ours. If ye will imprison us, behold you are oppressours; if ye will hang us, or burn us, behold ye are murtherers of them which fear the Lord. — And for our part, if you take from us this vile and corruptible life, we are sure the Lord will grant it us again with joy, and immortality, both of soul and body. If God give you grace to make this or the like answer, and strength to contemn their Tyranny, you may be sure to find unspeakable comfort and quietness of conscience in the midst of your danger, and greatest rage of Satan. And thus boldly confessing Christ your Saviour before men (as by the examples of thousands of your Brethren before your faces God doth mercifully encourage you) you may with all hope and patience wait for the joyful confession of Christ again,Pag. 218. before his Father and Angels in Heaven, that you are his obedient and dearly beloved Servants; being also assured of this, that if it be the will of God to have you any longer to remain in this miserable world, that then his Providence is so careful over you, and present with you, that no man or power can take away your life from you, nor touch your body any farther then your Lord and God will permit them, which neither shall be augmented for your plain confession, nor yet diminished for keeping of silence; for nothing cometh to the Servants of God by hap or chance, whose hairs of their heads are numbred. p. 131Whereof if ye be so assured, as ye ought, there can be nothing that should make you to shrink from the Lord. If they do cast you into Prison with Ioseph, the Lord will deliver you: If they cast you to wild beasts and Lions, as they did D…niel, you shall be preserved:Pag. 219. If into the Sea with Ionas, you shall not be drowned; or into the dirty dungeon with Ieremy, you shall be delivered; or into the fiery Furnace with Shadrach, Meshach, and A…ednego, yet shall not be consumed. Contrariwise, if it be his good pleasure, that you shall glorifie his holy Name by your death, what great thing have you lost? changing death for life, misery for felicity, continual vexation and trouble for perpetual rest and quietness, chusing rather to die with shame of the world, being the Servants of God, then to live among men in honour, being the servants of Satan, and condemned of God. Otherwise, if you give place to the wickedness of men to escape their malice and bodily dangers, you shew your selves therein to fear man, more then the mighty and dreadful God: him that hath but power of your body, and that at Gods appointment then God, himself, who hath power, after he hath destroyed the body, to cast both soul and body into hell-fire, there to remain everlastingly in torments unspeakable. And moreover,Pag. 220. that which you look to obtain by these sinful shifts, you shall be sure to lose with grief and trouble of conscience; for this saying of your Master being true and certain, that They which seek to save their life (meaning by any worldly reason or policy) shall lose it. Mat. 16.Matt 16What shall be their gains at length, when by dissimulation and yielding to Popish Blasphemy, they dishonour the Majesty of God to enjoy this short, miserable, and mortal life, to be cast from the favour of God, p. 132and company of his heavenly Angels, to enjoy for a short time their goods and possessions among their fleshly and carnal Friends, whenas their conscience within shall be deeply wounded with hell-like torments? when Gods curse and indignation hangeth continually over the heads of such, ready to be poured down upon them; when they shall find no comfort, but utter despair with Iudas, who for this worldly riches (as he did) have sold their Master,Pag. 221. seeking either to hang themselves with Iudas, to murther themselves with Francis Spira, to drown themselves with Justice Hales, or else to fall into a raging madness with Justice Morgan? What comfort had Iudas then by his money received for betraying his Master? was he not shortly after compelled to cast it from him, with this pitiful voice,Mat. 27.Matt 27 I have sinned in betraying innocent blood? — Then,Pag. 222. dear Brethren in Christ, what other reward can any of you look for, committing the like offences? — There is no trust but in God, no comfort but in Christ, no assurance but in his promise, by whose obedience onelyonly you shall avoid all danger.Mat. 10.Matt 10 And whatsoever you lose in this world, and suffer for his Name, it shall be here recompenced with double, according to his promise, and in the world to come with life everlasting, which is to find your life, when you are willing to lay it down at his Commandment. I am not ignorant how unnatural a thing it is, and contrary to the flesh, willingly to sustain such cruel death, as the Adversaries have appointed to all the Children of God, who mind constantly to stand by their prosession, yet to the Spirit notwithstanding is easie and joyful; for though the flesh be frail, the Spirit is prompt and ready.Pag. 223. Whereof (praised be the Name of God) you have had notable experience in many of your p. 133Brethren, very Martyrs for Christ, who with joy patiently, and triumphing have suffered and drunk with thirst of that bitter Cup, which nature so much abhorreth, wonderfully strengthened no doubt by the secret inspiration of Gods holy Spirit; so that there ought to be none among you so feeble, weak, or timerous, whom the wonderful examples of Gods present power and singular favour in those persons, should not encourage, bolden, and fortifie to shew the like constancy in the same Cause and Profession. Nevertheless great cause we have thankfully to consider the unspeakable mercy of God in Christ, who hath farther respect to our infirmity, that when we have not that boldness of Spirit to stand to the death, as we see others, he hath provided a present remedy, that being persecuted in one place, we have liberty to flee into another. When we cannot be in our own Countrey with a safe conscience (except we would make open profession of our Religion,Pag. 224. which is every mans duty, and so be brought to offer up our lives in sacrifice to God in testimony that we are his) he hath mollified and prepared the hearts of Strangers to receive us with all pity and gladness, where you may be also not onelyonly delivered from the fear of death, and the Papist…cal Tyranny, practised without all measure in that Countrey, but with great freedom of conscience hear the Word of God continually preached, and the Sacraments of our Saviour Christ purely and duely, ministred without all dregs of Popery or Superstition of mans invention, to the intent that you being with others refreshed for a space, and more strongly fortified, may be also with others more ready and willing to lay down your lives at Gods appointment; for that is the chiefest grace of God, and greatest perfection, to sight even p. 134unto blood under Christs Banner, and with him to give our lives.Pag. 225. But if you will thus flee (Beloved in the Lord) you must not chuse unto your selves places, according as you fancy, as many of us, who have left our Countrey have done, dwelling in Popish places among the enemies of God in the midst of impiety; some in France, as in Paris, Orleance, Roan; some in Italy, as in Rome, Venice, Padua, which persons in fleeing from their Queen, run to the Pope, fearing the danger of their bodies, seek where they may poyson their souls, thinking by this means to be less suspected of Iezebel, shew themselves afraid and ashamed of the Gospel, which in times past they have stoutly professed. And lest they should be thought favourers of Christ, have purposely ridden by the Churches and Congregations of his Servants, their Brethren, neither minded to comfort others there, nor to be comforted themselves; wherein they have shewed the coldness of their zeal towards Religion, and given no small occasion of slander to the Word of God, which they seemed to prosess.Pag. 226. — This manner of fleeing then in ungodly, &c. Neither is it enough to keep you out of the Dominions of Antichrist, and to place your selves in corners, you may be quiet and at ease, and not burthened with the charges of the poor, thinking it sufficient if you have a little exercise in your houses in reading a Chapter or two of the Scriptures, and then will be counted zealous persons, and great Gospellers; No Brethren, and S…sters, this is not the way to shew your selves manful souldiers of Christ, except you resort where his Banner is displayed,Pag. 227. and his Standard set up, where the Assembly of your B…ethren is, and his Word openl… preached, and Sacraments faithfully ministred; for otherwise what may a man judge, but p. 135that such either disdain the company of their poor Brethren, whom they ought by all means to help and comfort, according to that power that God hath given them for that end onelyonly, and not for their own ease; or else that they have not that zeal to the House of God, the Assembly of his Servants, and to the spiritual gifts and graces (which God hath promised to pour upon the diligent hearers of his Word) as was in David, who desired, being a King,Psal. 84.Ps 84 Rather to be a door-keeper in the House of God, then to dwell in the tents of the ungodly, lamenting nothing so much the injuries done to him by his Son Absalom (which were not small) as that he was deprived of the comfortable exercises in the Tabernacle of the Lord, which then was in Sion. Neither doth there appear in such persons that greedy desire (whereof Isaiah makes mention) which ought to be in the Professours of the Gospel,Pag. 228. Isa. 2.Isa 2 who never would cease or rest, till they should climb up to the Lords hill, meaning the Church of Christ, saying one to another, Let us ascend to the hill of the Lord, to the house of the God of Iacob, and he will teach us his wayes, and we shall walk in his footsteps; for the Law shall come forth of Sion, and the Word of the Lord from Ierusalem. Which zeal the Prophet doth not mention in vain, but to shew what a thirst and earnest desire should be in true Christians, and how the same appeareth in seeking and resorting to those places, where it is set forth in greatest abundance and perfection, as was after Christs Ascension in Ierusalem. And as that zeal shewed them to be of Christ, by the like must we be judged Christians also, that if we flee for Christ, the places whereunto we flee, may bear witness for what cause we are fled.Pag. 229. Neither is it a sufficient excuse which many alledge, that they believe to be saved p. 136by Christ, that they have sufficient knowledge of their duty, and the rest they can supply by their own diligence. I dare say their faith is not so much, but they had need to desire with the Apostles, Lord, encrease our f…ith. And if they will so confess, why do they forsake the chiefest means that God hath ordained, which is the open Congregations of his people, where his Word, the fountain of Faith, is most purely preached, and where the godly Examples of others may be a sharper spur to prick them forward; and as for the knowledge and diligence of such, there may be no buckler to defend their doings; for if they have those gifts whereof they boast, where may they better bestow them then in the Church of God? except they will say they are born to themselves, and have the gifts of God, which he would have common to others, applied to their own private fancy, which is to lap them up in a clout, and not to put them forth to the vantage of the owner, as did the unprofitable Servant,Pag. 230. and as do all they to whom God hath given either learning, counsel, or worldly substance, who either for the strength of Cities, pleasantness of the air, tra…fick, or merchandize, or for any other worldly respect or policy do absent themselves from the Congregation and company of their poor Brethren, where Christ hath advanced his Standard, and blown his Trumpet. If God then give you not strength at the first to stand in his Profession to the death, nor that you cannot be quiet in conscience, abiding in your Countrey, you see how his mercy hath given you liberty to kill, and what places he hath appointed you to flee unto, that is, where you may do good to your selves and others, where ye may be free from Superstition and Idolatry, where your faith may be encreased p. 137and not diminished, and your selves strengthened, and confirmed, and more strongly armed. But if you in tarrying will neither stand manfully to Christ your Master, but betray him, doing as the Papists do; nor yet with thanks use this remedy, that God hath granted to our infirmity, to resort to his Churches, godlily instituted, what answer shall ye be able to make to his Majesty, when he shall call for an account of your doings? How shall you avoid his wrathful indignation, now ready to be poured upon his enemies? — For in taking part with their impiety, you must be partakers of their Cup likewise. Neither is this any new or hard Doctrine, that may exceed your capacity, but may rather be termed your A. B. C. and first Principles, wherein none ought to be ignorant. That if we will be Christs Scholars, we must learn to bear his Cross, and to follow him, not to cast it off our shoulders with the enemies, and run from him. — Be no more deceived in so plain a matter.Pag. 233. If the Lord be God, follow him, if B…al be God, go after him. — Let not the example of any lead you into errour, for men are but mortal. Trust in the Lord, for he is a sure rock. — Trust not your own shifts, for they will deceive you. Mark the end of others, and in time be warned. These Lessons are hard to the flesh, but ea…e to the spirit. The way of the Lord is a strait path, but most faithful, sure and comfortable. — From Geneva this first of Ian. An. 1558.

Goose.

Iohn Goose (burnt in England An. 1473.) being prest by the She…ff of L…ndon to recant,Clarks Marty…ology pag. 57. and so deliver himself from death, answered, That for his p. 138Religion he was at a pass, and neither could nor would recant the same.

Fox, Vol. 1. pag. 939.When the Sheriff gave him some meat, of which he did eat heartily, he said to the standers by, I eat now a good and competent Dinner, for I shall pass a sharp shower, before I go to Supper.

Gordius.

Fox. Vol. 1. pag. 117.When a solemn Feast was celebrated in Caesarea, in honour to Mars, Gordius a Citizen thereof, who had been a Centurion, and had chosen exile for sometime in the heat of Persecution, left the Desert wherein he lived in exile, and got him up into the chief place of the Theater, and with a loud voice cried out, Behold, I am found of them that sought me not, and to those that asked not for me, have I openly appeared.

The Sheriff asking him, who he was, from whence he came, and for what he came thither; I am come (said he) to publish, that I set nothing by your desires against the Christian Religion, but that I profess Jesus Christ to be my hope and safety.

The Sheriff threatning him with all kind of torments; It would be to me a damage (said he) if I should not endure divers torments for Christs Cause.

When he was tormented, he lifted up his eyes to Heaven, saying, The Lord is my helper, I will not fear the thing that man can do unto me; I will learn no evil, for thou Lord art with me.

He blamed the Tormentors if they favoured him at all.

The Sheriff promising great things, if he would deny Christ; It lieth not in you (said he) to place any in Authority, which be worthy to have a place in Heaven.

p. 139When he was led out of the City to be burnt, many with tears beg'd him to save himself, but he said, Weep not, I beseech you, for me, but rather for those that bring us to the fire, and thereby purchase Hell fire to themselves. Truly I am ready for the Name of Christ to suffer a thousand deaths, if need were.

Some perswading him to deny Christ with his tongue, and to keep his Conscience to himself: My tongue (said he) which by the goodness of God I have, cannot be brought to deny the Author and giver of it; for with the heart we believe unto righteousness, and with the mouth we confess unto salvation.

Gorgius.

When the Tyrant offered Gorgius promotion:Ward, pag. 141. Have ye any thing (said he) equal to, or more worthy then the Kingdome of Heaven.

Gonzalve.

Mr. Iohn Gonzalve a famous Preacher in Sevil, Fox, Vol. 3. cont. pag. 12.was often observed in all his Sermons to aime at this mark, To deliver mens minds from that blind conceit of meriting by works, that so way might be made for justification onelyonly by saith in Christ Jesus, and deeply to ingraft in them the knowledge of the sole merit of his plenary satisfaction.

When he was led to the place of his Martyrdome, he never shewed the least sign of his being dismay'd,Pag. 13. but contrariwise with great constancy and courage of heart standing above all the people, to whom he had formerly preached and delivered the pattern of sound doctrine, he began with a loud voice to recite the Psalm, which begins thus, O Lord, Psa. 28.1.Ps 28:1my Rock, be not thou silent to me, &c. He changed not his countenance upon the Scaffold, though they had gagged him there, because he p. 140comforted and freely exhorted one of his Sisters to be constant.

When the time was come that those which should be burned were brought to the place of Execution, they were every one commanded to recite the Articles of their belief; which they willingly did: but when they came to the Article, I believe the holy Catholick Church, they were bid to adde the word Romane, but they were silent. Then did the Monks and Friers importune Gonzalve's Sisters, &c. to repeat the word Romane, who answered, They would if they might hear Gonzalve pronounce it. He being ungagged, the first word he spake was, That they should be of good courage, and not to adde one word more then what they had recited.

Grange.

Fox, Vol. 3. Com. pag. 39The Bishop of Arres telling Mr. Peregrine de la Grange, that he was sorry to see him in that condition in Prison. Sir (said he) as for the base estate in which you now see me, God hath so comforted me therein with his grace, that I do without any great difficulty patiently suffer what he hath pleased to lay upon me; yea I praise and bless his Name, that he hath ballanced the weight of my afflictions, according to the strength which he hath given me, so as I sink not under the burden; for as my sufferings in Christ abound, he causeth his consolations by Christ to abound in me also.2 Cor. 1.32 Cor 1:3

It is usual (said the Bishop) with such as you are to glory in this kind of speech; for as soon as any afflictions do befall you, you by and by stile them the sufferings of Christ; and if any of you be put to death, then it is for Gods truth: but when things are laid to the touchstone, the matter is nothing so, nor so. Sir (said Mr. Grange) if your meaning p. 141be of such as have died for the Doctrine, for which I am bound with this Chain, and thus fettered with Irons, I doubt not but they have given such a reason of their Faith, that whosoever shall read their Answers, and weigh the same without partiality, must needs judge as we do. And for my own part, I am ready to make it good,1 Tim. 6.3. Deut. 12.32.1 Tim 6:3Deut 12:32 That the Doctrine I now hold and teach, is according to godliness, taken out of the pure Fountains of the holy Scriptures, without adding thereto, diminishing or varying any way therefrom. We read (said the Bishop) that in all times men have been wont to shelter themselves under the title of Gods Word, even the old Hereticks, &c. I am not ignorant hereof (said Mr. Grange) in regard that Satan knows how to transform himself into an Angel of light, thereby to establish his delusions, causing darkness to be taken for light: But the Holy Ghost, who is the Spirit of truth, hath in such wise discovered his juglings, that none are deluded thereby, but those who at noon day close their eyes that they may not behold the light. Do you think (said the Bishop) that the Holy Ghost hath given you such an illumination, that the truth should onelyonly be revealed to you, and to none other. God forbid Sir (said Mr. Grange) I should have any such thought. I am not of the mind of those Dreamers, who brag of their having particular Revelations of the Holy Spirit, but I speak of an ordinary and general Revelation, such as is taught us out of the Bible, &c.

I am neither Calvinist nor Papist. I am a Christian; and what I hold concerning Religion is taken out of Christs Doctrine, who is the onelyonly Doctor of his Church. What Calvin hath taught conformable to the Word of God, I am of the p. 142same mind with him. And whereas you call your Religion the Old Religion, and ours the New, it troubles me not at all; since the Father of Lies hath long since forged the same, to disgrace the Truth, &c. —

See pag. 39, 40, 41, 42.In his dispute with the Bishop concerning the Real Presence, &c. We may see what holy boldness mixed with meekness the Lord had endued this holy Servant of his with.

When the Provost gave him and Monsieur de Br…z (of whom before) notice, that they should die that day, they magnified God for his goodness, and gave the Provost thanks for the good news, which he had brought them. Monsieur la Grange going to the rest of the Prisoners,Pag. 43. said, I am this day to die for the Truth, and then the heavenly inheritance is prepared for me. My name is written in the Book of Life,Phil. 4.…. Rom. 11.29.Phil 4Rom 11:29 never to be blotted out, because the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. —

He called for a Brush to brush his Hat and Cloak, causing his Shoos to be blacked; for now (said he) I am bidden to the marriage of the Lamb, where I am to feast with him for ever and ever.

Being askt, Whether he meant to suffer with those Shackles on his heels? I would I might (said he) yea and that they would bury them with me to, that they might manifest the inhumanity of my adversaries. He told his friends, he felt such joy of the Holy Ghost in his heart, that he could not with tongue express; adding, that God shewed him a thousand times more favour by taking him after this manner out of this transitory life, then if he had let him die in his bed by sickness; for now I shall die (said he) enjoying the benefit of all the powers of my soul, praying the Lord to have mercy on me.

p. 143Monsieur la Grange and de Brez were sentenced to be hang'd for administring the Lords Supper against an express charge by the King given them to the contrary.

When la Grange was upon the Ladder, he protested with a loud voice, that he died onelyonly for preaching to the people the pure truth of God, taking Heaven and Earth to witness the same with him.

Gratwick.

Mr. Stephen Gratwick, Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 790.seeing the Bishops that sate upon to laugh, said unto them, Why do ye laugh? Are ye confederate together for my blood, and therein triumph? You have more cause to look weightily upon the matter; for I stand here before you upon life and death. But you declare your selves what you are. You are lapped in Lambs apparel, but you are bent to have my blood.—

Seeing you will have my blood,Pag. 792. let me say a little more for my self: On Sunday last you preached this Truth, If any man think himself Religious, and bridleth not his tongue, the same mans Religion is vain: And yet in the mean time you seduced your tongue to slander us poor Prisoners there present in Iron hands, burdening us with the names of Arrians, Herodians, Anabaptists, Sacramentarians, Pelagians: And when we stood up to purge our selves thereof, you said, You would cut out our tongues, and cause us to be pulled out of the Church by violence. But there you gave your self a shrewd blow, &c. —

Being asked by the Bishop of Winchester if he would recant, he said, My faith is grounded more stedfastly then to change in a moment. It is no process of time can alter me, unless my faith were as the waves of the Sea.

p. 144When he was condemned, he desired God with a loud voice, That he would not lay his blood to their charge if it were his good will.

Green.

Fox. Vol. 3. pag 622.Mr. Bartlet Green wrote in Mr. Bar…r…m Calthrops Book a little before his death, thus. — Two things have very much troubled me whilst I was in the Temple, Pride and Gluttony, which under the colour of Glory and good Fellowship, drew me almost from God. —

Forsomuch as vain-glory is so subtile an adversary, that almost it woundeth deadly, ere ever a man can perceive himself to be smitten, therefore we ought so much the rather by continual prayer to labour for humbleness of mind. Gluttony beg…nneth under a charitable pretence of love and society, and hath in it most uncharitableness. — Let us therefore watch and be sober; for our adversary the Devil walketh about like a roaring Lion, seek…ng whom he may devour. Vale (mi Bartrame) & mei memineris, ut semper simillimi efficiamur. Vale, &c. Farewell (my Bartram) and remember me, that we may be alwayes like, Farewell at Newgate I…n. 20. A. 1556.

Pag. 623.In his Letter to Mr. Philpot. — Being accused that I spake against the Real Presence, and the Sacrifice of the Mass, and that I affirmed that their Church was the Church of Antichrist: I confessed it, and that I would continue therein, though not maintain it by learning, my conscience being satisfied in the truth, which is sufficient to my salvation. — I told Mr. Welch, Forasmuch as it pleaseth you to use me so familiarly (for he behaved himself towards me, as though I had been his equal) I shall open my mind freely to you. I consider my youth, lack of wit and learning, which p. 145would God it were but a little under the opinion that some men have of me: But God is not bound to time, wit, or knowledge, but rather chooseth the weak things of the world to confound the mighty,Rom. 9.Rom 9 neither can men appoint bounds to Gods mercy; For I will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. There is no respect of persons with God, whether he be old or young, rich or poor, wise or foolish, Fisher or Basket-maker. God giveth knowledge of his truth,Iames 1.Jas 1 through his free grace, to whom he list. — Now I am brought hither before a great many Bishops and learned men to be made a fool and a laughing-stock, but I weigh it not a rush; for God knoweth that my whole study is to please him: Besides that, I care not for mans pleasure or displeasure.

As he was going to Newgate (after he was condemned) there met with him two Gentlemen,Pag. 627. that seeing him burst out into tears, to whom Mr. Green said, Ah my friends, is this your comfort you are come to give me? Must I who needed to have comfort ministred to me, become now a comforter of you? —

When he was going to, and was at the Stake, he repeated this Distich,

Christe Deus, sine te spes est mihi nulla salutis,

Te duce vera sequir, te duce falsa nego

In English thus.

O Christ my God, sure hope of health,

Besides thee I have none,

The truth I love and falshood hate,

By thee my guide alone.

p. 146These Verses he wrote in a Book of Mr. Hussey's of the Temple.

Behold thy self by me,

Such one was I as thou,

And thou in time shall …e,

Even dust as I am now!

Bartlet Green.

Pag. 628.In his Letter to his Friends of the Temple. — Very Friends are they, which are knit together by the knot of Charity. Charity doth not decay, but increase in them that die faithfully. — If thy Friend be out of sight, is thy friendship ended? — If he be carried into Heaven, is Charity hindred thereby? The Fathers of the Primitive Church gave thanks for their Friends that died in the Faith, to prove that Charity died not with Death. — What saith Saint Paul, We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his blood; we are members one of another. Is the hand or Arm, Foot or Leg a member, when it is dissevered from the body? What is it that couples us, but love? When all things shall fail, love faileth never. Hope hath his end, when we get that we hoped for. Faith is finished in Heaven. Love endureth for ever: Spiritual love, I mean; for carnal love, when that which we love is lost, doth perish with the flesh. Neither was that ever but fleshly love, which by distance of place or severing of bodies, is parted as…nder. — If we keep Christs commandment in loving each other, as he loved us, then should our love be everlasting. This friendship Paul felt, when it moved him to say, That neither length nor …readth, n…ither height nor depth, should sever him from the love of Christ. Now you may say, Why writeth p. 147thou this? Truly to the end, that if our friendship be stable, you may accomplish this the last request of your Friend, &c. — Mr. Fleetwood, I beseech you remember Witt…ance and Cook, two singular men among common Prisoners. Mr. Fernham, Mr. Fell, and Mr. Hussey (as I hope) will dispatch Palmer and Richardson, with his companions. I pray you Mr. Palmer think on I. Grove, an honest poor man, Tra…ford and Rice Apprice his Accomplices. My Cousin Thomas Witton (a Scrivener in Lombard-str…et) hath promised to further their delivery, at the least he can instruct you which way to work. I doubt not but that Mr. Bowyer will labour for Goodwife Cooper (for she is worthy to be holpen) and B…rard the Frenchman. There be also divers others well-disposed men, whose deliverance if you will not labour for, yet I humbly beseech you to seek their relief. — For these and all other poor Prisoners I make this my humble suit and prayer to you all my especial good Friends, beseeching you by all the bonds of amity, in the bowels of mercy, to tender the cases of miserable Captives. Help to cloath Christ, visit the Afflicted, comfort the Sorrowful, and relieve the Needy. The very God of peace guide your hearts to have mercy on the poor, and love faithfully together. Amen.

This present Monday when I look to die, and to live for ever.

Yours for ever, Bartlet Green.

In his Letter to Mrs. Elizabeth Clark. — I shall not cease with continual Prayer to labour for you, p. 148desiring Almighty God to increase that which he hath long since begun in you, of sober life, and earnest zeal towards his Region,1 Tim. 5.1 Tim 5 She that is a true Widow and friendless, putteth her trust in God, continuing day and night in supplication and prayer; but she that liveth in pleasure is dead, even yet alive. And verily she is a true widow, that hath married Christ, forsaking the vanities of the world, and the lusts of the flesh;1 Cor. 7.1 Cor 7 For as the married woman careth how to love and serve and please her Husband, so ought the Widow to give all her soul and heart, thoughts and words, studies and labours, faithfully to love God, vertuously to bring up her children and houshold, and diligently to provide for the poor and oppressed. — Not to live in pleasure, but to watch unto prayer, stedfastly laying up all her trust in God. Luke 2.Luke 2Of Anna it is written, That she never went out of the Temple, but served God with fasting and prayer night and day, — to …ring up her children and houshold godly in the nurture and information of the Lord. Ephes. 6.Eph 6— There are most manifest examples against Parents for the offences of Children. Contrariwise how greatly might Hanna rejoyce over Samu…l her Son, whom she had brought up in the House of the Lord?Pag. 629. — But above all Widows, thrice blessed was the happy Mother of the seven Sons, that so had instructed them in the fear of the Lord, that by no torments they would s…rink from the love of his Truth? — To be liberal to Strangers,1 Tim. 5.1 Tim 5 to wash the Saints feet, and minister to them in their adversity. Saint Paul (as though they onelyonly had been therefore meet) appointed onelyonly Widows to minister to the Saints, and to gather for the poor. — Alas! That Christ so hungreth, and no man will feed him; is so sore opprest with thirst, and no man will give him drink; destitute of all lodging, and p. 149not relieved; sick, and not visitted; imprisoned, and not seen. In times past men could bestow large sums of money on Copes, Vestments, and Ornaments of the Church: why rather follow we not St. Ambrose his example, who sold the same for the relief of the poor; or Chrysostom's command, who willed first to deck and garnish the living Temple of God? But alas! such is the wickedness of these our last dayes, that nothing moves us, neither the pure Doctrine, the godliness of life, nor good examples of the Ancient Fathers. If in any thing they erred, that will their charitable children embrace, publish and maintain with sword, faggot and fire: but all in vain they strive against the stream; for though in despite of the Truth, by force of the ears of crafty perswasion, they may bring themselves into the haven of Hell; yet can they not make all men believe that the banks move while the ship saileth, nor ever shall be able to turn the direct course of the stream of Gods Truth. —

In another Letter. — Better is the day of death (saith Solom…n) then the day of birth. — Happy are the dead that die in the Lord. Man of woman is born in travel to live in misery; man through Christ doth die in joy to live in felicity: he is born to die, and dieth to live. Strait as he cometh into the world with cries he uttereth his miserable estate; strait as he departeth with Songs he praiseth God for ever. Scarce yet in his cradle, three deadly enemies assault him, after death no Adversary may annoy him; whilst he is here he displeaseth God, when he is dead, he fulfilleth his will. — Here he dieth every hour, there he liveth continually; here is sin, there is righteousness; here is time, there is eternity; here is harted, there is love; here is pain, p. 150there is pleasure▪ here is misery, there is felicity. — Seek therefore the things that are above, &c.

Grey.

Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 13, 14, &c.The Lady Iane Grey, Daughter to the Duke of Suffolk, whose Mother was Daughter to Mary, King Henry the Second's Sister, having personated a Queen for ten dayes, and upon Queen M…ries Proclamation being imprisoned, the Queen sent Mr. Fecknam to her, two dayes before her death to commune with her, and reduce her from the Doctrine of Christ to Queen Maries Religion.Pag. 31. The effect which communication here followeth. Madam (said Fecknam) I lament your heavy Case, &c. You are welcome unto me Sir (said the Lady Iane) if you come to give me Christian Exhortation. And as for my heavy Case (I thank God) I do so little lament it, that rather I account the same for a more manifest Declaration of Gods favour towards me, then ever he shewed me at any time before; and therefore there is no cause, why either you or other which bear me good will, should lament or be grieved with this my Case, being a thing so profitable for my souls health. I am here come (said he) from the Queen and Council to instruct you in the true Doctrine of the right Faith, &c. I heartily thank the Queen (said she) who is not unmindful of her humble Subject, and I hope no less that you will do your duty therein, both truly and faithfully. What is then (said he) requried of a Christian? To believe (said she) in God the Father, Son, and holy Ghost, three Persons and one God. What (said he) is there nothing else required or looked for in a Christian, but to believe in him?Pag. 32. Yes (said she) We must love him with all our heart, with all our soul, and with all our mind, and our Neighbour as our self. Why then (said he) faith justifies not, and saveth not. p. 151Yes verily (said she) Faith (as Paul saith) onelyonly justifies. Why (said he) St. Paul saith, If I have all faith without love, it is nothing. True (said she) for how can I love him, whom I trust not? or how can I trust him, whom I love not? Faith and love go both together, and yet love is comprehended in faith. How must we love our Neighbour? (said he) To love our Neighbour (said she) is to feed the hungry, to cloath the naked, and give drink to the thirsty, and to do to him as we would do to our selves. Why then (said he) it is necessary unto salvation to do good works also, and it is not sufficient onelyonly to believe. It is meet (said she) that a Christian in token that he follows his Master Christ to do good works, yet may we not say, that they profit to our salvation; for when we have done all, we be unprofitable servants, and faith onelyonly in Christs blood saveth us. How many Sacraments are there? (said he) Two (said she) The one the Sacrament of Baptisme, by which I am washed with water, and regenerated by the Spirit, and that washing is a token to me that I am a child of God: the other the Sacrament of the Lords S…pper, which offered to me is a sure seal and testimony that I am by the blood of Christ, which he shed for me on the Cross, made partaker of the everlasting Kingdome. There are seven (said he) By what Scripture (said she) find you that. Well (said he) we will talk of that hereafter. What do you receive in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper? Do you not receive the very body and blood of Christ? No surely (said she) I believe that the Supper I neither receive flesh nor blood, but Bread and Wine, which Bread, when it is broken, and Wine, when it is drunken, putteth me in remembrance, how that for my sins, the Body of Christ was broken, and his Blood shed on the Cross, p. 152and with that Bread and Wine I receive the Benefits that come by the breaking of his Body, and shedding of his Blood for our sins on the Cross. Why (said he) doth not Christ speak these words, Take, eat, this is my Body? Require you any plainer words? Doth he not say it is his Body? I grant he saith so (said she) and so he saith, I am the Vine, I am the Door, and yet is not the Vine, or the Door. Doth nor St. Paul say,Rom. 4.Rom 4 He calleth things that are not, as though they were.

— When Fecknam took his leave, he said, That he was sorry for her; for I am sure (said he) that we two shall never meet. True it is (said she) that we shall never meet, except God turn your heart; for I am assured, unless you repent and turn to God, you are in an evil case, and I pray God in the Bowels of mercy, to send you his Holy Spirit.—

In her Letter to her Father. — Father, although it hath pleased God to hasten my death by you, by whom my life should rather have been lengthened; yet can I so patiently take it, as I yield to God more hearty thanks for shortening my woful dayes, then if all the world had been given unto my Possessions with life lengthened at my own will.Pag. 33. — Although my death at hand to you seem right woful, to me there is nothing that can be more welcome, then from this vale of misery to aspire to that heavenly Throne of all joy and pleasure, with Christ our Saviour; in whose stedfast faith (if it be lawful for the Daughter so to write to the Father) the Lord that hitherto hath strengthened you, so continue you, that at last we may meet in Heaven, with the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost.

In her Letter to Mr. Harding (formerly her Fathers Chaplain, and a zealous Preacher of the Gospel, but then tnrn'd Papist) she writes thus. — As p. 153oft as I call to mind the dreadful and fearful saying of God,Luke 9.Luke 9 That he which layeth hold on the Plough, and looketh back, is not meet for the Kingdome of Heaven; and on the other side, the comfortable words of our Saviour Christ to those, That forsaking themselves do follow him. I cannot but marvel at thee, and lament thy Case, who seemed sometime to be the lively Member of Christ, but now the deformed Imp of the Devil; sometime the beautiful Temple of God, but now the filthy and stinking Kennel of Satan; sometime the unspotted Spouse of Christ, but now the shameless Paramour of Antichrist; sometime my faithful Brother, but now a Stranger and an Apostate; sometime a stout Christian Souldier, but now a cowardly Run-away: yea, when I consider these things, I cannot but cry out upon thee, thou seed of Satan, and not of Iudah, whom the Devil hath deceived, the world hath beguiled, and the desire of life subverted, and made thee of a Christian an Infidel. Wherefore hast thou taken the Testament of the Lord in thy mouth? Wherefore hast thou instructed others to be strong in Christ, when thou thy self dost now so shamefully shrink, and so horribly abuse the Testament and the Law of the Lord? When thou thy self preachest not to steal, yet most abominably stealest, not from men, but from God, and committing most hainous sacriledge, robbest Christ thy Lord of his right members, thy body and soul, and choosest rather to live miserably with shame to the world, then to die, and gloriously with honour reign with Christ, in whom, even in death is life? Why dost thou now shew thy self most weak, when indeed thou oughtest to be most strong? The str…gth of a fort is unknown before the assault, but thou yieldest thy hold, before any battery be made. Oh wretched and unhappy man, what art p. 154thou but dust and ashes? and wilt thou resist thy Maker, that fashioned and framed thee? Wilt thou now forsake him that called thee from the custome-gathering of the Romish Antichristians, to be an Ambassadour and Messenger of his Word? He that first framed thee, and since thy first Creation and Birth preserved thee, nourished and kept thee, yea and inspired thee with the Spirit of Knowledge (I cannot say of grace) shall he not now possess thee? Darest thou deliver up thy self to another, being not thine own, but his? How canst thou, having knowledge, or how darest thou neglect the law of the Lord, and follow the vain traditions of men; and whereas thou hast been a publick Professor of his Name, become now a Defacer of his glory? Wilt thou refuse the true God, and worship the invention of man, the golden Calf, the whore of B…bylon, the Romish Religion, the abominable Idol, the most wicked Mass? Wilt thou torment again, rent and tear the most prec…ous Body of our Saviour Christ with thy bodily and fleshly teeth? Wilt thou take upon thee to offer up any Sacrifice unto God for our sins, considering that Christ …ff…red up himself (as P…u… saith) u…n the Cross a live…y Sacrifice once for all. Can neither the punishment of the Israelites, (which for their Idolatry they oft received) nor the terrible threatnings of the Prophets, nor the curse of Gods own mouth, fear thee to honour any other god then him? Dost thou so regard him that spared not his dear and onelyonly-Son for thee, so diminishing, yea utterly extinguishing his glory, that thou wilt attribute the praise and honour due unto him to the Idols, which have mouths, and speak not, eyes and see not, ears and hear not, whi… …all perish with them that made thee.Pag. …4. — Confounded be all they that worship them. — Christ o…ereth up p. 155himself once for all, and wilt thou offer him up again daily at thy pleasure? But thou wilt say, thou dost it for a good intent. Oh sink of sin! Oh child of perdition! Dost thou dream therein of a good intent, where thy conscience bears thee witness of Gods threatned wrath against thee? How did Saul, how for that he disobeyed the Word of the Lord for a good intent, was thrown from his worldly and temporal Kingdome? — Wilt thou for a good intent dishonour God, offend thy Brother, and danger thy soul, wherefore Christ hath shed his most precious blood? Wilt thou for a good intent pluck Christ out of Heaven, and make his death void, and deface the triumph of his Cross by offering him up daily? Wilt thou either for fear of death, or hope of life, deny and refuse thy God, who enriched thy poverty, healed thy infirmity, and yielded to thee his Victory, if thou couldst have kept it? Dost thou not consider, that the thread of thy life hangeth upon him that made thee, who can (as he please) either twine it harder to last the longer, or untwine it again to break the sooner? Dost thou not then remember the saying of David, Psa. 104.Ps 104When thou t…kest away thy Spirit (O Lord) from men, they die, and are tur…d again to their dust; but when thou let…est thy breath … forth, they shall be made, and thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Remember the saying of Christ in his Gospel;Mat. 10.Matt 10 Whosoever seeketh to save his life shall lose it, but whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. Again, Wh…soever loveth Father or Mother above me, is not meet for me. He th…t will follow me, let him forsake himself, and take up his Cross, and follow me. What Cross? the Cross of infamy and shame, of misery and po… of affliction and persecution for his Names … Let the oft falling of these Heavenly Showres … thy stony heart. Let the two-edged p. 156sword of Gods holy Word sheer asunder the sinews of worldly respects, even to the marrow of thy carnal heart, that thou mayest once again forsake thy self, and embrace Christ, and like as good subjects will not refuse to hazard all in the defence of their earthly and temporal Governour, so fly not like a white-liver'd Milk-sop from the standing wherein thy chief Captain Christ hath hath set thee in array of this life.Psal. 16.Ps 16 Fight manfully, come life, come death, the Quarrel is Gods, and undoubtedly the Victory is ours. But thou wilt say, I will not break unity; what? not the unity of Satan and his members? not the unity of darkness? not the agreement of Antichrist and his adherents? — Tully saith of Amity, Amicitia non est nisi inter bonos. But mark my Friends; yea Friend, if thou beest not Gods enemy, there is no unity, but where Christ knitteth the knot among such as he is. — The agreement of all men is not an unity, but a conspiracy. Thou hast heard some threatnings against those that love themselves above Christ, and against those that deny him for love of life; saith he not, He that denies me before men, Mat. 10.Matt 10I will deny him before my Father in Heaven. And to the same effect writeth Paul, It is impossible that they which were once enlightened, and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift, and were partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted of the good Word of God, if they fall away, &c. should be ren…wed again by repentance. Heb. 10.Heb 10And again, If we shall willingly sin after we have received the knowledge of his Truth, there is no oblation left for sin, but the terrible expectation of judgement and fire, which shall devour the adversaries. Thus Paul writeth, and this thou readest, … dost thou not quake and tremble? Well, if these te…rible and thundring threatnings cannot stir thee to cleave unto Christ, and forsake the world; yet let the sweet p. 157consolation and promises of the Scriptures, let the example of Christ and his Apostles, holy Martyrs and Confessours incourage thee to take faster hold of Christ.Mat. 5.Matt 5 Hearken what he saith, Blessed are you when men revi…e you, and persecute you for my sake: Rejoyce and be glad, for great is your reward in Heave…; For so persecuted they the Prophets, that were before you. Hear what Isaiah saith,Isa. 51.Isa 51 Fear not the curse of men, be not afraid of their blasphemies; for worms and moths shall eat them up like cloath and wooll, but my righteousness shall endure for ever, and my saving health from generation to generation. What art thou then (saith he) that fearest a mortal man, the child of man, which fadeth away like the flower, and forgetteth the Lord that made thee, that spread out the Heavens, and laid the foundation of the earth? I am the Lord thy God, that maketh the sea to rage, and be still, whose Name is the Lord of Hosts: I shall put my Word in thy mouth, and defend thee with the turning of the hand. Christ also saith unto his Disciples,Luke 12. Mat. 13.Luke 12Matt 13 They shall accuse you, and bring you before Princes and Rulers for my Names sake; and some of you they shall persecute and kill; but fear you not, and care you not what you shall say; for it is …e Spirit of your Father that speaketh within you, even the hairs of your head are all numbred. Pag. 35.Lay up treasures for your selves, where no thief cometh, nor moth corrupteth. Fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; Mat. 10. Iohn 15.Matt 10John 15but fear him that hath power to destroy both soul and body. If ye were not of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Let these and such like consolations taken out of Scriptures, strengthen you to Godward. Let not the examples of holy men and women go out of your mind, as Daniel and the rest of the Prophets, of the three children, &c. — Return, p. 158return again into Christs war, and as becometh faithful warriour,Eph. 6.Eph 6 put on that armour that St. Pau… teacheth to be most necessary for a Christian man▪ And above all things take unto you the shield o… Faith, and be you provoked by Christs own example, to withstand the Devil, to forsake the world, and to become a true and …aithful member of his mystical Body, who spared not his own Body for our sins. Throw down your self with the fear of his threatned vengeance for this so great and hainous …ffence of Apos…acy, and comfort your self on the other hand with the mercy, blood, and promise of him, who is ready to turn unto you, whensoever you turn unto him. Disdain not to come again with the lost Son, seeing you have so wandred with him. Be not ashamed to turn again with him from the swill of Strangers to the delicate of your most benigne and lov…ng Father, acknowledging that you have sinned both against Heaven and against Earth: Against Heaven, by staining the glorious Name of God, and causing his most sincere and pure Word to be evil spoken of through you: Against Earth, by offending so many of your weak Brethren, to whom you have been a stumbling block through your sudden sliding. Be not ashamed — to weep bitterly with Peter — to wash away the filth and mire of your offensive fall — to say with the Publican,Luke 18.Luke 18 Lord, be merciful to me a sinner. Remember the horrible History of Iulian of old, and the lamentable case of Spira of late, whose case (methinks) should be so green in your remembrance, that being a thing of our time, you should fear the like inconvenience, seeing you are fallen into the like offence. Last of all, … the lively remembrance of the last Day be alwayes before your eyes, remembring the terrour that at that time shall befall the Runagates and Fugitives p. 159from Christ, who setting more by the world then by Heaven, more by their life then by him that gave them life, did shrink, yea fall away from him that forsook not them; and contrariwise, the inestimable joyes prepared for them, that fearing … peril, nor dreading death, have manfully fought and victoriously triumphed over all power of darkness, over hell, death, and damnation, through their most renowned Captain Christ, who now stretcheth out his arms to receive you, ready to fall upon your neck, and kiss you, and to feast you with the dainties and delicates of his own precious blood; which undoubtedly, if it might stand with his determinate purpose, he would not let to shed again, rather then you shall be lost. —

The night before she suffered, she sent unto her Sister, the Lady K…therine the New Testament in Greek, at the end whereof she wrote thus.

I have sent you (good Sister) a Book, which although it be not outwardly trimmed with Gold, yet inwardly it is more worth then precious stones. It is the Book of the Law of the Lord. It is his Testament and last Will which he bequeathed unto us wretches, which shall lead you to the path of eternal joy; and if you with a good mind read it, and with an earnest mind do purpose to follow it, it shall bring you to an immortal and everlasting life. It shall teach you to live, and learn you to die. It shall win you more then you should have gained by the possession of your woful Fathers lands; for, as if God had prospered him, you should have inherited his lands: so if you ply diligently this Book, seeking to direct your life after it, you shall be an inheriter of such riches, as neither the covetous shall withdraw from you, nor the thief steal, nor the moth corrupt. Desire with David to understand p. 160the Law of the Lord God. Live still to die, that you by death may purchase eternal life. Trust not that the tenderness of your age shall lengthen your life: the young die (if God call) assoon as the old. Labour alwayes to learn to die, defie the world, deny the Devil, and despise the flesh, and delight your self onelyonly in the Lord. Be penitent for your sins, but yet despair not; be strong in faith, and yet presume not. Desire with St. Paul to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, with whom, even in death, there is life. Be like the good Servant, and even at mid-night be waking, least when death cometh, and stealeth upon you, as a thief in the night, you be with the evil Servant found sleeping, and least for lack of oyl ye be found like the foolish women, and like him that had not on the Wedding Garment, and then ye be cast out from the Marriage. Rejoyce in Christ, as I do. Follow the steps of your Master Christ, and take up your Cross. Lay your sins on his back, and alwayes embrace him. And as concerning my death, rejoyce as I do, that I shall be delivered of this corruption, and put on incorruption; for I am assured, that I shall for loosing of a mortal life, win an immortal life, the which I pray God grant you, and send you of his grace to live in his fear, and to die in the true Christian Faith, from the which (in Gods Name) I exhort you that you never swarve, neither for hope of life, nor fear of death; for if you will deny his truth for to lengthen your life, God will deny you, and yet shorten your dayes. And if you will cleave unto him, he will prolong your dayes to your comfort and his glory; to the which glory God bring me now, and you hereafter, when it shall please him to call you. Fare you well (good Sister) and p. 161put your onelyonly trust in God, who onelyonly must help you.

In her Speech upon the Scaffold. —Good people, I am come hither to die, and by a Law I am condemned to the same. The Fact against the Queens Highness was unlawful, and the consenting thereunto by me; but touching the procurement and desire thereof, I do wash my hands thereof in innocency before God and you, and therewith she wrung her hands. I pray you bear me witness, that I die a true Christian, and that I look to be saved by no other mean, but onelyonly by the mercy of God in the blood of his onelyonly Son Jesus Christ. I confess, when I did know the Word of God, I neglected the same, loved my self and the world, and therefore this plague is worthily happened to me for my sins; and yet I thank God of his goodness, that he hath thus given me a time and respite to repent; and now, good people, while I am alive, I pray you assist me with your Prayers.—

In her Prayer. — Thou, O Lord, art the onelyonly Defender and Deliverer of those that put their trust in thee; and therefore I being defiled with sin, &c. overwhelmed with miseries, vexed with temptations, and grievously tormented. With the long imprisonment of this vile mass of clay, my sinful body, doth come unto thee (O merciful Saviour) craving thy mercy and help, who hast said, Thou wilt not suffer us to be tempted above our power. — O merciful God, consider my misery best known unto thee, and be thou unto me a strong Tower of defence. Suffer me not to be tempted above my power, but either be thou a Deliverer to me out of this great misery, or else give me grace patiently to bear thy heavy hand and sharp correction. p. 162It was thy right hand that delivered the people of Israel out of the hands of Pharaoh, who for the space of four hundred years did oppress them, and keep them in bondage. O deliver me sorrowful wretch! (for whom thy Son Christ shed his precious blood on the Cross) out of this miserable captivity and bondage. How long wilt thou be absent? for ever? O Lord, hast thou forgotten to be gracious, and shut up thy loving kindness in displeasure? Wilt thou be no more entreated? Is thy mercy clean gone for ever, and thy promise come utterly to an end for evermore? Why dost thou make so long tarrying? Shall I despair of thy mercy O God? far be that from me. I am thy workmanship, created in Christ Jesus; give me therefore grace to tarry thy leisure. —

When the Handkerchief was tied about her eyes, she kneeling down, and feeling for the Block said, What shall I do? where is it? and being directed by one of the Standers by, she laid her head down upon the Block, and stretching forth her Body, said, Lord, into thy hands I commend my Spirit.

Clark's second Vol. of Lives, p. 60, &c.In her troubles she writ the following Verse with a pin.

Non aliena putes homini, quae obtingere possunt;

Sors hodierna mihi, tunc erit illa tibi.

In English thus,

Think nothing strange which man cannot decline,

My Lot's to day, to merren may le thine.

p. 163Deo juvante, nil nocet livor malus:

Et non juvante, nil juvat labor gravis.

Post tenebras spero lucem.

In English thus,

If God protect me, malice cannot end me,

If not, all I can do will not defend me.

After dark night

I hope for light.

H.

Haggar.

He was persecuted for saying,Fox, Vol. 2. pag. 44. (A. 1520.) that There shou…d be a battel of Priests, and all the Priests should be slain: and that the Priests should a while rule, but they should all be destroyed for making of false gods. — That the men of the Church should be put down, and the false gods that they m…ke: and after that, they should know more, and then shou…d be a merry world.

Hale.

When Thomas Hale was taken by an Alderman of Bristow and another,Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 892. he said unto them, You have sought my blood these two years, and now much good do it you.

He was burned A. 1557. for saying, The Sacrament of the Altar is an Idol.

Hall.

Nicholas Hall in his Answer to the first Article against him,Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 381. granted himself a Christian man, and acknowledged the determinations of the holy Church, i. e. of the Congregation, or Body of Christ: but denied to call the Catholick and Apostolick Church his Mother, because he found not this Word, Mother, in the Scripture.

p. 164To the second he said, That whereas before he held the Sacrament to be but onelyonly a token or remembrance of Christ's death, now he said, that There is neither token nor remembrance, becasue it is now misused, and clean turned from Christs institution, &c.