A Cloud of Witnesses, Part I
I.
Ieuville.
NIcholas Ieuville, Fox, Vol. 3. cont. p. 6.being condemned to be burned alive, and his tongue to be cut out, the Tormentor putting the Halter about his Neck, said, Praised be God, for I am now counted worthy to be one of the Heavenly Order.
Ignatius.
When Trajan the Emperour returned from the Parthian War,Clark's first Volume of Lives, pag. 1, 2. and came to Antioch, having commanded gratulatory Sacrifices to be offered in every City, he required Ignatius, who was Pastour of the Church at Antioch, to be present at those Sacrifices: but he before Trajan's face did justly and sharply reprove their Idolatry, for which cause he was delivered by ten Souldiers to be carried to Rome.
As he passed through Asia, so guarded, he confirmed the Congregations, through every City where he came, preaching the Word of God to them, and giving them wholesome Exhortations. When he came to Smyrna, he wrote an Epistle to the Church at Ephesus, and another to the Church of Magnesia on the River Meander, and another to the Church at Trallis.
V. Mella Patrum collect. per F. Rous. pag. 13, 14.In his Epistle to the Ephesians. — You have heard of my being carried bound from Syria for the common Name and Hope. I hope through your prayers I shall so fight against the Beasts at Rome, that through Martyrdome, I shall become his Disciple, who offered himself a sacrifice for us unto God. — I do not command you, as if I were any thing; for though I am in bonds for the Name of Christ, I am not as yet perfect in Christ Jesus. Now I begin to be a Disciple. — Onesimus himself doth exceedingly commend your decent and meet order, and that you all live according to the Truth, and that there is no place for Herest among you, and that you hear none farther then he preacheth Christ Jesus in truth.Pag. 15.— Oppose their anger with mildness, and their proud brags with humility, and their cursings with praying, and their errors with stedfastness in the Faith. — Let us be found in Christ Jesus unto everlaststing life. Without him nothing becomes you: in whom I carry about these bonds (spiritual pearls) in which I may stand advanced by the help of your prayer: of which I alwayes desire to be partaker, that I may be numbred among the Ephesian Christians, who have alwayes in the strength of Christ consented with the Apostles. See that you often meet together to give God thanks and to praise him; for when you have often met together in the same place, the power of Satan is weakened, and his mischief vanisheth away by the concord of your faith. The Tree is manifested by its fruit, — the work of profession doth not now appear, unless by the power of Faith we be found to persevere to the end. It is herrer to be a Mute, and a Christian, then to be Talkative, and no Christian. It is good to teach; but let him that teacheth, do what he teacheth.
In his Letter to the M…gnesians. Pag. 16.— It becomes us not onelyonly to be called, but to be Christians. —As there be two sorts of moneys; one Gods, the other the Worlds; so each sort hath its peculiar stamp. Unbelievers have the stamp of the World; Believers in love have the stamp of God the Father through Jesus Christ: through whom, unless our Will be inclined to die after the example of his Passion, his Life is not in us. — There is one Christ, then whom, nothing is more excellent. Let all therefore agree as in one Temple.— Although I am in bonds, I am not to be compared with one of you yet at liberty. I know you are free from pride, and when I praise you I know you even blush.—
In his Exhortation prefixt to his Epistle to the Church at Trallis, Clark, pag. 2.he perswades them not to refuse Martyrdome, lest thereby they should lose the hope that was laid up for them.
In the Epistle it self.Rous, pag. 16. —I savour many things in God; but I keep my self within bounds, lest I perish by vain glory. Now I am mostly to fear; neither am I to mind those that would puffe me up. They that praise me, scourage me. I do indeed love to suffer; but that I am worthy, I know not.— I beseech you (not I,Pag. 17. but the love of Christ Jesus) to make use onelyonly of Christian Food, and to abstain from Heresie, a strange Herb. Temporaries embrace Christ, — but they are not of the Fathers planting: If they were, there would appear the Branches of the Cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible.—
In his Epistle to the Romans. — I, Christ Jesus his bond-man, hope I may salute you, if it be his will, that I may be judged worthy to reach the goal. I have begun well, if, (or O that I may) have grace to take my lot without let. I fear least your love hurt me. I would not that you should please men, but God, even as you do. — Do you labour that I may be sacrificed unto God, seeing the Altar is prepared, that you in love making a Quire, may sing to the Father in Christ Jesus, that a Bishop of Syria hath been honoured thus to set in the West, being called from the East. It is good to fall from the World to God, that I may rise in him. — Beg onelyonly this for me, that I may be supplyed with inward and outward strength, that I may not onelyonly say, but will, and not onelyonly be called, but be found a Christian. If I be found so, I shall be called so, even then when I shall not appear to be a Believer to the World.Pag. 18. Nothing visible is perpetual. The things that are seen are temporary: those, which are not seen, are eternal. Christianity is a work, not a work of perswasion, but of greatness, when it is hated by the World. I write to the Churches, and require of all, that I may voluntarily die for God, if that you forbid it not. I beseech you, bestow not upon me unseasonable love. Suffer me to be the food for the wild Beasts, by whom I shall enjoy God. I am Gods Corn, when the wild Beasts have ground me to powder with their teeth, I shall be his White-bread. Yea rather cunningly entice the wild Beasts to be my Sepulcher, and to leave nothing of my body behind them, lest when I am dead I be found troublesome to any. Then shall I be a true Disciple of Christ indeed, when the World shall not see even my body. Pray unto God for me, that by these instruments I may become a sacrifice unto God. From Syria even till I came to Rome I fought with Beasts, as well by Sea as by Land, night and day being bound among the cruel Leopards (I mean my Military Guard) who, the more benefits they received at my hands, became so much the worse unto me; but I being exercised and now well acquainted with their injuries, am taught every day more and more to bear the Cross: yet hereby am I not justified. Would to God I might once enjoy the Beasts prepared for me, which I wish also to fall upon me with all their violence, whom also I will cunningly entice, without delay to devour me, and not to abstain from me, as they have from others, whom for fear they have left untouched, and if they be unwilling to it, I will even compell them to fall upon me. Pardon me. I know what is for my advantage.Quid mihi neile …ix▪ ego novi. Mr. Clark renders it, I know well how much this will avail me. Now do I begin to be a Disciple, seeing I neither regard things visible, nor invisible, so I may gain Christ. Let Fire, the Cross, Skirmishings with wild Beasts, Cuttings, Butcherings or Rentings in pieces, Breakings of my Bones asunder, Manglings of my Members, Bruisings of my whole Body, and the Torments of the Devil (all the Torments that man and the Devil can invent) fall upon me,Et Diaboli …ormenta. so that I may enjoy Jesus, The Ends and Kingdomes of this World will not help me. It is better for me to die for Christ Jesus, then to reign over the Ends of the Earth. What will it profit a man to gain the whole World, and lose his own soul? I seek him, who died for us, and rose again. Pardon me, my Brethren, be not an hindrance to me, that I may not live; be not unwilling that I should die. Seeing I desire to be Gods, do not gratifie the World. Suffer me to enjoy pure light: when I shall be there, I shall be a man of God. Permit me to emulate the sufferings of Christ, my God. Whosoever enjoyes him, understands what I desire, and will bear with me, when he knows what constrains me. The Prince of this World would hold me and corrupt my soul and will for God.Pag. 19. Let none of you help him, but rather help me, that is, God. Do not name Christ Jesus, and love or covet the World. Let not envy dwell in you. — Living, but in love with dying, I write unto you. My love is crucified; and there is not in me a fire of love towards any thing of an earthly matter; but living water, and he, that speaks within me, saith unto me, Come unto the Father. I rejoyce not in corruptible nourishment, nor in the pleasures of this life. I would have the bread of God, heavenly bread, the bread of Life, which is the flesh of Christ, the Son of God, who in these last times is made of the seed of David and Abraham, and for drink I would have his blood, who is love incorruptible, and life eternal. Be mindful in your prayers of the Church in Syria, which instead of me hath the Lord for their Pastor. Jesus Christ alone will take care for it, and your love to him. But I am ashamed to be called one of that number. Neither am I worthy, seeing I am the last of them, and an abortive: but through the mercy of God I have obtained, that I may be some one, if I can enjoy God.
In his Letter to the Philadelphians. — Ye children of the Light, flie the dividing of Truth and wicked Doctrines. Follow, as sheep, your Pastor. — In your concord there is no place for the Wolves to get in. If any one preach Judaism unto you, do not hear him. It is better to hear Christianity from one that is circumcised, then Iudaism from one that is uncircumcised. If both do not preach Christ Jesus, they are to me Funeral Pillars and Monuments of the dead,Pag. 20. upon whom Names onelyonly are inscribed. — Where division and anger is, God dwells not. —
In his Letter to the Smyrnaeans. — Jesus Christ is truly dead, and truly risen. He hath not suffered onelyonly according to appearance, as some Infidels teach. — If these things be done by Christ onelyonly in opinion, I am bound onelyonly in opinion. But why should I deliver up my self unto Death, to the Fire, to the Sword, to Beasts, but that he that is near the Sword is near unto God, he that is present with the Beasts is present with God? I hear all onelyonly in the Name of Christ, that I may suffer with him, he strengthning me, who is made perfect man. — What doth it profit me, if any one praise me; and blaspheme my Lord, not confessing him to be clothed with flesh?Pag. 21. — Your prayer hath reached to the Church of Antioch, which is in Syria, whence I salute you all, being bound in Gods honourable bonds, though unworthy, being the last of all there, yet made worthy by the will of God, not according to my Conscience, but of the meer grace of God, &c.—
In one of his Epistles he saith,Clark, pag. 3. Truly I did see him (Christ) in flesh after his resurrection, and do believe that it is he, &c.
He used to say, That there is nothing better then the peace of a good Conscience.
That good and wicked men are like true and counterfeit money; the one seems to be good and is not, the other both seems and is good.
That the Lions teeth are but like a Mill, which though it bruiseth, yet wasteth not the good Wheat, onelyonly prepares and sits it to be made pure Bread. Let me (said he) be broken by them, so I may be made pure Manchet for Heaven.
Other graces are but parts of a Christians armour, as the shield of Faith, &c. but Patience is the Panoply, or whole armour of the man of God.
Ioan.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 52.The Lady Ioan, Queen of Navar, who was poysoned at Paris a few dayes before the bloody Massacre on Aug. 24. 1572. in her sickness she said, I take all this as sent from the hand of God my most merciful Father; nor have I during this extremity, feared to die, much less murmured against God for inflicting the same upon me, knowing that whatsoever he doth, he doth the same so, as all in the end shall turn to my everlasting good. — I depend wholly upon Gods providence, knowing that all things are wisely disposed of by him. — As for this life, I am in a good measure weaned from the love of it, in regard of the afflictions that have followed me from my youth hitherto; but especially because I cannot live without daily offending my good God,Pag. 53. with whom I desire to be with all my heart. — In regard of mine own particular, my life is not dear unto me, seeing so long as I live in this frail flesh, I am still prone and apt to sin against God: onelyonly my care is somewhat for my children, which God hath given me, because they shall be now deprived of me in their young years; yet I doubt not, but although it should please God to take me from them, that himself will be a Father to them, and a Protector over them, as he hath been to me in my greatest afflictions; and therefore I commit them wholly to his government and Fatherly care.Pag. 54. — She often uttered these words, O my God, in thy good time deliver me from this body of death, and from the miseries of this life, that I may no more offend thee, and that I may attain to that felicity, which thou in thy Word hast promised me.Pag. 55. — To a Minister a little before her death she said, I neither expect Salvation, Righteousness, nor Life from any else, then from my onelyonly Saviour Jesus Christ, being assured that his onelyonly merit abundantly sufficeth for the full satisfaction of all my sins, albeit they are innumerable.
Ioris.
Iohn Ioris of Assahen, Fox, Vol. 3. cont. p. 37.in a Letter of his to his Parents and Friends, a little before his Martyrdome writ thus. — Most dear Father and Mother, Sister and Brother, I write here unto you comfortable news, viz. That in all my life, I never saw any day so pleasing to me, as this is, in which the Lord hath counted me worthy to be one of his Champions, and to suffer for his holy Name: for which I give him most humble and hearty thanks. — Rejoyce with me, I pray you, that God hath now called me to so glorious and welcome Marriage Day. O how precious in the sight of the Lord our God is the death of his Martyrs! Dear Friends, two Priests and some of the Magistrates have sought to terrifie me with many threats, thinking to turn me aside from my holy Profession; but the Lord of his great mercy hath given me grace to withstand them all. I plainly told them, I was not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, but would be willing and ready to die in the defence thereof, following my Lord and Master Jesus Christ, through all afflictions, to be made Partaker with him at last of his eternal joyes in his celestial Tabernacle. Wherefore if God shall call any of you forth to suffer ought for his Names sake, bear the same (I beseech you) with meekness and patience, not declining from the truth for fear or favour, to the right hand or to the left, But fear him rather, who is able to cast soul and body into hell. The time which God hath lent us to converse in this world, is but short; and therefore let us begin to abandon the love of this world, with all things therein, betimes, that so we may be ready to follow the call of God. Dear Father and Mother, I do take my last farewell of you, until we meet together again in the Kingdome of Heaven, where we shall partake of that joy that shall last for ever, all sorrows, tears, and griefs being wiped away. Be ye not therefore grieved, I pray you, but be patient; for the affliction which is befallen me, is most acceptable to me, for which also I bless and praise the Lord.
Iueson.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 386.Thomas Iueson, being prest to recant, said, I would not recant for all the goods in London: I do appeal to Gods mercy, and will be none of your Church, nor submit my self to the same. And that I have said, I will say it again. And if there came an Angel from Heaven, to teach me any other Doctrine then that which I am in now, I would not believe him.
Iuleddo, or Iulitta.
Fox, Vol. 3. pag. 305.A Servant to a good Gentlewoman telling Mr. Bradford, that her Mistress had been sorer afflicted with her own Father and Mother, then ever he was with his imprisonment. Mr. Bradford bid her tell her Mistress, That he had read that day a godly History, written by Basilius Magnus of Iuleddo, a vertuous Widow, She had great Lands, and many children, and nigh her dwelt a Cormorant, which for her godliness hated her, and out of very malice took away her lands, so that she was fain to go to Law. The Judge demanded of him, why he wrongfully with-held these Lands from this Woman. He answered, he might, because she was disobedient to the Kings proceedings; for she will in no wise worship his gods, nor offer sacrifice unto them. Woman (said the Judge thereupon) if this be true, thou art like not onelyonly to lose thy Land, but thy Life. Whereupon she said, And is there no remedy, but either to worship your false gods, or else to lose my Lands and life? then farewell Suit, farewell Lands, farewell Children, farewell Friends, yea and farewell Life too, and in respect of the true honour of the everliving God, farewell all. At the place of her Execution, she exhorted all women to be strong and constant; for (said she) ye were redeemed with as dear a price as men;Pag. 306. for although ye were made of the rib of the man, yet be you all of his flesh: so that also in the case and trial of your faith towards God, ye ought to be as strong.
Mr. Ward calleth her Iulitta, Ward, pag. 141.and records her Speech thus: We women received not onelyonly flesh from men, but are bone of their bone, and therefore ought to be as strong in Christs Cause.
Mr. Fox out of Basil tells the Story thus,Vol. 1. pag. 123. That when the Judge passed Sentence against Iulitta, she said, Farewell riches, and welcome poverty; farewell life, and welcome death. All that I have if it were a thousand times more, would I rather lose, then speak one wicked and blasphemous word against God my Creatour. I yield thee most hearty thanks, O my God, for this grace, that I can contemn and despise this frail and transitory world, esteeming Christian Profession above all treasures.
Afterwards, when any Question was demanded, her Answer was, I am the Servant of Jesus Christ. At the Stake she said to the women beholding her, Stick not, O Sisters, to labour and travel after true pie…y and godliness. Cease to accuse the frailty of feminine Nature. What? are not we created of the same matter that men are? yea after Gods Image and Similitude, are we made as lively as they. Not flesh onelyonly did God use in the Creation of the woman, in sign and token of her infirmity and weakness, but bone of bones is she, in token that she must be strong in the true and living God, all falshoods forsaken, constant in faith, all infidelity renounced, patient in adversity, all worldly ease refused. Wax weary (my dear Sisters) of your lives, led in darkness, and be in love with my Christ, my God, my Redeemer, my Comforter, which is the true light of the world. Perswade your selves, or rather the Spirit of the living God perswade you, that there is a world to come, wherein the Worshippers of Idols and Devils shall be tormented perpetually, and the Servants of the High God be crowned eternally.
Iusberg.
The Mirrour of the Martyrs. pag. 113.Brethren (said Iustus Iusberg) you see that my end approacheth, which howsoever I fear, as a man burdened with the body of sin; yet am I resolved as a Christian, joyfully to endure it, being assured that all my sins are fastened to the Cross of Christ.
Iuventius.
Burro…gh's on Moses Self denial, pag. 132.Chrysostome in an Oration on Iuventius and Maximus, two Martyrs, brings in this objection of the Persecutours against them; Do not you see others of your rank do thus? and them answering thus; for this very reason we will manfully stand and offer our selves as a sacrifice for the breach that they have made.