A New Martyrology, Martyrology · Life 13
Mr. Johnson.
MUch about the same time, the pious, reverend, and learned Mr. Johnson met with, much the same Usage. His great Crimes were, —Being my Lord Russel's Chaplain, Writing the famous Julian the Apostate, and endeavouring to perswade the Nation, not to let themselves be made Slaves and Papists, when so many others were doing their parts to bring 'em to it. And 'tis a question whether any Man in the World, besides his Friend the Reverend Dr. Burnet, did more Service with his Pen, or more conduc'd to our great and happy Revolution, both among the Army, and in other places. For some of these Good S…rvices he was Accused, Imprisoned, Tryed and Condemned to be divested of his Canonical Habit, and be whipt as far as Oats was before him; which was perform'd, and which he underwent, as he did, with Courage and Constancy above a Man, and like a Christian and a Martyr. He remain'd ever since in the Kings Bench, till the Prince's coming deliver'd him.
The following Paper was Published by Mr. Samuel Johnson, in the year 1686. For which he was Sentenced by the Court of King's-Bench, (Sir Edward Herbert being Lord Chief Justice) to stand three times on the Pillory, and to be Whipp'd from Newgate to Tyburn: which Barbarous Sentence was Executed.
An Humble and Hearty ADDRESS to all the English Protestants in this present Army.
Gentlemen,
NExt to the Duty which we owe to God, which ought to be the Principal Care of Men of your Profession especially (because you carry your Lives in your Hands, and often look Death in the Face;)· The Second Thing that deserves your Consideration is, the Service of your Native Country, wherein you drew your first Breath, and breathed a free English Air: Now I would desire you to consider, how well you comply with these two Main Points, by engaging in this present Service.
Is it in the Name of God, and for his Service, that you have joyned your selves with Papists; who will indeed fight for the Mass-book, but Burn the Bible, and who seek to Extirpate the Protestant Religion with your Swords, because they cannot do it with their own? And will you be Aiding and Assisting to set up Mass-houses, to erect that Popish Kingdom of Darkness and Desolation amongst us, and to train up all our Children in Popery? How can you do these Things, and yet call your selves Protestants?
And then what Service can be done your Country, by being under the Command of French and Irish Papists▪ and by bringing the Nation under a Foreign Yoke? Will you help them to make forcible Entry into the Houses of your Country-Men, under the Name of Quartering, contrary to Magna Charta and the Petition of Right? Will you be Aiding and Assisting to all the Murthers and Outrages which they shall commit by their void Commissions? Which were declared Illegal, and sufficiently blasted by both Houses of Parliament, (if there had been any need of it) for it was very well known before, That a Papist cannot have a Commission, but by the Law is utterly Disabled and Disarmed. Will you exchange your Birth-right of English-Laws and Liberties for Martial or Club-law, and help to destroy all others, onelyonly to be eaten last your selves? If I know you well, as you are English-Men, you hate and scorn these things. And therefore be not Unequally Yoaked with Idolatrous and Bloody Papists▪ Be Valiant for the Truth, and shew your selves Men.
The same Considerations are likewise humbly offered to all the English-Seamen, who have been the Bulwark of this Nation against Popery and Slavery ever since Eighty Eight.
His Character.
IF any Man does not know what he is, let him Read his Julian, and Defences of it; he'll find there as much clear, close, fair Reason, Scripture, and Law, as ever an ill Cause had brought against it, or a good one for it. Mr. Johnson is a true Christian Stoic; and though he Writes warmly, thinks and acts as coldly as any Man in Christendom. His Piety is as remarkable as his Constancy, and his Universal Charity as both.— But he's still alive; and 'tis better to say no more of him, than either too much or too little.