to shew further violence upon the poor flock of Christ calling them before his Tribunal Seat passing Judgment upon some and committing them to the Secular Arm to be burnt namely Thomas Bernard James Morden Robert Rave John Scrivener and others compelling Children to set Fire to their own Fathers and Example of such Cruelty as is contrary both to God and Nature The judicious Reader whose eyes are enlightned may see what darkness the World was drowned in at this time the purity of the Christian Religion being wholy lost and turned into outward Observations Ceremonies and Idolatry worshipping of Saints going Pilgrimages to see the Reliques which were as so many lying Miracles instead of worshipping the Living God worshipped dead Stocks and Stones how the People were led so the Priests were fed no care was taken the Popes Laws and Canons being more set by then Christs Testament or the Scriptures laying another Foundation then Christ and the Apostles laid upon which the Papists planted their infinite number of Masses Derriges Obsequies Mattens hours of singing Service Midnight-rising Bare-foot-going Fish-tasting Lent fast Ember-fast Stations Rogations Jubilees Advocation of Saints praying to Images Pilgrimage Walking Vows of Chastity wilful Poverty Pardons Indulgenâ—â—s Penance Auriculer Confession Shaving Powling Annointing saying Prayers by their Beads making Laws that none should wear Sumptions Garments or Rings or Ouches on their Fingers but Bishops only when they were saying Mass these with other such like filthy Stuff has been set up by the Popes Power in the night of Apostacy and People have been forced to Swollow it down though some did it against their Stomachs and Consciences and if the least Light appeared in any to testifie against their Trumpery the Beast and false Prophet made War with them and rather then they would fail in the extinguishing the Truth they would destroy the persons in whom the least appearance thereof manifested it self as in the Relation before and hereafter will appear about this time there were many eminent men raised up who were accounted Fathers of the Protestant Church as Zuinglius Occolempadius Melancton and Martin Lather this Martin Luther was a German born and being oppressed with the Popish Idolatry began to preach against the Authority of the Pope and to bring in a reformation of Religion for repressing of whom the Council of Trent was called by Pope Paul the third in the year 1542. which Council continued about forty years to no purpose for they made so many Decrees which caused a great confusion amongst the Papists themselves It is Recorded of Luther that he shined in the Church as a bright Star after a long Cloudy and Obscure Skie he preached expresly that Sins are freely remitted for the love of the Son of God and that we ought faith fully to imbrace this bountiful gift these good beginnings got him great authority especially seeing his life also was correspondent to his profession the consideration whereof took place in the hearts of his Hearers some of which were persons of note these things and his preaching against Indulgences and Pardons sticking in the Pope Stomack he put forth a new Edict wherein he declared this to be the Catholick Doctrine of the holy Mother Church of Rome Prince of all other Churches That Bishops of Rome which are Successors of Peter and Viccars of Christ have this Power and authority given to release and dispence also to grant Indulgences available both for the Living and for the Dead lying in the pains of Purgatory and this Doctrine he charged to be received of all faithful Christian men under pairs of the great Curse and utter Separation from all holy Church Whereupon Luther's Books were condemned as Heretical and the Popes Legat caused them to be burnt which Martin Luther hearing of got a Company together at Wittenberge and making a Fire burnt the Popes Decrees and Bull then lately sent out against him for which the Pope accurst him at Rome afterwards he was sent for by the Emperour to Wormes who though he was much perswaded not to go said As touching me since I am sent for I am resolved and certainly intend to enter Wormes in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ and did appear who according to a promise made by the Emperour was safe conducted thither and home again before the Emperour he said I can affirm no other thing but only this that I have taught hitherto in simplicity of mind that which I have though to tend to Gods Glory being asked whether he owned these Books published in his name he said they were his Books but he could not submit his Books to the Judgments of men which he had fortified by the Authority of Scripture unless they could prove by the Scripture the contrary professing that except they could convince him by Testimonies of the Scriptures for he did not believe the Pope nor their general Councils which have erred many times and have contradicted them selves This opposition made by Luther much troubled the Pope especially seeing the Followers of Luther to encrease and therefore he earnestly desired some speedy Remedy against the same and to that end sent to the German Princes to move them thereunto but the German Princes instead of putting the Apostolick sentence in execution against Luther and his Followers exhibited at the Councel of Norenberge 100 Grievances and Oppressions against the Court of Rome as forbidding Marriage to some forbidding Meats times of Marriages restrained and after released again for money selling remission of sins for money the licentious Life of the Priests and their great number of Holy dayes and such like other things which would be too much to Mention This Martin Luther continued notwithstanding all the opposition against him twenty nine year a Preacher and at last dyed in peace in his own Country But there continued great Disputations and Reformations in divers parts of Europe abolishing the Mass and all Images and foolish Ceremonies making Decrees against them that they should be utterly abandoned After the preaching of Luther great Troubles and Persecutions followed in many parts of the World and many Laws and Decrees were made against sech as bore Testimony against the Ignorance and Error of those times whereby many good Christian men were cruelly handled and lamentable it is to read how many poor men were troubled both in Germany France and England some being Racked some Exiled some driven to Caves in Woods and some burnt to death with many other cruel Torments It will be too large to mention every particular that suffered in those dayes for Religion but some of the chief are as followeth In the year 1523. John Esch and Henry Voes two young men for owning the Doctrine of Luther were proceeded against as Hereticks being Examined by the Popes Inquisitors at Lovaine John Esch and Henry Voes Marâ—yred the greatest thing that they were accused of as error was That men ought to trust only in God inasmuch as men are Lyars and
might be glorified and they shall build the old wastes they shall raise up the former Desolations and they shall repair the Waste Cities the Desolations of many Generations And thus the Reader may see the many glorious Dispensations and manifestations of Gods Love unto mankind to the holy Patriarchs and Prophets in all Generations and now we are come according to what the Prophets foretold to the day of the Appearance of that great Saviour of the World whose Dispensation far exceeded all others in Glory being that eternal Substance which ended all Types Shaddows and Figures And thus these Jews who had been the true Worshippers being apostatized and degenerated from their primitive glory and institutions and their Worship becoming meerly outside for it s said they drew neer to God with their Mouthes and honoured him with their Lips but their Hearts were far from him the Prophets were raised up and sent from the Lord to Cry against them and to foretel the Desolation and distruction that was to come upon them which accordingly came to pass as will be seen anon and in this condition did Christ at his coming find these Antient people the Jews to whom God had formerly committed his Laws and Commands and given his Oracles but they were wholy apostatized from them as will appear by their fruits in the following Discourse The Continuation of the Discourse from the Birth of Christ The year of Christ AFter the Jews had Apostatized according as the Prophets had foretold and that the Messiah and Deliverer should come so in the fulness of time Christ Jesus the Son of God was born of the Virgin Mary whom she roled in Swadling-Cloaths and layed in a Manger because there was no room for him in the Inn Christ is born the Birth of Christ was revealed by an Angel of the Lord to Shepherds keeping their Flock by night in the Fields and suddainly there was with the Angel a Multitude of the heavenly Host praising God and saying Glory to God in the Highest and on Earth Peace and Good-will to men The great rejoycing at his Birth The Shepherds making haste to Bethlehem found Mary and Joseph and the Child lying in the Manger and they published that which was told them concerning the Child and they returned Praising and Glorifying God but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her Heart The Child was called Jesus which signifies a Saviour which was so declared by the Angel before he was conceived in the Womb. He is called Jesus The Wise men from the East the Star being their Guide coming to Herod to Jerusalem and there being taught that the Birth-place of Christ was at Bethlehem of Judea they went thither and entering into the House which was shewed them by the Star which stood over it they found the little Child and Mary his Mother and falling down worshipped him and having opened their Treasures they offered unto him Gold Frankinseence and Myrhe Then being warned of God in a Dream that they should not return unto Herod they departed into their own Country another way And when the Child was brought by his Parents to Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord there came into the Temple one Simeon a just and devout man who had waited for the Consolation of Israel and the holy Ghost was upon him and it was revealed unto him by the holy Ghost That he should not see Death before he had seen the Lords Christ he came by the Spirit into the Temple and when the Parents brought the Child to do for him after the custom of the Law then took he him up in his Arms Simeons Testimony concerning that and blessed God and said Lord now lettest thou they Servant depart in Peace according to thy Word for mine Eyes hath seen thy Salvation which thou hast ppreared before the Face of all People a Light to Lighten the Gentiles and the Glory of thy People Israel and Joseph and his Mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him and Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary his Mother Behold this Child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel and for a sign which shall be spoken against In the same moment came Anna a Prophetess the Daughter of Phanuel she also openly acknowledged the Lord and speak of him to all that looked for Redemption in Jerusalem When Joseph and Mary had performed all things according to the Law of the Lord they returned into Galilee unto their own City Nazareth The Angel of the Lord appearing unto Joseph in a Dream sheweth him that he should flee into Egypt that he might provide for the life of the Child and escape the Devices of Herod Herods Cruelty and Subtil endeavours to kill the Child Jesus who being awakened took the Young Child and his Mother by night and departed into Aegypt where he remained until the death of Herod Herod thinking the Young Child had been still at Bethlehem that he might Destroy him among the rest killed all the Children that were in Bethlehem and in all the Coast thereof from two years old and under according to the time of the Star first seen in the East that he had enquired of the Wise-men Herod shortly after dyed Miserably being dead the Angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph in a Dream in Egypt and commanded that he should return with the young Child and his Mother into the Land of Israel but when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Juda in the room of his Father Herod he feared to go thither and being warned of God in a dream he departed into the parts of Galilee and there dwelt in the City Nazareth from whence Jesus took the Name of Nazarene and the Christians of Nazarenes In the year of the World 4010. it being the Passover year of Christ 12 Christ in the Twelfth year of his Age was brought by Joseph and Mary to Jerusalem his Parents returning home he stayed behind His Mouth was first opeâ—ed to oppose the Doctors at twelve years old they not knowing where he was sought him three dayes and found him in the Temple sitting in the midest of the Doctors hearing them and asking them Questions and all that heard him were astonished at his Understanding and Answers and he went down with his Parents to Nazareth and was obedient unto them and followed his Fathers Trade of a Carpenter In the year of the World 4030. and in the thirtieth year of Christ year of Christ 30 John came forth in his Ministry Crying with a loud Voice in the Wilderness Prepare ye the way of the Lord make his Pathes streight Iohn Ministry what it was and opening the acceptable year of the Lord or the time of his divine pleasure preaching Repentance and Remission of Sins being cloathed with a Garment of Camels Hair and a girdle of Skins about his Loyns and his food was Locus and wild Hony And now Jesus being
there was condemned and from thence was conveyed to Newgate and by the Sheriffs of London had into Smithfield and there burnt to death the last day of April about three of the Clock in the afternoon Three men executed for pulling down an Idol and burnin it In the year 1532. Robert King Nicholas March Roberâ— Gardner all of Dedham and Robert Debnam of Esthergholt being burdened in their Consciences to see the honour and power of the Almighty Living God to be blasphemed by Peoples adoring an Idol called The Roode of Dover Court to which many People did greatly resort ignorantly believing a common rumour blown abroad that no man had power to shut the Steeple house door where that Idol stood whereupon the aforesaid four men were moved by the Spirit of God to travel out of Dedham in a frosty Moonshiney Night ten Miles to the place where this Idol stood and took the filthy Idol from his Shrine and carried it a quarter of a Mile and there struck Fire and set it on Fire for which fact three of them were indicted as Fellons and were hanged in Chains about half a year after and it is recorded that at their death through the working of the Spirit of God they bore such a living Testimony that the People were more edified in the Truth then they had been by all the Sermons they had heard preacht before The fourth man viz. Robert Gardener had suffered the same death but that he fled away and that way escaped their Hands The same year there was many more Images cast down and destroyed in many places John Frith Martyr John Frith a godly young man and one of great parts and wit and of a ready capacity and a great Scholler in the outward Litteraâ—ure coming acquainted with William Tindal through his Instructions he first received into his heart the Seed of the Gospel and sincere Godlinâ—ss The said John Frith accompanying himself with divers young men of grave Judgment and sharp wits who conferring together upon the abuses of Religion which at that time were crept into the Church were therefore accused of Heresie to Cardinal Woolsey and cast into a Prison within a deep Cave under a Colledge in Oxford where they used to lay their Salt-fish the stink of which so infected their bodies that three of them died in a little space the fourth was John Frith who was shortly after discharged out of Prison and travelled beyond-Sea and after two years returning into England and being at Reading it happened that he was taken as a Vagabond and was put in the Stocks and there kept so long till he was almost pined with hunger and would not discover who he was but desiring to speak with the School-master of the Town to whom he spoke Latine the School-master perceiving that he was a Scholler and a young man of excellent parts obtained of the Magistrates that he might be set at Liberty which he enjoyed not long being so persued by Sr. Thomas Moor Chancellor who persecuted him both by Sea and Land promising great reward to any that could bring news or tydings of him soon after he was apprehended and committed to the Tower of London where he had many conflicts with the Bishops but especially in writing with the Chancellor and afterwards was carried to Lambeth before the Bishop of Canterbury and from thence to Croyden before the Bishop of Winchester and last of all he was brought before the Bishops in a common Assembly at London the whole matter of his Examination before them was comprehended in two special Articles that is to say of Purgatory and of the substance of the Sacrament to which he answered very fully and wisely and in great moderation and uprightness but no Reason would prevail against the force and cruelty of his Adversaries The twentieth day of the moneth called June 1533. he was brought before several Bishops at Pauls who seeing that by no means they could perswade him to Recant the Bishop of London condemned him to be burnt and past Sentence against him to that effect John Chapman A. Hewit J. Tibauld Martyrs About this time one John Chapman Andrew Hewet and John Tibauld being men Zealous for Religion and Piety were informed against and by the Bishop of London's Chancellor and others were apprehended and carried to the Bishops House Andrew Hewet was sent to the Lollard Tower and Chapman and Tibauld kept asunder in the Bishops House till the next day that he came from Fulham who then examined them not liking their Confession Chapman he committed to the Stocks with this threat that he should tell another Tale or else he should sit there till his Heels did drop from his Arse Tibauld he shut up in a close Chamber but afterwards delivered him out of Prison upon this Injunction that he should not come within seven Miles of his own House Chapman after five weeks imprisonment three weeks whereof he set in the Stocks by Suit made to the Chancellor on his behalf after many threatnings was discharged out of Prison Andrew Hewet being brought before the Bishops and asked what he thought concerning the Sacrament answered even as Frith doth at which the Bishops smiled and one of them said why Frith is an Heretick and is condemned to be burnt and except thou revoke thy Opinion thou shalt be burnt with him truly said he I am contented therewith whereupon he was sent to the Prison to Frith and on the fourth day of the month called July he was carried to Smithfield with Frith and there burned Thomas Bennet Martyr Thomas Bennet School-master in Exeter a man of a godly conversation and a favourer of such as suffered for their zeal to the true Religion after he had lived in a retired condition six years could no longer contain but he must bear a Testimony against the Idolatry of those times though his blood were shed for the same the beginning of his troubles was he wrote a Paper and set it upon one of the Steeple-House-doors of the City in which was written The Pope is Anti-christ and we ought to Worship God only and no Saints which Paper being seen great search and inquiry was made what Heretick should set it up but seeing they could not find the Authorout at that present they agreed that the sentence of a Curse should be pronounced against him that did it the manner of which Curse was as followeth The Priest being in the Pulpit clothed in white and the Monks and Friars standing about him the Cross was held up with Candles fixed to the same then said the Priest By the Authority of God the Father Almighty and of the blessed Virgin Mary of Saint Peter and Paul and of the holy Saints we Excommunicate we utterly Curse and Bann commit and deliver to the Devil of Hell him or her whatsoever he or she be that have in spite of God The Popes Curse by Bell Book and Candle and of Saint Peter whose Church
the Country of Sodom and after they were parted the promise both of the Possession of that Land of Canaan and also of his Numberless Posterity was again renewed unto him Abram being now ninety nine years old year of the world 2107 God made a Covenant with him touching the Seed of Isaac who was to be born of Sarai that time twelve month Abrams name changed gave him the Seal of Circumcision changing both their names Abram into Abraham and Sarai into Sarah for a sure pledge and testimony of his Promise When Abraham was now a hundred year of the world 2108 and Sarah ninety years of Age Isaac was born unto them and Abraham instructed his Family in Righteousness for God said I know Abraham that he will command his Children and his Houshold after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do Justice and Judgment By Faith Abraham offered up his son Isaac year of the world 2133 considering with himself that God was able to raise him again from the dead Now Josephius reports that at this time Isaac was twenty five years old By Faith Abraham offers up his Son Isaac Lib. 1. Antiq. 14. Al 22. and that he was at that time of good years may be gathered from this that he was able to carry so much Wood as was to go to the burning and consuming of such a whole burnt-Offering as himself was then intended by Abraham to have been made Sarah being now one hundred twenty seven years of Age dyed in Hebron and as Abraham for his integrity and uprightness to the Lord is recorded to Posterity for the Father of the Faithful so is Sarah for the Mother of the Faithful and she is the only Woman whose full and entire Age is mentioned in Scripture Abraham being also well stricken in Age was careful to get a wife for his son Isaac and careful he was that he might not Marry with any of the idolatrous and corrupt Nations it being looked upon as a great evil by this righteous Stock Abrahams care in getting a good Wife for his Son Isaac that their Sons should marry with the Daughters of men that were corrupted and despisers of the true Religion as it appears by Abrahams care for his son that he should not take a wife of the Daughters of the Canaanites among whom he dwelt and also by the strict charge he gave to his Servant to look out a Wife for him who going by the guidance of God into Mesopotamia where praying to the Lord to shew kindness unto his master Abraham he there obtained for him Rebeka the Daughter of Bethuel Sister to Laban the Syrian whom Isaac receiving for his Wife brought her into the tent of his Mother Sarah and he loved her and had comfort in her after his Mothers death and he was forty years old when he married with Rebeka Abraham when he was a hundred seventy five years old and a hundred years after his coming into Canaan departed this life â—183 and was buried by his two Sons in his Cave at Macpelah with Sarah his Wife he lived fifteen years after the birth of Jacob with whom he is said also to have lived in Tents And now Abraham being dead Isaac was raised up as the next of the righteous Line and Seed of God to whom the Lord often appeared in his divine Power Abraham being dead Isaac walks in the steps of his Father confirming the Covenant that he had made with Abraham his Father for he walked in the steps of his Father in faithfulness to the Lord and when his Fathers Servant brought Rebeka to him they found him meditating in the Field at evening-tide by which it appears his mind was delighted in that which was good when his Wife had continued barren ninteen years after her Marriage Isaac entreated the Lord in the behalf of his Wifes barreness Isaac intreated the Lord for her because she was barren and the Lord was intreated of him and his Wife conceived and when the twins strove in the Womb Rebeka asked counsel of God and the Lord said unto her Two Nations are in thy Womb and two manner of People shall be seperated from thy Bowels and the one People shall be stronger then the other Esau Iacob are born and the Elder shall serve the Younger Being born the Children grew and one of them named Esau was a counning Hunter a man of the Field and Jacob was a plain man dwelling in Tents and Isaac loved Esau because he did eat of his Venison but Rebeka loved Jacob. Isaac now grown old year of the world 2245 and blind in the forty fourth year before his death sent Esau his eldest Son to take some Venison for him purposing to Bless him at his return but Jacob the younger Son by the counsel of his Mother coming disguised in his Cloathes and with savory meat in his hand Jacob got the Blessing from Esau stole away the blessing unwiting to his Father and the Blessing though so got God confirmed ever after but Jacob seeing that for so doing his Brother followed him with a deadly hatred and being desirous to avoid his traps willing also to take a Wife of his own Kindred his Father Blessing him he took his Journey to Mesopotamia to his uncle Laban for his Father had charged him not to take a Wife of the Daughters of Canaan and in his Journey the Lord appeared unto him by his presence Isaac's care that Iacob should not take a Wife of the Canaantes and renewed the Covenant to him which he had made before to his Father and Grandfather and now the Lord manifesting his presence unto him he covenanted with the Lord saying If God will be with me and keep me in this way that I go and will give me Bread to eat and Rayment to put on so that I come again to my Fathers House in peace then shall the Lord be my God and coming at length to Carron He fell in love with Rachel and continuing a time with Laban fell in love with Rachel his Daughter for whom he served seven years and they seemed to him but a few dayes for the love he had to her Esau had now been married thirty seven Years and was seventy seven Years Old whereas Jacob who was as Old as he had all this while lived unmarried but being now mindful of his Fathers Command he demanded Rachel his Wife to be given to him He is deceived of Rachel after he had served Seven Years for her using this for a reason that his dayes were now full but by the fraud of Laban instead of Rachel Leah the elder Daughter was put in Bed unto him nevertheless Rachel also afterwards was espoused to him upon Covenant of serving seven Years more for her At first Rachel was barren year of the world 2259 but afterwards by the blessing of God proving fruitful bear Joseph unto Jacob at the end of the fourteen
and with all his Soul and he likewise cleansed away the Abominations from the People and again stirred them up to serve the Lord their God and all his dayes they departed not from following the Lord God of their Fathers Nero King of Aegypt year of the world 3394 by Gods Command went against the King of Assyria who at that time made War upon him He unadvisedly assisted the King of Egypt was slain 2 Kings 23.29 2 Chro. 35.20 21. Josiah unadvisedly engaging in this War was slain and now this good King being taken out of the World a World of Miseries grew on upon it and such Lamentations there was that it grew almost a common proverb the Lamentation of Hadadrimon in the Valley of Megiddo His loss gâ—â—â—â—ly â—amenâ—d by all for not only the whole People living wonderfully bewailing the death of Josiah but the Ages following were sencible of the loss of him and the Prophet Ieremiah in rememberance thereof wrote his mournful Book of Lamentations Especiaâ—â—y by the Prophet Jeriemiah wherein bewailing the Calamities which were shortly to befal the People as if he had then presently beheld them using these words The Breath of our Nostrils the ancinted of the Lord is taken in their pits of whom we said under the shaddow of his Wings we shall live among the Heathen After the death of Josiah his Youngest Son was anointed King who presently fell to doing that which was evil in the sight of God His Son walked not in the steps of his Pather but did eâ—il but Nero King of Egypt removed him after he had reigned three Moneths and made Eliakim his Elder Brother King in his room changing his name into Jehojakim that thereby he might testifie to the World that he ascribed the Victory by him gotten against the Assyrians to the Lord only by whom he professed he was formerly sent against them In the Beginning of this Kings reign Jeremiah commanded by God year of the world 3395 went and stood in the Court of the Temple and there exhorted the people to repentance and when they would not Jeremiah exhortes the people he denounced the Judgment of God against them saying that that House should become as Shilo and that City should be cursed among all the Nations of the Earth whereupon he was presently apprehended by the Priests and Prophets and all the people then in the Court and accused as a man worthy of death but was acquitted and set at Liberty by the publick Judgment of the Princes and Elders Vriahs Prophesie He is put to death At this time also Uriah prophesied against Jerusalem and the Land of Juda agreeable to the sayings of the Prophet Jeremiah for which the King put him to death by the Sword and threw his Carcass among the vilest Sepulchers of the comon people yet Ahikam who had formerly been a man of great Authority with King Josiah appeared so much in the behalf of the Prophet Jeremiah that he was not delivered over into the hands of the people to be put to death at that time To these might be added the Prophet Habbakuk to whom when he complained of the stubornness of the Jews God made this answer Habbahkuks prophesie That he would shortly send the Chaldeans into Juda and further declared his purpose concerning this matter in these words I will do a work in your dayes which you will not believe when it shall be told unto you for behold I will stir up the Chaldeans a fierce Nation and a swift which shall walk through the breadth of the Land which is none of theirs as their own Inheritance Jeremiah reproves the Jews In the fourth year of this King Jehojakim the Prophet Jeremiah reproved the Jews for not hearkning to the Word of the Lord which he had spoken unto them from time to time and for not regarding the Exhortations of the Prophets which the Lord had sent unto them and then again told them of the coming of Nebuchadnezar upon them He prophesies of their Captivity and of their being carried away Captives to Babylon and that Captivity to last seventy years long and during the seventy years time of Captivity Daniel prophesied of the coming of the Messiah who should bring in the Law of Everlasting Righteousness and put an end to the Levitical Sacrifices Jehojakim being taken Prisoner by the Chaldeans year of the world 3405 was thrown out without burial that is was buried like an Ass his Carcass being tugged and drawn out without the Gates of Jerusalem according as was foretold by the Prophet Jeremiah though in referance to the common course in nature he also may be said to have slept with his Fathers as he is 2 Kings 24.6 After him came his Son Jehoiachin who was also called Jeconias and reigned three Moneths and ten dayes in Jerusalem who also did evil in the sight of the Lord as his Father had done before him against whom the Lord by his Prophet Jeremiah declared a most dreadful Decree Ieremiahs decree against Ichoiachin He pronounced a Wo against the wicked Pastors saying O Earth Earth Earth hear the Word of the Lord thus saith the Lord write ye this man Childless a man that shall not prosper in his dayes for no man of his Seed shall prosper sitting upon the Throne of David and ruling any more in Juda and pronounced a wo to the Pastors that scattered the Sheep and that had not fed nor visited the People and therefore the Lord would Visit them for the evil of their doing and that he would gather the Remnant of his Flock and would set up Shepherds over them that should feed them and that he would raise unto David a righteous Branch that should execute Judgment and Justice in the Earth and that in his day Juda should be saved and Israel dwell safely and this is his Name wherewith he shall be called the Lord our Righteousness and in the fence of this the Prophet cryed out Mine heart within me is broken because of the Prophets all my Bones shake I am like a drunken man and like a man whom Wine hath overcome Isaiahs Prophets of Christ because of the Lord and because of the Word of his Holiness And Esaiah the Prophet had a true sight of the coming of the Blessed Messiah for he said The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to Preach good tydings unto the Meek he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted to proclaim liberty to the Captives and the opening the Prison to them that are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of Vengence of our God to comfort all that mourn to appoint unto them that mourn in Sion to give unto them Beauty for Ashes the oyl of Joy for mourning the garment of Praise for the Spirit of heaviness that they might be called Trees of Righteousness the planting of the Lord that be
he did afore-time opened his windows towards Jerusalem and kneeled down and prayed and gave thanks before his God of which these Persecutors acquainted the King then the King commanded and they cast Daniel into the Den of Lions but the Lord preserved him that the Lions hurt him not because he believed in his God which the King hearing of caused Daniel to be taken up out of the Den A judgment of God upon Persecutors and commanded them that were his Persecutors to be cast into it which was done and they were soon destroyed The Constancy and faithful Suffering of some of the ancient people of the Jews rather then they would be forced to depart from the Laws of their Fathers and not to live after the Laws of God Eleazer one of the principal Scribes an aged man and of a well-favoured countenance was constrained to open his Mouth Eleazer persecuted and to eat Swines Flesh But he choosing rather to dye gloriously then to live stained with such an Abomination spit it forth and came of his own accord to the torment as it behoved them to come that are resolved to stand out against such things as are not lawful for love of life to be tasted But they that had the charge of that wicked Feast for the old acquaintance they had with the man taking him aside besought him to bring flesh of his own provision such as was lawful for him to use and make as if he did eat of the flesh taken from the Sacrifice commanded by the King That in so doing he might be delivered from death and for the old friendship with them find favour But he began to consider discreetly and as became his Age and the excellency of his ancient years and the honour of his gray Head whereunto he was come and his most honest Education from a Child or rather the holy Law made and given by God therefore he answered accordingly and willed them strait-wayes to send him to the Grave For it becometh not our Age said he in any wise to dissemble whereby many young persons might think that Eleazer being fourscore years old and ten were now gone to a strange Religion and so they through mine hypocrisie and desire to live a little time and a moment longer should be deceived by me and I get a stain to mine old Age and make it Abominable For though for the present time I should be delivered from the punishment of men yet should I not escape the hand of the Almighty neither alive nor dead wherefore now manfully changing this life I will shew my self such an one as mine Age requireth and leave a notable example to such as be young to die willingly and couragiously for the honourable and holy Laws and when he had said these words immediatly he went to the Torment they that led him changing the good will they bare him a little before into hatred because the foresaid speeches proceeded as they thought from a desperate mind But when he was ready to dye with stripes he groaned and said It is manifest unto the Lord that hath the holy knowledge that whereas I might have been delivered from death I now endure sore pains in body by being beaten but in soul am well content to suffer these things because I fear him And thus this man dyed leaving his death for an example of a noble Courage and a memorial of vertue not only unto young men but unto all his Nation The Constancy and Cruel Death of seven Brethren and their Mother in one day because they would not eat Swines Flesh at the Kings Commandment Seven Brethren with their Mother were taken and compelled by the King against the Law The Mother and her seven Children persecuted to taste Swines Flesh and were tormented with Scourges and Whips but one of them that spake first said thus What wouldst thou ask or learn of us we are ready to dye ' rather then to transgress the Laws of our Fathers Then the King being in a rage commanded Pans and Caldrons to be made hot which forthwith being heated he commanded to cut out the Tongue of him that spake first and to cut off the utmost parts of his Body the rest of his Brethren and his Mother looking on Now when he was thus maimed in all his Members he commanded him being yet alive to be brought to the Fire and to be fryed in the Pan and as the vapour of the Pan was for a good space disperced they exhorted one another with the Mother to dye manfully saying thus The Lord God looketh upon us and in Truth hath comfort in us as Moses in his Song which witnessed to their Faces declared saying and he shall be comforted in his Servants so when the first was dead after this manner they brought the second to make a mocking stock and when they had pulled off the skin of his Head with the hair they asked him ' Wilt thou eat before thou be punished ' throughout every member of thy Body but he answered in his own Language and said No wherefore he also received the next Torment in order as the former did and when he was at the last gasp he said Thou like a fury takest us out of this present life but the King of the world shall raise us up who have dyed for his Laws unto everlasting life After him was the third made a mocking stock and when he was required he put out his tongue and that right soon holding forth his hands manfully and said couragously ' These I had from Heaven and for his Laws I dâ—spise them and ' from him I hope to receive them again insomuch that the King and they that were with him marvailed at the young mans courage for that he nothing regarded the pains Now when this man was dead also they tormented and mingled the fourth in like manner so when he was ready to dye he said thus It is good being put to death by men to look for hope from God to be raised up again by him as for thee thou shalt have no resurrection to life Afterward they brought the fifth also and mangled him then looked he unto the King and said Thou hast power over men thou art corruptible thou dost what thou wilt yet think not that our Nation is forsaken of God but abide a while and behold his great power how he will torment thee and thy seed After him also they brought the sixth who being ready to dye said Be not deceived without cause for we Suffer these things for our selves having sinned against our God therefore marvelous things are done unto us but think not thou that takest in hand to strive against God that thou shalt escape unpunished But the mother was marvelous above all and worthy of honorable memory for when she saw her seven sons slain within the space of one day she bare it with a good courage because of the hope that she had in the Lord yea she
exhorted every one of them in her own Language filled with couragious spirit and stirred up her womanish thoughts with a manly stomach she said unto them I cannot tell how you came into my womb for I neither gave you breath nor life neither was it I that formed the members of every one of you but doubtless the Creator of the world who formed the Generation of man and found out the beginning of all things will also of his own mercy give you breath and life again as you now regard not your own selves for his Laws sake Now Antiochus thinking himself despised and suspecting it to be a reproachful speech whilst the youngest was yet alive did not only exhort him by words but also assured him with Oathes that he would make him both a rich and a happy man if he would turn from the Laws of his Fathers and that also he would take him for his Friend and trust him with affairs but when the young man would in no case hearken unto him the King called his Mother and exhorted her that she would counsel the young man to save his life and when he had exhorted her with many words she promised him that she would counsel her Son but she bowing her self towards him laughing the cruel Tyrant to scorn spake in her Country language on this manner O my Son have pity upon me that bare thee nine Months in my Womb and gave thee suck three Years and nourished thee and brought thee up unto this age and endured the troubles of Education I beseech thee my Son look upon the Heaven and the Earth and all that is therein and consider that God made them of things that were not and so was mankind made likewise fear not this Tormentor but being worthy of thy Brethren take thy death that I may receive thee again in mercy with thy Brethren While she was yet speaking these words the young man said Whom wait ye for I will not obey the Kings commandment but I will obey the Commandment of the Law that was given unto our Fathers by Moses and thou that hast been the author of all mischeif against the Hebrews shalt not escape the hands of God for we suffer because of our Sins and though the living Lord be angry with us a little while for our chastning and correction yet shall he be at one again with his Servants But thou O Godless man and of all other most wicked be not lifted up without a cause nor puffed up with uncertain hopes lifting up thy hands against the Servants of God for thou hast not yet escaped the Judgment of Almighty God who seeth all things for our Brethren who now have suffered a snort pain are dead under Gods Covenant of everlasting Life but thou through the Judgment of God shalt receive just punishment for thy Pride but I as my Brethren offer up my Body and Life for the Laws of our Fathers beseeching God that he would speedily be merciful unto our Nation and that thou by Torments and Plagues mayest confess that he alone is God and that in me and my Brethren the wrath of the Almighty which is justly brought upon all our Nation may cease Then the King being in a rage handled him worse then all the rest and took it grievously that he was mocked so this man dyed undefiled and put his whole trust in the Lord last of all after the Sons the Mother dyed When her Sons were apprehended she exhorted them in the Hebrew Tongue saying O my most dear and loving Children let us hasten to that Agony which may credit our profession and be rewarded by God with Eternal Life let us fearlessly present our Bodies to those Torments which aged Eleazar endured let us call to mind our Father Abraham who having but one only Son willingly sacrificed him at Gods command and feared not to bring him to the Alter whom with many prayers he had obtained in his old age Remember Daniel the three Children c. Antioch being enraged against her caused her to be stript naked hanged up by the Hands and cruelly whipt then were her Dugs and Paps pulled off and her self put into the Red-hot Frying-pan where lifting up her Hands and Eyes to Heaven in the midest of her Prayers she yielded up her chaste Soul unto God But God suffered not the cruel Tyrant to escape unpunished for in his Wars against the Persians the Lord struck him with Madness his Intrals were devoured with Worms and stinking like a Carrion in the Extreamity of his Torments he gave up the Ghost Part II Containing an Account of the great Persecutions and Martyrdoms of the Christians after the coming of Christ and before the Apostacy and Darkness wholy spread over the Church AFter the Jews who were once the People of God and had the Laws Statutes Ordinances and Commands of God made known to them as is before related had apostatized from the holy Spirit or Life they provoked God and soon forgat him shamefully entreated and killed the Servants and Messengers of God yet the Lord had Compassion to mankind and remembred his Promise and in love to the World sent forth his Son who said when he was come he was the true Light that enlighteneth every one that cometh into the world yet the world knew him not but God sent his Messenger to prepare his Way and the Voice of one cryed in the Wilderness prepare ye the Way of the Lord and make strait Paths for our God and when this Messenger whose name was John was come the hand of the Lord was with him and he preached repentance for the remission of sins and for reproving Herod of his Evils he was shut up in Prison and though Christ testified of him that among those that were born of women there was not a greater Prophet then John Yet this Herod who had married Herodias his brothers wife to whom John said it is not lawfull for thee to have thy brothers wife John Baptist beheaded therefore the persecuting spirit arose in Herodias and she would have killed him but could not yet afterwards she was the cause of John Baptists being beheaded in Prison And when Christ Jesus appeared who is the Light of the world whom John called the Lamb of God Christ Jesus Persecuted and put to death who testified against the apostatized Jews their false worship in their dead Forms saying God a is Spirit they that worship him must worship him in spirit and and truth yet him these Jews rejected and would not receive him that they might have Life and when he said I am the bread of life and I am the living bread which came down from Heaven if any man eat of this bread he shall live forever and the bread that I shall give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world the Jews in their ignorance reasoned saying How can this be can this man give us his flesh to eat and
suspected of Lutheranism and withal included in his Letter That if any of them should be convict of Heresie by the Scriptures of the old and New Testament they should be caused to abjure Notwithstanding this Letter was writ in favour unto the people of Merindol yet the Bishop of Cavaillon took advantage at one part of the Letter to prosecute his Malice against the people of Merindol for upon the Kings Letter the Parliament ordained that John Durand Counceller of the Parliament with the Secretary and the Bishop of Cavaillon with a Doctor of Divinity should go to Merindol and there declare to the Inhabitants the Errors and Heresies which they knew to be contained in their confession of their Faith and make them apparent by good and sufficient Information and having so convicted them by the Word of God they should make them to renounce and abjure the said Heresies and if they did refuse to abjure then to make report thereof that the Court might appoint how to proceed against them the Bishop of Cavaillon would not tarry till the time appointed by the Court for the Execution of this Matter but he himself with a Doctor went to Merindol to make them abjure but they refusing he grew very angry with them Shortly after John Durandus Councellor of the Parliament went to execute the Commission according to order to whom the Bailiff of Merindal said it seemeth unto me that there is no due form of Process in this Judgment for there is no party here that doth accuse us if we had any Accuser present which according to the rule of the Scripture either should prove by good demonstration out of the New and Old Testament that whereof we are accused or if he were not able should suffer punishment due unto such as are Hereticks I think he will be as greatly troubled to maintain his Accusations as we to answer unto the same Thus things debated for some time but the Bishop and Doctor were much confounded and the Inhabitance of Merindol were in rest and quietness for a space until John Miniers an exceeding bloody Tyrant began a new Persecution he put five or six of his own Tennants into a Cistern under the ground and closing it up there he kept them till they died for Hunger pretending that they were Lutherans but it was to get their goods and possessions by these practices this Wretch grew great and wealthy and became President of the Parliament and Lieutenant General in the Country of Province he imployed all his power to obtain Letters Pattens from the King to prosecute the Decree against the people of Merindol which by the help of the Cardinal of Tournon he did obtain After this he gathered all the Kings Army and imployed them to the destruction of Merindol Cabries and other Towns to the number of twenty two giving Commission To spoil ransack burn and destroy all together and to kill Man Woman and Child without mercy The people of Merindol seeing all in a flame round about them left their Houses and fled into the Woods carrying their Children upon their shoulders a days Journey but the way that they were to pass thorow being rough and cumbersome they thought it expedient to leave the Woman and Children behind hoping that the Enemy would shew mercy to the Woman and Children being destitute of all Succour no Tongue can express what Sorrow what Tears what Sighings what Lamentation there was at that Woful departing when they were compelled to be thus seperated asunder the Husband from his Wife the Father from his tender Children and never like to see each other again They were not gone far but the Enemy suddenly came upon them finding them assembling together at prayers and spoiled them of all that they had some they Ravished and some they Scourged practising what Cruelty and Villany they could divise against them the woman were in number about five hundred This Miniers caused thirty men to be carried into a Meadow there to be miserably cut and hewed to peices by Souldiers and he caused forty woman to be put into a Barn full of Straw and the Barn to be set on fire to destroy them the number of those that were so unmercifully murdered by this bloody Tyrant were about one Thousand persons Men Women and Children It is unexpressible how Lamentably and Cruelly these poor People were Persecuted insomuch that no kind of Cruelty and Tyranny was left unpractised for them that escaped into the Woods and Mountains being taken were either slain out-right or put in the Gally and made Slaves some were famished in Rocks and Caves with Hunger and thus it continued till God by his just Judgments cut off the bloody Tyrant Miniers by death Now follows the Persecution of the Waldenses in Angrogne Lucerne Perouse and Piedmont and other places from the year 1555 to 1561. Though these people by long persecution were driven from place to place and in all places afflicted yet they were not utterly destroyed nor would never yield to the superstitions of the Popish Religion but abstained from their Idolatry they had many Books of the New Testament translated into their own Language they lived in great simplicity and with the sweat of their brows they were quiet and peaceable among their Neighbours abstaining from Oaths Games Dancing and filthy Songs The said People at Angrogne having drawn up a confession of their faith it was by learned men at the Kings Court condemned as Heretical wherefore the King required them to give Obedience to the Church of Rome on pain of loss of goods and life and to give their Answer in three days but upon some of the German Princes interceeding with the French King on their behalf desiring him to show some pity to these Churches they were not molested for three years only one of their Ministers that travelled from place to place was apprehended and suffered Martyrdom to wit Jeffery Varnigle but the Pope envying this Liberty obtained through the Moderation of the German Princes who intreated on their behalf The Pope stirs up the Duke of Savay against them who in his own nature was rather inclined to let them live in quietness telling him that he ought to banish the Waldenses for that they were a rebellious People against the holy Mother the Church these Instigations caused great Persecutions on these poor People for soon after several of them were burnt many fled and their Houses were ransakt some were taken and sent to the Gallies and Proclamation was put out That none should go to their Assemblies on pain of death In the midst of this Suffering they thought the best way to put a stop was to send to the Duke a Declaration of their Religion and wherefore they suffered which they did withal declaring that if by the Word of God it could be proved that they were in Error they should not be obstinate but be reformed c. after this the Persecution seemed somewhat to abate for a
our God trusting in his Mercy and he will surely help us as shall be most unto his Glory and our everlasting comfort being sure of this that he will suffer nothing to come unto us but that which shall be most profitable for us for it is either a Correction for our Sins or a Tryal of our Faith or to set forth his glory or for all together and therefore must needs be well done for there is nothing that cometh unto us but by our heavenly Fathers providence and therefore pray unto our heavenly Father that he will ever give us his Grace to consider it let us give most hearty thanks for these his fatherly corrections for as many as he loveth he correcteth And I beseech you now be of good chear and count the Cross of Christ greater Riches then all the vain-pleasures of England I doubt not but you have Supped with Christ at his Table I mean believed in him for that is the effect and then must you drink of his Cup I mean his Cross for that doth the Cup signifie unto us take the Cup and then shall you be sure to have the good Wine Christ's Blood to thy poor thirsty Soul pray continually in all things give thanks In the Name of Jesus shall every knee bow Cuthbert Simson One thing more I thought meet to mention which I find upon record concerning this Cuthbert Simson which some may hardly believe who are apt to think all things incredible which vary from the common course and order of Nature and may look upon this to be more a Phantasie then a real Vision but I shall relate the matter in short as I find it and so leave it to the tender Reader to judge of it The day before this Cuthbert Simson was condemned he being in the Stocks in the Bishops Cole-house Cluny the Keeper about nine at night according to his usual manner came to see whether his Prisoner was safe and lockt the Doors about two hours after Cuthbert heard one coming in to him first opened the Outward-door then the Inner-door and though there was no Candle yet he saw a great brightness and light most comfortable and joyful to his heart and this he declared to one Austen and others and expressed much joy and solace in declaring of it and the Vision that he saw was comfortable unto him Soon after suffered William Nichol who was burnt for the same cause at Haverfordwest in Wales and William Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson suffered in Norfolk William Seaman was an Husbandman of the age of twenty six years dwelling in Mendlesham in the County of Suffolk William Seaman Martyr he was persecuted by one Sr. John Terril who searched his house for him by night but missing of him he set his servants to search for him and when they had apprehended him brought him before their Master who asked him why he would not go to Mass and receive the Sacrament Seaman replyed because it was an Idol he would not receive it wherefore Terril sent him to Hopton Bishop of Norwich to deal with him who after he had examined him soon passed his bloody sentence of death against him This Seaman when he died left behind him a Wife and three young Children which her Husband being taken away one would have thought should have moved those pretended Christians to some pity towards her but instead of shewing pity they persecuted her out of the Town of Mendlesham because she refused to hear Mass and one Coles Lord of the said Town caused all her Goods and Corn to be seized and taken away Another of these Sufferers was Thomas Hudson of Ailesham in Norfolk he was thirty years of age by trade a Glover and a very honest poor man having a Wife and three Children and labouring alwayes dilligently in his imployment being zealous for that Truth which bore testimony against the Papists blasphemous preaching who put the Draugh and Darnel for the Wheat and that he might avoid their Idolatries and Superstition he absented from his house and went into Suffolk a long time and there remained traveling from one place to another at last he returned home again to comfort his Wife and Children being troubled at his absence when he was come home he conceiving his continuing there would be dangerous he and his Wife devised to make him a place among his Fagots to hide himself in where he remained all day exercising himself in reading and prayer and thus he continued for about the space of half a year but at last his Zeal and Courage arose and he walked abroad several dayes openly in the Town crying out continually against the Mass and such like trumpery and for three dayes and three nights together refused meat or to talk with any one Berry Vicar of the Town and one of the Bishops Commissaries caused the Officers to watch for him who upon the twenty second day of the Month called April apprehended him by the break of the day and led him to Berry the Commissary who examined him after this manner Doest thou not believe said Berry in the Sacrament of the Altar what is it Hudson replyed it is worms meat my belief is in Christ Berry Dost thou not believe the Mass to put away Sins Hudson No God forbid it is a patcht Monster and a disguised Puppet more longer a piecing then ever was Solomons Temple At which words Berry stamped and fumed and said Well thou Villain I will write to my Good Lord the Bishop Hudson said There is no Lord but God Then he asked Hudson whether he would Recant to which he replyed the Lord forbid I had rather die many deaths then do so This Thomas Hudson and the other two being brought to the Lollards-pit and there standing with Chains about them on a suddain Thomas Hudson came forth from under the Chain which made some to doubt that he would have recanted but his two Companions at the Stake exhorted him and comforted him in the Bowels of Christ but Hudson felt more in his Heart and Conscience then they did conceive was in him for he was compassed with great grief of mind not for his death but for lack of the feeling of Christ for which he kneeled down and prayed earnestly unto the Lord who at last according to his mercies gave him comfort and then he said now I thank God I am strong and so went to the Stake to his Fellows again and they all suffered constantly and joyfully to the Magnifying of the Lords Name Before I proceed to give a further Account of such as suffered Martyrdom its necessary to give a short Account of the said end of this Persecuting Commissary Berry who Persecuted Thomas Hudson and others to death as I find it recorded This Berry in his rage was very fierce against many godly People in the Town of Ailesham he burnt all good Books he could get and persecuted men for their Consciences and compelled many to Idolatry and being