Foxe - The Book of Martyrs
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
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<strong>Foxe</strong>’s <strong>Book</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Martyrs</strong><br />
but the power <strong>of</strong> perseverance; and wish for no change in our condition, but that which places<br />
a crown <strong>of</strong> martyrdom upon our heads."<br />
Scoblant was first brought to his trial; when, persisting in the pr<strong>of</strong>ession <strong>of</strong> his faith, he<br />
received sentence <strong>of</strong> death. On his return to prison, he earnestly requested the jailer not to<br />
permit any friar to come near him; saying, "<strong>The</strong>y can do me no good, but may greatly disturb<br />
me. I hope my salvation is already sealed in heaven, and that the blood <strong>of</strong> Christ, in which I<br />
firmly put my trust, hath washed me from my iniquities. I am not going to throw <strong>of</strong>f this<br />
mantle <strong>of</strong> clay, to be clad in robes <strong>of</strong> eternal glory, by whose celestial brightness I shall be<br />
freed from all errors. I hope I may be the last martyr to papal tyranny, and the blood already<br />
spilt found sufficient to quench the thirst <strong>of</strong> popish cruelty; that the Church <strong>of</strong> Christ may<br />
have rest here, as his servants will hereafter." On the day <strong>of</strong> execution, he to0ok a pathetic<br />
leave <strong>of</strong> his fellow prisoners. At the stake he fervently said the Lord's Prayer, and sung the<br />
Fortieth Psalm; then commending his soul to God, he was burnt alive.<br />
Hues, soon after died in prison; upon which occasion Coomans wrote thus to his friends:<br />
"I am now deprived <strong>of</strong> my friends and companions; Scoblant is martyred, and Hues dead, by<br />
the visitation <strong>of</strong> the Lord; yet I am not alone, I have with me the God <strong>of</strong> Abraham, <strong>of</strong> Isaac,<br />
and <strong>of</strong> Jacob; He is my comfort, and shall be my reward. Pray unto God to strengthen me to<br />
the end, as I expect every hour to be freed from this tenement <strong>of</strong> clay."<br />
On his trial he freely confessed himself <strong>of</strong> the reformed religion, answered with a manly<br />
fortitude to every charge against him, and proved the Scriptural part <strong>of</strong> his answers from the<br />
Gospel. <strong>The</strong> judge told him the only alternatives were recantation or death; and concluded by<br />
saying, "Will you die for the faith you pr<strong>of</strong>ess?" To which Coomans replied, "I am not only<br />
willing to die, but to suffer the most excruciating torments for it; after which my soul shall<br />
receive its confirmation from God Himself, in the midst <strong>of</strong> eternal glory." Being condemned,<br />
he went cheerfully to the place <strong>of</strong> execution, and died with the most manly fortitude, and<br />
Christian resignation.<br />
William <strong>of</strong> Nassau fell a sacrifice to treachery, being assassinated in the fifty-first year <strong>of</strong><br />
his age, by Beltazar Gerard, a native <strong>of</strong> Ranche Compte, in the province <strong>of</strong> Burgundy. This<br />
murderer, in hopes <strong>of</strong> a reward here and hereafter, for killing an enemy to the king <strong>of</strong> Spain<br />
and an enemy to the Catholic religion, undertook to destroy the prince <strong>of</strong> Orange. Having<br />
procured firearms, he watched him as he passed through the great hall <strong>of</strong> his palace to dinner,<br />
and demanded a passport. <strong>The</strong> princess <strong>of</strong> Orange, observing that the assassin spoke with a<br />
hollow and confused voice, asked who he was, saying that she did not like his countenance.<br />
<strong>The</strong> prince answered that it was one that demanded a passport, which he should presently<br />
have.<br />
Nothing further passed before dinner, but on the return <strong>of</strong> the prince and princess through<br />
the same hall, after dinner was over, the assassin, standing concealed as much as possible by<br />
one <strong>of</strong> the pillars, fired at the prince, the balls entering at the left side, and passing through<br />
the right, wounding in their passage the stomach and vital parts. On receiving the wounds, the<br />
prince only said, "Lord, have mercy upon my soul, and upon these poor people," and then<br />
expired immediately.<br />
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