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 />
prison.<br />
After his excommunication and delivery over to the secular power, he was brought by the<br />
sheriff <strong>of</strong> London to the Compter, a prison in his own parish <strong>of</strong> Bread-street, at which he<br />
rejoiced greatly, both because he found there a fellow-prisoner, Mr. Cardmaker, with whom<br />
he had much Christian and comfortable discourse; and because out <strong>of</strong> prison, as before in his<br />
pulpit, he might have an opportunity <strong>of</strong> preaching to his parishioners. On the fourth <strong>of</strong><br />
February, Bonner, bishop <strong>of</strong> London, came to the prison to degrade him; the day following,<br />
in the morning the sheriff <strong>of</strong> London delivered him to certain <strong>of</strong> the queen's guard, who were<br />
appointed to carry him to the city <strong>of</strong> Coventry, there to be burnt.<br />
When they had arrived at Coventry, a poor shoemaker, who used to serve him with shoes,<br />
came to him, and said, "O my good master, God strengthen and comfort you." "Good<br />
shoemaker," Mr. Saunders replied, "I desire thee to pray for me, for I am the most unfit man<br />
for this high <strong>of</strong>fice, that ever was appointed to it; but my gracious God and dear Father is able<br />
to make me strong enough." <strong>The</strong> next day, being the eighth <strong>of</strong> February, 1555, he was led to<br />
the place <strong>of</strong> execution, in the park, without the city. He went in an old gown and a shirt,<br />
barefooted, and <strong>of</strong>tentimes fell flat on the ground, and prayed. When he was come to nigh the<br />
place, the <strong>of</strong>ficer, appointed to see the execution done, said to Mr. Saunders that he was one<br />
<strong>of</strong> them who marred the queen's realm, but if he would recant, there was pardon for him. "Not<br />
I," replied the holy martyr, "but such as you have injured the realm. <strong>The</strong> blessed Gospel <strong>of</strong><br />
Christ is what I hold; that do I believe, that have I taught, and that will I never revoke!" Mr.<br />
Saunders then slowly moved towards the fire, sank to the earth and prayed; he then rose up,<br />
embraced the stake, and frequently said, "Welcome, thou cross <strong>of</strong> Christ! welcome everlasting<br />
life!" Fire was then put to the fagots, and, he was overwhelmed by the dreadful flames, and<br />
sweetly slept in the Lord Jesus.<br />
<strong>The</strong> History, Imprisonment, and Examination <strong>of</strong> Mr. John Hooper, Bishop <strong>of</strong><br />
Worcester and Gloucester<br />
John Hooper, student and graduate in the University <strong>of</strong> Oxford, was stirred with such<br />
fervent desire to the love and knowledge <strong>of</strong> the Scriptures that he was compelled to move<br />
from thence, and was retained in the house <strong>of</strong> Sir Thomas Arundel, as his steward, until Sir<br />
Thomas had intelligence <strong>of</strong> his opinions and religion, which he in no case did favour, though<br />
he exceedingly favoured his person and condition and wished to be his friend. Mr. Hooper<br />
now prudently left Sir Thomas' house and arrived at Paris, but in a short time returned to<br />
England, and was retained by Mr. Sentlow, until the time that he was again molested and<br />
sought for, when he passed through France to the higher parts <strong>of</strong> Germany; where,<br />
commencing acquaintance with learned men, he was by them free and lovingly entertained,<br />
both at Basel, and especially at Zurich, by Mr. Bullinger, who was his singular friend; here<br />
also he married his wife, who was a Burgonian, and applied very studiously to the Hebrew<br />
tongue.<br />
At length, when God saw it good to stay the bloody time <strong>of</strong> the six articles, and to give<br />
us King Edward to reign over this realm, with some peace and rest unto the Church, amongst<br />
many other English exiles, who then repaired homeward, Mr. Hooper also, moved in<br />
conscience, thought not to absent himself, but seeing such a time and occasion, <strong>of</strong>fered to help<br />
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