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 />
his promise, reached up his hands burning in flames over his head to the living God, and with<br />
great rejoicings as it seemed, struck or clapped them three times together. A great shout<br />
followed this wonderful circumstance, and then this blessed martyr <strong>of</strong> Christ, sinking down<br />
in the fire, gave up his spirit, June 10, 1555.<br />
Thomas Watts, <strong>of</strong> Billerica, in Essex, <strong>of</strong> the diocese <strong>of</strong> London, was a linen draper. He<br />
had daily expected to be taken by God's adversaries, and this came to pass on the fifth <strong>of</strong><br />
April, 1555, when he was brought before Lord Rich, and other commissioners at Chelmsford,<br />
and accused for not coming to the church.<br />
Being consigned over to the bloody bishop, who gave him several hearings, and, as usual,<br />
many arguments, with much entreaty, that he would be a disciple <strong>of</strong> Antichrist, but his<br />
preaching availed not, and he resorted to his last revenge-that <strong>of</strong> condemnation.<br />
At the stake, after he had kissed it, he spake to Lord Rich, charging him to repent, for the<br />
Lord would revenge his death. Thus did this good martyr <strong>of</strong>fer his body to the fire, in defence<br />
<strong>of</strong> the true Gospel <strong>of</strong> the Savior.<br />
Thomas Osmond, William Bamford, and Nicholas Chamberlain, all <strong>of</strong> the town <strong>of</strong><br />
Coxhall, being sent up to be examined, Bonner, after several hearings, pronounced them<br />
obstinate heretics, and delivered them to the sheriffs, in whose custody they remained until<br />
they were delivered to the sheriff <strong>of</strong> Essex county, and by him were executed, Chamberlain<br />
at Colchester, the fourteenth <strong>of</strong> June; Thomas Osmond at Maningtree, and William Bamford,<br />
alias Butler, at Harwich, the fifteenth <strong>of</strong> June, 1555; all dying full <strong>of</strong> the glorious hope <strong>of</strong><br />
immortality.<br />
<strong>The</strong>n Wriotheseley, lord chancellor, <strong>of</strong>fered Anne Askew the king's pardon if she would<br />
recant; who made this answer, that she came not thither to deny her Lord and Master. And<br />
thus the good Anne Askew, being compassed in with flames <strong>of</strong> fire, as a blessed sacrifice unto<br />
God, slept in the Lord, A.D. 1546, leaving behind her a singular example <strong>of</strong> Christian<br />
constancy for all men to follow.<br />
Rev. John Bradford, and John Leaf, an Apprentice<br />
Rev. John Bradford was born at Manchester, in Lancashire; he was a good Latin scholar,<br />
and afterward became a servant <strong>of</strong> Sir John Harrington, knight.<br />
He continued several years in an honest and thriving way; but the Lord had elected him<br />
to a better function. Hence he departed from his master, quitting the Temple, at London, for<br />
the University <strong>of</strong> Cambridge, to learn, by God's law, how to further the building <strong>of</strong> the Lord's<br />
temple. In a few years after, the university gave him the degree <strong>of</strong> master <strong>of</strong> arts, and he<br />
became a fellow <strong>of</strong> Pembroke Hall.<br />
Martin Bucer first urged him to preach, and when he modestly doubted his ability, Bucer<br />
was wont to reply, "If thou hast not fine wheat bread, yet give the poor people barley bread,<br />
or whatsoever else the Lord hath committed unto thee." Dr. Ridley, that worthy bishop <strong>of</strong><br />
London, and glorious martyr <strong>of</strong> Christ, first called him to take the degree <strong>of</strong> a deacon and<br />
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