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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 />

hand since my degradation, wherein I have written many things untrue. And forasmuch as my<br />

hand hath <strong>of</strong>fended, writing contrary to my heart, therefore my hand shall first be punished;<br />

for when I come to the fire it shall first be burned.<br />

"And as for the pope, I refuse him as Christ's enemy, and Antichrist, with all his false<br />

doctrine." Upon the conclusion <strong>of</strong> this unexpected declaration, amazement and indignation<br />

were conspicuous in every part <strong>of</strong> the church. <strong>The</strong> Catholics were completely foiled, their<br />

object being frustrated, Cranmer, like Samson, having completed a greater ruin upon his<br />

enemies in the hour <strong>of</strong> death, than he did in his life.<br />

Cranmer would have proceeded in the exposure <strong>of</strong> the popish doctrines, but the murmurs<br />

<strong>of</strong> the idolaters drowned his voice, and the preacher gave an order to "lead the heretic away!"<br />

<strong>The</strong> savage command was directly obeyed, and the lamb about to suffer was torn from his<br />

stand to the place <strong>of</strong> slaughter, insulted all the way by the revilings and taunts <strong>of</strong> the pestilent<br />

monks and friars.<br />

With thoughts intent upon a far higher object than the empty threats <strong>of</strong> man, he reached<br />

the spot dyed with the blood <strong>of</strong> Ridley and Latimer. <strong>The</strong>re he knelt for a short time in earnest<br />

devotion, and then arose, that he might undress and prepare for the fire. Two friars who had<br />

been parties in prevailing upon him to abjure, now endeavored to draw him <strong>of</strong>f again from<br />

the truth, but he was steadfast and immovable in what he had just pr<strong>of</strong>essed, and publicly<br />

taught. A chain was provided to bind him to the stake, and after it had tightly encircled him,<br />

fire was put to the fuel, and the flames began soon to ascend.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n were the glorious sentiments <strong>of</strong> the martyr made manifest; then it was, that<br />

stretching out his right hand, he held it unshrinkingly in the fire until it was burnt to a cinder,<br />

even before his body wa sinjured, frequently exclaiming, "This unworthy right hand."<br />

His body did abide the burning with such steadfastness that he seemed to have no more<br />

than the stake to which he was bound; his eyes were lifted up to heaven, and he repeated "this<br />

unworthy right hand," as long as his voice would suffer him; and using <strong>of</strong>ten the words <strong>of</strong><br />

Stephen, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit," in the greatness <strong>of</strong> the flame, he gave up the ghost.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Vision <strong>of</strong> Three Ladders<br />

When Robert Samuel was brought forth to be burned, certain there were that heard him<br />

declare what strange things had happened unto him during the time <strong>of</strong> his imprisonment; to<br />

wit, that after he had famished or pined with hunger two or three days together, he then fell<br />

into a sleep, as it were one half in a slumber, at which time one clad all in white seemed to<br />

stand before him, who ministered comfort unto him by these words:<br />

"Samuel, Samuel, be <strong>of</strong> good cheer, and take a good heart unto thee: for after this day<br />

shalt thou never be either hungry or thirsty."<br />

No less memorable it is, and worthy to be noted, concerning the three ladders which he<br />

told to divers he saw in his sleep, set up toward heaven; <strong>of</strong> the which there was one somewhat<br />

longer than the rest, but yet at length they became one, joining (as it were) all three together.<br />

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