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 />
ten o'clock at night they were borne away at the mercy <strong>of</strong> the waves. On Wednesday, in the<br />
night, Crow's companion died through the fatigue and hunger, and he was left alone, calling<br />
upon God for succor. At length he was picked up by a Captain Morse, bound to Antwerp, who<br />
had nearly steered away, taking him for some fisherman's buoy floating in the sea. As soon<br />
as Crow was got on board, he put his hand in his bosom, and drew out his Testament, which<br />
indeed was wet, but not otherwise injured. At Antwerp he was well received, and the money<br />
he had lost was more than made good to him.<br />
Executions at Stratford-le-Bow<br />
At this sacrifice, which we are about to detail no less than thirteen were doomed to the fire.<br />
Each one refusing to subscribe contrary to conscience, they were condemned, and the twentyseventh<br />
<strong>of</strong> June, 1556, was appointed for their execution at Stratford-le-Bow. <strong>The</strong>ir constancy<br />
and faith glorified their Redeemer, equally in life and in death.<br />
Rev. Julius Palmer<br />
This gentleman's life presents a singular instance <strong>of</strong> error and conversion. In the time <strong>of</strong><br />
Edward, he was a rigid and obstinate papist, so adverse to godly and sincere preaching, that<br />
he was even despised by his own party; that this frame <strong>of</strong> mind should be changed, and he<br />
suffer persecution and death in Queen Mary's reign, are among those events <strong>of</strong> omnipotence<br />
at which we wonder and admire.<br />
Mr. Palmer was born at Coventry, where his father had been mayor. Being afterward<br />
removed to Oxford, he became, under Mr. Harley, <strong>of</strong> Magdalen College, an elegant Latin and<br />
Greek scholar. He was fond <strong>of</strong> useful disputation, possessed <strong>of</strong> a lively wit, and a strong<br />
memory. Indefatigable in private study, he rose at four in the morning, and by this practice<br />
qualified himself to become reader in logic in Magralen College. <strong>The</strong> times <strong>of</strong> Edward,<br />
however, favouring the Reformation, Mr. Palmer became frequently punished for his<br />
contempt <strong>of</strong> prayer and orderly behavior, and was at length expelled the house. He afterwards<br />
embraced the doctrines <strong>of</strong> the Reformation, which occasioned his arrest and final<br />
condemnation.<br />
A certain nobleman <strong>of</strong>fered him his life if he would recant.<br />
"If so," said he, "thou wilt dwell with me. And if thou wilt set thy mind to marriage, I will<br />
procure thee a wife and a farm, and help to stuff and fit thy farm for thee. How sayst thou?"<br />
Palmer thanked him very courteously, but very modestly and reverently concluded that<br />
as he had already in two places renounced his living for Christ's sake, so he would with God's<br />
grace be ready to surrender and yield up his life also for the same, when God should send<br />
time.<br />
When Sir Richard perceived that he would by no means relent:<br />
"Well, Palmer," saith he, "then I perceive one <strong>of</strong> us twain shall be damned: for we be <strong>of</strong><br />
two faiths, and certain I am there is but one faith that leadeth to life and salvation."<br />
Palmer: "O sir, I hope that we both shall be saved."<br />
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