crament, commonly called here in England of the altar, he confessed that he neither had nor did believe, that in the said sacrament there is the real body and blood of Christ, because that the body is ascended into heaven, and there doth sit at the right hand of God the Father. And, moreover, he said, that the mass now used in the church of England was naught, and full of idolatry and abomination, and against the word of God; affirming also, that there are but two sacraments in the church of Christ, baptism and the supper of the Lord, &c. And to these assertions, he said, he would stand: and so he did to the end.

And when at last the bishop began to read the sentence, first exhorting him with many words to revoke his professed opinion, which he called damnable and heretical, he resisted all persuasions, answering the bishop again in this form, "I will not," said he, "forsake mine opinions, except you, my lord, can refute them by the scriptures; and I care not for your divinity: for you condemn all men, and prove nothing against them." And after many fair words of exhortation, which Bonner used to convert, or rather pervert him, he answered boldly again, "That the church, whereof the pope is supreme head, is no part of Christ's catholic church" and pointing to the bishop, he spake to the people saying, "Good people beware of him, and such as he is, for these are the people that deceive you," &c. The bishop, reading the sentence of his popish condemnation, gave him to the secular power. And so this blessed servant of God was sent to St. Alban's, and there, with much patience and constancy, ended his life, on the 26th of August, for the defence of the truth.

On his way to St. Alban's there was a great concourse of people to see and hear the prisoner: some were sorry to see so godly a man brought to be burned, others praised God for his constancy and perseverance in the truth. There were, however, some who said, it was a pity he did stand in such opinions: and others, both old women and men cried against him; one called him "heretic," and said it was a pity that he lived. But George Tankervil did speak to them so effectually out of the word of God, lamenting their ignorance, and protesting to them his unspotted conscience, that God softened their hardened hearts, so that some of them departed with weeping eyes.

There also came to him a certain schoolmaster who had a communication with him, touching the sacrament of the altar, and other points of papistical religion: but as he urged Tankervil with the authority of the doctors, wresting them after his own will; so, on the other side, Tankervil answered him mightily by the scriptures, not wrested after the mind of any man, but being interpreted after the will of the Lord Jesus, &c. And as he would not allow such allegations as Tankervil brought out of the scriptures without the opinions of the doctors; so again Tankervil would not credit his doctrine to be true, except he could confirm it by the scrip

tures.

When the hour drew near when he was to suffer, he desired the wine-drawer to give him a pint of Malmsey and a loaf, that he might eat and drink in remembrance of Christ's death and passion, because he could not have it administered to him by others in such manner as Christ commanded, and then he kneeled down, making his confession to the Lord with all those who were in the chamber with him; and after he had prayed earnestly to God, and had read the institution of the holy supper by the Lord Jesus, out of the evangelists, and out of St. Paul, he said, "O Lord, thou knowest it, I do not this to derogate authority from any man, or in contempt of those who are thy ministers; but only because I cannot have it administered according to thy word," &c. and when he had spoken these and such like words, he received it with giving of thanks.

He prayed his host to let him have a good fire in the chamber; he had so; and then he sitting on a form before the fire, put off his shoes and hose, and stretched out his leg to the flame, and when it had touched his foot, he quickly withdrew his leg, shewing how the flesh did persuade him one way, and the Spirit another way.

The flesh said, O, thou fool! wilt thou burn and needest not? The Spirit said, Be not afraid, for this is nothing in respect of fire eternal. The flesh said, Do not leave the company of thy friends and acquaintances, who love thee, and will let thee lack nothing. The Spirit said, The company of Jesus Christ and his glorious presence doth exceed all fleshly friends. The flesh said, Do not shorten thy time, for thou mayest live, if thou wilt, much longer. The Spirit said, This life is nothing unto the life in heaven which lasteth for ever, &c. And all this time the sheriffs were at a certain gentleman's house at dinner, not far from the town; whither, also, resorted knights and many gentlemen out of the country, because his son was married that day, and until they returned from dinner the prisoner was left with his host to be kept and looked to. And George Tankervil all that time was kindly and lovingly treated by his host; and considering that his time was short, his saying was, That although the day was never so long, yet at the last it rings to evening song.

About two o'clock, when the sheriffs were returned from dinner, they brought George Tankervil out of his inn unto the place where he should suffer, which is called Romeland, being a green place nigh to the west end of the Abby church: when he was come, he kneeled down by the stake, and after he had ended his prayers he arose, and with a joyful faith said, that although he had a sharp dinner, yet he hoped to have a joyful supper in heaven.

While the fagots were arranged about him, there came a priest to him, and persuaded him to believe on the sacrament of the altar, and he should be saved. But George Tankervil cried out vehemently, and said, "I defy the whore of Babylon, I defy the whore of Babylon: fie of that abominable idol; good people, do not believe him; good people, do not believe him!" And then the mayor of the town commanded to set fire to the heretic, and said, "If he had but one load of fagots in the whole world, he would give them to burn him." There was a certain knight by, who went unto Tankervil, and took him by the hand, and said, "Good brother, be strong in Christ," this he spake softly; and Tankervil said, "O sir, I thank you, I am so, I thank God." Then fire was set to him, and he desired the sheriff and all the people that they would pray for him; the most part of whom did so. And so embracing the fire, he bathed himself in it, and calling on the name of the Lord Jesus he was quickly out of pain, &c.

Robert Smith was brought to Newgate on the fifth of November. Of stature he was tall and slender, active about many things, but chiefly delighting in the art of painting, which many times, rather for his mind's sake than for any living or lucre, he practised. In religion he was fervent, after he had once tasted the truth; he was much confirmed by the preaching and reading of one Master Turner of Windsor, and others. Whereupon, at the coming of Queen Mary, he was deprived of his clerkship in Windsor college, by her visitors, and not long after he was apprehended, and brought to examination before Bonner, as here follows, written and testified with his own hand.

"About nine o'clock in the morning, I was among the rest of my brethren brought to the bishop's house; and I first of all was brought before him into his chamber, to whom the bishop said as follows, after he had asked my

name:

"Bonner. How long is it since you were confessed to any priest?'

"Smith. Never since I came to years of discretion. For I never saw it needful, neither commanded of God to come to shew my faults to any of that sinful number, whom you call priests.'

"Bonner. Thou shewest thyself even at the first chop to be a rank heretic, who, being weary of painting, hast entered into divinity, and so fallen, through thy departing from thy vocation, into heresy.'

"Smith. Although I have understanding in the occupation, yet I praise God I have had little need all my

life to live by the same; but have lived without the same in mine own house as honestly in my vocation, as ye have lived in yours, and yet used the same better than ever you used the pulpit.'

"Bonner. How long is it since you received the sacrament of the altar, and what is your opinion of the same?'

"Smith. I never received the same since I arrived at years of discretion, nor never will, by God's grace; neither do I esteem the same in any point, because it has not God's ordinance, either in name, or in other usage, but rather is set up and erected to mock God.'

"Bonner. Do you not believe that it is the very body of Christ that was born of the Virgin Mary, naturally, substantially, and really, after the words of consecration?'

"Smith. I shewed you before it was none of God's ordinances, as you use it; then much less can it be God, or any part of his substance, but only bread and wine appointed to that use: yet, nevertheless, if you can prove it to be the body that you spake of by the word, I will believe it; if not, I will, as I do, account it a detestable idol; not God, but contrary to God and his truth.'

"Bonner.-(After many raging words and vain objections said)There is no remedy but you must be burned.'

"Smith. You shall do no more to me, than you have done to better men than either of us both. But think not to quench the Spirit of God, nor to make your matter good. For your sore is too well seen to be healed so privily with blood. For even the very children have all your deeds in derision; so that although you patch up one place with authority, yet shall it break out in forty to your shame.'

44

Bonner.-(After many railing sentences, throwing away the paper of my examination) Well, even now, by my troth, even in good earnest, if thou wilt go and be shriven, I will tear this paper in pieces.'

"Smith. It would be too much to your shame to shew it to men of discretion.'

"After which answer, I was carried down to the garden with my jailer, and there remained until my brother Harwood was examined; and then being again brought up before Bonner, he demanded if I agreed with Harwood in his confession, upon these articles following: :

"Bonner. What say you to the catholic church? Do you not confess there is one in earth?'

"Smith. Yes, verily, I believe that there is one catholic church, or faithful congregation, which, as the apostle saith, is built upon the foundation of the prophets and apostles, Jesus Christ being the head corner-stone?' which church, in all her words and works, maintains the word, and brings the same for her authority, and without it doth nothing, nor ought to do, of which I am assured I am by grace made a member.'

"Bonner. You shall understand that I am bound, when my brother offends, and will not be reconciled, to bring him before the church: now if your church be the same, where may a man find it, to bring his brother before it ?'

"Smith. It is written in the Acts of the Apostles, that when the tyranny of men was so great against the church, they were obliged to congregate in houses and private places, as they now do; and yet they were nevertheless the church of God; and seeing they had their matters redressed being shut up in a corner, may not we do the like now a days?'

"Bonner. Yea, their church was known full well. For St. Paul writes to the Corinthians, directing the man to be punished and excommunicated, that had committed evil; by which we may well perceive it was a known church; but yours is not known.'

:

"Smith. Then you could not persecute it as you do but as you say the church of God at Corinth was manifest both to God and St. Paul; even so is this church of God in England, whom you persecute, both known to God, and also even to the very wicked, although they know not, nor will not know their truth nor conver

sation; you, and your own sinful number have pro

fessed their truth, and maintained the same a long time.'

"Bonner. Well, thou sayest that the church of God was only at Corinth when St. Paul wrote to them, and I will put it so in writing. Shall I?'

"Smith. I marvel greatly, my lord, that you are not ashamed to lay snares for your brethren on this manner. This is now the third snare you have laid for me. First, to make me confess that the church of England is not the church of Christ. Secondly, to say it is not known. Thirdly, to say the church of God is not universal, but particular. This is not the office of a bishop. For if an innocent had come in your way, you would have done your best, I see, to have entangled him.'

Harpsfield. Well, you are no innocent, as it appears.'

"Smith. By the grace of God, I am that I am; and this grace in me, I hope, is not in vain.'

"Bonner. Well, (laughing), tell me what sayest thou of the church?'

"Smith. I told you upon what the true church is built, and I affirm that in England there is the congregation of God, and also in all the earth, as it is written, 'Their sound is gone forth into all the earth;' and that this is the afflicted and persecuted church, which you cease not to imprison, slay, and kill. In Corinth there was not all the congregation of God, but a number of those holy and elect people of God. For neither St. Paul nor St. Peter were present at Corinth when they wrote, and yet they were of the church of God, as many thousands more who also communicate in that Holy Spirit.' "Bonner. What do you call catholic, and what do you call church?'

"Smith.-Catholic is universal, and church is a congregation knit together in unity.'

"Then after much like vain talk, it was laid to my charge, that my fellow and I spoke false things. For this I praised God, and was sent away.

"On Saturday I was brought to his chamber again, and there examined as follows:

"Bonner. Thou, Robert Smith, &c., sayest, that there is no catholic church here on earth.'

"Smith. You have both heard me speak and seen me write the contrary.'

"Bonner. Yea, but I must ask thee this question. How sayest thou?'

"Smith. If you will be answered, ask my articles that were written yesterday, and they shall tell you that I have confessed a church of God as well in earth as in heaven, and yet all one church, and one man's members, even Christ Jesus.'

“Bonner.— Well, what sayest thou to auricular confession? Is it not necessary to be used in Christ's church, and wilt thou not be absolved by the priest?'

"Smith. It is not needful to be used in Christ's church, as I answered yesterday. But if it be needful for any thing for your church, it is to pick men's purses. And such pick-purse matters are all the whole rabble of your ceremonies; for all is but money matters that ye maintain.'

"Bonner.— Why, how art thou able to prove that confession is a pick-purse matter? Art thou not ashamed to say so?'

Smith. I speak from experience; for I have both heard and seen the fruits of it. For first it has been. we see, a betrayer of kings' secrets, and the secrets of other men's consciences; who being delivered, and glad to be discharged of their sins, have given to priests great sums of money to absolve them, and sing masses for their soul's health.'

"I began to say how when I was a child waiting on a gentlemen of Norfolk, who being bound in conscience through the persuasion of the priest, gave away a great sum of his goods, and forgave to Master Gresham a great sum of money, and to another as much. The priest had for his part a sum, and the house had an annuity to keep him, which when his brother heard, he came down to London, and after declaration made to the council, how by the sublety of the priest he had robbed his wife and

children, recovered a great part again, to the value of two or three hundred pounds; but what he gave to the house could not be recovered. This tale I began to tell. But when my lord saw it savoured not to his purpose, he began to revile me. "Bonner. By the mass, if the queen's majesty were of my mind, you should not come to talk before any man, but should be put into a sack, and a dog tied to it, and so should be thrown into the water.

"Smith. I know you speak by practice, as much as by speculation; for both you and your predecessors have sought all means possible to kill Christ secretly.' "Bonner. How sayest thou to the seven sacraments? Believest thou not that they be God's order, that is to say, the sacrament of,' &c.

"Smith. I believe that in God's church there are but two sacraments, that is to say, the sacrament of regeneration, and the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; and as for the sacraments of the altar, and all your sacraments, they may well serve your church, but God's church hath nothing to do with them, neither have I any thing to do to answer them, nor you to examine me about them.'

"Bonner. Why, is God's order changed in baptism? In what point do we dissent from the word of God?'

"Smith. In hallowing your water; in conjuring it; in baptizing children with anointing and spitting in their mouths, mingled with salt, and with many other foolish ceremonies, of which not one point is able to be proved in God's order.'

"Bonner. By the mass, this is the most unshamefaced heretic that ever I heard.'

Smith. Well sworn, my lord.'

'Bonner. Well, you catch me at my words. but I will watch thee as well, I warrant thee.'

"Mordant. By my troth, my lord, I never heard the like in all my life. But I pray you, my lord, mark well his answer for baptism. He disallows holy ointment, salt, and such other laudable ceremonies, which no christian man will deny.' "Smith. It is a Christ to use infants.'

shameful blasphemy against any mingle-mangle in baptizing young

"Bonner. I believe, I tell thee, that if they die before they are baptized, they are damned.'

"Smith. You shall never be saved by that belief. But I pray you, my lord, show me, are we saved by water or by Christ?'

"Bonner. By both.'

"Smith. Then the water died for our sins! and so must you say, that the water hath life, and it being our servant, and created for us, is our saviour! This, my lord, is a strange doctrine, is it not?'

"Mordant. By our Lady, sir, I believe that if my child die without water, he is damned.'

"Bonner. Yea, and so do I, and all catholic men, good Master Mordant.'

"Smith. Such catholic! such salvation!' "Bonner.

of orders?'

Well, sir, what say you to the sacrament

"Smith. You may call it the sacrament of misorders for all orders are appointed of God. But as for your shaving, anointing, greasing, poling, and rounding, there are no such things appointed in God's word, and therefore I have nothing to do to believe your orders. And as for you, my lord, if you had grace and intelligence, you would not disfigure yourself as you do.' "Bonner. Sayest thou so? now, by my faith, I will go shave myself to vex thee.'

"And so Bonner sent for his barber, who immediately came; and before my face at the door of the next chamber he shaved himself, desiring me before he went, to answer to these articles.

"Bonner. What say you to holy bread and holy water, to the sacrament of anointing, and to all the rest of such ceremonies of the church?"

"Smith. I say, they be baubles for fools to play with, and not for the children of God to exercise themselves in ; and, therefore, they may go among the refuse.'

"Then went away Master Mordant, and my lord went to shaving, leaving there certain doctors, as he called them, to try what they could do: by whom I was baited for half an hour of whom I also asked this question, Where were all you in the days of King Edward, that ye spake not that which ye speak now? "Doctor. We were in England.'

"Smith. Yea, but then you had the faces of men ; but now you have put on lions' faces. You have for every time a vizor; yea, and if another King Edward should arise, you would then say, Down with the pope, for he is antichrist, and so are all his angels.'

"Then I was reviled, and sent away, and brought in again before these men; and one of them that baited me before, asked me if I disallowed confession?

"Smith. Look in my articles, and they shall shew you what I allow.'

"Doctor. Your articles confess that you allow not auricular confession.'

"Smith. I allow it not, because the word allows it not, nor commands it.'

"Doctor. Why, it is written, thou shalt not hide thy sins and offences.'

"Smith. No more do I when I confess them to Almighty God.'

"Doctor. Why, you cannot say that you can hide them from God, and therefore you must understand the words are spoken to be uttered to them that do not know them.'

"Smith. You have made a good answer, then must the priest confess himself to me, as I to him. For I know his faults and secrets no more than he knows mine. But if you confess to the priest, and not to God, you shall have the reward which Judas had: for he confessed himself to the priest, and yet went and hanged himself by and by; and so as many as do not acknowledge their faults to God, are said to hide them.' Bonner.-(Returning.) How stands it, master

doctors, have ye done any good?' "Doctor. No, by my faith, my lord, we can do no good.'

"Smith. Then it is fulfilled which is written, 'How can an evil tree bring forth good fruit?''

"Bonner. Nay, naughty fellow, I set these gentlemen to bring thee home to Christ.'

"Smith. Such gentlemen! such Christs! As truly as they have that name from Christ, so truly do they teach Christ.'

"Bonner. Well, wilt thou neither hear them nor

me?'

"Smith. Yes, I am compelled to hear you; but you cannot compel me to follow you.'

"Bonner. Well, thou shalt be burnt at a stake in Smithfield, if thou wilt not turn.'

"Smith. And you shall burn in hell, if you repent not but my lord, to put you out of doubt, because I am weary, I will strain courtesey with you. I perceive you will not, with your doctors come to me, and I am determined not to come to you, by God's grace. For I have hardened my face against you as hard as brass.'

"Then after many railing sentences I was sent away. And thus have I left the truth of mine answers in writing, gentle reader, being compelled by my friends to do it: that you may see how the Lord hath, according to his promise, given me a mouth and wisdom to answer in his cause, for which I am condemned, and my cause not heard.

"On the twelfth of July I was, with my brethren, brought into the consistory, and mine articles read before my lord mayor and the sheriffs, with all the assistants.

"Bonner. By my faith, my lord mayor, I have shewed him as much favour as any man living could do: but I perceive all is lost, both in him and all his company.' "Smith. My lord, it is written, Swear not at "Bonner. Ah, are ye come? By my troth, master speaker, ye shall preach at a stake.' "Smith. Well sworn, my lord.'

all.''

"Bonner.

Well, you are faultless.' "Smith. My lord mayor, I require you in God's name, that I may have justice. We are here to-day, a great number of innocent men, who are wrongfully accused of heresy. And I require you, if you will not seem to be partial, let me have no more favour at your hands, than the apostle had at the hands of Festus and Agrippa, who, being heathen and infidels, gave him leave not only to speak for himself, but also heard the probation of his cause. This require I at your hands, who being a christian judge, I hope will not deny me that right, which the heathen have allowed: if ye do, then shall all this audience, yea, and the heathen speak shame of your fact. For a city,' saith our Saviour, that is built on a hill cannot be hid:' if they, therefore, have the truth, let it come to light. For all that do well come to the light, and they that do evil hate the light.'

"Then my lord mayor hanging down his head, said nothing; but the bishop told me, I should preach at a stake; and so the sheriff cried, with the bishop, 'Away

with him!'

"Thus came I in before them four times, desiring justice, but could have none: and at length my friends requiring with one voice the same, and could not have it, we had the sentence read, and then being carried out, were brought in again, and had it read every man severally. But before the bishop gave me sentence, he told me in derision of my brother Tankervil, a tale between a gentleman and his cook. To which I answered, My lord, you fill the people's ears with fantasies and foolish tales, and make a laughing mattter at blood; but if you were a true bishop, you should leave these railing sentences, and speak the words of God.'

"Bonner. Well, I have offered to that naughty fellow, that my chancellor should here instruct him, but he has disdained it. How sayest thou, wilt thou have him instruct thee, and lead thee in the right way? You cannot say, but I have offered you fair, to have instruction. And now, I pray thee, call me bloody bishop, and say, I seek thy blood, if you will.'

"Smith. Well, my lord, although neither I, nor any of this congregation do report the truth of your act, yet shall these stones cry out, rather than that it shall be hidden.'

"Bonner. Away with him! away with him!' "Woodrofe.- Away with him! take him away!' "Smith. Well, good friends, ye have seen and heard the great wrong that we have received this day, and you are all witnesses that we have desired the probation of our cause by God's book, and it hath not been granted; but we are condemned, and our cause not heard. Nevertheless, my lord mayor, forasmuch as here you have exercised God's sword causeless, and will not hear the right of the poor, I commit my cause to Almighty God, who shall judge all men according unto right, before whom we shall both stand without authority; and there will I stand in the right, and have true judgment, to your great confusion, except ye repent, which the Lord grant you to do, if it be his will.'

"Then was I, with the rest of my brethren, carried away to Newgate.

"Thus, gentle reader, as near as I can, I have set out the truth of my examination, and the truth of my unjust condemnation for the truth, requiring God that it may not be laid to the charge of thee, O England. Requiring your hearty prayers to God for his grace and spirit of boldness; with hope even shortly to set to my seal, at Uxbridge, the eighth of August, by God's grace: pray that it may be his honour, my salvation, and your consolation, I pray you.

"ROBERT SMITH."

Thus hast thou, good reader, not only to note, but also to follow in this man a singular example of christian

fortitude, who so manfully and valiantly did stand in the defence of his Master's cause. And as thou seest him here boldly stand in examination before the bishop and doctors, so he was no less comfortable also in the prison among his fellows; which is also to be observed in his other fellow-prisoners, who, being there toge her, had godly conference with themselves, with daily pray ing and reading, which they to their great comfort all engaged in; amongst whom Robert Smith was chief doer. This said man was always solicitous, not only for those of his own company, but also his diligence was careful for other prisoners, whom he ceased not to exhort and dissuade from their old accustomed iniquity, and many he converted to his religion. He wrote several letters while in prison to sundry of his friends, the following is one of them :

"To all who love God unfeignedly, and intend to lead a godly life according to his gospel, and to persevere in his truth, unto the end: grace and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

"Be not afraid, most dearly beloved in our Saviour Jesus Christ, at these most perilous days, wherein by the sufferance of God, the prince of darkness is broken loose, and rageth in his members against the elect of God with all cruelty, to set up again the kingdom of antichrist: against whom, see that you be strong in faith to resist his most devilish doctrine with the pure gospel of God, arming yourselves with patience, to abide whatsoever shall be laid to your charge for the truth's sake, knowing that thereunto you are called, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Oh! how happy are you who in the sight of God are counted worthy to suffer for the testimony of Christ. Quiet therefore yourselves, oh! my loving brethren, and rejoice in him for whom you suffer; for unto you do remain the unspeakable joys, which neither the eye hath seen, nor the ear hath heard, neither the heart of man is able to comprehend in anywise. Be not afraid of the bodily death, for your names are written in the book of life. And the prophets do record, that precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Watch, therefore, and pray, that you be not prevented in the day of temptation. Now cometh the day of your trial, wherein the waters rage, and the stormy winds blow. Now shall it appear, whether you have built upon the fleeting sand, or upon the unmoveable Rock, Christ, which is the foundation of the apostles and prophets; whereon every house that is built, groweth into an holy temple in the Lord, by the mighty working of the Holy Ghost. Now approacheth the day of your battle, wherein it is required that you shew yourselves the valiant soldiers of Christ Jesus, with the armour of God, that you may be able to stand fast against all the crafty assaults of the devil. Christ is your captain, and you are his soldiers, whose cognizance is the cross, to the which he willingly humbled himself even unto death, and thereby spoiled his enemies, and now he triumphs over them in the glory of his Father, making intercession for them that here remain to suffer the afflictions that are to be fulfilled in his mystical body. It behoves, therefore, every one that will be counted his scholar, to take up his own cross, and follow him, as you have him for an ensample; and I assure you that he being on your side, nothing shall be able to prevail against you. And that he will be with you, even to the world's end, you have his promise in Mat. xxviii. He will go forth with his host as a conqueror to make a conquest. He is the man that sitteth on the white horse, crowned with immortality, and you, brethren, are his fellowship, whereof he is the head. He hath your heart in his hand, as a bow bent after his godly will; he shall direct the same according to the riches of his glory, into all spiritual and heavenly cogitations. He is faithful and will not suffer you to be further assaulted, than he will give you strength to overcome, and in the utmost danger he will make a way, that you may be able

to bear it.

"Shrink not, therefore, dear hearts, when you shall be called to answer for the hope that is in you; for we

have the comforter, even the Spirit of truth who was sent from the heavens to teach us. He shall speak in us, he shall strengthen us. Who is he then that shall be able to confound us? Nay, what tyrant is he that now boasteth himself of his strength to do mischief, whom the Lord shall not with the same Spirit, by the mouth of his servants, strike down to hell fire? Yea, suddenly will the Lord bring down the glory of the proud Philistines, by the hands of his servant David. Their strength is in the spear and shield, but our help is in the name of the Lord who made both heaven and earth. He is our buckler and wall, a strong tower of defence. He is our God, and we are his people. He shall bring the counsels of the ungodly to nought. He shall take them in their own net. He shall destroy them in their own inventions. The right hand of the Lord shall work this wonder. His power is known among the children of men. Their fathers have felt it, and are confounded. | In like manner shall they know that there is no counsel against the Lord, when their secrets are opened to the whole world, and are found to be against the living God. Work they never so craftily, build they never so strongly; yet down shall their rabble fall, and the builders themselves shall then be scattered upon the face of the earth, as accursed of God. The just shall see this and be glad, and praise the name of the Lord, that so marvellously hath dealt with his servants, as to bring their enemies under their feet. Then shall the fearful seed of Cain tremble and quake. Then shall the mocking Ishmaelites be cast out of door. Then shall the proud Nimrod see his labour lost. Then shall the beast of Babylon be trodden under foot. Then shall the scribes and pharisees for madness fret and rage. Then shall their painted wisdom be known for extreme folly. Then shall the bloody dragon be void of his prey. Then shall the whore of Babylon receive double vengeance. Then shall they scratch their crowns for the fall of their mistress harlot, whom they now serve for filthy lucre; when no man will buy their wares any more. Then shall the popish priesthood cry away with care, even when the Lord shall help his servants; which day is not far off, the day wherein the kingdom of antichrist shall have an end, and never rise any more. In the meantime, abide in certain and sure hope, cleaving unto the promises of God, which in their own time shall be fulfilled.

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Acquit yourselves like men against the enemies of God in all humbleness of mind; be strong in spirit to acknowledge one God, one only Saviour Jesus Christ, one only, everlasting and sufficient sacrifice for the remission of sins, even the precious body of the Lord Jesus, once offered for all and for ever. Who now sitteth on the right hand of God, and from thence shall he come to judge both the quick and the dead at the last day; and until that time that blessed body occupies no other place to dwell in, to be kept in, to be inclosed in, but only in the heavens, even in the glorious majesty of God, personally abiding there in the flesh, not coming down from thence till the last day. And as he never ceases to be man, so doth he never lose the similitude of man; his body there hath his lineaments, he leaveth them not, so hath that body there his highness, and shrinketh not, and his manly shape he altereth not at any time. He is, in that he took of the Virgin Mary, a natural man in all conditions, except sin.

"And what he took of his blessed mother, by the working of the Holy Ghost, he took it for ever, and will not exchange the same for any other. He took the shape of a man with the substance of his manhood, in one sacred womb. There were they two united together by the Holy Ghost, never to be divided asunder. He retaineth the one with the other, inseparably. As he will not alter the substance of his flesh into the substance of bread, no more will he alter the shape of his body into the form of bread. There cannot be a greater absurdity against the truth, than to think that he would leave the shape that he took in the Virgin's womb, being an accident unto his manhood, and join unto the same a wafer-cake baken in an oven, or between a pair of irons. As he is in heaven a very man, one only Mediator between God and man, even the man Christ Jesus, he it is

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that is the propitiation for our sins. Be bold, therefore, to confess this most pure and apostolical doctrine; and also that all favour, mercy, and forgiveness comes only by him. He only of God the Father was made for us all wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. All these are the gifts of God the Father, freely given unto us by Christ Jesus, God and man, through faith in his blood, and not by the merits of men; gifts they are, I say, freely given unto us of favour, without our desert, by believing, and not by deserving. To this do the law and the prophets bear witness.

"This doctrine have all the blessed martyrs of Christ's church witnessed with their blood to be true. To this truth, have all the consciences of all true believers subscribed ever since the ascension of Christ. This witness is not of man, but of God. What better quarrel can you then have to give your lives for, than the truth itself ? That man that gives his life for the truth, takes the readiest way to life. He that hath the pope's curse for the truth, is sure of Christ's blessing. Well then, my brethren, what shall now hinder, but that you go forward as you have begun? Nay, rather run with the runners, that you may obtain the appointed glory. Hold on the right way, look not back, have the eye of your heart fixed upon God, and so run, that you may get hold of it. Cast away all your worldly pelf, and worldly respects, as the favour of friends, the fear of men, sensual affection, respect of persons, honour, praise, shame, rebuke, wealth, poverty, riches, lands, possessions, carnal fathers and mothers, wife and children, with the love of your ownselves; and in respect of that heavenly trea. sure you look for, let all these be denied, and utterly refused of you, so that in no condition they do abate your zeal, or quench your love towards God. In this case make no account of them, but rather repute them as vile, in comparison of everlasting life. Away with them as thorns that choak the heavenly seed of the gospel, where they are suffered to grow. They are burdens of the flesh, which encumber the soul. Exchange them therefore for advantage. Doth not he gain, that finds heavenly and immortal treasure, for earthly and corruptible riches? Loses that man any thing, who of his carnal father and mother is forsaken, when therefore he is received of God the Father to be his child and heir in Christ? Heavenly for earthly, for mortal immortal; for transitory, things permanent, is great gains to a christian conscience.

"Therefore, as I began, I exhort you in the Lord, not to be afraid. Shrink not, my brethren; mistrust not God; be of good comfort; rejoice in the Lord; hold fast your faith, and continue to the end. Deny the world, and take up your cross, and follow him who is your captain, and is gone before. If you suffer with him, you shall reign with him. What way can you glorify the name of your heavenly Father better, than by suffering death for his Son's sake? What a spectacle shall it be to the world to behold so godly a fellowship as you servants of God, in so just a quarrel as the gospel of Christ is, with so pure a conscience, so strong a faith, and so lively a hope, to offer yourselves to suffer most cruel torments at the hands of God's enemies, and so to end your days in peace, to receive in the resurrection of the righteous, life everlasting?

"Be strong, therefore, in your battle: The Lord God is on your side, and his truth is your cause; and against you are none but the enemies of the cross of Christ, as the serpent and his seed, the dragon with his tail, the marked men of the beast, the offspring of the Pharisees, the congregation malignant, the generation of vipers, murderers, as their father the devil hath been from the beginning. To conclude, such are they as the Lord God hath always abhorred, and in all ages resisted and overthrown. God, from whom nothing is hid, knows what they are. He that searcheth the hearts of men, he hath found out them to be crafty, subtle, full of poison; proud, disdainful, stiff-necked, devourers, raveners, and barkers against the truth, filthy and shameless : and therefore, doth the Spirit of God, by the mouths of his holy prophets and apostles, call them by the names of foxes. serpents, cockatrices, lions, leopards,