Cuthbert Symson
Few professors of Christ possessed more activity and zeal than this
excellent person. He not only labored to preserve his friends from the
contagion of popery, but to guard them against the terrors of
persecution. He was deacon of the little congregation over which Mr.
Rough presided as minister.
Mr. Symson has written an account of his own sufferings, which we cannot
detail better than in his own words:<
"On the 13th of December, 1557, I was committed by the council to the
tower of London. On the following Thursday, I was called into the
ware-room, before the constable of the tower, and the recorder of
London, Mr. Cholmly, who commanded me to inform them of the names of
those who came to the English service. I answered, that I would declare
nothing; in consequence of my refusal, I was set upon a rack of iron, as
I judge for the space of three hours!
"They then asked me if I would confess: I answered as before. After
being unbound, I was carried back to my lodging. The Sunday after I was
brought to the same place again, before the lieutenant and recorder of
London, and they examined me. As I had answered before, so I answered
now. Then the lieutenant swore by God I should tell; after which my two
fore-fingers were bound together, and a small arrow placed between them,
they drew it through so fast that the blood followed, and the arrow
brake.
"After enduring the rack twice again, I was retaken to my lodging, and
ten days after the lieutenant asked me if I would not now confess that
which they had before asked of me. I answered, that I had already said
as much as I would. Three weeks after I was sent to the priest, where I
was greatly assaulted, and at whose hand I received the pope's curse,
for bearing witness of the resurrection of Christ. And thus I commend
you to God, and to the word of his grace, with all those who unfeignedly
call upon the name of Jesus; desiring God of his endless mercy, through
the merits of his dear Son Jesus Christ, to bring us all to his
everlasting kingdom, Amen. I praise God for his great mercy shown upon
us. Sing Hosanna to the Highest with me, Cuthbert Symson. God forgive my
sins! I ask forgiveness of all the world, and I forgive all the world,
and thus I leave the world, in the hope of a joyful resurrection!"
If this account be duly considered, what a picture of repeated tortures
does it present! But, even the cruelty of the narration is exceeded by
the patient meekness with which it was endured. Here are no expressions
of malice, no invocations even of God's retributive justice, not a
complaint of suffering wrongfully! On the contrary, praise to God,
forgiveness of sin, and a forgiving all the world, concludes this
unaffected interesting narrative.
Bonner's admiration was excited by the steadfast coolness of this
martyr. Speaking of Mr. Symson in the consistory, he said, "You see what
a personable man he is, and then of his patience, I affirm, that, if he
were not a heretic, he is a man of the greatest patience that ever came
before me. Thrice in one day has he been racked in the tower: in my
house also he has felt sorrow, and yet never have I seen his patience
broken."
The day before this pious deacon was to be condemned, while in the
stocks in the bishop's coal-house, he had the vision of a glorified
form, which much encouraged him. This he certainly attested to his wife,
Mr. Austen, and others, before his death; but Mr. Fox, in reciting this
article, leaves it to the reader's judgment, to consider it either as a
natural or supernatural circumstance.
With this ornament of the Christian reformation were apprehended Mr.
Hugh Foxe and John Devinish; the three were brought before Bonner, March
19, 1558, and the papistical articles tendered. They rejected them, and
were all condemned. As they worshipped together in the same society, at
Islington, so they suffered together in Smithfield, March 28; in whose
death the God of Grace was glorified, and true believers confirmed!
Wm. Nichol, of Haverfordwest, Wales, was taken up for reprobating the
practice of the worshippers of antichrist, and April 9, 1558, bore
testimony to the truth at Haverfordwest, in Wales, by enduring the fire.
More
-
An Account Of The Persecutions Against The Christians In Abyssinia Or Ethiopia
Towards the conclusion of the fifteenth century, and soon after the discovery of the Cape of Good Hope, some Portuguese missionaries made a voyage to Abyssinia, and were indefatigable in propagating the Roman catholic doctrine among the Abyssinians,... An Account Of The Persecutions Against The Christians In Turkey
Mahomet, (the impostor) in the infancy of his new religion, tolerated christianity through a political motive, as he was sensible, that even in those early times it had several powerful espousers among the princes, who were his cotemporaries. As a p... An Account Of The Persecutions In Bohemia Under The Papacy
The Roman pontiffs having usurped a power over several churches were particularly severe on the Bohemians, which occasioned them to send two ministers and four lay-brothers to Rome, in the year 977, to obtain redress of the pope. After some delay, t... An Account Of The Persecutions In China And Several Other Countries
Christianity was first established in China by three Italian missionaries, called Roger the Neapolitan, Pasis of Bologne, and Matthew Ricci of Mazerata, in the marquisate of Ancona. These entered China about the beginning of the sixteenth century,... An Account Of The Persecutions In Great Britain And Ireland Prior To The Reign Of Queen Mary I
Gildas, the most ancient British writer extant, who lived about the time that the Saxons left the island of Great Britain, has drawn a most shocking instance of the barbarity of those people. The Saxons, on their arrival, being heathens like the... An Account Of The Persecutions In Japan
Christianity was first introduced into the idolatrous empire of Japan by some Portuguese missionaries in the year of our Lord 1552, and their endeavours in making converts to the light of the gospel met with a degree of success equal to their most s... An Account Of The Persecutions In Lithuania And Poland
The persecutions in Lithuania began in 1648, and were carried on with great severity by the Cossacks and Tartars. The cruelty of the Cossacks was much, that even the Tartars, at last, grew ashamed of it, and rescued some of the intended victims fr... An Account Of The Persecutions In Spanish America
The bloody tenets of the Roman catholic persuasion, and the cruel disposition of the votaries of that church, cannot be more amply displayed or truly depicted, than by giving an authentic and simple narrative of the horrid barbarities exercised by t... An Account Of The Persecutions In The Marquisate Of Saluces
The Marquisate of Saluces, on the south side of the valleys of Piedmont, was in A. D. 1561, principally inhabited by protestants, when the marquis, who was proprietor of it, began a persecution against them at the instigation of the then pope. He be... An Account Of The Persecutions In The Netherlands
The light of the gospel having successfully spread over the Netherlands, the pope instigated the emperor to commence a persecution against the protestants; when many thousand fell martyrs to superstitious malice and barbarous bigotry, among whom the... An Account Of The Persecutions In The States Of Barbary
In Algiers the christians are treated with particular severity; as the Algerines are some of the most perfidious, as well as the most cruel of all the inhabitants of Barbary. By paying a most exorbitant fine, some christians are allowed the title of... An Account Of The Persecutions In The Valleys Of Piedmont In The Seventeenth Century
Pope Clement the eighth, sent missionaries into the valleys of Piedmont, to induce the protestants to renounce their religion; and these missionaries having erected monasteries in several parts of the valleys, became exceedingly troublesome to those... An Account Of The Persecutions In Venice
While the state of Venice was free from inquisitors, a great number of protestants fixed their residence there, and many converts were made by the purity of the doctrines they professed, and the inoffensiveness of the conversation they used. The ... An Account Of The Persecutions Of Calabria
In the 14th century, many of the Waldenses of Pragela and Dauphiny, emigrated to Calabria, and settling some waste lands, by the permission of the nobles of that country, they soon, by the most industrious cultivation, made several wild and barren s... An Account Of The Persecutions Of Michael De Molinos A Native Of Spain
Michael de Molinos, a Spaniard of a rich and honourable family, entered, when young, into priest's orders, but would not accept of any preferment in the church. He possessed great natural abilities, which he dedicated to the service of his fellow-cr... An Act Made At A General Court Held At Boston The 20th Of October 1658
"Whereas, there is a pernicious sect, commonly called Quakers, lately risen, who by word and writing have published and maintained many dangerous and horrid tenets, and do take upon them to change and alter the received laudable customs of our natio... Apprehensions At Islington
In a retired close, near a field, in Islington, a company of decent persons had assembled, to the number of forty. While they were religiously engaged in praying and expounding the scripture, twenty-seven of them were carried before Sir Roger Cholml... Archbishop Cranmer
Dr. Thomas Cranmer was descended from an ancient family, and was born at the village of Arselacton, in the county of Northampton. After the usual school education he was sent to Cambridge, and was chosen fellow of Jesus College. Here he married a ge... Arrival Of The Austrians At Nismes
About this time, a treaty between the French court and the allied sovereigns, prohibited the advance of the foreign troops beyond the line of territory already occupied, and traced by the course of the Loire, and by the Rhone, below the Ardeche. In ... Asaad Is Cruelly Treated
27. The messenger, who went before to Cannobeen, had set out to go for us a second time, and this morning early returned with the following story:--Being met by a man near Batroon, whom he suspected to be from Cannobeen, he inquired him out, and fou... Asaad Shidiak
NARRATIVE OF THE CONVERSION, IMPRISONMENT, AND SUFFERINGS OF ASAAD SHIDIAK, A NATIVE OF PALESTINE, WHO HAS BEEN CONFINED FOR SEVERAL YEARS IN THE CONVENT OF MT. LEBANON. The following narrative illustrates two points. 1st. The usefulness of Christi... Asaad's Letter To His Brother Phares
"To my beloved brother Phares; the Lord Most High preserve him. Your departure caused me great grief. First, because you were impatient when trial and persecution came upon you. It is a thing we are regularly to expect, that if we hope in God in thi... At A General Court Held At Boston The 14th Of October 1656
"Whereas, there is a cursed sect of heretics, lately risen up in the world, which are commonly called Quakers, who take upon them to be immediately sent from God, and infallibly assisted by the Spirit, to speak and write blasphemous opinions, despis... At A General Court Held At Boston The 14th Of October 1657
"As an addition to the late order, in reference to the coming or bringing of any of the cursed sect of the Quakers into this jurisdiction, it is ordered, that whosoever shall from henceforth bring, or cause to be brought, directly or indirectly, any... Attack Upon The Protestant Churches
Some time before the death of general La Garde, the duke d'Angouleme had visited Nismes, and other cities in the south, and at the former place honoured the members of the protestant consistory with an interview, promising them protection, and encou... Attempts Made To Procure His Release
After hearing all this, we went directly to the consul to inform him of the case, and to urge him to an interference. He consented, that we should first procure some one to write a firm and consistent letter to the patriarch, demanding by what right... Biographical Notices Of Asaad Shidiak
The following account of the remarkable convert from the Maronite Roman Catholic church, whose name has, of late, appeared frequently on the pages of the Missionary Herald, is compiled chiefly from the journal of Mr. Bird, American Missionary in Syr... Bishop Ridley And Bishop Latimer
These reverend prelates suffered October 17, 1555, at Oxford, on the same day Wolsey and Pygot perished at Ely. Pillars of the church and accomplished ornaments of human nature, they were the admiration of the realm, amiably conspicuous in their liv... Brief History Of Asaad Esh Shidiak From The Time Of His Being Betrayed Into The Hands Of The Maronite Patriarch In The Spring Of 1826
=Translated from the Arabic of Naami Latoof.= When the relatives of Asaad brought him to the convent of Alma in the district of Kesroan, and gave him up to the patriarch, the latter began by way of flattery to promise him all the worldly advantage... Calvin As A Friend Of Civil Liberty
The Rev. Dr. Wisner, in his late discourse at Plymouth, on the anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims, makes the following assertion:--"Much as the name of Calvin has been scoffed at and loaded with reproach by many sons of freedom, there is not... Case Of Rev John Smith
The London Missionary Chronicle for March contains a statement respecting Mr. Smith's case, occupying, with accompanying documents nearly twelve pages, which confirms the impression that Mr. Smith was innocent. The Directors of the London Missionary... Connexion With Mr Bird
Under the influence of these doubts, which seem to have distressed him greatly, he entered the service of Mr. Bird as his instructer in Arabic. His doubts continued to increase; for he now began in earnest the study of the Bible and of his own heart... Connexion With Mr King
The dispensations of Providence often seem afflictive when they happen, and most kind and benevolent afterwards, when their design is perceived. So it was in the case of Asaad. Being thus cast out upon the world, by those who ought to have befriende... Conversation Of Phares With The Bishop Of Beyroot
After Galeb had gone, we put a great many questions to Phares, and he communicated some interesting particulars. Among others was the following: "The day that Asaad and myself left you, (the 17th,) the bishop of Beyroot was at the next house, and... Correspondence With His Family
8. A messenger called this morning with the following note. "To our brother Asaad Esh Shidiak: May God bless you.--We beg you to come home to-night, and not wait till Sunday. We have pledged our mother that you shall come. If you fail to do so, yo... Croly On The Inquisition
We shall conclude this chapter with the subjoined extract from the New Interpretation of the Apocalypse by the Rev. George Croly. In our fortunate country, the power of the Romish church has so long perished, that we find some difficulty in concei... Cuthbert Symson
Few professors of Christ possessed more activity and zeal than this excellent person. He not only labored to preserve his friends from the contagion of popery, but to guard them against the terrors of persecution. He was deacon of the little congreg... Death Of Louis Xvi And Other Members Of The Royal Family
On the 21st of January, 1793, Louis XVI. was publicly beheaded in the midst of his own metropolis, in the Place Louis Quinze, erected to the memory of his grandfather. It is possible, for the critical eye of the historian, to discover much weakness ... Deliverance Of Dr Sands
This eminent prelate, vice-chancellor of Cambridge, at the request of the duke of Northumberland, when he came down to Cambridge in support of Lady Jane Grey's claim to the throne, undertook at a few hours notice, to preach before the duke and the u... Dirick Carver And John Launder
The 22d of July, 1555, Dirick Carver, brewer, of Brighthelmstone, aged forty, was burnt at Lewes. And the day following John Launder, husbandman, aged twenty-five, of Godstone, Surry, was burnt at Stening. Dirick Carver was a man whom the Lord had... Dr Robert Farrar
This worthy and learned prelate, the bishop of St. David's in Wales, having in the former reign, as well as since the accession of Mary, been remarkably zealous to promoting the reformed doctrines, and exploding the errors of popish idolatry, was su... Dreadful Scenes In La Vendee
In La Vendee, one of the departments of France, an insurrection broke out against the Jacobinical government, in 1793. Upwards of two hundred battles and skirmishes were fought in this devoted country. The revolutionary fever was in its access; th... Errors Rites Ceremonies And Superstitious Practices Of The Romish Church
TRADITIONS.] The church of Rome having deprived the laity of the Bible, substitutes in its stead apostolic and ecclesiastical traditions; and obliges her disciples to admit for truth whatever she teaches them: but what do the holy scriptures say? "W... Escapes And Returns To Beyroot
2. Rose early, and repaired to the room, where Asaad would have been, had he come; but there were no tidings from him. Little expectation remained of his coming to-day, and we were not without our fears that the attempt had miscarried. It was not lo... Execution Of Ten Martyrs At Lewes
Again we have to record the wholesale sacrifice of Christ's little flock, of whom five were women. On the 22d of June, 1557, the town of Lewes beheld ten persons doomed to perish by fire and persecution. The names of these worthies were, Richard Woo... Executions At Colchester
It was before mentioned that twenty-two persons had been sent up from Cholchester, who upon a slight submission, were afterward released. Of these, Wm. Munt, of Much-Bentley, husbandman, with Alice, his wife, and Rose Allin, her daughter, upon their... Executions At Islington
About the 17th of Sept. suffered at Islington the following four professors of Christ: Ralph Allerton, James Austoo, Margery Austoo, and Richard Roth. James Austoo and his wife, of St. Allhallows, Barking, London, were sentenced for not believing... Executions At Stratford-le-bow
At this sacrifice, which we are about to detail, no less than thirteen were doomed to the fire. Each one refusing to subscribe contrary to conscience, they were condemned, and the 27th of June, 1556, was appointed for their execution at Stratford... Executions In Kent
The following seven were arraigned for heresy: Joan Bainbridge, of Staplehurst; W. Appleby, Petronella his wife, and the wife of John Manning, of Maidstone; B. Allin, and his wife Catherine, of Freytenden; and Elizabeth ----, a blind maiden. Allin w... Fall Of Danton Robespierre Marat And Other Jacobins
These monsters fell victims by the same means they had used for the destruction of others. Marat was poignarded in 1793, by Charlotte Corday, a young female, who had cherished in a feeling between lunacy and heroism, the ambition of ridding the worl... Farther Account Of The Proceedings Of The Catholics At Nismes
The excesses perpetrated in the country it seems did not by any means divert the attention of the persecutors from Nismes. October, 1815, commenced without any improvement in the principles or measures of the government, and this was followed by cor... Flagellations By Bonner
When this catholic hyena found that neither persuasions, threats, nor imprisonment, could produce any alteration in the mind of a youth named Thomas Hinshaw, he sent him to Fulham, and during the first night set him in the stocks, with no other allo... From The Revocation Of The Edict Of Nantes To The French Revolution In 1789
The persecutions occasioned by the revocation of the edict of Nantes, took place under Louis XIV. This edict was made by Henry the Great of France in 1598, and secured to the protestants an equal right in every respect, whether civil or religious, w... Further Persecutions In The Valleys Of Piedmont In The Seventeenth Century
Giovanni Pelanchion, for refusing to turn papist, was tied by one leg to the tail of a mule, and dragged through the streets of Lucerne, amidst the acclamations of an inhuman mob, who kept stoning him, and crying out, He is possessed with the devil,... G Catmer R Streater A Burward G Brodbridge And J Tutty
These five worthies, denying the real presence in the eucharist, were brought before Dr. Thornton, bishop of Dover, and condemned as heretics. They suffered in one fire, Sept. 6, 1555, at Canterbury, enduring all things for their faith in Christ Jes... General Persecutions In Germany
The general persecutions in Germany were principally occasioned by the doctrines and ministry of Martin Luther. Indeed, the pope was so terrified at the success of that courageous reformer, that he determined to engage the emperor, Charles the Fifth... God's Punishments Upon Some Of The Persecutors Of His People In Mary's Reign
After that arch-persecutor, Gardiner, was dead, others followed, of whom Dr. Morgan, bishop of St. David's, who succeeded bishop Farrar, is to be noticed. Not long after he was installed in his bishopric, he was stricken by the visitation of God; hi... Great Difficulties In The Way Of Asaad's Release
18. Tannoos came to converse about his brother Asaad. He had just received a letter in Asaad's own hand-writing, saying, that he was reduced to a great extremity of distress, and perhaps had not long to live, and begging Tannoos to come up and see i... His Early History
Asaad Shidiak was born in the district north of Beyroot, called Kesruan, where, and at Hadet, a small village five miles south-east of Beyroot, his family have ever since lived. This family now consists of the widowed mother, five sons, (of whom Asa... His Family Attempt His Liberation
19. Phares brought us a letter, which had just been received by the family at Hadet, from the patriarch, wishing them to come immediately to Cannobeen. Tannoos and his mother have gone, and intend, if possible, to bring Asaad away, either to Kesroan... His Relatives Deliver Him Up To The Patriarch
31. Information is received, that Asaad has been taken away against his will, to the patriarch. April 4. Phares Shidiak arrived here in the evening direct from Der Alma, and said he had accompanied Asaad to that convent a week ago, that Asaad was... His Return To Mr Bird
Dec. 12. Shidiak returned, after nearly a month's absence, to continue with me for a year, risking whatever obloquy and violence might come upon him. He has just been obliged to give up an advantageous contract of marriage, into which he had some mo... History Of Christian Martyrs To The First General Persecution Under Nero
The history of the church may almost be said to be a history of the trials and sufferings of its members, as experienced at the hands of wicked men. At one time, persecution, as waged against the friends of Christ, was confined to those without;... Holland Even Now I Told You That Your Authority Was From God And By
his sufferance: and now I tell you God hath heard the voice of his servants, which hath been poured forth with tears for his afflicted saints, whom you daily persecute, as now you do us. But this I dare be bold in God to say, (by whose Spirit I am mov... Hugh Laverick And John Aprice
Here we perceive that neither the impotence of age nor the affliction of blindness, could turn aside the murdering fangs of these Babylonish monsters. The first of these unfortunates was of the parish of Barking, aged sixty-eight, a painter and a cr... Interference Of Government Against The Protestants
M. Bernis, extraordinary royal commissioner, in consequence of these abuses, issued a proclamation which reflects disgrace on the authority from whence it emanated. "Considering," it said, "that the residence of citizens in places foreign to their d... Interference Of The British Government
To the credit of England, the reports of these cruel persecutions carried on against our protestant brethren in France, produced such a sensation on the part of the government as determined them to interfere; and now the persecutors of the protestan... Interview With A Younger Brother
Asaad's brother Galed came again to-day, and discovered more feeling than yesterday on the subject of his brother's leaving the English. He said he had brought an insupportable shame upon the family. Asaad insisted, that such shame was no argument w... Interview With Several Of His Relatives
6. Among those who came to see Asaad to-day, were three of his brothers and an uncle. Mansoor, the oldest of the brothers, we had never before seen. He is a furious bigot, and perfectly ignorant and regardless of the first principles of religion. Th... Is Forcibly Detained
Feb. 22. Fearing for the safety of Asaad, since hearing that he has not written to his friends, we this morning sent a messenger with a short note, to find him, and ascertain his state. 23. The messenger returned, saying, that he yesterday went to... Is Visited By His Mother
This letter had been gone scarcely time sufficient to reach Hadet, when the mother herself was announced at the door. We welcomed her with all cordiality, and treated her with all the respect and attention we could. But all we could do or say did no... Jerom Of Prague
This reformer, who was the companion of Dr. Huss, and may be said to be a co-martyr with him, was born at Prague, and educated in that university, where he particularly distinguished himself for his great abilities and learning. He likewise visited ...