Martin Luther
This illustrious German divine and reformer of the church, was the son
of John Luther and Margaret Lindeman, and born at Isleben, a town of
Saxony, in the county of Mansfield, November 10, 1483. His father's
extraction and condition were originally but mean, and his occupation
that of a miner: it is probable, however, that by his application and
industry he improved the fortunes of his family, as he afterward became
a
letters, and at the age of thirteen was sent to school at Madgeburg, and
thence to Eysenach, in Thuringia, where he remained four years,
producing the early indications of his future eminence.
In 1501 he was sent to the university of Erfurt, where he went through
the usual courses of logic and philosophy. When twenty, he took a
master's degree, and then lectured on Aristotle's physics, ethics, and
other parts of philosophy. Afterward, at the instigation of his parents,
he turned himself to the civil law, with a view of advancing himself to
the bar, but was diverted from this pursuit by the following accident.
Walking out into the fields one day, he was struck by lightning so as to
fall to the ground, while a companion was killed by his side; and this
affected him so sensibly, that, without communicating his purpose to any
of his friends, he withdrew himself from the world, and retired into the
order of the hermits of St. Augustine.
Here he employed himself in reading St. Augustine and the school men;
but, in turning over the leaves of the library, he accidentally found a
copy of the Latin Bible, which he had never seen before. This raised his
curiosity to a high degree: he read it over very greedily, and was
amazed to find what a small portion of the scriptures was rehearsed to
the people. He made his profession in the monastery of Erfurt, after he
had been a novice one year; and he took priest's orders, and celebrated
his first mass in 1507. The year after, he was removed from the convent
of Erfurt to the university of Wittemberg; for this university being
just founded, nothing was thought more likely to bring it into immediate
repute and credit, than the authority and presence of a man so
celebrated, for his great parts and learning, as Luther. In 1512, seven
convents of his order having a quarrel with their vicar-general, Luther
was chosen to go to Rome to maintain their cause. At Rome he saw the
pope and the court, and had an opportunity of observing also the manners
of the clergy, whose hasty, superficial, and impious way of celebrating
mass, he has severely noted. As soon as he had adjusted the dispute
which was the business of his journey, he returned to Wittemberg, and
was created doctor of divinity, at the expense of Frederic, elector of
Saxony; who had often heard him preach, was perfectly acquainted with
his merit, and reverenced him highly. He continued in the university of
Wittemberg, where, as professor of divinity, he employed himself in the
business of his calling. Here then he began in the most earnest manner
to read lectures upon the sacred books: he explained the epistle to the
Romans, and the Psalms, which he cleared up and illustrated in a manner
so entirely new, and so different from what had been pursued by former
commentators, that "there seemed, after a long and dark night, a new day
to arise, in the judgment of all pious and prudent men." The better to
qualify himself for the task he had undertaken, he applied himself
attentively to the Greek and Hebrew languages; and in this manner was he
employed, when the general indulgences were published in 1517. Leo X.
who succeeded Julius II. in March, 1513, formed a design of building the
magnificent church of St. Peter's at Rome, which was, indeed, begun by
Julius, but still required very large sums to be finished. Leo,
therefore, 1517 published general indulgences throughout all Europe, in
favour of those who contribute any sum to the building of St. Peter's;
and appointed persons in different countries to preach up these
indulgences, and to receive money for them. These strange proceedings
gave vast offence at Wittemberg, and particularly inflamed the pious
zeal of Luther; who, being naturally warm and active, and in the present
case unable to contain himself, was determined to declare against them
at all adventures. Upon the eve of All-saints, therefore, in 1517, he
publicly fixed up, at the church next to the castle of that town, a
thesis upon indulgences; in the beginning of which, he challenged any
one to oppose it either by writing or disputation. Luther's propositions
about indulgences, were no sooner published, than Tetzel, the Dominican
friar, and commissioner for selling them, maintained and published at
Francfort, a thesis, containing a set of propositions directly contrary
to them. He did more; he stirred up the clergy of his order against
Luther; anathematized him from the pulpit, as a most damnable heretic;
and burnt his thesis publicly at Francfort. Tetzel's thesis was also
burnt, in return, by the Lutherans at Wittemburg; but Luther himself
disowned having had any hand in that procedure. In 1518, Luther, though
dissuaded from it by his friends, yet, to show obedience to authority,
went to the monastery of St. Augustine, at Heidelberg, while the chapter
was held; and here maintained, April 26, a dispute concerning
"justification by faith," which Bucer, who was present at, took down in
writing, and afterward communicated to Beatus Rhenanus, not without the
highest commendations. In the meantime, the zeal of his adversaries grew
every day more and more active against him; and he was at length accused
to Leo X. as a heretic. As soon as he returned therefore from
Heidelberg, he wrote a letter to that pope, in the most submissive
terms; and sent him, at the same time, an explication of his
propositions about indulgences. This letter is dated on Trinity-Sunday,
1518, and was accompanied with a protestation, wherein he declared, that
"he did not pretend to advance or defend any thing contrary to the holy
scriptures, or to the doctrine of the fathers, received and observed by
the church of Rome, or to the canons and decretals of the popes:
nevertheless, he thought he had the liberty either to approve or
disapprove the opinions of St. Thomas, Bonaventure, and other school-men
and canonists, which are not grounded upon any text."
The emperor Maximilian was equally solicitous with the pope about
putting a stop to the propagation of Luther's opinions in Saxony;
troublesome both to the church and empire. Maximilian, therefore,
applied to Leo, in a letter dated August 5, 1518, and begged him to
forbid, by his authority, these useless, rash, and dangerous disputes;
assuring him also, that he would strictly execute in the empire whatever
his holiness should enjoin. In the meantime Luther, as soon an he
understood what was transacting about him at Rome, used all imaginable
means to prevent his being carried thither, and to obtain a hearing of
his cause in Germany. The elector was also against Luther's going to
Rome, and desired of cardinal Cajetan, that he might be heard before
him, as the pope's legate in Germany. Upon these addresses, the pope
consented that the cause should be tried before cardinal Cajetan, to
whom he had given power to decide it. Luther, therefore, set off
immediately for Augsburg, and carried with him letters from the elector.
He arrived here in October, 1518, and, upon an assurance of his safety,
was admitted into the cardinal's presence. But Luther was soon convinced
that he had more to fear from the cardinal's power, than from
disputations of any kind; and, therefore, apprehensive of being seized,
if he did not submit, withdrew from Augsburg upon the 20th. But, before
his departure, he published a formal appeal to the pope, and finding
himself protected by the elector, continued to teach the same doctrines
at Wittemberg, and sent a challenge to all the inquisitors to come and
dispute with him.
As to Luther, Miltitius, the pope's chamberlain, had orders to require
the elector to oblige him to retract, or to deny him his protection; but
things were not now to be carried with so high a hand, Luther's credit
being too firmly established. Besides, the emperor Maximilian happened
to die upon the 12th of this month, whose death greatly altered the face
of affairs, and made the elector more able to determine Luther's fate.
Miltitius thought it best, therefore, to try what could be done by fair
and gentle means, and to that end came to some conference with Luther.
During all these treaties, the doctrine of Luther spread, and prevailed
greatly; and he himself received great encouragement at home and abroad.
The Bohemians about this time sent him a book of the celebrated John
Huss, who had fallen a martyr in the work of reformation; and also
letters, in which they exhorted him to constancy and perseverance,
owning, that the divinity which he taught was the pure, sound, and
orthodox divinity. Many great and learned men had joined themselves to
him. In 1519, he had a famous dispute at Leipsic with John Eccius. But
this dispute ended at length like all others, the parties not the least
nearer in opinion, but more to enmity with each other's persons. About
the end of this year, Luther published a book, in which he contended for
the communion being celebrated in both kinds; which was condemned by the
bishop of Misnia, January 24, 1520. While Luther was labouring to excuse
himself to the new emperor and the bishops of Germany, Eccius had gone
to Rome, to solicit his condemnation; which, it may easily be conceived,
was now become not difficult to be attained. Indeed the continual
importunities of Luther's adversaries with Leo, caused him at length to
publish a formal condemnation of him, and he did so accordingly, in a
bull, dated June 15, 1520; this was carried into Germany, and published
there by Eccius, who had solicited it at Rome; and who, together with
Jerom Alexander, a person eminent for his learning and eloquence, was
entrusted by the pope with the execution of it. In the meantime, Charles
V. of Spain, after he had set things to rights in the Low Countries,
went into Germany, and was crowned emperor, October the 21st, at
Aix-la-Chapelle. The diet of Worms was held in the beginning of 1521;
which ended at length in this single and peremptory declaration of
Luther, that "unless he was convinced by texts of scripture or evident
reason (for he did not think himself obliged to submit to the pope or
his councils,) he neither could nor would retract any thing, because it
was not lawful for him to act against his conscience." Before the diet
of Worms was dissolved, Charles V. caused an edict to be drawn up, which
was dated the 8th of May, and decreed that Martin Luther be, agreeably
to the sentence of the pope, henceforward looked upon as a member
separated from the church, a schismatic, and an obstinate and notorious
heretic. While the bull of Leo X. executed by Charles V. was thundering
throughout the empire, Luther was safely shut up in the castle of
Wittemberg; but weary at length of his retirement, he appeared publickly
again at Wittemberg, March 6, 1522, after he had been absent about ten
months. Luther now made open war with the pope and bishops; and, that he
might make the people despise their authority as much as possible, he
wrote one book against the pope's bull, and another against the order
falsely called "the order of bishops." He published also, a translation
of the "New Testament" in the German tongue, which was afterward
corrected by himself and Melancthon. Affairs were now in great confusion
in Germany; and they were not less so in Italy, for a quarrel arose
between the pope and the emperor, during which Rome was twice taken, and
the pope imprisoned. While the princes were thus employed in quarrelling
with each other, Luther persisted in carrying on the work of the
reformation, as well by opposing the papists, as by combating the
Anabaptists and other fanatical sects; which, having taken the advantage
of his contest with the church of Rome, had sprung up and established
themselves in several places.
In 1527, Luther was suddenly seized with a coagulation of the blood
about the heart, which had like to have put an end to his life. The
troubles of Germany being not likely to have any end, the emperor was
forced to call a diet at Spires, in 1529, to require the assistance of
the princes of the empire against the Turks. Fourteen cities, viz.
Stratsburg, Nuremberg, Ulm, Constance, Retlingen, Windsheim, Memmingen,
Lindow, Kempten, Hailbron, Isny, Weissemburg, Nortlingen, S. Gal, joined
against the decree of the diet protestation, which was put into writing,
and published the 19th of April, 1529. This was the famous protestation,
which gave the name of Protestants to the reformers in Germany.
After this, the protestant princes laboured to make a firm league and
enjoined the elector of Saxony and his allies to approve of what the
diet had done; but the deputies drew up an appeal, and the protestants
afterwards presented an apology for their "Confession"--that famous
confession which was drawn up by the temperate Melancthon, as also the
apology. These were signed by a variety of princes, and Luther had now
nothing else to do, but to sit down and contemplate the mighty work he
had finished: for that a single monk should be able to give the church
of Rome so rude a shock, that there needed but such another entirely to
overthrow it, may be well esteemed a mighty work.
In 1533, Luther wrote a consolatory epistle to the citizens of Oschatz,
who had suffered some hardships for adhering to the Augsburg confession
of faith: and in 1534, the Bible translated by him into German was first
printed, as the old privilege, dated at Bibliopolis, under the elector's
own hand, shows; and it was published in the year after. He also
published this year a book "against masses and the consecration of
priests." In February, 1537, an assembly was held at Smalkald about
matters of religion, to which Luther and Melancthon were called. At this
meeting Luther was seized with so grievous an illness, that there was no
hope of his recovery. As he was carried along he made his will, in which
he bequeathed his detestation of popery to his friends and brethren. In
this manner was he employed till his death, which happened in 1546. That
year, accompanied by Melancthon, he paid a visit to his own country,
which he had not seen for many years, and returned again in safety. But
soon after, he was called thither again by the earls of Mansfelt, to
compose some differences which had arisen about their boundaries, where
he was received by 100 horsemen, or more, and conducted in a very
honourable manner; but was at the same time so very ill, that it was
feared he would die. He said, that these fits of sickness often came
upon him, when he had any great business to undertake; of this, however,
he did not recover, but died February 18, in his 63d year. A little
before he expired, he admonished those that were about him to pray to
God for the propagation of the gospel; "because," said he, "the council
of Trent, which had sat once or twice, and the pope, will devise strange
things against it." Soon after, his body was put into a leaden coffin,
and carried with funeral pomp to the church at Iselbein, when Dr. Jonas
preached a sermon upon the occasion. The earls of Mansfelt desired that
his body should be interred in their territories; but the elector of
Saxony insisted upon his being brought back to Wittemberg, which was
accordingly done; and there he was buried with the greatest pomp that
perhaps ever happened to any private man. Princes, earls, nobles, and
students without number, attended the procession of this extraordinary
reformer; and Melancthon made his funeral oration.
We will close this account of the great founder of the reformation, by
subjoining a few opinions, which have been passed upon him, by both
papists and Protestants. "Luther," says Father Simon, "was the first
Protestant who ventured to translate the Bible into the vulgar tongue
from the Hebrew text, although he understood Hebrew but very
indifferently. As he was of a free and bold spirit, he accuses St Jerom
of ignorance in the Hebrew tongue; but he had more reason to accuse
himself of this fault, and for having so precipitately undertaken a work
of this nature, which required more time than he employed about it.
There is nothing great or learned in his commentaries upon the Bible;
every thing low and mean: and though he had studied divinity, he has
rather composed a rhapsody of theological questions, than a commentary
upon the scripture text: to which we may add, that he wanted
understanding, and usually followed his senses instead of his reason."
This is the language of those in the church of Rome who speak of Luther
with any degree of moderation; for the generality allow him neither
parts, nor learning, nor any attainment intellectual or moral. But let
us leave these impotent railers, and attend a little to more equitable
judges. "Luther," says Wharton, in his appendix to Cave's Historia
Literaria, "was a man of prodigious sagacity and acuteness, very warm,
and formed for great undertakings; being a man, if ever there was one,
whom nothing could daunt or intimidate. When the cause of religion was
concerned, he never regarded whose love he was likely to gain, or whose
displeasure to incur." He is also highly spoken of by Atterbury and
others.
More
-
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 ... Joan Waste
This poor honest woman, blind from her birth, and unmarried, aged 22, was of the parish of Allhallows, Derby. Her father was a barber, and also made ropes for a living: in which she assisted him, and also learned to knit several articles of apparel.... John Calvin
This reformer was born at Noyon in Picardy, July 10, 1409. He was instructed in grammar learning at Paris under Maturinus Corderius, and studied philosophy in the college of Montaign under a Spanish professor. His father, who discovered many marks o... John Denley Gent John Newman And Patrick Packingham
Mr. Denley and Newman were returning one day to Maidstone, the place of their abode, when they were met by E. Tyrrel, Esq. a bigoted justice of the peace in Essex, and a cruel persecutor of the protestants. He apprehended them merely on suspicion. O... John Huss
John Huss was born at Hussenitz, a village in Bohemia, about the year 1380. His parents gave him the best education their circumstances would admit; and having acquired a tolerable knowledge of the classics at a private school, he was removed to the... John Lomas Agnes Snoth Anne Wright Joan Sole And Joan Catmer
These five martyrs suffered together, January 31, 1556. John Lomas was a young man of Tenterden. He was cited to appear at Canterbury, and was examined January 17. His answers being adverse to the idolatrous doctrine of the papacy, he was condemned ... John Rogers Vicar Of St Sepulchre's And Reader Of St Paul's London
John Rogers was educated at Cambridge, and was afterward many years chaplain to the merchants adventurers at Antwerp in Brabant. Here he met with the celebrated martyr William Tindal, and Miles Coverdale, both voluntary exiles from their country for... John Simpson And John Ardeley
John Simpson and John Ardeley were condemned on the same day with Mr. Cardmaker and John Warne, which was the 25th of May. They were shortly after sent down from London to Essex, where they were burnt in one day, John Simpson at Rochford, and John A... John Wickliffe
This celebrated reformer, denominated the Morning Star of the Reformation, was born about the year 1324, in the reign of Edward II. Of his extraction we have no certain account. His parents designing him for the church, sent him to Queen's College, ... Letter From Asaad To Mr Bird
"Dear Sir,--After expressing imperfectly the love I bear you, and the desire I have to see you in all health, I have to say, that in due time your letter came to hand, and I read and understood it. You ask respecting our health.... Letters From Louvois To Marillac
"The king rejoices to learn from your letters, that there are so many conversions in your department; and he desires that you would continue your efforts, and employ the same means that have been hitherto so successful. His majesty has ordered me to... Martin Luther
This illustrious German divine and reformer of the church, was the son of John Luther and Margaret Lindeman, and born at Isleben, a town of Saxony, in the county of Mansfield, November 10, 1483. His father's extraction and condition were originally ... Martyrdom Of John Calas
We pass over many other individual martyrdoms to insert that of John Calas, which took place so lately as 1761, and is an indubitable proof of the bigotry of popery, and shows that neither experience nor improvement can root out the inveterate preju... Martyrdom Of Tomkins Pygot Knight Lawrence Hunter And Higbed
Thomas Tomkins was by trade a weaver in Shoreditch, till he was summoned before the inhuman Bonner, and confined with many others, who renounced the errors of popery, in a prison in that tyrant's house at Fulham. Under his confinement, he was trea... Massacre And Pillage At Nismes
Nismes now exhibited a most awful scene of outrage and carnage, though many of the protestants had fled to the Convennes and the Gardonenque. The country houses of Messrs. Rey, Guiret, and several others, had been pillaged, and the inhabitants treat... Massacre Of Prisoners
The number of individuals accumulated in the various prisons of Paris had increased by the arrests and domiciliary visits subsequent to the 10th of August, to about eight thousand persons. It was the object of this infernal scheme to destroy the gre... Monstrous Outrage Upon Females
At Nismes it is well known that the women wash their clothes either at the fountains, or on the banks of streams. There is a large basin near the fountain, where numbers of women may be seen every day, kneeling at the edge of the water, and beating ... Mr John Philpot
This martyr was the son of a knight, born in Hampshire, and brought up at New College, Oxford, where he several years studied the civil law, and became eminent in the Hebrew tongue. He was a scholar and a gentleman, zealous in religion, fearless in ... Mr John Webb George Roper And Gregory Parker
These martyrs, after being brought before the bishop of Dover and Dr. Harpsfield, were finally examined, October 3, 1555, adjudged to be heretics, and at Canterbury, terminated their existence. Wm. Wiseman, clothworker of London, died in Lollard's... Mr William Flower
William Flower, otherwise Branch, was born at Snow-hill, in the county of Cambridge, where he went to school some years, and then came to the abbey of Ely. After he had remained a while he became a professed monk, was made a priest in the same house... Mrs Cicely Ormes
This young martyr, aged twenty-two, was the wife of Mr. Edmund Ormes, worsted weaver of St. Lawrence, Norwich. At the death of Miller and Elizabeth Cooper, before mentioned, she had said that she would pledge them of the same cup they drank of. For ... Mrs Joyce Lewes
This lady was the wife of Mr. T. Lewes, of Manchester. She had received the Romish religion as true, till the burning of that pious martyr, the Rev. Mr. Saunders, at Coventry. Understanding that his death arose from a refusal to receive the mass, sh... Mrs Prest
From the number condemned in this fanatical reign, it is almost impossible to obtain the name of every martyr, or to embellish the history of all with anecdotes and exemplifications of Christian conduct. Thanks be to Providence, our cruel task begin... Murder Of General La Garde
At length a check was put to these excesses by the report of the murder of Count La Garde, who, receiving an account of this tumult, mounted his horse, and entered one of the streets, to disperse a crowd. A villain seized his bridle; another present... Napoleon's Return From The Isle Of Elba
Soon after this event, the duke d'Angouleme was at Nismes, and remained there some time; but even his influence was insufficient to bring about a reconciliation between the catholics and the protestants of that city. During the hundred days betwixt ... Nicholas Hall And Christopher Waid
The same month of July, Nicholas Hall, bricklayer, and Christopher Waid, linendraper, of Dartford, suffered death, condemned by Maurice, bishop of Rochester, about the last day of June, 1555. At the same time three others were condemned, whose names... Outrages Committed In The Villages &c
We now quit Nismes to take a view of the conduct of the persecutors in the surrounding country. After the re-establishment of the royal government, the local authorities were distinguished for their zeal and forwardness in supporting their employers... Papal Persecutions
Thus far our history of persecution has been confined principally to the pagan world. We come now to a period, when persecution under the guise of christianity, committed more enormities than ever disgraced the annals of paganism. Disregarding the m... Perjury In The Case Of General Gilly &c
This catholic system of subornation and perjury was carried to such an infamous degree, that twenty-six witnesses were found to sign and swear, that on the 3d of April, 1815, general Gilly, with his own hand and before their eyes, took down the whit... Persecution In The Pays De Vaud
In the month of December, 1823, a letter was addressed by three young men, ministers of that canton, and subsequently signed by a few others, to the council of state, intimating a determination to withdraw from the established church, and requesting... Persecution Of The Christians By The Goths And Vandals
Many Scythian Goths having embraced Christianity about the time of Constantine the Great, the light of the gospel spread itself considerably in Scythia, though the two kings who ruled that country, and the majority of the people continued pagans. Fr... Persecution Of The Waldenses In France
Popery having brought various innovations into the church, and overspread the christian world with darkness and superstition, some few, who plainly perceived the pernicious tendency of such errors, determined to show the light of the gospel in its r... Persecution Of The Wesleyan Missionaries In The West Indies
The exertions of Christians to spread the truths of the gospel among the Africans in the West Indies, have met with much opposition from the white population. Moravian missionaries, at first, sold themselves as slaves, and laboured with the negroes ... Persecution Under Julian The Apostate
This emperor was the son of Julius Constantius, and the nephew of Constantine the Great. He studied the rudiments of grammar under the inspection of Mardomus, a eunuch, and a heathen of Constantinople. His father sent him some time after to Nicomedi... Persecutions And Oppressions In Georgia And Mingrelia
The Georgians, are christians, and being very handsome people, the Turks and Persians persecute them by the most cruel mode of taxation ever invented, namely, in lieu of money, they compel them to deliver up their children for the following purposes... Persecutions At Port Au Prince
The following extracts from the journal of Mr. St. Denis, and letters of Mr. Pressoir, members of the Methodist Society at Port au Prince, we copied from the Wesleyan Magazine. The first extracts are from the journal of Mr. St. Denis. On Sunday, ... Persecutions From About The Middle Of The Fifth To The Conclusion Of The Seventh Century
Proterius was made a priest by Cyril, bishop of Alexandria, who was well acquainted with his virtues, before he appointed him to preach. On the death of Cyril, the see of Alexandria was filled by Discorus, an inveterate enemy to the memory and famil... Persecutions From The Early Part Of The Eighth To Near The Conclusion Of The Tenth Century
Boniface, archbishop of Mentz, and father of the German church, was an Englishmen, and is, in ecclesiastical history, looked upon as one of the brightest ornaments of this nation. Originally, his name was Winfred, or Winfrith, and he was born at Kir... Persecutions In England During The Reign Of Queen Mary
The premature death of that celebrated young monarch, Edward the Sixth, occasioned the most extraordinary and wonderful occurrences, which had ever existed from the times of our blessed Lord and Saviour's incarnation in human shape. This melanchol... Persecutions In Switzerland From 1813 To 1830
The information contained in the following account of the persecution in Switzerland, is derived principally from the Christian Spectator and the London Christian Observer. Scarcely any country of Continental Europe, has excited so deep an intere... Persecutions In The Diocess Of Canterbury
In the year 1557, fifteen were imprisoned in the castle of Canterbury, five of whom perished of hunger. We now proceed to the account of the other ten; whose names were--J. Philpot, M. Bradbridge, N. Final, all of Tenterden; W. Waterer and T. Stephe... Persecutions In The Eleventh Century
Alphage, archbishop of Canterbury, was descended from a considerable family in Gloucestershire, and received an education suitable to his illustrious birth. His parents were worthy christians, and Alphage seemed to inherit their virtues. The see ... Persecutions Of The Albigenses
The Albigenses were a people of the reformed religion, who inhabited the country of Albi. They were condemned on the score of religion, in the council of Lateran, by order of Pope Alexander III. Nevertheless, they increased so prodigiously, that man... Persecutions Of The Christians In Persia
The gospel having spread itself into Persia, the pagan priests, who worshipped the sun, were greatly alarmed, and dreaded the loss of that influence they had hitherto maintained over the people's minds and properties. Hence they thought it expedient... Persecutions Of The French Protestants In The South Of France During The Years 1814 And 1820
The persecution in this protestant part of France continued with very little intermission from the revocation of the edict of Nantes, by Louis XIV. till a very short period previous to the commencement of the late French revolution. In the year 17... Persecutions Of The Wesleyan Methodists In St Domingo
We extract from the publications of the Wesleyan Missionary Society, the following account of the aggressions committed upon the Protestant population of Hayti, by the Roman Catholics of that Island, during the year 1824. ... Persecutions Under The Arian Heretics
The author of the Arian heresy was Arius, a native of Lybia, and a priest of Alexandria, who, in A. D. 318, began to publish his errors. He was condemned by a council of Lybian and Egyptian bishops, and that sentence was confirmed by the council of ...