FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS
CHAPTER I
History of Christian Martyrs to the First General Persecutions
Under Nero
Christ our Savior, in the Gospel of St. Matthew, hearing the
confession of Simon Peter, who, first of all other, openly acknowledged
Him to be the Son of God, and perceiving the secret hand of His Father
therein, called him (alluding to his name) a rock, upon which rock
He would build His Church so strong that the gates of hell should
not prevail against it. In which words three things are to be noted:
First, that Christ will have a Church in this world. Secondly, that
the same Church should mightily be impugned, not only by the world,
but also by the uttermost strength and powers of all hell. And, thirdly,
that the same Church, notwithstanding the uttermost of the devil and
all his malice, should continue.
Which prophecy of Christ we see wonderfully to be verified, insomuch
that the whole course of the Church to this day may seem nothing
else but a verifying of the said prophecy. First, that Christ hath
set up a Church, needeth no declaration. Secondly, what force of
princes, kings, monarchs, governors, and rulers of this world, with
their subjects, publicly and privately, with all their strength
and cunning, have bent themselves against this Church! And, thirdly,
how the said Church, all this notwithstanding, hath yet endured
and holden its own! What storms and tempests it hath overpast, wondrous
it is to behold: for the more evident declaration whereof, I have
addressed this present history, to the end, first, that the wonderful
works of God in His Church might appear to His glory; also that,
the continuance and proceedings of the Church, from time to time,
being set forth, more knowledge and experience may redound thereby,
to the profit of the reader and edification of Christian faith.
As it is not our business to enlarge upon our Savior's history,
either before or after His crucifixion, we shall only find it necessary
to remind our readers of the discomfiture of the Jews by His subsequent
resurrection. Although one apostle had betrayed Him; although another
had denied Him, under the solemn sanction of an oath; and although
the rest had forsaken Him, unless we may except "the disciple who
was known unto the high-priest"; the history of His resurrection
gave a new direction to all their hearts, and, after the mission
of the Holy Spirit, imparted new confidence to their minds. The
powers with which they were endued emboldened them to proclaim His
name, to the confusion of the Jewish rulers, and the astonishment
of Gentile proselytes.
I. St. Stephen
St. Stephen suffered the next in order. His death was occasioned by
the faithful manner in which he preached the Gospel to the betrayers
and murderers of Christ. To such a degree of madness were they excited,
that they cast him out of the city and stoned him to death. The time
when he suffered is generally supposed to have been at the passover
which succeeded to that of our Lord's crucifixion, and to the era
of his ascension, in the following spring.
Upon this a great persecution was raised against all who professed
their belief in Christ as the Messiah, or as a prophet. We are immediately
told by St. Luke, that "there was a great persecution against the
church which was at Jerusalem;" and that "they were all scattered
abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the
apostles."
About two thousand Christians, with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons,
suffered martyrdom during the "persecution that arose about Stephen."
II. James the Great
The next martyr we meet with, according to St. Luke, in the History
of the Apsotles' Acts, was James the son of Zebedee, the elder brother
of John, and a relative of our Lord; for his mother Salome was cousin-german
to the Virgin Mary. It was not until ten years after the death of
Stephen that the second martyrdom took place; for no sooner had Herod
Agrippa been appointed governor of Judea, than, with a view to ingratiate
himself with them, he raised a sharp persecution against the Christians,
and determined to make an effectual blow, by striking at their leaders.
The account given us by an eminent primitive writer, Clemens Alexandrinus,
ought not to be overlooked; that, as James was led to the place of
martyrdom, his accuser was brought to repent of his conduct by the
apostle's extraordinary courage and undauntedness, and fell down at
his feet to request his pardon, professing himself a Christian, and
resolving that James should not receive the crown of martyrdom alone.
Hence they were both beheaded at the same time. Thus did the first
apostolic martyr cheerfully and resolutely receive that cup, which
he had told our Savior he was ready to drink. Timon and Parmenas suffered
martyrdom about the same time; the one at Philippi, and the other
in Macedonia. These events took place A.D. 44.
III. Philip
Was born at Bethsaida, in Galilee and was first called by the name
of "disciple." He labored diligently in Upper Asia, and suffered martyrdom
at Heliopolis, in Phrygia. He was scourged, thrown into prison, and
afterwards crucified, A.D. 54.
IV. Matthew
Whose occupation was that of a toll-gatherer, was born at Nazareth.
He wrote his gospel in Hebrew, which was afterwards translated into
Greek by James the Less. The scene of his labors was Parthia, and
Ethiopia, in which latter country he suffered martyrdom, being slain
with a halberd in the city of Nadabah, A.D. 60.
V. James the Less
Is supposed by some to have been the brother of our Lord, by a
former wife of Joseph. This is very doubtful, and accords too much
with the Catholic superstition, that Mary never had any other children
except our Savior. He was elected to the oversight of the churches
of Jerusalem; and was the author of the Epistle ascribed to James
in the sacred canon. At the age of ninety-four he was beat and stoned
by the Jews; and finally had his brains dashed out with a fuller's
club.
VI. Matthias
Of whom less is known than of most of the other disciples, was
elected to fill the vacant place of Judas. He was stoned at Jerusalem
and then beheaded.
VII. Andrew
Was the brother of Peter. He preached the gospel to many Asiatic
nations; but on his arrival at Edessa he was taken and crucified
on a cross, the two ends of which were fixed transversely in the
ground. Hence the derivation of the term, St. Andrew's Cross.
VIII. St. Mark
Was born of Jewish parents of the tribe of Levi. He is supposed
to have been converted to Christianity by Peter, whom he served
as an amanuensis, and under whose inspection he wrote his Gospel
in the Greek language. Mark was dragged to pieces by the people
of Alexandria, at the great solemnity of Serapis their idol, ending
his life under their merciless hands.
IX. Peter
Among many other saints, the blessed apostle Peter was condemned
to death, and crucified, as some do write, at Rome; albeit some
others, and not without cause, do doubt thereof. Hegesippus saith
that Nero sought matter against Peter to put him to death; which,
when the people perceived, they entreated Peter with much ado that
he would fly the city. Peter, through their importunity at length
persuaded, prepared himself to avoid. But, coming to the gate, he
saw the Lord Christ come to meet him, to whom he, worshipping, said,
"Lord, whither dost Thou go?" To whom He answered and said, "I am
come again to be crucified." By this, Peter, perceiving his suffering
to be understood, returned into the city. Jerome saith that he was
crucified, his head being down and his feet upward, himself so requiring,
because he was (he said) unworthy to be crucified after the same
form and manner as the Lord was.
X. Paul
Paul, the apostle, who before was called Saul, after his great travail
and unspeakable labors in promoting the Gospel of Christ, suffered
also in this first persecution under Nero. Abdias, declareth that
under his execution Nero sent two of his esquires, Ferega and Parthemius,
to bring him word of his death. They, coming to Paul instructing the
people, desired him to pray for them, that they might believe; who
told them that shortly after they should believe and be baptised at
His sepulcher. This done, the soldiers came and led him out of the
city to the place of execution, where he, after his prayers made,
gave his neck to the sword.
XI. Jude
The brother of James, was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified
at Edessa, A.D. 72.
XII. Bartholomew
Preached in several countries, and having translated the Gospel of
Matthew into the language of India, he propagated it in that country.
He was at length cruelly beaten and then crucified by the impatient
idolaters.
XIII. Thomas
Called Didymus, preached the Gospel in Parthia and India, where exciting
the rage of the pagan priests, he was martyred by being thrust through
with a spear.
XIV. Luke
The evangelist, was the author of the Gospel which goes under his
name. He travelled with Paul through various countries, and is supposed
to have been hanged on an olive tree, by the idolatrous priests
of Greece.
XV. Simon
Surnamed Zelotes, preached the Gospel in Mauritania, Africa, and even
in Britain, in which latter country he was crucified, A.D. 74.
XVI. John
The "beloved disciple," was brother to James the Great. The churches
of Smyrna, Pergamos, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea, and Thyatira,
were founded by him. From Ephesus he was ordered to be sent to Rome,
where it is affirmed he was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. He
escaped by miracle, without injury. Domitian afterwards banished him
to the Isle of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. Nerva,
the successor of Domitian, recalled him. He was the only apostle who
escaped a violent death.
XVII. Barnabas
Was of Cyprus, but of Jewish descent, his death is supposed to
have taken place about A.D. 73.
And yet, notwithstanding all these continual persecutions and horrible
punishments, the Church daily increased, deeply rooted in the doctrine
of the apostles and of men apostolical, and watered plentously with
the blood of saints.
Chapter II
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