THE SIDE-TRACKED CHURCH
With Quotes from First-Century Christians
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| WANDERING SOUL, LONELY HEART & THE SIDE-TRACKED CHURCH With Quotes from First-Century Christians |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| THE BAFFLING BIBLE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Great Theologians | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About 450 AD, AUGUSTINE - PRE-CATHOLIC: "Antony, a just and holy man, who, not being able to read himself, is said to have committed the Scriptures to memory through hearing them read by others, and by dint of wise meditation to have arrived at a thorough understanding of them." (On Christian Doctrine: Preface, Point 4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About 1536 and 1543, JOHN CALVIN - REFORMED CHURCHES:� "All may observe the legitimate order appointed by the Church, for the hearing of the word...and public prayer....It is added 'Gather the people together, men, women, and children...in their hearing.'� to this end, therefore, did God desire the doctrine of His Law to be heard; viz., that He might obtain disciples for Himself....declares that He is not duly worshipped, except He shall first have been listened to." (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book II, 8:34;and Commentary on the Last Four Books of Moses," Deuteronomy 31:9-10). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About 1721, MATTHEW HENRY - PRESBYTERIAN:� "The reading of the scripture is very proper work to be done in religious assemblies; and Christ himself did not think it any disparagement to him to be employed in it....The Book is...to be brought before the congregation and read to them....Reading the scriptures in religious assemblies is an ordinance of God, whereby he is honoured and his church edified" (Commentary, Vol. V, Luke 4:16 AND Vol. II, Nehemiah 8). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About 1871 and 1875, CHARLES SPURGEON - BAPTIST:� "It is God's word, not man's comment, but still it is true that the majority of conversions have been wrought by the agency of a text of Scripture...Child of God, your portion is the whole word of God....Christ is yours, life is yours, death is yours, everlasting glory is yours.� There is yours.� It is very sweet to give you your royal meat.� The Lord gives you a good appetite.� Feed on it; feet on it." (Sermons in the Metropolitan Pulpit, London, 1871, pg. 589, and 1875, pg. 92). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Oh God, thank you for all you did over the centuries and millenniums to save mankind from our own sins.� It took you all that time to straighten out the mess we made after Eden.� It took you all that time for us to see just how far we had fallen, how serious our plight was, and that we could never lift ourselves out.� Thank you for your Bible that explains all this. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� He wanted to get his driver's license.���� The first thing the officer said was, "You have to take a road test." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "No sweat!" the young man replied.� I can drive circles around everyone else." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� So the young man showed how well he could act like a good driver - he could make left turns that kept the car within the proper lines, he could parallel park, he knew which direction to turn the wheels when parking on a hill, he could bring his car out of a skid. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Further, this young man was so good that he knew all about how cars worked.� He had a degree in automotive engineering and could build a powerful and efficient engine from the ground up.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� This young driver also knew how to get more mileage out of the gasoline, more mileage out of the tires, and more mileage out of the brakes.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� To top all this off, he knew how to paint a car and polish it and make it shine so well that you can see your face reflected in it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� So, when he got done with his road test, he reported in, got out his money, and began to pay the fee to he could get his driver's license. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "Sorry, I have to turn you away," the licensing agent said. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "You've got it all wrong," the young man replied, a little edgy.� "I can drive better than most people I know; I can build a car, get the best out of a car, and make a car look good." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| �����������"Sorry, I have to turn you away,"; the licensing agent repeated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| �����������"Now wait a minute!" the young man replied, growing impatient.� "You've got it all wrong.� You have to give me a driver's license." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "No, I don't have to give you your driver's license.� You don't qualify." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "Why?� Do I drive that bad?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "No, you're a good driver.� But you haven't passed the written test.� You don't know what's in the book." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "Of course I know what's in the book.� Test me," he replied, desperately. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "When you make a right turn and your blinker isn't working, what should you do?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������"Uh, well...." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "What is the minimum speed limit on the expressway?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "Well...." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "If you are in an accident, what should you do?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "Uh...." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "If you run out of gas and have to leave your vehicle beside the road, how should you mark your car?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "Um...." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� God, I always went to church and sang the songs and gave to the poor and prayed.� I thought that was enough. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Judged by the Bible | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� On the day of judgment, we will be judged by several books, one of them being the Bible.� Psalm 139:13 talks about God listing all the members of our body in a book.� Philippians 4:3 refers to names of the saved in the book of life.� Malachi 3:16 mentions a book of remembrance "concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Will we pass the examination on that day?� Do we have any idea what the standards are he wrote out for us?� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Deuteronomy 29:19b-21 warned, "When such a person...thinks, 'I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way.'...the Lord will blot out his name from under heaven...according to all the curses of the covenant written in this Book of the Law."� Revelation 1:3 said we are blessed if we read, for judgment is near.� and in 22:18f, we read, that if anyone adds to the book, God will add its plagues to him, and if anyone takes away from the book, God will take away his eternal life. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� How are we supposed to know what the curses and blessings are if we don't read about them in the book? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Jesus said in John 10:35 "the Scriptures cannot be broken."� Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 4:6, "Do not go beyond what is written."� Hebrews 4:12 says "the word of God...judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� How are we supposed to know what scriptures not to break if we don't read them? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� So, what is the word of God?� Romans 2:2 says, "Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth." And John 17:17 explains, "Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� You mean, when all those preachers preach different things, I can find out for myself by reading God's word, the truth?� You bet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Romans 10 works backwards from salvation to how we are saved.� In verses 1 and 2 Paul said he wanted the Jews to be saved, for they were zealous, "but their zeal is not based on knowledge."� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Knowledge of what?� That Jesus is the Son of God, and that we are to confess this truth to others (verse 9).� But how can we prove Jesus is the Son of God in truth?� Verse 17 says the knowledge that leads to faith in this truth and confession comes from the word of Christ. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Jesus said in John 12:48, "There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� How are we supposed to know what Jesus said if we never read it? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� He also warned that the saved must do the will of God.� How do we know the will of God?� By reading it.� Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.� Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'� Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.� Away from me, you evildoers!' " | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Paul warned in Acts 17:30 "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent."� How are we supposed to know what to repent of?� What things are sin?� We read God's word. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� One of the last things God said to us is in Revelation 20:12-15 through the apostle John.� "And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened.� Another book was opened, which� is the book of life.� The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books....If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Oh, God, always took for granted whatever anyone told me was your will.� But now I'm seeing I will be judged directly out of the Bible.� Am I ready for that?� I've never read it completely through cover to cover.� God, this is scary. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Is It Worth It? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Years ago a man named William McPherson lost his hands and eyes in a dynamite explosion.� He even lost the feeling in parts of his face.� He found it difficult to face a world of darkness.� God's Word became extremely important to him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� He wanted to read the Bible, but he couldn't master Braille with artificial hands.� He tried to read the raised letters with his lips, but the dynamite had seared them until there was no feeling left in them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� One day he discovered he could distinguish the letters with his tongue.� As he sought to learn the Braille system, his tongue became sore, and so raw it bled.� He would stay up all night just to learn one new letter of the alphabet.� He prayed to God for grace and help to learn.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Over a period of 65 years spent in darkness, William READ THE BIBLE FROM COVER TO COVER FOUR TIMES WITH HIS TONGUE.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� How many times have we read the Bible through from cover to cover? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| George Barna reported in WHAT AMERICANS BELIEVE:� AN ANNUAL SURVEY OF VALUES AND RELIGIOUS VIEWS IN THE UNITED STATES, only 15% of people who consider themselves Christians read the Bible one day a week, and only 12% read it daily.� One-fifth of them never even pick up the Bible at home. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Only 47% of Americans, whether or not they attend church, strongly agree that the Bible is the written words of God and is totally accurate in all it teaches.� Astonishingly, the figure is not much different for regular church attenders:� 52 percent. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Without the Bible, the only standard for right and wrong is in our own wills. �James Patterson and Peter Kim learned and reported in THE DAY AMERICA TOLD THE TRUTH, 52% of Americans believe the Bible had some right to tell them what is right and wrong.� Even then, only 37% said they accept its moral advice.� Some people see the Bible and religion separately.� The same percent believe the Bible had some right to tell them what to do, but only 34% live their lives by it. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� The church has even less authority over our citizens than the Bible.� Is it because people have read enough of the Bible for themselves to see some discrepancies?� Only 44% of Americans say the church has any right to tell them what was right and wrong, but only one-fourth of Americans apply what the church says to their personal lives. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| When I was a child and would hear discussions about God bringing in the spiritual sheaves at the harvest of souls, I thought the adults were talking about bringing in the sheeps.� Children sometimes speak of Pilate, the final judge at the trial of Jesus, flying his airplane.� Some children have understood in their immature minds that Jesus died, was buried, and low in the gravy lay.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| But are these any worse than the misunderstandings about the Bible adults have?� Most adults, even those who go to church, do not know there is an Old and New Testament, don't know who came first - David or Moses, and think the Bible contains a few cute stories but no rules for our lives.� Most adults don't even know for sure what things are sin.� Test your own congregation to see if these things are not so. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Yet these same adults don't know that they don't know, and the thought of reading right out of the Bible seems either baffling or boring.� When cornered and not wanting to admit our dilemma, how many of us think, "Don't confuse me with the facts!"? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� What is going to church all about?� Where did the church get its information on how to worship?� Did it just come out of someone's imagination?� Who came up with the idea of meeting on Sunday?� Why sing?� Who is this God or god everyone prays to?� Did someone just think up a name - Jehovah, Jesus, Adonai?� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Without the Bible we may decide anyone can worship God any way they want as long as the people like it.� We could decide that apparently God doesn't care as long as we're sincere.� And, of course, that's exactly what has happened in today's Christian world. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Even if the Bible is mentioned by name during a worship service, we might think it is some sort of confidential top-secret book made available only to a certain cloistered group of leaders.� After all, no one ever actually reads out of it in front of the whole congregation.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� How can we take the Bible for granted and let it just sit hardly ever read, even in church?� A lot of us don't even take a Bible to church with us.� Many congregations do not have pew Bibles, and if they do, they are not referred to.� And even when they are, it is assumed everyone in the audience knows what a Zechariah is and that it's on page 592.� Assumptions.� Assumptions.� So many assumptions and so much taking the Bible for granted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� God, the Bible is too long, too full of fine print, and too confusing.� Surely you meant for only the clergy to read it.� Didn't you, God?� Is that what you meant done with it? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Taking It For Granted | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� There was a big, muscular logger (lumber jack) out west who had to get up at 4:00 AM every day to go to work.� This big guy was a Christian and wanted to read his Bible every day.� But when?� It took a lot of courage, but he began taking it up into the woods with him in his lunch bucket.� At noon, he'd sit on a log, eat his four sandwiches and read out of his Bible. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� You can easily guess how he was treated.� One day this Christian guy found a page out of PLAYBOY magazine in his lunch bucket.� So, having figured out who had put it there, he got an old Bible, and the next day the other guy found a page out of the BIBLE in his lunch bucket. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� But harassment grew.� They either refused to talk to him any longer, or they taunted him, or they picked fights with him.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� The loggers parked their cars at a parking lot on the edge of town and rode "crummies" (beaten up vans) up the back roads into the woods so as to not wreck their own cars.� One day on their way down the mountain the harassment got so bad the Christian knew he would fight them if he didn't get out.� He ordered the crummie stopped, got out, and walked several miles back to his car. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Months later another logger went up to the Christian in private and said, "You read your Bible.� You know about God and things.� My life is a mess.� Would you help me know God too?"� Months after that, another logger felt he had no where to turn.� So he turned to the Christian.� "I know I've harassed you about that Bible, but secretly I admired you.� You've got guts.� My life is falling apart.� Can you help me?" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Oh, the power of God's Word! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1968 the USS Pueblo and its crew of 82 men were captured by the North Koreans and imprisoned for eleven months.� Lt. Commander Stephen Harris, who was the chief intelligence officer aboard the ship, returned for his Bible "in the confused moments when capture seemed imminent."� It was immediately taken from him at the point of a bayonet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� The Pueblo prisoners decided to make a Bible.�"Snatches of hymns, elements of worship services, precious bits of scripture were written on left-over scraps of paper.� This unorthodox, but living, vital document, became known as the 'Pueblo Bible'. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� "In our unchurched, unlearned way we turned to God."� Harris said when the Pueblo Bible was discovered, he received a new set of bruises, but he was "brought out of despondency" by the memorized scripture.[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In the mid-1970s when Bibles were still illegal in the Soviet Union, my niece helped smuggle Bibles into Moscow, the heart of the atheist world.� This group of young people hid their Bibles under an artificial floor in their van.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� They would play in a park and whenever they saw someone sit on a nearby park bench with a certain kind of shopping bag, one of them would go over there with an identical shopping bag with a Bible in it, and say the first half of a predetermined phrase.� If the other person replied with the proper second half of that phrase, the young person would get up and carry the stranger's shopping bag away; the stranger would get up and leave with their newly acquired shopping bag and a precious Bible. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Not only were Bibles illegal in Russia, but meeting to worship was also.� True, there were official churches they could attend.� If they did, they often lost their jobs, were not waited on in the markets, and so on.� But if they met secretly and were discovered, they were either shipped off to a concentration camp in Siberia or shot.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� The young people stayed all summer.� That fall they learned from the American Embassy in Moscow that some of the Christians were discovered meeting together and all were shot.� Did they believe it was worth it?� Obviously they did.� Even at the risk of their very lives?� Oh, yes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Then there are all those who risked their lives to translate the Bible into the language of the common person so the common person could read it in our own language.� Common people like you and me.� How can we take it for granted? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� God, I didn't realize so many people went through so much to get a Bible.� But they were different.� Most people aren't like that.� We're just not.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of the Commoner's Bible | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Around 650 AD, Pope Leo I wrote, "It is not permitted...to think concerning the divine scriptures otherwise than the blessed Apostles and Fathers declared and daughter." [2]� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1299, Pope Innocent III warned the people that, though the desire to study the Scriptures was commendable, it was wrong to study them apart from the Church's teaching authority and to presume themselves superior to the priests in Scriptural studies. [3]� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In the 1378 John Wycliffe of Yorkshire, England, began translating the entire Bible into Middle English, at first releasing various portions as tracts.� Thereupon, anyone found with such a tract had it tied about his neck and the person and the scriptures were burned at the same time.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Their translator Wycliffe was excommunicated from the Roman church and died six years later.� But 41 years after that,� his grave was broken into, his bones were burned, and his ashes thrown into the river. [4] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did these people take the Bible for granted?� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Around 1525 in Wales, William Tyndale was extremely distressed when told by a bishop, "We were better to be without God's laws than the pope's."� To this Tyndale replied that if God would spare his life, a few years hence he would cause even a boy driving a plough to know more of the scriptures than this clergyman. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Tyndale declared that if the Bible was translated into common speech, even the poor could read and see the plain Word of God.� He felt the main reason for the heresies in the church was that the Scriptures of God were hidden from the people's eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1525 William Tyndale printed his first copy of the New Testament in English.� Cuthbert Tonstal, Bishop of London, with Sir Thomas More, plotted to destroy "that false erroneous translation."� The bishop of Antwerp decided to purchase every copy of Tyndale's English New Testament "for I intend to burn and destroy them all at Paul's Cross." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� The bishops and prelates convinced the king of England to declare the English New Testament illegal.� In the town of Vilvorde, Tyndale was betrayed, arrested, and imprisoned.� Then in 1536 he was sentenced to be executed.� Tied to a stake he cried,"Lord!� Open the king of England's eyes!"� Then he was strangled and burned by fire.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In reaction to having the Bible in common language, ten years later, the Roman Catholic Council of Trent formally stated, "the Council declares that no one, relying on his own ingenuity, in matters of faith and morals pertaining to the development of Christian doctrine, should distort Sacred Scripture to suit himself, contrary to that sense which the holy Mother Church has held and continues to hold, whose place it is to judge concerning the true sense and interpretation of Holy Scriptures." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� At that same Council of Trent where the canon of the Bible was discussed, it was decreed that the traditions on faith and custom that "have been transmitted in some sense from generation to generation down to our times" were to be accepted "with as much reverence as Sacred Scripture." | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1564, according to the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA, "indiscriminate" reading of the Bible with independent interpretation apart from the Mother Church was forbidden by Pope Pius IV because "Bible reading...is not necessary for salvation." [5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� On December 13, 1898, Pope Leo XIII granted specific indulgences for reading the Scriptures. [6]� Indulgences were initiated in the early 11th century as a fleshly punishment due to sin, the guilt of which is already forgiven. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� God, I appreciate all they did to get the Bible to me in English.� I have a copy in my home and even look up the 23rd Psalm whenever someone dies.� My priest marked it for me a long time ago. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Paying With Their Lives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Beginning in the early 1200s the Roman church tracked down people who, among other things, "read the Bible in the common language" along with those who read pagan writing or who were magicians.� According to FOX'S BOOK OFMARTYRS, such "heretics" who refused to repent were tortured and burned alive; those who repented were imprisoned for life.� In both cases, their property was taken over by the church.� Many accounts over the next centuries are left of the suffering, torture and death of countless Bible readers. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1415, Jerome of Prague was arrested for having translated much of the Wickliffe's Bible into his own language.� For this he was arrested as an opposer of the pope, enemy of cardinals, persecutor of prelates and hater of the Christian religion.� Sentenced to death and tied to a stake where they began lighting the fire behind him, he cried out, "Come here, and kindle it before my eyes; for if I had been afraid of it, I had not come to this place."� As the flames consumed his body, he was last heard to cry out, "This soul in flames I offer Christ, to Thee." [7] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did he think it didn't matter what was in the Bible? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1418 in Great Britain, Sir John Oldcastle was imprisoned and then taken to Lincoln's Inn Fields for execution for reading Wycliffe's translation and then applying it to worship.� Observing the crowd assembled to watch, he exhorted them to "follow the laws of God written in the Scriptures, and to beware of such teachers as they see contrary to Christ in their conversation and living" (Fox, pg. 191).� Then iron chains were placed around his middle, and his body was set afire.� The few minutes he survived the flames he praised the name of God. [8] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did he feel reading the Bible was dull and boring? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1507 at Norwich, England, Thomas Norris was burned alive for testifying the truth of the Gospel. [9] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Also in England in 1532, Richard Byfield, a former monk, was converted by reading Tyndale's version of the New Testament.� In prison he was tied up by his arms until his joints were dislocated.� He was beaten several times until most of the flesh on his back was gone.� Then in "Lollard's Tower" (named after the followers of Wycliffe) in Lambeth palace, he was chained by the neck to the wall and beaten once a day.� Finally he was burned at the stake in Smithfield. [10] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did he think he had better things to do than read the Bible? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� That same year, John Tewkesbury was arrested for reading Tyndale's translation of the New Testament and burned at the stake. [11] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did he entrust Bible reading to the clergy? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In the Piedmont Valleys in Italy, the Waldenses had the New Testament and a few books of the Old Testament in their own language.� Thousands suffered persecution for this "sin" in the early 1500s.� Under the direction of the archbishop of Turin, one Waldensian leader was ripped open, and his bowels were pulled out and placed in a basin in front of him until he died.� Others were flayed alive, and others burned for having the scriptures and not following religious traditions as a result. [12] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did he think he didn't have time to read the Bible? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1546, Peter Chapot brought Bibles to France in their own language and sold them publicly.� Within a few days he was brought to trial, sentences, and executed.� Thereupon it was expressly forbidden for laity to read the sacred scriptures in France. [13] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did he make fun of other people for reading the Bible so much? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In Bononia, Italy, John Mollius presented the Apostle Paul's writings to the church in Rome to the people in their own language.� One of the things he objected to was the church of Rome holding services in an unknown tongue (Latin).� He was arrested under the direction of Pope Julius III, hanged, and his body burned to ashes in 1553. [14] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did he feel like God was beating him over the head with the Bible? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In the mid 1500s, great persecution arose in Germany.� Henry Voes and John Esch were arrested for reading Luther's translation of the Bible.� When representatives of the church of Rome asked what they believed in, Voes replied, 'In the Old and New Testaments. '� When asked if they believed in the writings of the church fathers and decrees of the church councils, Voes replied, "If they agree with Scriptures. '� Thereupon, they were burned at the stake. [15] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did they care what their friends said about them reading the Bible? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1544 in Scotland, George Wishart shared the Epistle to the Romans with the public in a sermon at Dundee.� When interrupted by an antagonist friend of the archbishop of St. Andrews, Wishart replied, "I have offered you the Word ofsalvation.� With the hazard of my life I have remained among you."� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Next an attempt was made on his life by a priest with a dagger but was thwarted.� In Montrose the cardinal arranged for sixty men to lie in wait to murder him, but this too was thwarted.� Finally Cardinal Beaton had him taken into custody where he refused to recant his beliefs which were based solely on the written gospel.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� He was then led out to his execution.� There, he fell to his knees praying, "Oh thou Savior of the world, have mercy upon me!� Father of heaven, I commend my spirit into Thy holy hands.� I beseech thee, Father of heaven, forgive them....I forgive them with all my heart."� Then several bags of gunpowder were tied to different parts of his body, he was tied to a stake, and the kindling at his feet was set fire to, thus setting fire to the gun powder. [16]� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did he think he had better things to do than read the Bible? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1554, John Rogers, who backed William Tyndale and Miles Coverdale to translate the Bible into English which they called, "The Translation of Thomas Matthew," was put under house arrest by the Bishop of London and later was sent to Newgate prison.� Then in February, under orders of Stephen Gardiner, bishop of Winchester, he was led out and torched to death. [17] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� A few days later, Lawrence Saunders was led to his execution.� There he said, "The blessed Gospel of Christ is what I hold; that do I believe, that have I taught, and that will I never revoke.";� Then he walked slowly to a stake where a fire was about to be set.� He grabbed hold of the stake and said, "Welcome, thou cross of Christ!� Welcome everlasting life!"� Then he was set fire to and burned to death. [18] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did they care what their enemies said about them reading the Bible? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� The following July, Dirick Carver of England was sentenced to be burned alive.� Arriving at the stake, his Bible was thrown into a barrel.� He reached down into the barrel, pulled the Bible out, and threw it into the crowd.� Thereupon the sheriff of Lewes commanded in the name of the king and queen that anyone picking up the Bible would be executed.� Then the Bible was thrown back into the barrel.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Being tied then to the stake, Carver prayed, quoting from the Bible, "O Lord my God, Thou hast written, he that will not forsake wife, children, house, and everything that he hath, and take up Thy cross and follow Thee, is not worthy of Thee!� My soul doth rejoice in Thee!" The fire was lit and he was burned alive. [19] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� That same year Thomas Cranmer of Northampton, England, was sentenced to execution.� Some twenty years earlier he had begun saying that the Bishop of Rome had no authority to dispense with the Word of God.� In 1537 he had encouraged a friend, Ossiander, to publish a Harmony of the Gospels.� Cranmer also translated parts of the Bible into English.� By the following year, the Bible in English was openly sold and people crowded into churches to hear it read.� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� When led out to the place of his execution, Cranmer was chained to a stake and the kindling around him set fire to.� As the flames then began to engulf his whole body, he lifted his eyes up toward heaven and quoted Stephen in the book of Acts, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." [20] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did they hide the Bible under blankets, magazines, or in closets? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1557, Joyce Lewes of Manchester, England, refused to go to mass and receive the communion from the bishop.� "If these things were in the Word of God, I would with all my heart receive, believe, and esteem them."� The bishop replied, "If thou wilt believe no more than what is warranted by Scriptures, thou art in a state of damnation!" Although she was faint while being led to the stake, once chained to it, her countenance became cheerful.� Set on fire, she raised her hands towards heaven until the flames destroyed them. [21] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1558, a Mrs. Prest of Cornwall knew the Bible so well she could tell in which part of it a particular scripture was found.� Having been arrested, various clergymen sent for her to quote scriptures to them in answer to their questions, and then taunted her as a mad woman.� Finally condemned to the flames, she announced, "This day have I found that which I have long sought." Her last words before being consumed were, "God, be merciful to me a sinner." [22]������� | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did they get the Bible out only to look up the 23rd Psalm? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In the Netherlands about that same time, Wendelinuta, a widow, refused to recant her exclusive belief in the scriptures apart from church creeds.� When a friend tried to dissuade her in prison, she responded by quoting scripture:� "For with the heart we believe to righteousness, but with the tongue confession is made unto salvation."� At her place of execution, a monk tried to get her to kiss a cross and she replied, "I worship no wooden god."� She was strangled and her body burned at the stake. [23] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did she think reading the Bible was too hard? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In 1560, Nicholas Burton, an Englishman in Spain, was arrested for telling people what was in the Bible in their own language.� His tongue was forced out of his mouth and a stick fastened to it so he could not tell what was in the Bible again.� Thereafter he was tied to a stake and burned alive. [24] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Shortly after, George Scherter of Salzburg, was imprisoned for instructing his congregation with knowledge of the gospel, and then beheaded. [25]� Also in the Netherlands, in 1568, a Mr. Scoblant was set afire at a stake.� As his flesh burned, he quoted the Lord's Prayer from the Bible and sang Psalm 40 from the Bible.� Numerous others died in similar manner. [26] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did they think Bible reading was only for weak sissys? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� That same year, Coomans of Antwerp, the Netherlands, whose two imprisoned friends had already died for the sake of the Gospel, proudly confessed to his beliefs and proved the Scriptural part of his answers from the Gospel.� The judge told him to recant or die, but he replied, "I am not only willing to die, but to suffer the most excruciating torments for it; after which my soul shall receive its confirmation from God Himself, in the midst of eternal glory."� He was then executed. [27] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did they think the Bible was a waste of time? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In the late 1500s in Islington, England, forty people were assembled to pray and read the scriptures.� They were invaded by Catholic soldiers of Queen "Bloody" Mary.� Several escaped.� Two died in prison, and thirteen were burned at the stake. [28] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� The duke of Savoy in the mid 1600s sent troops to the Piedmont Valleys of Italy to arrest anyone who read or owned a Bible.� At first their houses were burned and possessions taken from them.� Then they were kept from being schoolmasters or holding any position that brought a profit to them.� Then their children were kidnapped and objecting parents murdered.� One leader, Sebastian Basan, was imprisoned 15 months and then burned at the stake.� The rest were driven from their homes in mid-winter to die of the elements and starvation.� Those who did not flee were murdered. [29] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� Did they think the Bible was for goody-goodys? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ����������� In one town where people commonly read the Bible for themselves, 150 women and children were killed by beheading the women and dashing out the brains of the children.� In the towns of Vilario and Bobbio anyone over age 15 was crucified upside down.� The numerous other tortures are too hideous to print in this book, but are found in chapter six of FOX'S BOOK OF MARTYRS. [30] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| God, I don't understand all this.� How could anyone want their own Bible enough to let themselves be tortured and killed for it.� Why couldn't they just leave it up to the clergy?� What was the big deal.� I don't understand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Continue on Next Page | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Endnotes for this page: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [1]..�� Don't remember where I got this. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [2]..� McDonald, William J., Editor in Chief, New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1966, McGraw-Hill Book Company, pg. 514. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [3]..� Catholic Cyclopedia, 1960, Vol. 2, pg. 250 and 261 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [4]..� Forbush, William B., Editor, Fox's Book of Martyrs, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI., 1968, pp. 135-139. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [5]..� New Catholic Encyclopedia, pg. 514. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [6]..� New Catholic Encyclopedia, pg. 451 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [7]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 144-146 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [8]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 190-191 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [9]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 191 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [10]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, p. 193-194 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [11]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 195 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [12]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 94 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [13]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 46 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [14]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 102-103 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [15]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 166-168 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [16]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 199-200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [17]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 209-210 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [18]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 210-211 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [19]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 230 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [20]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 240-249 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [21]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 261-262 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [22]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 275-279 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [23]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 172-173 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [24]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 64-67 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [25]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 173 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [26]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 174-475 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [27]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 174-175 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [28]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 263 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [29]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 94-100 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [30]..� Fox's Book of Martyrs, pg. 108-110 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||