Foxs Book of Martyrs | Page 5

Esh Shidiak, from the time
of his being betrayed into the hands of the Maronite Patriarch, in the
Spring of 1826 410

CHAPTER XIX.
PERSECUTIONS OF THE BAPTIST MISSIONARIES IN INDIA,
DURING THE YEAR 1824.
Removal of the prisoners to Oung-pen-la--Mrs. Judson follows them
430
CHAPTER XX.
PERSECUTIONS OF THE WESLEYAN MISSIONARIES IN THE
WEST INDIES.
Case of Rev. John Smith 449 Persecutions of the Wesleyan Methodists
in St. Domingo 450 Persecutions at Port au Prince 450
CHAPTER XXI.
PERSECUTIONS IN SWITZERLAND FROM 1813 TO 1830.
Persecutions in the Pays de Vaud 461
CHAPTER XXII.
SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF SOME OF THE MOST EMINENT
REFORMERS.
John Wickliffe 464 Martin Luther 468 John Calvin 473 Agency of
Calvin in the death of Michael Servetus 475 Calvin as a friend of Civil
Liberty 478 The life of the Rev. John Fox 482 Errors, rites, ceremonies,
and superstitious practices of the Romish church 487
CHAPTER XXIII.
SKETCH OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION OF 1789, AS
CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY OF PERSECUTIONS 489
Massacre of prisoners 496 Death of Louis XVI and other members of

the Royal Family 499 Dreadful scenes in La Vendée 501 Scenes at
Marseilles and Lyons 501 The installation of the Goddess of Reason
506 Fall of Danton, Robespierre, Marat and other Jacobins 508

BOOK OF MARTYRS
CHAPTER I.
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; at another, schisms and divisions
have arrayed brethren of the same name against each other, and scenes
of cruelty and woe have been exhibited within the sanctuary, rivalling
in horror the direst cruelties ever inflicted by pagan or barbarian
fanaticism. This, however, instead of implying any defect in the gospel
system, which breathes peace and love; only pourtrays in darker
colours the deep and universal depravity of the human heart. Pure and
unsophisticated morality, especially when attempted to be inculcated
on mankind, as essential to their preserving an interest with their
Creator, have constantly met with opposition. It was this which
produced the premature death of John the Baptist. It was the cutting
charge of adultery and incest, which excited the resentment of Herodias,
who never ceased to persecute him, until she had accomplished his
destruction. The same observation is equally applicable to the Jewish
doctors, in their treatment of our blessed Lord and Saviour JESUS
CHRIST. In the sudden martyrdom of John the Baptist, and the
crucifixion of our Lord, the history of christian martyrdom must be
admitted to commence; and from these, as a basis for the subsequent
occurrences, we may fairly trace the origin of that hostility, which
produced so lavish an effusion of christian blood, and led to so much
slaughter in the progressive state of christianity.

As it is not our business to enlarge upon our Saviour'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. Though one apostle had betrayed him; though another had
denied him, under the solemn sanction of an oath; and though 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
æra 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 Judea and Samaria, except the apostles."
About two thousand christians, with Nicanor, one of the seven deacons,
suffered martyrdom during the "persecution which arose about
Stephen."
II. James the Great.
The next martyr we meet with, according to St.