Post by Eli Brayley on Jul 23, 2008 6:13:48 GMT -7
This is a powerful testimony of two young men who gave their lives for the gospel's sake, and how the grace of God moved upon one that was fearful and ready to deny the Lord. God's grace is truly sufficient in the very moment that we need it.
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An excerpt from "The History of the Reformation in Scotland"
by John Knox
After this cruelty was used upon the Castle Hill of Edinburgh—to the effect that the rest of the Bishops might show themselves no less fervent to suppress the light of God than he of St. Andrews was—two were apprehended in the Diocese of Glasgow. The one was named Jeronimus Russell, a Cordelier friar (Franciscan), a young man of a meek nature, quick spirit, and good letters; and one Kennedy, who passed not eighteen years of age, one of excellent injyne (genius) in Scottish poesy. To assist the Bishop of Glasgow in that cruel judgment, or at least to cause him dip his hands in the blood of the Saints of God, were sent Master John Lauder, Archdeacon of Teviotdale, Master Andrew Oliphant Secretary to Cardinal Beaton, and Friar Maltman, sergeants of Satan, apt for that purpose.
The day appointed to their cruelty having approached, the two poor saints of God were presented before those bloody butchers; and grievous were the crimes that were laid to their charge. Kennedy at the first was faint, and gladly would have recanted. But while place of repentance was denied him, the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of all comfort, began to work in him, yea, the inward comfort began to burst forth, as well in visage as in tongue and word. His countenance began to be cheerful, and, with a joyful voice, upon his knees, he said: ‘O Eternal God! How wondrous is that Love and Mercy that Thou bearest unto mankind, and unto me the most caitiff and miserable wretch above all others! Even now, when I would have denied Thee, and Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, my only Savior, and so have cast myself into everlasting damnation, Thou, by Thine own hand, hast pulled me from the very bottom of Hell, and made me to feel that heavenly comfort which takes from me that ungodly fear, wherewith before I was oppressed. Now I defy death. Do what ye please! I praise my God I am ready.’
The godly and learned Jeronimus, railed upon by these godless tyrants, answered: ‘This is your hour and the power of darkness. Now sit ye as judges; and we stand wrongfully accused, and more wrongfully to be condemned. But the day shall come when our innocence shall appear, and ye shall see your own blindness to your everlasting confusion. Go forward and fulfill the measure of your iniquity! ’ While these servants of God thus behaved themselves, a variance arose betwixt the Bishop of Glasgow, Gawin Dunbar, and the Beasts that came from the Cardinal. The Bishop said, ‘I think it better to spare these men, than to put them to death.’ Whereat the idiot Doctors, offended, said: ‘What will ye do, my Lord? Will ye condemn all that my Lord Cardinal, and the other Bishops and we have done? If so ye do, ye show yourself enemy to the Kirk and us; and so we will repute you, be ye assured.’ At which words, the faithless man, affrayed, adjudged the innocents to die, according to the desire of the wicked. The meek and gentle Jerome Russell comforted the other with many comfortable sentences, oft saying unto him: ‘Brother, fear not! More potent is He that is in us, than he that is in the world. The pain that we shall suffer is short, and shall be light; but our joy and consolation shall never have end. Therefore let us contend to enter in unto our Master and Savior by the same Strait Way, which He hath trod before us. Death can not destroy us; for it is destroyed already by Him for whose sake we suffer.’ With these and the like comfortable sentences, they passed to the place of execution, and constantly triumphed over Death and Satan, even in the midst of the flaming fire.
-------------------
An excerpt from "The History of the Reformation in Scotland"
by John Knox
After this cruelty was used upon the Castle Hill of Edinburgh—to the effect that the rest of the Bishops might show themselves no less fervent to suppress the light of God than he of St. Andrews was—two were apprehended in the Diocese of Glasgow. The one was named Jeronimus Russell, a Cordelier friar (Franciscan), a young man of a meek nature, quick spirit, and good letters; and one Kennedy, who passed not eighteen years of age, one of excellent injyne (genius) in Scottish poesy. To assist the Bishop of Glasgow in that cruel judgment, or at least to cause him dip his hands in the blood of the Saints of God, were sent Master John Lauder, Archdeacon of Teviotdale, Master Andrew Oliphant Secretary to Cardinal Beaton, and Friar Maltman, sergeants of Satan, apt for that purpose.
The day appointed to their cruelty having approached, the two poor saints of God were presented before those bloody butchers; and grievous were the crimes that were laid to their charge. Kennedy at the first was faint, and gladly would have recanted. But while place of repentance was denied him, the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of all comfort, began to work in him, yea, the inward comfort began to burst forth, as well in visage as in tongue and word. His countenance began to be cheerful, and, with a joyful voice, upon his knees, he said: ‘O Eternal God! How wondrous is that Love and Mercy that Thou bearest unto mankind, and unto me the most caitiff and miserable wretch above all others! Even now, when I would have denied Thee, and Thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, my only Savior, and so have cast myself into everlasting damnation, Thou, by Thine own hand, hast pulled me from the very bottom of Hell, and made me to feel that heavenly comfort which takes from me that ungodly fear, wherewith before I was oppressed. Now I defy death. Do what ye please! I praise my God I am ready.’
The godly and learned Jeronimus, railed upon by these godless tyrants, answered: ‘This is your hour and the power of darkness. Now sit ye as judges; and we stand wrongfully accused, and more wrongfully to be condemned. But the day shall come when our innocence shall appear, and ye shall see your own blindness to your everlasting confusion. Go forward and fulfill the measure of your iniquity! ’ While these servants of God thus behaved themselves, a variance arose betwixt the Bishop of Glasgow, Gawin Dunbar, and the Beasts that came from the Cardinal. The Bishop said, ‘I think it better to spare these men, than to put them to death.’ Whereat the idiot Doctors, offended, said: ‘What will ye do, my Lord? Will ye condemn all that my Lord Cardinal, and the other Bishops and we have done? If so ye do, ye show yourself enemy to the Kirk and us; and so we will repute you, be ye assured.’ At which words, the faithless man, affrayed, adjudged the innocents to die, according to the desire of the wicked. The meek and gentle Jerome Russell comforted the other with many comfortable sentences, oft saying unto him: ‘Brother, fear not! More potent is He that is in us, than he that is in the world. The pain that we shall suffer is short, and shall be light; but our joy and consolation shall never have end. Therefore let us contend to enter in unto our Master and Savior by the same Strait Way, which He hath trod before us. Death can not destroy us; for it is destroyed already by Him for whose sake we suffer.’ With these and the like comfortable sentences, they passed to the place of execution, and constantly triumphed over Death and Satan, even in the midst of the flaming fire.