Of Whom the World was NOT WORTHY... part 2

Of Whom the World was NOT Worthy…
part 1


Chapter 11, Fox’s Book of Martyrs…


In 1568, three persons were apprehended in Antwerp, named Scoblant, Hues, and Coomans. During their confinement they behaved with great fortitude and cheerfulness, confessing that the hand of God appeared in what had befallen them, and bowing down before the throne of his providence.

They expressed themselves in the following words: “Since it is the will of the Almighty that we should suffer for His name, and be persecuted for the sake of His Gospel, we patiently submit, and are joyful upon the occasion; though the flesh may rebel against the spirit, and hearken to the council of the old serpent, yet the truths of the Gospel shall prevent such advice from being taken, and Christ shall bruise the serpent’s head.

We are not comfortless in confinement, for we have faith; we fear not affliction, for we have hope; and we forgive our enemies, for we have charity.

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Be not under apprehensions for us, we are happy in confinement through the promises of God, glory in our bonds, and exult in being thought worthy to suffer for the sake of Christ. We desire not to be released, but to be blessed with fortitude; we ask not liberty, but the power of perseverance;

and wish for no change in our condition,

but that which places a crown of martyrdom upon our heads.”

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Scoblant was first brought to his trial; when, persisting in the profession of
his faith, he received sentence of death. At the stake he fervently said the Lord’s Prayer, and sung the Fortieth Psalm;

then commending his soul to God,

he was burnt alive.

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Hues soon after died in prison; upon which occasion Coomans wrote thus to his friends: “I am now deprived of my friends and companions;

Scoblant is martyred, and Hues dead, by the visitation of the Lord;

yet I am not alone, I have with me

the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob;

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HE+ is my comfort,

and shall be my reward.

Pray unto God to strengthen me to the end,

as I expect every hour to be freed from this tenement of clay.”

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The judge told him the only alternatives were recantation or death; and concluded by saying, “Will you die for the faith you profess?”

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To which Coomans 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.”

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Being condemned,

he went cheerfully to the place of execution,

and died with the most manly fortitude,

and Christian resignation.

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Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer....

O Almighty GOD, Who+ didst give to Thy servants boldness to confess the Name of Our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of the same, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST; Who+ liveth and reigneth with THEE, and Thy Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, ONE GOD, now and for ever and ever. Amen.

OF Whom the World was NOT WORTHY...

Of Whom the World was NOT WORTHY…

Introduction to All Saints’ Day

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During this up-coming All Saints’ Day and the dark-spirited halloween season which precedes it, let us focus our attention upon something edifying, something which engenders Life in CHRIST. Let us look at the PRICE many have paid to obtain the PRIZE of the high calling of GOD in CHRIST JESUS.

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Stephen, the first martyr for CHRIST JESUS, who loved not his life unto the death, is the first example of a CHRISTIAN dying rather than denying the LORD JESUS before men. After facing the angry mob of his fellow countrymen, Stephen gave them the Truth about their history, their sins, and their Messiah.

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This courageous and innocent lamb fell asleep in The LORD, having been stoned to death as he was sharing. On his way to The LORD JESUS, Stephen forgave his murderers… among whom was standing a zealous, angry, and implacable Pharisee by the name of Saul of Tarsus. He was powerful and dangerous. Stephen’s death was instrumental in Saul’s conversion, spiritually-speaking. Read about Stephen in Acts, chapters 6 and 7.

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Christians, during these troublous times, let us NOT be intimidated by the evil afoot, but rather let us spend our energies REDEEMING the time for CHRIST, growing secure and mature in CHRIST JESUS our LORD.

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Considering the martyrs and confessors of CHRIST JESUS, let us focus on those who were willing to PAY the PRICE. These are the worthy ones who sealed their testimony with their blood. These are the worthy ones throughout the ages who loved not their life unto the death, for their love of The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

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Instead of teaching our children and fellowman about ghosts and goblins and Charlie Brown’s Great Pumpkin, let us Christians teach our children about these fellow Christians who went before us…"for the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church."

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Why do we even want to do this?

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We want to school our hearts to go

and do likewise,

should we ever be put to the test.

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We want our children to be willing to die for CHRIST

rather than deny HIM+...

and remain for a short season

upon this troubled earth…

but lose their souls for all Eternity.

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We ourselves want

to endure unto the end

so that we may obtain the prize too.

<(((><

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…from the Book of Common Prayer

Grant, O LORD, that in all our sufferings here upon earth for the testimony of Thy Truth, we may steadfastly look up to Heaven, and by faith behold the glory that shall be revealed as did Stephen.

And, being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, we may learn to love and bless our persecutors first by the example of THEE+, O CHRIST and then, by Thy faithful witness, Stephen, who prayed for his murderers to THEE+, O blessed LORD JESUS, Who + standest at the right hand of GOD to succour [help] all those who suffer for THEE+, our only Mediator+ and Advocate. Amen.