ΡΔΟΣ. Persecutions-Joan Waste and others-Prisoners famished ENGLISH MARTYROLOGY. CHAPTER I. BISHOPS RIDLEY AND LATIMER. MAN is a polluted being: his best righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and whatever degree of relative and comparative holiness he may exhibit among his fellow men, not one of our race ever did or ever can take his stand before the throne of God, until washed in the blood of the Lamb from innumerable sins and defilements. It is especially needful to bear this truth in mind, when dwelling on the Acts and Monuments of our blessed martyrs. God, for his own glory and praise, endued many of them with such singular gifts and grace, that we are in danger of overlooking what they never forgot; and while they, in the act of giving their tortured bodies to the burning flames for their Lord's sake, uttered their last breath in supplications for mercy, abhorring the very idea of merit, and knowing that the reward was reckoned unto them not of debt but of grace, we, looking only on that which God effectually wrought in them, are in peril of forgetting that all the praise must be to the glory of his grace. We now, thus guarded, enter upon the story of one of these vessels of mercy, in whose life and death the Lord was pleased alike to magnify himself. Dr. NICHOLAS RIDLEY was a native of Northumberland, born of an ancient and honourable family, and distinguished from childhood by great aptness and dexterity in learning. Being early sent to Cambridge, he soon became famous for his proficiency in all knowledge, and was rapidly promoted to the higher functions of the university, obtaining the degree of doctor in divinity, and the headship of Pembroke Hall. He then travelled on the continent, visited Paris, and on his return was made chaplain to king Henry VIII., who shortly promoted him to the bishopric of Rochester; whence he was translated to that of London, by good king Edward. Such was bishop Ridley in the exercise of his pastoral functions, so diligent, so laborious, so devoted, in preaching the true doctrine of Christ, that, as Fox observes, never good child was more singularly loved of his dear parents, than he of his flock and diocese. Every Sunday and holiday he preached to them in some place or other, unless unavoidably prevented; and wheresoever his sermon was delivered, thither the people resorted, swarming round him like bees, coveting the sweet flowers and wholesome juice of the fruitful doctrine which he not only preached but exhibited in the whole course of his life. He was so blameless and harmless, shining as a light in the dark world, that no one could fasten a reproach upon him. His learning was very great, his reading extensive, and his memory such as to rank him among the first of our sages and divines. Of this his sermons and disputations afford proof; nor did his worst enemies deny it. To all this he added great wisdom in counsel, sharpness of wit, and deep political knowledge. In winning souls from error, his custom was ever to use the greatest gentleness and tenderness: he delighted in mercy; and when, during Edward's reign, an obstinate opposer, Heath, who had been suspended from his archbishopric in York, was committed to Ridley's care for twelve months, the kindness and courtesy of the good bishop towards his refractory guest sufficiently bespoke the principle of universal love which reigned in his heart, and ruled his life. But the most remarkable instance of this, rendered more striking by the infamous requital he experienced, was his conduct to the aged mother of Bonner. She dwelt in a house adjoining the bishop's palace at Fulham, and invariably, at the hour of dinner and supper, Dr. Ridley would say, "Go for my mother Bonner." A chair was reserved for her at the head of his table, and from that she was never displaced: even when, as was often the case, some of the king's council dined with him, the bishop would say, "By your lordship's favour, this place, of right and custom, is for my mother Bonner." In every respect, he treated her as though she had been his own parent; and to her daughter Mrs. Mungey, Bonner's sister, he extended the same hospitality, with all brotherly love and respect. In frightful contrast to this appears Bonner's extreme cruelty to the sister of Dr. Ridley, whom, with her husband, he stripped of every possession, and sought with rancorous malice the life of the latter, George Shipside. What recompense Ridley himself received at Bonner's hands may appear from the course of his story. Never did tiger more insatiably thirst for the blood of his prey, than Bonner for that of Ridley. Well might the good bishop adopt the language of the Psalmist, "For the love that I bare unto them, they now take my contrary part." The more we examine the character of Ridley, the darker appears their enmity. He was in every way formed to command the love and respect of his fellow men. In person and features most comely and pleasing; gentle, cheerful, and forgiving an offence as soon as it was committed against him. To his kindred most kind; but never allowing natural affection to deaden his keen sense of right and wrong. He gave it as a general rule to his own brother and sister, that if at any time they did evil, they must look for nothing further at his hand: they would become as strangers and aliens to him, while such as lived an honest and godly life should be considered his brother and sister in their stead-so jealous was he for the honour of that gospel which his own life adorned. He loved to mortify his flesh; and lived much in prayer and contemplation. Every morning, when dressed, he devoted half an hour to secret prayer; then went to his study, where he continued till ten o'clock, the hour at which the morning service of the liturgy was regularly attended by all his household. After this, he went to dinner, not talking much; but in what he said, sober, discreet, and wise; and often merry. Dinner was soon removed, and then he allowed an hour at the table, in conversation or chess; after which, if not called to attend suitors, or other business, he would return to his study until five, when the household were again summoned to the evening service of the church. Supper followed; then another hour at chess, of which he appears to have been fond; and again to his study until eleven, when, after another half hour passed on his knees, he retired to rest. This was his daily course; and at Fulham he also expounded to his family, in order, the Acts and Epistles: a portion every day. To each one who could read, he gave a copy of the Scriptures, encouraging them by rewards to commit the word of God to memory. The thirteenth chapter of the Acts was a favourite portion |