Winchester discouraged-Bonner's alacrity-Myles Cover- INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. THE Editor of the Christian's Family Library has real satisfaction in introducing to his Readers this edition of the English Martyrology. It is very gratifying to him to see that precious monument of the spirit, labours, and sufferings of the Reformers, Foxe's Acts and Monuments of the Martyrs, brought again and again in various forms before the Protestant churches, and especially in that complete and perfected edition now sending forth by the publishers of this work; believing, as he does, that it must be attended with great spiritual advantage to many. By far the largest class of readers, however, cannot afford either the purchase-money or the time required to read the whole work; and to this class such a lively, striking, and attractive selection of the chief spiritual and historical facts as the present volumes contain, will be inestimably valuable. The excellent friend to whom the reader is indebted for this work, was indeed, as is often the case where there are real qualifications for a duty, exceedingly backward to undertake it, fearing the charge of undue assumption; and hence she declined it repeatedly. The mode in which it is performed will be a more than sufficient justification to intelligent and candid readers. When the complete work above alluded to was announced, her scruples were overcome, and she was persuaded to prepare this and a succeeding volume for family reading; and it is really hoped that hereby the all-important facts which it brings before the reader, may thus become diffused in very many places, which would otherwise never have been refreshed by them. The facts which Foxe's English Martyrology record, should never be forgotten by British families. The blood of the saints shed by Rome, will assuredly at the appointed time, bring down the vengeance of the Most High, (Rev. vi. 10, 11.) on those continuing to adhere to that Mystery of Iniquity. But so subtle and hidden are its snares, so seductive are its temptations; so soothing and quieting are its falsehoods, that we need every security against the fascinations. of the Roman charmer. The natural heart cannot bear the humbling, self-abasing, holy, and heavenly doctrines of the gospel, and therefore welcomes a seemingly safe refuge of apparent sanctity, in which an outward show may be substituted for an inward reality of holiness. Its tyranny, oppression, and cruelty; its secret indulgences of iniquity; and the way in which its acts correspond to the description of the departure from the faith in the latter times, (1 Tim. iv. 1-4,)—to the mystery of iniquity, (2 Thess. ii. 3-10,) and to the Babylon of Revelation, (chap. xiii. and xvii.) furnish a guard and a scriptural security to the Christian; and such a book as Foxe's Martyrs is a most full and merciful development of those facts which establish this correspondence. I do therefore heartily recommend all Christians to acquire an extensive knowledge of these facts, as a safegard against many temptations now abroad. There is a spiritual aspect which such a work has, which I would gladly bring before the reader, in the hope that it may be a profitable spring of holy and edifying thoughts and affections. We know the power of familiarity, without a spiritual mind in constant exercise, to deaden the impression of truth. The Holy Land was the theatre of God's providence; -the scene in which patriarchs, and prophets, and the Son of God, lived and laboured:-every spot was hallowed by these associations; and yet to those who now reside there, how weak is the impression made by the fact, that God has walked there with men; and how frequently is that circumstance made the occasion of the grossest superstitions! The same deadening effect of familiarity is still stronger in the scenes around us. From this cause a prophet has no honour in his own country. Hence we may be beset with scenes and causes of wonder and interest, and yet be unmoved. Thus in our own land we may be forgetful altogether in daily life of the past mysteries of Providence here, and the wonderful dealings of God with our country. But we should remember and look to the rock whence we are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence we are digged, and to the blessing and increase which our God has bestowed upon us. Very similar have been his dealings with us to those of his people of old. How many scenes of Druidical rites has our land in former ages witnessed! It is interesting to observe that the same historian, Tacitus, who records the fall of Jerusalem, records also the rise of London and the Roman conquests in Britain: it is interesting too, to know that the Lord had ever fully in his view both the fall of the Jews and the conversion to Christ of the Britons, and the blessings he designed for us, and through us for others. Perhaps apostles preached here; if not, their immediate successors undoubtedly did; and amidst all the changing scenes of British history, the gospel here maintained its ground. Even by the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the crusades, the interest in the Holy Land and the word of God was kept alive, and gradually our land was filled with churches, and the outward visible form of the church of Christ. And especially have we cause to be grateful to God that our country, by being made the scene of the birth, education, and sufferings of our martyrs, became a holy land in the eye of God our Father. His eyes are on the scenes of his people's history; as it is remarkably expressed respecting Canaan:" It is a land which the Lord thy God careth for; the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the |