TO THE ENGLISH READER
The due praise of Martyrs, and other glorious Saints exceedeth mortal tongs.late English Martyrs, and Confessours, whose happie soules for confessing true faith before men, are now most glorious in heauen, we passe here with silence; because their due praise, requiring longer discourse, yea rather Angels then English tongues, farre surpasseth the reach of our conceits. And so we leaue it to your deuout meditation. They now secure for themselues, & solicitous for vs their dearest clients, incessantly (we are wel assured) intercede before Christs Diuine Maiestie for our happie consummation, with the conuersion of our whole countrie. To you therfore (dearest freinds mortal) we direct this speach: admonishing our selues and you in the Apostles words, that for so much as we haue not yet resisted tentations to (last) bloud (and death) it-self, Patience necessary to the end of mans life.patience is stil necessarie for vs, that doing the wil of God, we may receiue the promise: So we repine not in the tribulation, but euer loue them that hate vs, pittying their case, and reioycing in our owne. Persecution profitable.For neither can we see during this life, how much good they doe vs; nor know how manie of them shal be (as we hartily desire they al may be) saued: our Lord and Sauiour hauing paid the same price by his death for them and for vs. Loue al therfore, pray for al. Doe not lose your confidence, which hath a great remuneration. For yet a little, and a very little while, he that is to come, wil come, and he wil not slacke. Confession of faith before men necessary to saluation.Now the iust liueth by faith, believing with hart to iustice, Rom 10.
Heb. 10.and confessing with mouth to saluation. But he that withdraweth himself shal not please Christs soule. Attend to your saluation, dearest contriemen. And you that are farre off, draw neer, put on Christ. And you that are within Christs fold, keep your standing, perseuer in him to the end. His grace dwel and remaine in you, that glorious crownes may be giuen to you. Amen.
From the English College in Doway, the Octaues of Al Saints. 1609.
