Well! I tell thee, do what thou canst, thou shalt not, by God's grace, have the victory."

From this time he went on cheerfully, and, on reaching the stake, embraced it, rejoicing to die for the testimony of God's truth.

"Bind me fast," said he, "for it may be the flesh will strive mightily; but, God of his great mercy give me strength and patience to abide the extremity."

It was even as he desired, and, in the sixtieth year of his age, he thus fell asleep in Jesus.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Lawrence Saunders.

EARLY PREDILECTION FOR A MINISTER'S LIFE; APPREHENDED FOR TREASON, AND BURNT AT THE STAKE.

FTER queen Mary, by public proclamation, in the first year of her reign, had prohibited the preaching of God's word, several pious ministers, who had the charge of souls committed to them, continued to feed their flock faithfully, not as those authorized by public authority, as in the happy days of king Edward, but as private pastors of particular flocks.

Among these was Lawrence Saunders, a man eminently devoted to the work of the gospel ministry. He had been brought up in learning from his youth, and was chosen from the school of Eton, to go to the king's college in Cambridge, where he continued a scholar three years, making remarkable proficiency in the various departments of learning.

Shortly after, he visited his widowed mother, who was desirous of his becoming a merchant, and in obedience to her solicitations, he entered the store of a merchant in London.

Thus, by the mind of his friends, he must needs have been engaged in secular pursuits; but God, who hath his secret

working in all things, saw better for his servant, as it proved in the end. Although bound by indenture, the Lord so wrought upon his mind by His spirit, that he could feel no interest in his vocation; and while his companions were busily occupied in their trade, he would withdraw himself to some solitary place, and there spend his time in contemplations of a different nature.

His master was a good man, and observing this disposition in the young man, called him, and inquired into the cause of his apparent melancholy and indifference. Saunders declared his preference for a more spiritual life, and like a good and benevolent man, the merchant gave him his indentures, and set him free. Delighted in being no longer in the traffic of merchandise, he returned again to study in Cambridge, where he began to add to the knowledge of the Latin, the study of the Greek and Hebrew, to which he united a diligent perusal of the Scriptures, to furnish himself for the office of preacher.

His application was painful and severe, and his improvement consequently very rapid.

In the beginning of Edward's reign, when gospel religion was introduced, he obtained license, and began to preach, and was so well liked of those who then had authority, that they appointed him to read divinity lectures, in the college at Fothringham, where by doctrine and life, he edified the pious, drew many ignorant to the knowledge of salvation, and stopped the mouths of adversaries.

He labored in different places, till the time of the disturbance occasioned by the claim that Mary made to the crown. At the beginning of the excitement, he preached at Northampton, interfering not however with state affairs, but boldly spoke against popish doctrines, which were like to spring up again in England. The queen's party heard it, and were so highly displeased, that they kept him among them as a prisoner. They finally dismissed him, as no law was broken by his preaching, which would warrant his detention. Seeing the dreadful days at hand, and inflamed with holy zeal, he renewed his christian efforts with new diligence, till he was

again arrested in his work, by one of the queen's counselors. Overtaking Saunders one day, he asked him whither he went? "I have a charge," said he, "in London, and I go to instruct them, according to my duty." "Follow my counsel," said the man," and let them alone." "How then shall I be discharged before God," said the godly minister, " if any be sick, and desire consolation, if any want good counsel, and need instruction? or if any should slip into error, and receive false doctrine?"

Both went on their way, the one to do the will of his Master in heaven, the other to further his own selfish designs, by informing the queen against a good man. She sent an officer to take him in the midst of his preaching, and bring him before the bishop, on a charge of treason for breaking the queen's proclamation, and also for his sermon which savored of sedition and heresy.

He was tried as an heretic, and during his examination, he was requested to write his views of transubstantiation. He did so, saying, "My lord, you seek my blood, and you shall have it. I pray God, that you may be so baptized with it, that hereafter you may become a better man.”

The bishop, when he had his will, sent him to the lordchancellor, as Annas sent Christ to Caiaphas; and he found like favor with his Master before him.

"Carry him to prison," was the cry, and as he heard it, he gave God thanks that he had found a place of rest and quiet, where he might pray for the conversion of souls.

So true is it, that

"Praver is the christian's vital breath,

The christian's native air."

He remained in prison fifteen months, during which time he wrote many letters to his friends, full of christian confidence and heavenly consolation.

He was finally degraded, and condemned to be burnt, and on the 8th of February, 1555, he was led to the stake. He was naturally of a very timid disposition, but went to the place of execution with cheerful courage, a conqueror through Him who died upon the cross.

He embraced the stake, and kissed it, saying, "Welcome the cross of Christ, welcome, everlasting life," and soon fell asleep in the Lord, forever to enjoy the full fruition of those blessed hopes which enabled him to meet death so triumphantly.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Thomas Hawks.

BRIGHT EXAMPLE OF INTEGRITY AND DEVOTION; TRIUMPH IN THE HOUR OF HIS DISSOLUTION.

HOMAS HAWKS was of the county of Essex, in calling and profession a courtier, brought up in affluence from his childhood, with the advantages of refined and polished society.

Besides, he was of such comeliness of person by nature so well endowed with excellent qualities, that he might seem to be a man, as it were, made for the purpose.

But his gentle behaviour toward others, and especially his fervent study and singular love unto true religion and piety, surmounted all the rest.

"Wherein," says an English writer, "God did singularly adorn him, even so he, being such a valiant martyr of God, may seem to make famous the whole company of other holy martyrs, and, as a bright star, to make the church of God and his truth of themselves bright and clear, more gloriously to shine by his example." For, if the conquests of martyrs are triumphs of Christ, as Ambrose declares, undoubtedly, Christ in few men hath either conquered more notably, or triumphed more gloriously, than in this young man; he stood so wisely in his cause, so pious in his life, and so constant in his death.

Following the fashion of the court at first, as he grew in years, he entered service with the lord of Oxford, where he

remained for a considerable time, being highly esteemed and loved by all the household, so long as Edward the Sixth lived. After his death all things began to go backward, religion to decay, true piety not only to wax cold but also to be in danger every where, especially in the houses of great

men.

Hawks, disliking this state of things, and particularly in such men's houses, rather than he would change the profession of true godliness, which he had tasted, thought to change the place; and, forsaking the nobleman's house, he departed to his own home, where he might more freely give himself to the service of God, and enjoy the freedom of his own conscience.

But what place in this world shall a man find so secret for himself, whither the adversary can not creep, fully intent on measures to disturb the quietness of the godly? He had a young child, whose baptism was deferred, because he would not suffer it to take place after the manner of the papists. This excited the indignation of his adversaries, who immediately laid hands on him, and brought him before the earl of Oxford, there to be reasoned with as not sound in religion, in that he seemed to contemn the ordinances of the church.

The earl, either intending not to trouble himself in such matters, or else seeing himself not able to sustain his side of the argument, sent him up to London with a messenger and letters, and, desirous of clearing his own hands, put him in the hands of Bonner, the bishop, to be dealt with according to his discretion.

Finding no satisfaction in the lengthy conversation which took place between them, the bishop pronounced him a heretic, and threatened him with death, still keeping up his solicitations to induce him to return to the mother church; to which he ever replied, "No, my lord, I will not; for, if I had a hundred bodies, I would suffer them all to be torn in pieces, rather than abjure and recant."

Notwithstanding this, the doctors and lawyers, reiterated their calls for him to come over to the unity of the church;