offer Christ's body?" said Crashfield; "then Christ's sacri fice was not perfect." The chancellor repeated the text "Thou shalt fear him that hath power to kill both the body and the soul :" saying that the church of Rome pos sessed such a power! The martyr set him right; and added, “Christ saith, I give my life for the redemption of the world. No man taketh my life from me, saith Christ, but I give it of my own power; so have I power to take it again. Therefore, Christ the Son of God did offer His blessed body once for all. And if you presume to offer his body daily, then your power is above Christ's power." He was speedily silenced and condemned. At his burning, a man named Carman was apprehended; either for some expressions he used, or for praying with the martyr, pledging him, as it was then called. These manifestations of sympathy were now strictly forbidden.

The words of the Romish doctors are deserving of notice; they show the main point upon which the error of the mass turns. The Romanists do not refer to the sacrifice of Christ, once offered for sins (Heb. ix. 26–28. x. 10, 12, 18.) as being sufficient for our salvation, but refer to divers points of will-worship, and, among others, to the sacrifice of the mass, in which they assume to repeat and continue the sufferings of our Lord; or, to adopt the words of their Devotion before Communion, "Here the whole passion and death of Christ is solemnly acted, as a most sacred tragedy, by himself in person." Thus the salvation so freely offered in the gospel is made of none effect, without the ceremonies and actions of men; and the priests, who alone are considered as able to perform this miraculous sacrifice, are exalted above their fellow mortals.

the world." We are also told that " This sacrifice of the mass is the same in substance, with that which Christ suffered for us upon the cross; because both the victim offered, and the priest, or principal offerer, is the same Jesus Christ. The difference is only in the manner of the offering; because upon the cross, our Saviour offered himself in such a manner, as really to shed his blood; whereas, now he does not really shed his blood, nor die any more; and, therefore, this is called an unbloody sacrifice, and that of the cross a bloody sacrifice." See "The Garden of the Soul;" also other modern Romish books of devotion.

THE DAYS OF QUEEN MARY.

CHAPTER XIII.

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Many others burned- The congregation in London - Pope Paul excites a war between France and Spain.

A. D. 1557-1558.

The manner in which Cicely Ormes and other females were burned. (See p. 299.)

THE

HE proceedings of Queen Mary had now brought much misery and trouble upon the land, and the Romanists had recourse to measures very similar to those adopted by the heathen under similar circumstances. Cardinal Pole directed that public processions and supplications should be made three times every week in cathedrals, and at least once each week in the large towns. Strype gives a particular account of one which was made on the 8th of June, 1557, at Whitehall.

A hundred young oak trees were set up in the court, forming a way for the procession; green boughs were also fixed against the wall, resembling, as the narrator observes, "the groves where ancient idolatry was committed;" and at Second Edition.]

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Processions-Joyce Lewis

each corner of the court was an altar, hung with cloth of gold. The procession came forth from the chapel, and moved forward as usual, singing and chaunting the litanies to the saints, and bearing the "breaden God," or consecrated wafer, in its splendid shrine. A hundred torches blazed around the host, which was carried under the Queen's most splendid canopy. After singing and censing at every altar, the procession returned to the chapel, and Mass was sung.*

Our attention is next called to the sufferings of JOYCE LEWIS, who was burned at Litchfield in the month of August, 1557. She was the wife of a gentleman of Mancetter, and had been brought up in the vanities and follies of this life, professing the Romish faith, and living in reality without God in the world. But she could not find happiness in that course; and the burning of Saunders at Coventry made a deep impression upon her mind. She inquired the cause and particulars of his sufferings; her conscience became troubled, and would no longer permit her to be satisfied with her accustomed pursuits. John Glover, already mentioned, lived near, and was well known as a Gospeller. With him she used to converse respecting the Mass and other points which the Romanists set forth as necessary for salvation. By the divine blessing upon his instructions, she was led deeply to feel the guilt and burden of sin, and to seek for that peace which the world cannot give. Her heart by degrees was filled with love towards God; and she desired to serve him according to his word. Such a change in her usual habits caused her to be noticed, and she was speedily summoned to

*The "Rituale Romanum" contains the formularies to be used in these processions, which still constitute a prominent part of the Romish services. They are directed to take place on various occasions, particularly in times of trouble and public distress, as well as on festivals, and are, undoubtedly, of heathen origin, for similar ceremonies were practised in honour of idol deities. Blanco White, in his "Letters from Spain," gives an account of the processions, which are very frequent in that country. On these occasions, much pomp and pageantry is displayed, particularly on the day called Corpus Christi. The service on that festival, at Seville, is concluded by a dance, performed by a number of lads in the Cathedral, directly before the high altar, on which occasion the dancers are, by a special permission from the Pope, allowed to wear their hats within sight of the consecrated Host! This privilege is not allowed to any others, excepting the Dukes of Altamira, who on certain occasions when the Host is elevated, clap on their hats and draw their swords,-a significant testimony of their readiness to combat in defence of Transubstantiation.

1557.] brought to the Bishop by her husband.

291 appear before the Bishop of Litchfield. The officer brought the citation to her husband, who, indignant that his wife should be charged with heresy, listened to the dictates of passion; he drew his dagger, and compelled the Bishop's officer to eat the summons ! For this rash act, he was cited to appear before the Prelate, as well as his wife; his views were soon found to be very different from her's; and having implored pardon for his rashness, he was dismissed. The wife also was allowed to depart, her husband being bound to bring her again to the Bishop in a month's time, or to forfeit a hundred pounds. Glover advised her not to put herself forward rashly, or out of vain glory, and tried to persuade the husband to incur the penalty rather than deliver over his wife to certain death. But he shewed whose disciple he was, for he refused to do so, and took his wife to the Bishop, declaring that he would not lose or forfeit any thing for her sake! She was then committed to a noisome prison. The Bishop inquired why she would not come to the Mass, and receive their Sacraments. She answered, “Because I find not in God's word these things which ye so strongly urge as most needful for salvation. If they were commanded in the word of God, I would with all my heart receive, esteem, and believe them." Reader, mark the reply of this Romish Prelate. "If thou wilt believe no more than is in Scripture concerning matters of religion, thou art in a damnable case!" This, however it may be concealed, is really the doctrine of Romanism. Mrs. Lewis boldly told him that his words were ungodly and wicked. After her condemnation she continued a whole year in prison, the Sheriff then in office refusing to put her to death, for which he was called to account, and even in danger of his life. At length the writ came for her burning. Being informed of this, she said, "When I behold the amiable countenance of Christ my dear Saviour, the grim face of death doth not greatly trouble me."

All night she continued cheerful. God the Holy Spirit had evidently expelled the fear of death from her heart; she spent her time in prayer, reading the Scriptures, and in converse with some friends, who contrary to the usual custom were allowed to see her. But as the morning drew near, Satan began to trouble her with his fiery darts, questioning with her how she could tell that she was chosen to eternal life, and that Christ had died for her. A friend pointed her to Galatians ii. 20. "I live by the faith of the Son of God,

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Account of her burning.

who loved me, and gave himself for me." They also told her "that her vocation and calling to the knowledge of God's word, was a manifest token of His love towards her, especially the Holy Spirit working in her heart that love and desire towards God, to please him, and to be justified through Christ." By these considerations, but especially by the sweet promises of our Lord, she was enabled to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one.

At eight o'clock, the Sheriff warned her that she had but one hour to live. After that interval he returned, and permitted a friend (probably Bernher) to accompany her to the stake, for which he was afterwards severely called to account. She was then led forth with a number of armed men, and a great crowd followed. Having been so long shut up in a close and noisome prison, the length of the way and the change of air made her faint. The Sheriff humanely allowed some refreshment to be brought. She took the cup, and said, "I drink to all them that unfeignedly love the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and wish for the abolishment of Papistry." Her friends, and most of the females present, pledged her in the expression of that sentiment, for which many of them were afterwards compelled openly to do penance.*

While such dreadful scenes as have been described in this work were exhibited in our land, the inhabitants might well desire "the abolishment of Papistry." We cannot wonder that while those lived who, like Joshua of old, and the elders that survived him, had known the wonderful works of God, it was not considered a matter of indifference whether they served the Lord, or the gods which their fathers had served in the days of spiritual darkness.

When the fire was kindled, Mrs. Lewis lifted up her hands towards heaven, but neither struggled nor stirred. She suffered less severely than many of her fellow Martyrs, the Under Sheriff, at the request of her friends, having provided

* A Priest was stationed to take down the names or description of all persons who spoke to her, or expressed sorrow for her fate, They were speedily summoned by the Romish Prelates, but were set at liberty upon expressing regret for what they had done. One female, named Pennifather, wept at the sad scene before her, upon which two Priests inquired, "Why she wept for a heretic whose soul was in hell?" She replied, that she thought the blessed Martyr was in a better case than they were; upon which she was committed to prison, and narrowly escaped sharing the fate of her friend.