Fox's Book of Martyrs

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational and heartbreaking
Review: . . but the anti-Catholic polemicists will ignore such proper scholarship.

As a non-Roman Catholic historian and theologian, I have seen far too many Protestant "apologists" (read, anti-Catholics) use Foxe's Book of Martyrs as a condemnation of 2000 years of Catholicism, or as a support for the Protestant Reformation, or any number of off-track purposes. This is not fair to either history, or Catholicism.

The Reformation in England was a bloody time. No reputable historian would doubt it. Foxe presents a tiny snapshot (more or less a decade) in which the Catholics (under the aptly named "Bloody" Mary I) executed a number of leading Protestant theologians and clergymen. This much is history. Incorporated with the history are the personal polemics of Foxe, which have little or nothing to do with the history of the times.

It's interesting to note that the Catholics could just as easily present their own book of martyrs, taken from pretty much the same time period, in order to justify denouncing Protestants! Henry VIII was just as unpleasant to Catholics as his daughter was to Protestants! And Elizabeth I executed as many Catholics as Mary I did Protestants.

None of this is intended to justify violence in the Name of God -- such is reprehensible no matter who participates in it. But both Catholics and Protestants have dirty hands, and finger pointing serves no purpose.

Consider this book in its context, but don't try to draw modern polemic conclusions from it.

Rating:
Summary: The wise reader will put this book in its proper context. .
Review: . . but the anti-Catholic polemicists will ignore such proper scholarship.

As a non-Roman Catholic historian and theologian, I have seen far too many Protestant "apologists" (read, anti-Catholics) use Foxe's Book of Martyrs as a condemnation of 2000 years of Catholicism, or as a support for the Protestant Reformation, or any number of off-track purposes. This is not fair to either history, or Catholicism.

The Reformation in England was a bloody time. No reputable historian would doubt it. Foxe presents a tiny snapshot (more or less a decade) in which the Catholics (under the aptly named "Bloody" Mary I) executed a number of leading Protestant theologians and clergymen. This much is history. Incorporated with the history are the personal polemics of Foxe, which have little or nothing to do with the history of the times.

It's interesting to note that the Catholics could just as easily present their own book of martyrs, taken from pretty much the same time period, in order to justify denouncing Protestants! Henry VIII was just as unpleasant to Catholics as his daughter was to Protestants! And Elizabeth I executed as many Catholics as Mary I did Protestants.

None of this is intended to justify violence in the Name of God -- such is reprehensible no matter who participates in it. But both Catholics and Protestants have dirty hands, and finger pointing serves no purpose.

Consider this book in its context, but don't try to draw modern polemic conclusions from it.

Rating:
Summary: Keeping the Faith
Review: During an Evangelism trip at my church, one godly man starting reading excerpts from this book to the group. The accounts of the martyrs and their sufferings are truly inspiring to the Christian who wants to make his faith known. Now that I own this book myself, I believe that it is a great reminder of the sufferings for Christ that others have made and the importance in the spread of the Great Commission.

Rating:
Summary: Inevitable Literature for Every Authentic Christian Believer
Review: If you ever want to get a glimpse into the genuine faith Christian believers experienced towards the Lord Jesus in the face of persecution, read the accounts related in Fox's Book of Martyrs. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

This is a must read, along with the Bible, for anyone wanting to develop an authentic approach to what faith in God through the Lord Jesus Christ was once really all about. I mean if you want to be consequent with the subject of eternal life, at some point you'll have to agree that what is not worth dying for is not worth living for, at least not eternally.

The undeniable fact is that these tragic episodes affecting God's people happened not to long ago, in fact they could have happened right in our backyards. They are the living epistles that Jesus Christ is indeed the same yesterday, today and for ever. And so are his disciples. Their blood still cries out. There always have been only two kinds of believers, the persecuted ones and the persecutors, it goes back as far the book of Genesis goes back. Two seeds, that of the woman and that of the serpent, always same story, one of them ends up sealing his testimony in his own blood. Abel and Cain, Jesus and Judas, the simple heaven-bound Galilean disciples and the noble indignant patriotic Jews, the scripture-bound Reformers and the ceremonial infuriated Catholics, and so on, and so on. You'll probably imagine that things can't have changed that much over time for the ways of a God who is eternal, and you'll probably also guess that the things that happened only a few centuries behind, and do still happen at this very hour in various parts of the world, are bound to happen sometime again all over, as soon as the dragon's fury is roused again towards genuine christian believers that have the witness of their heavenly Father to backup their faith. Jesus is indeed the same yesterday, today and forever. The spirit that animates His opponents hasn't changed either.

Now what really beats me is how so many so-called protestants are animated with that strange ecumenic spirit, so readily eager to disregard, in a strange attempt of good-will, what genuine christianity was once all about, and thereby discount all the blood that has been spilt all over Europe for the sake of the truth of the Gospel, and that just a few centuries ago, and in fact not only a few centuries ago, but since the time the precious blood of Abel was spilt by his vengeful half-brother. What I question is not the motivation of these ecumenical undertakers, but the origin of the spirit that's animating them. Well, it my view, it simply cannot come from God. It looks like we are living in the treacherous times where the sons of the Reformation are standing up against both the blood and the testimony of their fathers. In the end result, it is as if the great mother harlot has just been mothering a few daughter harlots over time, and that the mother hen is now just about to gather back under her wings what finally appears to be her very own offspring...

Fox's Book of Martyrs stands as one precious and timeless witness against such undertakings. By the way, this is the best and most complete Edition amongst the five I've come across. If you ever get one, be sure this is the one.

Rating:
Summary: Be Challenged and be warned!
Review: Sometimes the truth hurts. Religious persecution has come in many forms all throughout history. Neither the Catholics nor the Protestants are completely innocent of spilling the blood of the faithful. The difficulty lies in trying to place the blame on genuine Christianity, which cannot be done. The 'faithful few' Christ has chosen throughout history (because of their obedience to the faith!) have always been the persecuted, despised and forsaken. It's only been since modern times that satan has been able to pass off his counterfeit version of Christianity as the truth to most who profess to believe.
Anyone who would involved themselves in the trial and death of their fellow human being for 'religious' reasons, is certainly NOT a true Christian. 1John3:15 makes perfectly clear that 'no murderer' has eternal life abiding in him!
For the true Christians the weapons of warfare are NOT carnal, but spiritual for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. (2Cor10:5) Opposing the forces of evil in such manner brings persecution and often death, but such is the price of holding forth the words of life as you will see from the faithful first century Martyrs who gave their lives for the truth.
One discrepancy I discovered is the author's information about John Calvin and the Geneva Council who ordered the execution of the Spanish Physician Michael Servetus in 1553. He holds Calvin innocent of the death of Servetus, claiming that he made numerous attempts to have his life spared (if he would recant) and finally succumbed to the overwhelming desire of the Council to burn Servetus. This is a distortion of the facts. Calvin was zealous for the death of Servetus and others who opposed his view of theology and penned in his own hand years after the horrible execution his 'approval' of such acts against all 'heretics!' Congratulating himself for 'having purged the Church of so pernicious a monster!' (quoted from a letter written by Calvin in 1562, out of 'History of the Christian Church' VolIII pp690, 691)
Although many today remain deceived as to the true nature of John Calvin this information is contained in many books and reference material. Why Fox mis-represented it I know not, but the fact remains. Calvin was among the blood letting heretics of the Middle Ages and his so-called theology is a product of the devil. Beware of men who continue to esteem his works as a great contribution to Christianity.
Otherwise this book remains a fascinating read about the trials and tribulations of true Christians who sealed their testimony in their own blood. May we NEVER Deny Him when thrown into the furnace of affliction.

Rating:
Summary: Faith of Our Fathers
Review: The Bible states that our LORD is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It stands to reason that if He remains unchanging, then the faith He bestows on believers is the same as that of the early Christians.

What was most educational and humbly to me as I read this work is that the early Christians did not attempt to pass laws that would make their society more comfortable for them, but gladly shared in the suffering of Christ, their only concern being to share His Gospel. Jesus did not command us to make life comfortable for ourselves, but to preach His Gospel in season and out of season. If you, as I have, find that difficult, this book, coupled with Scripture, will open your eyes to the need and give your heart courage and embolden your faith.

Rating:
Summary: Inspirational and heartbreaking
Review: This book is a must for anyone who is interested in the history of God's people and their incredible faith in the face of unimaginable persecution. After you've read the book, you'll understand Revelation 17 and exactly who "the woman" is. Not a pleasant read, but a valuable one if you cherish your faith and the truth!

Rating:
Summary: Propaganda
Review: This is an early example of polemical propaganda. It is rife with errors and outright falsehoods. Some of it is pure invention. I suggest instead that you read the lives of the Catholic martyrs. Thousands were killed during the Reformation for the crime of being Catholic. This is a story that is often ignored by fundamentalists. Either out of shame, ignorance, or hypocrisy.

Rating:
Summary: Crucial history for the scholar of the English Reformation
Review: Though the reviews that follow focus on the sentimental experience of reading Foxe's Acts and Monuments (as it was originally titled), there is also real academic value to familiarizing yourself with this work. Foxe's book was read alongside the Bible in the post-reformation English liturgy. His anthology of Protestant martyrdoms (mainly under Queen Mary)--complete with gory illustrations--helped to define England's national identity during the late sixteenth century. The agonies and ecstasies he narrates go on to influence the kinds of stories major literary figures (like Shakespeare) choose to tell.

A wonderful primary source for those interested in the habits of mind of renaissance / early modern England.