{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/nep/nep22.htm","path":"chr/nep/nep22.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/nep/nep22.htm","text":"THE BURNING OF MR. JOHN ROGERS\nM\nR. JOHN ROGERS, minister of the gospel in London, was the first martyr in Queen Mary's reign; and was burnt at Smithfield, February the fourteenth, 1554. His wife, with nine small children, and one at her breast, followed him to the stake, with which sorrowful sight he was not in the least daunted, but with wonderful patience died courageously for the gospel of JESUS CHRIST.\nA few days before his death, he wrote the following advice to his children:--\nGIVE ear, my children, to my word,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whom God hath dearly bought;\n Lay up his laws within your heart,\n \u00a0\u00a0And print them in your thought.\nI leave you here a little book,\n \u00a0\u00a0For you to look upon,\n That you may see your father's face,\n \u00a0\u00a0When he is dead and gone,--\nWho, for the hope of heavenly things,\n \u00a0\u00a0While he did here remain,\n Gave over all his golden years\n \u00a0\u00a0To prison and to pain;--\nWhere I, among my iron bands,\n \u00a0\u00a0Enclosed in the dark,\n Not many days before my death,\n \u00a0\u00a0Composed for you this work.\nAnd for example to your youth,\n \u00a0\u00a0To whom I wish all good,\n I send you here God's perfect truth,\n \u00a0\u00a0And seal it with my blood;--\nTo on, my heirs of earthly things,\n \u00a0\u00a0Whom I do leave behind,\n That you may read and understand,\n \u00a0\u00a0And keep it in your mind;--\nThat as you have been heirs of that\n \u00a0\u00a0Which once will wear away,\n You also may possess that part\n \u00a0\u00a0Which never will decay.\nKeep always God before your eyes,\n \u00a0\u00a0With all your whole intent, p. 26\n Commit no sin in any wise,\n \u00a0\u00a0But keep his commandments.\nAbhor that arrant whore of Rome,\n \u00a0\u00a0And all her blasphemies,\n And drink not of her cursed cup;\n \u00a0\u00a0Obey not her decrees.\nGive honor to your mother dear;\n \u00a0\u00a0Remember well her pain;\n And recompense her, in her age,\n \u00a0\u00a0With the like love again.\nBe always ready for her help,\n \u00a0\u00a0And let her not decay;\n Remember well your father all,\n \u00a0\u00a0Who should have been your stay.\nGive of your portion to the poor,\n \u00a0\u00a0As riches do arise;\n Arid from the needy, naked soul,\n \u00a0\u00a0Turn not away your eyes.\nFor he who doth not hear the cry\n \u00a0\u00a0Of those who stand in need,\n Will cry himself; and not be heard,\n \u00a0\u00a0When he does hope to speed.\nIf God hath given you increase,\n \u00a0\u00a0And blessed well your store,\n Remember you are put in trust,\n \u00a0\u00a0And should relieve the poor.\nBeware of foul and filthy lusts;\n \u00a0\u00a0Let such things have no place,\n Keep clean your vessels in the Lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0That he may you embrace.\nYou are the temples of the Lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0For you are dearly bought, p. 27\n And they who do defile the same\n \u00a0\u00a0Will surely come to nought.\nBe never proud, by any means,\n \u00a0\u00a0Build not your house too high;\n But always have before your eyes\n \u00a0\u00a0That you were born to die.\nDefraud not him who hired is,\n \u00a0\u00a0Your labor to sustain;\n But pay him still, without delay,\n \u00a0\u00a0His wages for his pain.\nAnd as you would that other men\n \u00a0\u00a0Towards you should proceed,\n Do you the same to them again,\n \u00a0\u00a0When they do stand in need.\nImpart your portion to the poor\n \u00a0\u00a0In money and in meat;\n And send the feeble, fainting son,\n \u00a0\u00a0Of that which you do eat.\nAsk counsel always of the wise\n \u00a0\u00a0Give ear unto the end,\n And ne'er refuse the sweet rebuke\n \u00a0\u00a0Of him who is your friend.\nBe always thankful to the Lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0With prayer and with praise,\n Begging of him to bless your work,\n \u00a0\u00a0And to direct your ways.\nSeek first, I say, the living God,\n \u00a0\u00a0And always him adore,\n And then be sure that he will bless\n \u00a0\u00a0Your basket and your store.\nAnd I beseech Almighty God,\n \u00a0\u00a0To replenish you with grace,p. 28\n That I may meet you in the heavens,\n \u00a0\u00a0And see you face to face.\nAnd though the fire my body burn,\n \u00a0\u00a0Contrary to my kind,\n That I cannot enjoy your love,\n \u00a0\u00a0According to my mind,--\nYet I do hope that when the heavens\n \u00a0\u00a0Shall vanish like a scroll,\n I shall see you in perfect shape\n \u00a0\u00a0In body and in soul.\nAnd that I may enjoy your love,\n \u00a0\u00a0And you enjov the land,\n I do beseech the living Lord\n \u00a0\u00a0To hold you in his hand.\nThough here iny body be adjudged\n \u00a0\u00a0In flaming fire to fry,\n My soul, I trust, will straight ascend\n \u00a0\u00a0To dwell with God on high.\nWhat though this carcass smart awhile?\n \u00a0\u00a0What though this life decay?\n My soul, I hope, will be with God,\n \u00a0\u00a0And live with him for aye.\nI know I am a sinner born,\n \u00a0\u00a0From the original,\n And that I do deserve to die,\n \u00a0\u00a0By my forefather's fall.\nBut by our Savior's precious blood,\n \u00a0\u00a0Which on the cross was spilt,\n Who freely offered up his life,\n \u00a0\u00a0To save our souls from guilt,--\nI hope redemption I shall have,\n \u00a0\u00a0And all who in him trust, p. 29\n When I shall see him face to face,\n \u00a0\u00a0And live among the just.\nWhy, then, hould I fear death's grim look,\n \u00a0\u00a0Since Christ for me did die?\n For king and Cesar, rich and poor,\n \u00a0\u00a0The force of death must try.\nWhen I am chained to the stake,\n \u00a0\u00a0And fagots gird me round,\n Then pray the Lord my soul in heaven\n \u00a0\u00a0May be with glory crowned.\nCome, welcome, death, the end of fears,\n \u00a0\u00a0I am prepared to die;\n These earthly flames will send my soul\n \u00a0\u00a0Up to the Lord on high.\nFarewell, my children, to the world,\n \u00a0\u00a0Where you must yet remain;\n The Lord of hosts is your defenee\n \u00a0\u00a0Till we do meet again.\nFarewell, my true, my loving wife,\n \u00a0\u00a0My children, and my friends;\n I hope in heaven to see you all,\n \u00a0\u00a0When all things have their ends.\nIf you go on to serve the Lord,\n \u00a0\u00a0As you have now begun,\n You shall walk safely all your days,\n \u00a0\u00a0Until your life, be done.\nGod grant you so to end your days,\n \u00a0\u00a0As he shall think it best,\n That I may meet you in the heavens,\n \u00a0\u00a0Where I do hope to rest.","title":"The Burning of Mr. John Rogers","type":"page"}