On this page
-
Text (2)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
vain imaginations , and pray God that his spirit may direct your search unto that mine of treasure , the Holy Scriptures—there you Will find how strange a conceit hath distempered your brain , and you may learn to value that sound doctrine , which must at length prevail even among the sons of men .
• What is it you say ? ' cried Joan , her courage kindling within her . * You send me to the Scriptures for instructions ? Well , before I recant , I beg one favour of yourselves , —search through the Scriptures , search them through and through , and point me out the passage * if you should find it , where the Spirit bids you commit a cruel murder upon one who never harmed you . ' Cranmer had no answer for this question , but a sigh , and—* Ah , my daughter , you are in a deep and grievous error !' Can you set me right on what I ask ? ' she replied . It would indeed rejoice me / he said , with some emotion , if for a little time you would become my pupil ; for then , by God ' s grace , we might hope to see this fearful darkness clearing from off your mind . ' ; But , first of all , father , ' she exclaimed firmly , but meekly , 4 before I am your disciple , I must know , whether in the event of my continuing unchanged in my present opinion , I must die the death ?* ' This we can speak of afterwards ; go with me first unto my palace , and we two will discourse upon this heresy together . ' Nay , nay , ' she repeated , with a sterner calmness , let my question be first resolved : In the event of my continuing unchanged in therffe opinions , must I suffer ?' 4 I fear you must . 1 I need a plain reply , ' she cried . * You do not only fear , but you are certain—you must be certain , one way or the other . ' ^ Then , ' said he gravely , ' woman , I am certain / 4 That I must suffer ? Then , from this moment , I am most deter * -
mined . I gain no instruction from those whose Christian faith can bear so sharp a fruit ; therefore to no consideration will I bend . My path lies straight before me ; I will tread it . I see the end before me ; but I tremble not . Speak not again , for you will waste your words * Here I defy you—get all your instruments of torture ready , go lay your faggots round the stake , you shall find me calmer than my judges , and , I trust , of a more joyful spirit . ' Cranmer would have offered some remonstrances , but she would not hear him .
' I have had your answer / she cried , waving her hand as if to forbfd him to speak . * Ah f Thomas Cranmer , I do pity thee , a weak , a sinful woman as I am—I pity thee ! These very points for which you bid me suffer , may one day be the acknowledged doctrines of your faith!—Poor blinded wretches !* she continued , looking down upon them all , with a frown of scornful and conscious superiority ; fron ) my soul , I despise you . It is goodly to consider your ignorance . Not long ago , you burnt Anne Ascue , for a piece of bread , and yet came yourselves soon after to believe and profess the very doctrine fpr which you did burn her . And now , forsooth , you will needs burn me for a piece of flesh : but the time will come when you will believe thff also , when ye have read the Scriptures , and have learned to understand
Untitled Article
Critical Notices . —Fiction . 4 §*
Untitled Article
2 H 2
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), June 2, 1832, page 427, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1814/page/67/
-