"Historic proof of the doctrinal Calvinism of the Church of England : including among other particulars, I. A brief account of some eminent persons..." by the Reverend Augustus Montague Toplady. The book is found at the following URL.
http://www.archive.org/details/historicproofofd02topl
Part One:
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2011/07/historic-proof-of-doctrinal-calvinism.html
Part Two:
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2011/07/reformed-anglicanism.html
Part Three:
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2011/07/httpreformationanglicanism.html
Mrs. Joyce Lewis. Martyred at Litchfield. She speaks to friends of the comfort and strength of electing grace. She queried, before death, "Am I elected?" Friends pointed her to Christ alone as offered in God's "comforting Word." God had "wrought this faith" in her heart.
Mr. Ralph Allerton. Martyred at Islington. He was martyred for the Protestant, Reformed and Anglican faith alongside his wife, Margaret, as well as James Austoo and Richard Roth. Mr. Fox tells us they were all strong "in matters of faith." The Papist Bishop and Inquistor, Bonner, asked Roth what he thought of his fellow prisoner, Allerton. Roth said, "He is one of the Elect children of God."
Rev. John Rough. Martyred at the end of 1557. He wrote friends prior to death. The Holy Ghost gives "comforts" so we may "give consolations to others" in these days in which "Satan has been set loose" (Marian Papistry, 1553-1558). The trials afflict the "Elect" as the "chaff is separated from the wheat." Two days before death, he wrote his congregation that "God tries His elect."
Mr. Cuthbert Sampson. "Torments" described his death in the flames of 1558, as ordered by Bishop Bonner. He was an "anvil to the strokes." His statement at death: (1) "Nothing comes to us by chance or fortune but by our Heavenly Father's providence." (2) "We belong to a noble army of martyrs who quenched the violence of fire and out of weakness were made strong." (3) "They did not accept deliverance, but looked to the resurrection of the dead to come." (4) They accepted trials, mockings, bondages, and sufferings." Rev. Toplady asks if any free-willer or Arminian can point to similar witnesses? How does this fit with Mr. Osteen's message? Or Mr. Rick Warren's ministry model? We wonder if the American Anabaptists, Pentecostalists, TBNers or others can point to such witnesses as these English Reformed Churchmen and Churchwomen?
Toplady notes that the next section will deal with John Bradford, Bishop Ridley and Prebendary of St. Paul's, London, John Philpott the Archdeacon of Winchester, Mr. Richard Woodman, and Mr. John Clement. The last two were not postulants or in orders, but were eminent men in their time. The first three were eminent and trained Churchmen in orders. Their flames lit a fire in England for the Gospel. Imagine if Popedom had prevailed in England--we might be do tours on rosary beads in America.
Mr. John Bradford, another martry for the Protestant, Reformed, disciplined, holy, catholic and Anglican faith. Mr. Bradford went to the flames in 1555. John Strype calls Mr. Bradford one of the "four prime pillars of the Reformed Church of England." The other three were Latimer, Ridley and Cranmer. See Strype's "Life of Grindal," p. 8. Strype's multi-volume set in the late 1690s-early 1700's is most highly commended and available through books.google.com. Strype routinely calls it the "Reformed Church of England." A must-read for any Anglican minister.
John Bradford. Learned, deliberative, kind, profound, and pious. The Papists, knowing his reputation, made a special effort to secure recantation of his Reformed faith. He preached twice per Sunday while and wrote numerous letters and discourses while in prison. Mary 1 made him pass through the flames in June 1555. Martin Bucer had been the man who importuned Mr. Bradford to take holy orders and wanted him as Bucer's successor in divinity at Oxford. Bishop Ridley ordained him and said of him: (1) Bradford is assuredly informed." And, (2) "More than other Bishops, he is worthy to be a Bishop." Rev. Toplady asks, "Was Mr. Bradford, of the Church of England, a Calvinist?"
John Bradford interrogated by the Papist Bishop Gardiner (Winchester) concerning the "false doctrine" during the "days of King Edward." Bradford said: (1) My Lord, the doctrine taught in King Edward's days was God's pure religion." (2) As I then believed, I believe it more now than when I first entered prison." (3) "I am ready to declare it to the whole world."
John Bradford's letter to Mrs. Warcup and other evangelical friends. Bradford, the eminent predestinarian, writes: (1) "The souls under the altar look for us to fill up their number." (2) "Happy are we, if God has appointed us to this." This tosses the entire TBN-mantra and self-actualization models of Church growth advocates. (3) "Cast yourselves entirely upon the Lord with whom all the hairs of your head are numbered." (4) "Will we drink the cup? He has appointed it for us."
John Bradford, imprisoned for the Reformed faith of the Church of England, writes Sir James Hales, Knight. (1) "The children of God think oftentimes that God hath forgotten them." Examples are given from the Psalms including Christ's agonizing cry, "Why hast Thou forsaken Me?" (2) "God did not leave them to this sense." (3) In dark hours, God often has said, "Fear not, fear not." (4) "My mercy shall not depart from thee. Neither shall my Covenant of Peace pass from thee." This speaks to the perseverence of the elect. (5) "Be certain, be certain, good Master Hales, that all the hairs of your head your dear Father hath numbered. Your name is written in the Book of Life. Therefore, cast all your care upon Him and He will give you Eternal Consolations." This speaks to the assurance of salvation based upon God's Word of promises, something that is withdrawn by Rome, Greece, and Arminianism.
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