The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1865-04-22

were put 10 Oeat0 on the same account Oy
imprisonment, starvation and torture. OF
the martyrs of that persecution let me only
refer you to Latimer and Ridley and Gran
mer, who were burned at Oxford the two
former in the fall of 1856, and the latter In
the spring of 1856. Ridley was faithful
man Of God, but his sensitive nature
shrunk from the sufferings of fire, and t
cheer and encourage his fainting hear
Latimer, who was great and fearless soul
said to him in words Of faith and prophecy
that three centuries have verified, "Be o
good comfort, Master Ridley, and play TIN
man we shall this day light such candl,
in England as by Gods grace shall never
be put out" Yes, the light of Christianity
kindled in the flames that consumed thu
bodies Of those noble Reformsrs has nevel
gone out, and never shall 20 out. Cranmel
was learned divine aud accomplished
Statesman, . man Of great ability and con
summate policy, with some qualities like
those Of our own distinguished Secretary
Of State, with whom as he lies in hil
wounds are the sympathies and prayers 81
the nation. Cranmer was q man Of con.
ciliation, and sought to placate his oppos.
ers. He went too far, and all to no pur.
pose. Queen Mary still thirsted for hi,
blood, aud demanded that the fagots should
be kindled upon him. And 40 the famef
rose he thrust his right hand into them, do.
claring that the guilty hand with which he
had signed recantaion of Protestant
principles should burn first. And SO in
penitence aud fortitude and faith he ex.
pired.
Such were the cruelties aud sufferings In
which the foundations of the English
Church and the English nation were laid,
and thence have sprung the true greatness
aud glory of England. That church and
nation are Protestestant, and will 30 re-
main forever. as much because Protestsn,
christianity was cemented into the nation.
al life by the blood of martyrs and reform.
ers as perhaps for any other reason what
ever. During the long reign Of Elizabeth
there were repeated oonspiracies against
her life, and though they proved abortive,
they were still greatly instrumental in con.
drming her authority, and in establishing
the Protestant form Of Christianity, ~
against the usurpations and expectations
Of Popery.
During the same period the Dutch Re-
public arose, and ito inagnanimous found
|er, William the Silent, was several times
|exp posed to the asssssin's dagger, and hnal-
|ly fell BY the hand Of IN assassin, who was
hired to do his bloody work by the King Of
Spain. \ historian Of our ewn has hon.
ored himself and 10 by depicting in attrac-
tive and instructive volumes the character
land career Of the Prince OF Grunge.
Early in the next century (l8lo) Henry
~ Of France, justly styled the Great. the
|ablest and noblest Of all the French kings,
was stabbed to the heart by Jesuit. Like
our own beloved President, he was man
|of great kindness of heart, full Of fellow
feeling with our common humanity-atru true
fphilanthropist. 1t Is saying Of his that
hos become memorable over the world,
that he would 90 manage the affairs Of state
that the poorest peasant In the land should
eat meat each day in the week, and be able
to put fowl in the pot ON Sunday. This
great man also WIS assassinated by one
whom he had never injured, and by one
acting in the interest Of cruel supersti.
Ition. The murder was insugated 10y big.
otry and blind fear and hatred of Protest
autism and advancing civilization.
But in all these cares and over the foul.
est opposition, humanity has moved ou-
ward. The blood of the martyr In every
age has been the seed Of the church. And
we still hear the voice that says to U.S.
"Fear not them who kill the body, and af.
ter that have no more that they can do
Fear not, am withthee; be not dismayed
am thy God" Out Of this dire catastro.
pie now upon Us Providence will yet bring
life and salvation to the nation, and our III.
turs il better assured, and win be more
pure and glorious than ever; SO that w
may still say with the King Of Israel thret
thousand years ago, aud with our own b.
loved and honored and lanlented Preei
dent, "The judgments Of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether"
From sherman.