It is the nature of error to resort to force instead of argument

The Burning of Rawlins White

Rawlins White was by his calling and occupation a fisherman, living and continuing in the said trade for the space of twenty years at least, in the town of Cardiff, where he bore a very good name amongst his neighbors.

Though the good man was altogether unlearned, and withal very simple, yet it pleased God to remove him from error and idolatry to a knowledge of the truth, through the blessed Reformation in Edward's reign.

He had his son taught to read English, and after the little boy could read pretty well, his father every night after supper, summer and winter, made the boy read a portion of the Holy Scriptures, and now and then a part of some other good book.

When he had continued in his profession the space of five years, King Edward died, upon whose decease Queen Mary succeeded and with her all kinds of superstition crept in. White was taken by the officers of the town, as a man suspected of heresy, brought before the Bishop Llandaff, and committed to prison in Chepstow, and at last removed to the castle of Cardiff, where he continued for the space of one whole year.

Being brought before the bishop in his chapel, he counselled him by threats and promises. But as Rawlins would in no wise recant his opinions, the bishop told him plainly that he must proceed against him by law, and condemn him as a heretic.Before they proceeded to this extremity, the bishop proposed that prayer should be said for his conversion.

"This," said White, "is like a godly bishop, and if your request be godly and right, and you pray as you ought, no doubt God will hear you; pray you, therefore, to your God, and I will pray to my God." After the bishop and his party had done praying, he asked Rawlins if he would now revoke.

"You find," said the latter, "your prayer is not granted, for I remain the same; and God will strengthen me in support of this truth." After this, the bishop tried what saying Mass would do; but Rawlins called all the people to witness that he did not bow down to the host. Mass being ended, Rawlins was called for again; to whom the bishop used many persuasions; but the blessed man continued so steadfast in his former profession that the bishop's discourse was to no purpose.

The bishop now caused the definitive sentence to be read, which being ended, Rawlins was carried again to Cardiff, to a loathsome prison in the town, called Cockmarel, where he passed his time in prayer, and in the singing of Psalms. In about three weeks the order came from town for his execution.

When he came to the place, where his poor wife and children stood weeping, the sudden sight of them so pierced his heart, that the tears trickled down his face. Being come to the altar of his sacrifice, in going toward the stake, he fell down upon his knees, and kissed the ground; and in rising again, a little earth sticking on his face, he said these words.

"Earth unto earth, and dust unto dust; thou art my mother, and unto thee I shall return."When all things were ready, directly over against the stake, in the face of Rawlins White, there was a stand erected, whereon stepped up a priest, addressing himself to the people, but, as he spoke of the Romish doctrines of the Sacraments, Rawlins cried out, "Ah! thou wicked hypocrite, dost thou presume to prove thy false doctrine by Scripture?

Look in the text that followeth; did not Christ say, 'Do this in remembrance of me?'"Then some that stood by cried out, "Put fire! set on fire!" which being done, the straw and reeds cast up a great and sudden flame.

In which flame this good man bathed his hands so long, until such time as the sinews shrank, and the fat dropped away, saving that once he did, as it were, wipe his face with one of them. All this while, which was somewhat long, he cried with a loud voice, "O Lord, receive my spirit!" until he could not open his mouth.

At last the extremity of the fire was so vehement against his legs that they were consumed almost before the rest of his body was hurt, which made the whole body fall over the chains into the fire sooner than it would have done. Thus died this good old man for his testimony of God's truth, and is now rewarded, no doubt, with the crown of eternal life.

Pasted from

<http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Martyrs/Chapter_XVI>

Foxe's Book of Martyrs

Edwin Markham - Outwitted

They drew a circle which kept me out
A heretic, a rebel, a thing to flout
But love and I had the wit to win
We drew a circle that drew them in

I am ready to give up all things

But those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ. Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward, Philippians 3.7-8 BE

from September 30 2004

Pacifism

A young sergeant was serving the British army in Egypt under the Highland Regiment.
This soldier was an effervescent and shining Christian.

When he was asked how he came to know the Lord Jesus as Savior, he recounted his conversion by saying, "
There is a private in this company who was converted in Malta before the regiment came to Egypt. We gave that fellow an awful time. On one terrible night he came in very tired and wet. But before getting into bed, he knelt down to pray. My boots were soaked with water and covered with mud, and I let him have it with one on the side of his head, and I struck him with the second on the other side. But he just went on praying. The next morning I found those boots beautifully polished and standing by the side of my bed. That was his reply to me, and it just broke my heart. I was saved that day."

Our response to those who lie against us must never be to lash out against them. As we arise early in the morning, perhaps after a day in which our character has been slandered and our conduct has been slashed, we must arise with a commitment to live a life like the Lord Jesus who, when He was reviled, reviled not again. Only then will we live happily in a world filled with unhappy people.

Reaction or Response by Woodrow Kroll
from Daily Devotions found at:
http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/devotion.php/kroll/209?page=2

Rape of the Sacred

On no level are they to consider me a part of their games.

I am not theirs to discuss, I am not there to interact with them. I am only there to offer them Jesus.

They are not supposed to touch me or rape me spiritually

Christians marry Christ at Baptism

And because I do not want intercourse, I should not be forced to interact.

There is separation of government and religion for that reason.

The Christian Future

Driven to worship in the forests and the mountains, they were hunted by soldiers, and many were put to death. After a time it was decreed that all who departed from the Romish worship should be burned. But while the Christians yielded up their lives, they looked forward to the triumph of their cause. One of those who "taught that salvation was only to be found by faith in the crucified Saviour," declared when dying: "The rage of the enemies of the truth now prevails against us, but it will not be forever; there shall arise one from among the common people, without sword or authority, and against him they shall not be able to prevail." -- Ibid., b. 3, ch. 1.

THe Great Controversy, by EGW

"Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." --John 6:37

There is no point wavering
All things are covered by God

If we die it is to His glory
If we suffer it is for Him
We are being perfected
We are his remembered children

Seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

Ho 4:6

Lord of the Flies mentality

While priests and bishops were themselves pleasure-loving, sensual, and
corrupt, it could only be expected that the people who looked to them for
guidance would be sunken in ignorance and vice.

from An Era of Spiritual Darkness, Great Controversy, EGW

and these used to be Christian nations!!

Behold," says the prophet, "this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom

--pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before Me: therefore I took them away as I saw good." Ezekiel 16:49, 50

Rescue the Perishing

Jesus did not involve himself in politics (freeing the Hebrews, women's rights, race or cultural issues).

Horrific Minds

I am horrified that these people that live in a parallel world

When absolutely nothing of importance is happening in the real world, these people are obssessed with gaming and events and contests. They are literally completely mad.

I try to ignore them and avoid them.

God says to help people when you can, that is all. No need for anything else.

Christian Code

No home, no honor, no power


But those things which were profit to me,
I gave up for Christ.
Yes truly,
and I am ready to give up all things
for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord,
which is more than all:

for whom I have undergone the loss of all things,
and to me they are less than nothing,
so that I may have Christ as my reward.

Philippians 3.7-8

(Please see note "No Power but Faith")

Love God, not people, and feed them with HIS love

Do not defend your pride. Other people are not important enough.

WE are Christian, it does not matter if others see us badly. Let them take what they want (if they want one cloak, let them have both), just defend justice.

You are not a part of a community here on earth. Stop trying to do anything. You are to point others to Jesus, that is all.

You are NOT here to support or save any community.

You are not God.

We are here to obey His will, until he finishes perfecting us (give to those who ask, etc.).

So if anything absorbs your heart -- cut it off.


The beast has taken over the path of luxury and comfort.

Fear God means don't fear anyone else

God cannot help when we choose to follow pagan rules. (voodoo).

Because through it we call upon the power of the antichrist.




(However, God says we should obey legitimate authorities (only authorities that he has placed)

Real work (eternal)

I would like to do religious or charity work, work that does not interfere with your ability to pray and that can be an offering to God.
(Some with other talents are called to other work. )
This is the only way the holy spirit can continue to guide, as you can dedicate the work to Him each day.

Christian Economy

The source of the money and the occupation need to be distinct! If there is a need for separation from the job, there should be an umbrella organization that supports the temporary exclusion from work and the necessary move to another situation.

We who breath praise are one

For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

Amos 4.13

To love the world is to be afraid of everything

To love the world is to be afraid of everything--

what it may think of me,

what it may do to me,

what may happen today or tomorrow for which I am not prepared.

"The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps
27:1 RSV).

Taken from: Fear God and Fear Nothing Else
By Elisabeth
Elliot

Pasted from <http://www.backtothebible.org/devotions/devotion.php/elliot/182>

This is what needs to be overcome by faith and by not clinging to anything in life.

Job 35.1

Elihu spake moreover, and said,

Thinkest thou this to be right, that thou saidst, My righteousness is more than God’s?

For thou saidst, What advantage will it be unto thee? and, What profit shall I have, if I be cleansed from my sin?

I will answer thee, and thy companions with thee.

Look unto the heavens, and see; and behold the clouds which are higher than thou.

If thou sinnest, what doest thou against him? or if thy transgressions be multiplied, what doest thou unto him?

If thou be righteous, what givest thou him? or what receiveth he of thine hand?

Thy wickedness may hurt a man as thou art; and thy righteousness may profit the son of man.

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