Numbered With the Martyrs - Patrick Hamilton

Patrick Hamilton has the distinction of being the first Scottish martyr of the Reformation. In the following account John Foxe shares with us this man's faith and bravery in the fight for faith.

[...] Patrick Hamilton [was] a Scotsman born of high and noble stock, and of the king's blood, of excellent towardness, twenty-three years of age, called abbot of Ferne. Coming out of his country with three companions to seek godly learning, he went to the University of Marburg in Germany, which University was the newly erected by Philip, Landgrave of Hesse. Using conference with learned men, especially with Frances Lambert, he so profited in knowledge and judgment that, through the incitation of the said Lambert, he was the first in all that University who publicly did set up conclusions there to be disputed of, concerning faith and works. Which young man, if he had chosen to lead his life after the manner of other courtiers, in all kind of licentious riotousness, should peradventure have found praise without peril or punishment; but, forsomuch as he joined godliness with his stock, and virtue with his age, he could by no means escape the hands of the wicked. For there is nothing safe or sure in this world but wickedness and sin.

Whoever saw the cardinals or bishops rage with their cruel inquisitions against riot, ambition, unlawful gaming, drunkenness, and rapines? But if any man were truly addict to the desire and study of godliness, confessing Christ to be his only patron and advocate, excluding the merits of the saints, acknowledging free justification by faith in Christ, denying purgatory (for these articles Hamilton was burned), they spare neither age nor kindred, neither is there any so great power in the world, that may withstand their majesty or authority.

This learned Patrick, increasing daily more and more in knowledge, and inflamed with godliness, at length began to revolve with himself touching his return into his country, being desirous to impart unto his countrymen some fruit of understanding which he had received abroad. Whereupon, persisting in his godly purpose, he took one of the three whom he brought out of Scotland, and so returned home without any longer delay. Not sustaining the miserable ignorance and blindness of that people, he valiantly taught and preached the truth, was accused of heresy, and, stoutly sustaining the quarrel of God's Gospel against the high priest and Archbishop of St. Andrews, named James Beaton, was cited to appear before him and his college of priests on the 1st of March, 1527. Being not only forward in knowledge, but also ardent in spirit, not tarrying for the hour appointed, he came very early in the morning before he was looked for; and there mightily disputing against them, when he could not by the Scriptures be convicted, by force he was oppressed. And so the sentence of condemnation being given against him, the same day after dinner, in all hot haste, he was had away to the fire, and there burned.

And thus was this noble Hamilton, the blessed servant of God, without all just cause, made away by cruel adversaries, yet not without great fruit to the Church of Christ; for the grave testimony of his blood left the truth of God more fixed and confirmed in the hearts of many than ever could after be plucked away: insomuch that divers afterwards, standing in his quarrel, sustained the like martyrdom.

How amazing it is that as we work our way through this series we see how powerfully the Lord used these men to advance the Gospel. We may marvel at the strength and fortitude He imparted to them, which we should. But it seems to me that the greater thing to be admired is how their blood stood as a timeless witness that not only failed to deter the elect from coming to the cross but beckoned them in! It defies logic unless we stop and realize that our sovereign Lord does not operate based on the logic of men and quite often stands opposed to it. We must be willing to lay down our lives, for the thing to be accomplished may have little or nothing to do with that instant our spirit ascends to heaven; the Lord may be using the spilling of our blood to draw others to Himself and no more noble a death could possibly exist than such as that.

(Pictured above is the memorial with Hamilton's initials at the spot where he was martyred.)