2 English Martyrs: Nicholas Ridley
2 English Martyrs
"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (Rev 17:6)
Nicholas Ridley
MARTYR
Nicholas Ridley was among those martyred for the true gospel of Christ in Queen Mary's time. Born in Northumberland, Ridley learned his grammer as a child in Newcastle and attended Cambridge University, where he soon became well-known for his intelligence, and advanced rapidly, becoming a Doctor of Divinity and the head of Pembroke Hall. After that, he traveled to Paris, was made Henry VIII’s chaplain on his return, and appointed Bishop of Rochester by the king. In King Edward's days he served as the Bishop of London.
People flocked to the church to listen to his sermons, swarming about him like bees to honey, coveting the sweet flowers and wholesome nectar of the doctrines of Christ that he not only preached but demonstrated by his life. He was a bright light to the blind, a heavenly trumpet to the deaf, and a holy voice to lost sinners. He lived and ministered in such purity that not even his enemies could reprove him in the least. Intelligent, wise, artful in dealing with others, Dr. Ridley was such a good, godly, and spiritual man that England may rightly mourn the day that such a treasure was lost.
Ridley was an attractive man who never held a grudge and always forgave any injury done to him. He was kind and affectionate to his relatives but expected as much from them in their daily lives as he did from any other parishioner. Any family member doing evil could expect no special treatment from Ridley; those who lived honest, godly lives were his brothers and sisters, no matter who they were. He was merciful and careful when dealing with Catholics during the reign of King Edward VI, winning many of them over through his gentle teaching.
Ridley lived a well-regulated, strict life. As soon as he was dressed in the morning, he knelt in prayer for half an hour in his room. Then he would go to his study where he worked until ten o'clock, at which time he took part in the daily prayers that were held in his house by members of his parish. After a midday dinner, he would sometimes play chess for an hour, and then spend the rest of the afternoon in study. About five o'clock, he would have his supper, spend some time in prayer, then again refresh himself at chess for awhile, and return to his study until eleven, when he would bathe, and retire for the night.
At his manor in Fulham, he taught his family the Scriptures daily. He gave every member of his household who could read a copy of the New Testament. He was extremely careful to see that his family served as good examples of virtue and honesty. In short, he was so godly and virtuous himself that those qualities reigned in his whole household.
One example of the affectionate kindness he showed toward everyone was his treatment of old Mrs. Bonner, the mother of Dr. Bonner, who was the cruel bishop of London in the time of Queen Mary I. Whenever Dr. Ridley was at his residence in Fulham, he always invited Mrs. Bonner to his home for dinner and placed her at the head of his table, treating her like his own mother. He also displayed similar kindness to Bonner's sister and other relatives, and often entertained them with great courtesy and friendship. But when "Bloody Mary" came to power, this same Dr. Bonner became the man responsible for the deaths of many Protestants, including Ridley himself.
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This is the first installment of a three part series from Daniel Shanks in his track “2 English Martyrs.”
"And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus" (Rev 17:6)
Nicholas Ridley
MARTYR
Nicholas Ridley was among those martyred for the true gospel of Christ in Queen Mary's time. Born in Northumberland, Ridley learned his grammer as a child in Newcastle and attended Cambridge University, where he soon became well-known for his intelligence, and advanced rapidly, becoming a Doctor of Divinity and the head of Pembroke Hall. After that, he traveled to Paris, was made Henry VIII’s chaplain on his return, and appointed Bishop of Rochester by the king. In King Edward's days he served as the Bishop of London.
People flocked to the church to listen to his sermons, swarming about him like bees to honey, coveting the sweet flowers and wholesome nectar of the doctrines of Christ that he not only preached but demonstrated by his life. He was a bright light to the blind, a heavenly trumpet to the deaf, and a holy voice to lost sinners. He lived and ministered in such purity that not even his enemies could reprove him in the least. Intelligent, wise, artful in dealing with others, Dr. Ridley was such a good, godly, and spiritual man that England may rightly mourn the day that such a treasure was lost.
Ridley was an attractive man who never held a grudge and always forgave any injury done to him. He was kind and affectionate to his relatives but expected as much from them in their daily lives as he did from any other parishioner. Any family member doing evil could expect no special treatment from Ridley; those who lived honest, godly lives were his brothers and sisters, no matter who they were. He was merciful and careful when dealing with Catholics during the reign of King Edward VI, winning many of them over through his gentle teaching.
Ridley lived a well-regulated, strict life. As soon as he was dressed in the morning, he knelt in prayer for half an hour in his room. Then he would go to his study where he worked until ten o'clock, at which time he took part in the daily prayers that were held in his house by members of his parish. After a midday dinner, he would sometimes play chess for an hour, and then spend the rest of the afternoon in study. About five o'clock, he would have his supper, spend some time in prayer, then again refresh himself at chess for awhile, and return to his study until eleven, when he would bathe, and retire for the night.
At his manor in Fulham, he taught his family the Scriptures daily. He gave every member of his household who could read a copy of the New Testament. He was extremely careful to see that his family served as good examples of virtue and honesty. In short, he was so godly and virtuous himself that those qualities reigned in his whole household.
One example of the affectionate kindness he showed toward everyone was his treatment of old Mrs. Bonner, the mother of Dr. Bonner, who was the cruel bishop of London in the time of Queen Mary I. Whenever Dr. Ridley was at his residence in Fulham, he always invited Mrs. Bonner to his home for dinner and placed her at the head of his table, treating her like his own mother. He also displayed similar kindness to Bonner's sister and other relatives, and often entertained them with great courtesy and friendship. But when "Bloody Mary" came to power, this same Dr. Bonner became the man responsible for the deaths of many Protestants, including Ridley himself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is the first installment of a three part series from Daniel Shanks in his track “2 English Martyrs.”
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