The Author, Arthur Dent, was minister of South Shooberry, a village near to Southend, in Essex, but persecuted by Bishop Aylmer for nonconformity. About the year 1584 he endured many troubles from this prelate, for refusing to wear the surplice, and omitting the sign of the cross in baptism. With several of his persecuted brethren, many of whom were suspended and in prison, he thus petitions the lords of the Queen's Council:"”
"We cheerfully and boldly offer this our humble suit unto your honours, being our only sanctuary upon earth, next to her Majesty,[1] to which we repair in our present necessity; and, most of all, we are encouraged when we consider how richly God hath adorned your honours with knowledge, wisdom, and zeal for the gospel, and with godly care and tender love to those who profess the same. Most humbly, therefore, we beseech your honours, with your accustomed favour in all godly and just causes, to hear and to judge of our matters. We have received the charge, as loyal and faithful men, to instruct and teach our people in the way of life; and every one of us hearing this sounded from the God of heaven, 'Woe be unto me, if I preach not the gospel!' we have all endeavoured to discharge our duties, and to approve ourselves both to God and man. Notwithstanding this, we are in great heaviness, and some of us already put to silence, and the rest living in fear; not that we have been, or can be charged, we hope, with false doctrine, or slanderous life; but because we refuse to subscribe 'that there is nothing contained in the book of Common Prayer contrary to the word of God.' We do protest, in the sight of God, who searcheth all hearts, that we do not refuse from a desire to dissent, or from any sinister affection, but in the fear of God, and from the necessity of conscience. The apostle teacheth, that a person who doubteth is condemned if he eat: if a man, then, be condemned for doing a lawful action, because he doubts whether it be lawful; how much more should we incur the displeasure of the Lord, and justly deserve his wrath, if we should subscribe, being fully persuaded that there are some things in the book contrary to his word! If our reasons might be so answered by the doctrine of the Bible, and we could be persuaded that we might subscribe lawfully, and in the fear of God, we would willingly consent. In these and other respects, we humbly crave your honourable protection, as those who from the heart do entirely love, honour, and obey her excellent Majesty, and your honours, in the Lord. Giving most hearty thanks to God for all the blessings we have received from him, by your government; constantly praying, night and day, that he will bless and preserve her Majesty and your honours to eternal salvation, your honours' poor and humble supplicants."[2]
In a work of Arthur Dent's, called "The Ruin of Rome, or an Exposition of Revelations," his friend Ezekiel Culverwell, gives the following account of him:"”
"To give some public testimony of my love towards him, and reverence of the rare grace which we all who enjoyed his sweet society did continually behold in him, whose learning his labours do shew; and whose diligence, yea, extreme and unwearied pains in his ministry, publicly, privately, at home, and abroad, for at least four-and-twenty years, all our country can testify: all which being adorned with such special humility, do make his name the greater, and our loss the more grievous. I may not leave out this"”which I avow to be as certain as it is singular"”that, besides all others his great labours, he had a special care of all the churches night and day, by study and fervent prayer, procuring the prosperity of Zion and the ruin of Rome. And, to end with his blessed end, his life was not more profitable to others, than his death was peaceable to himself: scarcely a groan was heard, though his fever must have been violent, which despatched him in three days. Having made a pithy confession of his faith, 'This faith,' said he, 'have I preached; this faith have I believed in; this faith I do die in; and this faith would I have sealed with my blood, if God had so thought good; and tell my brethren so.' He afterwards said, 'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness:' and, with his last breath, added, 'I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy law is exceeding broad.'"
