A01115:126
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church
An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the Church: written by that Reverend Father, Master John Fox: and now abridged by Timothy Bright, Doctor of Physic, for such as either through want of leisure, or ability have not the use of so necessary an historyAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church: written by that Reuerend Father, Maister Iohn Fox: and now abridged by Timothe Bright, Doctour of Phisicke, for such as either through want of leysure, or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history
London: printed by I. Windet, 1589
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
To this Decius Origen wrote of the rightness of his faith: he continued two and fifty years in great labours of teaching, and writing, and sustained divers grievous persecutions, but especially under Decius: under whom having suffered bands, torments, rackings, with bars of iron, dungeons, besides terrible threats of death, and burning, at length was brought to an altar, where a foul filthy Ethiop was appointed to be, and there this choice was offered him, whether he would sacrifice to the Idol, or have his body polluted with that foul and ugly Ethiop. Origen made choice rather to do sacrifice:1 for the which impiety, he was after excommunicated by the Church. Epiphanius writeth, that he being urged to sacrifice to Idols, and taking the bones in his hand, wherewith the heathen were wont to honour their gods, called upon the Christians to carry them in honour of Christ: which fact the Church of Alexandria misliking, removed him from their communion.2 Whereupon Origen driven away with shame, went into Jury, where being in Jerusalem among the congregation, and there requested of the ministers to make some exhortation in the Church, refused a great while so to do: but at length through importunity, he turned the book as though he would have expounded some place of Scripture, and read the verse of the 49. Psalm. But God said to the sinner, why doest thou preach my justifications? and why doest thou take my testament in thy mouth? &c. Which verse having read, he shut the book, and sate down, weeping and wailing, the whole congregation ⟨p. 27⟩also weeping and lamenting with him.3
To this Decius Origen wrote of the rightnesse of his faith: he continued two and fifty yéeres in great labours of teaching, and writing, and sustained diuers gieuous persecutions, but especially vnder Decius: vnder whom hauing suffred bands, torments, rackings, with bars of yron, dungeons, besides terrible threats of death, and burning, at length was brought to an altar, where a foule filthy Ethiope was appointed to be, and there this choise was offered him, whether he would sacrifice to the Idoll, or haue his body polluted with that foule and ougly Ethyope. Origen made choyse rather to doe sacrifice: