A01136:108
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at LondonA sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London
A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at London by John Fox. Containing an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romans. Translated out of Latin into English by James Bell.A sermon preached at the christening of a certaine Iew at London by Iohn Foxe. Conteining an exposition of the xi. chapter of S. Paul to the Romanes. Translated out of Latine into English by Iames Bell.
London: printed by Christopher Barker, 1578
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
For if that conquest be so ⟨image 62⟩much the more praise worthy, by how much the force of the vanquished is more notorious, what ought we then to judge of him, who only and alone, undertaking the challenge, not against mans power,1 but in the behalf and defence of mankind rather, against all those mighty & invisible adversaries of mankind, unvanquishable otherwise by any policy of men, against all those spiritual furies & incessant accusers of mankind before the throne of God, against all those princes & potentates, and rulers of darkness, against the poisoned darts of death, against the intolerable burden of sin, against the dreadful curse of the Law, and wrath of Gods vengeance, against the force and gates of hell, was able by his only prowess to tread down, and triumph over them all, without all aid and help of man, yea and which is most to be marvelled at, without all strength, without all sleight and policy of resistance, far unlike the warlike attempts and martial affairs: where it cometh always to pass, that the most notable and famous enterprises are never achieved without huge troupes of courageous soldiers, or subtle practise of politic governors. For here beyond all reach ⟨image 63⟩of mans understanding, I know not how miraculously this marvellous victory was obtained, without force of arms, industry and policy, through the only plain & open conduct of simple trueth. For what simplicity can be greater, then to yield to the will of the adversary in humility and patience? And what could be more void of hope to recovery?2 And yet by this means it came to pass, that pompous Pride through humility was brought into subjection: glory of riches confounded by baseness of poverty: haughty arrogance of the world suppressed with humble infirmity: the curse of the Law razed out by undefiled innocency: sins forgiven: the mouth of the enemy stopped up, through meek taciturnity: victory obtained by yielding: finally, death by dying vanquished, and life everlasting purchased.
For if that conquest be so ⟨image 62⟩