A67922:1029
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
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 these above named, may also be added Asclepiades, who although was not put to death in this persecution of Severus, 1yet constantly he did abide the trial of his confession & suffered much for the same, as Alexander did before mentioned. Wherefore afterward he was ordained bishop of Antioch, where he continued the space of vij. years of whom Alexander writeth to the Church of Antioch, out of prison, much rejoicing and giving thanks to God, to hear that he was their Bishop.
To these aboue named, may also be added Asclepiades, who although was not put to death in this persecution of Seuerus, 1yet constantly he did abide the trial of his confessiō & suffered much for the same, as Alexander did before mentioned. Wherefore afterward he was ordained bishop of Antioch, where he continued the space of vij. yeares of whom Alexander writeth to the Church of Antioche, out of prison, much reioysing and geuing thankes to God, to heare that he was their Bishop.
- 1Asclepiades Bishop of Antioch coufessor.Asclepiades Byshop of Antioche coufessor.
About the same time during the reign of Severus, died Irenaeus, 1Henr. de Erfordia, Ado, and other Martyr writers, do hold, that he was martyred with a great multitude of other moe, for the confession and doctrine of Christ, about the fourth or fifth year of Severus. This Irenaeus as he was a great writer, so was he greatly commended of Tertullian for his learning, whom he calleth omnium doctrinarum curiosissimum exploratorem: a great searcher of all kind of learning. He was first scholar and hearer of Polycarpus, from thence either was sent or came to France, and there by Photinus, and the rest of the Martyrs was instituted into the ministry, commended by their letter unto Eleutherius, as is before premonished. At length after the Martyrdom of Photinus, he was appointed bishop of Lions, where he continued about the space of 23. years. In the time of this Irenaeus, the state of the Church was much troubled, not only for the outward persecution of the foreign enemy, but also for divers sects and errors then stirring, against which he diligently laboured, and wrote much, although but few of his books be now remaining. The nature of this man well agreeing with his name, was such, that he ever loved peace, and sought to set agreement when any controversy role in the Church. And therefore, when the question of keeping the Easter day was renewed to the Church, between Victor bishop of Rome, and the churches of Asia, and when Victor would have excommunicated them as schismatics, for disagreeing from him therein: Irenaeus with other brethren, of the French Church, sorry to see such a contention among brethren for such a trifle, convented themselves together in a common Council, and directing their letter with their common consent subscribed, sent unto Victor, entreating him to stay his purpose, & not to proceed in excommunicating his brethren for that matter. Although they themselves agreed with him in observing the Sunday Easter as he did: yet with great reasons and arguments exhorted him not to deal so rigorously with his other brethren, following the ancient custom of their country manner in that behalf. And beside this he wrote divers other letters abroad concerning the same contention, declaring the excommunication of Victor to be of no force.