A67922:1074
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.
Unto these Doctors and Confessors may be adjoined the story of Natalius;1 mentioned in the fifth book of Eusebius. This Natalius had suffered persecution before like a constant confessor, who being seduced and persuaded by Asclepiodotus and Theodorus (which were the Disciples of Theodorus) to take upon him to be bishop of their sect, promising to give him every month an hundred and fifty pieces of silver, and so he joining himself to them, was admonished by vision and revelation from the Lord. For such was the great mercy of God, and of our Lord Christ Jesus, that he would nor his Martyr, which had suffered so much for his name before, now to perish out of his church. For the which cause (saith Eusebius) God by certain visions did admonish him.2 But he not taking great heed thereunto, being blinded partly with lucre, partly with honour, was at length all the night long scourged of the Angels: In so much that he being made thereby very fore, and early on the morrow putting on sackcloth, with much weeping and lamentation went to Zephyrinus the bishop above mentioned, where he falling down before him and all the Christian congregation, showed them the stripes of his body, and prayed them for the mercies of Christ, that he might be received into their communion again, from which he had sequestered himself before. And so was admitted according as he desired.
Unto these Doctors and Confessors may be adioyned the story of Natalius;1 mentioned in the fift booke of Eusebius. This Natalius had suffred persecution before like a constant confessor, who being seduced and persuaded by Asclepiodotus and Theodorus (which were the Disciples of Theodorus) to take vpon him to be bishop of their sect, promising to geue him euery month an hundreth and fiftie pieces of siluer, and so he ioyning himselfe to them, was admonished by vision and reuelatiō from the Lord. For such was the great mercy of God, and of our Lord Christ Iesu, that he would nor his Martyr, which had suffered so much for his name before, now to perish out of his church. For the which cause (sayth Eusebius) God by certaine visions did admonish him.2 But he not taking great heede thereunto, beyng blynded partly with lucre, partly with honor, was at length all the night long scourged of the Angels: In so much that he beyng made thereby very fore, and early on the morow putting on sackcloth, with much weeping and lamentation went to Zephyrinus the bishop aboue mentioned, where he falling down before him and all the Christian congregation, shewed them the stripes of his body, and prayed them for the mercies of Christ, that he might be receiued into their communion again, from which he had sequestred himselfe before. And so was admitted according as he desired.