A67922:1164
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.
What was the chief original cause of this persecution, partly is signified before,1 where mention was made of the wicked Egyptian. But as this was the outward and political cause, so S Cyprian showeth other causes more special, and Ecclesiastical, in his iiii. book. Epist. 4. whose words be these: but we (saith he) must understand and confess, that this turbulent oppression & calamity, which hath wasted for the most part all our whole company, and doth daily consume,2 riseth chiefly of our own wickedness & sins: while we walk not in the way of the Lord, nor observe his precepts left unto us for our institution. The Lord observed the will of his father in all points: but we observe not the will of the Lord, having all our mind and study set upon lucre & possessions, given to pride, full of emulation and dissension, void of simplicity and faithful dealing, renouncing this world in word only, but nothing in deed, every man pleasing himself, and displeasing all other. And therefore are we thus scourged, and worthily. For what stripes and scourges do we not deserve, when the confessors themselves (such as have bid the trial of their confession) and such as ought to be an example to the rest of well doing, do keep no discipline? And therefore because some such there be, proudly puffed up with this swelling and unmannerly bragging of their confession, these torments come: such as do not easily send us to the crown, except by the mercy of God, some being taken away by quickness of death, do prevent the tediousness of punishment. These things do we suffer for our sins and deserts, as by the Lords censure we have been forewarned, saying: If they shall forsake my law, and will not walk in my judgements: If they shall profane my institutions, and will not observe my precepts, I will visit their iniquities with the rod, and their transgressions with scourges. These rods and scourges (saith he) we feel, which neither please God in our good deeds, nor repent in our evil deeds. Wherefore the said Cyprian, adding this exhortation withal, exhorted them to pray and entreat from the bottom of their hart and whole mind, the mercy of God which promiseth, saying: but yet my mercy I will not scatter from them. &c.
What was the chiefe originall cause of this persecution, partly is signified before,1