A67922:1165
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.
Let us ask, and we shall obtain, and though (saith Cyprian) it be with tarriance, yet for so much as we have grievously offended, let us continue knocking, for to him that knocketh, it shall be opened, if our prayers, sighings, and weepings knock still at the door with continuance, and if our prayers be joined together with brotherly agreement &c.
Let vs aske, and wee shall obtayne, and though (sayth Cyprian) it be with tariance, yet for so much as we haue greeuously offended, let vs continue knocking, for to him that knocketh, it shalbe opened, if our prayers, sighinges, and weepinges knocke still at the dore with continuance, and if our prayers be ioyned together with brotherly agreement &c.
Moreover, what vices were then principally reigning among the Christians, 1he further specifieth in the said Epistle: which chiefly were division and dissension among the brethren. For when it was spoken to them in a vision, by these words Petite & impetrabitis, that is: Pray, and ye shall obtain, afterward it was required of the congregation there present, to direct their prayers, for certain persons assigned to them by name: but they could not agree and condescend altogether of the names and persons of them which they should pray for, but were dissonant in their consent and petition: which thing (saith Cyprian) did greatly displease him, that spake unto them: Pray, and ye shall obtain, for that there was no uniform equality of voice and hart nor one simple and joint concord among the brethren, whereof it is written the Psalm. 67. God which maketh to dwell in the house together men of one accord. 2&c. And so by the occasion hereof, he writeth unto them in the foresaid Epistle, and moveth them to prayer and mutual agreement. For (saith he) if it be promised in the Gospel, to be granted whatsoever any two consenting together shall ask, what shall then the whole Church do agreeing together? or what if this unanimity were among the whole fraternity, which unanimity (sayeth Cyprian) if it had been then among the brethren, non venissent fraetribus haec mala, si in unum fraternitas fuisset animata, that is: these evils had not happened to the brethren, if the brethren had joined together in brotherly unanimity.