A67922:1167
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.
After the causes thus declared of this, or other persecutions, the said, S. Cyprian moreover in the forenamed Epistle (worthy to be read of all men) describeth likewise a certain vision, wherein was showed unto them by the Lord, before the persecution came, what should happen. The vision was this: There was a certain aged father sitting, at whose right hand set a young man very sad and pensive: as one with an indignation sorrowful, holding his hand upon his breast, his countenance heavy and uncheerful. On the left hand sate an other person, having in his hand a net, which he threatened to lay to catch the people that stood about. And as he was marvelling that saw the sight thereof, it was said unto him: The young man whom thou seest sit on the tight hand, is sad and sorry, that his precepts be not observed. But he on the left hand danceth and is merry, for that occasion is given him to have power of the aged Father given him to afflict men. And this vision was seen long before this tempest of persecution happened, 1Wherein is declared the same that before is said, the sins of the people to be the cause, why Satan in this persecution and all other, hath had and hath still such power with his net of destruction, to rage against the blood of Christen men, and all because (saith Cyprian) we forslack our praying, or be not so vigilant therein as we should: wherefore the Lord because he loveth us, correcteth us, correcteth us, to amend us, amendeth us to save us. &c. Cyprian.
After the causes thus declared of this, or other persecutions, the sayd, S. Cyprian moreouer in the forenamed Epistle (worthy to be read of al men) describeth likewise a certayne vision, wherin was shewed vnto them by the Lord, before the persecutiō came, what should happen. The vision was this: There was a certayne aged father sitting, at whose right hand set a young man very sad and pensiue: as one with an indignation sorrowfull, holding hys hand vpon hys brest, hys countenaunce heauy and vnchearefull. On the left hand sate an other person, hauing in hys hand a net, whiche he threatned to lay to catch the people that stode about. And as he was marueiling that saw the sight thereof, it was sayd vnto him: The young man whō thou seest sit on the tight hand, is sad and sory, that hys preceptes be not obserued. But he on the left hand daunceth and is merry, for that occasion is geuen him to haue power of the aged Father geuen him to afflict men. And this vision was seene long before this tempest of persecution happened,