A67922:1176
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.
Now remaineth to speak something likewise of his works and books left behind him,1 although all peradventure do not remain, that he wrote: whereof some are missing, some again which in the livery of his name & title, are not his, but such as be certainly his by the style & sense may soon be discerned: such is the eloquence of his phrase, & gravity of his sentence, vigour of wit, power in persuasion, so much differing from many other, as he can lightly be imitated but of few. Of the which his books with us extant, as the flourishing eloquence is worthily commended, proceeding out of the school of Rhetoricians, so is the authority thereof no less reputation, not only among us of this age of the Church, but also among the Ancient fathers. Whereof S. Austen speaking of his commendation saith,2 Ego inquit, literas Cypriani non ut canonicas habeo, sed eas ex canonisis considero: & quod in eis devinarum Scripturarum autoritati congruit cum laude eius accipio: quod autem non congruit, cum pace eius respuo. &c. By which words it may appear that Austen, although he did not repute y• books and writings of Cyprian, to be equivalent with the holy Scripture, yet notwithstanding next after the scriptures he had the same in great admiration.
Now remayneth to speake something likewise of hys workes and bookes left behind him,1 although al peraduē ture doe not remaine, that he wrote: wherof some are missing, some againe which in the liuery of his name & title, are not his, but such as be certainly his by the style & sense may soone be discerned: such is the eloquence of his phrase, & grauity of his sentence, vigour of wit, power in perswasion, so much differing from many other, as he can lightlye be imitated but of fewe. Of the which his bookes with vs extant, as the florishing eloquence is worthely cōmended, proceeding out of the schoole of Rhetoricians, so is the authoritie therof no lesse reputation, not onely among vs of this age of the Church, but also among the Auncient fathers. Whereof S. Austen speaking of his commendation sayth,2 Ego inquit, literas Cypriani non vt canonicas habeo, sed eas ex canonisis considero: & quod in eis deuinarum Scripturarum autoritati congruit cum laude eius accipio: quod autem non congruit, cum pace eius respuo. &c. By which words it may appeare that Austen, although he did not repute y bookes and writings of Cyprian, to be equiualent with the holy Scripture, yet notwithstanding next after the scriptures he had the same in great admiration.