A67922:1190
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 let us draw near to the fire of Martyred Laurence, 1that our cold hearts may be warmed thereby. The merciless tyrant, understanding this virtuous Levite, not only to be a minister of the Sacraments, but a distributer also of the Church riches (whereof mention is made before in the words of Xistus) promised to himself a double pray, by the apprehension of one silly soul. First with the rake of Avarice to scrape to himself the treasure of poor Christians, then with the fiery fork of tyranny so to toss and turmoil them, that they should wax weary of their Christian profession: With furious face, and cruel countenance, the greedy wolf demanded where this Deacon Laurence had bestowed the substance of the Church. Who craving three days respite, promised to declare where the treasure might he had. In the mean time he caused a good number of poor Christians to be congregated. So when the day of his answer was come, the persecutor straightly charged him to stand to his promise. Then valiant Laurence stretching out his arms over the poor said: These are the precious treasure of the church:2 These are the treasure in deed, in whom the faith of Christ reigneth, in whom Jesus Christ hath his mansion place. What more precious ⟨p. 72⟩Jewels can Christ have, than those in whom he hath promised to dwell? For so it is written, I was hungry, & ye gave me to eat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me to drink: I was harbourless, and ye lodged me. And again: Look what ye have done to the least of these, the same have ye done to me. What greater riches can christ our master posses, then the poor people, in whom he loveth to be seen? Oh, what tongue is able to express the fury and madness of the tyrants hart? Now he stamped, he stared, he ramped, he fared as one out of his wit: his eyes like fire glowed, his mouth like a bore foamed, his teeth like an hellhound grinded. Now not a reasonable man, but a roaring lion he might be called. Kindle the fire (he cried) of wood make no spare. Hath this villain deluded the Emperor? away with him, away with him. Whip him with scourges, jerk him with rods: buffet him with fists, brain him with clubs, jesteth the traitor with the Emperor? Pinch him with fiery tongues gird him with burning plates, bring out the strongest chains, and the fireforkes, and the grated bed of iron.