A67922:1282
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.
Those which bare the chief offices among the Ethnics, drave out of the emperors count all the godly Christians: whereupon this ensued, that the Emperors themselves at the last, were destitute of help, when such were driven away,1 which dwelling in their courts, and living a godly life, poure• out their prayers unto God for the prosperous estate and health both of the Empire & Emperor. Constantius therefore thinking at a certain time to try what sincere and good Christians he had yet in his court, called together all his officers and servants in the same, feigning himself to choose out such as would do sacrifice to devils, and that those only should dwell there & keep their offices, and that those which would refuse to do the same, should be thrust out & banished the court. At this appointment, all the […] divided themselves into […] ▪ 2The Emperor marked which were the constantest & godliest from the rest▪ And when […] said that they would willingly do sacrifice, other serve openly and boldly denied to do the same: Then the Emperor […] rebuked those which were so ready to do […], & judged them as false traitors unto God accounting their unworthy to be in his court, which were such traitors to God, and forthwith commanded that they only should be banished the same. But greatly he commended them, which refused to do sacrifice and confessed God, affirming that they only were worthy to be above • prince, forthwith […] them that thenceforth they should be the […] counsellors and defenders both of his person & kingdom, saying thus much more that they only were worthy to be in office, whom he might make account of as his assured friends, and that he meant to have them in more estimation,3 then the substance he had in his treasury. Eusebius maketh mention hereof in his first book of the life of Constantius, and also Sozomenus in his 1. book and •. chap.
Those which bare the chiefe offices among the Ethnikes, draue out of the emperors count all the godly Christians: wherupon this ensued, that the Emperors themselues at the last, were destitute of helpe, when suche were driuen away,