A67922:1293
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.
1For who is so void of reason & understanding, that knoweth not that this thing happeneth unto us by the careful study of the goodness of our gods, that the ground denieth not to give her timely increase, nor maketh frustrate the husband mans hope, nor that wicked war dare show her face upon the earth, nor that the corruption of the air is now cause of pestilence, neither that the sea swelleth with immoderate winds, 2neither that sudden storms are cause of hurtful tempests. To conclude, that the ground which is as the nurse and mother of all things, is not swallowed up of her deep chaps and gapings, by terrible earthquake, neither that the hills made level with the earth, are not with gaping clifts devoured, all which evils and greater then these, before this time to have happened every man knoweth. And all these mischiefs came upon us for the pernicious errors sake of the extreme folly of those wicked men the Christians, when filthiness it self (as I may call it) so occupied their minds, and overran the world. Let them behold the fields now all about full of corn, 3and overflowed as it were with ears of corn. Let them view the pleasant meadows clothed with flowers, and moistened with showers from heaven, and also the pleasant and temperate weather. Therefore let all men rejoice, that by your piety, sacrifices, & worshipping, the majesty of the most stern God of battle Mars is appeased, & that therefore we enjoy pleasant & firm peace. And how many so ever have left that blind error and straying of the Christians unfeignedly, and be of a better mind, let them specially rejoice, as men delivered out of a sudden great tempest, and from a grievous disease, and have afterward obtained a delectable and pleasant life. For doubtless, if they had remained in that execrable vanity, far of had they been chased from your City & suburbs of the same (according to your desire) that your City by that means, according to your commendable diligence, cleansed from all impurity and impiety, may offer sacrifices according to the meaning of the same, with due reverence of the immortal Gods. And that you may perceive in how good part your supplication (yea unasked and desired) we are most willing and ready to further your honest endeavours, and grant unto you for your devotion, whatsoever you ask of our magnificence.