A67922:134
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.
¶ The third consideration.
Thirdly let us call to mind, considering thus with our selves: These good men and worthy Martyrs in those dangerous days, tasting as they did, the heavy hand of Gods sharp correction, beginning commonly with his own house first if they were alive now in these Halcyon days, under the protection of such a peaceable prince, O what thanks would they give to God, how happy would they count themselves having but half of that we have, with freedom only of conscience, and safety of life. Or if in case we our selves had been in those times of theirs so troubled and distressed as they were, spoiled of goods, hated of the world, cited in consistories, pinched in prisons, sequestered from wife, house and children, looking for nothing but death, What would we say? what would we think? what would we do? Much otherwise doubtless, then we do now, God grant we may do better, for worse I think we cannot if we would. Joh Wycliffe, W. Swinderby, Thorpe, Sawtrie, with a number of godly men moe, being then glad in frieze gowns going barefoot, to preach where they could. If they were now alive, how glad would they be of these days, what pains would they take, yea what pains would they▪ not take in preaching the gospel, not for lucre, nor for money, nor passing for promotions or dignities of the church? Sir I. Oldcastle L. Cobham, sir Rog. Acton, with divers worshipful gentlemen a great number, If they being in our state might enjoy with us their houses and lands, with the good favour of their Prince (as then they could not) how gladly would they have contented themselves though they never raised their rents and fines to the undoing of their poor tenants? Likewise in the time of Joh. Hus and Hierome of Prague, the Nobility and gentlemen of Bohemia, if they might have had half this tranquillity which we have, to enjoy the liberty of Gods word, and true use of the sacraments without molestation of Romish prelates, what would they have cared how simply they walked in their attire, without any such monstrous pomp in pranking up themselves, as we Englishmen in these reformed days walk now, more like players in a stage, then gods children in his Church.