A67922:1408
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.
And in the end of the Epistle addeth these words What joy (saith he) what gladness would it be to my hart, to hear the state also of the Persians to flourish, as I wish it to do, by embracing this sort of men, the Christians I mean? so that both you with them, and they with you in long prosperity may enjoy much felicity together as your harts would desire, & in so doing no doubt ye shall. For so shall you have God, which is the author and creator of all this universal world, to be merciful and gracious to you. These men therefore I commend unto you upon your kingly honour, And upon your clemency and piety, wherewith you are endued, I commit them unto you, desiring you to embrace & receive them according to your humanity and benignity, agreeing and convenient to your estate: who in so doing shall now both procure to your self grace through your faith, and also shall declare to me a great pleasure and benefit worthy of thanks.
And in the end of the Epistle addeth these words What ioy (saith he) what gladnes would it be to my hart, to heare the state also of the Persians to florish, as I wish it to do, by embracing this sort of men, the Christians I meane? so that both you with them, and they with you in long prosperite may enioy much felicity together as your harts would desire, & in so doing no doubt ye shall. For so shall you haue God, which is the author and creator of all this vniuersall worlde, to be mercifull and gratious to you. These men therefore I commend vnto you vpon your kingly honour, And vpon your clemency and piety, wherewith you are indued, I commit them vnto you, desiring you to embrace & receaue them according to your humanitie and benignity, agreing and conuenient to your estate: who in so doing shal now both procure to your selfe grace through your faith, and also shall declare to me a great pleasure and benefit worthy of thanks.
This Epistle wrote Constantinus to king Sapores Such care had this godly Prince for them that believed in Christ not only in his own Monarchy,1 but also in all places of the world: neither is it to be doubted but this intercession of the Emperor did something mitigate the heat of the Persians persecution. Although thereof we read no certain thing in our histories.