A67922:1957
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.
Wherefore most humbly and one unworthy, but yet a devou• fellow brother of yours, I beseech and exhort your holiness: that you will not show your selves cold and negligent in the cure and regiment of souls, so that in the time of the fearful judgement, the Lord do not complain of you, saying, my shepherds did not feed my flock, but they fed themselves And again they were princes of my flock, and I knew not of it. But rather let us take heed, and be diligent over the household of the Lord, over which he hath set us to be the leaders: to give them meat & true measure of corn in time convenient: that is to say, wholesome doctrine. And although upon mine own demerits or worthiness I do not presume to comfort or exhort any man: but as one being unworthy & faulty in transgressions innumerable, am glad, and stand in need, rather to be strengthened by your brotherly admonitions: yet for the ancient authority of my predecessors as of Augustine, of happy memory, and also of all other saints by whose industry the rule of christianity did first flourish and spring from this Metropolitan sea, unto all quarters of England. Therefore I have thought good to direct unto you these my letters to the profit of you all: especially, for that our renowned & princely king Edmond, with all his people doth joy to follow that which he heareth in you, and of you: and also, forsomuch as all his subjects which be under his Imperial dominion, do love and delight to follow most joyfully, the same and report of your sincere conversation, &c.
Wherfore most humbly and one vnworthy, but yet a deuou• fellow brother of yours, I beseech and exhort your holines: that you will not shew your selues cold and negligent in the cure and regiment of soules, so that in the tyme of the feareful iudgement, the Lord doe not complaine of you, saying, my shepeheards did not feed my flocke, but they fed thēselues And agayne they were princes of my flocke, and I knew not of it. But rather let vs take heede, and be diligent ouer the houshold of the Lord, ouer which he hath set vs to be the leaders: to geue them meate & true measure of corne in tyme conuenient: that is to say, wholesome doctrine. And although vpon myne owne demerites or worthinesse I do not presume to comfort or exhort any man: but as one beyng vnworthy & faultie in transgressions innumerable, am glad, and stand in neede, rather to be strengthened by your brotherly admonitions: yet for the auncient authoritie of my predecessors as of Augustine, of happy memory, and also of all other saintes by whose industrie the rule of christianitie did first florish and spring from this Metropolitane sea, vnto all quarters of England. Therefore I haue thought good to direct vnto you these my letters to the profit of you all: especially, for that our renowmed & princely king Edmond, with all his people doth ioy to folow that which he heareth in you, and of you: and also, forsomuch as all his subiectes which be vnder his Imperiall dominion, doe loue and delight to follow most ioyfully, the same and report of your sincere conuersation, &c.