A67922:2349
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 Epistle of Waltramus B. of Mergburgh, to the earl Ludovicus, exhorting to concord and obedience. VAltramus dei gratia id quod est,1 Ludovico serenisimo principi, cum instantia orationum, semetipsum ad omnia devotissimum. Omni regno utilis est concordia, desiderabilis est justitia. &c. In English. Valtrame by the grace of God being that he is:2 to Ludovike the noble prince, with instance of prayer offereth himself serviceable to all things. To every realm concord is a thing profitable, and justice much to be desired. For this virtue is the mother of godliness and the consecration of all honesty. Whosoever seeking after civil dissension, and incenseth other to effusion of blood: ⟨p. 190⟩he is a murderer, and partaker with him: who ever gaping and thrusting for an others blood, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. You therefore, considering with your self (most noble Prince) how God is the God of peace,3 and not of dissension (so much as in you doth lie) have peace with all men. God is charity, the devil is hatred. The whole law and Prophets consist in love & charity. He that hateth and maligneth his brother, is a murderer & hath no part with Christ in the kingdom of God. This we read testified and protested both by him which is the truth himself, & by him which was the scholar of the truth: who upon the breast of the Lord (drinking a more full draught of the gospel) rejoiceth the city of God with abundance of plentiful floods. In like manner the worthy vessel of election, who being rapt up to the third heaven (not by man but by revelation of Jesus Christ) protesteth also, saying: let every soul submit himself to higher powers. There is no power sayeth he, but of God. He that resisteth power, resisteth the ordinance of God. If that be true therefore, which certain of our friends do jangle among women, and the vulgar sort, that we ought not to be subdued to kingly power, then is it false which the Apostle teacheth, that every soul must submit himself under power and superiority. But can the verity lie? Or do we seek for experiment of him, who spake in the Apostle, Christ the Lord? Or do we provoke the Lord? Be we stronger then he? For what doth he but thinketh himself stronger then the Lord, that resisteth the ordinance of God? for there is no power but of God. But what sayeth the Prophet?