A67922:2350
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.
Confounded be all they that strive against thee O Lord, and the men which repugn against thee, shall perish. Rodolphus, Hildebrandus, Egbertus, with many other Princes, resisted the ordinance of God in Henry the Emperor.1 And lo, even as they had never been, so are they now perished, & as their end was evil, so their beginning could not be good. Now therefore, for so much as they which be contrary to us do earnestly strive against us with their own arguments, whereas of right (I dare refer me to your judgement) we ought to use the authority of Christ & ancient fathers, before that, which our adversaries take out of their own treasury. And because I will not refuse the order of law in this behalf, let it be the end of the strife: that either I may be openly shamed before the people, either else (the victory falling on my side) we may win you to the obedience of our sovereign Lord the Emperor. Also take you heed to this saying, If any man do preach otherwise then that which is preached,2 let him be of you accursed. This curse, I say doeth not proceed from any new profane authority, but is thundered down from the third heaven. And of them which know not the righteousness of God, but go about to stablish their own righteousness, and therefore be not subject to the righteousness of God: I may boldly say, let such be accursed. So may you well say, confounded be all they that proudly rise up against the Lord but thy servant (oh Lord) shall rejoice, for as thou hast well said, without me you can do nothing,3 so in judging of the wicked, thou doest not condemn the just. Who art thou that judgest another mans servant to his own Lord whether he doth stand or fall?4
Confounded be all they that striue against thee O Lorde, and the men which repugne against thee, shall perish. Rodolphus, Hildebrandus, Egbertus, with many other Princes, resisted the ordinance of God in Henry the Emperour.1 And lo, euen as they had neuer bene, so are they nowe perished, & as their end was euil, so their begīning could not be good. Nowe therefore, for so much as they which be contrary to vs do earnestly striue against vs with their owne arguments, wheras of right (I dare referre me to your iudgemēt) we ought to vse the authoritie of Christ & ancient fathers, before that, which our aduersaries take out of their owne treasurie. And because I will not refuse the order of lawe in this behalfe, let it be the ende of the strife: that either I may be openly shamed before the people, either els (the victory falling on my side) we may winne you to the obedience of our soueraigne Lord the Emperour. Also take you hede to this saying, If any man do preach otherwise then that which is preached,