A67922:2633
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 that I may hear and rejoice with them that shall bring me word and say: Oh king, thy son was dead, and is alive again, was lost and is found again. But if you will not hear me: look where I was wont* before the majesty of the body of Christ to pray for you in abundance of tears & sighs: There in the same place I will cry against you, and say: Rise up Lord and judge my cause, forget not the rebukes and injuries which the king of England doeth to thee and thine: forget not the ignominy of thy Church, which thou hast builded in thy blood. Revenge the blood of thy saints which is spilt: revenge (O Lord) the afflictions of thy servants, of whom there is an infinite number. For the pride of them which hate & persecute thee, is gone up so high, that we are not able to bear them any longer. Whatsoever your servant shall do, all those things shall be required at your hands: for he seemeth to have done the harm, which hath given the cause thereof. Doubtless, the son of the most highest (except you amend and cease from the oppressing of the church and clergy, and keep your hand from troubling of them) will come in the rod of his fury, at the voices of such as cry to him, and at the sighs of them that be in bands: when the time shall come for him to judge the unrighteousness of men in equity and severity of the holy ghost. For he knoweth how to take away the breath of Princes, and is terrible among kings of the earthe• Your dear and loving grace I wish well to fare. Thus fare ye well again and ever. ¶ Certain notes or elenches upon this Epistle: which by the figures you may find out, and their places. 1. The scope of this Epistle is this, to prove that bishops and priests ought not to come under the court and controlment of temporal power. 2. This similitude holdeth not. For though the smallness of a City blemisheth not the prerogative of a kingdom: yet the evilness and rebellion of a City, doth worthily blemish his own prerogative. 3. So saith the Popes decrees, Dist. 10. but the Scripture of God importeth otherwise. Abiathar the Priest was deposed of king Solomon, not for any heresy, but for other causes. 3. Reg. 1.2. Jonathan took his priesthood of king Alexander. And Simon of Demetrius. 1. Mach. 7. Christ offered tribute to Cesar for him and for Peter. Also Peter sayeth: be ye subject to every human creature:
and that I may heare and reioyce with them that shall bring me worde and say: Oh king, thy sonne was dead, and is aliue againe, was lost and is founde againe. But if you will not heare me: looke where I was wont