A67922:490
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.
Thirdly, of the declining or backsliding time of the Church, which comprehendeth other 300. years, until the loosing out of Satan, which was about the thousand year after the ceasing of persecution. During which space of time,3 the Church, although in ambition & pride, it was much altered from the simple sincerity of the Primitive time, yet in outward profession of doctrine and religion, it was something tolerable, & had some face of a Church: notwithstanding some corruption of doctrine,4 with superstition and hypocrisy was then also crept in. And yet in comparison of that as followed after, it might seem (as I said) something sufferable.
Thirdly, of the declinyng or backeslidyng tyme of the Church, which comprehendeth other 300. yeares, vntill the loosing out of Sathan, which was about the thousand yeare after the ceasing of persecution. During which space of tyme,3 the Church, although in ambition & pride, it was much altered from the simple sinceritie of the Primitiue tyme, yet in outward profession of doctrine and religion, it was somethyng tollerable, & had some face of a Church: notwithstanding some corruption of doctrine,4 with superstition and hypocrisie was then also crept in. And yet in comparison of that as followed after, it might seeme (as I sayd) somethyng sufferable.
- 3The declining time of the church.
- 4The time of Antichrist in the Church.
Fourthly, followeth the time of Antichrist, and loosing of Satan, or desolation of the Church, whose full swing containeth the space of 400. years. In which time, both doctrine and sincerity of life, was utterly almost extinguished, namely, in the chief heads and rulers of this West church, through the means of the Romaine Bishops, especially counting from Gregory the vij. called Hildebrand, Innocentius the iij. and Friars which with him crept in, till the time of John Wycliffe, & John Huss, during 400. years.