A67922:491
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.
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.
Fourthly, foloweth the tyme of Antichrist, and loosing of Sathan, or desolation of the Church, whose full swyng conteineth the space of 400. yeares. In which tyme, both doctrine and sinceritie of life, was vtterly almost extinguished, namely, in the chiefe heades and rulers of this West church, through the meanes of the Romaine Byshops, especially countyng from Gregory the vij. called Hildebrand, Innocentius the iij. and Friers which with him crept in, til the tyme of Iohn Wickliffe, & Iohn Husse, duryng 400. yeres.
Fifthly and lastly,5 after this time of Antichrist, reigning in the Church of God by violence and tyranny, followeth the reformation & purging of the church of God, wherein Antichrist beginneth to be revealed, and to appear in his colours, and his Antichristian doctrine to be detected, the number of his Church decreasing, and the number of the true Church increasing. The durance of which time hath continued hitherto about the space of 280. years, and how long shall continue more, the Lord and governor of all times, he only knoweth. For in these five diversities & alterations of times, I suppose the whole course of the Church may well be comprised. The which Church, because it is universal, and sparsedly through all countries dilated, therefore in this history standing upon such a general argument I shall not be bound to any one certain nation, more then an other: yet notwithstanding keeping mine argument aforesaid, I have purposed principally to tarry upon such historical acts and records, as most appertain to this my country of England and Scotland.2