A67922:719
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.
15. The fifth branch, which I note in S. Pauls doctrine, is this: that after he hath thus established us in certainty of our salvation through faith in Christ, then after that,2 he exhorteth us vehemently and with all instance of good works, showing the true use and end of good works: which is, first to show our obedience, and dutiful service (as we may) unto God, who hath done so great things for us. Secondly to relieve our neighbours with our charity and kinds, as God hath been kind to us his enemies. Thirdly, to stir up other by our example, to praise God, to embrace the same Religion, & to do the like. For requisite it is, that as God hath been so merciful to us and gracious in eternal gifts, we should be merciful likewise to other in temporal commodities. And seeing it hath pleased him of his fatherly goodness (of our parts so little deserved) to call us to so high a vocation, to give the blood of his Son for us, to forgive us all our sins, to deliver us from this present wicked world, to make us Citizens of heaven, yea his children, more then servants: little then can we do, and well may we think those benefits ill bestowed, if we forgive not our neighbours, and show some thing again worthy that holy calling wherewith he hath called us, in mortifying our worldly lusts here, & studying after heavenly things: and finally if we being provoked with such love & kindness, reader not again some love for love, some kindness for kindness, seeking how to walk in the steps which he hath prepared for us to walk in, serving him (so much as we may) in holiness & righteousness all the days of our life. And though our obedience shall always be imperfect, do the best we can: yet reason would that some obedience we should show as loving children to such a loving father.
15. The fift branch, which I note in S. Paules doctrine, is this: that after he hath thus established vs in certeinty of our saluation through faith in Christ, then after that,2 he exhorteth vs vehemently and with all instaunce of good workes, shewing the true vse and ende of good workes: which is, first to shewe our obedience, and dutifull seruice (as we may) vnto God, who hath done so great thinges for vs. Secondly to relieue our neighbours with our charitie and kindes, as God hath bene kinde to vs his enimies. Thirdly, to stirre vp other by our example, to praise God, to embrace the same Religion, & to do the like. For requisite it is, that as God hath bene so merciful to vs and gratious in eternal giftes, we should be merciful likewise to other in temporall cōmodities. And seeing it hath pleased him of his fatherly goodnes (of our partes so litle deserued) to call vs to so high a vocation, to giue the bloud of his sonne for vs, to forgiue vs al our sinnes, to deliuer vs from this present wicked worlde, to make vs Citizens of heauen, yea his children, more then seruaunts: little then can we doe, and well may we thinke those benefites ill bestowed, if we forgiue not our neigbours, and shewe some thing againe worthy that holy calling wherewith he hath called vs, in mortifying our worldly lustes here, & studying after heauenly things: and finally if we being prouoked with such loue & kindnes, reder not againe some loue for loue, some kindnes for kindnes, seeking how to walke in the steps which he hath prepared for vs to walke in, seruing him (so much as we may) in holines & righteousnes all the daies of our life. And though our obedience shall alwaies be imperfect, doe the best we can: yet reason would that some obedience we should shew as louing children to such a louing father.