A67922:813
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.
In the traction of all which things 2. especial points I chiefly commend to the reader, as most requisite and necessary of every Christen man to observe & to note for his own experience and profit, as first the disposition & nature of this world: secondly the nature & condition of the kingdom of Christ, the vanity of the one, and stablishment of the other: The unprosperous and unquiet state of the one,1 ruled by mans violence & wisdom: And the happy success of the other ever ruled by Gods blessing & providence. The wrath and revenging hand of god in the one and his mercy upon the other.2 The world I call all such as be without or against Christ, either by ignorance not knowing him, or by heathenish life not following him, or by violence resisting him. On the other side the kingdom of Christ in this world I take to be all them which belong to the faith of Christ, & here take his part in this world against the world. The number of whom although it be much smaller then the other and always lightly is hated & molested of the world,3 yet it is the number, which the Lord peculiarly doth bless and prosper, and ever will. And this number of Christs subjects is it,4 which we call the visible Church here in earth. Which visible Church having in it self a difference of 2 sorts of people, so is it to be divided in two parts, of which the one standeth of such as be of outward profession only, the other which by election inwardly are joined to Christ, the first in words & lips seemeth to honour Christ, and are in the visible Church only, but not in the Church invisible, & partaketh the outward Sacraments of Christ, but not the inward blessing of Christ: the other are both in the visible & also in the invisible Church of Christ, which not in words only and outward profession, but also in hart do truly serve & honour Christ, partaking not only the Sacraments, but also the heavenly blessings and grace of Christ.
In the traction of all which things 2. especiall pointes I chiefly commend to the reader, as most requisite and nenessary of euery Christen man to obserue & to note for his owne experience and profite, as first the disposition & nature of this worlde: secondly the nature & condition of the kingdome of Christ, the vanitie of the one, and stablshment of the other: The vnprosperous and vnquiet state of the one,