A67922:815
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.
At the first preaching of Christ, and coming of the Gospel: who should rather have known & received him, then the Pharisees and Scribes of that people, which had his law?1 And yet who persecuted and rejected him more, then they themselves? What followed▪ They in refusing Christ to be their king, and choosing rather to be subject unto Caesar, were by the said their own Caesar at length destroyed: when as Christs subjects the same time escaped the danger. Whereby it is to be learned, what a dangerous thing it is to refuse the Gospel of God, when it is so gently offered.
At the first preaching of Christ, and comming of the Gospel: who should rather haue knowen & receaued him, then the Phariseis and Scribes of that people, which had his law?1 And yet who persecuted and reiected him more, then they themselues? What followed▪ They in refusing Christ to be their king, and chosing rather to be subiect vnto Caesar, were by the sayde their owne Caesar at length destroyed: when as Christes subiectes the same time escaped the daunger. Whereby it is to be learned, what a dangerous thing it is to refuse the Gospell of God, when it is so gently offered.
- 1Gods punishment for refusing the Gospel,
The like example of Gods wrathful punishment is to be noted no less in the Romans also themselves.1 For when Tiberius Caesar, having received by letters from Pontius Pilate, of the doings of christ, of his miracles. Resurrection, and ascension into heaven, & how he was received as God of many, was himself also moved with belief of the same, and did confer thereof with the whole Senate of Rome, to have Christ adored as god: but they not agreeing thereunto refused him, because that contrary to the law of the Romans, he was consecrated, (said they) for God, before the Senate of Rome had so decreed & approved him.