A67922:85
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
Preface: The utility of this Story.Preface: The vtilitie of this Story.
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.
Now if men commonly delight so much in other Chronicles which entreat only upon matters of policy, and rejoice to behold therein the variable events of worldly affairs, the Stratagems of valiant captains, the terror of foughten fields, the sacking of Cities, the hurly burlies of Realms and people. And if men think it such a gay thing in a common wealth to commit to history such old antiquities of things profane and bestow all their ornaments of wit and eloquence in garnishing the same: how much more then is it meet for Christians to conserve in remembrance the lives: Acts and doings, not of bloody warriors, but of mild and constant Martyrs of Christ, which serve not so much to delight the ear, as to garnish the life, to frame it with examples of great profit, and to encourage men to all kind of Christian godliness? As first by reading thereof we may learn a lively testimony of Gods mighty working in the life of man, contrary to the opinion of Atheists, and all the whole nest of Epicures. For like as one said of Harpalus in times past, that his doings gave a lively testimony against God, because he being so wicked a man escaped so long unpunished: so contrariwise in these men we have a much more assured and plain witness of God both in whose lives and deaths appeared such manifest declarations of Gods divine working, whiles in such sharpness of torments we behold in them strength, so constant above mans reach, such readiness to answer, such patience in imprisonment, such godliness in forgiving, cheerfulness so courageous in suffering, besides the manifold sense and feeling of the holy ghost which they in their lives so plentifully tasted in their afflictions,1 as in reading of their letters evidently we may understand. Over and besides this, the mild deaths of the saints do not a little avail to the stablishing of a good conscience: to learn the contempt of the world, and to come to the fear of God. Moreover, they confirm faith, increase godliness, abate pride in prosperity, and in adversity do open an hope of heavenly comfort. For what man reading the misery of these godly persons, may not therein as in a glass behold his own case, whether he be godly or godless. For if God give adversity unto good men, what may either the better sort promise themselves, or the evil not fear?
Nowe if men commonly delite so much in other Chronicles which intreate onely vpon matters of pollicye, and reioyce to beholde therein the variable euentes of worldlye affayres, the Stratagemes of valiaunt captaynes, the terrour of foughten fieldes, the sacking of Cities, the hurlye burlies of Realmes and people. And if men thinke it such a gaye thing in a common wealth to committe to history such olde antiquities of thinges prophane and bestow all theyr ornamentes of wit and eloquence in garnishing the same: how much more then is it meete for Christians to conserue in remembraunce the liues: Actes and doynges, not of bloudy warriours, but of myld and constant Martyrs of Christ, which serue not so much to delight the eare, as to garnish the lyfe, to frame it with examples of great profite, and to encourage men to all kinde of Christian godlines? As first by reading thereof wee may learne a liuely testimony of Gods mighty working in the life of man, contrary to the opinion of Atheistes, and all the whole nest of Epicures. For like as one sayd of Harpalus in times past, that his doyngs gaue a liuely testimony agaynst God, because he being so wicked a man escaped so long vnpunished: so contrariwise in these mē we haue a much more assured and playne witnes of God both in whose liues and deathes appeared suche manifest declarations of Gods diuine working, whiles in such sharpnes of tormentes we behold in them strength, so constant aboue mans reach, such readines to aunswere, such patience in imprisonment, suche godlines in forgeuing, cherefulnes so couragious in suffering, besides the manifold sense and feeling of the holy ghost which they in their liues so plentifully tasted in theyr afflictions,