A67922:948
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.
1Thus have you heard out of the Epistle of the brethren of Smyrna, the whole order and li•e of Policarpus, whereby it may appear that he was a very aged man who had served Christ, lxxxvj. years since the first knowledge of him, and served also in the ministry about the space of 70. years. This Policarpus was the scholar and hearer of John the Evangelist,2 and was placed by the said John in Smyrna. Of him also Ignatius maketh mention in his Epistle which he wrote in his journey to Rome, going toward his martyrdom, and commended to him the government of his Church at Antioch, whereby it appeareth that Policarpus then was in y• ministry. Likewise Iraeneus writeth of the said Policarpus after this manner.3 He always taught (said he) those things which he learned of the Apostles, leaving them to the Church, and are only true. Whereunto also at the Churches that be in Asia, and all they which succeeded after Policarpus to this day beareth witness, And the same Irenaeus witnesseth also that the said Policarpus wrote an Epistle to the Philippians,4 which whether it be the same that is now extant and read in the name of Policarpus, it is doubted of some: notwithstanding in the said Epistle divers things are found very wholesome and Apostolic: as where he teacheth of Christ, of judgement and of the resurrection. Also he writeth of faith very worthily, thus declaring that by grace we are saved,5 and not by works, but in the will of God by Jesus Christ.
1Thus haue you heard out of the Epistle of the brethren of Smyrna, the whole order and li•e of Policarpus, wherby it may appeare that he was a very aged mā who had serued Christ, lxxxvj. yeares since the first knowledge of him, and serued also in the ministery about the space of 70. yeares. This Policarpus was the schooler and hearer of Iohn the Euangelist,