A67922:975
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.
1The blessed Photinus, who was a Deacon to the bishop of Lyons, about. 90. years old, and a very feeble or weak man, & could scarcely draw breath for the imbecility of his body: yet was he of a lively courage & spirit. For the great desire he had of martyrdom, when he was brought unto the judgement seat: although his body was feeble and weak, both because of his old age, and also through sickness, yet was his soul or life preserved to this purpose, that by the same Christ might triumph & be glorified. He, being by the soldiers brought to the place of judgement, many Citizens & men of great ability following him, and the whole multitude cried upon him diversly, as though he had been Christ himself, gave a good testimony. For being demanded of the chief ruler, what was the Christian mans God, he answered: If thou be worthy to know thou shalt know. He being with these words somewhat near touched, caused him to be very sore beaten. For those that stood next him, did him all the spit & displeasure that they could both with hand and foot, having no regard at all to his old age or white hairs. And they which were further of,2 whatsoever came next to hand, they threw at him, & every man thought that he did very wickedly refrain that withheld his hand from not doing the like. For by this means they thought that they did revenge the quarrel of their Gods. Photinus, now even as it were gasping after life, was thrown into prison, and within two days after dyed. And here is the mighty providence of God, and the inspeakable mercy of Jesus Christ declared, which providence being assured amongest a fraternity, is never destitute of the aide of Jesus Christ. For those which in their first persecution denied Christ, they also were put in prison, and made partakers of the others affliction. Neither yet did it any whit at all at that time help them that had deemed Christ, but they which confessed him, were imprisoned as christians, neither was there any other crime objected against them, but the other sort taken like homicides and wicked doers, were laid hand on, and had double more punishment then the others had.3 These men were refreshed with the joy of martyrdom, the hope •. Gods promises, the love toward Christ, and the spirit of God: