A67922:983
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.
after that Justine had declared him self not to be seen therein, the Philosopher gave him over, which grieved Justine not a little, & so much the more because he thought his master to have some knowledge in those sciences. After this Justine considering with himself what time was requisite to the learning of these sciences, and thinking not to divert any longer, thought best to resort to the sect of the Platonists for the great fame that ran of them: wherefore he chose unto him a singular learned man of that sect,1 which lately was come to those parties & so remaining with him seemed to profit not a little in contemplation of supernall things, & invisible forms, insomuch that he thought shortly to aspire to such sharpness of wit and wisdom, that out of hand he might achieve to the comprehension & contemplation of god,2 which is the end of Plato his Philosophy. And in this manner he bestowed his youth: but afterward he growing to a riper age, how & by what means the said Justine came to the knowledge & profession of Christianity, it followeth likewise in his said first Apology: where he affirmeth of him self (as witnesseth Eusebius in his fourth book) that when he did behold the christians in their torments and sufferings to be so constant in their profession,3 was therewith marvellously moved: after this manner reasoning with himself, that it was impossible for that kind of people to be subject to any vice or carnality, which vices of their own nature are not able to sustain any sharp adversity,4 much less the bitterness of death. The sight whereof helped him not a little (being of his own nature inclined to the searching of true knowledge & virtue) to begin thereby to love and embrace Christian Religion, for so he doth witness of himself in the end of the first Apology: signifying there how it was his seeking and endeavour to attain to Christianity: Understanding how the Christians by malice of wicked persons were compelled to suffer wrong and torments,5 and to be evil spoken of. By sight whereof, as he saith himself, he became a Christian, through this occasion, for being thus afflicted in his mind as is aforesaid, it came in his head for his more quietness to go aside to some desert and solitary place void of concourse of people, unto a village or grange near to the seaside: