A67922:985
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.
And also did prophecy before of Christ his Son to be sent of him, The which the false Prophets being seduced with false and wicked spirits, neither have done, nor do, but only take upon them to work certain prodigious wonders for men to gaze at, setting out thereby to the world false & unclean spirits: But then afore all things make thy prayer, that the gate of light may be opened unto thee, for otherwise these things cannot be attained unto of every man, but only of such, to whom God and his Christ giveth understanding. These things with much more (which now leisure serveth not, to prosecute) after the foresaid old father had declared unto him he departed: exhorting him well to follow the things which he had spoken. And after that Justine as he himself witnesseth, saw him no more. Immediately after this Justine being all inflamed as with fire kindled in his breast, began to conceive a love & zeal toward the Prophets and all such as were favoured of Christ. And thus he revolving in his mind more and more these words, found only this Philosophy among all other professions, both sure and profitable,1 and so became he a Philosopher, & in time by these means afterwards he was made a Christian and Baptised. But where he received this holy Sacrament of Baptism, it is not read of, nor yet by what occasion he left his country and came to Rome. This only we read in Jerome that he was in Rome, & there used certain exercises which he called Diatribas, disputing there with Crescens, a Cynical philosopher,2 as is before touched. But this is certain how that Justine after he had received the profession of Christian Religion, became an earnest defender of the same, travelling and disputing against all the adversaries thereof fearing neither peril of life nor danger of death whereby he might maintain the doctrine of Christ, against the malicious blasphemers and also augment the number of Christian believers.3 As may appear by his vehement disputations against the heathen Philosophers. Also moreover aswell appeareth in that long disputation which he had with one Tripho at Ephesus: as also in his confutations of heretics.4 Furthermore his conflicts and Apologies which with great courage & security he exhibited against the persecutors of the Christians, both the Emperor and the Magistrates, yea and the whole Senate of Rome, do testify the same.