A67926:1121
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. 2, part 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. 2, part 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
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
¶A comfortable letter of Pomponius Algerius an Italian Martyr. ¶To his most dearly beloved brethren, and fellow servants in Christ, which are departed out of Babylon, into Mount Zion: Crace, peace, and health, from GOD our Father, by Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. TO mitigate your sorrow, which you take for me, I cannot but impart unto you some portion of my delectations and joys, which I feel and find, to the intent you with me, may rejoice, and sing before the Lord, giving thanks unto him. I shall utter that, which no man will believe when I shall declare it. I have found, a nest of honey and honey comb in the entrails of a Lyon. Who will ever believe that I shall say? or what man will ever think in the deep dark dungeon, to find a Paradise of pleasure? in the place of sorrow and death, to dwell in tranquillity and hope of life, in a cave infernal, to be found joy of soul? and where other men do weep, there to be rejoicing? where other do shake and tremble, their strength and boldness to be plenty? Who will ever think, or who will believe this? in such a woeful state, such delectation? in a place so desolate, such society of good men? in strait bands and cold irons? such rest to be had? Al these things, the sweet hand of the Lord (my sweet brethren) doth minister unto me. Behold, he that was once far from me, now is present with me. Whom once scarce I could feel, now I see more apparently: whom once I saw a far of, now I behold near at hand: whom once I hungered for, the same now approacheth ⟨p. 940⟩and reacheth his hand unto me He doth comfort me, and heapeth me up with gladness, he driveth away all bitterness, he ministereth strength and courage, he healeth me, refresheth advanceth, and comforteth me. O how good is the Lord, which suffereth not his servants to be tempted above their strength? O how easy and sweet is his yoke? Is there any like unto the hiest, who receiveth the afflicted, healeth the wounded, and nourisheth them? Is there any like unto him? Learn ye well-beloved, how amiable the Lord is, how meek and merciful he is, which visiteth his servants in tentations, neither disdaineth he to keep company with us in such vile and stinking caves. Will the blind and incredulous world (think you) believe this? or rather will it not say thus?
¶A comfortable letter of Pomponius Algerius an Italian Martyr. ¶To his most dearly beloued brethren, and fellow seruauntes in Christ, which are departed out of Babylon, into Mount Sion: Crace, peace, and health, from GOD our Father, by Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour. TO mitigate your sorrowe, whiche you take for me, I cannot but impart vnto you some portion of my delectations and ioyes, which I feele and finde, to the intent you with me, may reioyce, and sing before the Lord, geuing thanks vnto him. I shal vtter that, which no man will beleue when I shall declare it. I haue found, a nest of hony and hony combe in the entrals of a Lyon. Who will euer beleue that I shall say? or what man wil euer think in the deepe darcke doungeon, to finde a Paradise of pleasure? in the place of sorrow and death, to dwell in tranquillitie and hope of lyfe, in a caue infernall, to be found ioy of soule? and where other men doe weepe, there to be reioysing? where other do shake and tremble, theyr strength and boldnesse to be plenty? Who will euer thinke, or who will beleue thys? in suche a woefull state, suche delectation? in a place so desolate, such societye of good men? in straite bandes and cold yrons? such rest to be had? Al these thinges, the sweete hand of the Lorde (my sweet brethren) doth minister vnto me. Behold, he that was once farre from me, now is present with me. Whome once scarse I could feele, now I see more apparantly: whome once I saw a farre of, now I beholde neare at hand: whome once I hungered for, the same nowe approcheth