A67926:1127
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.
Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in him with trembling Hearken to doctrine, and get knowledge, least you fall into Gods displeasure, and so perish out of the way of righteousness. What fret you, what fume, you O Gentiles? O you people, what cast you in your brains the cogitations of vanity? you kings of the earth, and you princes, why conspire you so together against Christ, and against his holy one? Psal. 2. Howe long will you seek after lies, and hate the trueth? Turn you to the Lord, and harden not your hearts. For this you must needs confess, that they which persecute the Lords servants, do persecute the Lord him self. For so he sayeth himself: Whatsoever men shall do to you, I will count it to be done, not as unto you, but to my self. And now let this carnal politic counsellor and disputer of this world, tell, wherein have they to blame me, if in mine examinations I have not answered so after their mind and affection as they required of me? seeing it is not our selves that speak, but the Lord that speaketh in us, as he himself doth fore witness saying: When ye shall be brought before rulers and Magistrates, it is not you your selves that speak, but the spirit of my father, that shall be in you▪ M. 10 Wherefore if the Lord be true and faithful of his word, as it is most certain, then is there no blame in me: for he gave the words that I did speak, and who was I, that could resist his will? If any shall reprehend the things that I said, let him then quarrel with the Lord, whom it pleased to work so in me. And if the Lord be not to be blamed, neither am I herein to be accused, which did that I purposed not, and that I forethought not of. The things which there I did utter and express, if they were otherwise then well, let them show it, and then will I say, that they were my words, and not the Lords? But if they were good, and approved, and such as can not justly be accused, then must it needs be granted, spite of their teethe, that they proceeded of the Lord: and then who be they, that shall accuse me? A people of prudence. Or who shall condemn me? Just judges. And though they so do, yet nevertheless, the word shall not be frustrate, neither shall the Gospel be foolish, or therefore decay:
Serue the Lord in feare, and reioyce in him with trembling Hearken to doctrine, and get knowsledge, least you fal into Gods displeasure, and so pearish out of the way of righteousnes. What freat you, what fume, you O Gentils? O you people, what cast you in your braines the cogitations of vanity? you kings of the earth, and you princes, why conspire you so together against Christ, and against his holy one?