A67926:2029
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.
IN this behalf (most reverent Father in Christ) I think my self most happy, that it is my chance to be called to examination before your Reverence, for that you are of such wisdom and learning, of such integrity of life (which all men do confess to be in you) that even your self can not choose (if ye do not to lightly esteem Gods gifts in you) as often as you shall remember the great things which God hath done unto you, but straight ways secretly in your heart, to his high praise, say: he that is mighty hath done great things unto me, & holy is his name. I rejoice, that I have now happened upon such a judge, & withal my heart give thanks unto God, which ruleth all things. And albeit (God is my witness) I know not my self guilty of any error in my Sermons, neither of any heresy or sedition, which divers do slander me of, seeking rather their own lucre and advantage, then the health of souls: notwithstanding I do exceedingly rejoice: that it is so foreseen by Gods divine providence, that I should be brought before the tribunal seat of Tonstall, who knoweth as well as any other, that there will never be wanting Jannes and Jambres, which will resist the truth: that ⟨p. 1005⟩there shall never be lacking some 1Elemates, which will go about to subvert the straight ways of the Lord: and finally, that some Demetrius, *Pythoness, Balaams, Nicolaites, Cains, and Ishmaels, will be always at hand which will greedily hunt and seek after that which pertaineth unto themselves, and not that which pertaineth to Jesus Christ. How can it then be, that they can suffer Christ to be truly and sincerely preached (For if the people begin once wholly in every place, to put their confidence in Christ, which was for them crucified, then straight ways that which they have hitherto embraced in stead of Christ shall utterly decay in the hearts of the faithful. Then they shall understand that Christ is not in this place, or in that place, but the kingdom of God to be in themselves. Then shall they plainly see that the Father is not to be worshipped, neither in the mount of Samaria, neither at Jerusalem, but in all places, in spirit and trueth. Which thing if it come once to pass, the beasts of the field will think all their gain and lucre lost.*