A67926:2035
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.
God grant us grace that we do not refuse and reject (if it be Christ) him that cometh unto us,1 least that we do feel that terrible judgement against us: because (saith he) they have not received the love of trueth, that they might be saved: therefore God will send upon them the blindness of error, that they shall give credit unto lies: O terrible sentence▪ (which God knoweth whether a great number have not already incurred) that all they might be judged which have not given credit unto the trueth, 2but consented unto iniquity. The time shall come (saith he) when that they will not suffer the true doctrine to be preached. And what shall we then say of that learning, which hath now so long time reigned and triumphed, so that no man hath once opened his mouth against it? Shall we think it sound doctrine? Truly iniquity did never more abound, nor charity was never so cold. And what should we say to be the cause thereof? hath the cause been for lack of preaching against the vices of men, and exhorting to charity? That cannot be, for many learned and great Clerks sufficiently can witness to the contrary. And yet all these notwithstanding, we see the life and manners of men do greatly degenerate from true Christianity, and seem to cry out in deed, that it is fulfilled in us, which God in times past threatened by his Prophet Amos,3 saying: Behold, the day shall come (saith the Lord) that I will send hunger upon the earth, not hunger of bread, neither thirst of water, but of hearing the word of God, and the people shall be moved from sea to sea, and from the West unto East, and shall run about seeking for the word of God, but shall not find it. In those days the fair Virgins and young men shall perish for thirst. &c. But now to pass over many things,4 whereby I am moved to fear, that the word of God hath not been purely preached, this is not the least argument, that they which come and are sent, and endeavour themselves to preach Christ truly, are evil spoken of for his name, which is the rock of offence, and stumbling block unto them which stumble upon his word, and do not believe on him, on whom they are builded. But you will ask who are those men, & what is their doctrine? Truly I say, whosoever entereth in by the door Christ, into the sheepfold: