A67926:3177
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.
S. Cyprian maintaineth well the same in an Epistle that •e writeth ad Cecilium fratrem. 1Which I would to God were in English, that all men might learn the devout goodness in it contained. In the same he teacheth clearly, how we ought to hear Christ only and his learning, not regarding nor attending to the traditions of men: like as he doth also in many other places. And this agreeth well with Scripture, which is called the word of Salvation:2 the administration of righteousness, the word of truth, yea and the truth it self: the rod of direction: our spiritual food: the spiritual sword that we ought to fight with against all temptations and assaults of our ghostly enemies, the seed of God, the kingdom of heaven & keys of the same: the power of God: the light of the world, which who so followeth, shall not be overcome with darkness: the law of God: his wisdom, and Testament. Of which words and such like,3 every one will give matter of substantial argument, that we following the same doctrine only, shall have sufficient safe conduct to come unto the inheritance promised, albeit none other ways or means were annexed with the same. And certain I am that in this blessed doctrine of Christ is taught,4 how we ought to do truth and mercy, which is all that we need to do, as testifieth the Psalm, in these words: Universae viae domini misericordia & veritas. &c. All the ways of the Lord are mercy and truth. And again, the Prophet willing us to do as he did, saith in this manner: Adhaesi testimonijs tuis domine, noli me confundere. I have cleaved to thy testimonies O Lord, confound me not. In like manner the said whole Psalm warneth us.5 Yea all the Scripture biddeth us stick fast to the steady and true word of God: saying that he is verax, & viae eius veritas: omnis autem homo vanitas & mendax: For he is true and all his ways are trueth: but all men are vain and liars. For that is the sure foundation which cannot fail them that ground thereupon as reporteth Christ: Every one (saith he) that heareth my words, & doth them, is like to a wise man that buildeth upon a sure foundation. And there ought to be none other foundation to christen men but only the undoubted truth of Jesus,