A67926:388
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 these so blind and miserable corrupt days of darkness and ignorance,1 thou seest good Reader (I doubt not) how necessary it was, and high time, that reformation of the Church should come, which now most happily & graciously began to work, through the merciful and no less needful providence of almighty God. Who although he suffered his Church to wander and start aside through the seduction of pride and prosperity a long time, yet at length it pleased his goodness to respect his people, and to reduce his church into the pristine foundation and frame again, from whence it was pitiously before decayed. Whereof I have now consequently to entreat, intending by the grace of Christ: to declare how and by what means, first this reformation of the church began, and how it proceeded, increasing by little and little into this perfection which now we see, and more I trust shall see.
In these so blynd and miserable corrupt dayes of darcknes and ignoraunce,1 thou seest good Reader (I doubt not) howe necessary it was, and high time, that reformation of the Church should come, which now most happily & graciously began to worke, through the mercifull and no lesse needfull prouidence of almightye God. Who although he suffered hys Church to wander and start aside through the seduction of pride and prosperitie a long time, yet at length it pleased his goodnes to respect hys people, and to reduce hys church into the prestine foundation and frame againe, from whence it was pitiously before decayed. Whereof I haue now consequently to intreat, intending by the grace of Christ: to declare how and by what meanes, first this reformation of the church began, and howe it proceeded, increasing by little and little into this perfection which now we see, and more I trust shall see.
- 1The reformation of the Church necessary.
And herein we have first to behold the admirable work of Gods wisdom.