A67926:598
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.
Book 7 › ¶The usual prayer of Martin Luther.Book 7 › ¶The vsuall prayer of Martin Luther.
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.
Which rumours and tidings, although of them selves they were grievous to be heard, yet more grievous they were for this, because they proceeded out of that country, where we our self, after the flesh, took our first beginning: but yet this comfort we had, supposing that either for the iniquity, or else for the foolishness thereof being so manifest, this doctrine would not long hold: reputing thus with our self, that such pestiferous *plants translated from other countries into Germany, would never grow up to any proof in that ground, which was ever wont to be a weeder out of all heresies and infidelity. But now, since this evil tree (whether by Gods judgement correcting the sins of the people, or by the negligence of such as first should have resisted such beginnings) hath so enlarged and spread his branches so far: you therefore, both Princes, and people of Germany, must this consider and provide, least you, which at the first springing up of this evil, might peradventure ⟨p. 855⟩be excused as no doers thereof, now through this your overmuch sufferance, might be found unexcusable, and seem to consent to that which you do not resist. Here we omit and pass over, what enormity, and more the enormity, that is, that such a great, and so devout a nation, should by one fryer (who relinquishing the Catholic faith and Christian religion, which he before professed playeth the Apostate, & hath lied to God) be now seduced from that way, which first *Christ our redeemer & his blessed apostles have opened unto us, which so many Martyrs, so many holy Fathers, so many great learned men, & also your own foreelders and old ancestors have always hitherto walked in, as though only Luther had all wit and cunning, as though he only now first had received the holy ghost (as the heretic Montanus used to boast of himself) or as though the Church (from which Christ our saviour promised himself never to depart) hath erred hitherto always in dark shadows of ignorance and perdition, till now it should be illuminate with new r• splendent beams of Luther. Al which things, there is no doubt, but to such as have judgement, will seem ridiculous, but yet may be pernicious to simple and ignorant minds:
Which rumours and tydinges, although of thē selues they were grieuous to be hearde, yet more gireuous they were for this, because they proceeded out of that countrey, where we our selfe, after the flesh, tooke our first beginning: but yet thys comfort we had, supposing that either for the iniquity, or els for the foolishnesse thereof being so manifest, this doctrine woulde not long holde: reputing thus with our selfe, that such pestiferous