A67927:1121
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 2] 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 2] 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.
Wherefore do as you will: for as I would not if I could so I cannot if I would, be noisome unto you, but yet I say I would my letters had been unwritten, if for none other cause, at least way, inasmuch as they cause me to more writing, an occupation nothing meet for my mad head: and as touching points which in my foresaid letters mislike your friends, I have now little leisure to make an answer thereto for the great business that I have in my little cure, I know not what other men have in their great cure seeing that I am alone without any Priest to serve my cure without my scholar too read unto me,1 without any book necessary to be looked upon, without learned men to come and counsel withal All which things other have at hand abundantly, but some thing must be done,2 how soever it be. I pray you take it in good worth, as long as I temper mine own judgement, affirming nothing with prejudice of better. First ye mislike, that I say I am sure that I preach the truth, saying in reproof of the same, that god knoweth certain truth.3 In deed alonely God knoweth all certain truth, and alonely God knoweth it as of himself, and none knoweth certain truth but God, and those which be taught of God, as saith S. Paule: Deus enim illis patesecit: And Christ himselfe: erunt omnes docti a Deo: And your friends deny not but that certain truth is communicate to us, as our capacity may comprehend it by faith, which if it be trueth as it is, then there ought no more to be required of any man, but according to his capacity: now certain it is that every man hath not like capacity. &c.
Wherefore doe as you will: for as I woulde not if I coulde so I cannot if I woulde, be noysome vnto you, but yet I saye I would my letters had bene vnwrytten, if for none other cause, at least way, in asmuche as they cause me to more wrytynge, an occupation nothyng meete for my mad head: and as touching poyntes whiche in my foresayde letters mislike your friendes, I haue now little leysure to make an answere thereto for the great busines that I haue in my little cure, I knowe not what other men haue in their great cure seeyng that I am alone without anye Prieste to serue my cure without my scholer too read vnto me,1