A67927:1407
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.
The kind of fight against these Church robbers, is also of another sort and kind,1 then is that which is against the thieves of the borders. For there the true men go forth against them with spear and lance, with bow and hill, and all such kind of bodily weapons as the true men have: but here as the enemies be of another nature, so the watch men of Christs flock, the warriors that fight in the Lords war, must be armed & fight with another kind of weapons and armour. For here the enemies of GOD, the soldiers of Antichrist, although the battle is set forth against the Church by mortal men being flesh and blood, and nevertheless members of their father the devil, yet for that their grand master is the power of darkness, their members are spiritual wickedness, wicked spirits, spirits of errors, of heresies, of all deceit and ungodliness, spirits of Idolatry, superstition & hypocrisy, which are called of S. Paul, Principates and powers,2 Lords of the world, rulers of the darkness of this world, & spiritual subtleties concerning heavenly things, and therefore our weapons must be fit and meet to fight against such, not carnal nor bodily weapons, as spear & lance, but spiritual and heavenly: we must fight against such with the armour of God, not intending to kill their bodies, but their errors, their false craft and heresies, their ⟨p. 1773⟩idolatry, superstition and hypocrisy, and to save (as much as lieth in us) both their bodies and souls.
The kynd of fight against these Churchrobbers, is also of another sort and kynd,1 then is that which is agaynst the theeues of the borders. For there the true men go forth agaynst them with speare and launce, with bow and hyll, and all such kynd of bodily weapons as the true mē haue: but here as the enemies be of another nature, so the watch men of Christes flocke, the warrioures that fight in the Lordes warre, must be armed & fight with another kynd of weapons and armour. For here the enemies of GOD, the souldiours of Antichrist, although the battaile is set foorth agaynst the Church by mortall men beyng flesh and bloud, and neuerthelesse members of their father the deuill, yet for that their graund maister is the power of darknesse, their members are spirituall wickednes, wicked spirites, spirits of errors, of heresies, of all deceit and vngodlinesse, spirits of Idolatry, superstition & hypocrisy, which are called of S. Paule, Principates and powers,