A67927:143
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.
¶O ye that love the Lord, see that ye hate the thing that is evil.
¶O ye that loue the Lord, see that ye hate the thing that is euill.
The God that giveth life and light, And leadeth into rest: That breaketh bonds and bringeth out The poor that are oppressed, And keepeth mercy for the meek, His treasure and his store: Increase the life in perfect love, Both now and evermore. That as thou hast begun to ground, In faith and fervent love: Thou mayest be made a mighty mount, That never may remove. That thine ensample may be showed Among all thine increase: That they may live and learn the like, And pass their time in peace. Thy salutations that were sent, I heartily retain: And send thee seventy times as much, To thee and thine again. And for because I know the goal, That thou doest most desire: I send thee here a paper full, Is fined in the fire. In hope thou wilt accept it well, Although it be but small: Because I have none other good, To make amends with all. For all thy free and friendly facts. Which thy good will hath wrought: I send the surely for a shift The thing that cost me nought. Abstain from all ungodliness▪ In dread direct your days: Possess not sin in any wise, Beware of wicked ways. Hold fast your faith unfeignedly, Build as ye have begun: And arm your self in perfect faith, To do as ye have done. Least that the wicked make a mock, That ye have take in hand: In leaving of the perfect rock, To build upon the sand. Beware these filthy Pharisees▪ Their building is in blood: ⟨p. 1696⟩Eat not with them in any wise, Their leaven is not good. Their salt is all unsavoury, And under good ententes They maintain all their knavery, And murder Innocents. They seek to sit in Christs seat, And put him out of place: And make all means that may be made, His doings to deface. They keep him down with bills & bat• That made the blind to see: They make a God for mice and Rats, And say the same is he. They show like sheep & sweat like Wolves Their baits be all for blood: They kill and slay the simple souls, And rob them of there good. The dark illusions of the devil, Have dimmed so their eyes, That they cannot abide the truth, To stir in any wise. And if ye keep the perfect path, As I have hope you do, Ye shall be sure to have such shame, As they may put you to. For all that lead a godly life, Shall surely suffer loss: And eke the world will seek their shame And make them kiss the cross. Ye shall be killed saith Christ, Your sorrows shall not cease: