A67927:1443
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.
Therefore, seeing we have so much occasion to suffer and to take afflictions for Christs names sake patiently, so many commodities thereby, so weighty causes, so many good examples, so great necessity,1 so pure promises of eternal life and heavenly joys, of him that cannot lye: Let us throw away whatsoever might let us,2 all burden of sin, and all kind of carnality, and patiently and constantly let us run for the best game in this race that is set before us, ever having our eyes upon Jesus Christ the ringleader, Captain, and Perfecter of our faith, which for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, not passing upon the ignominy and shame thereof, and is set now at the right hand of the throne of GOD. Consider this, that he suffered such strife of sinners against himself, that ye should not give over, nor faint in your minds. As yet brethren we have not withstand unto death, fighting against sin. Let us never forget dear Brethren for Christs sake, that Fatherly exhortation of the wise that speaketh unto us as unto his children the Godly wisdom of God,3 saying thus: My son, despise not the correction of the Lord, nor fall not from him when thou art rebuked of him, for whom the Lord loveth, him doth he correct, and scourgeth every child whom he receiveth. What child is he whom the father doth not chasten:4 If ye be free from chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and no children. Seeing then, when as we have had carnal parents which chastened us, we reverenced them, shall not we much more be subject unto our spiritual father that we might live? And they for a little time taught us after their own mind: but this father teacheth us to our commodity, to give unto us his holiness. Al chastisement for the present time, appeareth not pleasant but painful: but afterward it rendereth the fruit of righteousness on them, which are exercised in it. Wherefore let us be of good cheer (good Brethren) and let us pluck up our feeble members that were fallen or began to faint, hart, hands, knees, and all the rest, and let us walk upright and straight, that no limping no• […] bring us out of the way.