A67927:1445
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, understanding our state in that we be Christians, that if our mortal body, which is our earthly house,1 were destroyed, we have a building, a house not made with hands, but everlasting in heaven &c. therefore we are of good cheer, and know that when we are in the body, we are absent from GOD, for we walk by faith, and not by clear fight. Nevertheless we are bold, and had rather be absent from the body and present with GOD. Wherefore, we strive, whether we be present at home, or absent abroad, that we may always please him. And who that hath true faith in our Saviour Christ, whereby he knoweth somewhat truly what Christ our Saviour is, that he is the eternal son of God, life, light, the wisdom of the father, all goodness, all righteousness and whatsoever is good that heart can desire, yea infinite plenty of all these, above that that mans hart can either conceive or think, (for in him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead corporally) and also that he is given us of the Father, and made of GOD to be our wisdom, our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption: who (I say) is he that believeth this in deed, that would not gladly be with his master christ? Paul for this knowledge coveted to have been loosed from the body, and to have been with Christ,2 for that he counted it much better for himself, and had rather to be loosed then to live. Therefore these words of Christ to the thief on the Cross, that asked of him mercy, were full of comfort and solace: This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise. To dye in the defence of Christs Gospel,3 it is our bounden duty to Christ, and also to our neighbour. To Christ, for he dyed for us, and rose again that he might be Lord over all. And seeing he dyed for us, we also (saith S. John) should jeopard, yea give our life for our Brethren, And this kind of giving and loosing, is getting and winning in deed: for he that giveth or looseth his life thus, getteth & winneth it for evermore.4 Blessed are they therefore that die in the Lord, and if they dye in the Lords cause, they are most happy of all. Let us not then fear death, which can do us no harm, otherwise then for a moment to make the flesh to smart: