A67927:1482
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.
Now then seeing the doctrine of Antichrist is returned again into this Realm,1 and the higher powers (alas) are so deceived, and bewitched, that they are persuaded it to be truth, and Christs true doctrine to be error and heresy, and the old laws of Antichrist are allowed to return with the power of their father again: what can be hereafter looked for by reason, to the man of God, and true christian abiding in this realm, but extreme violence of death, or else to deny his master. I grant the hearts of Princes are in Gods hands, and whether soever he will, he can make them to bow: and also that christian princes in old time, used a more gentle kind of punishment, even to them which were heretics in deed as degradation, and deposition out of their rooms and offices, exile and vanishment out of their dominions and ⟨p. 1781⟩countries, and also (as it is read) the true Bishops of Christs Church, were sometime intercessors for the heretics unto Princes, that they would not kill them, as is read of S. Augustine. But as yet Antichrists kingdom was not so erected at that time, nor is now accustomed so to order them, that will not fall down and worship the beast and his Image, but (even as all the world knoweth) after the same manner that both John & Daniel hath prophesied before, that is by violence of death: and Daniel declareth farther, that the kind of death accustomablye should be by sword, fire, and imprisonment. Therefore if thou, O man of God, doest purpose to abide in this realm prepare and arm thy self to dye: for both by Antichrists accustomable laws, and these prophecies, there is no appearance, or likelihood of any other thing, except thou wilt deny thy master Christ, which is the loss at the last, both of body and soul unto everlasting death. Therefore my good brother or sister in Christ, whatsoever thou be, to thee that canst,2 and mayst so do, that counsel that I think is the best safeguard for thee, both for thy body, and most surety for thy souls health, is that which I shall show thee hereafter. But first I warn thee to understand me, to speak to him or her, which be not in captivity, or called already for to confess Christ, but are at liberty abroad.
Now then seing the doctrine of Antichrist is returned agayne into this Realme,