A67927:1488
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.
This is my mind, which I would thou shouldest know, O man of God, as I would wish, and I do pray to almighty God it may be, that every true Christian, either brother or sister (after they be called, and brought into the wrestling place, to strive in Christs cause for the best game, that is, to confess the truth of the Gospel, and of the Christian faith, in hope of everlasting life) should not shrink, nor relent one inch, or give back, what soever shall befall, but stand to their tackle and stick by it even unto death, as they will Christ shall stick by them at the latter day: so likewise I dare not wish nor counsel any, either brother or sister of their own swing, to start up into the stage, or to cast themselves either before, or farther in danger then time and need shall require: for undoubtedly when God seeth his time, and his pleasure is, that his glory shall be set forth, and his Church edified by thy death and confession,1 means shall be found by his fatherly universal providence, that thou without thine own presumptuous provocation, shalt be lawfully called, to do thy feat, and to play thy part. The miserable end that one Quintus came unto, may be a warning, and a fearful example for all men, to beware of presumption, and rashness in such things (as Eusebius writeth in Eccle. historia) for evermore.
This is my minde, whiche I woulde thou shouldest know, O man of God, as I woulde wishe, and I do pray to almighty God it may be, that euery true Christian, either brother or sister (after they be called, and brought into the wrestling place, to striue in Christes cause for the best game, that is, to confesse the truth of the Gospell, and of the Christian fayth, in hope of euerlasting life) shoulde not shrink, nor relent one inch, or giue back, what soeuer shal befall, but stande to theyr tackle and sticke by it euen vnto death, as they wil Christ shall sticke by them at the latter day: so likewise I dare not wishe nor councell any, either brother or sister of theyr owne swinge, to starte vp into the stage, or to cast themselues eyther before, or farther in daunger then tyme and neede shall require: for vndoubtedly when God seeth hys tyme, and his pleasure is, that his glory shall be set forth, and his Churche edified by thy death and confession,1 meanes shal be found by hys fatherly vniuersall prouidence, that thou without thyne owne presumptuous prouocation, shalt be lawfully called, to do thy feate, and to playe thy part. The miserable ende that one Quintus came vnto, may be a warning, and a feareful example for all men, to beware of presumption, and rashnesse in suche thinges (as Eusebius writeth in Eccle. historia) for euermore.