A67927:417
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.
1BE not afraid, most dearly beloved in our Saviour Jesus Christ, at these most perilous days, wherein by the sufferance of God, the Prince of darkness is broken lose, and rageth in his members against the elect of God with all cruelty, to set up again the kingdom of Antichrist: against whom, see that ye be strong in faith to resist his most devilish doctrine with the pure Gospel of God, arming your selves with patience, to abide what soever shall be laid to your charge for the truths sake knowing that thereunto ye be called, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Oh how happy are ye that in the sight of God are counted worthy to suffer for the testimony of Christ? Quiet therefore your selves (Oh my loving brethren) and rejoice in him for whom ye suffer: for unto you do remain the unspeakable joys, which neither the eye hath seen, nor the ear hath heard,2 neither the hart of man is able to comprehend in any wise. Be not afraid of the bodily death, for your names are written in the book of life, And the Prophets doth record,3 that in the sight of the Lord, precious is the death of his Saints. Watch therefore and pray, that ye be not prevented in the day of temptation. Now cometh the day of your trial, wherein the waters rage, and the stormy winds blow. Now shall it appear whether ye have builded upon the fleeing sand,4 or upon the unmoveable rock Christ, which is the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets: whereon every house that is builded, groweth into an holy temple of the Lord, by the mighty working of the holy Ghost.5 Now approacheth the day of your battle, wherein it is required that ye show your selves the valiant soldiers of Jesus Christ, with the armour of God, that ye may be able to stand fast against all the crafty assaults of the Devil. Christ is your Captain, and ye be his soldiers, whose cognisance is the Cross, to the which he willingly humbled himself even unto the death, and thereby spoiled his enemies,6 and now triumpheth he over them in the glory of his father, making intercession for them that here do remain to suffer the afflictions that are to be fulfilled in his mystical body. It behoveth therefore every one that will be counted his scholar, to take up his own cross and follow him, as ye have him for ensample: