A67927:502
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.
Oh perilous abundance of goods, too much saturity of meats, wealth, and quietness, which destroyed with so many souls, those goodly cities Sodom & Gomorrah. Jeroboam, so long as he was but a pore man, not yet advanced to his dignity, lived in the laws of God without reprehension: but brought once to wealth & prosperous estate, he became a wicked and most shameful Idolater. And what made the covetous young man so loth to follow Christ, ⟨p. 1705⟩when he was bidden to forsake but worldly wealth which he then enjoyed?1 Woe be unto these false elusions of the world, baits of perdition, hooks of the devil, which have so shamefully deceived and seduced full many from the right path unto the Lord,2 into the high ways of confusion and perpetual perdition.
Oh perilous aboundance of goods, too much saturity of meates, wealth, and quietnes, which destroied wyth so many soules, those goodly cities Sodom & Gomorre. Ieroboam, so long as he was but a pore man, not yet aduanced to his dignity, liued in ye lawes of God without reprehension: but broughte once to wealth & prosperous estate, hee became a wicked and moste shamefull Idolater. And what made the couetous yong mā so loth to folow Christ, ⟨p. 1705⟩when he was bidden to forsake but worldly wealth which hee then enioyed?1 Woe be vnto these false elusions of the world, baites of perdition, hookes of the deuil, which haue so shamef•lly deceiued and seduced full many frō the right path vnto the Lorde,2 into the high waies of confusion and perpetuall perdition.
We might now worthily (dear Christians) lament & bewail our heavy state, miserable condition, and sorrowful chance: yea, I say, we might well accuse our selves, and with Job curse these our troublous,1 wicked, and bloody last days of this world, were it not that we both see and believe, and find in Gods sacred book, that a remnant God hath in all ages reserved, I mean the faithful, as many as have been from the beginning of the world, exercised, whetted, and polished with divers afflictions, troubles and tossings, cast and dashed against all perils and dangers, as the very dross and outcasts of the earth, and yet will in no wise halt between God and Baal: for God verily abhorreth two men in one: he can not away with them that are between both, but casteth them away as a filthy vomit. Christ will not part spoil with his mortal enemy the devil: he will have all or lose all: he will not permit the devil to have the service of the body, and he to stand contented with the heart and mind: but he will be glorified both in your bodies and in your spirits, 2which are his, as S. Paul saith. 1. Cor. 6. For he hath made all, bought all, and dearly paid for all, as S. Peter sayeth: With his own immaculate body hath he clean discharged your bodies from sin, 3death and hell, and with his most precious blood paid your ransom and full price once for all and for ever.
We might nowe woorthily (deare Christians) lament & bewaile our heauie state, miserable cōdition, and sorowfull chaunce: yea, I say, we might well accuse our selues, and wt Iob cursse these oure troublous,1 wicked, and bloudy last dayes of thys worlde, were it not that wee both see and beleeue, and finde in Gods sacred booke, that a remnaunt God hath in all ages reserued, I meane the faithful, as many as haue bene from the beginning of the worlde, exercised, whetted, and pullished with diuers afflictions, troubles and tossings, cast and dashed againste all pearils and dangers, as the very drosse and outcastes of the earth, and yet wil in no wise halte betweene God and Baall: for God verily abhorreth two men in one: he can not awaye with them that are betweene both, but casteth them away as a filthy vomite. Christe will not parte spoyle wyth his mortall enemie the deuil: he wil haue all or lose all: he will not permit the deuill to haue the seruice of the body, and he to stand contented with the heart and minde: but he will be glorified both in your bodies and in your spirites,
Now what harm, I pray you, or what loss sustain you by this? Why are you, O vain men, more afraid of Jesus your gentle saviour, & his gospel of salvation, then of a legion of cruel devils, going about with false delusions, utterly to destroy you both bodies & souls?1 Think you to be more sure then under your captain Christ? Do you promise your selves to be more quiet in Satan's service, then in Christs religion? esteem you more these transitory and pernicious pleasures, then God and all his heavenly treasures?2 Oh palpable darkness, horrible madness, & wilful blindness, without comparison, too much to be suffered any longer. We see, and will not see: we know & will not know: yea, we smart and will not feel, and that our own conscience well knoweth. Oh miserable and brainless souls, which would for foolish pleasures & slippery wealth, loose the royal kingdom and permanent joys of God, with the everlasting glory which he hath prepared for them that truly love him, and renounce the world. The children of the world live in pleasure and wealth, and the devil, who is their God and prince of this world, keepeth their wealth which is proper unto them, and letteth them enjoy it. But let us which be of Christ, seek and enquire for heavenly things, which by Gods promise and mercy in Christ, shall be peculiar unto us. Let (I say) the Crecians, Epicures, and such other beastly Belials and carnal people, pass for things that be pleasant for the body, and do appertain to this transitory life:3 Yet shall they once (as the kingly Prophet saith) run about the City of God, to and fro howling like dogs, desiring one scrap of the joys of Gods elect, but all too late, as the rich glutton did.
Nowe what harme, I pray you, or what losse sustaine you by this? Why are you, O vaine men, more afraide of Iesus your gentle saueour, & his gospell of saluation, then of a legion of cruell deuils, going about wt false delusions, vtterly to destroy you both bodies & soules?1 Thynke you to be more sure then vnder your captaine Christ? Doe you promise your selues to be more quiet in Sathans seruice, then in Christes religion? esteme you more these transitory and pernitious pleasures, then God and all his heauenly treasures?
Let us therefore pass for those things that do pertain to the spirit,1 and be celestial, We must be here (saith Paul) not as inhabitants and home dwellers, but as strangers: not as strangers only, but after the mind of Paul, as painful soldiers appointed of our governor to fight against the governor of darkness of this world, against spiritual craftiness in heavenly things. The time is come: we must too it: the judgement must begin first at the house of God. Began they not first with the green and sappy tree? and what followed then on the dry branches? Jeremiah speaking in the person of God,2 sayeth: In the City wherein my name is invocate, will I begin to punish: but as for you, (meaning the wicked) you shall be as innocents and not once touched: for the dregs of Gods wrath, the bottom of all sorrows, are reserved unto them in the end: but Gods household shall drink the flower of the cup of his mercy. And therefore let us say with Hezekiah:3 Play the men & shrink not: let us comfort our selves, for the Lord is with us our helper, and fighteth for us. The Lord is (saith he) with you when you be with him, and when you seek him he will be found of you: and again, when you forsake him, he will forsake you.
Let vs therfore passe for those things that doe pertaine to the spirite,1 and be celestiall, We must be here (sayth Paule) not as inhabitours and home dwellers, but as straungers: not as straungers onely, but after the minde of Paule, as painful souldiers appoynted of our gouernour to fight against the gouernour of darkenesse of this worlde, against spirituall craftinesse in heauenly things. The time is come: we must too it: the iudgement must begin first at the house of God. Began they not first with the greene and sappie tree? and what followed then on the dry braunches? Ieremie speaking in the persone of God,
Wherefore we ought not to be dismayed or discourage our selves, but rather to be of good comfort: not to be sad but merry: not sorrowful, but joyful, in that God of his goodness will vouchsafe to take us as his beloved children, to subdue our sinful lusts, our wretched flesh and blood unto his glory, the promoting of his holy word, and edifying of his church. What if the earthly house of this our habitation (Paul meaning the body) be destroyed?1 We know assuredly we shall have a building of God not made with hands, but everlasting in heaven,2 with such joys as faith taketh not, hope toucheth not, nor charity apprehendeth not. They pass all desires and wishes. Gotten they may be by Christ, esteemed they can not be. Wherefore the more affliction and persecution the word of God bringeth, the more felicity and greater joy abideth in heaven. But the worldly peace, idle ease, wealthy pleasure, and this present and pleasant transitory life and felicity, which the ungodly foolishly imagine to procure unto themselves by persecuting, and thrusting away the gospel, shall turn unto their own trouble, & at last unto horrible destruction & mutations of realms and countries,3 and after this life (if they repent not) unto their perpetual infelicity, perdition, and damnation. For they had rather with Nabal and his temporal pleasures descend to the devil, then with pore Christ and his bodily troubles, ascend unto the kingdom of God his father. But an unwise man (sayeth the Psalmist) compr• hendeth them not, neither doth the foolish understand them, […] these bloody persecutors grow up & flourish like the flower and grass in the field. But unto this end do they so flourish, that they might be cut down & caste into the fire for ever. For, as Job saith: Their joy lasteth but the twinkling of an eye, and death shall lie gnawing upon them, as doth the flock• upon the pasture: yea the cruel worm, late repentance (as S. Mark sayeth) shall lie gnawing, tormenting, and accusing their wretched conscience for evermore.
Wherfore we ought not to be dismaid or discourage our selues, but rather to be of good comforte: not to be sad but merry: not sorrowful, but ioyfull, in that God of his goodnesse will vouchsafe to take vs as his beloued children, to subdue our sinful lustes, our wretched flesh and bloud vnto his glory, the promoting of his holy word, and edifying of his church. What if the earthly house of this our habitation (Paule meaning the body) be destroyed?
Let us therefore (good Christians) be constant in obeying God rather then men. For although they slay our sinful bodies (yea rather our deadly enemies) for Gods verity: yet they can not do it,1 but by Gods sufferance and good will, to his praise and honour, and to our eternal joy and felicity. For our blood shed for the Gospel, shall preach it with more fruit and greater furtherance, then did our mouths, lives and writings: as did the blood of Abel, Steven, with many other moe. What though they laugh Christ & his word to scorn, which sit in the chair of perverse pestilent scorners? To whom as to the wise Gentiles of the world, the Gospel of Christ is but foolishness, as it was to the Jews a slander and a stumbling stone, whereat they now being fallen, have provoked the wrath and vengeance of God upon them.
Let vs therfore (good Christians) be constant in obeying God rather then men. For although they slay our sinful bodies (yea rather our deadly enemies) for Gods veritie: yet they can not do it,1 but by Gods sufferance and good will, to his praise and honour, and to our eternall ioye and felicitie. For our bloud shed for the Gospel, shall preache it wyth more fruite and greater furtheraunce, then did oure mouthes, liues and wrytings: as did the bloude of Abell, Steuen, wyth many other moe. What though they laughe Christ & his worde to scorne, which sit in the chaire of peruerse pestilent scorners? To whome as to the wise Gentiles of the world, the Gospel of Christ is but foolishnes, as it was to the Iewes a sclaunder and a stumblinge stone, whereat they now being fallen, haue prouoked the wrath and vengeance of God vpon them.
These are the days of vengeance (sayeth Luke) that all things written may be fulfilled.1 And surely it shall be no less then a huge storm of evils that shall come upon us, because that a long and a cursed obstinate maliciousness of us, hath gone before, crying in the ears of the Lord God of hosts, who so many times and so many ways have been provoked with the unspeakable richesse of his goodness, his patience, and long suffering, to amendment, and have nevertheless contemned the same, and proceeded forward to worse and worse, provoking and stirring the presence of Gods majesty unto anger.
These are the dayes of vengeaunce (sayeth Luke) that all thinges wrytten may be fulfilled.1 And surely it shall be no lesse then a huge storme of euils that shal come vpō vs, because that a long and a cursed obstinate maliciousnes of vs, hath gone before, crying in the eares of the Lorde God of hostes, who so many times and so many wayes haue bene prouoked with the vnspeakeable richesse of his goodnesse, his pacience, and long suffering, to amendement, and haue neuerthelesse contemned the same, and proceeded forward to worse and worse, prouoking and stirring the presence of Gods maiestie vnto anger.
Now therefore saith God by the mouth of his prophet: I will come upon thee, and I will send my wrath upon thee: 1upon thee (I say) O England, and punish thee according to thy ways, and reward thee after all thine abominations.2 Thou hast kindled the fire of Gods wrath, and hast stirred up the coals. For thou waste once lightened, and hadst tasted of the heavenly gift, and wast become partaker of the holy ghost, & haddest tasted of the good word of God: Yea, it is yet in thy mouth, saith the Prophet. Alas O England, thou knewest thy Lord and masters will, but diddest nothing thereafter:3 Thou must therefore (sayeth he) suffer many stripes, and many sharp strokes, and walk on in the glittering and hot flame of thine own fire, and in the coals that thou hast kindled. This cometh to thee from my hand, saith the Lord: namely: That thou shalt sleep in sorrow, yea even so thou shalt. The plain truth telleth the tale, the immutable justice of the everliving God, and the ordinary course of his plagues from the beginning confirmeth the same. The joy of our heart (sayeth Jeremiah) is gone,4 our glory is fallen away, our merry singing is turned into mourning, the garland of our head is fallen, Alas and weal away that ever we sinned so sore: Woe worth all abominations and wickedness: woe worth cloaked hypocrisy: woe worth our carnal liberty: woe worth our most cursed idolatry. For because of these things, saith the Lord, ye shall perish with sword, hunger, and pestilence.
Now therfore sayth God by the mouth of his prophet: I wil come vpon thee, and I will send my wrath vpon thee: 1vpon thee (I say) O Englande, and punish thee according to thy wayes, and rewarde thee after all thyne abhominations.2 Thou hast kindled the fire of Gods wrath, and hast stirred vp the coales. For thou waste once lightned, and hadst tasted of the heauenly gifte, and wast become partaker of the holy ghost, & haddest tasted of the good word of God: Yea, it is yet in thy mouth, sayth the Prophet. Alas O Englād, thou knewest thy Lorde and maisters wil, but diddest nothing thereafter:
Wherefore, let all the wicked enemies of Christ, and all ye unbelievers, look to be tormented and vexed with all hellish furies, and clean without hope at Gods accounting day, which know not God in Christ to be their very righteousness, their life, their only salvation & alone saviour, nor believe not in him. They must, saith S. John, needs abide and perish with their sins in death and in eternal damnation. But we be the children of Saints, as the ⟨p. 1706⟩elder Toby did answer, and look for an other life, which God shall give to all them which change not their faith, nor shrink not from him. Rejoice therefore ye Christian afflicted brethren, for they can not take our souls and bodies out of the hands of the almighty,1 which be kept as in the bosom of our most sweet and loving father, and if we abide fast in Christ, and turn not away like weathercocks, surely we shall live for ever, Christ affirmeth the same, saying:2 My sheep hear my voice, I know them, they hearken unto me and to no strangers, and I give them everlasting life, for they shall not be lost, nor no man shall pluck them out of my hands: no nor yet this flattering world with all his vain pleasures, nor any tyrant with his great threats & stout brags can once move them out of the way of eternal life.3 What consolation and comfort may we have more pleasant and effectuous then this (God is on our side, & fighteth for us: he suffereth, he smarteth, and is afflicted with us. As the world can do nothing against his might, neither in taking away, or diminishing of his glory, nor putting him from his celestial throne: so can it not harm nor hurt any one of his children without his good will. For we are members of his body, out of his flesh and of his bones,4 and as dear to him as the apple of his eye.
Wherfore, let all the wicked enemies of Christe, and all ye vnbeleuers, look to be tormented and vexed with al hellish furies, and cleane wythout hope at Gods accompting day, which know not God in Christ to be their very righteousnesse, their life, their onely saluation & alone sauiour, nor beleeue not in him. They must, sayth S. Iohn, needes abide and pearish wyth their sinnes in death and in eternall damnation. But we be the children of Saintes, as the
Let us therefore with an earnest faith, set fast hold and sure feeling upon the promises of God in the gospel, & let us not be sundered from the same by any temptation, tribulation, or persecution. Let us consider the verity of God to be inuinsible,1 inviolable & immutable, Promising and giving us his faithful soldiers life eternal. It is he only that hath deserved it for us: it is his only benefit, & of his only mere mercy, & unto him only must we render thanks. Let not therefore the vain fantasies and dreams of men, the foolish gauds and toys of the world, nor the crafty delusions of the devil, drive and separate us from our hope of the crown of righteousness, that is laid up in store for us against the last day. Oh that happy and merry last day, I mean to the faithful,2 when Christ by his covenant shall grant and give unto them that overcome and keep his words to the end, that they may ascend and sit in seat with him, as he hath ascended & sitteth on throne with his father. The same body and soul that is now with Christ afflicted,3 shall then be with Christ glorified: now in the butchers hands as sheep appointed to die, then sitting at Gods table with Christ in his kingdom, as Gods honourable and dear children: where we shall have for earthly poverty, heavenly riches, for hunger and thirst, saturitie of the pleasant presence of the glory of God, for sorrows, troubles, and cold irons, celestial joys, and the company of angels, and for a bodily death, life eternal. Oh happy souls, Oh precious death and ever more blessed: right dear in the eyes of God,4 to you the spring of the Lord shall ever be flourishing. Then (as saith Isaiah:) the redeemed shall return and come again into Zion, praising the Lord, and eternal mercies shall be over their heads: they shall obtain mirth and solace: sorrow and woe shall be utterly vanquished: yea I am he, sayeth the Lord, that in all things giveth you everlasting consolation. To whom with the Father, and the holy Ghost, be glory and praise for ever. Amen.
Let vs therefore with an earnest faith, set fast hold and sure feeling vpon the promises of God in the gospell, & let vs not be sundred from the same by any temptation, tribulation, or persecution. Let vs consider the verity of God to be inuinsible,
Robert Samuel.
Fear not the curse of men, be not afraid of their blasphemies and revilings, for worms and moths shall eat them up like cloth and wool, but my righteousness shall endure for ever, and my saving health from generation to generation Isaiah 51.
Feare not the curse of mē, be not afraid of their blasphemies and reuilings, for wormes and mothes shal eat them vp like cloth and woolle, but my righteousnesse shall endure for euer, and my sauing health from generation to generation Esay 51.
1Considering with my self these perilous times, perishing days▪ and the unconstant and miserable state of man, the decay of our faith, the sinister report and false slander of Gods most holy word, these urgent causes in conscience do constrain me to confess and acknowledge my faith and meaning in Christs holy Religion, as S. Peter teacheth me, saying: be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with meekness and fear, having a good conscience, that when they backbite you as evil doers▪ they may be ashamed, forasmuch as they have falsely accused your good conversation in Christ.
1COnsidering with my selfe these pearillous times, pearishing daies▪ and the vnconstante and miserable state of man, the decay of our faith, the sinister reporte and false sclaunder of Gods most holy word, these vrgent causes in conscience do constraine me to confesse and acknowledge my faith and meaning in Christes holy Religion, as S. Peter teacheth me, saying: be readye alwayes to geue an aunswere to euerye man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, and that with meekenes and feare, hauing a good conscience, that when they backbite you as euill doers▪ they may be ashamed, for asmuche as they haue falsly accused your good conuersation in Christ.
As touching my doctrine, for that little talent that God hath given me, God I take to record, mine own conscience and mine auditory knoweth, that I neither in doctrine nor manners, willingly taught any other thing then I received of the holy Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ and his Apostles. For it were not only sin, but also the very part of a cursed miscreant, to deny, to be lye, or betray the innocency of that heavenly doctrine, or to be ashamed to confess and stand to the defence of the same, seeing that Christ planted it with his most precious blood: and all good men have more esteemed the true and infallible word of GOD, then all this transitory world, or their own mortal lives.1 And I believe this doctrine of the Patriarchs, Prophets, Christ and his Apostles to be sufficient and absolutely perfect to instruct and teach me, and all the holy Church, of our duties towards God, the Magistrates, and our neighbours
As touching my doctrine, for that little talent that God hath geuen mee, God I take to recorde, mine owne conscience and mine auditorie knoweth, that I neither in doctrine nor maners, willingly taughte any other thinge then I receiued of the holye Patriarckes, Prophetes, Christe and hys Apostles. For it were not onely sinne, but also the verye parte of a cursed miscreant, to denye, to be lye, or betraye the innocencye of that heauenlye doctrine, or to bee ashamed to confesse and stande to the defence of the same, seeing that Christe planted it with hys moste precious bloude: and all good menne haue more esteemed the true and infallible woorde of GOD, then all thys transitorye worlde, or their owne mortall liues.1 And I beleeue this doctrine of the Patriarkes, Prophetes, Christe and his Apostles to be sufficient and absolutely perfecte to instructe and teache mee, and all the holy Church, of our dueties towardes God, the Magistrates, and our neighbours
