A67927:504
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 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?