A67927:507
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.
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
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
First, and principally I do assuredly believe without any doubting, that there is one Deity or Divine essence, and infinite substance. which is both called, and is in deed God everlasting, unbodilye, unpartible, unmeasurable in power, wisdom, and goodness, the maker and preserver of all things,1 as well visible as invisible: and yet there be three distinct persons, all of one Godhead or Divine being, and all of one power, coequal, consubstantial, coeternal, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost.
Firste, and principallye I do assuredly beleeue wythout any doubting, that there is one Deitie or Diuine essence, and infinite substaunce. which is both called, and is in dede God euerlasting, vnbodilye, vnpartible, vnmeasurable in power, wisedome, and goodnesse, the maker and preseruer of all thinges,1 as well visible as inuisible: and yet there be three distincte persones, all of one Godheade or Diuine beynge, and all of one power, coequall, consubstantiall, coeternell, the Father, the Sonne, and the holye Ghoste.
I believe in God the Father Almighty &c.1 As touching God the Father of heaven, I believe as much as holy Scripture teacheth me to believe. The Father is the first person in Trinity, first cause of our salvation, which hath blessed us with all manner of blessings in heavenly things by Christ: which hath chosen us before the foundations of the world were laid, that we should be holy and without blame before him: who hath predestinate us and ordained us to be his children of adoption,2 thorough Christ Jesus. In him, as it is said, we live, we move and have our being: he nourisheth, feedeth, and giveth meat to every creature.
I beleeue in God the Father Almightie &c.1 As touching God the Father of heauen, I beleeue as muche as holye Scripture teacheth mee to beleeue. The Father is the firste persone in Trinitie, first cause of our saluation, which hathe blessed vs with all maner of blessinges in heauenly thinges by Christe: whych hathe chosen vs before the foundations of the worlde were layde, that wee shoulde be holye and wythout blame before hym: who hath predestinate vs and ordained vs to bee his childrenne of adoption,2 thorough Christe Iesu. In hym, as it is sayde, we liue, wee mooue and haue oure being: he nourisheth, feedeth, and geueth meate to euery creature.
And in Jesus Christ his only son our Lord.1 I believe that the word, that is the Son of God the second person in Trinity, did take mans nature in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary: So that there be in him two natures, a Divine nature, and an human nature, in the unity of parson inseparable,2 conjoined and knit in one Christ, truly God and truly man, the express and perfect Image of the invisible God,3 wherein the will of God the Father shineth apparently, and wherein man, as it were in a glass, may behold what he ought to do, that he may please God the Father.
And in Iesus Christe his onely sonne our Lorde.1 I beleue that the woorde, that is the Sonne of God the seconde person in Trinitie, did take mannes nature in the wombe of the blessed Virgine Marie: So that there be in hym two natures, a Diuine nature, and an humaine nature, in the vnitie of parson inseparable,2 conioyned and knitte in one Christe, truely God and truely man, the expresse and perfecte Image of the inuisible God,3 wherin the will of God the Father shineth apparantly, and wherein man, as it were in a glasse, may beholde what he ought to doe, that he maye please God the Father.
Borne of the Virgin Mary: truly suffering his Passion, crucified, dead and buried, to the intent to bring us again into favour with God the Father almighty, and to be a sacrifice, host and oblation, not only for original sin, but also for all actual sins of the whole generation of mankind. For all the works, merits, deservings, doings,1 and obedience of man towards God, although they be done by the spirit of God, in the grace of God, yet being thus done, be of no validity, worthiness, nor merit before God, except God for his mercy and grace, account them worthy for the worthiness and merits of Christ Jesus.
Borne of the Virgine Marie: truelye sufferinge his Passion, crucified, deade and buryed, to the entent to bring vs againe into fauoure wyth God the Father almightie, and to be a sacrifice, hoste and oblation, not onely for originall sinne, but also for all actuall sinnes of the whole generation of mankinde. For all the woorkes, merites, deseruings, doinges,1 and obedience of man towards God, althoughe they be done by the spirite of God, in the grace of God, yet being thus done, be of no validitie, worthine, nor merite before God, except God for his mercy and grace, accoumpte them woorthye for the woorthinesse and merytes of Christ Iesus.
The same Christ went down to the hells, and truly rose again the third day, and ascended into the heavens, that he might there still reign and have dominion over all creatures: and from thence shall come. &c.
The same Christ went downe to the helles, and truely rose againe the thirde day, and ascended into the heauēs, that he might there stil raigne and haue dominion ouer all creatures: and from thence shall come. &c.
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 ⟨p. 1706⟩elder Toby did aunswer, and looke for an other life, which God shall geue to all them which chaunge not theyr faith, nor shrinke not from him. Reioyce therefore ye Christian afflicted brethren, for they can not take our soules and bodies out of the handes of the almighty,1 which be kept as in the bosome of our most swete and louing father, and if we abide fast in Christ, and turn not away like weathercocks, surely we shall liue for euer, Christ affirmeth the same, saying:2 My sheepe heare my voyce, I knowe them, they hearken vnto me and to no straungers, and I geue them euerlasting life, for they shall not be lost, nor no manne shall plucke them oute of my handes: no nor yet this flattering world with all his vaine pleasures, nor any tyranne with his great threates & stout bragges can once mooue them oute of the way of eternall life.3 What consolation and cōfort may we haue more pleasant and effectuous then thys (God is on our side, & fighteth for vs: he suffereth, he smarteth, and is afflicted wyth vs. As the world can doe nothing against his might, neyther in taking away, or diminishing of his glory, nor putting him from his celestiall throne: so can it not harme nor hurte any one of hys children without his good will. For we are members of his body, oute of hys fleshe and of hys bones,4 and as deare to him as the apple of his eye.
