A67927:593
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.
For as the said Rob. was speedily dispatched with the sharp and extreme torments of the fire in a short time,1 so this no less blessed Saint of God, what and how much more grievous pangs, what sorrowful torments, what boiling heats of the fire of hell in his spirit inwardly he felt and sustained, no speech outwardly is able to express. Being young,2 I remember I was once or twice with him, who partly by his talk I perceived, and partly by mine own eyes saw to be so worn and consumed by the space of five years, that neither almost any brooking of meat, quietness of sleep, pleasure of life, yea and almost no kind of senses was left in him. And doubtless I have greatly wondered oftentimes at the marvellous works and operation of Christ showed upon him, who unless he had relieved betimes his poor wretched servant so far worn, with some opportune consolation, now and then betwixt, it could not possible be, that he should have sustained so untollerable pains and torments.3 And yet the occasion thereof was not of so great moment and weight. But this we see common among holy & blessed men, how the more devout and godly they are, having the fear of God before their eyes, the more suspicion and mistrust they have of them selves: whereby it cometh to pass, that often they are so terrified & perplexed with small matters, as though they were huge mountains: where as contrary others there be, whom most heinous & very sore crimes in deed do nothing touch or stir at all.
For as the sayd Rob. was spedily dispatched with the sharpe and extreme torments of the fire in a short tyme,1 so this no lesse blessed Saint of God, what and how muche more greuous pangs, what sorrowfull tormentes, what boyling heates of the fire of hell in hys spirit inwardly he felt and sustayned, no speech outwardly is able to expresse. Being yong,2 I remember I was once or twise with him, who partly by hys talke I perceiued, and partly by myne owne eyes saw to be so worne and consumed by the space of fiue yeares, that neither almost any brookyng of meate, quietnes of sleepe, pleasure of lyfe, yea and almost no kynd of senses was left in hym. And doubtlesse I haue greatly wondered oftentymes at the meruailous workes and operation of Christ shewed vpon hym, who vnlesse he had relieued betymes his poore wretched seruant so far worne, with some opportune consolation, now and then betwixt, it could not possible bee, that he should haue susteined so vntollerable paynes and tormentes.