A67927:656
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.
He is and will be still the same God, as rich in mercy, as mighty, as able, as ready, as willing to forgive sins without respect of person,1 to the worlds end, of all them that call upon hym. Propè est Dominus omnibus inuocantibus eum: God is near, he is at hand, he is with all, with all (I say) and refuseth none,2 excepteth none that faithfully in true repentance call upon him, in what hour, what place, or what time so ever it be. It is no arrogancy nor presumption in any man, to burden God (as it were) with his promise, and of duty to claim and challenge his aid, help, and assistance in all our perils, dangers, and distress, calling upon him, not in the confidence of our own godliness, but in the trust of his promises made in Christ, in whom, and by whom, and for whose sake, whosoever boldly approacheth to the mercy seat of the Father, is sure to receive whatsoever is expedient or necessary either for body or soul,3 in more ample wise and large manner, then he can well wish, or dare desire. His word can not lye: Call upon me in the day of trouble, and I will hear thee, & thou shalt praise me.4 I answered the enemy also on this manner: I am a sinner, and therefore not worthy to be a witness of this truth. What then? Must I deny his word because I am not worthy to profess it? What bring I to pass in so doing, but add sin to sin? What is greater sin then to deny the truth of Christs Gospel? as Christ himself beareth witness: He that is ashamed of me or of my words, of him I will be also ashamed before my father and all his angels. I might also by like reason forbear to do any of gods commandments. When I am provoked to pray, the enemy may say unto me, I am not worthy to pray, therefore I shall not pray: & so in like manner of all the commandments: I shall not forbear swearing, stealing, murdering, because I am not worthy to do any commandment of God. These be the delusions of the Devil, and Satan's suggestions, which must be overcome by continuance of prayer, and with the word of God applied according to the measure of every mans gift,5 against all assaults of the Devil. At the bishops first coming to Lichfield after mine imprisonment, I was called into a by chamber next to my prison, to my Lord.