A67927:808
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.
Good father, forasmuch as I have determined with my self, to pour forth these my cogitations into your bosom, here me thinketh I see you suddenly lifting up your head towards heaven, after your manner, and then looking upon me with your prophetical countenance, and speaking unto me, with these or like words. Trust not my son (I beseecheth you vouchsafe me the honour of this name:1 for in so doing I shall think my self both honoured, and loved of you.) Trust not I say my son to these word weapons: for the kingdom of God is not in words but in power. And remember always the words of the Lord: do not imagine afore hand,2 what and how you will speak. For it shall be given you, even in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. I pray you therefore father, pray for me, that I may cast my whole care upon him, & trust upon him in all perils. For I know, and am surely persuaded,3 that whatsoever I can imagine or think afore hand, it is nothing, except he assist me with his spirit when the time is. I beseech you therefore Father, pray for me, that such a complete harness of the spirit, such boldness of mind may be given unto me,4 that I may out of a true faith say with David. I will not trust in my bow, and it is not my sword, that shall save me. For he hath no pleasure in the strength of an horse. &c. But the Lords delight is in them that fear him and put their trust in his mer•y. I beseech you pray, pray, that I may enter this fight only in the name of God, and that when all is past, I being not overcome through his gracious aid, may remain, ⟨p. 1724⟩and stand fast in him, till that day of the Lord, in that which to them that obtain the victory,5 shall be given the lively Manna to eat,6 and a triumphant Crown for evermore.