A67927:867
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.
1I Wish you grace in God and love of the truth, without the which truly stablished in mens hearts by the mighty hand of almighty God, it is no more possible to stand by the truth in Christ in time of trouble, then it is for the wax to abide the heat of the fire. Sir, know you this, that I am (blessed be God) persuaded that this world is but transitory, and (as saint John saith) The world passeth away and the lust thereof. I am persuaded Christs words to be true: Who soever shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven: and I believe that no earthly creature shall be saved, whom the Redeemer and Saviour of the world shall before his father deny.2 This the Lord grant, that it may be so grafted, established, and fixed in my hart, that neither things present nor to come, high nor low, life nor death be able to remove me thence. It is a goodly wish, that you wish me deeply to consider things pertaining unto Gods glory: but if you had wished also, that neither fear of death, nor hope of worldly prosperity should let me to maintain Gods word and his truth, which is his glory and true honour,3 it would have liked me well. You desire me for Gods sake to remember my self. In deed sir, now it is time so to do, for so far as I can perceive, it standeth me upon no less danger, then of the loss both of body and soul, and I trow, then it is time for a man to awake, if any thing will awake him.4 He that will not fear him that threateneth to cast both body & soul into everlasting fire,5 whom will he fear? With this fear, O Lord, fasten thou together our frail flesh, that we never swerve from thy laws. You say, you have made much suit for me. Sir, God grant that you have not in suing for my worldly deliverance, impaired and hindered the furtherance of Gods word and his truth. 6You have known me long in deed: in the which time it hath chanced me (as you say) to mislike some things. It is true, I grant: for sudden changes without substantial and necessary cause, and the heady setting forth of extremities, I did never love. Confession unto the minister which is able to instruct, correct, comfort, & inform the weak,