A67927:896
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.
Notwithstanding such was the goodness and merciful purpose of God, that when he saw his good time, by the which way he thought to have utterly defaced the professors of the Gospel and true Church of Christ, he was at length him self by a member of the same, prettily caught in the blessed net of Gods word. For M. Thomas Bilney (whose story is before described) being at that time a trier out of Satan's subtleties, and a secrete overthrower of Antichrists kingdom,1 seeing M. Latimer to have a zeal in his ways (although without knowledge) was stricken with a brotherly pity towards him, & bethought by what means he might best win this zealous ignorant brother, to the true knowledge of Christ. Wherefore, after a short time, he came to M. Latimers study, and desired him to here him make his confession. Which thing he willingly granted: by hearing whereof, he was (through the good spurt of God) so touched, that hereupon he forsook his former studying of the school Doctors, and other such fopperies, and became a earnest student of true Divinity, as he him self, aswell in his conference with M. Ridley, as also in his first sermon made upon the Pater noster, doth confesse. ⟨p. 1731⟩So that whereas before he was an enemy, and almost a persecutor of Christ, he was now a zealous seeker after h•m, changing his old manner of cavilling and railing, into a diligent kind of conferring, both with M. Bilney and others,2 & came also to M. Stafford before he dyed, and desired him to forgive him.
Notwithstandyng suche was the goodnesse and mercifull purpose of God, that when he saw his good tyme, by the whiche waye hee thought to haue vtterly defaced the professours of the Gospell and true Church of Christ, he was at lengthe hym selfe by a member of the same, pretily caught in the blessed nette of Gods woorde. For M. Thomas Bilney (whose storye is before described) beyng at that tyme a tryer out of Sathans subtilties, and a secrete ouerthrower of Antichristes kyngdome,1 seeyng M. Latimer to haue a zeale in his waies (although without knowledge) was striken with a brotherly pittie towardes hym, & bethought by what meanes he might best winne this zelous ignoraunt brother, to the true knowledge of Christe. Wherefore, after a shorte tyme, he came to M. Latimers study, and desired him to here him make his confession. Which thing he willingly graunted: by hearyng whereof, he was (through the good spirte of God) so touched, that hereuppon he forsooke his former studying of the schole Doctors, and other suche fopperies, and became a earnest student of true Diuinitie, as he hym selfe, aswell in his conference with M. Ridley, as also in his fyrst sermon made vpon the Pater noster, doth confesse.