N20568:551
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being…
The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of martyrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].The new and complete book of martyrs; or, An universal history of martyrdom: being Fox's Book of marytrs, revised and corrected, with additions and great improvements. : Containing an authentic account of the lives, persecutions and sufferings of the holy martyrs; and the many dreadful persecutions against the Church of Christ in all parts of the world, by pagans, Jews, Turks, papists, and others, from earliest ages of the church to the present period. ... The whole forming at once a general Christian martyrology, and a complete history of persecutions. / By the Rev. Mr. John Fox, M.A. late of Magdalen College, Oxford. ; Now revised, corrected and improved, with many additional articles, relating to the acts and monuments of the church. By Paul Wright, D.D. ; Embellished with forty elegant copper plate engravings. ; In two volumes. Vol. I[-II].
New-York: printed by William Durell, 1794
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
THE pagans being encouraged by the governor, began to inform against, abuse, and persecute the christians. Great numbers were seized upon and imprisoned; their goods were destroyed, and their estates confiscated. Many fled into the woods or retired to caves, where some supported themselves by feeding upon such roots as they could casually find, and others perished by famine. Indeed, many were starved in the city, by means of the following singular stratagem: The governor gave strict orders, that no provisions whatever should be exposed to sale in the markets, without having been first consecrated to the idols; hence the christians were compelled to eat what had been offered to the devil, or to refrain from food and perish. The latter dreadful alternative was chosen by many, who heroically gave up their lives to preserve the purity of their faith.
THE pagans being encouraged by the governor, began to info•m against, abuse, and persecute the christians. Great numbers were seized upon and imprisoned; their goods were destroyed, and their estates confiscated. Many fled into the woods or retired to caves, where some supported themselves by feeding upon such roots as they could casually find, and others perished by famine. Indeed, many were starved in the city, by means of the following singular stratagem: The governor gave strict orders, that no provisions whatever should be exposed to sale in the markets, without having been first consecrated to the idols; hence the christians were compelled to eat what had been offered to the devil, or to refrain from food and perish. The latter dreadful alternative was chosen by many, who heroically gave up their lives to preserve the purity of their faith.
DURING these critical times, Theodotus did all that he could to comfort the imprisoned, and buried the bodies of several who had been martyred, though it was forbidden, on pain of death. He likewise privately assisted many with such food as they might use with a safe conscience, for having laid in a great stock of corn and wi•e, he sold it out at prime cost.