N20568:5722
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.
WHEREFORE, my beloved in Christ, let us, (on whom the ends of the world are come) take diligent heed unto ourselves, that now in these last and perilous times (in which the devil is come down, and hath great wrath, because he knoweth the time is short, and whereof the prophets, Christ, and the apostles, have so much spoken, and given us an earnest forewarning) we hold not the truth in unrighteousness, believing, doing, or speaking any thing against our knowledge and conscience, or without faith. For if we so do, for whatsoever cause it be, it is a wilful and obstinate infidelity, and a sin unto death: and as our Saviour Christ saith, "If ye believe not, ye shall die in your sins." For unless we hold fast the word of life, both believing it, and also bringing forth fruit worthy of repentance, we shall with the unprofitable fig-tree, which did but cumber the ground, be cut down, and our talent taken from us, and given unto another that shall put it to a better use; and we, through our own unthankfulness put from the mercy of God, shall never be able to pay our debts, that is to say, we shall altogether be lost and undone. For the earth that drinketh in rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them that dress it, receiveth blessing of God: but that ground that beareth thorns and briars, is reproved and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned.
NEVERTHELESS, dear friends, we trust to see better of you, and things which accompany salvation, and that ye being the good ground, watered with the moistness of God's word, plenteously preached among you, will with a good heart hear the word of God and keep it, bringing forth fruit with patience; and be none of those forgetful and hypocritical hearers, which although they hear the word, yet the devil cometh, and catcheth away that which was sown in their heart; either having no •oot in themselves, endure but a season, and as soon as tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by they are offended; or with the cares of this world and deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and so are unfruitful. Read the parable of the sower, and among other things note and mark, that the most part of the hearers of God's word are but hypocrites, and hear the word without any fruit or profit, yea, only to their greater condemnation; for only the […] part of the seed doth bring forth fruit. Therefore let not us that be ministers, or […], and followers of God's word, be discouraged, though very few do give credit, and follow the doctrine of the gospel, and be saved.