N20568:5767
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.
Volume 1 › Book 2 › Chapter 7 › Letter 5: LETTER V. From the Rev. Mr. GEORGE MARSH to the same.
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.
BE ye not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Jesus, neither be ye ashamed of us which are his prisoners, but suffer ye adversity with the gospel, for which word we suffer as evil doers, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound with us. Therefore we suffer all things for the elect's sake, they also that pray obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory: wherefore stand ye fast in the faith, and be not moved from the hope of the gospel, and so shall ye make us even with joy to suffer for your sakes, and as the apostle saith, to fulfil that which is behind of the passions of Christ in our flesh, for his body's sake, which is the congregation. St. Paul doth not here mean, that there wanteth any thing in the passion of Christ, as touching his own person, is that most perfect and all-sufficient sacrifice, whereby we are all made perfect, ⟨p. 554⟩as many as are sanctified in his blood: but these his words ought to be understood of the elect and chosen, in whom Christ is, and shall be persecuted unto the world's end. The passion of Christ then, as touching his mystical body, which is the church, shall not be perfected till they have all suffered; whom God hath appointed to suffer for his Son's sake. Wherefore establish yourselves, and be of good comfort, and be not moved in these afflictions, knowing that we are appointed thereunto. For on our parts nothing can be greater consolation and inward joy unto us in our adversity, than to hear of your faith and love, and that ye have a good remembrance of us always, praying for us as we do for you, as the apostle writeth of the Thessalonians, saying, Now are we alive, if ye stand steadfast in the Lord: for good shepherds do always count the welfare and prosperous state of Christ's flock to be their own: for while it goeth well with the congregation, it goeth well with them also in whatsoever affliction or adversity they be: but when they see the church in any peril or weakness, then are they weary of their own lives, then can they have no rest nor joy. "Who is weak, (saith St. Paul) and am I not weak? who is offended, and I do not burn." But this affection is not in them that seek their own lucre and glory.
BE ye not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord Jesus, neither be ye ashamed of us which are his prisoners, but suffer ye adversity with the gospel, for which word we suffer as evil doers, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound with us. Therefore we suffer all things for the elect's sake, they also that pray obtain the salvation that is in Chist Jesus with eternal glory: wherefore stand ye fast in the faith, and be not moved from the hope of the gospel, and so shall ye make us even with joy to suffer for your sakes, and as the apostle saith, to fulfil that which is behind of the passions of Christ in our flesh, for his body's sake, which is the congregation. St. Paul doth not here mean, that there wanteth any thing in the passion of Christ, as touching his own person, is that most perfect and all-sufficient sacrifice, whereby we are all made perfect,