N20568:657
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.
POWER being given to the pagans to use the christians as bad as they thought proper, the doors of a church, in which a christian congregation were shut up, and the building being set on fire, every person perished in the flames. Many were severely beaten with sticks, cords, rods, whips, scourges, &c.
AT length, Constantine the Great determined to redress the grievances of the christians, for which purpose he raised an army of 30,000 foot, and 8000 horse, with which he marched towards Rome, against Maxentius, the emperor. But previous to his entering upon this expedition, we are informed, "That he considered that it was necessary to have some superior Being to confide in, besides his own strength; and as at that time there were many deities in the world, he was studious to learn which was the most worthy for him to fix upon as his protector, and tutelar guardian. He reflected on the fatal miscarriages of his predecessors, who had so violently maintained a multiplicity of gods, and reposed an entire confidence in their assistance. On the other hand he considered that while his own father adored only one God, he continually prospered, and had peace of mind. Hence he rejected the adoration of idols, and implored the assistance of the only true God; who heard his prayers, and answered them in a manner so surprising and miraculous, Eusebius, who relates this history, acknowledges that it would not have been credible, had he not received it from the emperor's own mouth, who publicly and solemnly ratified the truth upon his oath.
AT length, Constantine the Great determined to redress the grievances of the christians, for which purpose he raised an army of 30,000 foot, and 8000 horse, with which he marched towards Rome, against Maxentius, the emperor. But previous to his entering upon this expedition, we are informed, "That he considered that it was necessary to have some superior Being to confide in, besides his own strength; and as at that time there were many deities in the world, he was studious to learn which was the most worthy for him to fix upon as his protector, and tutelar guardian. He reflected on the fatal miscarriages of his predecessors, who had so violently maintained a multiplicity of gods, and reposed an entire confidence in their assistance. On the other hand he considered that while his own father adored only one God, he continually prospered, and had peace of mind. Hence he rejected the adoration of idols, and implored the assistance of the only true God; who heard his prayers, and answered them in a manner so suprising and miraculous, Eusebius, who relates this history, acknowledges that it would not have been credible, had he not received it from the emperor's own mouth, who publicly and solemnly ratified the truth upon his oath.