N20568:7319
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.
I heard it credibly reported, my dearly beloved in the Lord, that my heavenly Father hath thought it good to provide, that as I have preached his true doctrine and gospel amongst you by word, so I shall testify and conf••• the same by deed, that is, I shall leave my life with you, which by his providence I first received there, (for in Manchester I was born) for a seal to the doctrine I have taught with you and amongst you: so that if from henceforth you waver in the same, you have no excuse at all. I know the enemies of Christ which exercise this cruelty upon me, (I speak in respect of mine offence, which is none to themwards) think by kil•ing of me amongst you, to hinder you and others, lest they should attempt to teach Christ truly, or believe his doctrine hereafter. But I doubt ⟨p. 667⟩not but my heavenly Father will by my death more confirm you in his truth. And therefore I greatly rejoice to see Satan and his soldiers supplanted in their own wisdom, which is plain foolishness amongst the wise indeed, that is, amongst such as have heard God's word, and do follow it: for they only are counted wise of the wisdom of God our Saviour.
INDEED if I should simply consider my life with that which it ought to have been, and as God in his law requireth, then could I not but cry as I do, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and all thy judgments are true. For I have much grieved thee, and transgressed thy holy precepts, not only before my professing the gospel, but since also: yea, since my coming into prison I do not excuse, but accuse myself before God and all his church, that I have grievously offended my Lord God, I have not loved his gospel as I should have done, I have been too unthankful, secure, carnal, hypocritical, vain-glorious, &c. All which my evils, the Lord of mercy pardon for his Christ's sake, as I hope and certainly believe he hath done for his great mercy in Christ our Redeemer.
INDEED if I should simply consider my life with that which it ought to have been, and as God in his law requireth, then could I not but cry as I do, Righteous art thou, O Lord, and all thy judgments are true. For I have much grieved thee, and transgressed thy holy precepts, not only before my professing the gospel, but since also: yea, since my coming into prison I do not excuse, but accuse myself before God and all his church, that I have grievously offended my Lord God, I have not loved his gospel as I should have done, I have been too unthankful, secure, carnel, hypocritical, vain-glorious, &c. All which my evils, the Lord of mercy pardon for his Christ's sake, as I hope and certainly believe he hath done for his great mercy in Christ our Redeemer.