N20568:8698
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 11 › Letter 3: LETTER III. To his BROTHER.
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.
LETTER III. To his BROTHER.
AS nature doth me bind, Because thou art my blood, According to my kind, To give thee of my good. That thou mayst have in mind How I have run my race, Although thou stayest behind But for a little space. I give thee here a pearl, The price of all my good, For which I leave my life, To buy it with my blood▪ Mor• worth than a•• the world, Or aught that I can note, Although it be be-••ad In such a simple coat. For when I had obtained This pearl of such a price, Then was I sure I gained The way for to be wise. It taught me how to fight. My flesh for to despise, To stick unto the light, Also to leave the lies▪ In sending out my seed, With bonds and bitter tears, That I might reap with joy, In everlasting years. And have for all my loss My travel and my pain, A thousand times and more, Of better goods again. And for because the good, That hath been got and gained, And that the Lord's elect, Hath ever more obtained, Is closed in this book Which I do give to thee, Wherein I have my part, As thou thyself mayst see. In which I hope thou hast A stock also in sto•e: And will not cease to fail, Till God hath made it more. I will thee to beware, Be sure thou keep it well: For if thou do it lose, Thy part shall be in hell. And here I testify Before the living God, That I detest to do The things that are forbid. And as my judgment is, My body to be burnt, My heart is surely set, Therewith to be content. And since it is his will, To put me in his power, Upon his holy hill To fight against this whore; Full well I am content, If he allow it so, To stand with all my might, The whore to overthrow. Even with a willing mind, The death I will outface: And as I am assured, The battle to embrace. That they which hear the truth How I have past the pike, May set aside their youth, And learn to do the like. And though it be my lot, To let her suck my blood, ⟨p. 760⟩