N20568:9501
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.
And like as the having the scriptures in the vulgar tongue, and in the common people's hands, hath been by both holy fathers heretofore in sometimes thought meet and convenient, so at another time it hath been thought to holy fathers not expedient to be communicated among•• them wherein forasmuch as the king's highness, by the advice and deliberation of his council, and the agreement of the great learned men, thinketh in his conscience, that the divulging of the scripture at this time in the English tongue, to be committed to the people, considering such pestilent books, and such evil opinions, as be now spread amongst them, should rather be to their further confusion and destruction, than the edification of their souls, and that as holy doctors testify, upon such-like considerations, the same hath been done in times past, it was thought there in that assembly to all and singular in that congregation, that the king's highness and the prelates, in s• doing and not suffering the scripture to be divulged a•d communicated in the English tongue un•• the people, at this time doth well. And also I […] and judge the same, exhorting and moving you, that in consideration his highness did there openly say and protest that he would cause the New Testament to be by learned men, faithfully and purely translated into the English tongue, to the intent that he might have it in his hands ready to be given to his people, as he might see their manners and behaviour meet, apt, and convenient to receive the same, that you will so detest those pernicious books, so abhor these heresies and new opinions, so decline from arrogancy of knowledge and understanding of scripture after your fancies, and show yourself in cunning and reasoning, so sober, quiet, meek, and temperate, as all fear of misusing the gift of scripture taken away, you may appear such in your prince's eye•, and eyes of your prelates, as they shall have no just cause to fear any such danger; persuading unto yourself in the mean time, without grudging or murmuring the very truth, which is this, that we cannot require or demand scripture to be divulged in the English tongue, otherwise than upon the discretion of our superiors, so as whensoever they think in their conscience it may do you good▪ they may and do well to give it unto you: