N20568:9812
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.
WHEREFORE understanding our state in that we be christians, that if our mortal body, which is our earthly house, were destroyed, we have a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, therefore we are of good cheer, and know that when we are in the body, we are absent from God; for we walk by faith, and not by sight. Nevertheless we are bold, and had rather be absent from the body, and present with God. Wherefore we strive, whether we be present at home, or absent abroad, that we may always please him; and who that hath true faith in our Saviour Christ, whereby he knoweth somewhat truly what Christ our Saviour is, that he is the eternal Son of God, Life, Light, the Wisdom of the Father, all goodness, all righteousness, and whatsoever is good that heart can desire, yea infinite plenty of all these, above what man's heart can either conceive or think (for in him dwelleth the fullness of the Godhead corporally), and also that he is given us of ⟨p. 923⟩the Father, and made of God to be our wisdom, our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption: who, I say, is he that believeth this indeed, that would not gladly be with his master Christ? Paul for this knowledge coveted to be loosed from the body, and to have been with Christ, for he counted it much better for himself, and had rather be loosed than to live. Therefore these words of Christ to the thief on the cross, that asked of him mercy, were full of comfort and solace: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise. To die in the defence of Christ's gospel, it is our bounden duty to Christ, and also to our neighbour. To Christ, because he died for us, and rose again that he might be Lord over all. And seeing he died for us, we also, saith St. John, should hazard, yea give our life for our brethren, and this kind of giving and losing, is getting and winning indeed: for he that giveth or loseth his life thus, getteth and winneth it for evermore. Blessed are they therefore that die in the Lord, and if they die in the Lord's cause, they are most happy of all. Let us not then fear death, which can do us no harm, otherwise than for a moment to make the flesh to smart: but that our faith, which is fastened and fixed upon the word of God, telleth us that we shall be anon after death in peace, in the hands of God, in joy, in solace, and that from death we shall go straight unto life. For St.
WHEREFORE understanding our state in that we be christians, that if our mortal body, which is our earthly house, were destroyed, we have a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, therefore we are of good cheer, and know that when we are in the body, we are absent from God; for we walk by faith, and not by sight. Nevertheless we are bold, and had rather be absent from the body, and present with God. Wherefore we strive, whether we be present at home, or absent abroad, that we may always please him; and who that hath true faith in our Saviour Christ, whereby he knoweth somewhat truly what Christ our Saviour is, that he is the eternal Son of God, Life, Light, the Wisdom of the Father, all goodness, all righteousness, and whatsoever is good that heart can desire, yea infinite plenty of all these, above what man's heart can either conceive or think (for in him dwelleth the fulness of the Godhead corporally), and also that he is given us of ⟨p. 923⟩the Father, and made of God to be our wisdom, our righteousness, our holiness, and our redemption: who, I say, is he that believeth this indeed, that would not gladly be with his master Christ? Paul for this knowledge coveted to be loosed from the body, and to have been with Christ, for he counted it much better for himself, and had rather be loosed than to live. Therefore these words of Christ to the thief on the cross, that asked of him mercy, were full of comfort and solace: This day thou shalt be with me in paradise. To die in the defence of Christ's gospel, it is our bounden duty to Christ, and also to our neighbour. To Christ, because he died for us, and rose again that he might be Lord over all. And seeing he died for us, we also, saith St. John, should hazard, yea give our life for our brethren, and this kind of giving and losing, is getting and winning indeed: for he that giveth or loseth his life thus, getteth and winneth it for evermore. Blessed are they therefore that die in the Lord, and if they die in the Lord's cause, they are most happy of all. Let us not then fear death, which can do us no harm, otherwise than for a moment to make the flesh to smart: but that our faith, which is fastened and fixed upon the word of God, telleth us that we shall be anon after death in peace, in the hands of God, in joy, in solace, and that from death we shall go straight unto life. For St.
John saith, He that liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. And in another place, he shall depart from death unto life. And therefore this death of the christian is not to be called death, but rather a gate of entrance into everlasting life. Therefore Paul calleth it but a dissolution and change, and both Peter and Paul, a putting off this tabernacle or dwelling house: meaning thereby the mortal body, as wherein the soul or spirit doth dwell here in this world sort a short time. Yea, this my death may be called, to the christian, an end of all miseries. For so long as we live here, we must pass through many tribulations before we can enter into the kingdom of heaven. And now, after that death hath shot his b•lt, all the christian man's enemies have door what they can, after that they have no more to do. What could hurt or harm poor Lazarus that lay at the rich man's gate? his former penury and poverty? his misery, beggary, and horrible sore• and sickness? No: as soon as death had struck him with his dart, so soon came the angels, and carried him straight up into Abraham's bosom. What lost he by death, who from misery and pain is conducted, by the ministry of angels, into a place of joy and felicity?
John saith, He that liveth, and believeth in me, shall never die. And in another place, he shall depart from death unto life. And therefore this death of the christian is not to be called death, but rather a gate of entrance into everlasting life. Therefore Paul calleth it but a dissolution and change, and both Peter and Paul, a putting off this tabernacle or dwelling house: meaning thereby the mortal body, as wherein the soul or spirit doth dwell here in this world sort a short time. Yea, this my death may be called, to the christian, an end of all miseries. For so long as we live here, we must pass through many tribulations before we can enter into the kingdom of heaven. And now, after that death hath shot his b•lt, all the christian man's enemies have dore what they can, after that they have no more to do. What could hurt or harm poor Lazarus that lay at the rich man's gate? his former penury and poverty? his misery, beggary, and horrible sore• and sickness? No: as soon as death had struck him with his dart, so soon came the angels, and carried him straight up into Abraham's bosom. What lost he by death, who from misery and pain is conducted, by the ministry of angels, into a place of joy and felicity?
FAREWELL, dear brethren, farewell; let us comfort our hearts in all troubles, and in death, with God's word, for heaven and earth shall perish, but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
FAREWEL, dear brethren, farewel; let us comfort our hearts in all troubles, and in death, with God's word, for heaven and earth shall perish, but the word of the Lord endureth for ever.
FAREWELL, Christ's dearly beloved spouse, here wandering in this world in a strange land, encompassed about with deadly enemies, who see thy destruction.
FAREWEL, Christ's dearly beloved spouse, here wandering in this world in a strange land, encompassed about with deadly enemies, who see thy destruction.
FAREWELL, farewell, O ye the whole universal congregation of the chosen of God here living upon earth, the true church militant of Christ, the true mystical body of Christ, the very household and family of God, and the sacred temple of the Holy Ghost, farewell.
FAREWEL, farewel, O ye the whole universal congregation of the chosen of God here living upon earth, the true church militant of Christ, the true mystical body of Christ, the very houshold and family of God, and the sacred temple of the Holy Ghost, farewel.
FAREWELL, O thou little flock of the high heavenly pastors of Christ, for to you it hath pleased the heavenly Father to give an everlasting and eternal kingdom. Farewell.
FAREWEL, O thou little flock of the high heavenly pastors of Christ, for to you it hath pleased the heavenly Father to give an everlasting and eternal kingdom. Farewel.
FAREWELL, thou spiritual house of God, thou holy and royal priesthood, thou chosen generation, thou holy nation, thou won spouse. Farewell, farewell.
FAREWEL, thou spiritual house of God, thou holy and royal priesthood, thou chosen generation, thou holy nation, thou won spouse. Farewel, farewel.
ALAS, what misery is thy church brought unto, O Lord, at this day! Where of late the word of the Lord was truly preached, was read and heard in every town, in every village, yea, and almost in every honest man's house, alas, now it is exiled and banished out of the whole realm. Of late who was not taken for a lover of God's word, for a reader, for a really hearer, and for a learner of the same! And now, alas, who ⟨p. 924⟩dare bare any open countenance towards it, but such as are content in Christ's cause, and for his word's sake to stand to the danger and loss of all they have!
OF late there were to be found, of every age, of every degree and kind of people, some that gave their diligence to learn (as they could) out of God's word, the articles of the christian faith, the commandments of God, and the Lord's prayer. The babes and young children were taught these things by their parents, their masters, and weekly by their curates in every church; and the aged folk, which had been brought up in blindness, and in ignorance of those things which every christian is bound to know, when otherwise they could not, yet they learned the same by often hearing their children and servants repeat the same: but now (alas, and alas again) the false prophets of Antichrist, which are past all shame, do openly preach in pulpits unto the people of God, that the catechism is to be accounted heresy: whereby their old blindness is brought home again: for the aged are afraid of the higher powers, and the youth are abashed and ashamed, even of that which they have learned, even though it be God's word, and dare no more meddle.
OF late in every congregation throughout all England, prayer and petition was made unto God to be delivered from the tyranny of the bishop of Rome, and all his detestable enormities, from all false doctrine and heresy; and now, alas, Satan hath persuaded England by his falsehood and craft, to revoke her old godly prayer, to recant the same, and draw down the fearful wrath and indignation of God upon her own pate.
OF late in every congregation throughout all England, prayer and petition was made unto God to be delivered from the tyranny of the bishop of Rome, and all his detestable enormities, from all false doctrine and heresy; and now, alas, Satan hath persuaded England by his falshood and craft, to revoke her old godly prayer, to recant the same, and draw down the fearful wrath and indignation of God upon her own pate.
OF late by strict laws and ordinances, with the consent of the nobles and commonalty, and full agreement and counsel of the prelates and clergy, the beast of Babylon was banished hence, with laws, I say, and with oaths, and all means that then could be devised for so godly a purpose: but now, (alas) all these laws are trodden under foot: the nobles, the commonalty, the prelates and clergy are quite changed, and all those oaths, though they were made in judgment, justice, and truth, and the […] than a bond of rushes, or a barley straw, and public perjury no more terrifieth them, than a shadow upon • wall.
OF late by strict laws and ordinances, with the consent of the nobles and commonalty, and full agreement and counsel of the prelates and clergy, the beast of Babylon was banished hence, with laws, I say, and with oaths, and all means that then could be devised for so godly a purpose: but now, (alas) all these laws are trodden under foot: the nobles, the commonalty, the prelates and clergy are quite changed, and all those oaths, though they were made in judgment, justice, and truth, and the 〈…〉 than a bond of rushes, or a barley straw, and public perjury no more terrifieth them, than a shadow upon • wall.
OF late it was agreed in England of all hands, according to St. Paul's doctrine, and Christ's commandment, that nothing ought to be done in the church, in the public congregation, but in that tongue which the congregation could understand, that all might be edified thereby, whether it were common prayer, administration of the sacraments, or any other thing belonging to […] public ministry of God's holy and wholesome […] but, alas, all is turned upside down, Paul's doctrine is put apart, Christ's commandment is not regarded. For nothing is heard commonly in the church but a strange tongue, that the people do not understand.
OF late it was agreed in England of all hands, according to St. Paul's doctrine, and Christ's commandment, that nothing ought to be done in the church, in the public congregation, but in that tongue which the congregation could understand, that all might be edified thereby, whether it were common prayer, administration of the sacraments, or any other thing belonging to 〈…〉 public ministry of God's holy and wholesome 〈…〉 but, alas, all is turned upside down, Paul's doctrine is put apart, Christ's commandment is not regarded. For nothing is heard commonly in the church but a strange tongue, that the people do not understand.
OF late all men and women were taught after Christ's doctrine, to pray in that tongue which they could understand, that they might pray with heart that which they should speak with their tongue: now, alas, the unlearned people are brought into that blindness again, to think that they pray, when they speak with their tongue they cannot tell what, nor whereof their hearts are nothing mindful at all, for that it cannot understand a whit thereof.
OF late the Lord's supper was duly administered, and taught to be common to all that are true christians, with thanksgiving, and setting forth of the Lord's death and passion until his returning again, to judge both quick and dead: but now, alas, the Lord's table is quite overthrown, and that which ought to be common to all the godly, is made private to a few ungodly, without any kind of thanksgiving, or any setting forth of the Lord's death at all, that the people are able to understand.
OF late all that were endued with the light and grace of understanding God's holy mysteries, did bless God, who had brought them out of that horrible blindness and ignorance▪ whereby in times past being seduced by Satan's subtleties, they believed that the sacrament was not the sacrament, but the thing itself whereof it is a sacrament▪ that the creature was the creator, and that the thing which had neither life nor sense, […] was the horrible blindness▪ was the Lord himself, which made the […] to see, and hath given all senses and […] ⟨p. 925⟩unto man: but now, alas, England is returned again like a dog to her own vomit and spewing, and is in worse case than ever she was: for it had been better never to have known the truth, than to forsake the truth once received and known: and now not only that light is turned into darkness, and God's grace is received in vain, but also laws of death are made by the high court of parliament, masterfully to maintain by sword, fire, and all kind of violence, that heinous idolatry, wherein that adoration is given unto the lifeless and dumb creature, which is only due unto the everliving God: yea, they say they can, and do make of bread both man and God, by their transubstantiation. O wicked men, and Satan's own brood!
OF late all that were endued with the light and grace of understanding God's holy mysteries, did bless God, who had brought them out of that horrible blindness and ignorance▪ whereby in times past being seduced by Satan's subtleties, they believed that the sacrament was not the sacrament, but the thing itself whereof it is a sacrament▪ that the creature was the creator, and that the thing which had neither life nor sense, 〈…〉 was the ho•r•ble blindness▪ was the Lord himself, which made the 〈…〉 to see, and hath given all senses and 〈…〉 ⟨p. 925⟩
