Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

An other Letter of the sayd George Marsh, to certaine of his dearely beloued frendes at Manchester in Lancashire.

GRace be with you, and peace from God ou•• Father, and from our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen.

* 1.1After salutations in Christe to you, with thankes for youre frendly remembraunces of mee, desiring and wishing vnto you, not onely in my letters, but also in my daily praiers, such conso∣lation in spirite, and taste of heauenly treasures, that ye may ther∣by continually worke in faith, labour in loue, perseueer in hope, and be pacient in all your tribulations and persecutions, euen vnto the ende and glorious comming of Christ: these shalbe ea••∣nestly to exhort and beseeche you in Christ, as ye haue receyued the Lord Iesus,* 1.2 euen so to walke, rooted in him, and not to be a∣fraid of any terrour of your aduersaries, be they neuer so manye and mighty, and you on the other side neuer so fewe and weake: for the battell is the Lordes. And as in times past, God was with Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Dauid the Machabees and other, & fou∣ght for them, and deliuered all their ennemies into their handes, euen so hath he promised to be with vs also, vnto the worlds end, and so to assist, strengthen, and helpe vs, that no man shalbe able to withstande vs. For as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee (sayth God) and wil neuer leaue thee nor forsake thee. Be strong and bolde: neither feare nor dread: for the Lord thy God is wyth thee, whether soeuer thou goest. Nowe if God be on oure side, who can be against vs?* 1.3

In this our spirituall warfare, is no man ouercome, vnles he traiterously leaue and forsake his captaine,* 1.4 either cowardly cast away his weapons, or willingly yelde himselfe to his ennemies, either fearefully turne his backe and flie. Be strong therefore in the Lord (deare brethren) and in the power of his might, and put on all the armour of God,* 1.5 that ye may be able to stand stedfast a∣gainst the craftie assaults of the deuill.

Now, what weapons ye must fight withall, learne of S. Paul, a champion both much exercised, and also most valiaunt and in∣uincible.* 1.6 For we must thinke none other, but that the life of man is a perpetuall warfare vppon earth, as the examples of all godly men, throughout all ages to declare. The valiant warrior S. Paul, being deliuered from the handes of the vngodly, and that so ma∣ny times, and also from so many extreme pearils and dangers of death (as he his owne selfe doth witnes) is faine to commit him selfe in the ende to the rough waters of the sea:* 1.7 where he was in great pearil and ieoperdie of his owne life: yet was God alwaies (to the great comfort of all that heare of it) most ready to com∣fort and succour him, and gloriously deliuered him out of all his troubles: so that no manne that inuaded him, could doe him any harme, and in the ende he was compelled to saye: I haue finished my course:* 1.8 the time of my departing is at hand: I long to be loo∣sed, and to be with Christ, which is best of all, most heartely desi∣ring death.

These things be written for our learning and comforte, and be to vs a sure obligation,* 1.9 that if we submit our selues to God & his holy word, no man shalbe able to hurt vs, and that he will de∣liuer vs from all troubles, yea from death also, vntil such time as we couet and desire to die. Let vs therefore runne with patience vnto the battaile that is set before vs,* 1.10 and looke vnto Iesus the Captaine and finisher of our faith, and after his example, for the rewardes sake that is set out vnto vs, patiently beare the crosse and despise the shame. For all that will liue godly in Christ Iesu, shall suffer persecution.

Christ was no sooner baptised and declared to the world to be the sonne of God,* 1.11 but Sathan was by and by ready to tempte hym: which thing we must looke for also: yea, the more we shall encrease in faith and vertuous liuing, the more strongly will Sa∣than assault vs: whom we must learne after the example of Christ, to fight againste, and ouercome with the holy and sacred Scrip∣tures and worde of God (which are our heauenly armour) and sword of the spirite. And let the fasting of Christ, while hee was tempted in the wildernes, be vnto vs an example of sober liuing, not for the space of 40. daies (as the Papists doe fondly fansie of their owne braines) but as long as wee are in the wildernesse of this wretched life, assaulted of Sathan,* 1.12 who like a roaring Lyon walketh about, and ceaseth not, seeking our vtter destruction.

Neither can the seruaunts of God at any time come & stand before God, that is, leade a godly life, and walke innocently be∣fore God. But Sathan commeth also among them, that is, he dai∣ly accuseth, finedeth fault, vexeth,* 1.13 persecuteth and troubleth the godly: for it is the nature and propertie of the deuill alwayes to hurt, and do mischiefe, vnlesse he be forbidden of God: for vnlesse God do permit him, he can do nothing at all, not so much as en∣ter into a filthy hogge: but we are more of price then many hogs before God, if we cleaue vnto his sonne by faith.

Let vs therefore knowing Sathans deceits and rancor, walke the more warely, and take vnto vs the shield of faith,* 1.14 wherewith we may be able to quench and ouercome all the fiery and deadly dartes of the wicked. Let vs take to vs the helmet of saluation, & sworde of the spirit, which is the word of God, and learne to vse the same according to the example of oure graunde Captayne Christ. Let vs fast and pray continually. For this frantike kinde of deuils goeth not out otherwise (as Christ doeth teach vs) but by faithfull praier and fasting, whiche is true abstinence and sober∣nesse of liuing,* 1.15 if we vse the same according to the doctrin of the gospell and worde of God. Fasting is acceptable to God, if it be done without hypocrisie, that is to say: ••f we vse it to this entent, that thereby this mortall body and disobedient carcase maye be ••amed and brought vnder the subiection of the spirite:* 1.16 and a∣gaine, if we fast to this intent, that we maye spare wherewyth to helpe and succour our poore needie brethren.

This fast do the true Christians vse all the dayes of their life, although among the common sort of people remaineth yet still that superstitious kinde of fasting, which God so earnestly re∣prooueth by his Prophet Esay. For as for true chastening of the body, and abstaining from vice, with shewing mercye towardes our needy neighbours, we wil neither vnderstand nor heare of, but still thinke with the Iewes, that we doe God a great pleasure when we fast, and that we then fast,* 1.17 when we abstaine from one thing, and fil our bellies with an other. And verely in this poynt doth our superstition much excede the superstitiō of the Iewes: for we neuer reade that they euer tooke it for a fast, to abstaine from flesh, and to eate either fish or white meat, as they call it.

To fasting and praier must be ioyned almes, and mercye to∣wardes the poore and needie: and that our almes may be accep∣table vnto God, three things are chiefly required.

First, that we geue with a chearefull and ioyfull heart: For the Lord loueth a chearefull geuer.

Secondly, that we geue liberally, putting aside al nigardship, knowing that he that soweth little, shall reape little, and hee that soweth plenteouslye, shall reape plenteouslye.* 1.18 Lette euerye manne therefore doe accordinge as hee is able. The poorest cai∣tiffe in the world may geue as great and acceptable an almes in the sight of God, as the richest man in the worlde can doe. The poore widowe that did offer but two mites,* 1.19 whiche make a far∣thing, did highly please Christ: In so much that he affirmed with an othe, That shee of her penurie, had added more to the offrings of God, then all the rich men, which of their superfluitie had cast in very muche. For if there be first a willing minde (as S. Paule sayth) it is accepted, according to that a mā hath,* 1.20 and not accor∣ding that a man hath not.

Thirdly, we must geue wythout hypocrisie and ostentation, not seeking the praise of men, or our own glorie of profite.* 1.21 And althoughe the Scriptures in some places make mention of a rewarde to oure almes and other good woorkes, yet ought we not to thinke that wee doe merite or deserue any thynge:* 1.22 but rather wee oughte to acknowledge, that God of his mere mercy rewardeth in vs hys owne giftes. For what hathe hee that geueth almes, that hee hathe not receiued, hee then that geueth vnto a poore man anye manner of thing, geueth not of his owne, but of those goodes whych he hath receiued of God. What haste thou

(saith the apostle) that thou hast not receiued? If thou hast recei∣ued it, why reioycest thou, as though thou hadst not receiued it?

This sentence ought to be had in remembrance of all men. For if we haue nothing, but that which wee haue receiued, what can we deserue? or what neede we to dispute and reason of our owne merites? It commeth of the free gift of God, that we liue, that we loue God, that we walke in his feare. Where is our de∣seruing then?* 1.23 We must also in this our spiritual warfare arme our selues with continuall praier, a very necessary, strong, and inuin∣cible weapon, and after the example of Christ and al other godly men, crie heartily vnto God in faith, in all our distresses and an∣guishes. Let vs goe boldly to the seate of grace, where we shall be sure to receiue mercie,* 1.24 and finde grace to helpe in time of neede. For now is pride and persecution encreased: nowe is the time of destruction and wrathfull displeasure.

Wherfore my deare brethren, be ye feruēt in the law of God, and ieoperd ye your liues if neede shall so require,* 1.25 for the testa∣ment of the fathers, and so shall yee receiue great honour, and an euerlasting name. Remember Abraham: Was not he found faith∣full in temptation,* 1.26 and it was reckened vnto him for righteous∣nes? Ioseph in time of his trouble kept the commaundement, and was made a Lord of Egypt. Phinees was so feruent for the honor of God,* 1.27 that he obtained the couenaunt of an euerlasting Priest∣hode. Iosua for the fulfilling the word of God, was made the cap∣taine of Israel. Caleb bare recorde before the Congregation, and receiued an heritage.* 1.28 Dauid also in his mercifull kindnesse ob∣tained the throne of an euerlasting kingdome. Elias being zea∣lous and feruent in the law, was taken vp into heauen. Ananias, Azarias,* 1.29 and Misael remained stedfast in the faith, and were deli∣uered out of the fire. In like maner Daniel being vnguiltie, was saued from the mouth of the Lions.

And thus ye may cōsider throughout al ages since the world began,* 1.30 that who soeuer putte their trust in God, were not ouer∣come. Feare not ye then the wordes of vngodly men: for their glory is but dong and wormes: to day are they set vp, and to mo∣rowe are they gone: For they are tourned into earth, and theyr memorial commeth to naught. Wherfore let vs take good hearts vnto vs, and quite our selues like men in the lawe: for if we doe the things that are commaunded vs in the law of the Lorde our God, we shall obtaine great honour therein.

Beloued in Christ, let vs not faint because of affliction, wher∣with God trieth all them that are sealed vnto life euerlasting:* 1.31 for the onely way into the kingdome of God, is through muche tri∣bulation. For the kingdome of heauen (as God teacheth by hys Prophet Esdras) is like a Citie builded and set vpon a broad field,* 1.32 and full of all good thinges, but the entraunce is narrowe and sodaine,* 1.33 [full of sorrow and trauaile, pearils and labours] Like as if there were a fire at the right hand, and a deepe water at the les•••• and as it were one straight path betwene them both, so smal, that there could but one man goe there. If this Citie now were geuen to an heire, and he neuer went through the pearillous way, how would he receiue his inheritaunce? Wherefore seeing we are in this narrowe and straight way, which leadeth vnto the most ioy∣full and pleasaunt Citie of euerlasting life: let vs not stagger, ey∣ther turne backe, being afraide of the daungerous and pearillous way, but followe our Captaine Iesus Christ in the narrowe and straight way, and be afraide of nothing, no not euen of death it selfe:* 1.34 for it is he that must lead vs to our iourneys ende, and open vs the doore vnto euerlasting life.

Consider also the course of thys world, howe many there be which for their maisters sake,* 1.35 or for a litle promotions sake, wold aduenture their liues in worldly affaires, as cōmonly in warres, & yet is their reward but light & transitory, & ours is vnspeaka∣ble, great and euerlasting. They suffer paines to be made Lordes on earth for a short season: howe much more ought we to endure like paines (yea peraduenture much lesse) to be made kinges in heauen for euermore? Consider also the wicked of this worlde, which for a litle pleasures sake, or to be auenged on their enne∣mies, will fight with sworde and weapons, and put them selues in daunger of imprisonment and hanging. So much as vertue is better then vice, & God mightier then the deuil, so much ought we to excell them in this our spirituall battaile.

And seeing brethren, it hath pleased God to set me, and that most worthy minister of Christ, Iohn Bradforde, your countrey∣men in the forefront of this battaile, where (for the time) is most daunger, I beseeche you all in the bowels of Christe to helpe vs and all other our felow souldiors standing in like perillous place, with your praiers to God for vs, that we maye quite our selues like men in the Lord, and geue some example of boldnes & con∣stancie, mingled with pacience in the feare of God, that yee and others our brethren, thorough oure example, may be so encou∣raged and strengthned to folow vs, that ye also may leaue exam∣ple to your weake brethren in the world, to followe you. Amen.

Consider what I say: the Lorde geue vs vnderstanding in all things.* 1.36 Brethren the time is short: it remaineth that yee vse thys world as though ye vsed it not: for the fashion of this worlde va∣nisheth away. See that ye loue not the world, neither the things that are in the world: but set your affection on heauenly things, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Be ••eeke, & long suffering, serue and edifie one other,* 1.37 with the gift that God hath geuen you. Beware of strange doctrine: lay aside the old conuer∣sation of greedy lustes, and walke in a new life. Beware of all vn∣cleannes, couetousnes, foolish talking, false doctrine & dronken∣nes: Reioyce & be thankful towardes God, & submit your selues one to an other▪ Cease from sinne, spend no more time in vice, be sober and apt to pray, be pacient in trouble, loue each other, and let the glory of God and profite of your neighbor, be the onely marke ye shoote at in all your doings. Repent ye of the life that is past, and take better heede to your doings hereafter. And aboue all things cleaue yee fast to him, who was deliuered to death for our sins, & rose againe for our iustification. To whome with the father & the holy ghost be al honor & rule for euermore. Amen.

Salute from me in Christe all others, which loue vs in the faith, and at your discretiō make them partakers of these letters: and pray ye all for me and other in bondes for the Gospell, that the same God (which by his grace hathe called vs from wicked papistrie, vnto true Christianitie, and now of loue prooueth out patience by persecution, wil of his mercy and fauour in the end gloriously deliuer vs, either by death, or by life, to his glory, Amē

At Lancaster the 30. of August. 1554.

By me an vnprofitable seruant of Christ, George Marsh.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An other godly letter of G. Marsh to them of Manchester.
• * 1.2

  Coloss. 2. Phil. 2. 1. Pet. 3. Math. 10. Luke. 11. Aduersaries not to be feared. Gods helpe alwayes rea∣dy with his S••rs••antes.
• * 1.3

  Iosua. 2. Rom. 8.
• * 1.4

  Spirituall cowardly∣nes.
• * 1.5

  Ephe. 6. 2. Cor. 11.12. Actes. 21.
• * 1.6

  A Christian mans lyfe is a perpetuall warfare.
• * 1.7

  The mani∣f••••••e deli∣uerances of S. Paule, be examples ••or our com∣fort.
• * 1.8

  Actes. 18. ••. Tim. 4. Phil. 1.
• * 1.9

  Rom. 15.
• * 1.10

  Heb. 12. Persecution fo∣loweth Christi∣an godlines. 2. Tim. 3.
• * 1.11

  Math. 3.4. Where Christ is Sathan there is alwayes ready. Ephe. 6.
• * 1.12

  Math. 4. The fast of Christ is to vs Example of so∣ber liuing. 1. Pet. 5.
• * 1.13

  Iob. 1.2. When the ser∣uantes of God stand before him Sathan com∣meth also. Math. 8.
• * 1.14

  Ephe. 6. The shield of fayth.

  The helmet of saluation.

  The sword of the spirite.
• * 1.15

  Math. 4. Math. 17.
• * 1.16

  Prayer and fasting.

  True fast what it is.

  How to fast without hipo∣crisie.

  Abuse of fasting among Christi∣ans. Esay. 58.
• * 1.17

  The Iewish ma∣ner of fasting reproued.

  The Christians in superstitious fasting exceede the Iewes. Mercy to the poore.
• * 1.18

  2. Cor. 9. In almes three things required.
• * 1.19

  Marke. 18.
• * 1.20

  2. Cor. 8.
• * 1.21

  Almes without ostentation.
• * 1.22

  Workes of mer∣cy doe not me∣rite with God touching our saluation, any thing. 1. Cor. 4.
• * 1.23

  Math. 26. 〈…〉〈…〉 1. Mach. 4.
• * 1.24

  Continuall prayer.
• * 1.25

  To be faythfull 〈◊〉〈◊〉 temptation.
• * 1.26

  Gene. 22. Gene. 41. Num 25.
• * 1.27

  Iosua· 1. Num. 14.
• * 1.28

  1. Reg. 24. 4. Reg 2.
• * 1.29

  Dan. 3. Dan. 6.
• * 1.30

  Psal. 38. He exhorteth to zeale and courage.
• * 1.31

  Actes 14.
• * 1.32

  4. Esdras. 7.
• * 1.33

  Straite is the way which the elect must walke in.
• * 1.34

  Death is a dore to lyfe.
• * 1.35

  If worldly men ieopard so much for earthly thinges, how much more ought we to ieopard for e∣uerlasting thinges?
• * 1.36

  2. Tim. 2. 1. Cor. 7. 1 Iohn •• Coloss. 3.
• * 1.37

  Doctrine 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good workes.