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.

*To the honourable Lord Russell, now Earle of Bedford, being then in trouble for the ve∣rity of Gods Gospell.

THe euerlasting and most gracious God and Father of our Sauiour Iesu Christ,* 1.1 ••lesse your good Lordshippe with all maner of heauenlye blessinges in the same Chryst our onely comfort and hope. Amen.

Praysed be God our Father which hath vouched you worthye, as of fayth in his Christ, so of his Crosse for the same. Magnifyed be his holy name, who as he hath deli∣uered you from one crosse, so he hath made you willing (I trust) and ready to beare another whē he shall see his time to lay it vpon you: for these are the most singular giftes of God geuen as to few,* 1.2 so to none els but to these few whi∣che are moste deare in his sight. Fayth is reckoned, and worthely, among the greatest gyftes of GOD, yea it is the greatest it selfe that we enioy, for by it, as we be iu∣stified and made Gods childrē, so are we temples and pos∣sessours of the holy spirite, yea of Christ also. Eph. 4. And of the Father hymselfe. Iohn. 14. By fayth we driue the Deuill away▪ 1. Peter. 5. We ouercome the world. 1. Ioh. And are already Citttizens of heauen and fellowes wyth Goddes deare Sayntes. But who is able to reckon the riches that this fayth bringeth with her vnto the soule she sitteth vpon? No man or Aungell. And therefore (as I sayd) of all Gods giftes, she may be set in the top and haue the vpmost seate. The which thing if men considered (in that she commeth alonely from Goddes owne mercy seat,* 1.3 by the hearing, not of Masse or Mattyns, Dyriges or such drasse, but of the worde of God in such a toung as we canne and doe vnderstand) as they would be diligent and

take greate heede for doyng or seeyng any thyng whiche might cast her downe (for then they fal also) so would they with no lesse care read and heare Goddes holy word, ioy∣ning thereto most earnest and often prayer, aswell for the more and better vnderstanding, as for the louing, liuyng and confessing of the same, mauger the head of the deuill, the worlde, our fleshe, reason, goodes, possessions, carnall frends, wife, children, and very life here: if they should pull vs backe to harken to the voyce and counsell, for more qui∣et, sure, and longer vse of them.

* 1.4Now, notwithstanding this excellency of fayth in that we read the Apostle to matche therewith, yea (as it were) to preferre suffering persecution for Christes sake, I trowe no man will be so fond as to thinke otherwise, but that I and all Goddes children haue cause to glorify and prayse God, whiche hath vouched you worthye so greate a bles∣sing.* 1.5 For though the reason or wisedome of the worlde thinke of the Crosse according to theyr reach and according to theyr present sence, and therefore flyeth from it as from a most great ignominye and shame: Yet Gods Scholers haue learned otherwise to thinke of the Crosse, that is the frame house in the which God frameth his children lyke to his sonne Christ: the Fornace that fineth Gods golde: the high way to Heauen: the Sute and Liuery that Gods ser∣uauntes are serued withall: the earnest and beginning of all consolation and glory. For they (I meane Gods scho∣lers, as your Lordshyp is, I trust) doe enter into Goddes sanctuary,* 1.6 least theyr fecte slippe. They looke not as bea∣stes do, on thinges present onely, but on thinges to come, and so haue they as present to fayth, the iudgemente and glorious comming of Christ, like as the wicked haue now theyr worldly wealth wherein they wallow and will wal∣lowe till they tumble headlong into Hell, where are tor∣mentes too terrible and endlesse.* 1.7 Nowe they followe the Feende as the Beare doth the trayne of Honye and the Sowe the swillinges, till they be brought into the slaugh∣ter house, and then they know that theyr prosperitye hath brought them to perdition. Then crye they woe, woe. We went the wrong way:* 1.8 wee counted these men (I meane such as you bee that suffer for Goddes sake losse of goodes, frendes and life, whome they shall see endued with riche robes of righteousnesse, crownes of most pure precious golde, and Palmes of conquest in the goodly glorious pa∣lace of the Lambe, where is eternall ioy, felicity, &c.) Wee counted (will they then say) these men but fooles and mad men, we tooke theyr conditions to be but curiosity. &c. But then will it be to late, then the time will be turned, laugh∣ing shal be turned into weeping, and weeping into reioy∣sing, Read Sapien. 2.3.4.5.

Therefore (as before I haue sayd) great cause haue I to thanke God whiche hath vouched you worthy of thys most bountifull blessing:* 1.9 muche more then you haue cause (my good Lord) so to be, I meane thankefull. For looke vp∣on your vocation I pray you, and tell me how many no∣ble menne, Earles sonnes, Lordes, Knightes, and menne of estimation hath God in this Realme of England dealt thus withall? I dare say you thinke not that you haue de∣serued this. Only Gods mercy in his christ hath wrought this on you, as he did in Ieremyes tyme on Abimelech, in Achabs time on Abdias, in Christes tyme on Ioseph of A∣rimathia, in the Apostles tyme on Sergius Paulus, and the Queene of Candaces Chamberlayne. Onely now be thankefull and continue, continue, continue (my good Lorde) continue to confesse Christ. Bee not ashamed of hym before men, for then will not he bee ashamed of you. Nowe will he trye you: sticke fast vnto him and he wyll sticke fast by you: he will be with you in trouble and deli∣uer you. But then must you cry vnto him, for so it procee∣deth:* 1.10 He cried vnto me and I heard him: I was with him in trouble. &c.

Remember Lottes wyfe whiche looked backe. Remē∣ber Fraunces Spira. Remember that none is crowned but he that striueth lawfully. Remēber that all you haue, is at Christes commaundement. Remember he lost more for you then you canne lose for him. Remember you lose not that which is lost for his sake,* 1.11 for you shall finde much more here and elsewhere. Remember you shall dye, and when, where, and howe, ye can not tell. Remember the death of sinners is most terrible. Remember the death of Gods Sayntes is precious in his sight. Remember the multitude goeth the wide waye whiche windeth to woe. Remember that the straight gate which leadeth to glorye hath but few trauellers. Remember, Christ biddeth you striue to enter in thereat. Remember, he that trusteth in the Lord shall receiue strength to stand agaynst all the as∣saultes of his enemies. Be certayn all the hearers of your head are numbred. Be certayne your good Father hath poynted boundes ouer the which the deuill dare not look. Commit your selfe to him: he is, hath bene, and will bee your Keeper. Cast your care on hym and he will care for you. Let Christ be your scope and marke to pricke at: let hym be your patron to worke by: let him be your ensam∣ple to folow: geue him as your hart so your hand,* 1.12 as your minde so your toung, as your fayth so your feete, and let his word be your candle to go before you in all matters of Religion. Blessed is he that walketh not to these Popish prayers, nor standeth at them nor sitteth at them: glorifye God in both soule and body.* 1.13 He that gathereth not wyth Christ: scattereth abroad. Use prayer, looke for Gods help, which is at hand to them that aske and hope thereafter as∣suredly. In which prayer I hartely desire your Lordshyp to remember vs, who as we are goyng with you ryght gladly (God therefore be praysed) so we looke to go before you, hoping that you will folow, if God so will, according to your dayly prayer: Thy will be done on earth. &c. The good spirite of God alwayes guide your Lordshippe vnto the end. Amen.

Your Lordships owne for euer, Iohn Bradford.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A letter of M. Bradford to the Lord Russell, now Earle of Bedford.
• * 1.2

  The excellen∣cye of fayth, and what it wor∣keth.
• * 1.3

  Fayth commeth by hearing the word and not by hearing Masse.
• * 1.4

  Philip. 1.
• * 1.5

  The efficacy of the crosse, and what it worketh in Gods chil∣dren.
• * 1.6

  Psalme. 72.
• * 1.7

  The ende of prosperitye.
• * 1.8

  Sap••ence. 5.
• * 1.9

  Few noble men called to Christes king∣dome.
• * 1.10

  Psalme. 91.
• * 1.11

  Godly remem∣brances.
• * 1.12

  Christ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 must 〈◊〉〈◊〉 both 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and hand••▪
• * 1.13

  Psalme. •• 2 Cor. 6.