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 my good Lady Vane.

THe true sense and sweete feeling of Gods eternal mer∣cies in Christe Iesus, be euer more and more liuely wrought in your heart by the holy Ghost.* 1.1 Amen.

I moste heartily thanke you (good Madame) for your comfortable Letters: and whereas you woulde be aduer∣tised what were best to be done on your behalfe, concer∣ning your three questions: the truth is, that the questions are neuer wel seene nor answeared, vntill the thing wher∣of they arise, be well considered, I meane, vntill it be seene howe great an euill the thing is. If it be once in deede in your heart perceiued vpon probable & pithy places gathe∣red out of Gods booke, that there was neuer thing vppon the earthe so greate, and so muche an aduersarie to Gods true Seruice, to Christes Death, Passion, Priesthood, Sa∣crifice, and kingdome, to the Ministerie of Gods woorde and sacraments, to the church of God, to repentance, faith, and all true godlines of life, as that is whereof the questi∣ons arise (as moste assuredly it is in deede) then can not a Christian heart, but so muche the more abhorre it, and all thyngs that in any poynt might seeme to allowe it, or any thing pertaining to y^e same, by how much it hath the name of Gods seruice.

Againe, your Ladiship doth knowe, that as all is to be discommended and auoided, which is folowed or fled from in respecte of oure selues, in respecte of auoiding Christes Crosse: so the ende of all oure doings shoulde be to God∣wards, to his glory, to our neighbours, to edification and good example, wherof none can be geuen in allowing any of the three questiōs by you propounded. But because this which I write nowe is briefe, and needeth the more consi∣deration or explication: as I doubte not of the one in you, so from me by Gods grace, you shall receiue y^e other short∣ly. For I haue already wrytten a little booke of it, whiche I will sende vnto you, in the whiche you shall haue youre questions fully answeared and satisfied,* 1.2 and therefore I o∣mit to write any more hereaboutes presently: beseeching God our good Father to guide you as his deare childe w^t his spirite of wisedome, power, and comfort vnto eternall ly••e, that you may be strong, and reioyce in hym and wyth his Church, to carie Christes crosse, if hee shall so thinke it nede. 1. Peter 1. Which is a thing to be desired, wished and imbraced, if wee looked on thinges after the iudgement of Gods word, and tried them by that touchstone.

If you be accustomed to thinke on the breuitie, vani∣tie, and miserye of this life, and on the eternitye, truth, and felicity of euerlasting life: if you looke on things after their endes, and not after their present appearance onely: if you vse your selfe to set Gods presence, power, and mercy al∣waies before your eies, to see them as God by euery crea∣ture woulde you shoulde: I doubt not but you shall finde suche strength and comforte in the Lorde, as you shall not be shaken with all the power of Satan. Gods mercye in Christ be with you, and his good spirit guide you for euer. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  •• letter of B••a••ford ••ritten to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Vane, 〈…〉〈…〉 he 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.2

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