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 to Maystres Lucy Haring∣ton, a Godly Gentlewoman, and frendly to him in his troubles.

YOur most gentle commendations,* 1.1 whereof this messenger made remembraunce vnto me, was for two causes very com∣fortable. First, for that thereby I vnderstood of the state of your health & bodely welfare, for the which I geue thankes vnto god, who graunt the long continuaunce thereof to his honour and fatherly good will, whereunto I will dayly say, Amen. And farther I was refreshed by the expressing of your mindefull frendship to∣wardes me farre vnworthy thereof. Wherein I take occasion of much reioysing in our so gracious a God and mercifull Father, who as he hath in his vnmeasurable mercy by fayth handfasted vs his chosen childrē vnto his deare sonne our Christ, as the spi∣rituall spouse of such an heauēly husband: so he linketh vs by loue one vnto an other, being by that bond cōpact together with cha∣ritable readines to doe good one vnto another: so that first to the glory of our God & his Christ, thē to our owne ioying in the te∣stimony of a good cōscience, and last of all to the stopping of the mouthes and confusiō of our aduersaries, we beare the badge as the right spouse of our Christ, which himselfe noted in this say∣ing: Herein shall all men know that ye be my Disciples, if ye loue one another. Then farther, by this bond of mutuall loue,* 1.2 is sette forth the fatherly prouidence of God towardes vs his children, that though it be he that careth for vs, in whome we liue, mooue and be, who feedeth all flesh with bodely sustenaunce, yet hath he appoynted vs in these present necessities, to stand in his sted one vnto another. Wherein is not onelye sette forth our dig∣nitye, but also that vnspeakeable accorde and vnitye among vs the many members in his mysticall body. And though that ei∣ther

for lacke of ability, or els through distaunce of place, power and oportunity of helping one another doe fayle: yet wonderfull is the working of Gods children through the spirite of prayer, as wherby they fetch all heauenly influence frō Christ theyr celesti∣all head by his spirite▪ to be measured seuerally as maye serue to the mayntenaunce of the whole body.

Thus doth our faythfull prayer which we make one for ano∣ther, distribute and scater Gods bountiful blessinges both ghost∣ly and bodely,* 1.3 when ordinary ability lacketh, and when the arme may not reach forth such Gods riches. According herunto I well perceiue and vnderstand your readines to do good vnto all, and especially I haue experience of your readye good will towardes me in your hartye desire to stretch out your helping hand to re∣lieue my lacke,* 1.4 and of your helpe to be extended to me in the o∣ther spirituall sort by your good prayer, I doubt not: as I also ther¦in assure you of my helpe, being all that I may do, & yet the same not so much as I would do.

My need concerning bodely necessaryes, is as yet furnished by Gods prouision, so that I am not driuē to any extremity wher¦fore to be burdenous to you, as your gentle beneuolence pro∣uoketh me, the Lord reward you therefore. If God make me wor∣thy to be eis witnes at this present, in geuing this corruptible bo∣dy to burne for the testimony of his truth, it is enough for me to say vnto you that I haue a poore wife and childe whom I loue in the Lord, and whome I know for my sake you will tender when I am departed hence. &c.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An other com∣fortable lette•• of M. Saunders,
• * 1.2

  The true badge of Christ. Iohn 13.
• * 1.3

  Iohn. 15.
• * 1.4

  Prayer distribu∣teth Gods bles∣singes from one to an other.