Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] 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 Iohn Philpot to certaine Godly brethren.

THe grace of God the Father, and the peace of our sauiour Ie∣sus Christ his eternall sonne,* 1.1 and the consolation of the ho∣ly Ghost our comforter, strengthen your hearts and cōfort your mindes that you maye reioyce, and liue in the truthe of Christes Gospel to the ende. Amen.

I doe much reioyce, dearely beloued in the Lord, to heare of your cōstant faith in the word of God, which you haue so purely receiued: which doe not with the wordlings decline frō the pu∣rity therof,* 1.2 albeit ye suffer grief & trouble therby: for the which I praise God most hartely: and the Lord of all strength, who hath begon this good woorke in you, make it perfite to the ende, as I doubt not but he wil, for the faithful zeale ye haue to his truth & to his afflicted church. Therfore that ye may the better stand and beare the brunte of many temptations, which you are like to be assaulted withall in these wicked and stormie daies:* 1.3 I thought it good, as it is the duety of one christian man to exhort an other in the time of trouble, to put you in remembraunce therof, & to wil you with the wise man to prepare your selues to temptatiōs: & to beware that ye, which yet do stand by the goodnes of God, may not fall from your liuely knowledge and hope. It is an easie thing to begin to do wel, but to cōtinue out in well doing, is the onely property of the children of God, and such as assuredly shal be saued. For so sayth our Sauiour in his Gospel:* 1.4 Blessed are they that perseuere to the ende.

Let not therefore this certaintye of your saluation, which is cōtinuance in the sincerity of faith, slide frō you. Esteme it more then al the riches & pleasures of this world, for it is the most ac∣ceptable treasure of eternall life. This is that precious stone, for the which the wise marchant man, after the Gospell, doeth sell all that he hath, & bieth the same.* 1.5 God in the 3. of the Apocal. doth signifye to the church, that there shall come a time of temptation vpon the whole world, to trye the dwellers on the earth. Frō the danger of which temptation al such shalbe deliuered as obserue his worde: which worde there is called the worde of patience:* 1.6 to geue vs to vnderstande that we must be ready to suffer all kinde of iniuries and sclaunders for the profession thereof.

Therfore God cōmandeth vs there to hold it fast, that no man might berefte vs of our crowne of glorye,* 1.7 and S Peter telleth vs now we are afflicted with diuers assaies, as it is need it should so be. That the triall of our faith being much more precious then gold that perisheth, and yet is tried by fire, might redound to the laud, glory, and honour of Iesus Christ.* 1.8 S. Paule to the Hebrues sheweth vs, that Christe our Sauiour was in his humanitie made perfect by afflictions, that we being called to perfection in him, might more willingly susteine the troubles of the worlde, by the which God geueth all them that be exercised in the same for his sake, his holinesse. And in the 12. chap. of the said Epistle is wryt∣ten: My sonne refuse not the correction of the Lord, nor shrinke not, when thou art rebuked of him: for the Lord doth chastice e∣uery sonne whome he receiueth. &c. Christ in the Gospell of S. Iohn biddeth his disciples to looke after afflictions,* 1.9 saying in the worlde yee shall haue trouble, but in me yee shall haue ioy. And therefore in the middest of their trouble,* 1.10 in the 21. of S. Luke hee biddeth them, looke vp and lift vp their heads, for your redemp∣tion (sayeth he) is at hand.* 1.11 And in the 22 he sayth to all suche as be afflicted for him: You are those that haue abidden with me in my temptations, and therefore I appoynt vnto you a kingdom, as my father hath appoynted for me, to eate and drinke vpon my table in my kingdome.

O howe glorious be the crosses of Christe, which bring the bearers of them vnto so blessed an ende.* 1.12 Shall we not be glad to be partakers of such shame as may bring vs to so high a dignitie? God open their eyes to see al things, as they be, and to iudge vp∣rightly. Then doubtlesse we would thinke with Moises, that it is better to be afflicted with the people of God: then to be counted the king of Egypts sonne. Then should we ioyfully say with Da∣uid in all our aduersities and troubles: It is good (O Lord) thou hast brought me lowe, to the ende I might learne thy righteous∣nesse. Therefore S. Paule woulde not glory in any other thyng of the worlde, but in the crosse of Christ, & in other his infirmities. We haue the commaundement of Christe, daily to take vppe his crosse and follow him. We haue the godly ensamples of all his a∣postles and holy martyrs, which with great ioy and exultation, haue suffered the losse of landes, goods and life, for the hope of a better reward: which is laide vp for all those in heauen, that vn∣fainedly cleaue to the gospel, and neuer be ashamed therof.

Great is the felicitye of the world to the outwarde man, and very pleasant are the transitory delights therof: but the rewarde of the rightuous after the word of God,* 1.13 doth incomparably ex∣cell them all, in so much that S. Paul to the Rom. doth plainly af∣firme, that all the tribulations of this world can not deserue that glory which shall be shewed vpon vs.

Let vs therfore good brethren and sisterne, be mery & glad in these troublesome daies, the which be sent of God, to declare our faith, and to bring vs to the ende and fruition of that which we hope for. If we woulde enter into the Lordes Sanctuarie, and behold what is prepared for vs▪ we could not but desire the Lord to hast the day of our death, in the which we might set forth by true confession, his glory. Neither should we be afraide to meete our aduersaries, which so earnestly seeke our spoile and death, as Christ did Iudas and that wicked route,* 1.14 which came to apprehēd him, saying. I am he whom ye seeke. It is commaunded vs by the Gospel, not to feare them, that canne kill the bodye, but to feare God, who can cast both body and soule into hel fire. So muche wee are bounde to obserue this commaundement as anye other which God hath geuen vs. The Lorde encrease our faith, that we feare God more then man. The Lord geue vs such loue towards him & his truth, that we may be content to forsake all & followe him. Nowe wil it appeare what we loue best: for to that we loue, we will sticke. There is none to be counted woorthy a Christi∣an, except he can finde in his heart for Christes sake,* 1.15 if the con∣fession of his truth doth require it, to renounce al which he hath and followe him: and in so doing he gaineth an hundreth folde more in this life (as our Sauiour sayde to Peter) and heere after is assured of eternal life. Beholde I pray you, what he loseth, wh••ch in this life receiueth a 100. for one, with assurāce of eternall 〈◊〉〈◊〉.

O hapy exchaunge. Perchaunce your outward man will say: if I were sure of this great recompence here, I could be glad to for∣sake all. But where is this 100. folde in this life to be founde? Yes truely: for in stead of worldly richesse which thou doest forsake, which be but temporall,* 1.16 thou hast found the euerlasting richesse of heauen, which be glory, honour and praise, both before God, aungels and men: and for an earthly habitation, hast an eternall mansion with Christ in heauen, for euen now thou art of the ci∣tie and housholde of the Saints with God, as it is verified in the 4 to the Philippians. For worldly peace, which canne last but a while, thou doest possesse the peace of God, which passeth al vn∣derstanding: and for the losse of a few frends, thou art made a fe∣lowe of the innumerable companye of heauen, and a perpetuall frend of all those that haue died in the Lord, from the beginning of the world. Is not this more then an 100. fold▪ Is not the peace of God which we in this world haue through faithfull imitation of Christ (which the world can not take from vs) x.M. fold more, then those thinges that moste highly be esteemed in the worlde, without the peace of God? Al the peace of the world is no peace but mere anguish and a gnawing fury of hel. As of late God hath set example before our eyes, to teach vs how horrible an euill it is to forsake the peace of Christes truth, which breedeth a worm in conscience that neuer shall rest.

O that we would way this with indifferent ballances. Then shoulde we not be dismaied of this troublous time, neyther sor∣row after a worldly manner, for the losse which we are now lyke to sustaine, as the weake faithlesse persones do, which loue theyr goods, more then God and the things visible, aboue those which be inuisible: but rather would heartely reioyce and be thankful, that it pleaseth God to call vs to be souldiours in his cause, a∣gainst the woorkes of hypocrisie, and to make vs like vnto oure Sauiour Christ in suffering, whereby we maye assure our selues of his eternall glory: For blessed are they, sayth Christ, that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake.* 1.17 And as S. Paule witnesseth to Timothe: If we die with Christ, we shall liue with Christ: and if we deny him, he will deny vs.

O that wee woulde enter into the veile of Gods promises. Then should we wyth S. Paule to the Phillippians,* 1.18 reiect all and count all things but for drosse, so that we may gaine Christ. God which is the lightener of all darkenesse, and putter awaye of all blindnesse, annoynte oure eyes with the true eyesalue, that wee might beholde his glory, and our eternall felicitie, which is hid∣den with Christ, and prepared for vs that doe abide in his Testa∣ment: for blessed is that seruaunte, that whome the maister when he commeth, as Christ sayde, doth finde faithfull. Let vs therefore watch,* 1.19 and pray one for an other, that we yelde not in any poynt of our Religion to the Antichristian Synagogue, and that we be not ouerthrowen of these temptations. Stande therefore, and be no cowardes in the cause of your saluation: for his spirite that is in vs, is stronger then he which in the worlde doth nowe rage a∣gainst vs. Let vs not put out the spirit of God from vs, by whose might we shall ouercome our ennemies, and then death shall be as greate a gaine to vs as it was to the blessed Apostle S. Paule. Why then doe ye mourne? why do ye weepe? why be ye so care∣full, as though God had forsaken you? hee is neuer more present with vs, then when we be in trouble, if we doe not forsake hym. We are in his handes, and no bodye can doe vs anye iniurie or wrong without his good will and pleasure. He hath commaun∣ded hys aungels to kepe vs, that we stomble not at a stone with∣out his diuine prouidence. The Deuill can not hurt anye of vs, and muche lesse any of his ministers, without the good will of our eternall father.

Therefore let vs be of good comfort, and continuallye geue thankes vnto God for our estate,* 1.20 what so euer it be: for if we murmure against the same, wee murmure against God, who sen∣deth the same. Which if we doe, we kicke but against the pricke, and prouoke more the wrath of God against vs: which by paci∣ent suffering, otherwise would sooner be turned into our fauor through faithfull prayer.

I beseeche you with S. Paule, to geue your bodies pure, and holy sacrifices vnto God. He hath geuen vs bodies to bestowe vnto his glory, and not after our owne concupiscence. If manye yeares God hathe suffered vs to vse oure bodies, which bee his temples, after the lust of the flesh, in vaine delightes, not accor∣ding to his glory: is it not our duetie in the latter end of our life, the more willingly to yeelde vnto Gods glory our bodies, with all that wee haue, in demonstration of true repentaunce of that we haue euill spent before? Cannot the ensample of the blessed man Iob horribly afflicted, cause vs to say? The Lord hathe geuen it,* 1.21 the Lorde hath taken it: blessed be the name of the Lord Euen as it hath pleased the Lord, so is it come to passe. If we cast oure whole care likewise vpon God, he will turne our misery into fe∣lity, as well as he did to Iob. God tempteth vs now, as he did our father Abraham,* 1.22 commaunding him to slaye his sonne Isaac in sacrifice to him: which Isaac by interpretation doth signifie mirth and ioy. Who by his obedience preserued Isaac vnto long lyfe, and offered in his stead a Ramme that was tied by the hornes in the brambles. Semblably we all are commanded, to sacrifice vn∣to God our Isaac, which is our ioy and consolation:* 1.23 the which if we be ready to do, as Abraham was, our ioy shall not pearish, but liue and be encreased, although our ramme be sacrificed for our Isaac: which doth signifie that the pride and cōcupiscence of our flesh entangled thoroughe sinne, with the cares of this stinginge world, must be mortified for the preseruation, and perfecte aug∣mētation of our mirth & ioy, which is sealed vp for vs in Christ.

And to withstande these present temptations,* 1.24 wherewithall we are nowe encombred, ye can not haue a better remedy then to set before our eyes, howe our Sauiour Christ ouercame them in the desert, and to follow his ensample: that if the deuill hym∣selfe, or any other by him, willeth you to make stones bread, that is, to take suche a worldly wise way, that yee may haue your faire houses, landes, and goodes to liue on still, yee must say, that man liueth not onely by bread, but by euery woorde that procedeth out of the mouth of God.

Againe, if the deuill counsailleth you, to cast youre selues downe to the earth, as to reuoke your sincere beliefe, and Godly conuersation,* 1.25 and to be conformable to the learned men of the world, pretending that God will be wel enough content there∣with: yee must aunsweare that it is wrytten, that a man shall not tempt his Lord God.

Further, if the deuill offer you large promises of honoure, dignitie and possessions, so that yee will worshippe Idols in hys Synagogue, ye must say: goe behinde me Sathan, for it is other∣wise wrytten, that a man must worship his Lorde God, and serue him onely.

Finally, if your mother, brother, sister, wife, childe, kinsman, or frend, do seeke of you, to do otherwaies then the word of God hath taught you, ye must say with Christ, that they are your mo∣thers, brothers, sisters, wiues, children and kinsmen, whiche doe the wil of God the father. To the which wil the Lord for his mer∣cy, conforme vs all vnfainedly to the end. Amen.

Your louing and faithful brother in Christ, in captiuitie, Iohn Philpot. An. 1555·

Notes

• * 1.1

  An other letter of Iohn Philpot contayning god∣ly exhortations.
• * 1.2

  He commēdeth their faythfull zeale to Gods word.
• * 1.3

  He exhorteth them to conti∣nue and to stand fast.
• * 1.4

  Math. 1••.
• * 1.5

  Apoc. 3.
• * 1.6

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• * 1.7

  1. Pet. 1.
• * 1.8

  Heb. 2.
• * 1.9

  Iohn. 16.
• * 1.10

  Luke. 2••.
• * 1.11

  Lu••e. 2••.
• * 1.12

  The fruite that com∣meth by bearing of the Crosse.
• * 1.13

  The de∣lightes of the world nothing comparable to them that are to come.
• * 1.14

  Considera∣tion of the ioyes to come.
• * 1.15

  The note of a true chri∣stian.
• * 1.16

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.17

  1. Tim▪ 2.
• * 1.18

  Psal. 3.
• * 1.19

  He exhor∣••eth t•• be 〈…〉〈…〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.20

  To be pati∣•••••• and not murmure 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.21

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.22

  Gene. 22.
• * 1.23

  How to sacrific•• our Isaac to God.
• * 1.24

  Remedyes a∣gaynst the temptations of the Deuill and the world.
• * 1.25

  Christes temp∣tations mistical∣ly applyed.