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 Maister Philpot to the sayde Ladie, wherin partly he complaineth of the dissimulation and per∣iurie of English men, falling againe to the Pope, and partlye he expresseth his ioy in his afflictions.

I Cannot but ioy with you, my hearty beloued in Christ, of the fall of Senacherib,* 1.1 since it is to the glory of God, and to the consolation of his church, to see the fall of theyr enemies before their face, according as it is wrytten: The iust shall reioyce when hee seeth the vengeaunce of the wicked.* 1.2 God make this your ioy perfite: for as cōcerning my self, I counte not to see those good dayes whereof you haue a glimmering in this life. For although the Cockatrice be dead, yet his pestilent chickens, w^t the whore of Babylon yet liueth. But a great hope there is of their shorte confu∣sion, because god doth not prosper their doings according to their expectation. Most happiest shal he be, whome the Lorde shall moste soonest take out of this life, that he may not see the plagues, which the manifest periurie, and the manifolde idolatrie and detestable dissimulation, and that of such as do know the truth, do threaten to come.

The Lord is iust, & all vnrighteousnes displeaseth him, & either heere or els in an other world he will punish this grosse infidelity of the worlde: but his elect, and such as he loueth, wil he punish here, that they should not be condē∣ned heereafter with the world eternally, we haue nothing so much to reioyce in, as in the crosse of Iesu Christ, and in that we are partakers of his afflictions, which be the ear∣nest penie of that eternall kingdome, which he vppon the crosse for vs hathe purchased. For as Paule hys faithfull witnes saith: If we suffer with him, we shall raigne with him. If we die with him, we shall liue with him.

Wherefore mine owne deare bowels, praise God w^t me moste intirely, that it hath pleased him now mercifully to visite the sinnes of my youth, & my huge vnthankfulnes, and by the same doth geue me such consolation, that he as∣sureth me of his great goodnesse & mercy, and turneth his fatherly castigation into my crown of glory. O good God, what am I on whome he should shew this great mercy? To him that is immortal, inuisible, and onely wise, be all honor, praise and glory therfore, Amen.

This is the day that the Lord hath made, let vs reioyce and be glad in y^e same. This is the way, though it be nar∣row, which is ful of the peace of God,* 1.3 & leadeth to eternal blisse, O how my heart leapeth for ioy, y^t I am so neare the apprehēsion therof. God forgiue me mine vnthākfulnes, and vnworthines of so great glory. The swordes whyche pearced Maries hart in y^e passion of our Sauiour, whych daily also go through your faithful hart, be more glorious and to be desired then the golden Scepters of this world, O blessed be they y^t mourne in this world to Godwarde, for they shall eternally be comforted. God make my stony heart to mourne more then it doth. I haue so muche ioy of the reward that is prepared for me most wretched sinner, y^t though I be in a place of darknes & mourning, yet I cā not lament, but both night & day am so ioyfull, as though I were vnder no Crosse at all: yea in all the dayes of my life I was neuer so merry,* 1.4 the name of the Lorde be prai∣sed therfore for euer & euer, and he pardon mine vnthank∣fulnes. Our enemies do freat, fume, and gnash their teeth to see and heare that we, vnder this grieuous affliction in the world, can be so mery. We are of them counted as des∣perate persones, for the certaine hope & feeling which we haue of our euerlasting saluation: and it is no maruell, for the worldly man can not perceiue the things of God, it is meere foolishnesse and abhomination to them.

Be thankefull vnto our God mine owne deare helper, for his wonderous working in his chosen people. Praye instantly y^t this ioy be neuer taken from vs, for it passeth all the delightes of this worlde. This is the peace of God which surmounteth all vnderstanding: this peace y^e more his chosen be afflicted, y^e more they feele, & therfore can not faint, neither for fire, neither for water. Lette vs pray for our weake brethren & sisters sake, that it may please God to alleuiate the greeuous and intollerable burden of these cruel daies. But touching our selues, let vs hartily besech our sauiour to vouchsafe to geue vs this glorious gifte to suffer for hys Gospels sake, and that we may thincke the shame of the world to be our glory, as it is in deede. God increase our faith, and open our eyes to beholde what is prepared for vs. I lack nothing, praise be to God. I trust my marriage garment is ready. I will send you my exa∣minations as soone as I can get them wrytten, if you be desirous of them.

God of his mercy fill your mercifull heart with all ioy and consolation of the hope to come. Out of the colehouse the 19. of Nouember.

Your owne louer, Iohn Philpot.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An other letter of M. Philpot.
• * 1.2

  By this Sena∣charib, he mea∣neth the death of the Bishop of Winchester.
• * 1.3

  He expres∣seth the great ioy which Gods pri∣soners feel•• in ther suf∣fringes.
• * 1.4

  Iohn Phil∣pot neuer so mery in all his lyfe before.