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.

*The first Epistle of Iohn Alcocke.

GRace be with you, and peace from the father and our Lord Iesus Christ, which gaue himself for our sinnes, that he might deliuer vs from this present euill world,* 1.1 ac∣cording

to the will of God our father, to whome be praise for euer and euer, Amen.

Oh my brethren of Hadley, why are ye so soone tur∣ned from them which called you in the grace of Christ vn∣to an other doctrine, whiche is nothing els but that there be some which trouble you, and entēd to peruert the gos∣pell of the Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ. Neuerthelesse though these shoulde come vnto you that haue bene your true preachers, and preache an other way of saluatiō, then by Iesus Christes death and passion, hold them accursed. Yea if it were an Aungell came from heauen, and woulde tell you that the sacrifice of Christes body vpon the crosse,* 1.2 oute for all euer, for all the sinnes of all those which shal∣be saued, were not sufficient: accursed be he. If he were an aungell, or what soeuer he were, that would say that our seruice in English were not right Gods seruice, but will better allow that moste wicked mumming that you nowe haue.* 1.3 Those what soeuer they be, except they doe repent & allow the Gospell of Iesus Christ, they shall neuer come into that kingdome, that Christ hath prepared for those y^t be his. Wherefore my dearly beloued brethren of Hadley, remember you well what you haue bene taught hereto∣fore of the Lorde Gods true and simple Prophetes,* 1.4 that onely did wish your health and consolation.

Do not my good brethren, I pray you, forget the com∣fortable worde of our Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe. Come vnto me all you that are troubled and loden,* 1.5 with the daungers that yeare in these stormy dayes, and heare my wordes and beleue them, and you shal see the vnspea∣kable comfort that you shal receue. The Lord is my shep∣heard,* 1.6 sayth the Prophet Dauid, so y^t I cā want nothyng. He feedeth his sheepe in greene pastures, and leadeth thē vnto cleare and holsome waters of comfort. I am that good Shepheard sayth our Sauiour Iesus Christe: for I geue my lyfe for my sheepe,* 1.7 and I knowe my sheepe, and my sheepe know me: but my sheepe will not know an hy∣erling: for hee careth not but onely for his God the belly, and so seeketh the destruction of theyr soules. Therefore beware of hirelinges, you that count your selues the sheep of Iesus Christ.* 1.8 Be sure that ye know his voyce and obey it, and be not deceiued through straunge voyces, but goe from them, and earnestly abide by your professiō that you haue made in your baptisme, and shrinke not from it. For if you do, you shall declare your selues to be a vayne peo∣ple, and without vnderstanding. And for this cause doth God plague his people, and suffereth them to be deceiued with false Prophets & wicked men,* 1.9 I pray you note what that Prophet Esay sayth to the people of those dayes, be∣cause they were slipping from the Lord theyr God, which had done so maruellous workes for them, as you well do know in the historyes of the Bible. Heare O heauen (say∣eth he) and harken thou earth, for the Lord hath spoken, I haue nourished and brought vppe children, but they haue done wickedly agaynst me. The Oxe hath knowne hys owner, and the Asse his maysters Cribbe: but Israel hath receiued no knowledge. My people hath no vnderstan∣ding. Alas for this sinnefull nation, a people of great ini∣quity, a froward generation, vnnaturall children. They haue forsaken the Lorde, they haue prouoked his wrath & are gone backeward.* 1.10 Harken also what the Prophet Hie∣remy sayth. Be astonyed ye heauens, be afrayde and asha∣med at suche a thing, sayeth the Lorde, for my people hath done two euilles. They haue forsaken me, the well of the waters of life, and digged them brokē pittes that can hold no water. Is Israel a bond seruaunt or one of the house∣holde of the Lord? Why then is he so spoiled? Why then do they roare and cry vpō him as a Lyon? Understand those thinges now in these dayes that the Prophet spake of thē, O my brethren of Hadley. Why commeth this plague vp∣on vs, that we haue now in these dayes and other times? Harken what the Prophets say: commeth not this vpon thee because thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God?* 1.11 Thyne owne wickednesse shall reproue thee, and thy turning a∣way shall condemne thee, that thou mayst know and vn∣derstand, how euill and hurtful a thing it is, that thou hast forsaken the Lord thy God, and not feared him, sayth the Lord God of hostes, the holy one of Israell, that is to say: he that maketh Israell holy.* 1.12 And vnderstande by Israell, the children of God, and those things that were spoken to the carnall Israel, are spoken vnto vs, that are or should be the spirituall Israell. Grace be with you all. Amen.

Yours, Iohn Alcock Prisoner for Gods word, in Newgate at London.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Gal. 1.
• * 1.2

  Heb. 9.10. Christes 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Church seruice.
• * 1.4

  True Pro∣phetes.
• * 1.5

  Math. 11.
• * 1.6

  Psal. 23.
• * 1.7

  Iohn. 10.
• * 1.8

  Hyrelinges.
• * 1.9

  A vayne people. Esay. 1.
• * 1.10

  Ierem. 2.
• * 1.11

  An euill & hurtfull thing.
• * 1.12

  Israell.