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.

¶To the breathren which constantly cleaue vnto Christ▪ in suffering affliction with him, and for his sake.

* 1.1GRace and peace from God the father, and frō our Lord Iesus Christ be multiplied vnto you. Amen.

Although brethren, we haue of late heard nothing from you, neither haue at this present any newes to send you: yet we thought good somthing to write vnto you, wherby ye might vnderstand that we haue good remembraunce of you continually, as we doubt not but ye haue of vs also. When this messenger comming vnto vs from you of late, had brought vs good tidinges of your great constancie, for∣titude,* 1.2 and patience in the Lord: we were filled with much ioy & gladnes, geuing thankes to God the father through our Lord Iesus Christe, which hath caused his face so to shine vpon you, and with the light of spirituall vnderstan∣ding hath so lightened your hartes, that now being in cap∣tiuitie & bandes for Christes cause, ye haue not ceased, as much as in you lyeth, by wordes, but much more by deede and by your example, to stablysh and confirme that thing, which when ye were at libertie in the world, ye laboured to publish and set abrode by the word and doctrine: that is to say, holding fast the worde of life, ye shine as lightes in the worlde in the middest of a wicked and crooked nation, and that with so much the greater glory of our Lord Ie∣sus Christe,* 1.3 and profite of your brethren, by how muche Satan more cruelly now rageth and busily laboureth to darken the light of the Gospel.

And as for the darkenes that Satan nowe bringeth vpon the Church of England, who needeth to doubt ther∣of? Of late tyme our Sauiour Christe, his Apostles,* 1.4 Pro∣phetes, and Teachers, spake in the Temple to the people of England in the Englishe tongue, so that they might be vnderstanded playnly and without any hardnesse, of the godly and such as sought for heauenly knowledge in mat∣ters whiche of necessitie of saluation perteyned to the ob∣teyning of eternall life: but now those thinges which once were written of them for the edifiyng of the congregation, are read in a strange tongue without interpretatiō, mani∣festly agaynst saint Paules commaundement, so that there is no man able to vnderstand them which hath not lear∣ned that strange and vnknowen tongue.

Of late dayes those heauenly mysteries, whereby Christe hath ingrafted vs into his body,* 1.5 and hath vnited vs one to another, whereby also being regenerate & borne anew vnto God, he hath nourished, encreased, and streng∣thened vs, whereby moreouer, eyther he hath taught and set foorth an order amongest them which are whole, or els to the sicke in soule or body hath geuen, as it were whole∣some medicines and remedies: those (I say) were al plain∣lye set foorth to the people in their owne language, so that what great and exceeding good things euery man had re∣ceiued of God: what duetie euery one owed to an other by Gods ordinaunce: what euery one had professed in his vo∣cation, and was bound to obserue: where remedy was to be had for the wicked and feeble, he to whom God had ge∣uen a desire and willing hart to vnderstand those thinges, might soone perceiue and vnderstand. But now all these thinges are taught & set forth in such sort, that the people redeemed with Christes bloud, and for whose sakes they were by Christe himselfe ordeined, can haue no maner of vnderstanding thereof at all.

Of late, (for as much as we knowe not how to pray as we ought) our Lorde Iesus Christe in his Prayer, wherof he would haue no man ignoraūt, and also the ho∣ly Ghost in the Psalmes, Hymnes,* 1.6 and spirituall songes which are set foorth in the Bible, did teache and instructe all the people of Englande in the Englyshe tongue, that they might aske such thinges as are according to the will of the Father, and might ioyne their hartes and lyppes in prayer together: but nowe all these thynges are com∣maunded to be hid and shutte vp from them in a straunge tongue, whereby it must needes followe, that the people neyther can tell how to pray, nor what to pray for: and how can they ioyne their hartes and voyce together, whē they vnderstande no more what the voyce signifieth, than a bruite beast.

Finally, I heare say, that the Catechisme whiche was lately set foorth in the Englyshe tongue, is now in e∣uery Pulpite condemned. O deuilishe malice, and most spitefully iniurious to y^e saluation of mankinde purchased by Iesus Christe. In deede Satan coulde not long suf∣fer that so great light should be spread abrode in y^e world: he sawe well enough that nothing was able to ouerthrow his kingdome so much, as if childrē being godly instructed in Religion, should learne to knowe Christe whilest they are yet young: whereby not onely chyldren, but the elder sort also and aged folkes that before were not taught to know Christe in their childehood, shoulde now euen with children and babes be forced to learne to know him. Now therefore he roreth, now he rageth. But what els do they (brethren) which serue Satan and become his ministers & slaues in mainteining of his impietie, but euen the same which they did, to whom Christ our Sauiour threatneth this curse in the Gospell: Woe vnto you which shutte vp the kingdome of heauen before men,* 1.7 & take away the key of know∣ledge from them: you your selues haue not entred in, neither haue you suffered them that would enter, to come in.

And from whence shall we say (brethren) that this hor∣rible & mischeuous darknes proceedeth,* 1.8 which is nowe brought vpon the worlde? From whence I pray you, but euen from the smoke of the great furnace of y^e bottomlesse pit, so that the sunne and the ayre are now darkened by the smoke of the pit? Now, euen now (out of doubt brethren) the pit is opened agaynst vs, and the Locustes begyn to swarme, and Abbadon now raigneth.

Ye therfore (my brethren) which pertaine vnto Christ, and haue the seale of God marked in your foreheades, that is to wit, are sealed with y^e earnest of the spirite to be a pe∣culiar people of God, quite your selues like men, and be strong, for he that is in vs, is stronger then he which is in the world: and ye know, that al that is borne of God ouer∣commeth the world, and this is our victory that ouercom∣meth the worlde, euen our fayth. Let the world freat, let it rage neuer so much, be it neuer so cruel and bloudy, yet be ye sure that no man can take vs out of the fathers handes, for he is greater then all: who hath not spared his owne

sonne, but hath geuen him to death for vs all, and there∣fore how shall he not with him geue vs all thinges also? Who shall lay any thyng to the charge of Gods elect? It is God that iustifieth, who shall then condemne? It is Christ that is dead, yea rather which is risen againe, who is also at the right hand of God, and maketh request also for vs. Who shall seperate vs from the loue of Christe? Shall tribulation,* 1.9 or anguish, or persecution, or famine, or nakednes, or perill, or sworde? the rest ye knowe, brea∣thren. We are certainely perswaded with S. Paul, by the grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe, that no kynde of thyng shalbe able to seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christ Iesus our Lord. Which thyng, that it may come to passe by the grace and mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ, to the comfort both of you & of vs all, as we for our partes will continually (God wyllyng) pray for you: so (deare brethren in the Lorde) with all earnest and harty request we beseech you, euen in the bowelles of our Lorde Iesus Christ, that ye will not cease to pray for vs. Fare ye well, deare brethren. The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christe be with you all euermore. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An other letter of B. Ridley wherein he cō∣firmeth the bre∣thren in captiui∣tye translated out of the Latin.
• * 1.2

  Communion & vnitye of Saints.
• * 1.3

  Phil. 2.
• * 1.4

  Reasons prouing the reli••ion in Q. Maryes tyme not to be of God.
• * 1.5

  Comparisō betwene the religion in K Ed∣wards time, & the reli∣gion set out in Q. Ma∣ryes tyme. Scriptures in K. Ed∣wards tyme knowen, in Queene Maryes tyme vn∣knowen.
• * 1.6

  In king Ed∣wards tyme the people knew what they pray∣ed: in Q. Maries time they neithe•• knew what, nor to whō they praied. The Cate∣chisme set forth in K. Edwardes tyme for children in Q. Maryes tyme for∣bidden.
• * 1.7

  Math. 23.
• * 1.8

  The Ca∣tholicke Pharisies neyther en∣ter them∣selues, no•• will suffer other to en∣ter Gods kingdome. Apoc 9. The pit of the Locusts opened. Apoc. ••. 1. Iohn. 5. Exhortatiō to stand constant i•• Christ and his truth.
• * 1.9

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