same plan is pursued in the present publication; the involved construction of sentences, common in writers of that period, has also been removed. Those words which have become unintelligible or offensive, are exchanged for others, or are explained by notes when it is desirable that they should be retained. These variations, if they may be so called, were as necessary to render this work generally useful, as the adoption of modern orthography. The utmost care has been taken that the meaning of the author should be strictly preserved, and the various pieces have been collated with the best and earliest editions, or with manuscript copies. This has been done, that the meaning of the author might be given as nearly as possible, not from the first editions being the most correct, as they often abound with errors, for which the hurried or careless manner in which they were for the most part passed through the press, will readily account. The present reprints, it is believed, will be found to present the most correct text of these writers that has hitherto appeared. More than half of the pieces included in this collection, have not been reprinted since the sixteenth century, and a considerable portion is now printed for the first time.” The Volumes included under the title of THE BRITISH REFORMERS may be arranged in the following order: Volume 1. WICKLIFF TO BILNEY. 2. TINDAL, FRITH, AND BARNES. · 3. EDWARD VI., PARR, BALNAVES, &c. 4. LATIMER. 5. HOOPER. 6. BRADFORD. 7. RIDLEY AND PHILPOT, 8. CRANMER, ROGERS, CARELESS, &c. CONTENTS. Page ix 1 SOME Account of John Fox, the Martyrologist, A Sermon of Christ Crucified, preached at Paul's Cross, the Friday before Easter, commonly called Good Friday, A. D. 1570. Written and dedicated to all such as labour and are heavy laden in conscience, to be read for their special com- Christ Jesus Triumphant; wherein is described the glorious triumph and conquest of Christ, over sin, death, the law, the strength and pride of Satan, with all other enemies against Of Free Justification by Christ; written against the Osorian righteousness and other patrons of the same doctrine of inherent righteousness. Also a friendly and modest defence against the whole Tridentine and Jesuitical crew, abridged, 131 THE FIRST BOOK. 1. Inherent righteousness can no where be found in this na- 6. Concerning evangelical righteousness, 7. The power and efficacy of faith, 37. The grace of God consists only in the free favour of God, 246 Extracts from the second book, concerning faith and the promise, 253 How love and repentance are concerned in justification, Extracts from the third book, which is a confutation of the ar- De Oliva Evangelica, the true and gladsome Olive Tree. A sermon preached at the christening of a certain Jew at London. Containing an Exposition of the eleventh chap- ter of St. Paul to the Romans, Some Account of John Bale, bishop of Ossory, Extracts from the IMAGE OF BOTH CHURCHES, after the most won- derful and heavenly revelation of St. John the evangelist; containing a very fruitful exposition or paraphrase upon Some Account of Miles Coverdale, bishop of Exeter, A Prologue to the Bible, A. D. 1535, Extracts from a Confutation of the Treatise made against the SOME ACCOUNT OF JOHN FOX, The Martyrologist. JOHN FOX, or FOXE, was born at Boston, in Lincolnshire, A. D. 1517, the year wherein Luther began publicly to oppose the errors of popery in Germany. While Fox was very young his father died and his mother married again. He remained under the care of his father-in-law till the age of sixteen, when he was entered of Brazen-Nose College, Oxford. where Dr. Nowell, afterwards dean of St. Paul's, was his chamber-fellow. There Fox studied with much assiduity, and showed his abilities especially in Latin poetry. In 1538 he took the degree of bachelor of arts, and of master in 1543, which year he was chosen fellow of Magdalen college. From early youth Fox had been strongly attached to popish superstitions, but was ever remarkable for a regular and moral life. He strongly opposed the doctrine of justification by faith in the imputed righteousness of Christ, thinking himself secure enough by the imaginary merits of his own self-denial, penances, almsdeeds, and strict attention to the rites of the church. But he was not permitted long to remain in this state. He was naturally of an inquiring disposition; by such a character the gross impositions then common in the Romish church could not long be approved. His son states he had often heard his father affirm, that the first matter which occasioned him to search respecting popish doctrine was, perceiving divers things, in their own nature most repugnant to one another, thrust upon men at one time, both to be believed- -as that the same man might be superior in matters of faith, and yet his life and manners inferior to all the world beside. This and other inconsistencies shook the blind obedience of Fox to the church of Rome. He now began to study ecclesiastical history, both ancient and modern; to consider the reasons for the increase and decline of the church; what causes promoted the first, and what errors occasioned the latter; diligently examining the controversies which had sprung up in successive ages. Fox was an indefatigable student; when his mind was bent to any subject he pursued it with uncommon ardour and patient perseverance. By the time he was thirty years of age he had |