Fox himself, and to the Church of God at large, as it eventually made his book more intrinsically valuable, by inducing him to weigh, with the most scrupulous attention, the certainty of the facts which he recorded, and the validity of the authorities from which he drew his information.īut while he was thus indefatigably employed in promoting the cause of truth, he did not neglect the other duties of his station he was charitable, humane, and attentive to the wants, both spiritual and temporal, of his neighbors. The papists, forseeing how detrimental his history of their errors and cruelties would prove to their cause, had recourse to every artifice to lessen the reputation of his work but their malice was of signal service, both to Mr. Yet, though he grew daily more exhausted, he proceeded in his studies as briskly as ever, nor would he be persuaded to diminish his accustomed labors.
DIVINE HALBERD MOCKS THE HEAVENS FREE
But, in consequence of such excessive toil, leaving no part of his time free from study, nor affording himself either the repose or recreation which nature required, his health was so reduced, and his person became so emaciated and altered, that such of his friends and relations as only conversed with him occasionally, could scarcely recognize his person. For the sake of greater correctness, he wrote every line of SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR xiii this vast book with his own hand, and transcribed all the records and papers himself.
With prodigious pains and constant study he completed that celebrated work in eleven years. On his resettlement in England, he employed himself in revising and enlarging his admirable Martyrology. Being pressed for an explanation of this alteration in his conduct, he scorned to call in fiction to his excuse he stated his opinions and was, by the sentence of the college convicted, condemned as a heretic, and expelled. These nightly retirements, in the sequel, gave rise to the first suspicion of his alienation from the Church of Rome. In these solitary walks he was often heard to ejaculate heavy sobs and sighs, and with tears to pour forth his prayers to God. In these occupations he frequently spent a considerable part, or even the whole of the night and in order to unbend his mind after such incessant study, he would resort to a grove near the college, a place much frequented by the students in the evening, on account of its sequestered gloominess. But he soon directed his thoughts to a more serious subject, the study of the sacred Scriptures: to divinity, indeed, he applied himself with more fervency than circumspection, and discovered his partiality to the Reformation, which had then commenced, before he was known to its supporters, or to those who protected them a circumstance which proved to him the source of his first troubles.īefore he had attained his thirtieth year, he had studied the Greek and Latin fathers, and other learned authors, the transactions of the Councils, and decrees of the consistories, and had acquired a very competent skill in the Hebrew language. It appears that the first display of his genius was in poetry and that he composed some Latin comedies, which are still extant. These qualities soon gained him the admiration of all and as a reward for his exertions and amiable conduct, he was chosen fellow of Magdalen College which was accounted a great honor in the university, and seldom bestowed unless in cases of great distinction. During his residence at this place, he was distinguished for the excellence and acuteness of his intellect, which was improved by the emulation of his fellow collegians, united to an indefatigable zeal and industry on his part.