A Purpose Driven John Foxe
A Purpose-Driven John Foxe
First published in 1563, John Foxe’s Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days is also known as “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” (Laughlin, Bell, and Brace 220). Once read, the latter title becomes seemingly more appropriate than the former due to the several accounts of horrific acts committed against Protestants that are described in grave detail. In his Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days, Foxe recounts the graphic facts and particulars that many Protestants faced during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I. The accounts described are quite detailed and disturbing, seemingly so for the purpose of advancing a cause. In the book, Foxe informs his audience of the persecution faced by the Protestants and in doing so reveals the true essence and nature of the Protestants. Instead of the Protestants being depicted as radical heretics, Foxe’s Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days presents them as sane human beings who stood fast to their beliefs and displayed exceptional courage, dedication, and faith while doings so. Foxe’s writing of Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days spread the message of what he and so many other Protestants believed. It is my belief that John Foxe wrote Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days in an effort to provide non-Protestants with a clear understanding of Protestants as human beings, to encourage Protestant believers to remain steadfast in their beliefs, and to encourage the development of new saints.
Protestants were not radical extremists.
Protestantism denies the universal authority of the Pope and affirms the belief of sola fide and sola scriptura. Sola fide translates to mean faith alone. Protestants believe that salvation is received by faith alone in Jesus Christ and not by good works or through the selling of indulgences, which was practiced by the Catholics. The selling of indulgences involved buying forgiveness. According to
First published in 1563, John Foxe’s Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days is also known as “Foxe’s Book of Martyrs” (Laughlin, Bell, and Brace 220). Once read, the latter title becomes seemingly more appropriate than the former due to the several accounts of horrific acts committed against Protestants that are described in grave detail. In his Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days, Foxe recounts the graphic facts and particulars that many Protestants faced during the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary I. The accounts described are quite detailed and disturbing, seemingly so for the purpose of advancing a cause. In the book, Foxe informs his audience of the persecution faced by the Protestants and in doing so reveals the true essence and nature of the Protestants. Instead of the Protestants being depicted as radical heretics, Foxe’s Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days presents them as sane human beings who stood fast to their beliefs and displayed exceptional courage, dedication, and faith while doings so. Foxe’s writing of Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days spread the message of what he and so many other Protestants believed. It is my belief that John Foxe wrote Acts and Monuments of these Latter and Perilous Days in an effort to provide non-Protestants with a clear understanding of Protestants as human beings, to encourage Protestant believers to remain steadfast in their beliefs, and to encourage the development of new saints.
Protestants were not radical extremists.
Protestantism denies the universal authority of the Pope and affirms the belief of sola fide and sola scriptura. Sola fide translates to mean faith alone. Protestants believe that salvation is received by faith alone in Jesus Christ and not by good works or through the selling of indulgences, which was practiced by the Catholics. The selling of indulgences involved buying forgiveness. According to