Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

This presentation examines the life and legacy of John Fox, the author of the *Acts and Monuments*, a foundational text for understanding the English Reformation. Fox’s work was driven by three theological principles derived from Matthew 16:18: the perpetuity of the church, the inevitability of persecution, and the presence of a faithful remnant. By employing a historicist interpretation of the Book of Revelation, Fox connected the early church to the Reformation era, identifying figures like John Wycliffe and the Lollards as precursors to the Protestant movement. The sermon highlights Fox’s role in preserving the testimonies of martyrs such as William Tyndale, Thomas Cranmer, and Lady Jane Grey, thereby establishing a historical narrative that countered Catholic claims of Protestant novelty. Ultimately, Fox’s meticulous documentation of these events provided a lasting heritage that inspired generations of believers, from Sir Francis Drake to modern readers, to remain faithful to the truth of the Gospel.