A07146:62
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times…The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times…
The relics of Rome containing all such matters of religion, as have in times past been brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherents: faithfully gathered out of the most faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and now newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singular profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.The reliques of Rome contayning all such matters of religion, as haue in times past bene brought into the Church by the Pope and his adherentes: faithfully gathered out of the moste faithful writers of chronicles and histories, and nowe newly both diligently corrected & greatly augmented, to the singuler profit of the readers, by Thomas Becon. 1563.
London: printed by John Day, 1563London: printed by Iohn Day, 1563
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Yet not long after that wicked heresy of Arrius did so prevail and take root in the hearts of men, that it was not received only in one realm or two, ⟨image 19⟩but also Pope Liberius Bishop of Rome, with the Emperor, and all the East part of the world, admitted that most damnable heresy, to be most sound and wholesome doctrine, persecuting most cruelly all such, as defended the contrary, whereof was a very little number, as Athanasius, Paulinus, 1and very few other Bishops, which by no means would give place to so great furor and madness, although most miserably entreated. In a Council also holden at Nice, a great number of Bishops with other gathered there together, consented to disannul and put away the marriage of Priests or spiritual ministers, contrary to the practise of gods Church from the beginning, and contrary to the doctrine of the holy ghost which saith: Wedlock is honourable among all men, and the bed undefiled: for what purpose I know not, nor with what reasons persuaded, am I able to say. Notwithstanding the holy and blessed Confessor Pahnutius, although unmarried, withstood them all, and by no means would consent unto their enterprise and devise, but frankly and freely confessed, that the marriage of Ministers is honourable, 2and that it is chastity for a man to lye with his own wife. By this means he persuaded the council, that they proceeded no further in this matter, but set every man at his liberty to marry or not to marry. Who seeth not now, how foolish a thing it is, and much unworthy a Christen man to lean to the multitude, which for the most part is nothing else than a beast of many heads: Seeing we have evidently showed, that the greater part in matters that appertain ⟨image 19⟩to Christs Religion, is always the worsest part. and the lesser part doth more earnestly embrace the truth of Gods word.3 so that not without a cause Christ calleth his people, a little flock▪ Fear not ye little flock, sayeth Christ, for it hath pleased my father to give you a kingdom? This therefore is a vain objection of the adversaries to say: We have the greater number on our side: therefore have we the truth on our side.