A67922:118
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
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.
¶The fourth Question.
AS touching my fourth question, although I could urge you with an other like prophetical place of scripture no less evident against the bishop of Rome,1 taken out of the second Epistle of S. Paul to the Thecla. where mention is made of the son of perdition, sitting in the Temple of God, as god, & advancing himself above all that is called god &c. which place ye can by no reasonable evasion avoid: yet notwithstanding to let this pass, I turn my question to ask this of you, whether the religion of Christ be mere spiritual, or else corporal. If ye affirm it to be corporal as was the old religion of the Jews consisting in outward rites, sacrifices, ceremonies of the law: then show if ye can, what any one outward action or observation is required in christian religion by the scripture, as necessary in a christen man, for remission of sins & salvation,2 save only the two Sacramental ceremonies of outward Baptism, & of the Lords Supper? Howbeit neither these also as they are corporal, that is to say neither the outward action of the one, nor of the other conferreth remission of sins, nor salvation, but only are visible shows of invisible & spiritual benefits. And furthermore if our god, whom we serve, be spiritual, how can his religion & service be corporal as we are taught by the mouth of our saviour, saying: God is a spirit and therefore they that worship him, must worship in spirit & verity. &c. Joan. 4.
AS touching my fourth question, although I could vrge you wt an other like propheticall place of scripture no lesse euident agaynst the bishop of Rome,1 taken out of the second Epistle of S. Paule to the The•la. where mention is made of the sonne of perdition, sitting in the Temple of God, as god, & aduaūcing himselfe aboue al that is called god &c. which place ye can by no reasonable euasiō auoyd: yet notwithstanding to let this passe, I turne my questiō to aske this of you, whether the religion of Christ be mere spiritual, or els corporall. If ye affirme it to be corporall as was the old religiō of the Iewes cōsisting in outward rites, sacrifices, ceremonies of the law: thē shew if ye can, what any one outward actiō or obseruatiō is required in christian religiō by the scripture, as necessary in a christen man, for remissiō of sinnes & saluation,