A67922:1181
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.
As I have hitherto set forth the commendation of Cyprian this blessed Martyr:1 so must we now take heed again, that we do not here incur the old & common danger, which the Papists are commonly accustomed to run into, whose fault is always almost to be immoderate and excessive in their proceedings, making to much almost of every thing.2 So in speaking of the holy Sacraments, they make more of them then doth the nature of Sacraments require, not using them, but abusing them, not referring or applying them, but adoring them, not taking them in their kind for things godly as they are, but taking them for God himself, turning religion into superstition, & the creature to the creator, that things signifying to the things them selves signified, &c. To the Church likewise and ceremonies of the church, to general Councils, to the blessed virgin Mary mother of Christ, to the bishop of Rome, and to all other in like case, not contented to attribute that which is sufficient, they exceed moreover the bounds of judgement and verity, judging so of the Church, & general councils, as though they could never, or did never err in any jot. That the blessed mother of Christ amongest all women was blessed, and a virgin full of grace, the Scripture & truth doth give, but to say that she was borne without all original sin, or to make of her an advocate, or mother of mercy, there they run further then truth will bear. The ceremonies were first ordained to serve but only for order sake, unto the which they have attributed so much at length, that they have set in them a great part of our Religion yea & also salvation. And what thing is there else almost, wherein the Papists have not exceeded?
As I haue hetherto set forth the commendation of Cyprian this blessed Martyr:1 so must we nowe take heede againe, yt we do not here incurre the old & common daunger, whiche the Papystes are commonlye accustomed to runne into, whose fault is alwayes almost to be immoderate and excessiue in their procedings, making to much almost of euery thing.2 So in speaking of the holye Sacraments, they make more of them then doth ye nature of Sacraments require, not vsing them, but abusing thē, not referring or applying them, but adoring them, not taking thē in their kind for thinges godly as they are, but taking thē for God himselfe, turning religion into superstition, & ye creature to the creator, yt things signifying to the things them selues signified, &c. To the Church likewise and ceremonies of the church, to generall Councels, to the blessed virgin Mary mother of Christ, to the bishop of Rome, and to all other in like case, not contented to attribute that which is sufficient, they exceede moreouer the bounds of iudgement and veritie, iudging so of the Church, & general coūcels, as though they could neuer, or did neuer erre in any iote. That the blessed mother of Christ amongest al women was blessed, and a virgine ful of grace, the Scripture & truth doth giue, but to say that she was borne without al original sinne, or to make of her an aduocate, or mother of mercy, there they run further then truth wil beare. The ceremonies were first ordained to serue but onely for order sake, vnto the which they haue attributed so much at length, that they haue set in them a great part of our Religion yea & also saluation. And what thing is there els almost, wherein the Papistes haue not exceeded?