A67922:123
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.
But now the order of our religion, & way of salvation consisteth not in such corporal or outward things as these, but in other more higher & more spiritual gifts, which far exceed the capacity of flesh & blood: of the which gifts the chiefest & only mean cause that saveth man, & remitteth sins, is his faith in Christ. Which faith I thus define, for a man to believe by the bloudshedding of Jesus the son of god, his sins to be forgiven, Gods wrath to be pacified, & himself to be justified perfectly from all accusations that can be laid unto him. &c. And though the Papists make a light matter of this, to believe in Christ, and when they hear us say, that faith only justifieth, they object to us again and make it a small matter to be saved, if faith only justify us. Yet notwithstanding, this faith, if it be well examined, is such a thing that flesh and blood is not able to attain thereto, unless Gods holy spirit from above do draw him.
But now the order of our religion, & way of saluation consisteth not in such corporall or outward things as these, but in other more higher & more spirituall gifts, which farre exceed the capacity of flesh & bloud: of the which giftes the chiefest & onely meane cause that saueth man, & remitteth sinnes, is his fayth in Christ. Which fayth I thus define, for a man to beleue by the bloudshedding of Iesus ye sonne of god, his sinnes to be forgeuen, Gods wrath to be pacified, & himselfe to be iustified perfectly from all accusations that can be layd vnto him. &c. And though the Papistes make a light matter of this, to beleue in Christ, and when they heare vs say, that fayth onely iustifieth, they obiect to vs again and make it a small matter to be saued, if fayth onely iustifie vs. Yet notwithstanding, this fayth, if it be well examined, is such a thing that flesh and bloud is not able to attayne therto, vnles Gods holy spirite frō aboue do draw him.
Moreover besides this faith, many other things are incident also to the doctrine of our salvation. Albeit as no causes thereof, but either as Sacraments and seals of faith, or as declarations thereof, or else as fruits, & effects following the same. So Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord be as testimonies and proofs: that by our faith only in Christ we are justified, that as our bodies are washed by water, and our life nourished by bread and wine: so by the blood of Christ, our sins be purged, and the hunger of our souls relieved by the death of his body.