A67922:1489
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.
Peradventure Eleutherius might help something, either to convert the king, or else to increase the Faith then newly sprung among the people: but that he precisely was the first, that cannot be proved. But grant he were, as in deed the most part of our English stories confess, neither will I greatly stick with them therein: yet what have they got thereby, when they have cast all their gain? In few words to conclude this matter, if so be that the Christian faith and religion was first derived from Rome to this our nation by Eleutherius, then let them but grant to us the same faith and religion, which then was taught at Rome: and from thence derived hither by the said Eleutherius, and we will desire no more. For then neither was any universal Pope above all Churches and Councils,1 which came not in before Bonifacius time, which was 400. years after: neither any name or use of the Mass, the parts whereof how and by whom they were compiled, here after in this book following appeareth to be seen. Neither any sacrifice propitiatory for the scouring of Purgatory was then offered upon hallowed altars, but only the Communion frequented at Christian tables: where oblations and gifts were offered, as well of the people, as of the Priests to God: because they should appear neither empty nor unkind before the Lord, as we may understand by the time ⟨p. 107⟩of Cyprian ▪ Neither was then any transubstantiation heard of, which was not brought in before a thousand year after. Neither were then any images of Saints departed, set up in Churches, yea a great number of the Saints worshipped in this our time, were not as yet borne, nor the Churches wherein they were worshipped, were yet set up: but came in long after, especially in the time of Irene & Constans the Emperor. Likewise neither Relics nor peregrinations were then in use. Priests Marriage was then as lawful, and no less received as now: neither was it condemned before the days of Hildebrand, almost a thousand years after that. Their service was then in the vulgar tongue,2 as witnesseth Hierome. The Sacrament ministered in both kinds, as well to lay men, as to Priests, the witness whereof is Cyprian. Yea, and that temporal men which would not then communicate at Easter, Whitsuntide, and Christmas: were not counted for Catholics, the Popes own distinction can testify.