A67922:1600
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 answer.
The aunswere.
Because there be many of the nation of English men which being yet in their infidelity,1 were so joined & coupled in such execrable marriage: the same coming now to faith, are to be admonished hereafter to abstain from the like, & that they know the same to be grievous sin. That they dread the dreadful judgement of God, least for their carnal delectation, they incur the torments of eternal punishment. And yet notwithstanding they are not to be secluded therefore from the participation of Christs body & blood,2 lest we should seem to revenge those things in them which they before their baptism, through ignorance did commit. For in this time the holy Church doth correct some faults more fervently, some faults she suffereth again through mansuetude and meekness, some wittingly and willingly she doth wink at, and dissemble: that many times the evil which she doth detest, through bearing and dissembling she may stop & bridle. All they therefore which are come to the faith, must be admonished that they commit no such offence. Which thing if they do, they are to be deprived of the Communion of the Lords body & blood. For like as in them that fall through ignorance, their default in this case is to be tolerate: so in them again it is strongly to be ensued, which knowing they do nought, yet fear not to commit.
Because there be many of the nation of English men which being yet in their infidelitie,