A67922:1661
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 which coū tries we have travelled for learning,1 and have noted it to be celebrated of them all. In Asia also and in Africa, in Egypt and in Greece, and finally in all the world, the same manner of Easter is observed, that we use▪ save only by these here present with their accomplice & the Picts & the Britons: with the which two (& yet not altogether agreeing) they condescend & strive foolishly in this order against the universal world.2 To whom Colman replied, saying, I marvel you will call this order foolish, that so great an Apostle as was worthy to lie in the Lords lap, did use, whom all the world doth well know to have lived most wisely: and Wilfride answered,3 god forbid that I should reprove S. John of folly who kept the rites of Moses law according to the letter (the Church being yet Jewish in many points) and the Apostles not as yet able to abdicate all the observations of the law before ordained: as for example y• could not reject Images invented of the Devil, the which all men that believe on Christ ought of necessity to forsake, and detest:4 least they should be an offence to those Jews that were amongst the Gentiles. For this cause did S. Paul Circumcise Timothy, for this cause did he sacrifice in the temple, and did shave his head with Aquila and Priscilla, at Corinth. all which things were done to none other purpose, then to eschew the offence of the Jews. Hereupon also said James to Paul, thou seest brother how many thousand Jews do believe & all these be zealous (notwithstanding) of the law. Yet seeing the Gospel is so manifestly preached in the world, it is not lawful for the faithful to be Circumcised, neither to offer sacrifice o• carnal things to God. Therefore John according to the custom of the law, the xiiij. day of the first month at evening, did begin the celebration of the feast of Easter, nothing respecting whether it were relebrated in the Sabbath, or in any other ferial day. But Peter when he preached at Rome, remembering that the Lord did arise from death on the first day after the Sabbath giving thereby an hope to the world of the resurrection,