A67922:1693
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.
¶ Of the shaving of Priests, out of the fifth book of Bede the xxi. chap. 1Concerning the shaving of Priests (whereof you write also unto me) I exhort you that it be decently observed according to the Christian faith. We are not ignorant that the Apostles were not all shaven, after one manner, neither doth the Catholic Church at this day agree in one uniform manner of shaving, as they do in faith, hope, and charity. Let us consider the former time of the Patriarchs, and we shall find that Job (an example of patience) even in the very point of his afflictions, did shave his head: and he proveth also: that in the time of his prosperity, he used to let his hear grow. And Joseph an excellent Doctor & executor of chastity, humility, piety and other virtues: when he was delivered out of prison & servitude was shaven: whereby it appeareth that whilst he abode in prison he was unshaven.2 Behold doth these being men of god did use an order in the habit of their body one contrary to the other, whose consciences notwithstanding within did well agree in the like grace of virtues. But to speak truly and •rely the difference of shaving hurteth not such as have a pure faith in the Lord, & sincere charity, towards their neighbour: especially for that there was never any controversy amongst the Catholic fathers about the diversity thereof, as there hath been of the difference of the celebration of Easter and of faith. But of all these shavings that we find either in the Church or else where: there is none in mine opinion so much to be followed & embraced, as that which he used on his head, to whom the Lord said, thou art Peter, and upon this rock. I will build my Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, & I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And contrariwise there is no shaving so much to be abhorred and detested as that which he used to whom the same S. Peter said, thy money be with thee to thy destruction,3 because thou thinkest to possess the gift of God by thy money, therefore thy part nor lot is not in this word. Neither ought we to be shaven on the crown only because Saint Peter was so shaven, but because Peter was so shaven; in the remembrance of the Lords Passion: