A67922:1825
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.
There be some Eunuchs which have gelded themselves for the kingdom of heaven, but all men do not take this word, he that can take it, let him take it. Wherefore the Apostle saith, concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, but only I give counsel. Which counsel also all men do not take, as in the commandment of the Lord before, but many there be, false dissemblers and flatterers,1 going about to please men and not God, whom we see under a false pretence of continency, to fall into horrible wickedness: Some to lye with their fathers wives, some to be Sodomites, and not to abhor to play the beasts with brute beasts. And therefore, least through the infection of this wicked pestilence, the state of the Church should too much go to ruin: therefore he said, because of fornication, let every man have his own wife. Touching which saying, our false hypocrites falsely do lye, & feign: as though only it pertained to the laity, and not to them. And yet they themselves seeming to be set in the most holy order, are not afraid to abuse other mens wives, and as we see with (weeping eyes) all they do outrage in the foresaid wickedness. These men have not rightly understanded the Scripture, whose breasts while they suck so hard (in stead of milk) they suck out blood.2 For the saying of the Apostle: let every man have his own wife: doth except none in very deed, but him only which hath the gift of continency, prefixing with himself to keep and to continue his virgin in the Lord. Wherefore (O reverend father) it shall be your part to cause & oversee, that whosoever, either with hand or mouth, hath made a vow of continency, and afterward would forsake, either should be compelled to keep his vow, or else by lawful authority should be deposed from his order. And to bring this to pass, ye shall not only have me, but also all other of my order, to be helpers unto you. But that you may understand, that such which know not what a vow doth mean, are not to be violently compelled thereunto: hear what the Apostle saith unto Timothy. A Bishop (saith he) must be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife. Which sentence, least ye should turn and apply only to the Church, mark what he inferreth after: he that knoweth not (saith he) to rule his own household and family, how should he rule the Church of God?
There bee some Eunuches which haue gelded themselues for the kingdome of heauen, but all men do not take this word, he that can take it, let him take it. Wherfore the Apostle sayth, concerning virgins I haue no commaundement of the Lord, but onely I geue counsell. Which counsaile also all men do not take, as in the commaundement of the Lord before, but many there be, false dissemblers and flatterers,