A67922:1830
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.
which of you that is without sin let him cast the first stone against her. As though he would say, if Moses bid you, I also bid you. But yet I require you that be the competent ministers and executors of the law: Take heed what ye add thereunto, take heed also I pray you, what you are your selves: for if (as the Scripture saith) thou shalt well consider thy self, thou wilt never defame or detract an other. Moreover it is signified to us also, that some there be of them,1 which (when they ought like good shepherds to give their lives for the Lords flock) yet are puffed up, with such pride: that without all reason they presume to rent and tear the Lords flock, with whippings and beatings, whose unreasonable doings Saint Gregory bewailing,, thus saith: Quid fiat de ovibus quando pastores lupi fiunt? That is, what shall become of the sheep when the pastors themselves be Wolves? But who is overcome but he which exerciseth cruelty,? Or who shall judge the persecutor, but he which gave patiently his back to stripes? And this is the fruit which cometh to the Church by such persecutors, also which cometh to the clergy, by such despiteful handling of their Bishops or rather Infidels. For why may ye not call them Infidels,2 of whom Saint Paul thus speaketh and writeth to Timothy? that in the latter days there shall certain depart from the faith, give heed to spirits of error and doctrine of devils, of them that speak false through hypocrisy, and having their consciences marked with an hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats. &c. And this is if it be well marked, the whole handful of the darnel and cockle growing amongest the corn: this is the convent of all madness, that whiles they of the Clergy, be compelled to relinquish the company of their own lawful wives: they become afterward fornicators and adulterers with other women, and wicked ministers of other sinful filthiness. These be they which bring into the Church of God this heresy (as blind guides leading the blind) that it might be fulfilled which the Psalm speaketh of: as foreseeing the errors of such men, & accursing them after this manner, let their eyes be blinded that they see not, & bow down always their back.
which of you that is without sinne let hym cast the first stone against her. As though hee would say, if Moses bid you, I also bid you. But yet I require you that be the competent ministers and executors of the law: Take heede what yee adde thereunto, take heede also I pray you, what you are your selues: for if (as the Scripture saith) thou shalt well consider thy selfe, thou wilt neuer defame or detract an other. Moreouer it is signified to vs also, that some there be of them,