A67922:2629
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.
For they verily do consent, which when they both might and ought, do not resist or at the least reprove. For the error which is not resisted is allowed, and the truth when it is not defended is oppressed: neither doth it lack a privy note of society in him, which ceaseth to withstand a manifest mischief. (2) For like as (most noble Prince) a small City doeth not diminish §2the prerogative of so mighty a kingdom as your is: so your royal power ought not to oppress or change the measure of the religious dispensation. For it is provided always by the laws, that all judgements against Priests, should proceed by the determination of Priests. For whatsoever Bishops they are: albeit that they do err as other men do, (not exceeding in any point contrary to the religion of faith) they (3) ought not, nor can in any §3case be judged of the secular power. Truly, it is the part of a good and religious Prince, to repair the ruinous Churches, to build new, to honour the Priests: and with great reverence to defend them (after the example of the godly prince of most happy memory. (4) Constantinus which said, when a complaint of §4the Clergy was brought to him. You said he, can be judged by no secular judge, which are reserved to the only judgement of God. And for so much as we do read that the holy Apostles and their successors (appointed by the testimony of God) commanded that no persecution nor troubles ought to be made, nor to envy those which labour in the field of the Lord: and that the stewards of the eternal King should not be expelled and put out of their seats. Who then doubteth, but that the Priests of Christ ⟨p. 215⟩ought to be called the fathers and masters of all other faithful princes? Is it not a miserable madness then, if the son should §5go about to bring the (5) father under obedience?1 or the scholar §6his master?2 and by (6) wicked bonds to bring him in subjection by whom he ought to believe, that he may be bound and loosed, not only in earth, but also in heaven? If you be a good and a catholic king and will be such a one as we hope, or that we rather desire you should be, (be it spoken under your licence) you are the child of the church, and not the ruler of the Church. You ought to