A67922:2693
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.
Whereas many be wont, in them whom they love or praise (judging them more by affection, then prudence) to allow & approve, what soever they do: yet for me to judge upon this reverend man: verily I think not his doings & acts to be praise worthy, or to be allowed. Forasmuch as thereof came no utility but only the anger and stirring up of the king, whereupon afterward sprung so great mischiefs (although the king that he did, might proceed of a certain laudable zeal) like as in the blessed Prince of the Apostles, in that he taught the Gentiles by his example to play the Jews: Paul the doctor of the Gentiles, did declare him therein to be rebukeable: albeit it cannot be denied ⟨p. 225⟩but that he did it of good affection, &c. And in the same author, in an other place it followeth to the like effect, in these words: Literas has in Angliam ad suspensonem Episcoporum praemissas ipse sequebatur, zelo justitiae feruid•s, v• rùm an plene secundum scientiam novit Deus: Nostrae enim paruitati nequaquam conceditur, de tanti viri actibus temerè judicare. Puto enim quòd in molli ad huc teneraque regis concordia minus providè egisset, & ea quae sine fidei Christianae periculo tolerari potuissent, ratione temporis & compensatione pacis dissimulanda dixisse+, juxta illud propheticum: prudens in tempore illo tacebit, quia tempus malum est. Itaque, quod a venerabli pontifice tunc actum est, nec laudandum esse judico, nec vituperare praesumo: sed dico si vel modice in huiusmodi a sancto viro per zeli immoderatiorē impetū est excessū, hoc ipsū est sacrae, quae consecata noscitur, igne passionis excoctū. Ita quippe sanccti viri vel amandi vel laudandi sunt a nobis, qui nos illis longè impares esse cognoscimus, ut ea, in quibus homines fuerunt, vel fuisse noscuntur nequaquam vel amemus vel laudemus: sed ea tantū, in quibus eos sine scrupulo imitari debemus. Quis enim eos dicat in omnibus, quae ab ipsis fiant, esse imitabises? Non igitur in omnibus, quae faciunt, sed sapientèr & cautè debent laudari, ut sua Deo praerogatina seruetur, in cuius utique laudibus nemo potestesse nimius, quantumcunque laudare conetur &c. That is in English.
Whereas many be wont, in them whome they loue or prayse (iudging them more by affection, then prudence) to allow & approue, what soeuer they do: yet for me to iudge vpon this reuerend man: verily I think not his doings & acts to be prayse worthy, or to be allowed. Forasmuch as therof came no vtilitie but onely the anger and stirring vp of the king, whereupon afterwarde sprong so great mischiefes (although the king that he did, might proceede of a certayne laudable zeale) like as in the blessed Prince of the Apostles, in that he taught the Gentiles by his example to play the Iewes: Paule the doctor of the Gentiles, did declare him therein to be rebukeable: albeit it cannot be denyed