A67922:2699
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.
And thus have ye the judgement, and censure of the school of Paris touching this question, for the sainting of Thomas Becket. In which judgement for so much as the greatest argument resteth in the miracles wrought by him after his death: let us therefore pause a little upon y• same, to try and examine these his miracles. In the trial whereof we shall find one of these two to be true, that either if they were true, they were wrought not by God, but by a contrary spirit: of whom Christ our Lord giveth us warning in his gospel, saying: whose coming shall be with lying signs and wonders to deceive,1 if it were possible, the elect. Math 24. for else we shall find that no such were ever wrought at all, but feigned and forged of idle Monks and religious bellies for the exaltation of their churches, & profit of their pouches: which thing in deed seemeth rather to be true: And no less may appear by the miracles them selves, set forth by one of his own Monks & of his own time, who in fine solemn books hath comprehended all the revelation, virtues, and miracles of this archb. the which books (as yet remaining in the hands of William Stephenson Citizen of London) I have seen and perused: wherein is contained the whole sum of all his miracles to the number of 270, being so far of from all trueth & reason, some ridiculous, some monstrous, vain, absurd, some also blasphemous & some so impudent:2 that not only they deserve no credit (altogether savouring of mere forgery) but also for very shame will abash an honest pen to write upon them. First if miracles serve for necessity & for infidels: what cause or necessity was there (in a Christian realm having the word of God) for God to work such miracles after his death, who never wrought any in all his life? Then to consider the end of these miracles: whether do they tend, but only to bring men to Canterbury, with their vows and offerings to enrich the convent?
And thus haue ye the iudgement, and censure of the schole of Paris touching this question, for the saincting of Thomas Becket. In which iudgement for so much as the greatest argumēt resteth in the miracles wrought by him after hys death: let vs therefore pause a little vpon y• same, to try and examine these his miracles. In the tryall wherof we shall finde one of these two to be true, that eyther if they were true, they were wrought not by God, but by a cōtrary spirit: of whō Christ our Lord geueth vs warning in his gospell, saying: whose comming shal be with lying signes and wonders to deceiue,