A67922:506
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.
Over and besides,1 our adversaries yet more object against us, who heaving and shoving for the antiquity of the Romish Church for lack of other sufficient reason to prove, are driven to fall in scanning the times and years. What, say they, where was this Church of yours, before these fifty years? To whom briefly to answer, first we demand what they mean by this, which they call our Church? If they mean the ordinance and institution of doctrine and Sacraments,2 now received of us, and differing from the Church of Rome, we affirm and say, that our church was, when this church of theirs was not yet ⟨p. 3⟩hatched out of the shell, nor did yet ever see any light: that is, in the time of the Apostles, in the primitive age, in the time of Gregory the first, & the old Roman church, when as yet no universal pope was received publicly, but repelled in Rome, nor this fullness of plenary power yet known, nor this doctrine, and abuse of Sacraments yet heard of. In witness whereof we have the old acts and histories of ancient time to give testimony with us, wherein sufficient matter we have for us, to declare the same form, usage, and institution of this our church reformed now, not to be the beginning of any new church of our own,3 but to be the renewing of the old ancient church of Christ: nor to be any swerving from the church of Rome, but rather a reducing to the church of Rome, Whereas contrary the church of Rome which now is, is nothing but a swerving from the church of Rome, as partly is declared, and more shall appear (Christ willing) hereafter.4
Ouer and besides,1 our aduersaries yet more obiect agaynst vs, who heauing and shouyng for the antiquitie of the Romish Churche for lacke of other sufficient reason to proue, are driuen to fall in scannyng the tymes and yeares. What, say they, where was this Church of yours, before these fiftie yeares? To whom briefly to aunswere, first we demaund what they meane by this, which they call our Church? If they meane the ordinaunce and institution of doctrine and Sacramentes,