A67922:545
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.
The second point wherein this present Church of Rome abuseth his jurisdiction contrary to Scripture and steps of the old Roman Church,2 is this, for that it extendeth his authority farther and more amply, than either the warrant of the word, or example of time will give. For although the Church of Rome hath (as other particular churches have) authority to bind and absolve, yet it hath no such authority to absolve subjects from their oath, subjection, and loyalty to their rulers & Magistrates, to dispense with perjury, to denounce remission, where no earnest repentance is seen before, to number remission by days & years; to dispense with things expressly in the word forbidden, or to restrain that which the word maketh free, to divide Religion into Religions, to bind and burden consciences with constitutions of men, to excommunicate for worldly matters, as for breaking of parks, for not ringing bells at the Bishops coming, for not bringing litter for their horse, for not paying their fees and rents, for withholding the church goods, for holding on their princes side in princely cases, for not going at the Popes commandment, for not agreeing to the Popes election in an other princes Realm, with other such things mo & more vain then these. &c. Again, although the Scripture giveth leave and authority to the Bishop and Church of Rome to minister Sacraments, yet it giveth no authority to make Sacraments, much less to worship Sacraments. And though their authority serveth to baptise men, yet it extendeth not to Christen bells:2 neither have they authority by any word of God to add to the word of God, or take from the same, to set up unwritten verities under pain of damnation, to make other articles of belief, to institute strange worship, otherwise than he hath prescribed, which hath told us how he would be worshipped. &c.
The second poynt wherein this present Churche of Rome abuseth his iurisdiction contrary to Scripture and steps of the old Romane Church,2 is this, for that it extendeth his authoritie farther and more amply, thē either the warrant of the word, or example of time will giue. For although the Churche of Rome hath (as other particular churches haue) authoritie to binde and absolue, yet it hath no such authoritie to absolue subiectes frō their othe, subiection, and loyaltie to their rulers & Magistrates, to dispēse with periury, to denounce remissiō, where no earnest repentaunce is sene before, to number remission by dayes & yeares; to dispense with thynges expressely in the word forbiddē, or to restrayne that which the word maketh free, to deuide Religion into Religions, to binde and burthen consciences with constitutions of men, to excommunicate for worldly matters, as for breakyng of parkes, for not ringyng bels at the Byshops commyng, for not bringyng litter for their horse, for not paying their fees and rētes, for withholding the church goods, for holding on their princes side in princely cases, for not going at the Popes commaundement, for not agreeyng to the Popes electiō in an other princes Realme, with other such thyngs mo & more vayne then these. &c. Agayne, although the Scripture geueth leaue and authoritie to the Byshop and Churche of Rome to minister Sacraments, yet it geueth no authoritie to make Sacramentes, much lesse to worshyp Sacraments. And though their authoritie serueth to baptise mē, yet it extendeth not to Christen bels: