A67922:564
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.
Then followed the Council of Nice, wherein was decreed, that throughout the whole university of Christs Church, which was now far spread over all the world, certain Provinces or precincts to the number of four were appointed, every one to have his head church, and chief bishop, called then Metropolitan or Patriarch, to have the oversight of such churches as did lie about him.1 In the number of which Patriarchs or Metropolitans, the Bishop of Rome had the first place, The Bishop of Alexandria was the second. The Bishop of Antioch the third. The Bishop of Jerusalem was the fourth Patriarch. Afterward in the number of these Patriarchs, came in also the Bishop of Constantinople in the room of the bishop of Antioch. So these four or five Metropolitans or Patriarchs, had their peculiar circuits and precincts to them peculiarly appointed, in such sort, as one of them should not deal within an others precinct, & also that there should be among them equality of honour, whereupon we read so oft in the decrees of the old Councils, [Greek or Hebrew],2 that is, equal degree of thrones, and of honour among priests and ministers. Again, speaking of the said Patriarchs or Primates, we read in the 2. and 3. chap. of the Council of Constant. [Greek or Hebrew],3 that is, That bishops should not invade the Diocese of other bishops without their borders, nor confound together churches, &c. Moreover, the old Doctors for the most and best part, do accord in one sentence, that all bishops placed wheresoever, in the church of God, be eiusdem meriti & honoris, & successors Apostolorum, that is, to be of one merit, of like honour, and all to be successors together of the Apostles. Also, he that is the Author of the book called Dionysius Areopagita, calleth all the Bishops [Greek or Hebrew], that is, of equal order, and of like honour, &c. All this while the Bishop of Rome was a Patriarch, and a Metropolitan or bishop called of the first sea, but no Ecumenical Bishop, nor head of the universal Church, nor any such matter. In so much, that he, with all other Bishops, was debarred from that, by a plain decree of the Council of Carthage, Can. 39. in these words: [Greek or Hebrew],4 that is, That the bishop of the first seat shall not be called the Prince of priests, or the high priest, or any such thing.