A67922:565
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 least any here should take occasion of cavilling, to hear him called bishop of the first sea, here is to be expounded, what is meant by the first sea, and wherefore he was so called, not for any dignity of the person, either of him which succeedeth, or of him whom he is said to succeed, but only of the place wherein he sitteth. This is plainly proved by the council of Calcedone, cap. 28. Wherein is manifestly declared the cause why the sea of Rome among all other Patriarchal seas is numbered for the first sea by the ancient fathers.1 For why, saith the Council, [Greek or Hebrew], that is, for that our forefathers did worthily attribute the chief degree of honour to the sea of old Rome, because the principal reign or Empery was in that City, &c. The same also is confirmed by Eusebius Caesariensis, declaring, quòd excellentia Romani Imperij extulit papatum Rom. Pontificis supra alias Ecclesias. That the excellency of the Romaine Empery did advance the Popedom of the Romaine bishop above other churches, &c. Ex Gab. Biel. Moreover,2 saith the said Caesariensis: Nicena synodus hoc contulit privilegium Rom. pontifici, ut sicut Romanorum rex Augustus prae caeteris appellatur: ita Rom. pontifex prae caeteris Episcopis Papa vocaretur. That is, The Council (saith he) of Nice gave this Privilege to the Bishop of Rome, that like as the king of the Romans is named Emperor above all other kings, so the bishop of the same city of Rome should be called Pope above other bishops &c. By these places hitherto alleged (and such other, many more then be here alleged) it appeareth that though these titles of superiority had been attributed to the Bishop of Rome, yet it remaineth certain, that the said Bishop received that preferment Jure non divino, sed humano, by mans law, not by the law of God. And so is the distinction of the Popes proved false,3 where is said: Romanam Ecclesiam non a concilio aliquo, sed a divina voce primatum accepisse, that the church of Rome, took not his primacy by any Council, but only by the voice of God. And this is to be said although it were true, that these titles & terms were so given to the bishop of Rome in the old time, yet how and by whom they were given, ye s•e.
And least any here should take occasion of cauilling, to heare him called bishop of the first sea, here is to be expounded, what is ment by the first sea, and wherfore he was so called, not for any dignitie of the persō, either of him which succedeth, or of him whom he is said to succeede, but onely of the place wherin he sitteth. This is plainly proued by the councell of Calcedone, cap. 28. Wherin is manifestly declared the cause why the sea of Rome among all other Patriarchall seas is numbred for the first sea by the auncient fathers.