A67922:570
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.
These things thus declared, now let us see whether these names and titles, with the form and manner of this authority and regality above rehearsed: were ever attributed of any in the primitive time to the bishop of Rome. For all these, he doth challenge and claim unto him by old possession from the time of S. Peter. And here a question is to be asked of our adversaries the Papists, whether they will avouch all these aforesaid titles, together with the whole form and tenor of regality, to the same belonging as is afore touched, or not? if they will, let them come forth with their allegations, which they never have done yet, nor ever shall be able: if they will not, or can not avouch them all together in manner as is specified, then why doth the bishop claim them altogether so stoutly, usurp them so falsely, and obtrude them upon us so straitly. Moreover if the said our adversaries, being convicted by plain evidence of history, and example of time, will yield unto us (as they must needs) in part, and not in the whole, let us come then to the particulars, and see what part of this regality they will defend, and derive from the ancient custom of the Primitive Church (that is from the first five hundred years,1 I mean after Christ.) First, in the Coon cell of Nice, which was the year of our Lord. 340. and in the .vj. Canon of the said Council, we find it so decreed: that in every province or precinct of some one Church,6 and Bishop of the same, was appointed and set up to have the inspection and regiment of other churches about him. Secundum morem antiquum, that is, after the ancient custom, as the words of the Council do purport, so that the Bishop of Alexandria should have power of Libya, & Pentapolis in Egypt, for as much as the Bishop of the City of Rome, hath the like or same manner. And in like sort also in Antioch, & in other countries, let every Church have his due honour, & consequently that the Bishop of Jerusalem have also his due honour to him reserved, so that such order be kept, that the Metropolitan Cities be not defrauded of their dignity which to them is due and proper. &c. In this Council and in the same Canon. vj. and vij. where the Bishops of Alexandria, of Rome, and of Antioch, are joined together in on like manner of dignity, first there appeareth no difference of honour to be meant therein.
These thinges thus declared, now let vs see whether these names and titles, with the forme and maner of this authoritie and regalitie aboue rehearsed: were euer attributed of any in the primitiue tyme to the byshop of Rome. For al these, he doth chalenge and clayme vnto him by old possession from the time of S. Peter. And here a question is to be asked of our aduersaries the Papistes, whether they will auouch all these aforesaide titles, together wyth the whole forme and tenour of regalitie, to the same belongyng as is afore touched, or not? if they wil, let them come foorth with their allegations, which they neuer haue done yet, nor euer shalbe able: if they will not, or can not auouch them all together in maner as is specified, then why doth the byshop claime them altogether so stoutly, vsurpe them so falsely, and obtrud them vpon vs so straitly. Moreouer if the sayd our aduersaries, being conuicted by plaine euidence of hystorye, and example of time, will yeld vnto vs (as they must needes) in part, and not in the whole, let vs come then to the particulars, and see what part of this regalitie they wil defend, and deriue from the auncient custome of the Primitiue Church (that is from the first fyue hundred yeares,