A67922:60
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.
For to say the truth, if times had been well searched, or if they which wrote Histories had without partiality gone upright between God and Baal, halting on neither side, it might well have been found the most part of all this catholic corruption intruded into the church by the bishops of Rome, ⟨image 18⟩as Transubstantiation, levation, and adoration of the sacrament, auricular confession, forced vows of Priests not to marry, veneration of Images, private and satisfactory Masses, the order of Gregory's Mass now used, the usurped authority, & Summa potestas of the sea of Rome, with all the route of their ceremonies and weeds of superstition overgrowing now the Church, all these (I say) to be new nothings lately coined in the mint of Rome without any stamp of antiquity, as by reading of this present history shall sufficiently, I trust, appear. Which history therefore I have here taken in hand, that as other story writers heretofore have employed their travail to magnify the Church of Rome,1 so in this history might appear to all Christian readers the Image of both Churches, as well of the one as of the other: especially of the poor oppressed and persecuted Church of Christ. Which persecuted Church though it hath been of long season trodden under foot by enemies, neglected in the world, nor regarded in histories, and almost scarce visible or known to worldly eyes, yet hath it been the true Church only of God, wherein he hath mightily wrought hitherto in preserving the same in all extreme distresses, continually stirring up from time to time faithful ministers, by whom always hath been kept some sparks of his true doctrine and Religion.
For to say the truth, if times had bene well searched, or if they which wrote Hystories had without partiality gone vpright betwene God and Baall, halting on neither side, it might well haue bene foūd the most part of all this catholicke corruptiō intruded into the church by the bishops of Rome, ⟨image 18⟩as Transubstantiation, leuation, and adoration of the sacrament, auriculer confession, forced vowes of Priestes not to mary, veneration of Images, priuate and satisfactory Masses, the order of Gregories Masse now vsed, the vsurped authoritie, & Summa potestas of the sea of Rome, with all the route of their ceremonies and wiedes of superstition ouergrowing nowe the Churche, all these (I say) to bee new nothinges lately coyned in the minte of Rome without any stampe of antiquitie, as by readyng of this present history shall sufficiently, I trust, appeare. Whiche history therefore I haue here taken in hand, that as other story writers heretofore haue employed their trauayle to magnifie the Church of Rome,