A67922:615
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.
Wherefore seeing in travail in teaching, in pains of preaching, in gifts of tongs, in largeness of commission, in operation of miracles, in grace of vocation, in receiving the holy Ghost, in vehemency of torments and death for Christs name, the other Apostles were nothing inferior to Peter:1 Why Peter then should claim any special prerogative above the rest, I understand no cause. As in deed he never claimed any, but the patrons of the Apostolical sea do claim it for him, which he never claimed himself, neither if he were here, would no less abhor it with soul and conscience, then we do now: & yet our abhorring now is not for any malice of person, or any vantage to our selves, but only the vehemency of truth, & zeal to Christ and to his congregation. Moreover, if these men would needs have Peter to be the Curate and overseer of the whole universal Church (which was too much for one man to take charge upon) and to be Prince of all other Apostles, then would I fain learn of them, what meaneth (Dextrae societatis) the right hand of society between Peter,2 Paul, & Barnaby, mentioned, Gal. 2. What taking of hands is there between subjects & their Prince, in way of fellowship? Or where fellowship is, what mastership is there? Or again, what state of mastership is it like, that Christ would give to Peter, who being in deed master of all, took such little mastership upon himself, and that not only in inward affection, but also in outward fact. Although I am not ignorant that Peter in places of the Gospel hath his commendation, neither do I deny Peter to be worthy of the same. But yet these words of commendation, give to him no state of superiority, or jurisdiction upon all other, to have all under his subjection. As if a Schoolmaster should have more special charge to some one of his scholars for his riper towardness: yet this giveth him no fullness of authority, or power coactive upon the rest, unless by special admission he be deputed thereunto. Whereof, nothing can be gathered of Peter, for if it be true that S. Augustine saith, that such things as were spoken to Peter,3 have no lightsome understanding, except they be referred to the church, whereof Peter did bear a figure: