A67922:630
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 after that meaning, as we do not deny that the bishops of Rome may be universal Bishops, so neither can they deny but other bishops also may be as universal, that is, as catholic as they. But such as more distinctly & schoolelike discuss this matter,1 define universal or catholic by three things: to wit, by time, place, and person. So that whatsoever extendeth it self to times, all places, & to all persons that is properly universal or catholic. And contrariwise, what thing is to be called universal or catholic, reacheth to all those three aforesaid, comprehending all places, times, & persons, & extendeth it self of his own nature to the same,2 or else it is not to be called properly universal or catholic. And thus iij. things there be, which most commonly we call catholic or universal: that is, the church which is called the catholic church: Faith, which is called the catholic faith: A man, whom also we call a man catholic, because these iij. of their own nature & disposition (no contrary obstacle letting) extend themselves so to all, that no time, place, nor person is excluded. Which iij. conditions,3 if they altogether concur in the charge of the bishop of Rome, then is it an universal, charge, and he an universal bishop: if not, then is his charge neither universal, nor he the head of the Church, nor yet universal bishop. For how these three can be separated, I can not see, except the adversary part do prove it more evidently, then yet they have done.
For after that meaning, as we doe not deny that the bishops of Rome may be vniuersall Bishops, so neither can they deny but other bishops also may be as vniuersall, that is, as catholike as they. But such as more distinctly & schoolelike discusse this matter,1 define vniuersall or catholike by three things: to witte, by tyme, place, and person. So that whatsoeuer extendeth it selfe to times, all places, & to all persons that is properly vniuersal or catholike. And contrarywise, what thing is to be called vniuersal or catholike, reacheth to all those three aforesaid, cōprehending al places, times, & persons, & extendeth it selfe of his owne nature to the same,