A67922:635
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.
Against this superiority we stand not, & therefore we yield to our superior power, kings, and princes, our due obedience, and to our lawful governors under God of both regiments, Ecclesiastical and Temporal. Also in the Ecclesiastical state, we take not away the distinction of ordinary degrees, such as by the Scripture be appointed, or by the primitive church allowed. As Patriarchs, or Archbishops, Bishops, Ministers and Deacons, for of these four, we especially read as chief. In which four degrees as we grant diversity of office, so we admit in the same also, diversity of dignity: neither denying that which is due to each degree, neither yet maintaining the ambition of any singular person. For as we give to the minister place above the Deacon, to the bishop above the minister, to the Archbishop above the Bishop:1 so we see no cause of inequality why one minister should be above an other minister: One bishop in his degree above an other bishop to deal in his Diocese: or one Archbishop above another Archbishop. And this is to keep an order duly & truly in the church, according to the true nature and definition of order by the authority of August. lib. De civit. Dei. Where he thus defineth that which we call order: Ordo, est parium dispariumque rerum sua cuique loca tribuens dispositio. Order) saith he) is a discretion or disposition given to all things, according as they are matches, or not matches, proportionally to every one his own right and proper place.
Against this superioritie we stand not, & therefore we yeld to our superior power, kings, and princes, our due obedience, and to our lawfull gouernours vnder God of both regiments, Ecclesiasticall and Temporall. Also in the Ecclesiasticall state, we take not away the distinction of ordinarie degrees, such as by the Scripture be appointed, or by the primatiue church allowed. As Patriarchs, or Archbishops, Bishops, Ministers and Deacons, for of these foure, we especially read as chiefe. In which foure degrees as we graunt diuersitie of office, so we admitte in the same also, diuersitie of dignitie: neither denying that which is due to ech degree, neither yet maintaining the ambition of any singuler person. For as we geue to the minister place aboue the Deacon, to the bishop aboue the minister, to the Archbishop aboue the Bishop:1 so we see no cause of inequalitie why one minister should be aboue an other minister: One bishop in his degree aboue an other bishop to deale in his Diocesse: or one Archbishop aboue another Archbishop. And this is to keepe an order duely & truly in the church, according to the true nature and definitiō of order by the authoritie of August. lib. De ciuit. Dei. Where he thus defineth that which we call order: Ordo, est parium dispariumque rerum sua cuique loca tribuens dispositio. Order) saith he) is a discretion or diposition giuen to all things, according as they are matches, or not matches, proportionally to euery one his owne right and proper place.