A67922:6624
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.
The tenor and effect of whose writing only tended to prove,1 that every petition and prayer for any supernatural gift, ought to be directed to God alone, & to no creature. All be it in this his writing he did not utterly deny, that it was not lawful in no respect to pray to Saints, (and bringeth for the same Thomas Aquine) but only in respect of that worship, which is called Cultus latriae: And further so prosecuteth his mind herein,2 that he seemeth little or nothing to differ from the superstition of the papists: as most plainly appeareth by his own words, saying: Nunquam tamen negavi, aut negare intendo, merita aut sanctorum suffragia tam beatorum, quam viantium, tam vivis, quam mortuis ad hoc dispositis, quantum possunt, suffragari, vel proficere, quia hoc est elicibile ex Scriptura, quae non fallit, & ex consona ratione. &c. And moreover he inferreth the example of Moses, who prayed unto God, alleging the merits of ⟨p. 659⟩Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, which were dead. &c. And furthermore passing from the testimony of Hierome, and alleging the example of Steven, sayeth: Quod nunc magis exauditur pro veneratoribus suis, quam tunc exauditus est pro lapidatoribus. 3And at length he cometh to this conclusion, proving by S. Austen, in this maner: Ne igitur cum impijs & idolatris in veteri testamento, in circuitu ambulemus, nunquam deveniendo ad centrum, sanū est quod faciamus secundum consilium Apostoli sic dicentis: Accedamus cum fiducia ad thronum gratiae eius, ut misericordiam consequamur & gratiam inueniamus in auxilio oportuno. &c. That is. And therefore least we run about in circles with the wicked, and with the idolaters of the old Testament, and never come to the centre, therefore it is wholesome & good counsel,4 that we follow the mind of the Apostle, saying: Let us resort with boldness unto the throne of his grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in time or opportune help. &c.
The tenour and effect of whose wryting onely tended to prooue,