A67922:676
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.
1Which armour as it is all spiritual, so ought they, which have the dealing thereof, to be likewise spiritual, well furnished with all such gifts and graces of the holy Ghost, mere for the governance of his spiritual Church: as with wisdom and knowledge in the Scripture, to instruct the ignorant: with inward intelligence & foresight of the crafty cogitations and operations of Satan, with power of the spirit to resist the same: with practise and experience of tentations, to comfort such as be afflicted and oppressed of Satan: with heavenly discretion to discern spirits, and truth from untruth: with judgment and knowledge of tongues and learning to convict error: with zeal of Gods glory, with fervency of prayer, with patience in persecution: with a mind contented with all cases and states incident, with tears and compassion on other mens grieves: with stoutness and courage against proud and stout oppressors: with humility toward the poor and miserable: with the counsel of the Lord Jesus, by his word and spirit to direct him in all things to be done with strength against sin: with hatred of this world: with gift of faith: power of the keys in spiritual causes, as to minister the word, the Sacraments and excommunication when the word biddeth, that the spirit may be saved, and to reconcile again, as case requireth. &c. These and such like are the matters wherein consisteth the sinews and strength of the church, and the true governance of the same. But contrary to these aforesaid both the Bishop & clergy of this latter Church of Rome, proceeding in their administration and governance, as who under the name and pretence of Christ and his word, have exercised of long time nothing else but a worldly dominion, seeking indeed their own glory,2 not the glory of Christ: riches of the world, not the lucre of souls: not feeding the flock, but filling the purse: revenging their own wrongs, but neglecting gods glory: striving against man only, and killing him, but not killing the vice, nor confuting the error of man: strong against flesh and blood, but weak against the Devil, stout against the simple, but meek against the mighty:
1Which armour as it is al spiritual, so ought they, which haue the dealing therof, to be likewise spirituall, well furnished with all such giftes and graces of the holye Ghost, meere for the gouernance of his spiritual Church: as with wisedome and knowledge in the Scripture, to instructe the ignorant: with inward intelligence & foresight of the craftye cogitations and operations of Sathan, with power of the spirit to resist the same: with practise and experience of tentations, to comfort such as be afflicted and oppressed of Sathan: with heauenly discretion to discerne spirits, and truth from vntruth: with iudgment and knoledge of tounges and learning to conuict errour: wyth zeale of Gods glory, with feruencye of prayer, with patience in persecution: with a minde contented with all cases and states incident, with teares and compassion on other mens greeues: with stoutnes and courage against proud and stout oppressours: with humilitie towarde the poore and miserable: with the counsaile of the Lorde Iesus, by his word and spirite to direct him in all things to be done with strength against sinne: with hatred of this worlde: with gift of fayth: power of the keyes in spirituall causes, as to minister the word, the Sacraments and excommunication when the worde biddeth, that the spirite may be saued, and to reconcile againe, as case requireth. &c. These and such like are the matters wherin consisteth the sinews and strength of the church, and the true gouernance of the same. But cōtrary to these aforesaid both ye Bishop & clergie of this latter Church of Rome, proceeding in their administration and gouernaunce, as who vnder the name and pretence of Christ and his word, haue exercised of long time nothing els but a worldly dominion, seeking indede their owne glory,