A67922:677
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.
briefly, doing almost all things preposterously, more like to secular Princes, then spiritual Pastors of Christs flock, with outward forcement, and fear of punishment, with prisoning, famishing, hanging, racking, drowning, heading, slaying, murdering, and burning, and warring also: on the other side with his riches and treasures, with his guard and gardiance, with strength of men, with Court and Cardinals: with pomp and pride about them, with their triple crown, with the naked sword: with their ordinary succession: with their laws, and executions: their promotions and preferments: their biddings and commandings: threatenings and revengings. &c.
briefly, doing almost all thinges preposterously, more like to secular Princes, then spirituall Pastours of Christes flocke, with outward forcement, and feare of punishment, wyth prysoning, famishyng, hanging, racking, drowning, headyng, slaying, murdering, and burning, and warring also: on the other side with his riches and treasures, wyth his garde and gardiance, with strength of men, with Court and Cardinals: with pomp and pride about them, with their triple crowne, with the naked sworde: with theyr ordinary succession: with their lawes, and executions: their promotions and prefermēts: their biddings and commandings: threatninges and reuenginges. &c.
1In fine, to compare therefore the Images of a worldly kingdom, with this kingdom of the Pope, there is no difference, save only that this kingdom of the Pope, under hypocrisy maketh a face of the spiritual word, which is the word of God: but in very deed doth all things with the temporal sword, that is with outward forcement and coaction: differing nothing from civil and secular regiment in all properties and conditions, if it be well considered. For as in an earthly kingdom first there is a Prince or some chief Magistrate appointed, having dominion over his nobles and commons, containing all his subjects under his statutes and laws, with the which laws notwithstanding he dispenseth at his pleasure: under whom all other inferior Magistrates have their order and place to them appointed to rule over the subjects, and yet to be subject under him: So if the state and form of the Pope be well advised, we shall see it altereth nothing from the same, but only in the names of the persons. In civil government, all subjection is referred to one head ruler, whose authority surmounteth all the rest, and keepeth them under obedience: In like manner the government of the Popish Church is committed to one man, who as chief steward, overseer and ruler of Christs household in his absence, hath supreme power over all Churches, to moderate and direct all the affairs thereof. But here stā death the difference, in civill policy he is called a King or Prince: here he is called a Pope.