A67922:69
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.
And thus hitherto stood the condition of the true Church of Christ, albeit not without some repugnance and difficulty, yet in some mean state of the truth & verity, till time of pope Hildebrand called Gregory 7. which was near about the year. 1080. And of Pope Innocentius 3. in the year 1215. By whom altogether was turned upside down, all order broken, discipline dissolved, true doctrine defaced. Christian faith extinguished. Instead whereof was set up preaching of mens decrees dreams, and idle traditions. And whereas before truth was free to be disputed amongest learned men, now liberty was turned into law, Argument into Authority. Whatsoever the Bishop of Rome denounced, that stood for an oracle, of all men to be received without opposition or contradiction: whatsoever was contrary, ibso facto it was heresy, to be punished with fagot and flaming fire. Then began the sincere faith of this English Church,1 which held out so long, to quail. Then was the clear sun shine of Gods word overshadowed, with mists and darkness, appearing like sack-cloth to the people, which neither could understand that they read, nor yet permitted to read that they could understand. In these miserable days, as the true visible Church began now to shrink and keep in for fear: so upstart a new sort of players to furnish the stage, as school Doctors, Canonists, and four orders of Friars. Besides other Monastical sects and fraternities of infinite variety. Which ever since have kept such a stir in the Church, that none for them almost durst rout, neither Caesar, king, nor subject. What they defined, stood. What they approved, was Catholic: What they condemned, was heresy: whom soever they accused, none almost could save. And thus have these hitherto continued or reigned rather in the Church, the space now of four hundred years and odd. During which space, the true Church of Christ, although it durst not openly appear in the face of the world, oppressed by tyranny: yet neither was it so invisible or unknown: but by the providence of the Lord, some remnant always remained from time to time, which not only showed secret good affection to sincere doctrine, but also stood in open defence of truth against the disordered Church of Rome.
And thus hetherto stode the condition of the true Church of Christ, albeit not without some repugnance and difficultie, yet in some meane state of the truth & veritie, till time of pope Hildebrand called Gregory 7. which was nere about the yeare. 1080. And of Pope Innocentius 3. in the yeare 1215. By whome altogether was turned vpside downe, all order broken, dissipline dissolued, true doctrine defaced. Christian faith extinguished. Instead whereof was set vp preaching of mens decrees dreames, and idle traditions. And whereas before truth was free to be disputed amongest learned men, now libertie was turned into law, Argument into Authoritie. Whatsoeuer the Byshoppe of Rome denounced, that stode for an oracle, of all men to be receaued without opposition or contradiction: whatsoeuer was contrary, ibso facto it was heresie, to be punished with fagot and flaming fire. Then began the sincere fayth of this English Church,