A67922:724
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.
Thirdly, it justifieth the good deeds and works of man, not only in bringing forth good fruits, but also in making the same works to be good and acceptable in the sight of God,1 which otherwise were impure and execrable in his sight.
Thirdly, it iusti•ieth the good deedes and workes of man, not onely in bringing foorth good fruites, but also in making the same workes to be good and acceptable in the sight of God,1 which otherwise were impure and execrable in his sight.
- 1The office of faith, and the office of the law compared together.The office of fayth, and the office of the law compared together.
The office therefore of faith and works is diners, and must not be confounded. Faith first goeth before, and regenerateth a man to God, & justifieth him in the sight of god, both in covering his ill deeds, and in making his good deeds acceptable to God, climbing up to heaven, & there wrestling with God and his judgement for righteousness, for salvation, and for everlasting life. Works and charity, follow faith, and are exercised here upon the earth, & glorieth only before man,1 but not before God, in showing forth obedience both to God & to man. Further then this our good works do not reach, nor have any thing to do in the judgement of God touching salvation. I speak of our good works (as S. Paul speaketh Rom. 7.) as they be ours & imperfect. For else if our works could be perfect according to the perfection of the law, as Christ wrought them in the perfection of his flesh, that is if we could perfect them, as it is sayd: Qui fecerit ea vivet in eis. But now seeing the imbecility of our flesh cannot attain thereto it followeth thereof that all glory of justifying is taken from works, and transferred only to faith.