A67922:97
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 second Question.
MY second question is this:1 to demand of you catholic professors of the popes sect, which so deadly malign and persecute the protestants professing the gospel of Christ,2 what just or reasonable cause have you to allege for this your extreme hatred ye bear unto the, y• neither you your selves can abide to live with them, nor yet will suffer the other to live amongest you? If they were Jews, Turks or Infidels, or in their doctrine were any Idolatrous impiety or detestable iniquity in their lives: if they went about any deadly destruction, or privy conspiracies to oppress your lives, or by fraudulent dealing to circumvent you, then had you some cause to complain, and also to revenge. Now seeing in their doctrine ye have neither blasphemy, idolatry, superstition nor misbelief to object unto them: seeing they are baptised in the same belief, and believe the same articles of the Creed, as ye do: having the same God, the same Christ & saviour, the same baptism, & and are ready •s con•erre with you in all kind of Christen doctrine, neither do refuse to be tried by any place of the scripture, how then riseth this mortal malice of you against them? If you think them to be heretics, then bring forth if ye can, any one sentence which they arrogantly hold, contrary to the mind of holy scripture: expounded by the censure of most ancient Doctors? Or what is there in all y• scripture to be required, but they acknowledge & confess the same? See & try the order of their lives & doings, what great fault find you. They serve God, they walk under his fear, they obey his law, as men may do: and though they be transgressors toward him, as other men are, yet toward you what have they done, what have they committed or deserved why you should be so bitter against them?