A67926:1269
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. 2, part 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. 2, part 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
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
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.
Fourthly, as touching burials, they answered, that they knew there is a difference between the bodies of the true Christians,1 and the Infidels, forasmuch as the first are the members of Jesus Christ, temples of the holy ghost, and partakers of the glorious resurrection of the dead, and therefore they accustomed to follow their dead to the grave reverently, with a sufficient company, and exhortation out of the word of God, as well to comfort the parents and friends of the dead, as also to admonish all men, diligently to prepare them selves to die. But as for the using of candles or lights, prayers for the dead, ringing of belles, except the same might be proved to be necessary, by the word of God, and that God is not offended therewith, they would not receive them.
Fourthly, as touching burialles, they aunswered, that they knewe there is a difference betwene the bodies of the true Christians,1 and the Infidels, for asmuch as the firste are the mēbers of Iesus Christ, temples of the holy ghost, and partakers of the glorious resurrectiō of the dead, and therefore they accustomed to folow their dead to the graue reuerently, with a sufficient company, and exhortation out of the woorde of God, as well to comfort the parentes and frendes of the dead, as also to admonish all men, diligently to prepare them selues to die. But as for the vsing of candles or lightes, praiers for the dead, ringing of belles, except ye same might be proued to be necessary, by the word of God, and that God is not offended therwith, they wold not receiue them.
- 1The manner of burials.
Fifthly, as touching obedience to mens traditions, they received and allowed all those ordinances,1 which (as S. Paul saith) serve for order, decency, & reverence of the Ministry. But as for other Ceremonies, which have bin brought into the Church of God, either as a part of his divine service, either to merit remission of sins, or else to bind mens consciences, because they are mere repugnant to the word of God, they could by no means receive them.