A67926:14
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.
Wherein thou mayest note (gentle reader) for thy learning three things: First how the Pope turneth that unproperly into a prayer, which properly was sent of God for a message or tidings. Secondly, how the Pope addeth to the words of the Scripture,1 contrary to the express precept of the Lord. Thirdly, how the Pope exempteth Mary the blessed virgin, not only from the seed of Abraham and Adam, but also from the condition of a mortal creature. For if there be in her no original sin, then she beareth not the Image of Adam, neither doth she descend of that seed, of whose seed evil proceedeth upon all men and women to con damnation, as S. Paul doth teach. Rom. 5. Wherefore if she descend of that seed,2 then the infection of Original evil must necessarily proceed unto her. If she descend not thereof, then cometh she not of the seed of Abraham, nor of the seed of David. &c. Again, seeing that death is the effect and stipend of sin, by the doctrine of S. Paul. Roma. 6. then had her flesh injury by the law (as Christ him self had) to suffer the malediction and punishment of death,3 and so should never have died, if original sin had no place in her. &c. But to return unto our story: This constitution of the Pope being set forth for the conception of the blessed virgin, which was the year of our Lord 1476. it was not long after, but the said Pope Sixtus perceiving that the Dominic friars with their complices would not conform ⟨p. 801⟩themselves hereunto,4 directed forth by the authority Apostolical, a Bull, in effect as followeth.
Wherin thou maist note (gentle reader) for thy learning three things: First how the Pope turneth that vnproperly into a prayer, whiche properly was sent of God for a message or tidinges. Secondly, howe the Pope addeth to the wordes of the Scripture,1 contrary to the expresse precept of the Lorde. Thirdly, howe the Pope exempteth Marye the blessed virgine, not onely from the seede of Abraham and Adam, but also frō the condition of a mortall creature. For if there be in her no originall sinne, then she beareth not the Image of Adam, neither doth shee descende of that seede, of whose sede euil proceedeth vpon al men and women to cō demnation, as S. Paul doth teach.