A67926:1738
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.
In the doctrine of the law, iij. things to be noted.
1In the law therefore 3 things are to be considered: First, what is the true rigour and strength of the law, which is, to require full and perfect obedience of the whole man, not only to restrain his outward actions, but also his inward motions, and inclinations of will and affection, from the appetite of sin: And therefore saith S. Paul: The law is spiritual, but I am carnal &c. Rom. 7 Whereupon riseth this proposition: That it is not in our nature and power to fulfil the law. Item, The law commandeth that which is to us unpossible &c. 2 The second thing to be noted in the doctrine of the law, is to consider the time and place of the law, what they be,2 & how far they extend. For as the surging seas have their banks and bars to keep them in: so the law hath his times & limits which it ought not to pass. If Christ had not come & suffered, the time & dominion of the law had ben everlasting. But now seeing Christ hath come and hath died in his righteous flesh,3 the power of the law against our sinful flesh doth cease. For the end of the law is Christ. Rom. 10. that is, the death of Christs body is the death of the law to all that believe in him: so that who so ever repenteth their sins, & fly to the death and passion of Christ the condemnation & time of the law to them is expired. Wherefore this is to be understand as a perpetual rule in the scripture, that the law withal his sentences and judgements wheresoever they are written, either in the old Testament or in the new, do ever include a privy exception of repentance and belief in Christ, to the which always it giveth place, having there his end, and can proceed no further, according as S. Paul doth say: The law is our Schoolmaster until Christ, that we might be justified by faith.