A67926:2040
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.
But now all men in a manner will be wise, & therefore they are ashamed of the simple Gospel, they are ashamed truly to say with Paul: and to perform it in deed: I brethren when I came unto you, 1did not come with excellency of words, or of wisdom preaching the testimony of Christ, for I esteemed not my self to know any thing amongst you, but only Jesus Christ and him crucified. O voice of a true Evangelist? But now we are ashamed of this foolish preaching, by the which it hath pleased God, to save all those which believe in him & being puffed up with our own fleshly mind, choose rather, proudly to walk in those things which we have not seen, preaching fables and lies, and not the law of God,2 which is undefiled, converting souls. But how should they teach the law of God, which they have not once read in the books, much less learned at the mouth of God? But in a Pastor and a Bishop this is required:3 Thou son of man (saith God) lay up in thy hart all my words which I do speak unto thee. &c. And shortly after he saith: Thou son of man, I have ordained and given thee a watchman unto the house of Israel. I have given thee saith he, not coming in by ambition, nor thrusting in thy self, nor climbing in another way, but I gave thee when thou lookedst not for it, that thou shouldest attend thereupon and give warning from the top of the watch Tower, if any enemies should approach. I have given thee unto the house of Israel, and not the house of Israel unto thee,4 that thou shouldest acknowledge thy self to be the servant of the sheep, and not their Lord, for I have not given the sheep for the shepherd, but the shepherd for the sheep. He that sitteth down is greater then he that doth minister and serve unto him. Which thing was well known of him which truly said: We are your servants for Christs cause. But for what purpose have I given thee unto the house of Israel? That thou shouldest only minister the Sacraments, consecrate wood, stones, & churchyards? (this I take God to witness with great sighs and groans I write unto you,5 pouring out before you the grief of my hart. No truly. What then? First followeth the office of the bishop. Thou shalt hear the word of God out of my mouth. This is but a short lesson, but such as all the world cannot comprehend, without they be inwardly taught of GOD.