A67926:2041
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.
And what else meaneth this,1 Out of my mouth thou shalt hear the word, but that thou shalt be taught of God. Therefore as many as are not taught of God, although they be never so well exercised in the Scriptures by mans help yet are they not watchmen given by God, and much ••ue they which do not understand and know the Scriptures. And therefore such as these be, least they should keep silence and say nothing, are always harping upon the traditions and doctrines of men, that is, lies: for he that speaketh of himself, speaketh lies. Of this it is written:2 They would be doctors of the law, not understanding what they speak neither of whom they speak, Such of necessity they must all be, who speak that with their mouth which they do not believe, because they are not inwardly taught of God, neither are persuaded in their harts, that it is true: and therefore they are to be accounted as sheep, although they boa••e themselves to be shepherds. But contrariwise touching the true and learned Pastors given by God, it may be truly said: we speak that which we know, 3and that which we have seen (even with the infallible eyes of our faith) we do witness: and these are neither deceived, neither do deceive Moreover, the deceivers proceed to worse and worse, erring themselves, and bringing others also to error, and because they are of the world, the world doth willingly hear them.4 They are of the world (saith S. John) and therefore they speak those things which are of the world, and the world giveth ear unto them. Behold reverent father, this is the touchstone of our daily preaching. Hath not the world given ear unto them now a long time with great pleasure and delight? But the flesh could never suffer the preaching of the cross, nor yet the wisdom of the flesh, which is enemy unto God, neither is subject unto his law, nor cannot be. And why then are they accused to be heretics and Schismatics,5 which will not seek to please men, but only to their edifying? being mindful of that place of Scripture: God hath dispersed the bones of them which please men, saying unto them, speak unto us pleasant things. But now setting these matters pass, we will come unto the second point,