A67926:2060
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.
To be short, if Bilney was so graciously reduced to the holy mother the Catholic Church, repenting his errors and detesting his heresies, & now being in no Purgatory, but being a very Saint in heaven, as ye say he is: why then did ye burn him, whom you knew your selves should be a Saint? Thus ye burnt doth Gods enemies, and Gods Saints too,1 what cruel men are you? But here you will allege perhaps, your law of relapse, by the which the first fall is pardonable, but the second fall into heresy, is in no case pardonable: for so standeth your law, I grant. But how this law standeth with the true church of Christ, & with his word, now let us reason. For this being a law not of politic or civill government, (where such laws be expedient for public necessity) but only being a law mere Ecclesiastical, what a cruel mother Church is this, which will not and cannot forgive her children rising and repenting the second fault or error committed,2 but needs must burn their bodies, that their souls may be saved from the painful Passion of Purgatory,3 whom nevertheless they know forthwith shall be blessed in heaven? If God do save them, why do you burn them? If God do pardon them why do you condemn them? And if this be the law of your Church, according to your doctrine, to burn them at the second time, though they be amended: how then doth this Church agree with the word of Christ, and nature of his true spouse, which only seeketh repentance & amendment of sinners? which once being had, she gladly openeth her bosom, and motherly receiveth them, whensoever they return.
To be short, if Bilney was so graciously reduced to ye holy mother the Catholicke Church, repenting his errors and detesting his heresies, & now being in no Purgatory, but being a very Saint in heauen, as ye say he is: why thē did ye burne him, whom you knew your selues should be a Saint? Thus ye burnt doth Gods enemies, and Gods Saintes too,1 what cruel men are you? But here you wil alledge perhaps, your lawe of relaps, by the whiche the first fall is pardonable, but the second fall into heresie, is in no case pardonable: for so standeth your lawe, I graunt. But how this law standeth with ye true church of Christ, & with his word, now let vs reason. For this being a lawe not of politicke or ciuill gouernment, (where suche lawes be xpedient for publicke necessitie) but onely being a law mere Ecclesiastical, what a cruell mother Church is this, which will not and cannot forgeue her children rising and repenting the second faulte or error committed,