A67926:2061
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.
Wherefore, if Bilney did return to your Church (as ye say he did) then was your Church a cruel mother and unnatural, which would not open her bosom unto him, but thrust him into the fire when he had repented. Furthermore how will you defend this law by the word of God, who in express words teaching all Bishops and Pastors, by the example of Christ the great Bishop of our souls, (being compassed about with tentations, that he might have the more compassion of them which be infirm) exhorted all other spiritual pastors by the like example saying:1 Hebr. 5. For every bishop, which is taken from among men, is ordained for men, in things pertaining to God, to offer gifts and sacrifice for sins, that he may be merciful to the ignorant, and to such as err, for so much as he himself is compassed about with infirmity &c. 2Besides which Scripture, add also that some Doctors of the Canon law, if they be well scande, will not deny but that they which be fallen in relapse, whither it be verè, or fictè, yet if they earnestly return from their errors before the sentence be given, they may be sent to perpetual prison in some monastery:3 &c. Wherefore, if Bilney did so earnestly retract and detest his former opinions, so many days (as More saith) before his suffering, then needed not he to suffer that death as he did, but might have been sent to perpetual prison.
Wherfore, if Bilney did returne to your Church (as ye say he did) then was your Church a cruell mother and vnnaturall, which would not opē her bosome vnto hym, but thrust him into the fire whē he had repented. Furthermore how will you defend this law by the word of God, who in expresse wordes teaching all Bishops and Pastors, by the example of Christ the great Bishop of our soules, (beyng compassed about with tentations, that he might haue the more compassion of them which be infirme) exhorted all other spirituall pastors by the lyke example saying:1 Hebr. 5. For euery bishop, whiche is taken from among men, is ordayned for men, in thinges pertayning to God, to offer giftes and sacrifice for sinnes, that he may be mercifull to the ignoraunt, and to such as erre, for somuch as he himselfe is compassed about with infirmitie &c.