A67926:2437
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.
Now, because all are subject to one, all must do and consent to all wickedness, as he doth, or be none of his. This is the cause of great Superstition in every kingdom. And what Bishop soever he be that preacheth the Gospel, & maintaineth the truth, is a true Bishop of the church. And doth not (said they) our holy father the pope maintain the Gospel? Yes (said he) I think he doth read it, & peradventure believe it, & so do you also, but neither he nor you do fix the anchor of your salvation therein. Besides that ye bear such a good will to it, that ye keep it close, that no man may read it, but your selves: & when you preach god knoweth how you handle it: insomuch that the people of Christ knoweth no Gospel well near, but the popes Gospel, & so the blind lead the blind, & both fall into the pit. In the true Gospel of Christ, confidence is none, but only in your popish traditions and fantastical inventions.
Nowe, because all are subiecte to one, all must doe and cōsent to al wickednes, as he doth, or be none of his. This is the cause of greate Superstition in euerye kyngdome. And what Bishoppe soeuer he be that preacheth the Gospel, & mainteyneth the truth, is a true Bishop of ye church. And doth not (sayd they) our holye father the pope mayntaine the Gospell? Yes (sayd he) I thinke he doth read it, & peraduenture beleue it, & so do you also, but neitheir he nor you do fixe the anker of your saluatiō therin. Besides that ye beare such a good wil to it, that ye keepe it close, that no man may reade it, but your selues: & when you preach god knoweth how you handle it: in somuch that the people of Christ knoweth no Gospel wel neare, but the popes Gospel, & so the blynd leade the blind, & both fall into ye pit. In the true Gospell of Christ, confidence is none, but onely in your popish traditions and phantasticall inuentions.
Then said a black Fryer to him, God knoweth a blockhead: do we not preach the Gospel daily?1 Yes (said he) but what preaching of the Gospel is that, when therewith ye extol superstitious things, and make us believe that we have redemption through pardons and bulls of Rome, à poena & culpa, as ye term it, and by the merits of your orders ye make many brethren and sisters, ye take yearly money of them, ye bury them in your coats, and in shrift ye beguile them: yea and do a thousand superstitious things more: a man may be weary to speak of them: I see (said the Fryer) that thou art a damned wretch: I will have no more talk with thee.