A67926:3074
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.
Our Bishop we speak of, is the very great bishop. No dole, no fraud, no guile, was ever found in his mouth. And when the Prince of the world the devil, came to him, he could find no point of sin in him. Wherefore Gabriel the Archangel showing his nativity unto Mary his mother, said: Hic erit magnus, & fil•us alti•simi vocabitur.1 He shall be great and shall be called the Son of God. And again it is written of him: Propheta magnus surrexit inter nos.2 A great Prophet is risen among us. Sin maketh a man small and little: little in reputation before God and man. Virtue maketh man great and of high reputation. Show me one place in Scripture where you have reed,3 that a sinner was called great? I trow it shall not be found. Will you hear who were called great in scripture? It is written of Isaac, quod proficiebat valde, & factus est magnus valde. He profited greatly in virtue,4 and was made great, great in reputation of the world. Moses was called Magnus, great for his virtue. Abraham and John Baptist likewise.5 Now Jesus our Bishop is called magnus Episcopus, magnus Sacerdos. And after him never Bishop called Magnus in all Scripture,6 neither in the reputation of man unless it be in comparison one of an other (and so Saints and holy Livers are called great in respect of sinners, or other mean Livers) but where Christ our Bishop cometh: there he, not in comparison of other, but simpliciter, by his own magnitude and greatness, and of himself, ever was and is great, of whom it is written: A summo coelo egressio eius: & occursus eius usque ad sū mum eius.7 And as the apostle also proveth in many places by express words. But now there is no Bishop or Priest in this world, that may worthily of himself be called great, nor ought to take this name Magnus upon him