A67926:3155
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.
1¶Unto the v. where ye do ask, whether I believe that whatsoever it done of man, whether it be good or ill, cometh of necessity: that is (as you construe) to wit, whether man hath free will, so that he may deserve joy or pain? I say (as I said at the beginning) that unto the first part of your riddle, I neither can, nor will give any definitive answer, forsomuch as it surmounteth my capacity, trusting that God shall send hereafter,2 other that shall be of better learning and wit then I, for to indict it. As concerning the second part, whereas you do interpret, that is to say, whether man have free will or no, so that he may deserve joy or pain: as for our deserving specially of joy, I think it very slender or none, even when we do the very commandments and law of God, and that am I taught by our saviour, in s. Luke where he saith thus: Which of you (quod he) having a servant that hath eared your land, or fed your beasts, will say unto him, when he cometh home out of the field, go thy way quickly, & sit down to thy meat: and rather will not say unto him, make ready my supper, serving me thereat until I have made an end thereof, and afterward take thy self meat and drink. Think you that he is bound to thank his servant which thus shall do his commandment? I trow (saith he) nay. Even so you (saith he) when you have done all things to you commanded, say yet you be unprofitable servants, & have done that which you were bound to do.
1¶Unto the v. where ye do aske, whether I beleeue that whatsoeuer it done of man, whether it be good or ill, commeth of necessity: that is (as you construe) to wit, whether man hath free will, so that he may deserue ioy or paine? I say (as I sayd at the beginning) that vnto the first parte of your riddle, I neyther can, ne wil giue any diffinitiue answer, forsomuch as it surmounteth my capacitie, trusting that God shall sende hereafter,2 other that shall be of better learning and wit then I, for to endite it. As cōcerning the second part, wheras you do interpret, that is to say, whether man haue free will or no, so that he may deserue ioy or payne: as for our deseruing specially of ioy, I thinke it very slender or none, euen when we do the very commandementes and law of God, and that am I taught by our sauiour, in s. Luke where he sayth thus: Which of you (quod he) hauing a seruaunt that hath eared your land, or fed your beastes, wil say vnto him, when he commeth home out of the field, go thy way quickly, & sit down to thy meat: and rather will not say vnto him, make ready my supper, seruing me therat vntill I haue made an end thereof, and afterwarde take thy selfe meate and drinke. Thinke you that he is bound to thanke his seruaunt which thus shall doe his commaundement? I trowe (sayth he) nay. Euen so you (sayth he) when you haue done all thinges to you commaunded, say yet you be vnprofitable seruaunts, & haue done that which you were bound to do.