A67926:3156
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.
In which words you may clearly see, that he would not have us greatly esteem our merits, when we have done that is commanded by God,1 but rather reckoning our selves to be but servants unprofitable to God, for so much as he hath no need of our well doing, for his own advancement, but only that he loveth to see us do well for our own behoof: and moreover, that when we have done his bidding, we ought not so to magnify, neither our self: nor our own free will, but laud him with a meek heart, through whose benefit we have done (if at any time we do it) his liking and pleasure: not regarding our merit, but his grace and benefit. Whereby only is done all that in any wise is to him acceptable. And thus if we ought not to attend our merits in doing the commandment of God,2 much less should we look for merit, for observing of our own inventions, or traditions of men, unto which there is no benefit in all Scripture which Paul calleth the word of truth and of faith, promised.
In which words you may clearly see, that he would not haue vs greatly esteeme our merites, when we haue done that is commaunded by God,1 but rather reckoning our selues to be but seruants vnprofitable to God, for so much as he hath no neede of our wel doing, for his own aduancement, but onely that he loueth to see vs doe well for our owne behoufe: and moreouer, that when we haue done his bidding, we ought not so to magnify, neither our selfe: ne our owne free will, but laud him with a meeke heart, thorowe whose benefite we haue done (if at any time we doe it) his lyking and pleasure: not regarding our merite, but his grace and benefite. Wherby onely is done all that in any wise is to him acceptable. And thus if we ought not to attend our merites in doing the commandement of God,2 much lesse should we looke for merite, for obseruing of our owne inuentions, or traditions of men, vnto which there is no benefite in all Scripture which Paul calleth ye word of truth and of faith, promised.
- 1Merite […] to be esteemed.