A67926:3164
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¶As touching priesthood in the primitive church, when virtue bare (as ancient Doctors do de••e, and scripture in mine opinion recordeth the same) most room, there were no mo officers in the Churches of God, than bishops and Deacons, that is to say, ministers▪ as witnesseth beside scripture full apertly,2 Hierome in his Commentaries upon the Epistles of Paul, whereas he saith, that those whom we call priests were all one, and none other but Bishops, and the bishops none other but priests, men ancient both in age and learning, so near as could be chosen neither were they institute and chosen as they be now a days, with small regard of a Bishop […] his Officer only apposing them if they can construe a Collect, but they were chosen not only of the B. but also to the consent of the people among whom they should have their living, as showeth S. Cyprian: and the people (as he saith) ought to have power to choose priests that be men of good learning, of good & honest report, but (alack for pity) […] elections are now banished, and new fashions brought all which if we should confer with the form of the election showed of Christ by his apostle Paul, we should find no small diversity, but all turned up side down. To conclude, I say, the order or state of priests & deacons was ordained by God, but Subdeacons & commuters otherwise called Ex […] Accolitae, which We call Benet and Collect,3 were institute by the invention of men. And this you may find in the law, Dist. 21. and other places, where is written Subdiaconatus tempore Apostolorum non fuit sacer. Subdeaconship in the time of the Apostles was no holy order.
1¶As touching priesthood in the primitiue church, whē vertue bare (as auncient Doctors do de••e, and scripture in mine opinion recordeth the same) most roume, there were no mo officers in the Churches of God, thē byshops and Deacons, that is to saye, ministers▪ as witnesseth beside scripture full apertly,2