A67926:3173
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.
Concerning enjoining of penance, I know of none that men need to admit,1 nor you to put or enjoin the same except it be renovation of living, in casting apart old vice, & taking them unto new virtue: which every true penitent intendeth, or ought to intend verily by the grace & assistance of our saviour Christ,2 to show and perform. ¶Unto the xj. I say, that grace is given unto them, that duly receive the Sacraments of Christ and his church but whether by them or no, that I cannot define: for God sendeth his grace where he pleaseth, either with them, or without them, and when he pleaseth: so that it is at his arbitrement, how, and when. Moreover, many a lewd person receiveth the sacraments,3 that are destitute of grace, to their confusion. So that I cannot affirm, that the Sacraments giveth grace: Yet in due receipt of the Sacraments, I suppose and think, that God giveth unto them grace that so taketh them,4 as he doth unto all good, even without them also. ¶Whereas in your xij. article you do ask, whether all things necessary unto salvation, are put in holy Scripture, & whether things only there put, be sufficient, & whether some things upon necessity of salvation, are to be believed & observed, which are not expressed in scripture: this is the question, as great learned men have showed me, whom I do count my friends, sith the time I appeared at your lordships assignment before master Doctor Less, & master Melling, with other in your chapel of Lambeth,5 when these questions were first propounded: this (I say) is the question, which (as they told me) is the head and whole content of all other objected against me. Yea this is both the helm and stern of all together, and that which they contended right sore to impugn: but love of the trueth (wherewith in this point I reckoned me well fenced) would not suffer me to apply and yield to their will, thinking quòd sanctum est veritatem praeferre amicitiae, 6that the truth ought to be preferred before all friendship and amity: And also, Si dextra manus scandalezet, deberet praescindi & abijci. if the right hand offend, it ought to be cut off and cast away.