A67926:3297
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.
And where as you say, they were condemned of heresy in the Council of Constance, if so the council did right, God shall allow it (I doubt not) and that shall suffice to have commendation of him: So that it is not need to ask of me, whether the acts of the same are commendable or no? Neither can I give any direct answer thereto: for I do not verily know them. And though I did, yet am not I verily persuaded, that I because the Council hath condemned them, must therefore believe them to be damned: for a Coū cell (as I ween) may sometime slip beside the right truth but what that Council did in condemning them,1 I can not precisely say: God wotteth. Yea and that one singular person may judge more rightly, then a great multitude assembled in a Counsel, appeareth both by Gods law, and by the law of man. Experience hereof may you see by the Council that is spoken of in the 11. of John, where is showed, that after our saviour had restored Lazarus to life the bishops and Pharisees then were gathered in a Coū cell saying: what shall we do? Truth it is, that this man Jesus doth many miracles, and if we suffer him thus all the world will believe him, whereupon the Romans will come, and put us out of Jerusalem our dwelling place,2 and destroy our nation. At which time Caiaphas did arise, showing forth his sentence, which the whole Council did admit.
And where as you say, they were condemned of heresie in the Councel of Constance, if so the counsell did right, God shall allow it (I doubt not) and that shall suffice to haue commendation of him: So that it is not neede to aske of me, whether the acts of the same are cōmendable or no? Neither cā I geue any direct answere therto: for I do not verily know thē. And though I did, yet am not I verily perswaded, that I because the Councell hath condemned them, must therefore beleue them to be damned: for a Coū cell (as I weene) may sometime slip beside the right truth but what that Councell did in condemning them,1 I can not precisely say: God worteth. Yea and that one singular person may iudge more rightly, then a great multitude assembled in a Counsel, appeareth both by Gods law, and by the law of man. Experience hereof may you see by the Councell that is spoken of in the 11. of Iohn, where is shewed, that after our sauiour had restored Lazarus to life the bishops and Phariseis then were gathered in a Coū cell saying: what shall we doe? Truth it is, that this man Iesus doth many miracles, and if wee suffer him thus all the world will beleue him, whereupon the Romaines will come, and put vs out of Ierusalē our dwelling place,