A67926:3475
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.
Truly as our forefathers invented nothing more holier then general Councils, used as they ought to be, so there is almost nothing that may do more hurt to the Christian common wealth, to the faith, to our religion,1 then general Councils, if they be abused to lucre, to gains, to the establishment of errors. They be called general, and even by their name do admonish us, that all Christen men which do dissent in any opinion, may in them openly, frankly, & without fear of punishment or displeasure, say their mind. For seeing such things as are decreed in general Councils, touch equally all men that give assent thereunto, it is meet that every man may boldly say there, that he thinketh. And verily we suppose, that it ought not to be called a general Council, where alonely those men are heard, which are determined for ever, in all points, to defend the Popish part, and to arm themselves to fight in the Bishop of Romes quarrel, though it were against God and his Scriptures. It is no general Council, neither it ought to be called general, where the same men be only Advocates and adversaries: the same accused and judges.2 No it is against the law of nature, either that we should condescend to so unreasonable a law against our selves, either that we should suffer our selves to be left without all defence, and being oppressed with greatest injuries, to have no refuge to succour our selves at. The Bishop of Rome and his, be our great enemies, as we and all the world may well perceive by his doings.
Truely as our forefathers inuented nothyng more holyer then generall Councels, vsed as they ought to be, so there is almost nothing that may do more hurt to ye Christian cōmon wealth, to ye faith, to our religion,1 then general Coūcels, if they be abused to lucre, to gaines, to ye establishment of errours. They be called general, and euen by their name do admonish vs, that all Christen mē which do dissent in any opinion, may in thē openly, frankly, & without feare of punishment or displeasure, say their mind. For seeing suche thyngs as are decreed in generall Councels, touche equally all men that geue assent thereunto, it is meete that euery man may boldly say there, that hee thinketh. And verily we suppose, that it ought not to be called a generall Councell, where alonely those men are heard, which are determined for euer, in all pointes, to defend the Popish parte, and to arme themselues to fight in the Byshop of Romes quarrell, though it were against God and his Scriptures. It is no generall Councell, neyther it ought to be called generall, where the same men be onely Aduocates and aduersaries: the same accused and iudges.